Chapter 274 Another Spar

Chapter 274: Chapter 274 Another Spar

A benevolent smile was always present on his face.

At that moment, he was fishing by the seaside; upon spotting Jiang Li’er, he smiled and waved her over.

"Little girl, would you like to try your hand at fishing?"

Jiang Li’er walked over, crouched down beside him, and gazed out at the sea.

"Are the fish here easy to catch?"

The Starfish Douluo chuckled, "That all depends on your luck."

Jiang Li’er thought for a moment, then said, "In that case, why don’t you catch one so I can see?"

"And if you can’t catch one, how about we have a friendly spar instead?"

The Starfish Douluo was momentarily stunned, then burst into hearty laughter.

"You really are quite an amusing little girl."

A short while later...

"Agh! Gently!! Didn’t we agree that a friendly spar wasn’t supposed to cause injury?!"

The Starfish Douluo’s pained cries rang out.

...

Sea God Island—The Core Sanctuary.

This was a region shrouded in dense mist. The fog hung heavy and thick, obscuring any view of the scenery within. Only a flight of faintly visible steps could be seen extending upward from the ground, leading deep into the heart of the mist.

The steps were pure white, each one radiating a faint, ethereal glow.

The Light of the Sea God—this was the trial left behind by the Sea God himself; every single step was imbued with the Sea God’s divine power.

To set foot upon these steps was to endure the crushing pressure of that divine power. The higher one ascended, the more intense the pressure became.

At this moment, Bo Saixi stood at the entrance to the sanctuary, gazing at the two figures standing before her.

Shui Bing’er stood before the very first step, taking a deep breath.

Ye Lingling stood beside her, her gaze likewise fixed upon the steps.

"Go," Bo Saixi’s voice was soft. "Remember: do not push yourselves too hard. The Sea God’s Trial is not something that can be completed in a single day."

Shui Bing’er nodded. She lifted her foot and stepped onto the first stair.

An invisible pressure instantly enveloped her.

The pressure was not intense; it felt merely as if someone were gently pressing down on her shoulders. She steadied herself and continued upward.

The second stair.

The third stair.

The fourth stair.

...

Her strides were steady—not fast, but firm.

Ye Lingling watched her retreating figure, took a deep breath, and stepped onto the stairs as well.

The first stair.

The second stair.

The third stair.

Her strides were equally steady.

...

On the stairs of the Forbidden Ground...

Shui Bing’er had already reached the seventieth stair.

Fine beads of sweat began to seep from her forehead. The pressure had grown significantly heavier than when she started; with every step upward, she felt the weight on her shoulders increase just a little more.

Yet, she did not stop.

Gritting her teeth, she pressed onward.

Not far behind her, Ye Lingling was enduring just as steadfastly.

Her veil, dampened by sweat, clung to her face. Her breathing had grown somewhat labored, yet her footsteps remained steady.

One following the other, the two women ascended slowly along the white stairs.

...

At the foot of Sea God Mountain, within the courtyard...

Jiang Bai and Bi Ji sat facing each other on a divan inside the inner chamber.

Hovering above Bi Ji’s palm was a sphere of emerald-green light. The light was soft and warm, radiating a rich, vibrant aura of life.

"The Power of Life originates from nature—from all living things," her voice was soft, like a spring breeze caressing one’s face.

"It is omnipresent: in the wind, in the water, in the soil, and within the body of every living creature."

Jiang Bai sat with his eyes closed, sensing the aura radiating from the sphere of light.

Behind him, his Nine-Colored Glazed Pagoda materialized; the tower rotated slowly, its nine-hued radiance flowing and shifting.

He was attempting to fuse the Power of Life with his own Nine-Colored Power.

But he was always just a hair’s breadth away from success.

Watching his look of intense concentration, Bi Ji smiled gently.

"There is no rush; take your time."

She gently pushed the light hovering in her palm toward Jiang Bai.

The sphere of emerald-green light flowed into Jiang Bai’s body. Jiang Bai’s body trembled slightly.

He felt a warm energy flowing through his body. This energy was gentle and pure—distinct from his soul power, and distinct, too, from his Nine-Colored Power.

It was Life.

The Source of all creation.

He closed his eyes, immersing himself in that energy.

...

Time passed, little by little.

The sun rose in the east, then gradually began its descent toward the west.

As the setting sun painted the entire surface of the sea a vibrant orange-red, Shui Bing’er and Ye Lingling emerged from the Forbidden Zone.

