"Divine Envoy, currently there are over three thousand ordinary people among the core members of the Bright Church who have successfully cultivated soul power," Li Qing reported to Su Cheng as they stood together on a deserted island not far from Sea God Island.
More than ten years had passed since he left, and during this time, the Bright Church had been rapidly expanding. Apart from the initial nearly ten thousand core members, the peripheral members had increased by tens of times. It could be said that on the vast sea, aside from those on Sea God Island, most of the people living on the sea had joined the Bright Church. Even the size of the core members had grown to over a hundred thousand.
However, as Su Cheng had not returned during these years, the innate skill had not been spread, so the ordinary people among the new Bright Church members not had the opportunity to cultivate soul power yet. Of course, whether these people could be considered core members still required Su Cheng's personal observation.
"Three thousand people..." Su Cheng inwardly nodded at Li Qing's words. This number was actually quite impressive. Among the nearly ten thousand core members at the time, the vast majority were ordinary people with zero innate soul power, numbering over six thousand, which meant that nearly half of them had successfully cultivated soul power.
As for many others who had not succeeded in cultivating soul power, such situations were also normal. After all, there was a stark difference between those born with soul power and those without. Even if it was just a trace of soul power, it was equivalent to reaching a threshold, and the quantity of bloodline power could be quantified through this.
If someone was born without even a trace of soul power, it meant that the bloodline's power within their body was so thin that it was almost blank. Therefore, even among those with zero innate soul power, there was still a considerable difference between them, and it was difficult to determine the threshold for cultivating soul power.
However, with persistent cultivation, everyone would eventually achieve something. Everyone in this world could awaken their martial soul, which meant that they all had some degree of bloodline power, it was just a matter of when they reached the critical point.
The fact that thousands of ordinary people had become soul masters was quite good news for Su Cheng. He wasn't focused on their combat power. Most of the ordinary people with zero innate soul power, even if they became soul masters through the techniques he spread, most of them would not have a high future potential.
In fact, there were hardly any who had cultivated to the level of a Soul grandaster so far. After all, the techniques he spread were universal, accessible to everyone, and thus the effects were relatively mediocre, with limited improvement in bloodline talent.
In the end, it only compensated for the innate deficiencies of these people, giving them an opportunity to cultivate. To truly improve further, it required various resources, opportunities, as well as their own insight and effort.
What Su Cheng needed was their increasingly firm hearts and aspirations as a result. Truly extraordinary people with exceptional willpower were extremely rare in the world. When one's hands were powerless and even seeking a corner to settle down became a luxury, how could one force these people to pursue their ideals again?
Apart from that, the influence it brought was also important. Clearly lacking the talent of a soul master, but still able to cultivate soul power, this was incredibly attractive to others. In this world, the status difference between soul masters and ordinary people was like the difference between heaven and earth. If it weren't for the successful cases of these people, the Bright Church might not have expanded so rapidly.
Faith and doctrine were only one aspect; real benefits were more convincing.
"In three months, I will spread the law on the open sea. You can make arrangements in advance," Su Cheng said. Li Qing nodded heavily, his eyes shining brightly as he looked at Su Cheng, his longing evident.
His talent was insufficient, and he had encountered many difficulties in the past. As a soul master, he was only slightly lacking in talent, not to mention those ordinary people who didn't even have soul power. Having drifted on the sea since childhood, Li Qing had seen too many ordinary people's despair and struggles.
Although the sea was rich in resources, it was much more dangerous than the mainland. Countless powerful sea soul beasts lurked, various harsh weather conditions were ever-present, and frequent storms and tsunamis were like swords hanging over the heads of all seafarers, threatening their lives at any moment.
Belief in the Sea God was more like a psychological comfort to keep oneself striving to survive until he met Su Cheng and truly saw where the hope for the future lay.
At this moment, a powerful aura emanated from the direction of Sea God Island. Li Qing glanced over there and said, "Divine Envoy, the Sea Douluo is here. I'll take my leave first."
Su Cheng didn't say anything further and just nodded, "Go ahead."
