Extending his palm, Wang Zhong gently caressed Hai Die's long hair and replied with a smile, "It's alright."
"It felt rather ordinary."
While such power was naturally formidable, Wang Zhong was not entirely satisfied. Whether it was his Wood Martial Soul, the Eight Gates Dun Jia, or the Eight Extremes Heaven, their might was far from reaching its zenith.
However, after employing the first stance, 'Splitting the Sea,' Wang Zhong understood the current limit of his body's strength.
Having undergone the formation and purification of his Qi, blood, and soul rings, his physical fortitude was now capable of fully supporting him in executing any stance of the Eight Extremes Heaven. The reason he could only use the fifth stance, 'Splitting the Sea,' was simply because he had only cultivated up to that point. Forcing the remaining stances, due to insufficient mastery, could lead to unimaginable consequences, harming both himself and others.
Having spent a year here, it was time for Wang Zhong to depart.
The two walked and chatted towards Xiao Bai, who was still staring at Wang Zhong in a daze. Wang Zhong waved his hand and asked with a smile, "Xiao Bai, what are you still looking at?"
"I've snapped out of it. Today's training is over."
Xiao Bai seemed to awaken from a dream, her gaze towards Wang Zhong filled with a peculiar look.
Despite his immense power, Wang Zhong's attitude towards her and Hai Die had never changed, neither before nor now.
After chatting with Hai Die for a while, Wang Zhong shifted the topic, saying, "Hai Die, Xiao Bai, I might be leaving soon."
Hai Die's smile faltered for a moment but quickly regained its composure. In the past, her reluctance to let Wang Zhong leave stemmed from her unwillingness to part.
But after a year of being together, the countless moments of laughter had diluted this reluctance. Furthermore, Wang Zhong was not from Sea God Island; he belonged to the Spirit Hall, and his departure was inevitable.
Hai Die clasped her hands behind her back and smiled, saying, "Yes, you've been accompanying me here for a year. It's time to return to the mainland."
Hearing Hai Die's words, Wang Zhong chuckled awkwardly.
During his year here, he had spent most of his time cultivating, leaving little time to accompany Hai Die. More often than not, he would be cultivating while Hai Die quietly watched him.
Because Hai Die was often present, a swimming pool and a rocking chair were added in front of the small wooden hut. Later, when Xiao Bai also started visiting, two rocking chairs appeared.
"I'm sorry. I should have spent more time with you here."
"But I spent a lot of time cultivating," Wang Zhong apologized.
"You don't need to apologize. As soul masters, continuously strengthening ourselves is what we should be doing. And because of your immense strength, I have now passed all the assessments and become the second high priest, after High Priest Bo Saixi."
Hai Die tapped the seven-pointed star mark on her forehead, her smile radiant.
When Wang Zhong challenged the Seven Saint Pillars' guardians, Hai Die, with her playful ingenuity, initiated her own challenges after Wang Zhong's.
Already pushed to their limits by Wang Zhong's might, the guardians had no energy left to face Hai Die's challenges. They could only offer wry smiles and concede defeat.
Thus, the trials of the Seven Saint Pillars were naturally passed with flying colors.
As for Hai Die's final trial, it was personally administered by High Priest Bo Saixi, who then declared Hai Die as having passed.
During this final trial, Bo Saixi asked Hai Die only one question.
"If, one day, Wang Zhong were to attack Sea God Island with his immense personal power, which side would you choose to stand on?"
This question had no basis, no means of verification, and Bo Saixi did not even make Hai Die swear an oath to the Sea God. Under such conditions, even if Hai Die lied, there would be no way to prove it.
However, Hai Die's kindness and sincerity were inherent to her nature. Even without these assurances, she gave the most genuine answer from her heart.
"I believe Wang Zhong would not do that."
"Because he swore to me that as long as Sea God Island does not proactively attack the Spirit Hall, he would never harm the people of Sea God Island."
"I believe his oath, and I believe my own heart."
Hai Die's persistence and purity caused Bo Saixi to sigh softly, but she affirmed Hai Die's answer.
There was no reason, and no reason was needed.
Bo Saixi might not believe Wang Zhong, but she had to believe Hai Die.
With Hai Die clearly harboring feelings for Wang Zhong, if she were to stubbornly doubt, she would be trampling on and destroying that affection.
She understood the preciousness and hard-won nature of love, so how could she act in such a way?
If such a day were to truly come, even she would be powerless to resist. Wang Zhong's strength was unfathomably deep. The challenges of the Seven Saint Pillars and the trial of the High Priest were completed on the same day with absolute dominance.
They were not even a match for Wang Zhong!
"When are you leaving?" Hai Die asked with a cheerful smile.
"Soon. Within about a month."
"I can use this time to make up for the mistakes I made earlier," Wang Zhong replied with a smile.
Xiao Bai, who had been listening to their conversation, surprisingly did not interject. Although she had not experienced love, she knew this was not the time to speak much.
Casually finding an opportune moment amidst their laughter, Xiao Bai bid them farewell and leaped back into the sea.
The people of the Sea God Hall watched the two converse and eventually dispersed quietly. No one acted upon the astonishing scene that had just unfolded, as if nothing had happened, returning to their respective main cities.
A month passed in the blink of an eye. After bidding farewell to Bo Saixi, Wang Zhong was escorted by Hai Die away from Sea God Island, arriving at the beach where she had first returned to the sea.
"Hai Die, this is far enough. Hurry back."
"If someone were to discover your trace, it might stir up some unwanted intentions," Wang Zhong advised Hai Die, standing on the beach.
"Don't worry! Having learned my lesson once, how could I make the same mistake again?"
"From now on, if I encounter anyone drowning, I can directly control the waves or the fish to push them to safety," Hai Die said with a playful smile.
"Yes, that is also a good method. Take care," Wang Zhong nodded in agreement. This approach would indeed protect her and prevent Hai Die's kind heart from being hurt again.
"Then I'm leaving."
"Wait a moment."
Just as Wang Zhong was about to leave, Hai Die called out to him and kissed him deeply on the lips.
Then, blushing deeply, she softly said, "Take care, and don't forget me."
"You must come and see me again in the future!"
Placing something into Wang Zhong's hand, Hai Die turned and leaped into the sea, waving goodbye to him from a distance.
"Wang Zhong, when you come to see me again, be sure to bring them with you. Your most cherished friends, I'd like to meet them."
Her clear, cheerful voice reached his ears as Hai Die sank into the sea, disappearing into the ocean like a streak of light.
A smile graced Wang Zhong's face. In his hand, he held a shimmering seashell bracelet. The main part was woven with blue silk threads, strung with small, pure white seashells, each no bigger than a fingertip, identical in size and appearance.
These were small shells that a certain little fish had searched for diligently in the ocean. It was a gift, and a token of affection. The blue silk threads were none other than Hai Die's sea-blue long hair.
Gently stroking each small seashell, Wang Zhong smiled softly, put it on his right wrist, and whispered to the sea, "Silly fish..."