After spending over a month cultivating at home, Yang Podi finally saw Yang Ping'an and the others return to Mount Almo. Judging by their appearances, after such intense battles, their soul power and combat abilities had improved significantly.
Currently, Yang Tianyue had reached level 50. This included the past eight months of cultivation and the absorption of an external spirit bone. In fact, she had reached level 50 over a month ago, but due to constant battles, there had been no time to absorb a spirit ring.
Yang Ping'an had reached level 59 and was expected to hit level 60 within a few months.
Niu Meng had reached level 54, though his improvement was modest, only advancing two levels.
Ye Lingling, surprisingly, had reached an impressive level 60, becoming the first among them to do so. She now had the highest soul power in the group, excluding Yang Podi, and had firmly surpassed Yang Ping'an by one level.
Dugu Yan had advanced to level 57, a respectable improvement.
As for Yang Yuxuan and Niu Kui, they had both reached level 40. Though their talents were somewhat inferior, achieving the rank of Soul Ancestor before the age of 23 still placed them on par with captains of most advanced soul master academies.
Through these two months of battles, all seven had gained immense momentum. The brutal experience of constant fighting had left a faint aura of killing intent around them, clear evidence that each had claimed numerous lives.
However, before Yang Tianyue and Ye Lingling could seek out their spirit rings, Yang Podi called for a secret family meeting.
The attendees included Yang Wudi, Niu Gao, Yang Zhentian, Niu Jinfeng, Dugu Bo, Yang Tianyue, Yang Ping'an, Ye Lingling, and Dugu Yan—essentially the core members and future leaders of the family.
Inside the sealed chamber, Yang Wudi glanced curiously at Yang Podi and asked, "Podi, is there some major issue? Why the sudden meeting?"
Yang Podi nodded. "Yes, there's a significant matter that requires everyone's input. This could greatly influence the future development of our family."
As he spoke, Yang Podi revealed the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud. Instantly, the chamber was bathed in a blue glow, emanating an unparalleled and profound aura.
Yang Wudi's eyes widened in surprise. "Isn't that the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, the national treasure of the Heaven Dou Empire? How did it end up in your possession?"
Yang Podi nodded again. "Yes, it is indeed the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud. I exchanged it with Crown Prince Xue Qinghe for the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower. This artifact is incredibly mysterious and classified as a divine tool. It is linked to the inheritance of a deity."
Niu Gao, puzzled, interjected, "Podi, gods are but mythical legends. Do they really exist in this world?"
Yang Podi replied solemnly, "Of course gods exist in this world, but they are extremely rare. Tens of thousands of years ago, the founder of the Spirit Hall became the Angel God, and the founder of Sea God Island was none other than the Sea God. These are the only two confirmed deities to have appeared in the past millennia."
"Even Tang Chen, the former leader of the Clear Sky Sect, pursued the path to godhood, only to meet a tragic end."
"Moreover, the Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul of the Spirit Hall and the Sea God Martial Soul of Bo Saixi, the Sea God Douluo of Sea God Island, are the only two known god-level martial souls on the Douluo Continent. It's said that god-level martial souls can grant an innate soul power of level 20."
After hearing this, everyone in the chamber was stunned into silence.
Finally, Yang Wudi spoke up. "Podi, is this why you've always been cautious about making enemies of the Spirit Hall?"
Yang Podi nodded. "Yes. Qian Daoliu is the only Rank 99 Limit Douluo on the continent. In terms of strength, aside from the vanished Tang Chen and Sea God Douluo Bo Saixi, no one can rival him. Alone, he is enough to dominate the entire soul master world."
Yang Wudi nodded in agreement. "I've also heard of Qian Daoliu. After being defeated by Tang Chen, he secluded himself in the Spirit Hall and has not emerged since."
"Podi, what should we do now?"
Yang Podi gazed at the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud in his hand. "Everyone, drop a single drop of blood on this artifact to see if there's any reaction. If there is, it means there's a chance to inherit the Sea God's legacy."
Hearing this, everyone grew intrigued.
Over the next few moments, each person took turns dripping blood onto the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud. However, there were no significant reactions, except for a faint blue glow when Ye Lingling's blood made contact. Yet even then, no sign of recognition occurred.
Finally, it was Yang Tianyue's turn. When her drop of blood touched the artifact, the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud erupted in brilliant blue light, projecting a massive blue shadow. Moments later, it attached itself to Yang Tianyue's hand, emitting a powerful suction force as though trying to fuse with her entirely.
Soon after, Yang Tianyue's soul power rapidly drained away. Alarmed, the others rushed to channel their own soul power into her, but it disappeared like a stone sinking into the sea, having no effect.
Amidst the group's shocked cries, Yang Tianyue collapsed unconscious, leaving everyone deeply worried.
Yang Podi's expression darkened to the point of being almost pitch black. Internally, he was both terrified and frustrated. Who would have thought that the Sea God would choose his younger sister Yang Tianyue as its successor? He, with his innate rank 9 soul power, twin martial souls, and having consumed numerous immortal herbs, had not been deemed worthy.
