102: Chapter 102: Snow Empress vs. Poseidon

She was stunned for several full seconds before she could barely find her voice. With a hint of trembling and extreme uncertainty, she couldn't help but cautiously confirm: "Sea... Sea God... did you... did you just say... go easy? On the Seagod Nine Trials? Did I... did I hear you correctly?"

How she wished she had misunderstood.

The Sea God seemed somewhat amused by Poseidon's huge reaction.

He waved his illusory hand dismissively and explained in a relaxed tone: "Why wouldn't that be allowed? Rules are dead, but gods are alive. Besides, I set this trial myself, so whether the difficulty is high or low, isn't that just a matter of a single word from me?"

He paused, seemingly feeling the need to add some persuasiveness to his words, and added: "Of course, I'm not asking you to cheat blatantly. Just... within the scope allowed by the rules, give her some convenience. For example, could the peak pressure of the Seagod's Light be lowered just a little bit? Or, if she encounters a hurdle in the trial she really cannot overcome, could you secretly give her a hint or create some favorable conditions? In short, grasp the scale well, just don't let her truly fail in the trial. After all, finding a suitable heir isn't easy, and I don't want to wait another ten thousand years."

The Sea God's avatar spoke lightly, as if he were just discussing how to make things easier for his own child, rather than discussing the solemn matter of the succession of the God Position.

Poseidon was completely speechless.

She looked at the Sea God's figure, which, although blurry, clearly carried the implication of 'just do it like this,' and for a moment, her emotions were extremely complex.

There was absurdity, helplessness, and a trace of... stifled laughter that she didn't dare to let out.

What else could she say?

The rule-maker himself had spoken; could she, the executor, really insist on principles?

Poseidon took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the churning emotions in her heart. On her beautiful face, she tried hard to maintain a respectful expression. She bowed slightly and replied in a tone that carried resignation and a hint of helplessness: "Yes... your subordinate understands. I will... handle it at my discretion."

She deliberately emphasized the two words "at my discretion," while her mind was already racing, thinking about how to cleverly and unobtrusively complete the Sea God's incredible instruction to go easy, while maintaining the surface fairness of the trial.

This was simply more of a headache than asking her to fight the Deep Sea Demon Whale King!

"Hmm, I trust your work." The Sea God's avatar nodded with satisfaction, as if he had completed a major task.

Immediately, his figure began to blur, turning into specks of blue light that dissipated into the air like fireflies.

The vast divine might also receded like a tide, and the Sea God Hall returned to its former tranquility and solemnity.

When the Sea God's aura completely disappeared, Poseidon remained standing in place, not moving for a long time.

The last glimmer of the setting sun shone through the window of the hall, casting light onto her bright red gown that trailed on the floor, yet it could not dispel the deep helplessness and wry amusement between her brows.

She looked at the Sea God statue in front of her, which had returned to its cold, stony feeling, and ultimately could only let out a sigh that was extremely faint yet contained a thousand words.

"Sigh..."

The Seagod Nine Trials, a rare event in ten thousand years, sacred and solemn, represented the ultimate choice of the Sea God's will.

And the result?

The heir had just arrived, and the very person who set the trial couldn't wait to come and hint to the examiner that they could properly go easy.

Poseidon raised her hand to rub her slightly throbbing temples, feeling that her worldview had been impacted.

This new heir, Wang Donger, likely held much more weight in the Sea God's heart than she had imagined.

In the coming days, she, the High Priest, would likely be quite busy.

She had to maintain the seriousness of the trial while also completing the Sea God's unspeakable task.

This was truly a technical job.

...

Time passed quickly; three months had passed since Wang Donger triggered the Seagod Nine Trials.

Sea God Mountain, with its long staircase leading to the Sea God Hall at the summit, resembled a cloud road leading to the sky.

At this moment, in the middle section of the stairs, at a position of about two hundred steps, Wang Donger was sitting cross-legged with her eyes tightly closed, and a layer of fine sweat seemed to have condensed on her long eyelashes.

Her body was trembling slightly, and she was shrouded in a visible layer of golden halo, which was the immense pressure brought by the Seagod's Light.

She was not climbing, but using this omnipresent pressure to temper her own Soul Power, will, and physical strength.

This was Lu Jing's suggestion: before formally starting to charge the three hundred and thirty-third step, she should first fully adapt to the characteristics of the Seagod's Light.

At the very bottom of the stairs, Lu Jing and Snow Empress stood side by side, looking from afar at the figure above that appeared exceptionally slender yet resilient within the golden halo.

The sea breeze blew past, bringing a salty, moist scent and the fragrance of flowers and plants on the island.

Snow Empress wore a white dress, her silver hair like a waterfall, and her beautiful side profile seemed like ice sculpture and jade carving in the sunlight, cold and untainted by dust.

She watched Wang Donger quietly, with no discernible emotion in her ice-blue eyes.

Lu Jing withdrew his gaze from Wang Donger and turned to look at the Ice and Snow Emperor from the Far North beside him.

