Bo Saixi was stunned.
She had never considered this question before.
Sea God Island had existed for countless years.
In these countless years, although there were occasional incidents caused by soul beasts, they never caused too much turmoil.
Under the protection of the Sea God and the presence of the Seven Sacred Pillars, the entire sea area remained calm and peaceful.
In that case, what more could the Sea God's people desire?
Just the basics of life?
Maritime crises?
Incursions of soul beasts?
Bottlenecks in cultivation?
To her, these were all trivial matters.
For countless years, things had been this way, and no one had ever complained.
Children born on Sea God Island who couldn't pass the test after turning eighteen would leave the island.
As for the Sea God's people in the surrounding sea areas, whether they were outsiders or natives, the Sea God treated them all equally.
For countless years, it had always been like this, and who had ever uttered a word of dissatisfaction?
Sea God Island had a diameter of four hundred miles, and such a small place couldn't accommodate too many people anyway.
Moreover, in the surrounding sea areas, there were also many sea soul beasts who believed in the Sea God, ensuring the safety of humans.
At this point, it seemed like it was enough.
"Is there nothing more significant beyond life and death?"
Seeing Bo Saixi's thoughtful expression, Su Cheng suddenly spoke softly.
"Teacher, they are humans, the Sea God's people. Does their entire life revolve around just 'surviving'? Can't low-level soul masters with weak soul power or ordinary people without soul power have their own pursuits?"
He gazed at Bo Saixi, his eyes pure yet determined.
"I want to ask, Teacher, is this really the Sea God's will, or is it a misinterpretation by later generations of the Sea God's intentions? Or perhaps it's just the laziness and arrogance of the managers of Sea God Island, who have predetermined the future for the Sea God's thousands of followers?
"The glory of the Sea God is only to ensure that sea soul masters can survive the perilous seas? Then what distinguishes us from those land soul masters?
"Teacher, if I hadn't received guidance from the Sea God myself, would I, like those ordinary people who were driven away from Sea God Island, only be busy struggling to survive for the rest of my life, sentenced to a lifetime of toil just to stay alive?
"Shouldn't the ocean be free?"
Bo Saixi looked at Su Cheng, opened her mouth, but found herself speechless for a moment.
Her reaction at this moment was completely within Su Cheng's expectations.
This wasn't arrogance.
It was a common flaw among the powerful.
Would a human consider how ants should live their lives?
To humans, ants lived carefree lives, surviving on a single grain of food for a long time. What else could they possibly want?
Not stepping on them when passing by, or even protecting them from being stepped on by other animals, was already the greatest kindness.
However, Bo Saixi was different from ordinary powerful individuals.
From the perspective of strength, the difference between her and ordinary people wasn't much different from the difference between humans and ants.
But from the perspective of the Sea God's people, both sides were equal.
Su Cheng used this as his starting point, naturally leaving Bo Saixi speechless.
Bo Saixi looked somewhat lost.
The reason she had always stayed in the Sea God's Temple mainly had two reasons.
First, it was customary for the High Priest of Sea God Island to do so.
Bo Saixi was not the first High Priest. Before her, others had passed the top eight tests and taken on the position of High Priest of Sea God Island.
As servants of the Sea God, superior to the ten thousand people of Sea God Island, they naturally put serving the Sea God first.
At least in the eyes of generation after generation of High Priests, it should be like this.
Second, there was a saying.
As the representative of the Sea God in the mortal world, one should also stay away from worldly affairs.
It wasn't a requirement for the High Priest to remain pure; the High Priest could also marry and have children.
This was mainly done to maintain a sense of mystery.
Of course, this was also a saying passed down from predecessors.
But Su Cheng's words made sense.
When the Sea God walked between the land and the sea, saving the world and spreading faith, there was never any avoidance of followers.
Even sea soul beasts followed in its footsteps.
The leader of the Magus Shark Clan, the guardian of Sea God Island, a Magus Shark with a cultivation of over a hundred thousand years, had once served as the Sea God's mount.
Moreover, the Sea God had never required the High Priest to serve day and night.
In fact, after so many years in the Sea God's Temple, she had never communicated or interacted with the Sea God in any way.
Despite being the High Priest of Sea God Island, she had lived for over seventy years, and the only time she had truly communicated with the Sea God was when she completed the top eight tests and officially became the High Priest.
And that contact had been nothing more than a divine thought from the Sea God, helping her break through the ninety-ninth level and transforming her martial soul into that of the Sea God.
As for verbal communication, it had never happened.
This was normal.
Bo Saixi's existence was certainly not insignificant to the Sea God, but it wasn't of great importance either.
Moreover, the time flow rate between the divine realm and the Douluo Continent differed, so while the Sea God cultivated for a moment, who knew how many years had passed on Sea God Island.
Occasionally casting a glance or appearing once every few hundred years was enough; he clearly wouldn't waste energy or divine power to communicate more with the High Priest.
There was no time, nor was there a need.
"...I'll consider it." After a long silence, Bo Saixi finally spoke faintly.
Seeing this, Su Cheng continued to persuade, "Teacher, even if you consider the restrictions of Sea God Island and don't want to leave the island, descending the mountain is still possible. I've broken through the constraints of innate talent and reached my current level in less than a year of cultivation. Doesn't that prove something?"
In fact, the restrictions of Sea God Island were negligible for the Seven Sacred Pillars Douluos and the High Priest Bo Saixi. They could leave the island freely without being condemned, and no one could condemn them.
