Chapter 279

Chapter 279: Chapter 279

As the words fell, silence descended upon the courtyard.

Shui Bing’er’s beautiful eyes widened into perfect circles; her mouth hung slightly agape, and for a long moment, she was utterly speechless.

A healing Soul Skill reversing into an offensive one? Did that not imply that Lingling had transformed from a purely support-oriented healing Soul Master into... a versatile, all-rounder capable of both dealing damage and providing healing?

A flicker of shock also crossed Bi Ji’s eyes. Having lived for hundreds of thousands of years, she had never before heard of such a bizarre ability.

Jiang Li’er blinked, evidently just as astonished.

Jiang Bai remained silent for a moment, then smiled.

"What a magnificent ’Yin-Yang Reversal,’" he remarked, gazing at Ye Lingling with eyes filled with admiration. "Lingling, your Martial Soul is no longer merely a simple Nine-Heart Begonia."

Ye Lingling lowered her head, fixing her gaze upon the begonia blossom resting in her palm.

The flower—its petals, leaves, and vines—cascaded down from either side of her hand; the supple vines swayed gently in the breeze, the blossoms drooping with graceful elegance.

Upon the petals, patterns of white, pink, jade-green, gold, and black... hues of every variety intertwined, creating a spectacle of breathtaking beauty.

"It is solely due to the guidance of the Sect Master and Sister Bi Ji that I have reached this point," she said softly.

Jiang Bai shook his head.

"No—it is your own destiny, your own good fortune."

At that very moment, a sudden anomaly occurred in the skies above.

Two streaks of flowing light descended from the heavens.

One was jade-green—gentle and warm, like the radiant sun of a spring day.

The other was dark-violet—majestic and domineering, like a thunderbolt of overwhelming power.

The two beams of light—one on the left, one on the right—descended to envelop Ye Lingling and Jiang Li’er, respectively.

The jade-green radiance completely engulfed Ye Lingling. It was a light both warm and sacred, imbued with a rich aura of vitality—an essence even purer and more profound than that of her own Nine-Heart Begonia.

The dark-violet radiance completely engulfed Jiang Li’er. It was a light both domineering and majestic, carrying an aura capable of annihilating all things—yet, the instant it made contact with Jiang Li’er, it softened into a gentle glow.

Within Ye Lingling’s mind, a gentle voice rang out. The voice was like a mother’s murmur, like the whisper of a spring breeze: "Congratulations. You have been granted the Divine Trial of Life."

Ye Lingling’s body trembled slightly.

The voice continued: "The First Trial has commenced: Attain the rank of Titled Douluo. Time limit: three years. Reward upon completion: A 10% increase in Divine Seat Affinity, and a 10,000-year increase to the age of all your Soul Rings."

A massive influx of information flooded into Ye Lingling’s mind.

The Divine Trial of Life—this was the divine inheritance of the Goddess of Life. It consisted of nine trials, each offering bountiful rewards. Upon completing all nine trials, one could inherit the Divine Seat of the Goddess of Life and become the new God of Life.

At the same moment, a transformation began to take place on her forehead.

The crimson eight-pointed star—the mark of the Sea God’s Top-Tier Eight Trials—which had previously adorned her brow, began to flicker.

The crimson glow gradually faded, supplanted by a radiant emerald light. The eight-pointed star slowly vanished, replaced by the mark of a half-bloomed, sacred lotus flower.

The lotus was entirely emerald-hued with golden glints; its petals unfurled in layers, each one shimmering with a faint, ethereal halo. It rested serenely in the center of Ye Lingling’s forehead, radiating a soft yet sacred glow.

The Sea God’s Top-Tier Eight Trials had been superseded by the Divine Trial of Life.

Gazing at the transformation unfolding on Ye Lingling’s forehead, a flicker of astonishment crossed Jiang Bai’s eyes.

Meanwhile, a similar anomaly was occurring with Jiang Lier.

Once the dark-violet radiance subsided, a majestic voice rang out within her mind.

The voice was like thunder, like a collapsing mountain—resounding with an indisputable, domineering authority: "Congratulations. You have been granted the Divine Trial of the God of Destruction."

"The First Trial has commenced: Attain the rank of Level 96 Titled Douluo. Time limit: one year. Reward upon completion: A 10% increase in Divine Seat Affinity, and a 10,000-year increase to the age of all your Soul Rings."

Jiang Lier’s eyes widened in shock; her crimson pupils were filled with utter disbelief.

The God of Destruction?

Her?

Instinctively, she turned her gaze toward Jiang Bai, her eyes filled with bewilderment. Jiang Bai looked at her and smiled faintly: "Congratulations, Li’er. You, too, have received a Divine Trial."

