"Big brother is quite right, this kid has already used his ninth soul skill, and I believe that's about the extent of his abilities,"
The words of the Sea Dragon Douluo resonated with many people.
Qin Xiao's performance had already shocked them all.
But there should be a limit, right? A teenager can defy the heavens, but he shouldn't defy them too much; that would be wrong.
Otherwise, how would others live?
However.
When Qin Xiao lifted his foot, everyone thought differently.
"This kid wants to move forward? Does he have a death wish?"
"He really doesn't know the immensity of heaven and earth!"
"I bet he doesn't even know how to write the word 'death'."
"He dares, he truly dares to take another step?"
In the distance, the seven Sea Pillar Guardians were stunned.
It was then that the Sea Dragon Douluo said in a grave voice, "Is there a possibility that even if he wants to stop, he can't stop?"
Whoosh.
The Sea Horse Douluo suddenly turned his head, looking at the Sea Dragon Douluo with disbelief and asked, "Big brother, do you mean to say that the Sea God's test for Qin Xiao hasn't stopped? Even after climbing the nine hundredth step, it doesn't count as passing His Majesty's assessment?"
"That's right." The Sea Dragon Douluo nodded lightly.
"Hiss..."
After hearing what the Sea Dragon Douluo said, everyone was restless.
This difficulty was really not small.
"I was wrong, wrong. I thought the Sea God held Qin Xiao in high regard, even reducing the difficulty of the first test. But it seems that's not the case."
"If he keeps going forward, Qin Xiao will still be hopeless, as the difficulty increases exponentially afterwards."
As Sea Pillar Guardians, they knew a lot.
The further up you go, the more unimaginably difficult it becomes.
The Great Priest Bossi once personally mentioned that only she could climb onto the one thousand and first step, reach the very top, and enter the temple.
But what kind of strength does Bossi have?
A peerless powerhouse of level 99. No, to be exact, not even a Titled Douluo of level 99 is as powerful as her.
Let's not forget that Bossi also possesses Divine Power bestowed by His Majesty the Sea God; her true strength has already surpassed the limits of the mortal realm. If we were to calculate it strictly, she is at least comparable to half a deity.
But what about Qin Xiao?
Even if he is outstanding, he is only a Titled Douluo of the nineties. Relying on soul skills to propel his cultivation level, he has barely reached level 97. In no way can he compare to Bossi.
"What a joke!"
"Forget about reaching the topmost step; even taking one more step is a huge challenge for him."
"Hey, wait, look, this kid just lifted his foot—now he's putting it back down."
"He got cold feet, it seems."
"It could also be called knowing when to retreat."
Under the watching eyes of many Sea Pillar Guardians, Qin Xiao returned his lifted foot back to its original place.
"Zhu Qing, do you think Your Highness is feeling the pressure?"
On the other side, Ning Rongrong's face was filled with anxiety, her hands clasped together, squeezing tightly.
Even turning blue and purple, she did not loosen her grip.
This was a subconscious act; she was so nervous that she had forgotten about the pain.
But then.
Who wasn't worried?
Meng Yiran, Dugu Yan, and Zhu Zhuqing were all staring intently at Qin Xiao, completely focused, unable to hear the outside world.
They weren't fools and could sense that Qin Xiao's condition was not good.
...
"This is kind of difficult, at least, it's more challenging than what I imagined."
"Taking another step forward... even a level 97 Titled Douluo would kneel..."
Qin Xiao frowned; according to his estimation, such pressure should not come until the nine hundred and fifty-fifth step.
What then would be the pressure on the thousand and first step?
Qin Xiao speculated that even a cultivation level of 99 might not be enough.
"Damn it, the old man Sea God is playing dirty. Is it just because I drained his Divine Power? Is there a need for such retaliation against me?"
Qin Xiao inwardly grumbled, thinking that this was a way to make him stop, but that would be impossible.
With a thought, the first soul ring on Qin Xiao's body lit up.
Roar!
A several-meters tall Thunder Titan appeared behind Qin Xiao.
It was only because the Light of the Sea God suppressed it that Qin Xiao's soul skills were weakened a bit; otherwise, the Thunder Titan would be at least twice as big as it was now.
"What is this kid trying to do?"
"That soul skill is powerful enough!"
The Sea Pillar Guardians were puzzled.
Soon, Qin Xiao gave them the answer.
"Self-Destruct!"
Qin Xiao pointed forward, and the Thunder Titan leapt violently into the air.
Powerful soul power fluctuations swept in all directions, and the pressure on Qin Xiao instantly lessened by an unknown amount.
Of course, Qin Xiao was not just watching the fun; seizing this opportunity, he sprinted forward.
