With Chen Yuan's presence, it was like having a cheat code in a game. Dugu Yan, Ning Rongrong, Ye Lingling, and Zhu Zhuqing had almost no chance of failing the trial.
As a result, the group didn't bother with any particular order and simply stepped onto the stairs together, entering the range of the Sea God's Light.
Chen Yuan walked at the back, leisurely and relaxed, as if he were on a casual outing. Having already reached the 700th step in the Sea God's Light, these few steps were nothing to him.
As for the other four girls, they initially kept pace with each other. However, once they reached around the 50th step, the differences in their strength became apparent.
Dugu Yan was the first to pull ahead, followed by Zhu Zhuqing, then Ning Rongrong, and finally Ye Lingling. To withstand the pressure of the Sea God's Light, spirit power was crucial. Additionally, combat-type soul masters had an advantage over support-type soul masters because physical strength was equally important.
Chen Yuan followed behind them, watching as they each reached around the 100th step. Beyond the 100th step, the overall pressure increased significantly.
While the others could still hold on, Ye Lingling, after barely making it from the 99th to the 100th step, found herself unable to take another step.
Chen Yuan approached her, turned around, and said, "Climb onto my back. I'll carry you up the final eight steps. For a support-type soul master, these last eight steps will be ten thousand times harder than the first hundred."
Ye Lingling's face was flushed, not from embarrassment but from exhaustion. Her stamina and spirit power had reached their limits. As a support-type soul master, she had done her best.
Without hesitation, she climbed onto Chen Yuan's broad back. As he carried her, he said, "Use your spirit power to protect yourself."
With that, Chen Yuan swiftly ascended the remaining steps, reaching the top in just a few strides.
For Ye Lingling, it felt as if a tremendous weight had been lifted. The black hexagram on her forehead emitted a black light screen, which then shattered and merged into her body.
Ye Lingling closed her eyes briefly, then opened them again, her eyes filled with excitement. She had cleared the first trial, and her reward was an increase of one level in spirit power.
After getting off Chen Yuan's back, she planted a grateful kiss on his cheek and said, "The reward for clearing the first trial gave me an extra level of spirit power. I'll meditate to recover my spirit power and integrate this reward. You should go help the others."
Chen Yuan nodded. This outcome was within his expectations. The reward for a black-level trial was primarily an increase in spirit power. To improve the age of spirit rings, one would need at least a red-level trial.
Ye Lingling sat down on the 108th step, entering a meditative state to recover her spirit power and integrate the rewarded level.
Meanwhile, Chen Yuan continued forward, catching up to Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing, who were not far ahead.
Ning Rongrong, as a support-type soul master, had absorbed two immortal herbs and possessed a spirit power of level 67. However, she could only make it to the 124th step before her stamina and spirit power were completely drained.
Chen Yuan approached her and carried her on his back. In just a few steps, he caught up to Zhu Zhuqing, who was on the 130th step.
Both Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing had top-level seven trials. Their first trial, "Traverse and Strengthen the Sea God's Light," required them to reach the 136th step.
The final six steps were incredibly challenging, even for Zhu Zhuqing. If she had her seventh spirit ring and could activate her martial soul's true form, it might not have been a problem. But as things stood, she was still a bit short.
At this moment, Ning Rongrong, who was being carried by Chen Yuan and thus shielded from most of the pressure, summoned her martial soul and used her spirit skills: Strength Boost, Spirit Power Boost, and Defense Boost. All three enhancement skills landed on Zhu Zhuqing.
From Chen Yuan's back, Ning Rongrong, her face pale, said, "Zhuqing, you can do it. I know how hard you've been working. You'll definitely clear this trial."
Exhausted but reinvigorated by Ning Rongrong's boosts, Zhu Zhuqing felt a surge of strength. She glanced gratefully at Ning Rongrong and then at Chen Yuan, who stood on the same step, smiling encouragingly.
With determination, Zhu Zhuqing took one step, then another, and another—six steps in total.
As she took the final step, the pressure around her vanished. Her body swayed, and she nearly lost her balance.
Chen Yuan quickly steadied her with a hand on her waist and then set Ning Rongrong down.
Now standing on the 136th step, both girls had successfully cleared the trial. The red seven-pointed stars on their foreheads emitted a red light screen, which shattered and merged into their bodies.
Ning Rongrong exclaimed excitedly, "I gained one level of spirit power, and all my spirit rings increased by 500 years. My first spirit ring didn't change, but my second spirit ring is now purple."
Zhu Zhuqing added, "Same for me. I gained one level of spirit power and a 500-year increase in my spirit rings. Chen Yuan, we'll stay here to recover and integrate the rewarded spirit power. You should go check on Yan Yan. She has to reach the 333rd step."
Chen Yuan smiled and said, "Then rest here and recover. I'll go ahead."
After bidding farewell to Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing, Chen Yuan continued upward. The only one left ahead of him was Dugu Yan.
Dugu Yan, strengthened by the Love Eternal Red and the Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng, had a powerful body and a martial soul that had evolved twice into the Jade Phosphorus Dragon Emperor. With her dragon pearl, domain, and martial soul true form activated, she possessed a spirit power of level 78.
She had already reached the 200th step but was now pushed to her limit. She activated her martial soul true form.
In an instant, Dugu Yan's spirit power surged. Amidst a green light, she transformed into a massive Jade Phosphorus Dragon Emperor, nearly 30 meters long. Her scales shimmered, her horns gleamed, and her four limbs were strong. She let out a long roar.
The water elements in the air quickly condensed into mist, surrounding her and making her true form incredibly light.
Using her ability to ride the clouds and mist, Dugu Yan surged forward, aiming to reach the 333rd step in one go. However, when she reached the 300th step, the immense pressure forced her to collapse onto the stairs. Even the mist could no longer support her body.
After struggling for a long time, she was forced out of her martial soul true form. The final 33 steps seemed like an insurmountable chasm.
Chen Yuan quickly approached and helped Dugu Yan, who was kneeling on the steps, gasping for breath. He smiled and said, "Let's stop here. Accompanying you through this trial is part of my own trial. You can't let me be completely useless, can you?"
Dugu Yan chuckled, touched by his words. She replied with feigned nonchalance, "Alright, I've reached the 300th step. Let's tackle these last 33 steps together."
Chen Yuan then draped one of Dugu Yan's arms over his shoulder and wrapped his other arm around her slender waist. With a slight effort, he lifted her entire body, carrying her as they ascended the final steps.
Step by step, they moved steadily upward. When they finally reached the 333rd step, the pressure around them vanished.
The marks on their foreheads—Chen Yuan's circular mark and Dugu Yan's golden trident mark—emitted a light screen that shattered and merged into their bodies.
After a moment, Chen Yuan and Dugu Yan looked at each other and smiled.
Dugu Yan said, "I didn't get any other rewards. It just told me my Sea God Affinity increased by 5%. Maybe it's related to the Sea God's divine position."
Chen Yuan replied calmly, "I didn't get any rewards either. The trial is only one-ninth complete. The rewards will accumulate, and I'll receive them in full after you become a god."
(End of Chapter)
Word Count : 1,393
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