CHAPTER 257: CHAPTER 257: ARRIVING AT SEA GOD ISLAND

"It’s just below. Shall we observe in secret, or directly infiltrate?"

Lin Feng looked towards Qing Xuan, seeking her opinion.

Qing Xuan pondered for a moment and said, "Let’s observe in secret first. After all, it is the Sea God’s dojo. Although you and I both have the means to conceal our auras, I’m just afraid that if something happens, to rashly infiltrate would probably be to alert the enemy."

Lin Feng nodded in agreement. The two of them then immediately concealed their figures, slowly lowered their altitude, and hid behind a layer of clouds, quietly observing everything on Sea God Island.

This huge group of islands had a diameter of up to four hundred li. There were a total of seven Holy Pillars and seven cities. The place where Lin Feng and the others were at this moment was precisely the place guarded by the Sea Horse Douluo, Sea Horse City.

"There are continental soul masters who have just landed on the island over there. We can go together."

Lin Feng pointed in one direction. Qing Xuan looked in the direction Lin Feng was pointing and saw a group of continental soul masters gathering on the beach of Sea Horse City. Their ships were being pulled ashore by the subordinates of the Sea Horse Douluo.

A portion of the soul masters’ faces carried an expression that was a mixture of excitement and nervousness. It was clear that they were full of expectation and yet slightly uneasy about the upcoming Sea God’s assessment.

The other portion, on the other hand, had a sorrowful and gloomy look on their faces, sighing as they looked at the ships that had come ashore.

"Big Brother, oh Big Brother! I already said not to go out to sea at a time like this! The wind and waves are so big! Now it’s good. The brothers have arrived at Devil’s Island. Look at their excited looks. Do they really think they can get the favor of a god?"

"Hmph, it’s just bad luck," the man with a scar on his face snorted. "If not for suddenly encountering that damned storm, how could we have deviated from our course and, by a fluke, come to this Sea God Island? But, since we’re here, we can’t go back empty-handed. I hear that the rewards of the divine trial are extremely generous. We might as well go and try our luck."

The brother by his side had a sorrowful look on his face. "My good Big Brother, didn’t you hear what those fellows said just now? Some of the divine trials, if not completed, one’s cultivation will drop. The most serious ones will even die!"

The scar-faced man slapped him on the back of the head, sending him staggering, almost falling down.

He yelled, "Stupid oaf! What are you afraid of? Life and death are up to fate! If you’re not convinced, then fight! Even the fishermen know that the bigger the storm, the more expensive the fish! What if among these brothers, there is one with good talent? To rise to the top is just a matter of today!"

"The storm is big. Look, our ship has capsized. All the gold and silver are gone..."

"Stupid oaf! What are you muttering about!"

The words of the soul masters clearly entered the ears of Lin Feng and Qing Xuan. The two looked at each other and smiled. From the conversation of these soul masters, they had heard a bit of helplessness and resignation, but were more so amused for a moment by these two clowns.

"It seems that the Sea God’s collection of the power of faith is not just limited to devout believers. He doesn’t even let go of these soul masters who have, by a fluke, come to Sea God Island."

Lin Feng shook his head. "There is a choice. If they want to go to the Holy Pillar, they still have to pass a test. Only those with strength will have the qualification to accept the divine trial. Looking at their appearance, it seems they still don’t know that there is a checkpoint?"

He looked at their ships. "They are merchant ships. Although they are all soul masters, the strongest are just three Soul Emperors. By the looks of it, they were hired. Let’s go. We’ll sneak in and join them."

They descended from the clouds to the seaside, stepped onto the fine sand, and with a flash of brilliance, the appearance and aura of the two had changed. Lin Feng had turned into a youth with an ordinary face and an average figure, while Qing Xuan had transformed into a pretty and charming young girl. The auras of the two had been perfectly concealed. They looked just like ordinary soul masters.

They quietly mixed into the group of soul masters who were gathering.

"Hey, you two. How come I haven’t seen you before?" The scar-faced older brother walked towards them, still cursing and swearing in his mouth, saying things like "unlucky."

Lin Feng squinted his eyes. The Yin Power quietly clung to his left eye. He said with a smile, "Brother, you’ve forgotten. When you hired us before, you told us to just stay in the ship’s cabin. You said that when there was something, you would come out. That’s why we didn’t have any contact with the people on the ship."

Hearing this, the scar-faced older brother was stunned for a moment, and then immediately scratched his head, as if trying hard to recall. Lin Feng’s Yin Power had quietly merged into his spiritual power, making it seem as if there really was such a thing in his vague memory.

"Ah, right, right, right! I remember now!" The scar-faced older brother slapped his forehead and laughed loudly. "It was my negligence, brother. Sorry for letting you two little lovebirds be bored in the ship’s cabin for so long."

"Come, come, come! Let’s go and accept the test of Lord Sea God together! Old brother, I see you are handsome and have a clear bone structure. Maybe you can be the next Sea God!"

Qing Xuan raised her eyebrows. "This brother need not trouble himself. We will just follow behind the team."

