Chapter 358: A Trial Completed (3) |
There are many groups of islands beyond the Douluo Continent. Each island has its own features, no matter how slightly differing it is from the remaining plots of land. Maybe a special variant of fruit, a tiny difference in blades of grass, a slight mutation of a particular spirit beast— it could be anything.
*Creak*
The wooden structure drifting to one unnamed island creaks with each crash of the waves as the sky over the island is peaceful and bright as opposed to the portion of the sky in the distance darkened with a thick layer of grey clouds and crackling lightning.
"What the fuck is wrong with this sea? Even the Beasttaken tides incited by the Hint of Evil did not manage to get such a large number of Spirit Sages!" A Spirit Douluo, formerly a member of the branch family of the White Tiger Clan scowls. Almost everyone is exhausted and beaten down. Their once prestigious display of might through sheer nobility is completely gone.
Haggard and tired out of their wits, the group climb down their ship with exhaustion filling them to the brim. Wanting nothing more than to rest at this moment, the group is rightly annoyed when they hear Yu Xiaogang pass down orders, "Secure the beach and form teams of two. There are still 78 Spirit Sages. I want 19 teams to guard the beach and other 20 teams to scout the region and report back in 3 hours."
As the Spirit Sages grumble under their breaths, Yu Xiaogang further sets a meeting for every Spirit Douluo. Within the simple tent, Yu Xiaogang breaks the silence with an interesting topic.
"My Master has decided with other Titled Douluos that continuing in the sea, at this moment, is too dangerous. You all must have had your suspicions by now... the beast tide is most likely under the control of a 100,000-year-old beast."
Other Spirit Douluos suck in a breath of cold air. 100,000-year-old beasts! At this point, they are not entirely 'unfamiliar' with these forces of nature. Two Titled Douluos are usually needed to deal with every one of such beasts but the point is— because of one human, such creatures have to lower their heads to humanity. At least, that's the truth for most beasts of the Douluo Continent.
But what about the limitless seas and oceans? What about the abyss beyond their continent? The moment they set out to sail, they faced terrible losses. Not only that but what small percentage of the Spirit Masters they had with martial souls that could allow them to battle underwater more comfortably are dead and only Spirit Masters like Yu Xiaogang that have skills that directly use the weaknesses of the battle in such environment can have any hope to survive if they choose to continue.
"Maybe we should have thought twice before joining the voyage, huh?" A lighthearted snicker causes others to quieten down as the voice continues, "Or at least, we should not be lied to anymore about the purpose of why we are meant to follow the Titled Douluos on their mission to capture a single beast."
Yu Xiaogang looks at the teal-haired middle-aged man who leans back on his seat with a sincere smirk. The Spirit Douluo, unlike most, wears a rather loose and somewhat revealing outfit. The jade-green tunic parts open into a deep neck that reveals his pecs and a hint of his lean abdominal muscles with a thin silver pendant around his head shaped as if two snakes are biting onto the round green nail-sized pearl in the center.
"Dugu Xin, are you questioning his Divine Grace's mission?" Yu Xiaogang questions calmly.
"No?" Scratching the trimmed beard carpeting his jaw, Dugu Xin sighs, "How should I put this? I'm not questioning his Divine Grace. I'm merely suggesting that we are not informed of the actual task. It's a pity, no? So many comrades died without even knowing what was truly expected of them."
"If they died, then nothing else could ever be expected from them," Yu Xiaogang scoffs.
Frowning and displeased, Dugu Xin raises an eyebrow and remarks, "So all dead are meaningless?"
"My words are not intended to disrespect them," Yu Xiaogang sighs.
"Oh, I see. You're a little bitch, you know that? But my words aren't intended to disrespect you," Dugu Xin laughs and activates his eight spirit ring at once as his jade-green pupils turn into slits and a terrifying hiss emanates from his being. The bolt of lightning that should have charred him to ashes turns into a long line of stone as Yu Xiaogang sidesteps and cuts off the bolt of lightning from his body before the petrification reached him.
Every Spirit Douluo has retreated to a safe distance by now as Yu Xiaogang berates, "Dugu Xin, staying in the Clear Sky Clan has reduced your character, unlike your father."
"All I hear are is butthurt bitch's barks," Dugu Xin exhales in exasperation, "But you're the one who thinks all the dead are meaningless. That must mean that your mother, father, brother, and the rest of the clansmen that died were expected to... die, right?"
