A clearly visible palm of golden energy appeared at Tang San’s right arm, making a grabbing motion, at which the violent pain also began. Tang San tightly grabbed the muscles at his waist with his right hand, resisting the rending pain, allowing that golden palm shaped energy to start stripping his right arm spirit bone.
Having passed the first trial, Tang San already roughly understood that in these Seagod trials, he would constantly experience this pain. Maybe his seven spirit bones would all be stripped off one after another, and that last trial should be to restore the Seagod Trident. Eight trials in total. But even though the pain was constant in these trials, it wasn’t the true content of the trials. Like the first trial, even though he had experienced powerful pain, what almost lost him the trial in the end was the heartfelt joy. Very clearly, there would be mood changes in later trials, it was basically going to use all kinds of ways to influence him, to make him leave the central platform. As long as he did, the inheritance would fail.
With this knowledge, Tang San was naturally intelligent enough to prepare. The process of stripping the right arm spirit bone was a bit faster than the Eight Spider Lances, and the pain he suffered naturally also a bit less. This was also something Tang San observed himself. He vaguely understood that the longer the spirit bone removal took, the higher the quality of the spirit bone was, and the better the effect would be from soaking in Seagod energy. Although the Sky Blue Bull Python right arm bone was good, it was still some way from the Eight Spider Lances that had already reached god level. As a result, when it was stripped off, the process was a bit faster, and it could be assumed that the effects would also be a bit worse.
What Tang San was curious over was, after he once again endured the pain, after seeing the Eight Spider Lances turn into the Seagod Eight Wings, he very much wanted to know what this Sky Blue Bull Python right arm bone would turn into?
The answer was very soon announced. Only this answer still made Tang San enormously amazed. Yes, not surprise, but amazement, so much that he was simultaneously shocked and furious.
The stripped off Sky Blue Bull Python right arm bone quietly landed on that round platform, and a golden wave washed over it, swallowing it up. Very soon, the golden wave energy, the Seagod’s energy, merged into the Sky Blue Bull Python right arm bone, and the bone showed bizarre changes.
The spirit bone grew larger, becoming the size of Tang San’s right arm, but no longer bent, standing straight on the platform. At the top, there was a circular mushroom top forming, looking like something any man would find very familiar. If it was smaller, it would be a bit like Oscar’s flying mushroom sausage. What was most difficult to endure was that in the center of that mushroom head, a golden liquid spurted out, flying in an arc through the air and spraying over Tang San. He even vaguely smelled a fishy smell.
Rage instantly burned, violent fury once again making Tang San raise his right hand. But at this moment, in the world’s most vulgar event, a voice like that of the vulgar Spirit Master Bu Le Tang San once met echoed,
“How embarrassing, transformation failed.”
Boom—— Tang San felt his brain seem to explode from fury. The insult didn’t matter to him, but the entire insult used the spirit bone created through Da Ming’s sacrifice, through his life! He couldn’t produce spirit power, but at the same time, it only took one step and he could instantly crush this incredibly nauseating thing.
Even though already on guard, deep in his heart what was most important to him was his friends and relatives. If he was personally humiliated, Tang San would definitely be alert, but when Da Ming who had given his life for Xiao Wu was humiliated, how could Tang San endure?
This step, would finally still be sold! Tang San lifted his leg, already aware that this was a trap, but even so, even if he couldn’t continue the inheritance, he still couldn’t let Da Ming bear such humiliation.
But, the instant Tang San was about to take this step, a familiar faint voice reached his mind,
“Don’t be fooled, my brother. I feel your respect for me in your anger, to me, that’s enough. To become part of a god, is my honor.”
This…… Tang San forcibly stopped the half finished step. Stopping him, was the stinky liquid that sprayed from the mushroom head. The liquid actually changed direction.
“Da Ming……”
Tang San’s vision grew a bit hazy. He knew that this was the effect of Da Ming’s soul within the spirit bone!
“Nothing need be said. Don’t tell me you want to let Xiao Wu grieve when you die failing the inheritance?”