"Ah, that’s right, that’s right. Look at this brain of mine. It’s better for a little couple to stay together," the scar-faced older brother said with a silly smile. "Then I won’t disturb you anymore." Before leaving, he even gave the two a look that said, "those who know, know."

Looking at the departing scar-faced man, Qing Xuan looked at Lin Feng with amusement. "A little couple, heh. The hint your spiritual power gave is quite something, isn’t it?"

"Ahem, this was not my intention," Lin Feng coughed lightly and scratched his head with some embarrassment. "It was just to avoid unnecessary trouble. An expedient measure, an expedient measure."

Qing Xuan snorted and did not say more.

At this time, a group of Sea God Island soul masters dressed in yellow clothing walked towards this side.

Looking at their soul power fluctuation, they should be at the level of forty or fifty.

The one in the lead said loudly, "Everyone, don’t blame me for not reminding you. If you want to get a divine trial, you have to accept a test first. The place of the test is in the sea area. You soul masters who have come from the continent, your innate martial souls do not have an advantage."

"And, ever since Spirit Hall had attacked my Sea God Island decades ago, the difficulty of our assessment of continental soul masters can be described as having directly crossed a level. From a relatively stable test to now, where nine deaths and one life is considered light. You should all consider it carefully."

"If you are afraid, then rest on the shore for now. After the ships have been repaired, leave quickly."

The scar-faced man frowned. Someone among the three Soul Emperors spoke up and asked, "What Spirit Hall has done, what does it have to do with us? We are not from Spirit Hall. How can this increase in difficulty be blamed on us?"

"Hmph, although you are not from Spirit Hall, the enmity between the continental soul masters and my Sea God Island is not something that can be explained in one or two sentences," the leading yellow-clothed soul master snorted coldly, a trace of contempt in his eyes. "To give you a chance to leave is already our mercy. If you don’t know what’s good for you, then don’t blame us for being impolite."

The female soul master among the three Soul Emperors was also a hot-tempered one. She questioned, "Then why not just directly refuse all continental soul masters? You give us a chance, and then directly arrange a perilous test. Aren’t you playing with us?"

"Those who can pass are probably all formidable in strength and outstanding in talent. The Sea God Island couldn’t be just using this kind of a name to select extremely strong continental soul masters to replenish its own power, right? The increase in difficulty has directly screened out a batch of soul masters."

The leading yellow-clothed soul master’s gaze turned sharp. "This is Lord Sea God’s decree. We are just obeying it. If you are dissatisfied, you can by all means complain to Lord Sea God. But the premise is that you can survive the test."

"We look for the Sea God? By my father’s root, then why don’t you, this salted fish, go up to heaven?"

Hearing this, the female soul master was immediately filled with uncontrollable anger and was about to rush forward to argue but was pulled back by the scar-faced man at her side.

"Don’t be impulsive. We are now on their territory," the scar-faced man reminded in a low voice, a trace of helplessness flashing in his eyes.

The female soul master glared at the yellow-clothed soul master with indignation. In the end, she still endured this breath and retreated to the team.

The soul masters in the team looked at each other. One after another, soul masters retreated, heading for the damaged ships. In the end, only the three Soul Emperors, including the female soul master and the scar-faced man, as well as Lin Feng and the other, remained.

The female soul master’s willow-like brows raised lightly. "These two brothers, I don’t seem to have seen them before. I wonder what their martial souls are, and what their cultivation is?"

"Lin Xuan, martial soul is the water element, level fifty-one."

"Qing Feng, martial soul is the wood element, level fifty-one."

"Liu Meng, martial soul is the Water Python, level sixty-two."

A trace of surprise flashed between the woman’s eyebrows. Looking at these two, they should be in their late twenties, but under thirty. To be able to reach Soul King at such an age, it seems their talent is very good. And their martial souls are of this elemental type. Are they from some noble family?

Their family has declined, so they have run off to take on a mission? Or...

Oh~~

A look of realization appeared on her face. I’m afraid it’s a noble young master and a noble young lady from some family. In their daily interactions, they have secretly developed feelings for each other, but because of the principles of human ethics, they could not be together and have secretly eloped!

Her heart of gossip was burning fiercely. In her heart, she had already made up ninety-nine eighty-one versions of this fabricated story. However, she did not show it on her face, but just gave Lin Feng and Qing Xuan a half-smiling look and did not say more.

"What’s with her look? Is she sick?"

"Probably. No, definitely sick," Lin Feng nodded.

At this time, the leading yellow-clothed soul master spoke again, breaking the subtle atmosphere on the scene. "Since you have decided to stay, then follow me. The test is about to begin. Don’t delay."

The group followed the yellow-clothed soul master and walked towards the depths of Sea Horse City.

The one in the lead was responsible for leading the way in front. The four soul masters who had come with him, on the other hand, had on the way come to the side of Lin Feng, Liu Meng, and the others and had begun to chat.

One person said to the two from Lin Feng’s side, "Don’t blame our boss for speaking so harshly. It’s to make you all be able to retreat in the face of difficulties." Another person continued, "That’s right. In these decades, the death rate of continental soul masters in the Sea God Island’s assessment has been extremely high. The possibility of you being able to survive the test is really very small."

