What is a God-bestowed Soul Ring?
Can it replace my seventh Soul Ring? How should I use it...
Tang San was eager to know.
Unexpectedly, Bo Saixi replied bluntly, "Just absorb it already. Why waste time with pointless questions?"
Bo Saixi threw the golden sphere in her hand onto the ground, and in the next second, she vanished from the spot.
"Ding, ding, ding..."
The golden sphere landed with a crisp, melodious sound, rolling to Tang San's feet.
At this moment, Tang San felt utterly humiliated, as if he had been slapped hard across the face.
"This... this is too much!"
Tang San instinctively clenched his fists. Being publicly humiliated like this made it hard for him to maintain his dignity.
Ever since arriving on this continent, he had been relentlessly humiliated by Ye Hao, and every person he loved and cared for had left him without exception.
Now, as the bearer of the Sea God's Nine Trials, his status was equal to—if not higher than—Bo Saixi's. He should have been revered by all, yet reality had just dealt him a harsh blow.
In the Douluo Continent, strength was everything.
"Just wait. When I become the Sea God, I will make every single person who ever looked down on me pay the price!"
Gritting his teeth, Tang San picked up the God-bestowed Soul Ring that Bo Saixi had thrown down.
In the next second, he decisively hurled it into the sea.
"Who do you think you're looking down on? Even without a God-bestowed Soul Ring, I, Tang San, am still invincible."
With that, Tang San immediately left the foot of Sea God Mountain to search for a suitable sea Soul Beast within the bounds of Sea God Island to serve as his seventh Soul Ring.
Inside the Sea God Temple, Bo Saixi sneered.
"I merely tested him slightly, yet this Tang San couldn't keep his composure. And that murderous intent hidden in his gaze... Just as the rumors from the continent say, this man is no good."
"Since you look down on the God-bestowed Soul Ring, then don't use it."
Bo Saixi snorted coldly. The God-bestowed Soul Ring that Tang San had just thrown into the sea suddenly reappeared in her hand the next moment.
As everyone knew, Tang San's first Martial Soul was the Blue Silver Grass.
The ocean was teeming with sea Soul Beasts, far more diverse and numerous than those on the Douluo Continent, and most of them were incredibly powerful.
Tang San searched for a long time...
Three days later, he returned to the foot of Sea God Mountain, utterly exhausted. After searching for three whole days, he hadn't found a single "evil" Soul Beast.
Worn out, Tang San collapsed onto the sandy beach, gazing at the azure sky above as the blinding sunlight shone on his face.
He missed the Douluo Continent...
Though the sea was full of Soul Beasts, none of them were suitable for Tang San.
Either their types were incompatible, or their age was insufficient—problems like these were endless.
"No, I must pull myself together."
Dragging his weary body up, Tang San set out once more...
Another three days passed...
"Splash!"
Tang San emerged from the sea, keeping his head above water.
"Strange, I remember throwing the God-bestowed Soul Ring here that day. How could it be gone?"
Refusing to give up, Tang San took a deep breath and dove back into the sea to continue searching for the God-bestowed Soul Ring.
Unbeknownst to him, Bo Saixi had already retrieved it.
"Marking the boat to find the sword—utter foolishness."
Bo Saixi slowly shook her head, thoroughly disappointed in Tang San.
She truly couldn't understand what benefit the Sea God saw in choosing someone like Tang San.
With twin Martial Souls but lacking in character and integrity, his conduct was a complete mess.
This made Bo Saixi begin to suspect that the Sea God had chosen Tang San out of spite rather than through careful selection.
Moreover, Tang San's twin Martial Souls were already ruined.
His second Martial Soul, the Clear Sky Hammer, had prematurely absorbed Soul Rings—two yellow and two purple at that. This kind of reckless haste disgusted Bo Saixi.
One must be down-to-earth, and Soul Power must progress step by step. Such methods were utterly disgraceful.
Not only had he wasted the innate advantage of twin Martial Souls, but he had also ended up in this sorry state.
Bo Saixi couldn't bear to watch any longer.
Just as she was about to leave to chat with Tang Chen...
"Senior Bo Saixi, I beg you to set aside past grievances and grant me the God-bestowed Soul Ring."
Tang San's voice echoed from the foot of the mountain.
"Hmph!"
