The maiden's suspicious gaze darted between Xiao Wu, Tang Sui, and Tang San, before turning her question back at Xiao Wu, "What is your relationship with them?"
She automatically categorized Xiao Wu and Tang Sui together, excluding Tang San.
Xiao Wu and Tang Sui exchanged a glance. The former introduced, "They are all partners whom I trust and can entrust my back to."
The maiden looked at Tang Sui, "And you with him?"
Knowing that the maiden's "him" referred to Tang San, Tang Sui candidly replied, "He is my blood-related elder brother, Tang San. The aura you sensed is likely because both my brother and I are half-bloods, with me inheriting more of the bloodline."
"Half-bloods?" The maiden was taken aback. Realizing the implication, she widened her eyes, "How can humans be with soul beasts! Which soul beast was so desperate!?"
Tang Sui paused, recalling the prejudice against mixed-bloods among the demon race.
Indeed, the concept of bloodline existed everywhere. However, the acceptance level among soul beasts was much better than that of the demon race.
But Xiao Wu did not take kindly to this remark.
She paced to Tang San's side, took his hand, intertwined their fingers, and held it up, shaking it as she declared, "Why not? He is my lover, the person I am willing to protect with my life."
Tang San's gaze softened, and he stated with firm conviction, "I am also willing to protect her with my life."
The maiden's eyes, with a hint of scrutiny, swept over Tang San from head to toe. When she turned to look at Xiao Wu, her face was filled with disappointment, as if seeing a student who was very close to the correct answer in a multiple-choice question but precisely avoided the right number at the final step.
Tang Sui observed the two individuals confronting each other and interjected, "So, the guardian for Brother's second trial should be you, right?"
Her single sentence redirected the attention of the two who were locked in a stare-down.
The maiden's gaze paused on the golden trident emblem on Tang San's forehead. Reluctantly, she admitted, "It's me. But don't think I'll go easy on you!"
Even if there was a half-soul beast or a quarter-soul beast among them, she wouldn't go easy.
Hearing the maiden admit her identity as the guardian, Ma Hongjun and the others gasped. Su Dan Fiction Network.
"No way? The second trial actually pits a hundred-thousand-year soul beast against us. Lord Sea God thinks too highly of us!" he lamented, clutching his face.
Zhu Zhuqing's face also showed a look of solemnity.
Hearing this, the maiden snorted and her gaze returned to Tang Sui, "Why panic? Aren't there powerful individuals among you... Huh?"
The maiden's voice abruptly stopped, as if she had stumbled upon something significant. She looked at Tang Sui with a mixture of surprise and uncertainty, "You don't have the Sea God's mark... You are not undergoing the Sea God's trial? Then why did you cross the Ring Sea with them?"
Tang Sui remained as calm as ever, "Because they are also companions with whom I can entrust my life and face dangers side by side."
The maiden was momentarily speechless. "Fine. However, although you have no restrictions, you cannot harm the sea soul beasts in the Ring Sea. Be careful not to increase the difficulty of your companions' trials or reduce their rewards."
"Will the difficulty of an already set trial content be increased based on the current situation?" Dai Mu Bai asked, having grasped the crucial point.
The maiden nodded proudly, "Not necessarily. But the results of every trial are personally judged by Lord Sea God, so if a trial participant tries to take shortcuts, they will still be punished. You all must not have any ulterior motives!"
"I can tell you that I will only obstruct your passage through the Ring Sea, but I will not truly attack you. Also, since the strongest among you is not a legitimate trial participant, you must be careful. My strength in the sea is much greater than on land."
Saying this, the maiden stood up, patted the sand from her clothes, and prepared to return to the sea.
"Alright. I'm going back to the sea. I'll be waiting for you in the sea domain during this time. Work hard on your own."
"Please wait a moment."
Tang San called out to the maiden.
The maiden stopped and turned her head, saying impatiently, "What else do you want?"
Tang San spoke gently, "I still have a question. I see you are still in the form of a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, yet you can instantly transform into a human. The soul beast transformation I understand is quite different from this situation."
"This, you mean?" The maiden looked down at her body. "Have you heard of mermaids? Our fish-type sea soul beasts, after cultivating for a hundred thousand years, can transform into humans when they reach land, but their strength will be weakened by thirty percent. If they do not return to the water within an hour, their bodies will gradually weaken and even die."
"Among hundred-thousand-year soul beasts, we are considered an exception." She then glanced at Xiao Wu, who had chosen the traditional soul beast transformation path. "I don't have the courage to cultivate a human form, and besides, I have to guard Sea God Island. I'm leaving... Oh, right, I can tell you my name first. My name is Xiao Bai. Lord Sea God used to call me Little Whitey!"
After saying this, under the subtly curious gazes of everyone, the maiden kicked off, performing a dive into the water like a carp. With a whoosh, she disappeared into the Ring Sea, transforming into her massive Sea Demon Great White Shark form. Her giant, fin-like tail swished gently, and in an instant, she submerged into the depths of the water, leaving the Shrek Seven Devils staring at each other on the shore.
Beneath the Ring Sea, the swordfish sea soul beasts previously frozen solid by Tang Sui had regained their freedom.
They were now quietly lurking in the deep seabed, waiting for their patron, the King of the Sea Demon Great White Sharks, to deal with those trial-takers, and... that little troublemaker.
"Blub blub." Do you think Lord Xiao Bai can defeat that little troublemaker?
A swordfish sea soul beast blew bubbles and communicated with its kin beside it.
The other swordfish sea soul beasts' round eyes swiveled, their opinions varied.
"Blub blub." I think Lord Xiao Bai and that little troublemaker are evenly matched.
"Blub blub!" That's not right! I think Lord Xiao Bai is actually weaker than the little troublemaker!
"Blub blub." Nonsense, Lord Xiao Bai is such a majestic soul beast. Although the little troublemaker is powerful, in terms of strength, they definitely can't match Lord Xiao Bai!
The swordfish sea soul beasts voiced their respective opinions, and their arguments even escalated within the Ring Sea due to their disagreements.
"What do you mean the little troublemaker is stronger than Lord Xiao Bai?"
A slightly pointed, grey-blue snout stealthily joined the ranks of the swordfish sea soul beasts with long, pointed snouts.
Since they were all communicating in soul beast language, no one noticed anything amiss.
"Blub blub." Of course, we're talking about the one who single-handedly caused...
"Blub blub!" Lord Xiao Bai!
A swordfish suddenly stiffened.
Like a chain reaction of falling dominoes, the other swordfish sea soul beasts also fell silent, lowering their heads to show their respect and a desire to avoid conflict.
"Blub blub!"
Lord Xiao Bai!
The swordfish sea soul beasts spoke in unison. King of the Sea Demon Great White Shark, Xiao Bai, her golden eyes filled with ferocity, rolled. Her massive shark mouth opened, revealing rows of sharp teeth. Without needing to transform, she spoke human words, "So, who is stronger than me, the little troublemaker?"