The time was ripe. Ye Hao prepared to depart for Sea God Island.
His goals were threefold: kill Tang San, acquire the remaining soul rings along the journey, and complete the final requirement of his eighth trial by hunting the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King for its soul ring and bone.
Time would not wait. Ye Hao exited Spirit Hall and went to the rear of the Elder Hall, where he stored the Death God's Temple within the Death God's Heart.
"The moment will not wait for me. This time, I will surely succeed."
Having prepared everything, Ye Hao soared into the sky and set off on his journey.
Meanwhile, before the Sea Illusion Sacred Pillar...
Tang San stood in tattered clothing, his mental state visibly disturbed, his entire appearance thoroughly disheveled.
Within Sea Illusion Douluo's illusionary realm, Tang San had suffered more psychological blows than ever before in his life.
From beginning to end, "Ye Hao" had thoroughly dominated him.
His mind, soul, and body had been ceaselessly trampled and violated.
From start to finish, Tang San had been stripped of all dignity, leaving him feeling that only death could bring relief.
"No, I cannot die yet," Tang San muttered as he forced himself back to his feet. "I have not yet avenged Xiao Wu. Ye Hao still lives, and I have not killed him. I cannot perish here."
His gaze turned icy as he stared at Sea Illusion Douluo standing before him, murderous intent radiating from his brow.
"You actually broke free from the illusions and made it here. I must admit, I'm surprised. I concede. You may proceed to the next sacred pillar."
Sea Illusion Douluo had clearly sensed Tang San's killing intent.
Seeing Tang San lingering instead of leaving, the guardian coldly snorted.
A surge of oppressive aura washed over Tang San, causing him to stagger. His chest tightened, and a trickle of blood escaped the corner of his mouth.
"I am the Sea God's heir! How dare you show me such disrespect?"
Tang San was furious. Back when he had first received the Sea God's Nine Trials, the Grand Priestess had declared that his status was equal to hers as the future inheritor of the Sea God's power. With this identity, Tang San had naturally come to view Sea God Island as his future domain.
Hearing this, Sea Illusion Douluo nearly laughed.
"You are not the Sea God yet. Right now, you are merely an heir. Hurry to the next sacred pillar—time will not wait for you."
Sea Illusion Douluo paid him no further attention, deliberately ignoring him.
"You—!"
Humiliated, Tang San angrily tore off his ruined robes and stormed away with a face full of rage.
Once Tang San was gone, Sea Illusion Douluo could not help but chuckle.
"He really thinks he's something special. A man already forsaken by the Sea God—where does he get such arrogance?"
"If not for the Grand Priestess's orders forbidding me from killing him, he would already be dead. A mere Soul Sage acting so presumptuous—if he actually became a Title Douluo, who knows how high his tail would wag."
"At any rate, Tang San will soon be dead. Why bother with him?"
Not far away, Tang San, who had already walked some distance, retrieved fresh clothing from his Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges and changed into them.
"Sea Illusion Douluo, just you wait. Once I become a god, you will be the first one I deal with!"
The illusions he had endured had originated from Sea Illusion Douluo—he was the true culprit.
Trapped in that illusionary realm, Tang San had suffered torment beyond what any ordinary person could endure. The psychological damage had been immense.
Most painfully, the reenactment of being forced by the Tang Sect elders to leap from Ghost Crying Valley had perfectly mirrored his past life's suffering. This was a memory etched into his bones, one he could never forget.
"You embody the way of deserved death."
"You cannot be allowed to live."
With a cold snort, Tang San finished adjusting his clothes and headed toward the next sacred pillar.
For now, completing the trials took precedence.
---
The next morning, the sun rose in the east.
Warm sunlight pierced through the clouds, rousing the Star Dou Great Forest from its slumber.
Ye Hao stepped into the forest's territory, his goal being to obtain the remaining soul rings he needed.
For his Soul Devouring Spider Emperor martial soul, he required third through eighth soul rings. Ideally, he needed to hunt six soul beasts, each at least fifty thousand years old—powerful enough to match his strength while also being highly compatible with him.
The winding paths led deep into the forest, where towering ancient trees were everywhere.
Soul beasts of all sizes roamed freely—some mere decades old, others centuries or even millennia.
After searching for a long time, Ye Hao had encountered many ten-thousand-year soul beasts.