Shui Bing’er’s complexion was somewhat pale, yet her eyes sparkled with a hint of delight.

"Bing’er, how many levels did you gain?" Ye Lingling asked.

"Level seventy," Shui Bing’er smiled. "And you?"

"Level fifty." Ye Lingling’s voice was soft, yet it, too, carried a note of contentment.

The two exchanged a smile.

Although they were still far from their ultimate goal, achieving such results on their very first day was already quite impressive.

Bo Saixi stood at the entrance to the Forbidden Zone, watching them and nodding slightly.

"Well done. Go back and rest; we continue tomorrow."

"Yes, High Priestess."

The two curtsied, then turned and headed toward the courtyard.

...

Inside the courtyard, Jiang Bai had already finished his cultivation.

He sat on a stone bench in the yard, gazing at the evening glow painting the horizon.

Bi Ji sat beside him, cradling a coconut as she drank from it.

Jiang Li’er had not yet returned.

Shui Bing’er and Ye Lingling entered the courtyard; spotting Jiang Bai, they hurried over to him.

"Sect Master!"

Jiang Bai turned his head to look at them and smiled.

"You’re back? How did it go?"

Shui Bing’er recounted the results of their day’s efforts.

Jiang Bai nodded. "Excellent. Keep up the good work."

He then turned his gaze toward Ye Lingling. "Lingling, what about you?"

Ye Lingling replied softly, "Level fifty."

Jiang Bai nodded again. "That’s excellent, too. Take your time; there’s no rush."

Ye Lingling nodded in acknowledgment.

Shui Bing’er asked, "Sect Master, where is Sister Li’er?"

Jiang Bai shook his head. "She went out for a stroll; she hasn’t returned yet."

No sooner had the words left his lips than a golden figure descended from the sky. Jiang Li’er landed in the courtyard, a roasted fish in her hand, her mouth glistening with grease as she ate.

"You guys are back?" she mumbled indistinctly.

Seeing her in such a state, Shui Bing’er couldn’t help but chuckle. "Sister Li’er, where did you go?"

Jiang Li’er swallowed the fish in her mouth and grinned. "I went to spar with a few of the Sacred Pillar Douluo. That Starfish Douluo lost, so I made him roast a fish for me to eat!"

She held up the roasted fish in her hand, shaking it with a boastful air.

Watching her look of smug triumph, everyone couldn’t help but laugh.

...

Two and a half months later.

The thin morning mist had yet to dissipate, yet on the forbidden steps at the foot of Sea God Mountain, two figures had already begun their climb for the new day.

Shui Bing’er led the way, her strides steady and sure; with every step, her foot landed with immense weight.

Her clothes were soaked through with sweat, clinging tightly to her body and accentuating the young woman’s ample curves.

Step 320.

Step 321.

Step 322.

...

Although her pace was not fast, every step she took was incredibly firm.

The Light of the Sea God pressed down upon her like an invisible mountain, causing her bones to emit faint, creaking sounds; yet, she did not even frown.

Behind her, Ye Lingling was climbing as well.

Her veil, dampened by sweat, clung to her face, faintly revealing the fair contours of her features beneath.

Her steps were not as steady as Shui Bing’er’s, yet they possessed an indescribable resilience.

Step 100.

Step 110.

Step 120.

...

It had been two and a half months since they first arrived on Sea God Island.

During the first month, they could only ascend a few dozen steps each day before the oppressive force of the Light of the Sea God rendered them immobile, forcing them to retreat. Yet, they did not lose heart; they persevered every day, making progress step by step.

To them, the Light of the Sea God was both a source of pressure and a catalyst for growth.

Training daily under the crushing weight of the Light of the Sea God depleted their Soul Power at an accelerated rate; however, once replenished, the subsequent growth of their Soul Power far exceeded their normal gains. Meanwhile, under the repeated pressure of the Light of the Sea God, her body’s resistance to pressure was constantly strengthening.

...

On this day, Shui Bing’er stood upon the 333rd step, gasping for breath as her legs trembled slightly. Beads of sweat dripped from her chin onto the white steps, only to evaporate instantly.

A deep, majestic voice resounded within her mind: "The First Trial is complete. Affinity with the Sea God has increased by five percent; Soul Power has risen by two ranks; and the cultivation age of your Soul Rings has increased by five hundred years."

She closed her eyes, sensing the surging Soul Power within her body.

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