However, for the Seven Sacred Pillars Douluos, guarding the Seven Sacred Pillars was their duty. Most of their time was spent near the pillars, rarely even returning to the Sacred City, let alone leaving the island.
But Bo Saixi obviously didn't have such restrictions and could come and go as she pleased.
However, Su Cheng himself didn't want Bo Saixi to leave Sea God Island casually.
The surrounding sea areas and islands outside Sea God Island were the main sites for his preaching. If Bo Saixi got involved, it would seriously affect his effectiveness.
"Let's talk about your last question."
Bo Saixi pursed her lips and voluntarily changed the subject.
Seeing that the other party was wavering, Su Cheng didn't continue to push. He raised his final question, which was his true concern.
"Teacher, in the doctrine of the Sea God, I can see the Sea God's respect for life. But in the Black Level Assessment, once failed, one will die, and there have been no exceptions so far. Why is that?
"The number of Seven Sacred Pillars Douluos has never exceeded seven from ancient times to the present, and there are only seven pillars. So when the seven pillars are in place, does it mean that others who undergo the Black Level Assessment will inevitably fail?
"What does the Black Level Assessment mean, what is its content, and does it mean that those who come out in addition to the Seven Sacred Pillars are doomed to die?"
As he spoke, Su Cheng's eyes were filled with doubt and compassion, as if he empathized with those talented Sea God Island residents.
"The Black Level Assessment is an honor for the people of Sea God Island. Even if they die during the assessment, they have no regrets. The higher the difficulty of the assessment, the higher the danger, but after success, the rewards will also be greater." Bo Saixi's face returned to calmness.
"Su Cheng, when you grow up to eighteen years old, the tests you receive will never be simple. So I ask you," her gaze became serious, "would you choose to give up the test because of the danger?"
Upon hearing this, Su Cheng couldn't help but think to himself, "Of course I would. I never intended to take those tests in the first place, regardless of their level."
Of course, he couldn't say this to Bo Saixi. If he did, she could declare the mission over.
"I am me, and they are them. You haven't told me yet, what is the relationship between the Black Level Assessment and the Seven Sacred Pillars?" Su Cheng frowned. "Since the positions of the Seven Sacred Pillars are already filled, does it mean that those who take the Black Level Assessment will definitely fail?"
"In theory, yes," Bo Saixi nodded lightly.
"In fact, the talents are tested according to their abilities, and the Seven Sacred Pillars Douluos have a clear understanding of this. Therefore, before each disciple chooses to undergo the test, the Seven Sacred Pillars Douluos will also consult their opinions in advance. But no one has ever chosen to give up.
"Su Cheng, perhaps your faith in the Sea God is different from others, but don't underestimate them because of this. The Sea God is the spiritual pillar of all Sea God Island residents."
Upon hearing this, Su Cheng bowed respectfully to Bo Saixi and said solemnly, "Thank you for your teaching. I was presumptuous."
Bo Saixi nodded inwardly at this.
After so much communication, the result always seemed to be in favor of Su Cheng, but now she finally managed to win back a round and impart some guidance to her disciple.
"But, Teacher, I don't want those people to die in vain. Can I go and learn about the content of the Black Level Assessment and think of some ways to at least avoid death? From what I understand about the Sea God, it's impossible for him to set up situations that guarantee death."
"This..." Bo Saixi was somewhat surprised, not expecting Su Cheng to have this idea.
But considering the other's uniqueness, she couldn't help but feel moved.
Naturally, she didn't want those talented children to die in the assessment.
Not to mention their extraordinary talents, it was her responsibility to protect the residents of Sea God Island.
Bo Saixi might not be worldly-wise and might not fully understand the desires of the Sea God Island residents, but as the High Priest, she was responsible and compassionate, not wanting any Sea God Island resident to die accidentally.
A month later, Su Cheng walked in the market of Sea God Island.
Beside him was a female soul master dressed in purple.
The purple-clad soul master was much taller than him, with a graceful figure that was exceptionally captivating.
However, her face seemed to be shrouded in a layer of mist, making it difficult for people to see clearly.
But what attracted the most attention was the invisible noble aura emanating from her, indicating that her identity was definitely extraordinary.
Even so, no one glanced in their direction, which was obviously illogical.
Not to mention the charm of the purple-clad soul master herself.
Even Su Cheng, who was still young, was not an unknown figure on Sea God Island, and he was well-known in the market.
Nowadays, the number of trading ships coming to and from Sea God Island has increased several times compared to before, and it can be said that the vast majority of them came for him alone.
The reason for the current situation, where they were subconsciously ignored, naturally stemmed from the actions of the purple-clad soul master.
This person was none other than High Priest Bo Saixi of Sea God Island. With her spiritual power intensity, it was too easy to conceal her appearance and presence.
After meeting each other this month, Bo Saixi agreed to Su Cheng's proposal and came to the market to take a look.
Although with her strength, she didn't need to come here in person. A sweep of her divine consciousness could clearly know everything happening on the island.
But Su Cheng said that the atmosphere was different.
Today was not the day for Su Cheng to explain the doctrine of the Sea God, and with Bo Saixi by his side, he wouldn't choose to do anything extra at this time.
Preaching could be done at any time, but the opportunity to influence Bo Saixi wasn't so easy to come by. This time, he had to leave a deep impression on her first.