Bo Saixi snorted disdainfully. "Didn't you look down on the God-bestowed Soul Ring? Why do you need it now?"
Her scornful words carried down from the mountaintop, infuriating Tang San.
However, when asking for a favor, one must show the proper attitude. Suppressing his anger, Tang San spoke in a low, restrained voice.
"Senior, I implore you to grant me the God-bestowed Soul Ring. Tang San will be eternally grateful."
"Hypocritical charity." Bo Saixi sneered under her breath.
"The opportunity for a God-bestowed Soul Ring comes only once. You've already used yours. Granting another would be against the rules."
With that, Bo Saixi turned and left without giving Tang San any further chance to speak.
Meanwhile, in the Divine Realm...
"Hahaha..."
The Death God laughed heartily. "Poseidon, what kind of successor did you pick? Your judgment is truly awful. His character is lacking, and with just a slight test from Bo Saixi, Tang San couldn't keep his cool. Doesn't he understand that impatience spoils great plans?"
At this moment, Poseidon, clad in his divine attire, stood opposite the Death God with a darkened expression.
After calming down and gradually learning of Tang San's actions, Poseidon was filled with regret.
He could only curse his own blindness, having acted out of spite against the Death God and ended up choosing a "flawed" heir.
"Can't you at least save me some face?"
Poseidon lowered his head in frustration. "I regret it. If I had known Tang San's true nature, I would never have given him my inheritance. Had I known earlier, I would've given it to Ye Hao instead. But now, even the Asura God has taken a share. I've lost big this time."
"Death God, I admit defeat in this wager." Poseidon sighed deeply, his voice weak.
"Oh, come now!" The Death God grinned from ear to ear.
"The wager isn't over yet. Why concede so soon?"
Poseidon was speechless. "Do you really think Tang San stands a chance against Ye Hao? His temperament is poor, his morals lacking, and his conduct even worse. Not to mention, his second Martial Soul is completely ruined. I, Poseidon, spent 1,001 years to finally attain my godhood. How could I have been so shortsighted as to choose someone so unworthy? This is my mistake."
Poseidon was filled with remorse, but the wager had already been made, and with the other five watching, admitting defeat now would be too humiliating.
"Bo Saixi is planning to have Tang San leave the island soon. Once he returns to the Douluo Continent, he's as good as dead!" The Death God reminded him.
"Look, why don't you modify the earlier trials of the Sea God's inheritance? Lower the difficulty a bit and let Tang San leave the island sooner. That way, once he dies, the wager will naturally dissolve. What do you think?"
Hearing the Death God's suggestion, even Poseidon was moved.
"Fine, I'll make the arrangements."
With that, Poseidon immediately began adjusting the trials, striving to expedite Tang San's departure from the island.
An heir like this was nothing but a disgrace to the Sea God's name.
The Sea God couldn't afford this humiliation.
At the foot of Sea God Mountain, Tang San waited for a while longer.
Seeing that Bo Saixi no longer responded, Tang San realized he had been ignored yet again.
A sense of defeat welled up within him—Tang San was unwilling to accept this.
He had reincarnated into this world with the Mysterious Heaven cultivation techniques, mastered the art of hidden weapons, and possessed the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record.
By all accounts, he should have been the protagonist's template. Yet now, he had been trampled underfoot by a mere native like Ye Hao.
Tang San had lost everything. Consumed by hatred, he glared venomously toward the summit of Sea God Mountain, his fists clenched so tightly they trembled.
Without another word, Tang San turned and left, casting one last resentful glance at the peak.
Meanwhile, behind Spirit Hall, within the Death God's shrine...
Ye Hao slowly rose to his feet and walked toward the Death God's Scythe. The Asura God's mark on his forehead gradually faded, replaced by the nascent form of a scythe. The Death God's Heart hovered before him, resonating with both the scythe and the mark.
The three had formed a perfect connection.
"The time has come. It's time to pull out the Death God's Scythe."
Ye Hao smiled faintly and stepped onto the circular platform, his gaze sweeping over the massive weapon before him.
In that instant, eight soul rings lit up beneath his feet, and the phantom of the Death Spider Emperor manifested behind him.
"Sixth Soul Skill—Spider Emperor Clone."
"Seventh Soul Skill—Spider Emperor True Body."
