It's well known that in the world of Douluo Dalu, the divine realm is practically a sewer—gods can even be killed by Tang San's hidden weapons.
While gods like the Angel God might seem underwhelming, they do have one major advantage—there are no "Three Calamities and Five Decays" or "Heaven-Man Decline." As long as a god doesn't seek their own doom, they can live indefinitely.
Compared to other xianxia worlds, attaining immortality here is far easier.
That said, Dugu Yan didn't fully believe Yu Tianming's claim of inheriting the Shura God's position. Growing up in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, even after personally witnessing miracles on Sea God Island, she still saw godhood as something too lofty and distant. After all, it had been ten thousand years since anyone became a god—how could she, someone merely more talented than the average person, ever hope to stand shoulder to shoulder with the divine?
While pulling clothes out of her storage soul device, Dugu Yan smiled and said to Yu Tianming, "If I get the chance, I'll try visiting the Slaughter City. Gaining a Slaughter Domain like you wouldn't be a bad deal."
She dressed piece by piece over the scale-covered parts of her body. Since her Black Jade Form's destructive power could be deactivated, her clothes weren't damaged by the soul skill.
Yu Tianming didn't care whether she believed in his potential to inherit the Shura God's mantle. Tang San wouldn't even enter the Slaughter City for another ten years—that was plenty of time to eliminate Tang Chen and open up competition for the Shura God's position.
Seeing Dugu Yan hadn't yet deactivated her fifth soul skill, Yu Tianming ran his hand across the black jade scales on her body and smiled. "Then you'd better cultivate hard and aim to reach Soul Emperor as soon as possible."
"After absorbing the soul ring, I've already reached level 54. With the pressure from the Sea God's Light, I should be able to break through to Soul Emperor soon."
———
Half a year later, at the foot of Sea God Mountain.
It had almost been a full year since they arrived at Sea God Island. With less than three days left before the first Sea God Trial deadline, Yu Tianming and the other three were ascending the staircase under the Sea God's Light, walking side by side.
Now fifteen years old, Yu Tianming had cultivated relentlessly under the Sea God's Light. Two months ago, he'd reached level 69, and it wouldn't be long before he broke through to level 70 and received a God-bestowed Soul Ring to become a Soul Sage.
Ah Zhu, the oldest of the group at 19, hadn't started out with high innate soul power. Her cultivation had been slow until she took treasured herbs and immortal grasses, elevating her into genius-level and accelerating her progress.
Thanks to her persistent training and the pressure of the Sea God's Light, she had now reached level 58—on par with the 19-year-old Ma Hongjun.
Ah Zhi was one year younger than Ah Zhu, but after absorbing two 50,000+ year soul bones, she closed the gap and also reached level 58.
The youngest, Dugu Yan, had progressed the fastest.
She already had considerable talent, and after awakening at age six, she absorbed the Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone and two soul bones. Now, at just 13 years old, her soul power had already reached an astonishing level 58—almost matching Yu Tianming's speed back in the day.
After a year of training, all three girls had reached level 58. Their physiques and adaptation to the Sea God's Light had improved drastically.
They now climbed the first dozen steps as if taking a leisurely stroll, even the physically weakest—Ah Zhu—felt no difficulty.
In the original story, Bai Chenxiang, who was at level 50 and hadn't absorbed a soul ring, could still climb up to the 60th step after a year of hard work. And her soul rings were all focused on speed.
Here, all three girls were at level 58 with far superior martial spirits. Walking the early stair levels was no burden at all.
Soon, they reached the 50th step, and Ah Zhu and Ah Zhi began to feel the strain.
Yu Tianming quietly activated his Slaughter Domain to boost their morale, then said to Dugu Yan, "Yan Yan, you can use your soul skills on Ah Zhu and Ah Zhi now."
Dugu Yan nodded. Greenish light glowed from her fingertips as her first and third soul rings lit up. Once touched, both Ah Zhu and Ah Zhi's faces flushed unnaturally.
"My first skill is a mental toxin, and the third is a berserk toxin. They can only stimulate potential for a short time. We need to hurry, or they'll damage your bodies."
"Thank you, my lady. We understand." Both Ah Zhu and Ah Zhi picked up their pace immediately.
Though lethal in the right doses, Dugu Yan's toxins could function like stimulants when used precisely.
After acquiring her fifth soul ring, her martial spirit had undergone a full evolution. She could now release toxins by touch and had gained vastly greater control—allowing her to use them to enhance allies, not just herself.
Without a support-type soul master, Dugu Yan's "doping" effect still proved invaluable.
Beyond the hundredth step, the pressure surged dramatically.
As soon as she set foot on the 100th step, Ah Zhu felt a tsunami of pressure crash down. Climbing became incredibly difficult; her whole body trembled with each step. Ah Zhi held up better but was already sweating heavily.
They were both nearing their limits. Each additional step risked collapse.
Yu Tianming wanted them to complete the test on their own, but with all three girls being ten levels below the Shrek group and lacking external support, it just wasn't feasible.
He quickly reached out and held them—one on each side. Ah Zhu and Ah Zhi grabbed onto his arms, moving forward slowly but steadily.