Da Ming’s soul was extremely faint, these were the last words he could speak. But these words had enormously destructive power on Tang San.
The spirit bones ordinary spirit masters possessed were obtained through hunting spirit beasts, naturally filled with hostility towards the spirit master. Only when, like the Eight Spider Lances, they reached the god level and another level of merging with Tang San, would their feelings change.
But Tang San was different, Da Ming was happy to sacrifice himself to be Tang San’s Sky Blue Bull Python right arm bone, and his soul was always within the spirit bone, watching Tang San revive Xiao Wu, he was only grateful. Under such circumstances, even though this spirit bone wasn’t god level, Da Ming still used burned the power of his soul to warn Tang San, preferring to be humiliated than to let Tang San ruin the inheritance.
This time it was no longer the Seagod’s arrangement, nor could it be called luck, it was Da Ming who saved Tang San’s inheritance.
Tang San’s eyes were moist. He blinked away the tears and withdrew his raised leg,
“Da Ming, I definitely won’t disappoint you.”
Turning grief into strength, Tang San roared fiercely, stiffly pushing down the anger he felt. But his fists were already tightly clenched, trying hard to control his emotions.
As Tang San finally stabilized his mood, recovering his calm, everything in front of him transformed. That mushroom shaped thing suddenly burst, hiding what was below in a large golden cloud, where a resonant dragon cry echoed. Tang San seemed to see Da Ming again, but the shrunken size. But Da Ming also quickly transformed in that golden mist, Sky Blue Bull Python, bull head and python body, although Da Ming’s soul wasn’t there. But at this moment, he seemed to complete the step the Deep Sea Demon Whale King couldn’t in a million years.
In the blink of an eye, Da Ming transformed into a golden dragon, soaring up over that round platform. Even though his body was very small, he still gave a feeling like soaring to the ninth heaven, spiraling in that golden mist. The round little platform flew back to its original position.
Yes! This should be the true evolved effect of the Sky Blue Bull Python arm bone Da Ming turned into! Tang San wiped away the tears in his eyes, his heart also completely calming down.
First it was ecstasy that influenced him, but in the second trial of the inheritance he was actually influenced by anger. Such terrifying trials. With the humiliation of Da Ming infuriating him, plus the imperceptible effect of the trial on his emotions producing the change, even fully aware that it might be a trap he still almost stepped into it. Passing the Seagod’s challenges was actually so difficult?
Through the two trials, Tang San had also gained an even deeper understanding of this Seagod inheritance. Inferring three from one, with Tang San’s intelligence he immediately brought to mind a line from the Confucian educational text 《Three Character Classic》 from his previous world: We speak of joy, anger, we speak of grief, fear, love, hate, desire. These are the seven emotions.[1]
* * *
[1] Three Character Classic - Translation from here: https://www.yellowbridge.com/onlinelit/sanzijing.php
Chapter 314: The Word Love, Telepathic Rescue
According to the sequence, the first seven of these eight Seagod inheritance tests were very likely to see whether he could break free from these seven emotions. Yes, that was definitely it.
Thinking of this, Tang San sudde
nly had an epiphany. The sharp pain from the Blue Silver Emperor right leg bone starting to be removed couldn’t disturb his clarity either.
If the Seagod could sense the changes in Tang San’s heart right now, he would definitely be enormously gratified. Because if the Seagod’s Heart was here, its instructions to Tang San would be these seven emotional tests. Originally the Seagod’s inheritance should be testing the six desires[1], corresponding to the spirit master’s six spirit bones. But Tang San was an exception with the external spirit bone Eight Spider Lances, and with seven spirit bones the six desires turned to seven emotions.
People had seven emotions and six desires, this was the basics of human nature, unavoidable. Nobody was an exception. The difficulty of such a test was obvious, passing while the Seagod energy disturbed one’s thoughts was extremely difficult even when forewarned, let alone when Tang San directly entered the tests without any warning. The difficulty left practically no chance of passing.
However, when including the back door provided by the Seagod as well as some luck, after having comprehended the challenge in the Seagod inheritance, to baffle Tang San whose Seagod affinity had risen to one hundred fifteen percent through passing eight Seagod trials wasn’t very likely. Tang San didn’t disappoint anyone, starting from the third test, his progress suddenly grew smooth.
