AWB Chapter 398 Passing the Second Test! The Tragedy of Tang Chen!
Chapter 398 Passing the Second Test! The Tragedy of Tang Chen!
As the three figures approached from underwater, the 100,000-year-old demon soul great white shark's eyes showed no hostility, only scrutiny, and it said in a deep voice, "Human, the fact that you can get this far means you are qualified to speak with me."
Tang Chuan stopped and hovered in front of the great white shark, clasping his hands in a fist salute:
"This junior, Tang Chuan, the inheritor of the Sea God, has come to accept the second test."
The great white shark's gaze fell on the trident mark between Tang Chuan's eyebrows, and a complex emotion flashed in its eyes. It was nostalgia, emotion, and a trace of... unwillingness.
The great white shark snorted:
"The successor of the Sea God... For over a hundred years, someone has finally reached this point again."
"Don't call me 'junior' anymore. Since you are the successor of the Sea God, just call me Xiaobai."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Ruier's lips twitched.
Dugu Yan also had a strange look on her face.
Xiaobai... isn't that a really casual name?
The great white shark seemed to sense their confusion and rolled its eyes:
"The Sea God named me this, do you have a problem with that?"
"No." The three shook their heads in unison.
"That's good." The Great White Shark's joking expression vanished, replaced by a serious look. "You should know the rules for the second test. You must pass right under my nose without harming any sea spirit beasts and touch the pearl on that sacred pillar. If you can do that, you'll pass the second test."
Tang Chuan nodded: "This junior understands."
The great white shark watched him with great interest:
"So what do you plan to do? Force your way in? You have the Asura Demon Sword, killing me might not be difficult. But the rules say you can't harm sea spirit beasts, so if you attack me, you'll be breaking the rules."
Tang Chuan shook his head and said, "This junior will not lay a hand on you, senior. This junior would like to make a bet with you, senior."
The great white shark became interested: "Bet? What kind of bet?"
"I bet I can swim past you and touch the pearl on the sacred pillar without alerting any sea spirit beasts," Tang Chuan said calmly. "If I succeed, I pass. If I fail, I will voluntarily forfeit the test and leave Seagod Island."
The great white shark narrowed its eyes: "Interesting. But what makes you think I'd bet with you?"
"Based on this." Tang Chuan raised his hand, and the mark of the Vast Ocean Universe Shield between his eyebrows shone brightly. A palm-sized azure light shield floated out from between his eyebrows and hovered in his palm.
Vast Ocean Universe Cover!
The great white shark's pupils suddenly contracted!
It stared intently at the light shield, its eyes filled with shock and nostalgia:
"The Vast Ocean Universe Cover, Lord Sea God's Vast Ocean Universe Cover... Where did you come from...?"
Tang Chuan made up a story off the top of his head:
"It's a family heirloom. Senior should know that one of the abilities of the Vast Ocean Universe Cover is invisibility. Not visual invisibility, but rather the ability for one's aura, form, and soul power fluctuations to blend seamlessly with the surrounding environment. If I were to use the Vast Ocean Universe Cover to conceal myself and swim past you, would you be able to detect me?"
The great white shark fell silent.
It certainly knew the power of the Vast Ocean Universe Cover.
That was Poseidon's most prized treasure, a spatial artifact with unparalleled stealth capabilities.
Let alone a 100,000-year-old soul beast, even a true god would find it difficult to discover the traces of the Vast Ocean Universe Cover without deliberate investigation.
"Alright." The Great White Shark nodded slowly, a hint of admiration flashing in its eyes. "I'll bet with you. But there's one condition: you can't use the Vast Ocean Universe Cover to shield yourself for too long, at most ten breaths. If you can swim past me and touch the Holy Pillar within ten breaths, you win."
Xiao Ruier frowned: "Ten breaths? Isn't that too short?"
"Not short." Tang Chuan raised his hand to stop her, and said to the Great White Shark, "Just ten breaths."
The great white shark grinned, revealing a mouthful of sharp, white teeth:
"Great! Let's get started then."
It slowly swam to the front of the sacred pillar, its enormous body completely blocking the pillar from view.
Immediately afterwards, the 100,000-year-old demon soul great white shark unleashed its full perception, covering the entire inner water area, and no movement could escape its detection.
Tang Chuan took a deep breath and transmitted his voice to Xiao Ruier and Dugu Yan:
"You all stay where you are and don't move. I'll go alone."
Dugu Yan shook her head and said, "That's too dangerous, what if..."
Tang Chuan interrupted her, his gaze unwavering.
"There's no 'what if'. Trust me."
The next second, he held the Vast Ocean Universe Shield in his palm, and with a thought, the azure light shield slowly opened, enveloping his entire body.
The moment the light barrier closed, Tang Chuan's figure, aura, and soul power fluctuations... all vanished! It was as if he had never existed!