Not long after, a beautiful mermaid girl came riding the waves from the sea, her huge fish tail gently swaying, a perfect curve extending from her long tail fin all the way to her waist.
Smooth, fair waistline without any clothing covering it, revealing a petite and round navel, with the moist scales on the long tail reflecting brilliant colors under the sunlight.
Compared to over a decade ago, Luo Leilei's appearance seemed unchanged, still beautiful and charming, maintaining the demeanor of an innocent young girl.
"Su Cheng, do you even remember to come back?" After reaching the shore, a hint of dissatisfaction appeared on her face as she lightly tapped the sea surface with her fish tail, showing some impatience. "You didn't say you were going to stay on the mainland for so long before."
"Just over a decade, it's nothing for you, isn't it?" Su Cheng chuckled softly.
Luo Leilei looked puzzled, "Did you meet someone on the mainland and forget about us old friends? I heard that many sea soul masters, after meeting land soul masters on the mainland, got married and settled there, never returning to the sea. Especially those soul masters who were expelled from Sea God Island."
Although Su Cheng couldn't be considered expelled, since he didn't accept the Sea God's test and was now over thirty years old, he naturally couldn't return to Sea God Island.
Saying this wasn't because Luo Leilei had any other thoughts about Su Cheng, she was just feeling a bit annoyed. In the beginning, Su Cheng had tricked her into joining the Bright Church by promising to provide support for her, and then he left for the mainland himself.
Over the years, the novelty had worn off, and with her temperament, she had long been a bit tired of the affairs of the Bright Church.
"At least I didn't keep you trapped under the Seven Pillars, you can freely roam the sea. Aren't you satisfied?" Su Cheng raised an eyebrow slightly and chuckled.
Luo Leilei gritted her teeth inwardly at his words.
That was indeed true.
If it weren't for Su Cheng's help, she wouldn't even have had the opportunity to come out. She would have had to stay under the Sea Maiden Pillar to guard Sea God Island all year round. And the existence of the Bright Church did have some effect, at least making the sea much more interesting than before.
"Don't worry, I won't leave this time after coming back." Su Cheng continued, "We should also do something significant."
"That's about time." Luo Leilei sighed with relief, but also with some curiosity, "What ideas do you have?"
"Not in a hurry, I just returned, I want to see what the current situation of the sea is like." Su Cheng said casually, then asked, "How's your martial soul cultivation going?"
Different from the special martial soul inheritance form of the other Pillars Douluo, the Sea Maiden Pillar had always been passed down among the Sea Witch clan, with their core beings being Sea Witch. As a result, the martial souls of the Sea Maiden Douluo changed from generation to generation.
Luo Leilei's martial soul was a Black Flute.
"I'm at level ninety-two now, and I've fully mastered the Ninth Soul Skill." As she spoke, a black flute appeared in her hand, and nine soul rings floated around her.
"Very good." A hint of joy appeared on Su Cheng's face. When he left, she had just broken through the Title Douluo not long ago, and her mastery of the Ninth Soul Skill was not very proficient.
"Exert your full power with your Zhenhai Melody, let me see."
"Are you sure?" Luo Leilei raised her eyebrows, showing a eager look.
Although she said so, she also looked eager to try.
Her Ninth Soul Skill was not suitable for one-on-one combat, and it was difficult to use against powerful sea soul beasts. Sea God Island had not yet experienced a large-scale battle, which meant that her Ninth Soul Skill, the Zhenhai Melody, had almost no chance to be used in normal situations.
"Of course I'm sure, come on."
Upon hearing this, Luo Leilei no longer hesitated. The black flute in her hand was held horizontally across her chest, and the seventh soul ring under her fish tail suddenly shone brightly.
To exert her full power with the Zhenhai Melody, she naturally had to first use her martial soul true body for enhancement.
As a descendant of the Sea Witch clan, her martial soul true body was different from that of normal humans. The light released from the black flute simultaneously enveloped both the flute in Lorelei's hand and her own body, and then the black light rose into the sky, and her body, along with the black flute in her hand, rapidly enlarged.
As her body grew larger, Luo Leilei's entire person seemed to become slightly transparent, appearing somewhat illusory.
