Douluo: When the piano sounds, the hidden weapon returns to the factory

The next day, as dawn broke, Feng Yao, along with Ning Rongrong, Dugu Yan, and Ye Lingling, followed Poseidon's instructions and ascended to the summit of Poseidon Mountain, entering the solemn and sacred Temple of Poseidon.

Inside the main hall, Poseidon was already waiting. She seemed to be in slightly better spirits than yesterday, but the withering pallor that emanated from the very core of her being was still undeniable.

Before anyone could bow, Poseidon slowly said, "No need for formalities."

Her gaze swept over the four people, finally settling on Feng Yao. Her hoarse voice rang out again: "Feng Yao, I will personally announce the content of your seventh test: draw out the divine weapon—the Trident of the Sea God."

As she spoke, the floor in the center of the hall slowly lit up, and a dazzling golden pillar of light shot into the sky! Within the pillar of light, a massive trident, its entire body shimmering with dark blue light, its design ancient yet majestic, was deeply embedded in the center of the hall. It appeared silent, yet it radiated an unparalleled divine might, as vast as the sea, suppressing all directions. Simply gazing upon it stirred the soul and filled one with awe. This was the weapon of the Sea God, a divine artifact—the Trident of the Sea God!

“Go forward, grasp it, and pull it up.” Poseidon’s voice was solemn. “Remember, only those who have the approval of the sea god can wield its power.”

Feng Yao took a deep breath and stepped towards the golden pillar of light. The closer he got, the more terrifying the invisible pressure became, as if the weight of the entire ocean was pressing down on his shoulders. He circulated his soul power, his two soul cores resonating, and walked steadily towards the trident.

He stretched out his hands and firmly grasped the cold halberd shaft.

The instant he touched the halberd shaft—

"boom!"

An indescribable, terrifying power surged through his arm like a burst dam, instantly rushing into his body! It was not merely a pure energy surge, but also contained the boundless will of the Sea God, his absolute control over the laws of the ocean, and the power of faith from millions of believers! This power was domineering and unparalleled, attempting to burst his meridians, crush his soul, and force him to submit to the absolute authority of the Sea God!

Feng Yao felt a sudden darkness before his eyes, and his entire body was groaning in excruciating pain as if it were being overwhelmed! His consciousness seemed to have been thrown into a raging sea, where it could be torn to shreds at any moment!

"Ugh—!" He couldn't help but let out a low growl, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth. But his hands, gripping the halberd, remained as still as iron clamps! The two soul cores spun wildly at an unprecedented speed, the Guixu torso bones erupting with a thick, earthy-yellow light to stabilize himself, while the power of the Guixu right arm bone continuously tore through the oncoming pressure. His will was as firm as a rock, his mind focused on his spiritual platform, unmoved by the surging waves!

"Get up...!" Feng Yao's eyes were bloodshot as he poured all his strength, will, and understanding of the power of the vast sea into his arms! He was not just pulling with his strength, but also using his own "Dao" to collide and merge with the "Dao" of the Sea God!

One inch, two inches... The Trident of Poseidon began to break free from the pillar of light with extreme slowness! With each inch it rose, the pressure on Feng Yao increased exponentially! Blood beads began to seep from his skin, and blood trickled from his seven orifices, making him look extremely miserable, but his eyes grew brighter and brighter!

Finally, with a deafening roar that seemed to split the heavens and earth, the Trident of Poseidon was completely pulled from the pillar of light by the wind and held high above his head!

In an instant, ten thousand golden rays burst forth from the trident, rendering the entire Sea God Temple like a divine kingdom! Vast divine power, like a gentle stream, began to actively merge into Feng Yao's body, repairing his injuries and nourishing his soul core.

The moment Feng Yao completely pulled out the Trident of the Sea God and raised it high above his head, another strange change occurred!

The Vast Ocean Universe Shield, which had been quietly suspended deep within his brow and radiating a warm, azure light, suddenly became incredibly hot, as if summoned by a supreme being! No longer under Feng Yao's control, it emerged from his brow on its own, transforming into a purest, most primal ball of Vast Ocean power. Like a fledgling returning to its nest, or a subject paying homage to its king, it blazed with joy and elation, and hurtled towards the majestic Trident of the Sea God in Feng Yao's hand!
"Om-!"

