"Old Tang? What, you will be overseeing our trial?"Questioned Xie Xie's eyes wide as he stared at the golden figure before him.
"Yes, you all will be taking the Sea God Trial that your friend before has taken." Old Tang with a faint smile said to the people before him.
"People before? Oh, you mean Wulin! Are you saying you overlooked his trials as well?"Questioned Mu Xi.
"Indeed, I oversaw the Tang Wulin trial and was the reason he was able to finish it so fast." Said Old Tang causing some of the members to arch a brow.
"Are you saying the trials would have taken longer without your help?"
"Naturally, do you actually believe the Sea God Trials would only take a few hours to complete? The first seven devils took almost a year to complete the first trial."Said Old Tang causing their expressions to change.
"A year!"
"But we don't have a year to finish, simply the first trail!" Xie Xie shouted with his brow furrowed, as he knew Wulin would be needing their help later on.
The longer they take to finish these trails, the more problems, and challenges he would have to take on by himself.
How could he or the others allow such a thing?
"Wait, if Tang Wulin finishes the trial in only a few hours...Wouldn't that mean the difficulty..."
"A sharp one I see. It's exactly as you assume, the difficulty of his trial was far hellish and harder than any other."Said Old Tang with a sigh as he glances at Wu Siduo.
Wu Siduo's face was grim as she more or less could understand why he was doing such a thing.
He told them he was summoned to trials but because they were in unfamiliar territory.
He was naturally worried about the others, even though he didn't say he was worried about them. She and everyone else could easily figure out he was from them knowing each other for so long.
But considering these trials were something that took even the original seven devils years to complete.
How could they be something so easily completable? Even with Tang Wulin's terrifying prowess, he must have suffered at least.
Everyone also came to this conclusion with them sighing but knowing there nothing much they can do.
"Is it possible for you to speed up our trials?" Questioned Yue Zhengyu causing Old Tang to smirk.
"Technically I can, but that isn't for all of the trials. As for some of the trials, for example, this first one depends on your aptitude. Tang Wulin was able to pass this trial in mere minutes, while it took others way longer. While I doubt it would take you guys as long as the first seven devils because you all are stronger than when they did there. It would still take a while before completing."Said Old Tang as he glances at all of Wulin's friends.
They were all lost in thought, wondering just how long it would take them to finish these trials. While they were all confident in their capabilities, one has to remember this was a trial made by a god.
A trial that was made to craft a new Sea God, a superior being who surpassed everything in this world.
Most likely only Na'er could claim she could finish all of these trials before a year. As they all knew they couldn't waste too much time on this.
"These trials will not be easy, actually they will be hellish and hard, forcing out even more of your potential. Some of them will be time-consuming, so some of you who wish to end this trial early will be disappointed."
"I have a question?"
"Ask it."
"What would happen if we failed one of the trials?" Questioned Liu Yuxin with everyone else around her nodding their head.
"If you fail one of the trials, then you will be protected from dying. But this also means you are disqualified from taking the next ones."Said Old Tang.
Disqualified from taking the next?
This caused all of their hearts to shake, as they only have one chance to finish these trials or it's game over.
Game over for this once-in-a-lifetime chance to walk the first-generation path and to improve their strength rapidly.
"We're ready!" Shouted Xie Xie after he let out a sigh before staring at Old Tang with fierce determination.
"Oh? Hm, I can see."Said Old Tang as he saw all of their eyes, not one of them held any sense of weakness or hesitation.
'You sure have some good friends.'
"Alright then, let's start the first trial."
Old Tang snapped his finger causing the whole golden ocean to rumble before the sparkling water began to part.
All of Tang Wulin's friends saw the ocean parting as a set of golden steps began to gently rise from underwater.
The flight of stairs spreads downwards, leading up to who knows where to shine while giving off a golden light.
"Are we supposed to climb these steps?" Questioned Xu Lizihi as he began straining his eyes, trying to find the top of the steps.
But to his shock, he couldn't see anything, as if these steps were the gateway to the heavens themselves.
"Normally each of you would be given a set number of steps you must pass based on your aptitude. But because of a recommendation by the new master of the trident, you all will have to complete the same amount."Said Old Tang causing Xie Xie lips to twitch.
'Damn it boss!'
"You all must pass at least 230 steps for you to complete your first trial. Similar to the others, you will have a year to complete this trial."
Old Tang then waved his hand causing a set of buildings to appear in this golden world.
"If you all need to rest, then you can do so in this building. You won't need to worry about food since the energy here will be nourishing you all. As well as there is food in the house as well."Said Old Tang before he glanced at all of them one final time.