Niu Jinfeng quickly asked, "Podi, what's going on? Why did Tianyue suddenly end up like this?"
Yang Podi sighed heavily. "This is good news. Tianyue has been recognized by the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud and will likely inherit the Sea God's legacy. However, the Sea God's inheritance is incredibly challenging, requiring a series of difficult trials. Each trial poses life-threatening risks, which makes this far too dangerous for Tianyue in her current state."
Internally, Yang Podi couldn't help but compare the situation to the original story. Tang San's success in the Sea God's Nine Trials relied heavily on various strokes of luck.
For example, during the first trial, he had the extreme support of Oscar and Ning Rongrong. In the final moments, even Xiao Wu had stepped in to help. Without such assistance, Tang San wouldn't have passed the first trial alone.
By comparison, Tianyue seemed to fall short in many aspects. Although she had reached level 50, Tang San had been level 66 when he began the trials, bolstered by Xiao Wu's sacrifice and the addition of a 100,000-year spirit ring and spirit bone. His physical body had also undergone intense refinement, far surpassing Tianyue's.
Tang San's Killing God Domain also played a pivotal role in the trials. Without such advantages, Tianyue's chances of surviving the Sea God's inheritance seemed slim.
Regretting his decisions, Yang Podi lamented silently. If he'd known things would turn out like this, he would have allowed Tianyue to accept the Blue Silver Emperor's sacrifice. The resulting 100,000-year spirit ring and bone might have given her a fighting chance. But the Blue Silver Emperor's spirit ring was incompatible with the Breaking Soul Spear, rendering it a waste.
Furthermore, Tianyue's head spirit bone, although exceptional, fell short in terms of age when facing divine standards. If only he'd saved it for a better opportunity.
To make matters worse, in four years, Tang San would arrive at Sea God Island. Compared side by side, who knew how the Sea God might react? While Tianyue's innate talent was remarkable, it paled compared to Tang San's innate full soul power and twin martial souls. Moreover, there was the unpredictable Bo Saixi, who had only offered her sacrifices because of Tang Chen's iinfluence
Everyone noticed Yang Podi's increasingly dark expression, and they all fell silent, realizing the gravity of the situation.
Time flew by, and half an hour later, Tianyue finally woke up. Niu Jinfeng immediately embraced her daughter tightly, as though terrified something terrible had happened to her.
Tianyue, however, was in high spirits. "Mom, I have great news for you! Just now, a blue figure entered my mind and told me to head to Sea God Island within a year for a trial. It said I would inherit the Sea God's legacy.
"As long as I pass the trials, I'll become the new Sea God. Mom, isn't that amazing?"
Yang Podi, hearing this, nearly spat out the tea he had just sipped, spraying it all over Niu Meng's face. This left everyone with strange expressions.
Yang Podi inwardly cursed, "What is the Sea God trying to do? Is he seriously aiming to kill my sister? Tang San didn't even have a time limit, so why impose one on Tianyue?"
Tianyue approached with a proud look on her face. "Brother, I'm amazing, aren't I? I'm going to be the Sea God's inheritor!"
Yang Podi forced a bitter smile. "Amazing. My sister is truly incredible. I'll be counting on you to protect me in the future."
"Tianyue, did the Sea God mention what would happen if you didn't undergo the trials?"
Tianyue's face turned serious. "The Sea God said that now the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud has recognized me as its master and is linked to my soul. If I don't go, my soul will be destroyed."
Yang Podi instantly felt a wave of dizziness. "This damn Sea God! He even set up such a restriction. It seems he's determined to kill my sister."
In the end, amidst everyone's praises, they all left the secret chamber, while Yang Tianyue, clutching the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, returned to her room excitedly. Given the circumstances, Yang Podi couldn't bring himself to dampen Tianyue's spirits by telling her the difficulty of the Sea God's Nine Trials.
After returning to his own room, Yang Podi racked his brain, realizing he had to find a way to boost Tianyue's strength as quickly as possible. There was no way he could let her face the trials unprepared, as that would be tantamount to sending her to her death.
In the Divine Realm, within the Sea God's Temple, the Sea God and the God of Asura were sitting together. The God of Asura looked slightly exasperated. "Sea God, what on earth are you doing? You want to pass your inheritance to a child not even fifteen years old? Even if she has talent, it's impossible for her to complete the Sea God's Nine Trials. Don't tell me you're trying to show favoritism?"
The Sea God shook his head. "How could I show favoritism? In fact, I'm even considering increasing the difficulty of the trials."
The God of Asura was stunned. "Sea God, what are you trying to say? You even want to make the trials harder? That will make it even more impossible for this little girl to pass. Do you even want to pass on your divine position?"
The Sea God smiled faintly. "Maybe this little girl won't succeed, but doesn't she have an older brother? Her brother will surely find a way to help her pass the Sea God's Nine Trials."
The God of Asura: ...