The moment the Trident of Poseidon came into contact with this primordial power of the vast ocean, it emitted a hum that was far clearer and more magnificent than before! The dark blue patterns on the halberd, which were originally somewhat restrained, suddenly lit up as if they had been infused with life, flowing with a dazzling divine light like ripples of water!
The primordial power originating from the Vast Ocean Universe Cover merged seamlessly into the junction between the main blade and the shaft of the trident. There, a barely noticeable diamond-shaped groove perfectly matched the size and shape of the Vast Ocean Universe Cover!
"Keng!"

A clear, crisp sound, like a divine artifact returning to its place, resounded throughout the hall! The ball of light formed by the Vast Ocean Universe Cover was firmly embedded in the groove, fitting perfectly! The next moment, an incomparably intense blue divine light erupted from the inlay, instantly spreading to every corner of the trident!
The once ancient and majestic trident seemed to finally radiate its full brilliance as a supreme artifact! Its shaft became even more translucent, as if carved from the finest blue crystal, yet possessing an indestructible quality. Wave-like divine runes flowed ceaselessly across its surface, emanating an aura of boundless, ultimate authority that controlled all water elements. Its weight also seemed to change, no longer the purely physical heaviness of before, but a lightness and agility connected to Feng Yao's bloodline and will, as if becoming an extension of his arm.

A vast, more refined and powerful divine force, far surpassing anything before, surged into Feng Yao's body like a warm tide through the halberd shaft, merging seamlessly with his own soul power and the power of his dual soul cores! This force not only further refined his meridians and bones but also connected more deeply with his spiritual sea of ​​consciousness between his brows, instantly elevating his understanding of the "vast ocean" to a whole new level. He seemed to hear the prayers of countless sea spirit beasts and feel the breath of the ocean thousands of miles away, a feeling of ruling over all the waters of the world and becoming the center of the ocean welling up within him.

As Poseidon watched this scene, an incredibly bright light burst forth in her cloudy eyes. She murmured to herself, "The Heart of Poseidon... is the key to unlocking the true power of the trident... the artifact recognizes its master, heart and trident become one... he has finally gained complete recognition..."

Ning Rongrong, Dugu Yan, and Ye Lingling were also deeply shocked by this sacred scene. They could feel that at this moment, Feng Yao and the trident had established an extremely close and inseparable connection.

At that very moment, an incomparably majestic and vast divine thought, as if traversing endless time and space, descended upon the Sea God's Temple. Apart from Feng Yao, no one else could sense the presence of this divine thought.

"Good." A gentle yet powerful voice resounded directly in Feng Yao's mind. "You have gained the approval of the divine artifact. I bestow upon you the Golden Thirteen Halberds. I hope you will use this skill wisely to protect the light of the ocean."

Immediately afterwards, a profound and mysterious transmission of intent, containing thirteen earth-shattering halberd techniques, was deeply imprinted into the depths of Feng Yao's soul—it was the Sea God's ultimate technique, the Golden Thirteen Halberds!

The divine sense receded like a tide. Feng Yao slowly lowered the Trident of the Sea God, feeling the terrifying power contained within it, his heart filled with shock. He subconsciously circulated his soul power according to the first move of the inherited technique, "Unpredictable Storms." Although he didn't actually unleash it, he could feel the ultimate artistic conception of imprisoning space and calming storms contained within it. Each of these thirteen halberd techniques was a divine skill, and more importantly, they were not merely moves, but contained the Sea God's most fundamental and profound understanding and application of the power of the vast ocean!

"So... the power of the Vast Ocean can be used in this way..." Feng Yao was immersed in his understanding when suddenly, a brilliant idea burst forth like a spark: "The sound of the zither is also a force, formless and intangible, yet it can directly point to the source. If I use the sound of the Fuxi Zither to simulate the artistic conception and power exertion of the Thirteen Golden Halberds, would that be feasible?"

Once the thought arose, it could no longer be suppressed.

When the Trident of Poseidon was completely pulled out by Feng Yao, its brilliant divine light gradually subsided and merged perfectly with the Vast Ocean Universe Cover. The terrifying pressure that had enveloped the entire hall also dissipated.