At step 106, Ah Zhu was just two steps away from completing her trial. But she found herself unable to move at all, not even lift her leg. Beads of blood began forming on her skin.
Seeing her pained expression, Yu Tianming didn't hesitate. He picked her up and strode up to the 108th step.
In an instant, all the pressure on her vanished. The golden mist around her dispersed, and she collapsed limply into Yu Tianming's arms.
With a soft chime, a red light shot out from the seven-pointed star on her forehead and formed a red square screen in front of her. It shattered into red fragments and returned to her brow.
Yu Tianming knew—she had passed her first trial and received a substantial reward.
Without speaking, he gently set her down and moved on.
Ah Zhi's trial required her to reach 128 steps—20 more than her sister. She began trembling under the Sea God's Light, but with two soul bones, she endured better than Ah Zhu. With minimal support, Yu Tianming helped her reach the 128th step.
With both sisters having completed their trials, only Yu Tianming and Dugu Yan remained under the Sea God's Light.
Among the three girls, Dugu Yan had the strongest martial spirit and had her fifth soul skill to enhance her body. Even at level 130, she merely trembled slightly.
Under such pressure, she still joked with him. "Tianming-ge, you're not going to carry me up like them? Not even a hand to help?"
By the time they reached the 150th step, Dugu Yan could no longer move.
Yu Tianming wrapped an arm around her waist and swiftly carried her to the 168th step.
Having passed her trial, Dugu Yan collapsed, breathless. "Tianming-ge, my toxins don't work on you. Be careful from here on."
Unlike modern women raised under monogamous ideals, those from noble clans were used to polygamy and concubines.
After her power surged over the past year, Dugu Yan now had the confidence to suppress Ah Zhu and Ah Zhi, ensuring her position as the future main wife. She no longer got jealous so easily.
Yu Tianming knew she was just being playful. He held her hand and smiled. "I'd love to carry you all the way to the 168th step. But if Sea God thinks you're cheating and cuts your rewards short, wouldn't that be a shame?"
Dugu Yan blushed. "If it's you carrying me, I wouldn't mind losing some rewards."
That said, she didn't rely on him. Holding his hand, she climbed step by step under her own strength.
Her martial spirit's evolution had indeed made her physique much stronger. At level 58, she actually climbed all the way to the 160th step alone.
Only then did her body finally give out. Legs trembling, she nearly fell before Yu Tianming caught her and led her up the final steps.
As the pressure faded and her top-tier Eight Trials unlocked, she didn't focus on the reward. Instead, she immediately told Yu Tianming, "Tianming-ge, my poison can't help you now. You'll have to rely on yourself."
"I've got my own powerful boost skills and a strong enough body. Trust me, I'll pass."
Smiling, he gently set her down. He hadn't expected his poison immunity from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well to now prevent Dugu Yan from buffing him.
But it didn't matter. A year ago, he could already reach the 200th step. Since then, his soul power had increased by ten levels, his physique had improved, and he had another dragonized body part.
More importantly, he'd adapted to the pressure of the Sea God's Light.
Even though the difficulty of climbing increased with each step, Yu Tianming was confident—he could reach the 500th step.
After leaving Dugu Yan behind, he continued his climb.
Helping the three girls had barely delayed him—they only went up around 100 steps each, which hardly taxed his stamina.
As he moved faster, he jogged up to the 300th step.
With four dragonized parts and his third soul skill enhancing him, his body's strength had multiplied more than tenfold.
While 300 steps had been Tang San's limit as a Soul Sage, to Yu Tianming—still a Soul Emperor—it only slightly slowed his pace.
Before long, he reached the 400th step. The immense pressure finally became apparent—his back was soaked in sweat, and his speed slowed sharply.
Back below, the girls were already feeling the benefits of their trials. Watching his climb, they chatted idly.
"Young master's strength is incredible. He only slowed after reaching the 400th step."
"Normal soul masters might double their strength at most, but Tianming-ge's martial spirit and dragonization boost him over ten times. No wonder the early steps don't affect him."
"He's climbed past the 450th step several times already. Even though he hasn't reached 500 yet, it shouldn't be a problem."
"His physical power probably surpasses most Title Douluo already. Once he reaches that realm, who will be his match?"
…
At the 450th step, Yu Tianming's legs began to tremble under the overwhelming Sea God's Light. Every step forward took nearly all his strength.
He knew he couldn't stop. If he paused before reaching the 500th step, his soul power might be drawn out by the Sea God's Light.
His dragonized limbs hid most of the damage, but his bloodshot eyes betrayed the toll.
By the time he reached the 490th step, the pressure was monstrous. If a Title Douluo couldn't handle level 300, then this level could crush one to blood mist instantly.
Yet step by step, Yu Tianming climbed to the 500th step. Golden-red blood seeped from the cracks between his scales—he had clearly reached his limit.
But the moment he set foot on the 500th step, the pressure vanished.
Catching off guard by the sudden change, he stumbled and collapsed.
Just then, his soul power began to ripple—he knew he was on the verge of breaking through to Soul Sage.
(End of Chapter)
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