Chapter 172: Tang San's Return

As expected of Ning Rongrong. Just after evolving her second spirit ring to a thousand-year level, she was already thinking about evolving her first spirit ring next.

"The first trial rewarded an increase in spirit ring年限. There will definitely be more rewards later!"

Su Mo said with a smile.

"Mm-hmm!"

"My trial is complete. Should I continue climbing with you to help you finish yours?"

Ning Rongrong nodded excitedly, then asked Su Mo.

"Leave the rest to me!"

As Su Mo spoke, he canceled the fusion state and appeared beside Ning Rongrong.

Under the effects of the Martial Soul Fusion Skill, Su Mo, with a 200% boost, could definitely withstand the pressure of two people to complete the trial.

However, doing so might lower his evaluation, so he decided to complete it on his own.

Otherwise, if he let Ning Rongrong carry him through the trial while he relaxed, wouldn't that be just coasting?

In that case, his evaluation would likely be low, and the rewards wouldn't be as good.

"Alright, I'll give you some support!"

Ning Rongrong obediently agreed, then applied all her support-type spirit skills to Su Mo.

After receiving Ning Rongrong's support, Su Mo continued climbing alone.

It wasn't until he reached the 280th step that Su Mo began to feel the difficulty of moving forward.

Buzz— 

Su Mo first activated his Killing God Domain.

With that, he advanced another 10 steps, reaching the 290th step.

Then, Su Mo summoned his Eight Spider Lances.

As expected, with the enhancement of the Eight Spider Lances, Su Mo smoothly passed the first trial of the Sea God's Nine Trials.

"First Trial of the Sea God's Nine Trials, 'Traversing the Light of the Sea God,' completed. Reward: Sea God Affinity increased by 5%!"

After passing the first trial, Su Mo received his reward.

Unlike Ning Rongrong and Ye Lingling, who were directly rewarded with spirit power levels, Su Mo only received an increase in Sea God Affinity.

There were no other rewards.

However, Su Mo knew that Sea God Affinity was the most valuable reward for him.

Only with sufficient Sea God Affinity could Su Mo better inherit the Sea God's position.

Buzz— 

After Su Mo completed the trial, Bo Saixi's figure appeared.

"Su Mo, Ning Rongrong, Ye Lingling, congratulations on successfully passing the first trial!"

"You may rest for a while before beginning the second trial."

Bo Saixi congratulated the three of them.

"High Priest, during the trials, can we briefly leave Sea God Island?"

As Bo Saixi was about to leave after her congratulations, Su Mo stopped her.

"No. Unless it's required by the trial, once the trials on Sea God Island begin, participants are not allowed to leave the island midway."

Hearing Su Mo's question, Bo Saixi immediately refused.

Then she asked, "Do you need to do something?"

"High Priest, you must be aware of the Continental Soul Master Tournament, right?"

"We want to return to participate in this year's Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament."

After answering, Su Mo explained further, "High Priest, we only need to return for the matches we're scheduled to participate in. The rest of the time, we'll stay on Sea God Island and won't delay the trials."

"I possess a teleportation skill that allows me to travel directly between Sea God Island and the mainland. I can also return here directly from the mainland, so it won't take much time."

Su Mo knew that if he didn't reveal his teleportation skill, Bo Saixi would definitely refuse. So he didn't hide it and explained directly.

"What did you say?"

"You can teleport directly between Sea God Island and the mainland?"

As expected, upon hearing Su Mo's words, Bo Saixi looked at him with great surprise.

In her heart, waves of astonishment were already stirring.

She was truly shocked by Su Mo's ability.

If this were true, then this skill would be incredibly formidable.

Fortunately, Su Mo was the Sea God's inheritor. If he were an enemy, or someone from the Spirit Hall, Bo Saixi could imagine the disaster Su Mo could bring to Sea God Island.

Su Mo could continuously teleport soul masters from the mainland, and no matter how powerful she was, she wouldn't be able to protect Sea God Island.

"That's right. If High Priest doesn't believe me, I can take you back to the mainland right now."

Su Mo was quite satisfied to see Bo Saixi's surprised expression. It wasn't easy to see such a reaction from someone as aloof and goddess-like as Bo Saixi.