Although Feng Yao succeeded, the process was extremely brutal. At this moment, his face was pale, his robes were stained with blood, and his breathing was fluctuating due to the enormous exertion.

"Xiao Feng!" "Are you alright?"

Ning Rongrong, Dugu Yan, and Ye Lingling exclaimed almost simultaneously, rushing over instantly. Ning Rongrong's Nine Treasures Glazed Pagoda had already lit up, and Ye Lingling's begonia petals fell on Feng Yao without hesitation, the warm energy quickly healing his internal injuries and exhaustion. Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling supported him on either side, their beautiful eyes filled with undisguised concern and heartache. They had witnessed firsthand the peril Feng Yao had just endured—the sight of blood flowing from his seven orifices, as if he were about to be burst by the power of the divine artifact—making their hearts leap into their throats.

Feeling the genuine concern of the three women and the warmth brought by the healing light, Feng Yao felt a warmth in his heart, and squeezed out a reassuring smile on his pale face: "Don't worry, it's just that I was a little overwhelmed, it's nothing serious. The power of this artifact is indeed domineering."

He gently patted the hand supporting him, indicating that he could still stand.

At this moment, Poseidon's hoarse voice slowly rang out, drawing everyone's attention: "The artifact has recognized its master, and the heart and the halberd have become one. Feng Yao, you have truly gained the recognition of the Trident of the Sea God. This is the Sea God's greatest expectation for you."

Her gaze swept over the three women who were tightly surrounding Feng Yao, a barely perceptible tenderness flashing in her cloudy eyes. Then she looked at Feng Yao again, her tone becoming serious: "Now, I will tell you the contents of the eighth trial of the Sea God."

The hall fell silent instantly, even Ning Rongrong's healing light subconsciously slowed down. Everyone knew that the Sea God's trials became increasingly difficult and dangerous as they progressed, and this eighth trial was bound to be extraordinary.

Poseidon said slowly and deliberately, "The eighth test of the Sea God: Go to the Demon Whale Sea, kill the Deep Sea Demon Whale King, and use its energy and essence to make up for the deficiencies in your soul bones and collect all six soul bones."

Slay the Deep Sea Demon Whale King!
Upon hearing this name, all three women, except for Feng Yao, paled and gasped. Having cultivated on Seagod Island for many years, they naturally knew and had heard of the legends of this terrifying sea spirit beast—a being hailed as the number one overlord of the ocean, with a cultivation level approaching one million years! Its power was so immense that even the Seagod himself was said to have failed to completely kill it, only blinding one of its eyes. Such an opponent's strength definitely surpassed that of an ordinary 100,000-year-old spirit beast, and might even be comparable to Poseidon in her prime!
However, Poseidon's next words eased the pressure somewhat: "There is no time limit for this test."

There is no time limit.

This means that Feng Yao doesn't have to challenge that terrifying monster immediately; he can have enough time to improve his strength and make thorough preparations.

Upon hearing this, Feng Yao's expression turned solemn, but there was no fear in his eyes. He gripped the Trident of the Sea God tightly, feeling the vast divine power flowing within it, and said in a deep voice, "This junior understands. Deep Sea Demon Whale King... I will be prepared."

He knew that this eighth trial would be the most crucial and perilous battle on his path to godhood. Gathering all six soul bones was not only a requirement of the trial, but also essential for him to reach a higher realm and make up for his shortcomings. This battle was unavoidable.

Looking at Feng Yao's resolute eyes, Poseidon nodded slightly: "Go, familiarize yourself with the power of the trident. When you feel the time is right, you may set off. Remember, the Deep Sea Demon Whale King has been entrenched in the Demon Whale Sea for countless years and has extremely strong control over the ocean, so do not be careless."

Feng Yao nodded solemnly. His next goal was clear. He needed to master the Golden Thirteen Halberds as soon as possible, and more importantly, he needed to get himself into peak condition before facing that peerless ferocious beast that had reigned over the deep sea for millions of years!
In the days that followed, Feng Yao spent most of his time working on his previous ingenious ideas, in addition to familiarizing himself with the Trident of the Sea God and his own cultivation.

