"Don't rush to refuse," Posey said calmly, looking at Su Cheng with a composed expression.
"I know you still have some tricks up your sleeve. But I reckon the cost of going all out isn't small for you either."
Bo Saixi wasn't foolish.
During the previous battle, despite the surprise and seriousness in the opponent's expression, there was an overall sense of calm and composure.
That indifference wasn't the fearlessness of facing life and death, but the confidence in knowing one wouldn't lose their life.
She had that insight.
Su Cheng, seeing this, no longer concealed anything, and calmly said, "I indeed have some means to escape. Old enemies should be resolved rather than accumulated. We had no grievances in the past, so why make things difficult for each other now?
"That token you saw, my status in the Martial Soul Temple is quite decent, and my future potential is also extraordinary.
"Although you're far away overseas, and the Martial Soul Temple's influence doesn't extend there, if you really pay a price to cause trouble for me, I'm sure the forces behind you won't have it easy either. I don't think that's the outcome you want to see.
"With your age, even if your strength is formidable, it wouldn't surpass that of a ninety-ninth level peerless Douluo."
At this point, his expression became even more sincere.
"Our encounter today, I admit my inferiority in skill, I have nothing else to say. If there's a chance in the future, I'd like to settle the score with you.
"But if there really is an irreconcilable enmity between us, it may come down to life and death in the future."
"...," Bo Saixi narrowed her eyes slightly, remaining silent for a while.
After a long silence, she slowly spoke, "Come with me to Sea God Island. It's not a bad thing for you. I won't hide it from you; there's a god seat inheritance on Sea God Island, and I want you to try it."
"A god seat inheritance? Me?" Su Cheng pointed to himself, showing surprise. "Why choose me?"
"Because you have a connection with the Sea God."
"..."
"Most importantly, your talent is good enough."
Su Cheng looked incredulous. "And what about you? Leaving aside whether there's a god seat or not, do you really have such a good thing, and it's my turn as someone unrelated to your continent?"
Actually, he didn't believe much in this so-called "god seat inheritance" mentioned by the other party.
"I tried before, but my aptitude wasn't enough to inherit the god seat," Bo Saixi said calmly. "I obtained an inheritance of a lower level, otherwise, where do you think my strength came from?"
"Are there no other soul masters in the vast sea?" Su Cheng looked at the other party skeptically. "From what you're saying, this so-called 'god seat inheritance' is obviously quite extraordinary. Why give it to me, an outsider?"
"Everyone has a chance. It's just that they, like me, fail to meet the standard for inheriting the god seat. Whether one is an outsider or not, it doesn't matter. Sea God Island needs a new Sea God, and the sea needs a new Sea God."
"..."
Su Cheng blinked, pondered for a moment, and didn't immediately reply, just saying, "I need to think about it."
"I'll give you tonight to consider," Bo Saixi didn't refuse the request. "If tomorrow you still choose to refuse, then try to use your special means to see if you can escape from my hands."
Nightfall.
In a hotel in the main city of the Tian Dou Empire's western region.
Su Cheng, who was sitting quietly in the hotel room, suddenly trembled slightly.
His eyes first showed a moment of confusion, then a glint of clarity, as if a foggy glass was instantly wiped clean.
He woke up from self-hypnosis.
"Phew..."
He exhaled deeply.
Reflecting on the various changes that had occurred today, Su Cheng sighed inwardly.
He hadn't expected Bo Saixi to be so decisive.
She actually came all the way from Sea God Island to the mainland, driven by those seemingly true but actually false memories, to find him.
If it weren't for deceiving the other party with the trick of soul hypnosis, he feared the intensity of this battle would have been several levels higher.
He could certainly escape with his life, but the cost would be much higher.
The soul hypnosis he used today originated from the skill he created during the last simulation, using the "Soul Scholar" talent combined with the "Professional Divine Practitioner" talent.
Back then, with this method, he significantly enhanced the cohesion of the core members of the Bright Church in the simulation, preventing them from leaking their innate skills.
He also used the same self-hypnosis to deceive the Sea God's Light, harnessing the sea's soul power to condense the seventh soul ring of the Hundred Thousand Year level.
Now, back in reality, although the "Soul Scholar" and "Professional Divine Practitioner" talents had been stripped away, the mastered skills obviously wouldn't be forgotten.
"It seems I must go to Sea God Island at least once..."
Su Cheng lightly tapped the table with his fingers, silently contemplating.
Bo Saixi's resolute decision this time, breaking the rules of Sea God Island and coming directly to the mainland, showed a great determination, not to be taken lightly.
Rules, once broken, would reoccur.
If her intentions weren't completely cut off, who knew what other actions might follow.
But beliefs, deeply ingrained, couldn't be shattered easily without years of effort. Especially for top-tier experts like Bo Saixi, their faith was exceptionally firm.
Currently, the best course of action was to prevent her from associating him with those memories, linking them together.
But that seemed increasingly difficult.
The fact that she specifically came from Sea God Island to the mainland indicated her unwavering belief in those memories, and mere words wouldn't likely deceive her.
"Let's delay as much as possible for now," Su Cheng's expression grew calm. "Bo Saixi harbors murderous intent, but it's not paramount. She's also hesitating about how to handle me."