"If it had been decades ago, it would have been better. Ever since Spirit Hall had brought two Titled Douluos and two thousand soul masters here to start a war, not to mention losing their own capital, Sea God Island had also suffered losses."

"Only then did Lord Sea God send down a decree. To be honest, even for the less than ten percent of the continental soul masters who had successfully passed, not to mention whether the subsequent divine trial would cause them to suffer a heavy blow, even if they had passed the divine trial and had stayed, in this strange environment, the ending would not be very good either."

"We are still considered pacifists. But you know, there is a saying on the continent: those who are not of my race..."

Lin Feng nodded lightly, a thoughtful look on his face. Of course, he understood the meaning in this soul master’s words. It was for no other reason than to remind them that even if they had passed the test, as continental soul masters, they might also face all sorts of unpredictable difficulties and exclusion on Sea God Island.

It seems that no matter where, there are good people.

Lin Feng said with an indifferent smile, "Many thanks, Your Excellency, for the reminder. We will have a look for the time being. I and my wife are just Soul Kings. At that time, we will first see how the three Soul Emperors are. If the test is too difficult, we will just retreat."

Hearing this, the soul master nodded slightly, a trace of praise flashing in his eyes.

"Young people are just willing to listen to advice. Alright, I’ll go one step first," he turned around and went towards another soul master.

The Qing Xuan who was walking side by side with him fiercely pinched the soft flesh on his waist. "Are you going to die? Who is your wife?"

"My mistake, my mistake," Lin Feng said with a smile, without a single bit of a repentant meaning.

Qing Xuan snorted lightly and released her hand, but still mumbled, "Hmph, let’s see if you dare to speak carelessly next time."

While the two were quietly bickering, the team in front suddenly stopped.

This was a water pool with a diameter of a full five hundred meters. The waves on the surface of the pool were rising one after another. There was no wind, yet there were waves. And the waves were surprisingly turbulent.

This water pool was surrounded by lush vegetation. In the center of the water pool was a huge, triangular platform. In it stood a huge reef pillar. On the reef were carved complex runes, which faintly emitted a mysterious light.

Below this pillar was a black figure. It was precisely the Sea Horse Douluo.

"Everyone, this is the place of the assessment. As one of the Seven Great Holy Pillars, the Sea Horse Holy Pillar has been bestowed with divine power by Lord Sea God and has been given the possibility of a divine trial. Before you is the City Lord of our Sea Horse City, Lord Sea Horse Douluo."

His lips moved slightly, as if he were transmitting his voice. Then, he and the four people bowed at the Holy Pillar.

"A Titled Douluo?!!!" The scar-faced man looked at them in disbelief.

Liu Meng also frowned.

"Everyone, please go on your own," after speaking, the one in the lead took the other four and turned to leave, leaving Lin Feng’s group to face the sea area before them.

The Sea Horse Douluo stood up. The black robe on his body moved without any wind. A pair of deep eyes swept over every single person present.

His voice was low and majestic. "Outsiders, cross the sea within the sea before you. Come before me, and you will receive the favor of a god."

A Soul Emperor, a Soul Emperor, a Soul Emperor, a Soul King, a Soul King...

There should be at least one who can join. The Sea Horse Douluo thought to himself.

The three from Liu Meng’s side let out a long sigh of relief. It turned out to be to cross the waves. They had thought they had to fight a Titled Douluo. Wouldn’t that be sending themselves to their death? However, to cross this sea area, I’m afraid it’s also not so simple.

"I’ll go first!"

The remaining Soul Emperor was the first to stand out. His figure moved, and he rushed towards the sea within the sea like an arrow that had left the string. However, not long after he had entered the sea area, a huge wave had fiercely been stirred up, rolling his entire person into it.

"Ah!" The Soul Emperor let out a miserable cry, but his voice was soon drowned by the surging waves.

His martial soul was sand and earth. In the sea water, it was almost impossible for it to have any effect. He could only let the sea waves throw him to and fro. He struggled, wanting to rush out of the sea area, but every time he was beaten back to his original form by an even larger wave. Soon, he had disappeared within.

Liu Meng snorted coldly. "Martial soul possession!"

With a cold snort from Liu Meng, a water-blue light instantly surged around her body. The Water Python martial soul possessed her, causing her aura to suddenly strengthen. She glanced at the Soul Emperor who was struggling in the waves, a trace of disdain flashing in her eyes.

Her figure moved, and she rushed into the sea within the sea like an agile water snake. Her body shuttled freely in the waves. It was just that the faint trembling, and the red bloodstains that continuously appeared in the waves, still showed that this sea area was not as simple as it looked on the surface.

Even she was forcibly enduring the great pressure and tearing force coming from the waves.

In the end, she had, by a hair’s breadth, entered the high platform. Her body was already tattered and unbearable.

"Extend your hand and place it on the Holy Pillar."

A very faint purple light lit up. Qing Xuan’s two eyes narrowed. Feeling the change in the power of faith within, a guess had already formed in her heart.