However, those exceeding fifty thousand years were scarce—almost nowhere to be found.
"Perhaps only the deepest parts of the Star Dou Great Forest will have them," Ye Hao sighed. Who would have thought he would ever be troubled by something like soul rings?
---
On Sea God Island, before the Sea Siren Sacred Pillar...
"AHHHH!!!"
Tang San fell to his knees, his face twisted in agony, teeth bared, expression completely distorted.
Sea Siren Douluo, clad in black with a fish-like tail, held a dark flute in her hands. Her seventh soul ring suddenly brightened.
Martial Soul True Body!
As the seventh soul ring flashed, an enormous figure resembling Sea Siren Douluo materialized behind her—her Martial Soul True Body form.
The mournful melody began anew.
Sea Siren Douluo's "Ocean Calming Divine Tune" was a wide-range attack that used soundwaves to overwhelm opponents, leaving them unable to muster any resistance. It was a mental-type assault.
Tang San had arrived unprepared and was caught completely off guard.
His mind was crumbling, his knees locked firmly against the ground.
He had long heard of Sea Siren Douluo's infamous Ocean Calming Divine Tune. Now that he had experienced it firsthand, its reputation was well-deserved.
With no mental-type head soul bone to protect him, Tang San stood no chance against its effects.
"AHHH!"
Tang San writhed in pain, fists clenched so tightly his nails drew blood.
"Just... you... wait!" he snarled through gritted teeth, hatred burning in his eyes for this Sea Siren Douluo.
In fact, his loathing extended to all the sacred pillar guardians.
Why?
Because while Tang San remained unaware, the six guardians all knew the truth—he had already been abandoned by the Sea God.
In other words, they were toying with him deliberately.
Even if Tang San completed the Sea God's Nine Trials, he would never inherit the Sea God's divine position.
Right now, Sea Siren Douluo was simply venting her frustrations.
Suddenly, she intensified her playing, the melody growing even more enchanting. Before Tang San's despairing eyes, her ninth soul ring flared to life.
"Hmph! You still dare to threaten me? Let me show you the true power of my Ocean Calming Divine Tune."
Her eyes gleamed as she unleashed her full force upon him, ruthlessly crushing his spirit.
"AHHHHH!!!"
Tang San's agonized screams echoed from the Sea Siren Sacred Pillar, bringing faint smiles to the faces of the other five guardians.
Meanwhile, Sea Dragon Douluo cracked his knuckles, ready and waiting for Tang San's arrival.
---
Deep within the Star Dou Great Forest...
"How strange. The deeper I go into the core region, the fewer soul beasts there are. I remember there being many here before."
Frowning, Ye Hao realized that at this rate, he might search all day without finding a suitable target.
Landing on the damp forest floor, he sighed.
"There's no other choice. I'll have to resort to this."
From the Death God's Heart, he retrieved the Aromatic Silk Beauty, planting it in an open area.
Meanwhile, Ye Hao himself leaped up, perching silently on a tree branch as he activated the Death God's Heart's concealment.
He waited, observing his surroundings carefully.
Before long, the winds shifted, and powerful presences began to stir.
"They're coming!"
Ye Hao's heart skipped a beat as over a dozen powerful auras suddenly approached, each radiating formidable strength.
Right on cue, an eight-meter-long Man-Faced Demon Emperor Spider descended from above, landing precisely ten meters away from the Aromatic Silk Beauty.
It extended eight thick, hairy legs while viscous saliva dripped from its maw. Its multiple beady eyes locked onto the suddenly appeared treasure herb with predatory focus.
"A Man-Faced Demon Emperor Spider over fifty thousand years - not a bad choice," Ye Hao nodded approvingly from his concealed position. "As fellow Demon Spider species like my Soul Devouring Spider Emperor martial soul, you'll make an excellent third soul ring."
Just as the spider opened its cavernous maw to swallow the herb whole, the Immortal Fragrant Velvet abruptly vanished without trace, as if it had never existed.
"..."
The Man-Faced Demon Emperor Spider froze in stunned silence.
This sudden disappointment proved too much to bear.
Within moments, the spider descended into madness, spewing corrosive purple webs in all directions. Towering ancient trees began dissolving under the acidic assault, collapsing one after another. Even Ye Hao's perch wasn't spared.
As the arboreal giants toppled, Ye Hao dropped gracefully before the enraged arachnid, crooking his index finger in a taunting gesture.