The third trial tested the word “grief”. Removing Tang San’s Blue Silver Emperor right leg bone, what appeared was an illusory scene. And this scene portrayed how Tang San’s mother Ah Yin chose to sacrifice herself to save Tang Hao. And Tang San could easily save his mother in the illusion by just lifting a finger. It was extremely easy to get lost in that grief filled atmosphere.
But with the experience of the two previous trials, no matter what happened in the illusion, Tang San maintained clarity, guarding his mind. What gave him even more of a surprise was that his Purple Demon Eye’s illusion breaking effect was effective even here. After all, the Purple Demon Eye wasn’t a power of this world. Even though the illusion was extremely powerful, Tang San could still endure, easily passing. And the Blue Silver Emperor right leg bone also transformed into a blue silver grass of the most common variety, calmly staying on the third little platform under a golden halo of light.
The fourth test came next, stripping Tang San’s left leg bone, again producing an illusion. This time the focus of the illusion was changed to Xiao Wu, showing Xiao Wu just after she sacrificed herself for Tang San, with her soul on the verge of fading, causing Tang San intense fear.
With the experience and comprehension of the previous three tests, Tang San’s heart was like iron, forcing down the feelings influenced by the Seagod. Passing once more, the Evil Spirit Orca left leg bone transformed into an enormous orca figure, cruising around on the fourth platform.
At this point, Tang San had already passed four of the eight total Seagod inheritance tests, and as he passed this fourth one, Tang San immediately felt his body start to change. The originally golden bones, muscles and veins began to gradually flush, becoming the pure golden color Qian Renxue had when she attacked with her full strength. In passing the baptism of the four emotions, at the same time as the Seagod’s power influenced Tang San’s mind, it also imperceptibly transformed his body. Simultaneously, the Seagod’s divinity was assimilated into him, drop by drop.
At this point, there were still three spirit bones that hadn’t been stripped, and Tang San knew that these spirit bones were also the most crucial.
The Eight Spider Lances had reached god level, it was part of him and could even think of alerting him, the Sky Blue Bull Python right arm bone had Da Ming’s soul that could warn him. The Blue Silver Emperor right leg bone was left him by his mother and was filled with love, it naturally wouldn’t cause any problems. Even though the Evil Spirit Orca left leg bone came from the hundred thousand year Evil Spirit Orca King, as a left leg bone it wasn’t that important to begin with, and Tang San could also completely suppress the influence it had on him even after being stripped. As a result, these first four tests were relatively easily passed. Of course, this was still on the condition that Tang San was able to quickly figure out the true theme of the Seagod inheritance, making it this easy.
But, the remaining four tests would be much more difficulty. First putting aside restoring the Seagod Trident, just the remaining three emotions weren’t that simple. First of all, Tang San’s torso spirit bone was looted from the million year Deep Sea Demon Whale King, and without a doubt, the Deep Sea Demon Whale King hated him to the death. Even its corpse had been desecrated. When Tang San took this test, not only wouldn’t the Deep Sea Demon Whale King help him get rid of the confusion, its soul within his spirit bone might even try to help the Seagod’s divine power to confuse him. This was also the most important spirit bone, and the difficulty was naturally the greatest.
Even less had to be said about the mind condensing wisdom skull bone, as the spirit bone around the brain, it would doubtless cause Tang San the most violent pain, and this spirit bone had moreover fused with a portion of the Seagod’s Heart energy. Tang San had no idea whatsoever what would happen when he took the test.
Finally, there was moreover the Titan Giant Ape left arm bone that shouldn’t have been a problem. As a left arm bone it was ranked last of all the spirit bones, and moreover came from the Titan Giant Ape Er Ming, and with their relationship, Er Ming absolutely wouldn't hold him back. But the crucial part was that this left arm spirit bone hid the Asura God’s divine power. Tang San could be near certain that removing this spirit bone from his body would be severely difficult. Even if the Asura God’s power had already been suppressed to within his Clear Sky Hammer.