"How long does the teleportation take?"

"How much time is needed for a round trip?"

This time, Bo Saixi didn't outright reject Su Mo's request to return to the mainland. Instead, after a moment of silence, she asked for details.

"Teleportation is instantaneous, and returning is the same. Between Sea God Island and the mainland, I can only use the skill twice a day, which is just enough for a round trip."

Su Mo explained.

Su Mo's teleportation consumed his Power of Time and Space, not his spirit power or mental strength.

Power of Time and Space required separate cultivation.

With Su Mo's current ability, he could actually make dozens of round trips a day, but he didn't want to reveal this in front of Bo Saixi.

He had always known that Bo Saixi's friendliness toward the Sea God's inheritor was only superficial. Deep down, she wanted to kill the inheritor!

In the original story, she had even tried to kill Tang San.

"Alright, take me with you now. If you can really do it, then I'll agree to your request."

"However, I can only agree to let you go. Since you're undergoing the Sea God's Nine Trials, the two of them cannot leave. Even if I agreed, they wouldn't be able to leave before completing their trials."

Hearing Su Mo's explanation, Bo Saixi's eyes flickered slightly, and she then spoke.

The reason Bo Saixi was willing to agree was that Su Mo's ability gave her some other ideas.

Perhaps she could use Su Mo's ability to search for Tang Chen on the mainland.

Originally, she couldn't leave Sea God Island, as she needed to guard it at all times. But with Su Mo's ability, it would be different. If Sea God Island were ever in danger, she would know and could use Su Mo's ability to teleport back immediately.

However, Bo Saixi was only considering this idea for now and hadn't decided whether to act on it.

After all, she had promised to wait for Tang Chen on Sea God Island, not to go looking for him herself.

That would be entirely different.

As for Ning Rongrong and Ye Lingling, it wasn't that she didn't want to agree, but the rules of Sea God Island's trials dictated that they couldn't leave before completing their trials.

Unless they had already completed their trials, whether they could leave would be up to her.

Before completing their trials, even if she agreed, it wouldn't matter.

"Ah..."

"Only Su Mo can go back?"

Ning Rongrong was visibly disappointed upon hearing Bo Saixi's words.

Ye Lingling also felt a bit disappointed. She had wanted to go back and show off!

After all, she was now a Soul King!

"I see. Then I'll go back alone to participate in the Soul Master Tournament."

Hearing Bo Saixi's words, Su Mo understood that Ning Rongrong and Ye Lingling truly couldn't leave midway through their trials.

As for himself, Su Mo definitely wanted to return.

If for no other reason than to annoy Yu Xiaogang a bit.

After all, participating in a few matches wouldn't take much time for Su Mo. He could treat it as a leisurely activity during his cultivation.

"High Priest, please don't resist later, or I won't be able to teleport you."

Su Mo then stood before Bo Saixi, forming a teleportation array on the ground as he spoke.

"Mm."

Bo Saixi nodded lightly.

---

Bo Saixi simply responded with a faint "Mm."

She wasn't afraid that Su Mo would harm her. If there were any real danger, she could retaliate at any moment.

Moreover, Su Mo had no motive to harm her unless he no longer wanted the Sea God's inheritance.

In Bo Saixi's eyes, that was almost impossible.

After speaking, Bo Saixi voluntarily stepped into the teleportation array Su Mo had prepared.

Buzz— 

Seeing Bo Saixi enter, Su Mo activated the teleportation array with his时空之力.

Whoosh— 

In an instant, Su Mo and Bo Saixi disappeared from their original location.

"It's such a pity we can't go back to participate in the Soul Master Tournament!"

Seeing Su Mo and Bo Saixi leave, Ning Rongrong pouted in disappointment.

She also wanted to go back and show off.

Su Mo had broken through to Soul Sage, but she wasn't far behind either. She was now a level 61 Soul Emperor.

"Mm-hmm, it's such a pity!"

Ye Lingling nodded repeatedly.

Although she was only a level 54 Soul King, Soul Kings were rarely seen in previous Soul Master Tournaments.

