Chapter 173: The Sudden Appearance of a Figure

Zhao Ling let Bo Saixi lead him by the hand while his curious eyes roamed all around.

He had to admit, Sea God Island was quite vast—much larger than the islands they had flown past aboard the Cloudpiercer Shuttle.

He remembered the original novel mentioning that Sea God Island had a diameter of 400 li, meaning a radius of 200 li—roughly 100 kilometers. If the island was roughly circular, its area would exceed 30,000 square kilometers.

With that kind of area, it would be only slightly smaller than the largest island in Huaxia on Blue Star.

And yet, such a massive island housed only a little over 7,000 people. Zhao Ling couldn't help but feel that this was a serious waste of resources.

Did the Sea God not want more commoners living on his island? Didn't he want more people to offer him faith?

During their flight, Zhao Ling saw many people bustling on the ground below. Whenever they saw Bo Saixi flying overhead, they would drop to one knee in reverence and lower their heads in silent prayer.

To them, the Sea God was beyond reach, while Bo Saixi was his embodiment in the mortal world—thus worthy of their utmost devotion.

As for Zhao Ling, who was flying alongside her, although people were curious, none dared stare at him for long.

Bo Saixi nodded slightly at these passersby in acknowledgement, accepting their sincere devotion.

With their speed, they soon arrived at the inner circular sea at the island's center. Beyond this point lay the Sea God Island's forbidden zone, where the Sea God Temple was located at the very heart.

Ordinary people had to ascend 1,001 steps to reach it. But with Bo Saixi carrying him through flight, Zhao Ling easily bypassed the forbidden zone and arrived directly at the temple gates.

Staring at the massive stone pillars in front of the Sea God Temple, Zhao Ling was awestruck. They were carved with all kinds of patterns and creatures—many he had never seen before—exuding a majestic and mysterious aura.

Bo Saixi led Zhao Ling swiftly to the temple doors. With a light push of her slender, jade-like hand, the doors opened effortlessly. The two stepped inside, and the doors automatically shut behind them.

Despite the doors closing, Zhao Ling noticed the temple was not dark at all.

Blue light streamed in from round and square windows on all sides, illuminating the temple with a cool and serene glow.

The temple had no extraneous structures—only eight platforms.

Seven platforms encircled the room, each with a distinct design. Their appearance matched the platforms where the Seven Sacred Pillars of the Sea God once stood, except there were no sacred pillars here—only the platforms themselves.

At the very center was a large circular platform, visible from between two of the outer ones.

Bo Saixi led Zhao Ling toward that central platform, climbing the steps hand in hand before sitting with him atop it. She then nestled her head into his chest.

Zhao Ling gently wrapped his arms around Bo Saixi, scanning the surroundings again. His brows furrowed.

"Xi'er, do you always stay here? Isn't this a little too simple? And this platform... you meditate and sleep on it?"

Bo Saixi lifted her head from his chest, nodded, and replied, "Yes, hubby. Is there a problem?"

Zhao Ling scooped her up from the platform and settled her on his lap, giving her nose a playful pinch.

"Of course there's a problem. Look where you're staying! This platform is so hard and cold. Doesn't it hurt your butt to sit on it? And you even sleep here?"

Bo Saixi shook her head nonchalantly. "Nope. I've long gotten used to it. Doesn't feel like anything to me."

Zhao Ling's expression turned serious. "I don't care what you think. I care what I think. And I think there's no way my precious Xi'er should live in such harsh conditions. It pains me just to see it.

"Thankfully, I didn't throw away the pelts of those soul beasts I hunted earlier. Have someone process them into a proper blanket and quilt."

With that, Zhao Ling retrieved wolf, fox, and bear pelts from his storage space.

There were enough low-level soul beast hides to easily make not one, but three or four blankets.

Bo Saixi was deeply touched. She knew her husband truly cared for her.

So, seeing the pile of pelts below the platform, she nodded.

If her husband wanted her to live more comfortably, she would. After all, if she didn't go along with him now, he might not be so indulgent next time she wanted affection.

Bo Saixi stored all the pelts in her soul tool and gently told Zhao Ling, "Hubby, stay here for a bit. I'll get someone to process these into bedding…"

Then, she kissed Zhao Ling deeply for over ten seconds before turning to leave the Sea God Temple.

Seeing that Bo Saixi obediently took the pelts to be sewn into a quilt, Zhao Ling nodded in satisfaction.

Thankfully, the girl was obedient and didn't give him a reason to get tough. Without Long'er and Ah Yin around to help her, he'd make sure she regretted resisting.

As the temple doors closed again, Zhao Ling felt the vast hall grow eerily quiet. The ocean-blue light pouring in from the windows made the chill even more pronounced.

Even though this cold was only psychological and posed no threat to someone with a physique enhanced to eight or nine times that of a typical Rank 94 Title Douluo, he still found it very uncomfortable.

(Note: The mid-tier Barbaric War Body originally had a sixfold boost, which increased by another 30% upon full awakening.)

Zhao Ling couldn't understand how Xi'er had endured such a cold and lonely place for so many years. Maybe she really had gotten used to it.

Just as that thought crossed his mind, he suddenly sensed two gazes fixed on him.

He instinctively looked up—and was stunned to find a massive figure high above, staring down at him with a mixture of curiosity and wonder.

"Bone age: 31. Spirit power: 94. Seems to be a twin spirit… such terrifying talent.

"Huh? There's a physique on you that even I can't discern—plus you possess golden blood, something only gods should have. Yet you don't have a divine inheritance… You shouldn't be a god. Could you be the direct descendant of a deity?"

Hearing the voice of the colossal figure, Zhao Ling's pupils shrank. Damn—it saw through his bone age, spirit power, and twin spirits in a single glance.

Who was this guy? Wait… to appear in the Sea God Temple without a sound—could this be…

The Sea God himself?

Aside from the Sea God, who else could suddenly show up in the Sea God Temple?