This time, he didn't just step onto one step but ascended fifteen in a single stride.
He was now at the one hundred and fiftieth step.
At the same time, his seventh soul ring lit up—Martial Soul True Body.
After activating the Martial Soul True Body, all soul skills below seven rings would become cooldown-free.
He could use his first soul skill at will...
Therefore, the rhythm was set: Self-Destruct, self-destruct, and then self-destruct again...
Qin Xiao forcibly blasted open a path leading to the temple.
"Holy shit, this kid, is really doing this..."
"So brutal, using the explosion of powerful soul skills to withstand the pressure of Sea God's Light; it's surprising he came up with this..."
"Actually, the idea isn't that difficult; a burst of strong force can indeed achieve this. The hard part is being able to unleash such a powerful force and having enough soul power... Not everyone has a hundred-thousand-year first ring, allowing unlimited use..."
After witnessing Qin Xiao's maneuvers, even a powerful level-95 Titled Douluo like the Sea Dragon Douluo couldn't help but be convinced.
He couldn't help but exclaim in admiration, and in his heart, he gave Qin Xiao a silent thumbs-up.
Having an idea is one thing, but being able to execute it is another.
Qin Xiao's strength had completely conquered him.
Upon introspection, he felt that even if he combined the strengths of several other Sea Pillar Guardians, they would still be no match for Qin Xiao.
Under the series of explosions, there was no way they would survive.
Even a level-98 Titled Douluo would probably not make it.
"Perhaps only the Great Priest would be able to withstand Qin Xiao's attack,"
the Sea Dragon Douluo thought to himself.
In no time at all, Qin Xiao had surged up a thousand steps.
At this moment, everyone's hearts couldn't help but exclaim in admiration, truly it was too stunning.
At the same time, they were no longer concerned with Qin Xiao's assessment; instead, they simply hoped he could take it one step further, to stand on the last step.
Without a doubt, this would be a feat, a miracle.
"Ning Rongrong, help me!"
Suddenly, Qin Xiao's roar came out.
Not just on the island, but even those outside the island could hear it clearly.
"It's Qin Xiao, he asked for my help!"
Ning Rongrong was startled.
However, even before her mind could react, her body had instinctively responded.
The Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda appeared in the palm of her hand without her knowing when, and almost simultaneously, four glorious rays of light shot out from the pagoda to land on Qin Xiao.
That's right, four.
In just one year, Ning Rongrong's cultivation level had greatly improved.
After completing the trial of Sea God's Light, her cultivation level had reached level 40, and she had obtained a God-Gifted Spirit Ring.
In contrast, with Ning Rongrong's assistance, Qin Xiao's strength, speed, soul power, and more, all saw a tremendous increase.
Not to mention anything else, his soul power began to skyrocket.
Crack.
In an instant, Qin Xiao felt a crisp sound inside his body.
"My soul power rank has reached level 98!"
Qin Xiao's eyes lit up.
Ning Rongrong certainly did not let him down, allowing him, who had soul power comparable to a level-97 Titled Douluo with the Thunder Emperor Armor's enhancement, to advance even further.
Of course, this was only regarding the level of soul power; in terms of insights, Qin Xiao was leagues behind.
But was that important?
He had the ability of Thunder Titan's self-explosion; just being brash was enough.
"Thunder Titan!"
At this moment, Qin Xiao's soul power surged into his first soul ring like it didn't cost a thing.
Whoosh!
A red light flared up, so brilliant that even the golden Sea God's Light couldn't overshadow it.
"Gurgle."
"So powerful, this kid is really too strong. How many more tricks does he have up his sleeve?"
The Sea Horse Douluo swallowed hard, his expression filled with apprehension.
"I don't know how many tricks he has left, but what I can be sure of is that what he has shown us so far are no longer secrets."
The Sea Dragon Douluo responded gravely.
However, his eyes never strayed from Qin Xiao, as he was afraid to miss any spectacular moments.
"Roar roar roar!"
Suddenly, a series of roars erupted.
A mighty soul skill once again condensed a huge phantom behind Qin Xiao.
This time, the Titan Ape was extraordinarily huge; even under the pressure of Sea God's Light, it exceeded twenty meters in height.
Compared to its stature, Qin Xiao's 1.8-meter-plus height was like an ant.
"Self-destruct!"
Qin Xiao said it matter-of-factly.
He voiced the same word again.
However, this time the power was incomparable to the past.
Boom boom boom.
Thunder blasted above the small island, the sky filled with electric arcs.
Bolts of lightning stretched for miles, like ferocious electric snakes dancing wildly.