"Come get me!"
The provocation worked perfectly. The spider unleashed its full fury in an unprecedented offensive.
"Someone's angry!" Ye Hao grinned, summoning the Asura Demon Sword without ceremony.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
A series of crisp strikes later, most of the spider's legs lay severed on the forest floor.
The maimed creature attempted to flee, dragging its wounded body away, only to find Ye Hao materializing before it once more.
"Where do you think you're going, my third soul ring?"
Resting the demonic blade on his shoulder, Ye Hao advanced with ominous amusement.
One final slash later, the Man-Faced Demon Emperor Spider breathed its last.
"No soul bone drop. My luck must be terrible today," Ye Hao sighed, rubbing his chin. Soul bones weren't guaranteed drops after all.
"No matter. Time to absorb this soul ring first."
Sitting cross-legged, Ye Hao activated the Death God's Heart to conceal his presence. The core region of Star Dou Forest remained dangerous, especially after the herb's scent had attracted so many powerful soul beasts.
Though most had fled during the earlier battle, only the truly formidable remained nearby.
Guided by Ye Hao's soul power, the shimmering black fifty-thousand-year soul ring floated above him. Simultaneously, the phantom of his Soul Devouring Spider Emperor martial soul materialized behind him, its two blood-red hundred-thousand-year soul rings glowing vibrantly.
Any observer would have been astonished - hundred-thousand-year soul rings were legendary treasures rarely obtained.
The absorption process proved challenging. Beyond the normal difficulties, Ye Hao had to constantly guard against the spider's lingering spiritual resentment.
Having cultivated over fifty thousand years only to be cheated of its prize and slain so ignominiously, the spider's hatred ran deep.
"Hmm?"
Ye Hao's brow furrowed slightly.
This creature's grudge is unusually strong.
A black gleam flashed between his eyebrows as a spectral scythe sliced through the spiritual residue, cleansing all lingering malice.
Too weak to matter.
After what felt like ages, Ye Hao reopened his eyes, sensing his power had grown noticeably.
"No soul rank advancement. Breaking through each level past ninety-seven is incredibly difficult - no wonder some Title Douluo remain stuck at this bottleneck."
"Perhaps only the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King's near-million-year soul ring can propel me straight to ninety-nine."
Shaking his head, Ye Hao stood decisively. "Enough speculation. Time to head deeper - if I remember correctly, those three little ants should be in the innermost sanctum now that the Titan Giant Ape and Sky Azure Bull Python are gone."
His third soul ring had granted him a new ability: Spider Emperor Possession - a 100% all-stat boost.
Not bad. More than satisfactory.
Meanwhile, on Sea God Island...
Tang San lay twitching on the ground, his psyche shattered by Sea Siren Douluo's Ocean Calming Divine Tune. His lips trembled uncontrollably.
"Impressive. Most would have broken long before this. I concede - proceed to the final sacred pillar."
Sea Siren Douluo smirked, clearly amused by his suffering.
It took considerable time before Tang San could even stand. The haunting melody still echoed in his ears, leaving him disoriented and unsteady.
"Are you all conspiring against me?" he finally spat through gritted teeth.
"Whatever do you mean?" Sea Siren feigned innocence.
"First Sea Spear Douluo inexplicably surrendered after defeating me! Then Sea Illusion Douluo tortured me in that nightmare realm! Sea Devil Douluo... and now you!"
Tang San pointed an accusing finger, voice rising hysterically. "I am the Sea God's heir! How dare you treat me this way? Aren't you afraid of divine retribution?"
Sea Siren merely shrugged, utterly unfazed.
Little did Tang San know - the Sea God had already revoked his inheritance. These trials merely served to hasten his departure from the island.
Outside, Ye Hao lay in wait like a spider for its prey.
The guardians' "mistreatment" simply added poetic justice to Tang San's doomed pilgrimage.
When Tang San showed no signs of leaving, Sea Siren lost patience.
"Go! Now! Unless you want an encore?"
She brandished her black flute threateningly.
The sight triggered visceral terror in Tang San. Cold sweat drenched his back as he finally stumbled away, shooting venomous glances over his shoulder.
"Truly refuses to acknowledge reality until facing utter ruin," Sea Siren muttered once he was gone. "How did such trash ever qualify as an heir?"