Almost simultaneously, Ye Hao split into two identical figures, both activating the Spider Emperor True Body.
His legs vanished, replaced by a massive spherical abdomen from which eight thick spider legs extended. His upper body was encased in violet-black armor, his face obscured by a chitinous mask.
Both Ye Haos gripped the Death God's Scythe firmly, their eyes filled with unwavering determination.
"Pull!"
With a roar, the two figures exerted their strength in unison, heaving the inverted scythe upward.
Ye Hao planted his feet firmly, feeling the weapon gradually loosen as he strained against it.
Outside, the normally tranquil Spirit Hall trembled faintly—an unprecedented occurrence that sent disciples and citizens into panic.
"It's begun."
Xiao Hong emerged from the Elder Hall, his gaze fixed on the shrine as he approached.
"Grandfather, what's causing this earthquake?" Qian Renxue asked.
"Ye Hao has started pulling out the Death God's Scythe," Qian Daoliu replied calmly.
As the overseer of the Angel Nine Trials, he knew this moment marked the true beginning of a god's ascension.
Inside the shrine, the two Ye Haos strained with reddened faces, their postures low and stable. The Titan Giant Ape Left Leg Bone anchored them, while the Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone continuously replenished their soul power. The remaining two arm bones radiated dazzling light, amplifying their efforts.
Ye Hao knew extracting the scythe required relentless momentum.
"Crack—"
The Death God's Scythe began to shift. Intricate patterns shimmered along its obsidian shaft as dark energy swirled around Ye Hao. The weapon rose steadily, its curved blade gradually revealing itself.
A surge of excitement filled Ye Hao as he redoubled his efforts.
"My soul power is draining too fast... This scythe is like a bottomless abyss!"
But there was no turning back now.
Ye Hao smirked coldly.
"I don't care if you're a divine weapon or not. I'm pulling you out as a favor. If you don't cooperate, I'll just use the Asura God's Sword and leave you to rot!"
As if understanding his words, the Death God's Heart detached from his hair and floated toward the scythe. Simultaneously, the scythe mark on his forehead burned intensely.
The Death God's Heart, the scythe, and the mark—all three aligned perfectly.
The Heart slotted into a square depression at the weapon's center, completing it.
"Now!"
Ye Hao's hair whipped wildly as the phantom of the Death God materialized behind him—cloaked in black, scythe in hand. The featureless void of its face gradually took shape, mirroring Ye Hao's own visage.
"RISE!"
With one final exertion, the Death God's Scythe tore free from its prison.
"It's... over." Ye Hao exhaled in relief, the weight of the weapon now in his hands.
As the scythe was fully drawn, the mark on his forehead flashed black before merging into his consciousness.
"Death God & Asura God Seventh Trial—Extract the Death God's Scythe—Completed."
"Reward: 25% Death God & Asura God Affinity. Total Affinity: 75%."
"Finally, this step is done." Ye Hao relaxed, testing the scythe's weight. It felt as though it had been forged for him alone.
"Now, let's see what the Eighth Trial entails."
With the seventh trial cleared, his path forward grew clearer.
From what Xiao Hong had hinted, the next trial would involve confronting the Sea God.
"Death God & Asura God Eighth Trial: Collect all soul rings and bones, elevate soul power to Rank 99. Intercept the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King. Time limit: 10 years."
Ye Hao nodded thoughtfully.
"Gathering soul rings and bones won't be difficult. Once I break through to Rank 90, I can arrange the rest. As for the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King... I'm not strong enough yet. To be safe, I should wait until I reach Rank 97 or 98, then combine the scythe and Asura God's Sword for absolute certainty."
He never gambled without assurance.
"I'm still four ranks short. Conservatively, it'll take over two years to become a Titled Douluo."
Suddenly, space within the shrine trembled.
"Ye Hao."
A deep voice echoed through the chamber.
Ye Hao looked up to see the Death God seated upon a throne at the shrine's far end.
"Death God? Why have you appeared?"
"To congratulate you on claiming the scythe. My liberation draws nearer," the Death God laughed.
"Liberation?" Ye Hao smiled faintly but said nothing.
"Enough digressions. I bring good news."
"What news?"
"The Sea God has conceded."
"Conceded? But Tang San hasn't even become a god yet. Why would he surrender?"
This was unprecedented. Ye Hao was genuinely puzzled.