He could feel that over the past week, although Snow Empress seemed calm, in this completely unfamiliar environment full of life and water, she felt somewhat out of place and distant.

After all, this was a kingdom of ocean and life, the exact opposite of the eternal ice plains she ruled.

"How does it feel?" Lu Jing spoke, breaking the silence between the two.

His voice was gentle, carrying a hint of concern.

Snow Empress turned her head slightly, her cold gaze falling on Lu Jing's face, seemingly a bit puzzled: "What how does it feel?"

Lu Jing smiled, raised his hand to point at the lush trees around them, the sparkling sea in the distance, and the rich water elements and life aura permeating the air: "Naturally, the environment here. Are you used to it here? Do you feel... uncomfortable?"

Upon hearing this, Snow Empress shook her head gently, her tone flat and waveless: "For me, it makes little difference where I am; it is nothing more than meditation."

Her words carried a kind of aloofness, as if changes in the environment could not truly affect the ice and snow World within her heart.

For an existence like her, as long as she was not directly placed in volcanic lava, her adaptability was extremely strong.

Lu Jing nodded, indicating understanding.

He pondered for a moment, a flash of mischief appearing in his eyes, and suddenly suggested: "Since you find it boring, and watching Donger cultivate all day is also quite uninteresting, why not... go find Senior Poseidon for a sparring match?"

"Sparring?" A slight ripple finally appeared in Snow Empress's ice-blue eyes.

She looked at Lu Jing, seemingly moved by the suggestion, but did not respond immediately.

Lu Jing continued to coax: "Senior Poseidon is a level 99 super Douluo, known as the invincible of the ocean, and is also the Sea God's High Priest, capable of mobilizing a portion of the Sea God's power. Her strength is definitely the most top-tier existence among the humans you have encountered so far. Don't you want to personally experience just how strong a Spirit Master can become when they reach the peak? For you, this should also be a rare experience."

Snow Empress fell silent.

Lu Jing's words did indeed touch her heart.

As a 700,000-year-level Spirit Beast, her strength was monstrous, but she didn't have many opportunities to truly fight against experts of the same level.

Although the Far North was vast, there was arguably no one who could match her, not even the Ice Empress or the Titan Snow Demon King, who were also kings of the Far North.

The battle with the Deep Sea Demon Whale King not long ago, although short, had made her feel a long-lost pressure and excitement.

And Poseidon, as a peak human expert, had a level of strength that was definitely not weaker than the Deep Sea Demon Whale King, and perhaps even more strange and unpredictable because she could borrow the Sea God's power.

Sparring with such an opponent would undoubtedly greatly broaden her horizons, test her own strength, and might even be beneficial to her future cultivation.

Seeing the flicker of interest in Snow Empress's eyes, Lu Jing knew there was a chance. He grinned and patted his chest: "If you really have this idea, I'll go help you ask. I believe Senior Poseidon won't refuse. After all, if I'm not mistaken, here on Sea God Island, it's lonely at the top. She has stood alone at the peak for so many years, so she is probably quite lonely and desolate. Being able to meet an opponent worth fighting might also be a joy for her."

Snow Empress thought quietly for a moment.

She was naturally proud and did not like to ask for help, but Lu Jing's proposal and rhetoric indeed made it hard for her to refuse this potential high-level duel.

Finally, she nodded gently and coldly spat out one word: "Good."

Seeing Snow Empress agree, Lu Jing's smile grew wider.

He asked Snow Empress to wait here for a moment, then turned and walked briskly towards the direction of the Sea Horse Sacred City.

He knew that the best way to contact Poseidon, who was at the Sea God Hall, was through the Seven Sacred Pillar Douluos.

Soon, Lu Jing found Sea Dragon Douluo, who was supervising his disciples' cultivation, near the Sea Horse Sacred Pillar.

As the head of the Seven Sacred Pillars, Sea Dragon Douluo was usually responsible for direct communication with Poseidon.

"Senior Sea Dragon." Lu Jing walked up and greeted him politely.

Sea Dragon Douluo saw Lu Jing and dared not neglect him.

Although this young man was young, he was a Divinity successor of the same level as Wang Donger, and his status was transcendent.

He stopped his guidance, turned around, and asked: "Little friend Lu Jing, do you need something from me? Has Miss Donger encountered any problems with her cultivation? Or is there anything else you need?"

He thought Lu Jing had come to seek help.

Lu Jing smiled and shook his head, saying: "It's not about Donger, it's a small private matter of mine, and I would like to trouble Senior Sea Dragon to help me pass a message to the High Priest."

"Oh? What matter requires disturbing the High Priest?"

Sea Dragon Douluo was a bit curious and said: "If it is a common matter, perhaps I can solve it."

The smile on Lu Jing's face carried a hint of mystery and excitement. He lowered his voice slightly and said: "This matter, I'm afraid, really requires Senior Poseidon to come forward personally. It's like this: my sister, Snow Empress, whom you have also seen, is feeling a bit bored on the island and her hands are a bit itchy. She wants to find Senior Poseidon to spar and stretch her muscles."