Xiao Ruier and Dugu Yan stared wide-eyed. Tang Chuan was right in front of them, yet they felt nothing at all! This feeling was extremely eerie and sent chills down their spines!
The great white shark's pupils also contracted slightly.
Its senses swept across the entire body of water, but it couldn't find any trace of Tang Chuan!
"One breath."
Tang Chuan made a move.
He moved silently through the water like a ghost. The Vast Ocean Universe Cover perfectly blended his figure with the lake water, without even causing a ripple in the current.
"Two breaths."
He swam past the tail of the great white shark.
"Three breaths."
He swam past the belly of the great white shark.
"Four breaths."
He swam down to the head of the great white shark.
The great white shark frantically scanned the area, but couldn't lock onto him. Its eyes darted around, but it couldn't see anything.
"Five breaths."
Tang Chuan emerged from beneath the Great White Shark's head and could already see the Sacred Pillar.
"Six breaths."
He reached out his hand towards the pearl at the top of the sacred pillar.
"Seven breaths."
The pearl was only three feet away from her fingertips.
"Eight breaths."
Two feet.
"Nine breaths."
one foot.
"Ten breaths!"
Tang Chuan's fingertips touched the milky white pearl!
The protective shield of the Vast Ocean Universe disappeared at the same moment.
Tang Chuan's figure appeared out of thin air next to the sacred pillar, his fingertip touching a pearl, a faint smile on his lips.
"Xiaobai, I won."
The Great White Shark turned around and looked at Tang Chuan, who had somehow crossed its defenses. Its eyes were filled with complex emotions, including shock, admiration, and a sense of relief.
"Excellent. What a magnificent Vast Ocean Universe Cover! What a worthy successor of the Sea God!"
It tilted its head back and let out a deep whale song—no, a shark song.
The sound echoed throughout the entire ring of sea and the entire Poseidon Island.
"Second test passed!"
Upon hearing this sound, Ye Lengleng and Ning Rongrong jumped up excitedly on the lake!
"It's approved! Brother Tang Chuan passed!"
"Very good!"
Xiao Ruier and Dugu Yan also emerged from the water, looking at Tang Chuan's back with pride in their eyes.
On the shore, Poseidon smiled slightly, his eyes full of satisfaction.
"As expected, the Sea God...did not misjudge you."
She turned and faced the distant Temple of Poseidon, speaking softly to herself.
"Chen, your great-grandson, is better than both of us."
The fog gradually dissipated over the circular sea.
Sunlight streamed down, making the lake surface shimmer.
On the circular sea, the fog dissipated, and sunlight shone on the lake's surface, creating a shimmering effect.
Tang Chuan had just returned to the shore from beside the sacred pillar, the trident mark between his eyebrows still glowing faintly, when Ye Lengleng, Ning Rongrong and others came over to congratulate him.
Poseidon stood not far away, her red clothes as red as blood, a relieved smile on her face.
Just then, a deep blue figure sped down from the sky at an incredible speed, even creating a sharp whistling sound.
Sea Dragon Douluo.
He is the head of the Seven Sacred Pillars Guardians, and he usually guards the Sea Dragon Pillar and rarely leaves.
His face was filled with anxiety, and he even disregarded etiquette, landing directly in front of Poseidon, kneeling on one knee, his voice trembling as he said:
"High Priest, something terrible has happened! Senior Tang Chen... his injuries have suddenly worsened, he's on the verge of death, and I'm afraid... I'm afraid he won't make it through today!"
Upon hearing this, Poseidon's smile instantly froze.
Her body swayed, as if struck in the chest by an invisible hammer. The light in her deep-sea eyes quickly dimmed, replaced by disbelief and fear.
"What did you say?"
"Chen...he was perfectly fine this morning..."
"High Priestess, please return to the Temple of the Sea God immediately!" Sea Dragon Douluo lowered his head, not daring to look at her.
Poseidon did not ask any further questions.
She turned around to take off, but she stumbled and fell forward!
"High Priestess!" Tang Chuan reacted quickly, stepping forward to steady her.
Poseidon's hands were icy cold, and her body was trembling slightly. She gripped Tang Chuan's arm, her knuckles white, as if it were the only piece of driftwood she could hold onto in the raging storm.
"Come...take me there..." Her voice was almost squeezed out of her throat.
Tang Chuan didn't say much. He supported her with one hand and unleashed a burst of soul power with the other, lifting the two of them into the air and speeding towards the Sea God Temple.
Ye Lengleng and the other three women exchanged glances and quickly followed.
Poseidon Temple, sleeping hall.
The temple doors were wide open, and several guardians of the sacred pillars stood outside, their faces grave.
Upon seeing Poseidon and Tang Chuan arrive, they silently made way for them.