The ground shook and the mountains trembled, raising waves tens of meters, even dozens of meters high.
Crack, crack.
It was unimaginable that the Sea God's power-shrouded island would begin to crack like a spider's web.
This illustrated the force of Qin Xiao's blow.
It had reached the limit of Soul Land, even the Sea God's power couldn't protect it,
"This kid, he's not planning to destroy the Holy Land, is he?"
"This attack is too outrageous."
"How do we stop it?"
The numerous Sea Pillar Guardians in the distance were all dumbfounded.
They never expected Qin Xiao to reach this point.
What if he really were to destroy this place—what then?
"Boss, say something."
Everyone looked at the Sea Dragon Douluo, all wanting to stop him.
"What's the rush?"
The Sea Dragon Douluo glanced at them indifferently, "It doesn't matter; the Great Priest will take action."
The Great Priest!
Upon hearing this, everyone's eyes lit up, as if they had found their mainstay.
Without a doubt, in their hearts, Bossi was the authority, an omnipotent being.
Swish, swish, swish.
Everyone's gazes, now tangible, once again turned to the island.
The difference was that previously they were all watching Qin Xiao, but this time they were eagerly looking at the temple at the top of the island.
The Great Priest Bossi was there.
"Enough!"
Sure enough, a voice that was ethereal, cool, and full of dignity rose, drowning out all the noise and slowly spreading.
Along with it came a circle of blue halos that burst from within the Sea God Temple.
Wherever the halo reached, the thunder halted abruptly, and the waves calmed.
Even the fissures on the island began merging gradually, and the destroyed white marble steps seemed to come to life, healing slowly.
Boom, boom, boom.
The great doors of the Sea God Temple slowly opened.
After opening a gap about three meters wide, they stopped moving.
A figure in a red dress, holding a scepter, and with a dignified expression, Bossi, walked out.
She looked at Qin Xiao who, at some point, had already reached the one thousand and first step, and was silent for a long while.
Yes.
Qin Xiao had succeeded.
By paying a certain price, he had successfully reached the top step.
"Hiss, Qin Xiao, he really did it!"
"Terrifying."
Regarding this outcome, the many Sea Pillar Guardians had complex feelings.
They thought it was within reason, yet also beyond expectation.
Honestly, no one expected Qin Xiao to be so freakishly talented.
And shocked?
Please, the shock in their hearts was like the waves of the sea, never ceasing, one after another, without ever having a moment to break free from their astonishment, okay?
"Yeah, I just knew it, I knew it..."
On the other side, Ning Rongrong jumped up excitedly, her hands fluttering continuously.
She was so happy that she couldn't even get a full sentence out.
"Your Highness, you've never let us down..."
Zhu Zhuqing would not make the same gestures as Ning Rongrong, but the joy in her eyes was nearly overflowing.
Meanwhile, on the island.
"Do you realize if I hadn't intervened just now, what trouble it would have caused?"
Seeing Qin Xiao remain silent for a long time, Bossi couldn't help but ask.
She was somewhat angry. This guy, Qin Xiao, really didn't care about the consequences at all.
If it hadn't been for her intervention, the prohibitions left by the Sea God would have been destroyed, and the island at the center of the Sea Within the Sea would have crumbled and been submerged by the seawater.
The loss would have been tremendous.
In contrast, facing Bossi's questioning, Qin Xiao spread his hands helplessly, "Is this really my fault? I was just trying to complete the examination following the rules. You know, the difficulty of those one thousand one hundred steps meant I had to give it my all."
He asserted that he could not bear the blame for this.
The blame could only be on the Sea God himself for bringing it upon himself.
Why set the challenge so difficultly in the first place?
For example, if doing eight push-ups would complete the first eight challenges, Qin Xiao would have been willing.
Even if it were the ninth challenge requiring push-ups, Qin Xiao would have had no objections.
If that were not possible, a few sit-ups were also an option, right?
This... Bossi frowned.
Qin Xiao bringing in the Sea God had her backed into a corner. This also calmed her relatively agitated emotions considerably.
"Is there a possibility that the Sea God intended for you to acquire sufficient cultivation level and then pass in a relatively mild manner?"
"No chance, I'm just this straightforward in handling affairs," Qin Xiao resolutely shook his head.
As his voice fell, a golden light shrouded Qin Xiao.
Sea God's Power Descends.
At the same time, a grand voice resonated in his mind.
"Second challenge completed."
Bossi didn't speak, just watched silently.
A moment later, Qin Xiao asked, "Could the Great Priest tell me where to find the Devil Soul Great White Shark?"
Hmm? What does he want with the Devil Soul Great White Shark? A bad premonition arose in Bossi's mind.
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