143: Chapter 143 The Heart of the Sea God

Ji Xuan extended his right hand, gripped the long handle of the trident tightly, took a deep breath, and gave it a violent upward pull.

But the trident remained motionless; it could not be lifted at all.

Ji Xuan also gripped it with his left hand, lowered his body, and exerted force with both arms simultaneously.

Crack—

With an almost imperceptible sound, the trident actually loosened slightly.

The Power of Order within Ji Xuan surged instantly, and the force in his hands suddenly multiplied several times over.

"Hmph!" He let out a low shout, the veins in his arms bulging.

The trident, which had been inserted into the Sea God Platform, emitted a humming sound and was slowly pulled out.

An inch, a section, half a foot...

The jet-black shaft of the trident gradually revealed itself until the diamond-shaped hollow in the three-pronged section was exposed.

Inside the temple, High Priestess Bo Saixi stood in the shadows, her gaze fixed intently on the slowly emerging trident, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

There was reluctance, melancholy, and also relief.

Perhaps, Sea God Island really was meant to welcome a new master.

And she, too, was meant to meet her destined fate.

Just then, Seagod's Light erupted from the center of Ji Xuan's brow, and the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud flew out, heading towards the hollow.

"This is... the Sea God's Heart!" High Priestess Bo Saixi exclaimed in a low voice.

Previously, Ji Xuan had never used the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud; this was her first time seeing it.

"I never expected him to have obtained the recognition of the Sea God's Heart. No wonder Lord Sea God chose him as his successor."

At that moment, the Sea God's Heart fit perfectly into the diamond-shaped hole, and Ji Xuan exerted force again, continuing to pull the trident out.

Furthermore, starting from where Ji Xuan held it with both hands, a pale golden color began to spread. On the originally jet-black handle, streaks of golden patterns began to diffuse, accompanied by the release of a golden aura.

The temperature of the handle also rose sharply, but to the current Ji Xuan, it felt like nothing.

Ji Xuan exerted force once more, and the Sea God Platform began to shake violently, as did the Sea God Temple, and even the entire Seagod Mountain.

At the foot of Seagod Mountain, Shui Binger and the others simultaneously stared at the summit.

At this moment, the entire Sea God Island was shrouded under dark clouds, and the light was dim.

But the Sea God Temple lit up, bursting with intense golden light that illuminated the entire Seagod Mountain and re-illuminated Sea God Island.

At the same time, the Seven Sacred Pillars of Sea God Island lit up simultaneously, and seven beams of golden light converged with the golden light erupting from the Sea God Temple.

The golden light pierced through the dark clouds, and a golden cloud appeared in the sky. Above the cloud, a massive phantom gradually condensed.

The Seven Sacred Pillar Douluo in front of the Sea God Temple, and indeed all the people of Sea God Island, bowed piously toward the phantom in the sky.

Thousands upon thousands of strands of Power Of Faith also headed toward the phantom, and as it absorbed the Power Of Faith, the phantom's face gradually became clear...

"Sister, that's brother-in-law!" Shui Yueer frantically shook Shui Binger's arm.

Everyone watched the phantom with a mixture of envy and reverence.

Inside the Sea God Temple.

Ji Xuan had already pulled out the Sea God Trident; he waved it around in his hands a couple of times, familiarizing himself with the weight and feel of the Divine Artifact.

Just then, the rewards for his seventh test arrived: "Sea God's Seventh Test: Pull out the Divine Artifact, the Sea God Trident. Passed.

Reward: Sea God affinity increased by 15%, total affinity at 90%. Obtained the recognition of the Sea God Trident; granted usage rights of the Sea God Trident."

At this moment, the golden phantom above the Void Realm also shrank, transforming into a stream of light that poured from the top of the Sea God Temple into the trident in Ji Xuan's hands.

Immediately afterward, the content of his eighth test appeared: "Sea God's Eighth Test: Cultivate your Spirit to the nine-ring level, collect all Spirit Bones, and kill the Deep Sea Demon Whale King. Time limit: five years."

"Ji Xuan, congratulations on passing the seventh test." High Priestess Bo Saixi's voice was calm and waveless.

"Senior, I need to return to the mainland to complete the eighth test. I also need to take them with me when I leave." Ji Xuan said straightforwardly.

"Very well." High Priestess Bo Saixi nodded in agreement. "You have obtained the recognition of the trident and are already half a Sea God; you will not be restricted by the rules of Sea God Island.

You may leave Sea God Island at any time, and I will wait here for you to return and inherit the Sea God God Position.

But when you return, you must also bring your companions back. You will need their assistance when inheriting the God Position."

"Understood, Senior." Ji Xuan nodded slightly and turned to walk out of the temple.

The rules of Sea God Island? He could erase the Sea God marks within everyone right now.

But he hadn't finished milking the benefits yet; he would wait until he had obtained the test rewards before doing that.

Besides, the Divine Power of the Sea God within him was crucial to him right now.

He would need to use the Power of Order later to gradually convert the Soul Power within him into Divine Power.

Ji Xuan exchanged a few pleasantries with the Seven Sacred Pillar Douluo waiting outside the temple, then walked down Seagod Mountain to where Shui Binger and the others were.

"A-Xuan, is this the Divine Artifact?"

Shui Binger looked at the Sea God Trident in Ji Xuan's hand, full of curiosity.

"That's right." Ji Xuan nodded.

"But why does it look so ordinary?" Shui Yueer leaned forward and reached out to touch the cold shaft of the trident.

At this moment, the Sea God Trident had returned to its previous appearance; only by channeling Seagod's Light could its true form as a Divine Artifact be revealed.

"Brother-in-law, can I see it?" She looked up with her little face, full of anticipation.

"Go ahead and take it." Ji Xuan chuckled and held the trident horizontally in mid-air.

Shui Yueer immediately reached out with both hands and gripped the long handle tightly.

Ji Xuan let go.

"Ah—"

A cry of surprise rang out. How could Shui Yueer possibly handle the weight of the trident? Her whole body was instantly dragged downward.

Ji Xuan was quick-witted and grabbed the handle, but Shui Yueer still ended up kneeling on the ground.

"Brother-in-law, you're bullying me!" Shui Yueer pouted and glared up at Ji Xuan.

Shui Binger helplessly and amusingly helped Shui Yueer up.

"Your Highness, exactly how heavy is this Divine Artifact?" Feng Xiaotian asked.

"One hundred and eight thousand jin." Ji Xuan replied.

"What!" Feng Xiaotian exclaimed. "That heavy?!"

The others were also full of shock, looking at the Sea God Trident in Ji Xuan's hand in unison.

That was a weight of one hundred and eight thousand jin, yet in Ji Xuan's hand, it was as light as a wooden stick, held casually as if it were a toy. Just how terrifying must his strength be?

"Alright." Ji Xuan smiled and put away the trident, his gaze sweeping over everyone. "We are preparing to leave Sea God Island."

"What? We can leave?" Shui Yueer instantly forgot about what just happened and cheered, "That's great! We can finally go back!"

"Yeah, although the scenery here is beautiful," Huo Wu also couldn't help but sigh, "but after looking at it for so long, that's enough. It's time to go back and see."

Although the others didn't speak, they all exchanged glances, their faces filled with undisguisable smiles.

It had been over three years; they could finally return to the mainland.

"Why don't we leave right now?" Shui Yueer suggested.

Everyone smiled at each other, nodded one after another, and then all turned their gaze toward Ji Xuan, waiting for his decision.

"Alright, let's go now." Ji Xuan looked at the enthusiastic group and smiled in agreement.

The group faced the sea breeze and embarked on their journey back to the mainland...