Going to Sea God Island wouldn't hurt for now.
As long as he advanced to Soul Saint, even if he still couldn't match Bo Saixi's strength, he wouldn't be completely powerless.
The fragmented persona mask washed out hastily before was completely ignorant of the situation on Sea God Island, unaware of its depths.
"Sea God Island probably needs a visit this time..."
Su Cheng thought quietly.
But Su Cheng himself was clearly aware that the greatest threat in that place, Sea God Island, lay only in the array formed by the Seven Sacred Pillars and Bo Saixi herself.
If he were willing to pay the price of soul fragmentation, that array would be no match for him.
But if he were unwilling to pay the price, Bo Saixi alone would be enough to restrain him.
So, whether to go or not made no significant difference.
"It's fortunate that although she considers me a threat, she still holds onto some old sentiments and has shown restraint."
Su Cheng knew Bo Saixi's strength very well.
Without using innate power, even if the opponent didn't use martial souls, he wouldn't easily withstand her attacks.
"If I really were to accept the trial on Sea God Island..."
Thinking of this, Su Cheng suddenly had an idea.
He had a way to bypass the high-level assessment.
Of course, the Ninth Sea God Trial wouldn't be triggered in the first place. Bo Saixi didn't know, but he was aware that without the Sea God's Heart, the god seat inheritance couldn't be activated.
But then, many matters on the Martial Soul Temple's side would be delayed.
Qian Renxue's condition was just one of them.
She had made significant progress in comprehending the different spiritual realms of her dual souls. Su Cheng's assistance in this aspect was limited; ultimately, she had to rely on herself.
So, delaying for some time wasn't a big issue.
As long as he waited for her to fully form, he could use this as a foundation to correct the second volume of his innate power.
This step wasn't difficult for him.
Regarding the Nirvana Sutra for the Hell White Tiger, the Nirvana Sutra for the Eternal Sword and the Innate Formation Diagram, and even the simplified version of the innate power that followed...
He was already familiar with them.
But besides Qian Renxue, many other things were waiting for Su Cheng.
Zhu Zhuqing, who was currently in the City of Slaughter, his agreement with Bibi Dong, and even the exploration of the Extreme North and the search for the hidden beasts, a series of matters required his consideration.
"I can't delay for too long..."
As his thoughts turned, a faint light emanated from Su Cheng's soul.
The rough and crude false persona mask was continuously perfected in this process.
The next day.
When Su Cheng stepped out of the hotel, Bo Saixi was already waiting outside.
Seeing his figure, her gaze followed, "How did you consider it?"
"You have to tell me first, what will you do if I fail? Will you restrict my freedom, or will you kill me to keep me silent?"
"No matter the outcome, I won't trouble you anymore," Bo Saixi said calmly.
As for the truth of her words, only she knew.
"Good. Since you, as a strong individual, wouldn't likely violate agreements. In that case, I'll trust you this time and go with you to see Sea God Island."
Su Cheng stared at her and said solemnly, "But I need to inform the Martial Soul Temple first to prevent them from worrying."
Bo Saixi thought for a moment, not refusing either, nodding, "Fine. But you can't mention Sea God Island or my presence, and don't try any tricks. I'll be watching you."
Su Cheng wasn't surprised by her response.
It would have been strange if she hadn't responded this way.
The Martial Soul Temple wasn't an ordinary force. No matter how remote or powerful this so-called "Sea God Island" was, they still had to be wary to some extent.
The city they were in at the moment wasn't small, and there was a Martial Soul Temple main hall in the city.
Su Cheng, holding the Elder Token, easily met the master of the Martial Soul Temple.
Seeing his young age and the fact that he not only possessed the token but also had a higher level than himself and an unfathomable aura, the master didn't dare to be negligent and immediately led him to write the letter.
After this matter was resolved quickly, the two walked out of the Martial Soul Temple side by side.
Bo Saixi glanced at Su Cheng and said lightly, "Six months? I remember telling you that it wouldn't be too short."
Su Cheng smiled and said, "Yes, let's talk about it later. If we specify a too long time at once, it might be hard to explain."
Bo Saixi's face showed a hint of mockery at these words, but she didn't say anything more.
She didn't care how long the agreement on the letter was.
In her opinion, with Su Cheng's talent, he would at least receive a top-level assessment, and maybe even have a chance to touch the Ninth Sea God Trial.
And once he accepted the Sea God's trial, it meant he would no longer have the possibility of leaving Sea God Island.
A soul master who completed the Black Level Trial would become a pillar Douluo in the future; while a soul master who completed the top-level trial would be destined to be the next High Priest.
Both assessments would attract the Sea God's attention and be marked by the Sea God's divine power.
In this situation, even if she wasn't personally watching, Su Cheng wouldn't be able to escape.
Writing this letter was just to reassure him.
At this moment, Bo Saixi's face showed a hint of mockery. "Didn't you say that the Ninth-level Peerless Douluo, is your master? Why didn't you write a letter to your master, but instead wrote one to someone like Qian Renxue?"
"My master is usually busy, probably doesn't have time to look at these things. It's the same no matter who I write to."
"Heh."
Hearing this, Bo Saixi' just sneered and then walked away ahead.