Buzz— 

While Ning Rongrong and Ye Lingling were lamenting their inability to return and show off at the Soul Master Tournament, Su Mo and Bo Saixi had already appeared on the Douluo Continent, outside Hanhai City.

"High Priest, this is Hanhai City, the closest city to Sea God Island on the mainland."

Su Mo looked at the distant Hanhai City and introduced it to Bo Saixi.

It was real!

Bo Saixi stared at Hanhai City in shock, never expecting Su Mo to actually teleport from Sea God Island to the mainland.

Without responding to Su Mo, Bo Saixi closed her eyes and focused.

Soon, she turned her gaze toward the direction of Slaughter City. There, she could sense Tang Chen's aura and his approximate location, but she couldn't pinpoint exactly where he was.

If she really wanted to find Tang Chen, it might take some effort.

"That's enough. Let's go back."

Bo Saixi suppressed the urge to search for Tang Chen. Compared to finding him, she now wanted to return to Sea God Island as soon as possible.

It had been too long since she left Sea God Island. Being so far from it on the mainland gave her a sense of unease, as if she could no longer protect the island.

"Alright, High Priest. Just like before, don't resist."

Su Mo nodded, then teleported back to Sea God Island with Bo Saixi.

...

"I'm out! I'm finally out!"

"There's only one month left before the Soul Master Tournament begins. I made it out just in time!"

"Master must be getting impatient, right?"

Outside Slaughter City, Tang San appeared on the ancient, broken teleportation array where Su Mo and Hu Liena had once stood.

After two years in Slaughter City, he had finally emerged.

He had also achieved a hundred consecutive victories and fought his way out of Slaughter City by passing through the Road to Hell.

However, Tang San was puzzled. In the latter half of the Road to Hell, he hadn't encountered the Ten-Headed Fiery Snake his father had mentioned.

"Is this the Killing God Domain?"

Tang San summoned his Clear Sky Hammer and felt the aura of the Killing God Domain on it.

"How is it, Xiao San? Did you obtain the Killing God Domain?"

As Tang San summoned his Clear Sky Hammer, Tang Hao's figure appeared before him at some point.

"Father!"

"Yes, Father. I've obtained the Killing God Domain!"

Seeing Tang Hao appear, Tang San called out excitedly and answered happily.

Tang San wasn't surprised that his father was waiting for him outside.

After Tang Hao had appeared so many times, Tang San had long known that his father had been secretly protecting him.

Thinking of this, Tang San felt deeply moved.

In the past, he had always thought his father was irresponsible and didn't care much for him, far less than his master, Yu Xiaogang.

But now, Tang San knew that his father, Tang Hao, cared for him just as much. It was just that Tang Hao had been silently watching over him without saying anything.

"Good. What's your current spirit power level?"

Tang Hao nodded in satisfaction, then pretended to ask about Tang San's current spirit power level.

He had been secretly protecting Tang San, so he knew Tang San's spirit power had already reached level 58.

"Father, I'm now at level 58!"

As expected, Tang San immediately answered with his spirit power level.

"Good. It seems your training hasn't fallen behind. Excellent!"

"Now that you're out, as promised, I'll take you back to Shrek Academy."

"It's time for you to make a name for yourself at the Soul Master Tournament!"

Tang Hao pretended to nod, then brought up taking Tang San back to Shrek Academy.

He hadn't forgotten his promise to Yu Xiaogang.

Since Tang San had emerged in time, he would naturally fulfill his promise and send Tang San back to participate in this year's Soul Master Tournament.

Of course, if Tang San hadn't made it out of Slaughter City in time, there would have been nothing he could do. That would have been Tang San's failure, not his.

"Alright, Father!"

"Master must be waiting anxiously!"

Tang San quickly nodded in agreement.

"...Father, before we go back to Shrek Academy, could you take me to see Xiao Wu?"

However, before returning to Shrek Academy, Tang San wanted to visit Xiao Wu first.

"Visit Xiao Wu?"

"Alright, then I'll take you to the Star Dou Great Forest first."

Hearing Tang San's request, Tang Hao fell silent for a moment, then agreed.

Visiting Xiao Wu wasn't a bad idea. It would give Tang San and Xiao Wu a chance to reconnect.

...

(End of Chapter)

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