The facts proved Tang San right. The spirit bone stripped in the fifth test was his skull spirit bone, the mind condensing wisdom skull bone.
Starting from almost the instant the spirit bone removal began, Tang San’s mind turned blank white. Not from pain, but like when the Seagod brought him here, basically uncontrollable, nothing could be felt in his mental world.
A faint red color began to emerge in this blank white world, slowly condensing, forming a giant heart shape before him. Tang San’s body then also appeared in this world. Tang San wanted to use his Purple Demon Eye to break the illusion, but it didn’t work. Not a bit of energy could be transferred. In this world of consciousness he had become like an ordinary person.
Just then, the surrounding scenery suddenly changed. The pale world produced countless colors.
A great green forest, a clear little lake, insect cries and bird song echoing, air so fresh and clean one couldn’t help breathe deeply. In this beautiful picture, sitting upright on a large rock on the shore was a young woman in white, long black hair hanging all the way down into the water. She held a tiny wooden comb, slowly combing her hair.
Seeing this, Tang San was stunned. Xiao Wu, yes, even without seeing her face, Tang San still knew that this was his Xiao Wu!
He now stood only two meters away from Xiao Wu. Suddenly, she tilted her head, beautifully pulling her hair behind her, exposing her flawless features, looking at Tang San with a sweet smile,
“Ge, did you know?”
“Know what?”
Tang San asked subconsciously.
Xiao Wu’s eyes revealed happiness,
“Mom said that a girl can only let one man comb her hair in her whole life. Do you want to help me?”
“I do, of course I do.”
Tang San answered impatiently. Powerful love instantly filled his heart, leaving nothing else behind. To comb Xiao Wu’s hair, to live happy days together with her, that was Tang San’s most cherished wish.
Xiao Wu blushed, making her touching appearance even more gorgeous. Shyli raising her hand with the comb, she didn’t dare look at Tang San, speaking softly:
“Here.”
Raising his hand, Tang San wanted to take that comb, but his hand stopped in midair.
This is an illusion, everything I see is an illusion, how
could I be with Xiao Wu at the Star Dou Great Forest lake? Even though this was a mental world, if he took one step forward to take the comb, then that would very likely mean taking this step in reality as well, leaving the center of the platform.
If Tang San could use any spirit ability now, he would have held the wooden comb, but in this mental world he could basically do nothing.
But even so, Tang San’s heart was still filled with love for Xiao Wu. Among his seven emotions, the most difficult to control was love. In his heart, this word was the weakest part. It might be called his greatest weakness.
Even fully aware that all this was an illusion, Tang San was still unable to firmly reject Xiao Wu. He could only foolishly look at her, motionless.
After a long time, Xiao Wu softly raised her head, looking towards him. Her eyes had become a bit dull, sparkling teardrops spinning. She didn’t look straight at Tang San, only at that tiny wooden comb she was holding out. Her voice trembled with choked emotion,
“Ge, don’t you want to comb my hair?”
“No, I do, I want to.”
Intense love broke through reason, and Tang San shouted emotionally. How could he have the heart to see his Xiao Wu sad? Even if it was an illusion of Xiao Wu, he still couldn’t refuse.
……
Seagod Island, Seagod Mountain, Seagod Palace.
Seagod Douluo Bo Saixi had sacrificed her life to open the gate to Tang San’s inheritance. The Shrek Six Devils had all seen it.
They were swallowed by golden light, and could clearly feel the rich energy constantly rushing from that gate, saturating their bodies through the platforms where they stood. And at the same time, their mental power was also joined as one, connected together with the light from that pure golden flame, becoming a guarantee to ensure the gate stayed open.
The Seagod Temple wasn’t like the Angel Temple with doors specially for coming and going. Qian Daoliu’s sacrifice was also different from Bo Saixi’s. Qian Daoliu only sacrificed himself to open the gate for Qian Renxue, as long as she completed the inheritance of the god of angels, she could naturally open the gate and return under her own power.
Douluo Dalu - Volume 01-48 Page 534