Her body expanded on the sea surface until it stopped at over ten meters, her massive fish tail lightly rippling the waves, lying across the sea surface.
If it were an ordinary person, they would inevitably appear rough and terrifying after enlarging several times, but Luo Leilei was different. At this moment, her form became even more beautiful, with every subtle movement and expression exuding immense charm.
Su Cheng silently closed his eyes, and his whole being became one with the surroundings, as if merging with the entire world.
"Whoo—"
The next moment, a pleasant sound echoed in the air.
Luo Leilei, at this point, no longer looked at Su Cheng but was fully engrossed in playing her black flute. The melody wafted gently, like a lament.
The cool sea breeze dissipated, leaving the sea as calm as a mirror.
In this instant, the whole world fell silent, with only concentric rings of black sound waves emanating from Luo Leilei.
Her Ninth Soul Skill, the Zhenhai Melody, essentially was a large-scale mental attack skill.
Using the flute's melody as an attack, it could render the listener unable to produce any resistance.
As a rare mental skill, this soul skill was powerful and had a wide range. However, it required the performer to be relatively fragile and needed to be charged up, making it more suitable for team battles. This was also why she rarely used it in daily life.
However, this level of mental attack obviously couldn't pose any threat to Su Cheng.
He stood quietly on the shore, immersed in the melody, letting the waves of black sound attack him and then wash over him.
Not only that, he even actively guided those sound waves, resonating within his soul and body.
As the melody echoed, Su Cheng felt his entire soul trembling gently, while his energy, blood, and other bodily strength were repeatedly cleansed by the vibrating sound waves.
In this kind of spiritual assault brought about by sound waves, his innate power began to further converge and merge.
However, as time passed, Luo Leilei began to struggle, and the melody gradually became chaotic.
After all, the consumption of using her martial soul true body along with the Ninth Soul Skill was too huge.
Luo Leilei reluctantly stopped using the soul skill, and her body returned to its original size, her fair face somewhat pale.
"Clap, clap, clap."
After a while, Su Cheng opened his eyes, smiling as he applauded, as if praising the beauty of the melody.
Seeing this, Luo Leilei couldn't help but feel a little disheartened and muttered softly, "Gee, you're really something."
"Standing together, I think you look more like a monster." Su Cheng pointed at her fish tail.
"What a sense of aesthetics." Luo Leilei shook her huge tail, dismissing his teasing, then asked curiously, "How strong are you now?"
"Me?" Su Cheng stroked his chin, pondering, "Probably slightly stronger than the teacher."
Luo Leilei rolled her eyes, "You sure know how to boast."
She knew that the "teacher" in his mouth referred to Bo Saixi, the High Priest of Sea God Island.
Su Cheng smiled and didn't argue, instead saying, "How's the situation at the Seven Pillars recently?"
"The Seven Pillars?" Luo Leilei was taken aback, "What situation? It's the same as before."
Su Cheng glanced at her but didn't continue to inquire.
The Seven Pillars must have undergone significant changes, but Luo Leilei hadn't noticed.
It could also be that these people didn't have a deep understanding of the essence of the Seven Pillars and had been staying nearby for years, unable to perceive the subtle changes within.
He couldn't learn much from the other party's mouth. He would have to find a way to explore it himself in the future.
"Alright, now that I'm back, let's do something interesting together after a while."
"No problem." Luo Leilei's face lit up with anticipation.
"You go first, the High Priestess will be coming later."
"The High Priestess is coming?"
As Luo Leilei left, she was still somewhat puzzled, not understanding how Bo Saixi knew so quickly that Su Cheng had returned to the sea.
She wasn't clear about Bo Saixi's current situation.
Over the years, Bo Saixi rarely revealed her true identity when traveling outside, so she had always thought she was still staying in the Sea God's Temple.
Luo Leilei came today because someone from the Bright Church went to inform her.
After so many years, she naturally had other means of contact with the members of the Bright Church.
But with Bo Saixi's status, unless he himself wanted to investigate, apart from a few Pillar Douluo, who else had the qualifications to report to him about matters related to Sea God Island.
...
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