"What?! Sparring?!" Hearing this, Sea Dragon Douluo's eyes widened instantly, and his voice involuntarily raised by an octave.

He simply doubted he had heard correctly.

That Ice and Snow Spirit Beast Emperor from the Far North wanted to challenge their Sea God Island's High Priest, the level 99 super Douluo Poseidon?!

This... this was simply an earth-shattering event!

Lu Jing watched Sea Dragon Douluo's shocked expression and continued to fan the flames, his tone full of temptation: "That's right, sparring! Senior Sea Dragon, just think, a top-tier 700,000-year Spirit Beast against a peak human level 99 super Douluo, and the kind who can mobilize the Sea God's power! A duel of this level is probably hard to see in hundreds of years, right? Don't you want to witness it with your own eyes?"

These words were like a sudden enlightenment, instantly igniting the curiosity and desire within Sea Dragon Douluo as an expert!

At their level, being able to observe battles of a higher realm had immeasurable benefits for their own cultivation!

Not to mention this kind of epoch-making duel between a Spirit Beast Emperor and a peak human expert!

"Want to! Of course I want to!" Sea Dragon Douluo almost blurted out, his face flushed with excitement.

He immediately realized he had lost his composure, coughed twice, and forced himself to calm down, but the excited light in his eyes could not be hidden: "Little friend Lu Jing, are... are you sure Snow Empress means this? Will the High Priest... will she agree?"

"Sister Snow Empress has already agreed. As for Senior Poseidon, I need you, Senior Sea Dragon, to help ask. I believe that when faced with a challenge from an expert of the same level, Senior Poseidon should not refuse," Lu Jing said confidently.

"Good! I will go report this to the High Priest right away!" Sea Dragon Douluo no longer hesitated. Such a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity, he absolutely could not miss.

He didn't even care about etiquette. His Soul Power surged, turning into a stream of light, and he sped towards the Sea God Hall at the top of Sea God Mountain at the fastest speed. He looked so eager, as if he were afraid that if he went late, Snow Empress would go back on her word.

Lu Jing watched Sea Dragon Douluo's disappearing back, a smile curling at the corners of his mouth, and turned to walk back unhurriedly.

Sea Dragon Douluo's efficiency was extremely high, or rather, Poseidon's reaction to this matter was also unexpectedly fast.

Not long after, just after Lu Jing returned to the bottom of the stairs and reunited with Snow Empress, two powerful auras soared into the sky from the towering Sea God Mountain!

Two streams of light, one red and one blue, like meteors falling to the ground, slowly landed not far in front of Lu Jing and Snow Empress.

The light dissipated, revealing two figures.

The leader was none other than the High Priest of Sea God Island, Poseidon. She wore a red dress, was peerlessly graceful, held the Sea God's Scepter, and on her beautiful face was a hint of faint surprise and an intrigued expression.

Following behind her was Sea Dragon Douluo, his face full of excitement and his eyes burning.

Poseidon first nodded gently at Lu Jing with a gentle gaze, which counted as a greeting.

Immediately afterwards, her eyes, deep as the sea, fell on the Snow Empress beside Lu Jing, who had a cold temperament and white clothes as pure as snow.

Two top female experts of the present World met each other's gaze in the air.

There were no sparks, no hostility, only a calm scrutiny of meeting a worthy opponent and a faintly rising fighting spirit.

Poseidon parted her red lips slightly, and her ethereal and elegant voice sounded, carrying a hint of confirmation: "Your Excellency Snow Empress, I heard from Sea Dragon that you want to spar with me?"

Snow Empress met her gaze without flinching, and a fighting spirit gradually rose in her ice-blue eyes.

She nodded slightly, her tone still cold, but with an added sense of solemnity: "I want to know just how strong the limits of humans are."

Without superfluous pleasantries, she directly stated her purpose.

Upon hearing this, not only was there no displeasure on Poseidon's beautiful face, but she revealed a stunning smile, like a blooming snow lotus.

She gently tapped the Sea God's Scepter in her hand, and an invisible aura naturally radiated out.

"Good."

She only replied with one word, but it was resounding and powerful, full of confidence and expectation, saying: "Since Your Excellency has such an interest, I will accompany you to the end. Please!"

After speaking, Poseidon's figure flashed, turning into a red stream of light, and she flew towards a vast white sandy beach on the outskirts of Sea God Island, which had no buildings or vegetation.

The terrain there was open, far from the residential area, and was an ideal place for sparring.

Seeing this, Snow Empress did not say much either. Cold air surged slightly around her, and she turned into an ice-blue beam of light, following closely behind.

Lu Jing and Sea Dragon Douluo looked at each other, both seeing the excitement in the other's eyes.

The two dared not neglect, and immediately used their movement techniques to follow from afar, but both tacitly kept a sufficient safety distance.

In a battle of this level, even being swept by the aftershocks was definitely not something to be trifled with.