It was not that Feng Yao underestimated the supreme power of the Trident of the Sea God; on the contrary, it was precisely because he deeply understood the vast realm represented by this divine weapon and the Thirteen Golden Halberds that he became even more determined in his cultivation philosophy—true mastery is not about blindly imitating, but about integrating one's own insights and characteristics into it based on a profound understanding of its essence.

In his view, no skill, even one originating from the divine, is a perfect, unchangeable, ultimate formula. They are, too, the crystallization of wisdom from predecessors on specific paths, and have room for continued evolution and development. The learning process is essentially a dialogue with the sages across time and space, not a one-way indoctrination and obedience. Only by adhering to their core principles while daring to examine, adjust, and even innovate based on one's own strengths can true "fit" be achieved, allowing the skill to truly become one's own power.

This is both a respect for the legacy of the Sea God and a more vibrant way of inheriting it. At this moment, he is using the sound of the zither to simulate the halberd technique, which is a practice of this concept—an active process of adaptation, digestion, and re-creation, aiming to explore a unique path that integrates the essence of divine skills with one's own understanding.

Although the raw power generated by wielding a weapon and the invisible sound waves produced by vibrating strings are vastly different in form, Feng Yao's current level of mastery has reached a state of profound understanding of the essence of power. In his hands, everything can become a blade, and all techniques share a common origin.

Therefore, even the simplest and most basic musical notes, when flowing from his fingertips, can transform the intangible into the tangible, condensing sound waves into substance. The sound blades pierce the air, sharper than sword energy; the sound waves sweep across, as powerful as a giant wave. Wherever the music reaches, it is no longer mere merriment, but a deadly attack containing chilling killing intent and supreme power.

The seemingly gentle and ethereal zither music was given a new life under his exquisite control of both soul power and spiritual power. Every vibration of the strings corresponded precisely to a subtle rhythm of the Golden Thirteen Halberds' power manipulation method; every note resonated with the trajectory of the vast ocean's power flowing, condensing, and exploding.

He no longer focused on immediately mastering the halberd technique itself, but instead sat cross-legged, the Fuxi Qin (a type of zither) resting across his lap. He repeatedly savored the essence of each move of the Golden Thirteen Halberds, attempting to use the music to simulate the surging, condensing, and explosive power of the vast ocean. Perhaps like the endless, lingering flow of "a thousand years of emptiness," or like the restraining and suppressing force of "unpredictable storms"...

This process was extremely difficult. The sound of the zither and the halberd technique were one illusory and the other real, with completely different attributes. In the beginning, his zither music either lacked spirit and form, or its power was scattered and unable to be concentrated. But he did not give up. With his ultimate control over the music and his ever-deepening understanding of the power of the Vast Ocean, he constantly adjusted and tried.

Time flies, and another year has passed.

Ning Rongrong, Dugu Yan, and Ye Lingling's divine examinations are nearing their end, and their strength has improved significantly. Feng Yao, too, has made breakthrough progress through continuous exploration this year.

On this day, on the shore of the circular sea, Feng Yao closed his eyes and played the zither. The music began peacefully, gradually becoming more passionate and surging, like the rising tide. Suddenly, the music shifted, becoming heavy and stagnant, as if an invisible force had imprisoned the surrounding space, causing the churning sea to freeze for a moment—though far from the "Unpredictable Storms" cast by the Sea God himself, it already possessed a trace of its imprisoning essence!

Then, the music changed again, like white clouds unfurling and rolling, unpredictable and difficult to follow, which was a simulation of "a thousand years of emptiness".

Then, a sharp and high-pitched piano note tore through the sky, carrying an unstoppable penetrating power, as if it could break through all obstacles, and faintly had the resolute momentum of "never to return"!

As the music ceased, Feng Yao opened his eyes, a sharp glint in them. After a year of hard work, he had finally succeeded in using the music to initially simulate the essence of the first three forms of the Golden Thirteen Halberds!

More importantly, through this unique "translation" process, he gained an unprecedentedly profound understanding of the essence of the power of the Vast Ocean and the techniques for wielding that power. This understanding is far more valuable than simply learning the divine halberd technique; it is subtly solidifying his foundation, broadening his path, and accumulating crucial resources for his future breakthrough beyond that world's shackles. (End of Chapter)