Poseidon practically stumbled into the temple.
Tang Chen was lying in bed.
The once indomitable and domineering Haotian Douluo was now so thin he was almost unrecognizable. His face was ashen, his eyes were sunken, his lips were cracked, and black energy was faintly seeping from the old wound on his chest. His breathing was weak and rapid, each rise and fall as if he had used up all his strength.
But his eyes were still open.
Those eyes, once so domineering, were now cloudy and dim, yet still held a stubborn glimmer. When he saw Poseidon stumble and fall to the bedside, a hint of tenderness appeared in them.
"XiXi..." His voice was so hoarse it was almost inaudible, "You've come..."
Poseidon knelt by the bed, her hands trembling as she took Tang Chen's hand and pressed it against her face. Tears silently streamed down her face, dripping onto the thin, withered back of Tang Chen's hand.
"Chen...didn't you say...didn't you say you could hold on for a long time?" Poseidon's voice choked with emotion. "You promised me...you promised to stay with me..."
Tang Chen strained to tug at the corners of his mouth, as if trying to smile, but only managed an expression that was worse than crying: "I'm sorry... this time... I'm afraid I'll have to break my promise..."
"No!" Poseidon shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "I won't let you die! Do you hear me? Tang Chen, I won't let you die!"
She turned and shouted hoarsely towards the door:
"Someone! Bring all the healing medicines! Summon all the physicians from Seagod Island!"
No one moved.
It wasn't that he was disobeying orders, but everyone knew that Tang Chen's injuries were beyond the help of medicine and doctors. He had been parasitized by the Crimson Nine-Headed Bat King for decades, his soul and body riddled with wounds. He had only managed to hold on until now thanks to sheer willpower. Now, that willpower was exhausted; he was beyond saving, even by divine intervention.
Tang Chuan stood at the door, watching this scene, his expression one of heartbreak.
He walked slowly to the bedside, knelt before his great-grandfather, and whispered:
"Great-grandfather, your unfilial grandson has come too late..."
Tang Chen turned her gaze to him, a glimmer of light appearing in her cloudy eyes: "Chuan'er..."
He struggled to raise his hand, and Tang Chuan quickly grasped it.
"You...you passed the second test?" Tang Chen asked.
"Yes, great-grandfather. It's approved."
"Good...good..." Tang Chen smiled, this time a genuine smile, though weak, it was full of relief, "My great-grandson...is indeed...the best..."
His breathing became rapid, he coughed a few times, and a trickle of black blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.
Poseidon hurriedly wiped away her tears with her sleeve, which dripped onto Tang Chen's face.
"Xixi." Tang Chen took her hand and looked at her tenderly.
"Don't cry... I hate it when you cry..."
Poseidon practically roared it out:
"Then don't die!" What will I do if you die? What will I do alone?!
Tang Chen remained silent for a long time before softly saying:
"I'm sorry... Xixi... I owe you so much in this life..."
He paused, as if gathering his strength.
"Back then... in order to become a god... I abandoned you and went to the City of Slaughter... Decades have passed... leaving you alone to guard this island... waiting for me for decades..."
"Stop talking...stop talking..." Poseidon shook her head, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Let me speak." Tang Chen stubbornly shook his head. "If I don't speak now... I'll never have another chance..."
He took a deep breath, his voice broken and intermittent:
"The person I, Tang Chen, have wronged the most in my life is you... If I could do it all over again... I would rather give up any divine position... I would still... stay with you for the rest of my life..."
Poseidon lay on his chest and wept bitterly.
The heart-wrenching cries brought tears to the eyes of the guardians of the sacred pillars outside the temple.
Tang Chuan knelt to the side, head bowed, fists clenched so tightly his nails dug into his palms.
Tang Chen looked at him again, her eyes full of entrustment: "Chuan'er... after Great-Grandpa passes away... please take good care of Xixi for me, she... she's had a hard life..."
"Great-grandfather, rest assured." Tang Chuan raised his head, his eyes red-rimmed, and said, "Your grandson will definitely do it."
Tang Chen's voice grew weaker and weaker:
"And... the Haotian Sect... I... I'm so sorry to them..."
"Great-grandfather, you have done nothing wrong to anyone." Tang Chuan grasped his hand, his voice choked with emotion. "You are the pride of our Haotian Sect."
Tang Chen shook his head and looked at Poseidon again.
Then, he reached out his withered hand and gently stroked her face, wiping away her tears.
"XiXi... In the next life... in the next life I will definitely... come to find you sooner... so you won't have to wait..."
Poseidon nodded frantically, but she couldn't wipe away her tears.
A moment later, Tang Chen's hand slowly slid down.
His eyes slowly closed.
A faint smile lingered at the corners of her lips. (End of Chapter)