"For the rules of this trial, you can not use any attacks on these steps and can only rely on your physical capabilities. Of course, you can use your amplification and support abilities to help you pass this trial. If your body isn't able to handle the pressure anymore, you will be rebounded off the steps."
"I wish you all good luck." Said Old Tang before his figure began fading away in front of everyone.
After Old Tang left, Tang Wulin's friends all had different thoughts about their present challenge and the situation.
But in the end, all of them all had their same belief, they will overcome this trial!
Almost all of them, Liu Yuxin had a complicated look on her face as she stared at these steps.
Mu Xi being the one who looked out for everyone most of the time was able to notice this quickly.
"What is wrong Yuxin?" Questioned Mu Xi as a look of concern surfaced on her face causing everyone to turn to Liu Yuxin.
"Huh? Oh...Um well, it's nothing."Said Liu Yuxin as she suddenly noticed everyone was staring at her.
"Yuxin...Could it be your worry about the trial?"Questioned Xu Lizhi, causing Liu Yuxin to slightly freeze before she started to shake her head.
But that freeze was more than enough for them to understand. Seeing that she couldn't play it off anymore, Liu Yuxin could only sigh before she began talking.
"Well...I am just worried that I will be holding you guys back. I mean this is a trial made by the gods and unlike you all, I am not really..." Liu Yuxin began trailing off as her voice got quiet.
It wasn't wrong to say she knew out of everyone here, she was the weakest.
Not only that but she was newest on here when it came to everyone. Even Dai Yun'er, who only recently joined this year, had the chance to train with everyone.
Unlike her who didn't get the chance, while she was trained by the Body Sect. She didn't think it would be enough to actually allow her to keep up with everyone and not hold them back.
"Don't worry about it. I am sure you won't be holding us back." Said Xu Lizhi causing Liu Yuxin to furrow her brows as she turns to him.
"Why? Why do you think I won't-"
"Because we will help you." Said Xu Lizhi, interrupting Liu Yuxin and causing her to blink her eyes.
"If you feel like you're falling behind, we will help bring you back up. If you need more strength, we will lend you ours. If you need a push, we will give you the push. What I am trying to say is we will support each other through this trial, Yuxin."Said Xu Lizhi causing Liu Yuxin to fall silent but at the same time, her body was slightly trembling.
"Couldn't have said It any better Lizhi." Said Ye Xinglan with a smile as she caressed his hair causing Xu Lizhi to laugh.
"Besides, I doubt the boss would suggest that without any basis. I am sure he believed we can all pass this trial."Said Xie Xie.
As Tang Wulin was the one who included Liu Yuxin in this trial as well. While also telling Old Tang how many steps they needed to pass.
So Xie Xie believed that Tang Wulin took into account all of their abilities before suggesting this.
Liu Yuxin could only sigh before smiling as she recognized the looks everyone was giving her.
One of assurances and determination.
"Well knowing, Wulin. I guess you are right...Thanks, guys."Said Liu Yuxin with an enormous smile causing all of them to laugh.
"Alright then. Well, let's start." Said Xie Xie as he moved towards the steps.
As his foot reached the first steps of the stairs, he instantly felt it.
"Shit!"
Xie Xie immediately felt a formidable force appear in front of his leg, powerfully pressing down on him, to stop him.
Yet it was still wasn't enough to stop him from moving his next foot on top of the steps.
Allowing his whole body to stand on the first level, feeling a tremendous pressure forcefully squeezing his body.
As if he was being squished by a giant hand from above, alongside a layer of faint golden mist appeared around him.
"This can also drain my soul power too." Said Xie Xie as he began furrowing his brows at his dwindling soul power.
"It should be expected, this trial wouldn't be easy. I am guessing it focuses more on the body than anything else."Said Ye Xinglan as her foot reached the same step as Xie Xie.
As she took another step, she felt the pressure increased even more. But not enough to stop her from quickly moving up.
"Hey hold up!" Shouted Xie Xie as he saw Ye Xinglan figure moving swiftly up the steps.
He began following behind her, with everyone else joining them on the steps and moving upwards.
While they were doing this, the figure of Old Tang was standing at the bottom next to one of the golden houses.
"Hmm, not bad. I had thought it would take a while before they started but to think they would instantly start."Muttered Old Tang as he had long since accounted for the weaker members' lack of confidence.
But not only were they able to help each other overcome that weakness but also inspire each other.
"I guess Wulin was right."