"Is it your way of remembering your dead wife?" Yu Xiaogang narrows his eyes, "To confront everyone about their views."
"Do you see anyone else discrediting the dead?" Dugu Xin smiles, "And I remember my wife every time I look at my daughter. She's a sweetheart. I know... how you were raised. Be carefree. I'll be a good father to my daughter— That's what I managed to master in Clear Sky Clan ironically."
Bolts of lightning begin to crackle around Yu Xiaogang while green mist escapes Dugu Xin's pores.
Suddenly, a much more dignified hiss dissipates the poison and a magnanimous roar disrupts the arcs of lightning around Yu Xiaogang.
"Stay focused," Golden Crocodile's voice berates Yu Xiaogang.
"Stop poking others for fun," An annoyed speaker in turn verbally smacks Dugu Xin.
"Yes, Master," Yu Xiaogang purses his lips.
"Very well, Father," Dugu Xin narrows his eyes, but continues, "I just want to know what is expected from us. We can at least focus our strength in the right direction."
After a moment of silence, Golden Crocodile's words emerge in every spirit master's senses, "This voyage is a trial. Those that survive, even the Titled Douluos, stand to gain massive fortunes. If not a surefire way to godhood then, at the very least, an increase of your spirit ranks by one level or an entire realm."
This instantly excites everyone including Yu Xiaogang and Dugu Xin.
"Huh?" Dugu Xin snickers, "I guess I shouldn't stick up for the dead in this situation. The less that remains... the more we the surviving Spirit Masters share!"
His words instantly turn everyone speechless.
"Sigh... he's a mess," A voice apologizes to similarly ranked Titled Douluos in another location, "I never thought befriending Tang Hao in any capacity would result in Xin'er becoming so..."
"Hehe, Poison Douluo, your son isn't that different from you," Someone laughs.
"Huh? What's that supposed to mean?" Dugu Bo, titled Poison Douluo, demands.
"Enough is enough. Banters only delay the inevitable problem we must focus on..." Golden Crocodile speaks up softly, "We cannot explore the sea and locate Dark Devilgod Tiger if we bring others with us."
"But... what about their purpose... why were we not told everything?" Another Titled Douluo inquires.
"Because that 'reward' comes with too great of a sacrifice," Exposing them to reality, Golden Crocodile questions, "Even if I did not tell you... do you have any way to oppose his Grace's expectations?"
As the Titled Douluo members discussed the situation of the Beast Tide and how they should move forward while keeping true to the objective set for them and known only to Golden Crocodile, they fail to notice a small pitch-black 'tree' in the center of the island. The Spirit Sage scouts have yet to reach this location while they simply do not sense the 'domain' that they entered long ago.
"W-will this work?"
A cute voice within Ah Yin sounded worried as the bluenette rolls her eyes, "Quit being so nervous, you're a million-year-old spirit soul, Petals."
The pitch-black tree with obsidian leaves shudders slightly.
Ah Yin's domain can have two nodes.
Yin and Yang.
Each node can sustain her domain independently and share everything happening in her domain back to her real body and Petals. With her domain being completely hidden, Ah Yin simply kept an eye on the voyagers from the Spirit Empire and comes across multiple familiar faces be it the Elders of the former Spirit Hall or many well-known Spirit Douluos and Sages.
'Hmm... Godhood? It's really a strange play of fate that these people are aiming for the very thing we are including the Tiger that Sun has already devoured. Is that Tiger THAT special that both Sun and Qian Xunji wanted it the moment they had enough resources for it?'
In the end, Ah Yin doesn't care for any of it. She's not Ja Sun who finds anything and everything interesting before trying to shove his dick into it or Bibi Dong who is now keen on foiling Qian Xunji's ploys out of pure personal grudge. She's just here to fill their position until one of them wakes up while keeping true to their objectives.
Ja Sun wants the Sea God Island. Bibi Dong wants Spirit Empire.
Weakening this force in front of her increases the odds of both these objectives.
'There are 78 Spirit Sages, 23 Spirit Douluos, and 15 Titled Douluos.' Ah Yin counts. With Spirit Douluos having the least losses and Titled Douluos keeping to themselves, their numbers are still great but Ah Yin aimed to reduce the number of Spirit Sages further. And she instantly chooses the fortunate ones who have a spirit bone or two. Even in a group of Titled Douluos, Spirit Masters with three Spirit Bones are rare and dangerous.
***
Alternate Title: All According to Plan.
— Aize- ehm, Ah Yin.