Jiang Li’er parted her lips, intending to speak, but found herself unable to utter a single word.

She lowered her head, gazing down at her own hands.

The God of Destruction...

Bi Ji stood to the side, watching Ye Lingling and Jiang Li’er with eyes filled with complex emotions.

Both of these girls had been chosen by the gods.

An indescribable, nebulous emotion welled up within her heart.

There was gratification, there was envy, and there was also a trace of... wistfulness.

However, she quickly suppressed that fleeting sense of wistfulness.

Shui Bing’er stood nearby, observing Ye Lingling and Jiang Li’er, her heart brimming with joy for them.

Lingling had received the Divine Trial of Life, and Sister Li’er had received the Divine Trial of the God of Destruction.

Inside the courtyard...

Ye Lingling opened her eyes; the lotus-shaped mark upon her forehead had now stabilized, radiating a faint, shimmering emerald-gold glow. She looked at Jiang Bai and spoke softly: "Sect Master... I have received the Divine Trial of Life."

Jiang Bai nodded: "I know. Congratulations."

Ye Lingling lowered her head: "But... the Sea God’s Top-Tier Eight Trials..."

"They were superseded," Jiang Bai smiled.

"That is a good thing. The Goddess of Life is a God-King—a rank higher than the Sea God. Her Divine Trials offer far more generous rewards, and the power one attains upon achieving godhood is even greater."

Ye Lingling nodded thoughtfully.

Jiang Li’er, too, snapped back to reality and looked at Jiang Bai: "Jiang Bai... I... I have received the Divine Trial of the God of Destruction."

Her voice carried a hint of uncertainty: "Can... can I really do it?"

Jiang Bai looked at her, reaching out to gently ruffle her hair: "Of course you can. You are the Emperor Beast of Fortune, a Golden Dragon—the one and only Jiang Li’er. The fact that the God of Destruction chose you is no mere coincidence."

Jiang Li’er lifted her head to meet his gentle gaze, and a wave of warmth surged through her heart.

She nodded vigorously: "Mm!"

...

The Divine Realm—The Sea God’s Palace.

The Sea God sat upon his throne, the scene of the Douluo Continent reflected within the shimmering water-screen before him.

His fingers tapped lightly against the armrest, his expression a blend of helplessness and amusement.

He had just witnessed the Goddess of Life and the God of Destruction bestowing their divine inheritances.

The Goddess of Life had even managed to poach the candidate he had earmarked for his own "Top-tier Eight Trials."

That young girl named Ye Lingling was originally his chosen candidate—someone he intended to groom as the next High Priestess of Sea God Island.

Although the Top-tier Eight Trials were not quite on par with the Sea God’s Nine Trials, they would still have been sufficient to elevate her to the status of a pivotal figure on Sea God Island.

But now, the Goddess of Life had simply snatched her away.

The corners of the Sea God’s mouth twitched slightly.

The Goddess of Life really wasn’t playing fair.

He mused silently to himself.

Yet, upon second thought, he felt a sense of resignation.

What could he do? She was a God-King, after all. When a God-King decides to poach a candidate, what recourse does anyone else have?

However, the fact that the couple—Life and Destruction—had chosen to bestow their inheritances simultaneously did come as something of a surprise to the Sea God.

Given his understanding of Destruction, would that guy really bestow an inheritance so readily?

The God of Destruction had always been renowned for his domineering nature and exacting standards; any successor he deemed worthy had to be the absolute cream of the crop.

While that young girl named Jiang Lier was indeed an exceptional talent—

A transformed Imperial Auspicious Beast, a pure-blooded Golden Dragon, and a Level 95 Titled Douluo—given the God of Destruction’s temperament, he shouldn’t have reached a decision so easily.

Could it be... because of the Dragon God?

The Sea God fell into deep contemplation.

The Dragon God was on the verge of reclaiming his rightful place, and the core of the Divine Realm would inevitably welcome him back.

Once that happened, the Dragon God would become a Supreme God-King—a status transcending even that of Destruction, Life, Kindness, and Evil.

Was the God of Destruction attempting to curry favor in advance?

The Sea God shook his head, dismissing the thought.

He raised his hand, and a golden wisp of divine consciousness descended from the heavens.

It pierced through the barrier separating the Divine Realm from the mortal world, landed upon the Douluo Continent—specifically on Sea God Island—and settled directly between Bo Saixi’s brows.

The content of the divine decree was simple: Jiang Bai, Shui Bing’er, Ye Lingling, and Jiang Lier—these four individuals were all chosen by the gods.

Sea God Island was strictly forbidden from treating them with anything less than the utmost respect; they were to be accorded the highest possible standards of hospitality in every regard.

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