Chapter 175 Clearance
The existence of Chen Yuan is like a bug in a game. It is almost impossible for Dugu Yan, Ning Rongrong, Ye Lingling, and Zhu Zhuqing to fail.

So, without any order of priority, they all climbed the stairs together and entered the range of the Seagod's light.

Chen Yuan walked at the end, strolling leisurely, as if he was on a picnic. In the light of the sea god, he had climbed all 700 steps, and these were just a few steps.

As for the other four women, they were originally able to keep pace with each other, but as they reached around level 50, their differences in strength became apparent.

First it was Dugu Yan, then Zhu Zhuqing, then Ning Rongrong, and finally Ye Lingling. If they wanted to withstand the pressure of the Sea God's Light, soul power was definitely the most important. In addition, combat soul masters had more advantages than auxiliary soul masters because physical strength was also crucial.

Chen Yuan followed behind them and watched them reach the 100th step one after another. As they entered the steps above 100, the overall pressure increased to a higher level.

The others could still hold on, but Ye Lingling, after struggling to climb from the 99th step to the 100th step, could no longer take another step.

Chen Yuan came in front of her, turned around and said:

"Come on my back, I will take you up the last eight steps. For an auxiliary spirit master, these last eight steps will be ten thousand times more difficult than the first 100 steps."

Ye Lingling's pretty face flushed red, not because of embarrassment, but because of tiredness. Her physical strength and soul power had reached the limit. As an auxiliary soul master, she had done her best.

Then, she lay on the broad back, Chen Yuan carried Ye Lingling on his back and said:

"Use your soul power to protect yourself."

After saying this, Chen Yuan continued to climb the stairs with light steps, and the eight steps were reached in just a few steps.

For Ye Lingling, she only felt a sudden relief, as if she had taken off a heavy burden. The black hexagram on her forehead condensed into a black light curtain, which then shattered and merged into her body.

Ye Lingling closed her eyes and quickly opened them again, her eyes full of excitement. She passed the first test and was rewarded with a level increase in soul power.

She left Chen Yuan's back and gave him a gentle kiss on the face with gratitude. Then Ye Lingling took the initiative to say:
"The reward for passing the first test allows me to increase my soul power by one level. I will first adjust my breathing, recover my soul power, and integrate the rewarded soul power. You go take care of the other sisters first."

Chen Yuan nodded. This was not beyond his expectations. The reward for the black-level assessment was mainly to increase soul power. If he wanted to increase the age of his soul ring, he would have to at least take a red-level assessment.

Then, Ye Lingling sat down on the 108th step and entered a state of meditation, recovering her soul power while integrating the rewarded first-level soul power.

As for Chen Yuan, he continued to move forward, looking at Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing not far in front of him.

As an auxiliary soul master, Ning Rongrong, even though she absorbed two immortal herbs and had a soul power as high as level 124, still stopped at level . Her physical strength and soul power had all reached their limits.

Chen Yuan walked forward and carried Ning Rongrong, who was no longer able to move forward, on his back. He took two steps at a time and caught up with Zhu Zhuqing on the 130th step.

Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing both took the top seven tests. Their first test, crossing, enhancement, and the light of the sea god, was to climb the 136 steps.

These last six steps were extremely difficult even for Zhu Zhuqing. If she could have a seventh soul ring and activate her martial soul body, perhaps everything would not be a problem. But now she still lacks something.

However, at this moment, Ning Rongrong, who had Chen Yuan to withstand most of the pressure, summoned her martial soul and used soul skills. The light of strength amplification, the light of soul power amplification, and the light of defense amplification, the three amplifying soul skills fell on Zhu Zhuqing.

On Chen Yuan's back, Ning Rongrong said with a pale face:
"Zhu Qing, come on, I know you have been working hard, you will definitely pass the level smoothly."

Zhu Zhuqing, who was already exhausted, felt a surge of strength in her body again after receiving the boost from Ning Rongrong. She looked at Ning Rongrong with gratitude, and then looked at Chen Yuan, who was on the same step with her and had an encouraging smile on his face.

Zhu Zhuqing's face was determined. She took another step, two steps, three steps, four steps, five steps, six steps... Just as she took this last step, the pressure on her body suddenly relaxed. Zhu Zhuqing's body swayed and she almost lost her balance.

It was Chen Yuan again who held her waist and put Ning Rongrong down from behind.

At this time, arriving at the 136th step, both women passed it successfully. The red seven-pointed stars on their foreheads emitted a red light curtain, which shattered directly and merged into their bodies.

Ning Rongrong said in surprise:
"I rewarded you with the first level of soul power and all of your soul rings, which will be upgraded for 500 years. There is no chance for the first soul ring, but my second soul ring has already turned into a purple soul ring."

Zhu Zhuqing then spoke:
"I will do the same. I will increase my soul power by one level and the life span by 500 years. Chen Yuan, we will fuse our soul powers here. You don't have to worry about us. Go and see Sister Yanyan. She is going to climb the 333 steps."

Chen Yuan smiled slightly and said:
"Then you guys rest here, recover your soul power, and integrate the upgraded soul power. I'll go up first."

After saying goodbye to Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing, Chen Yuan continued to move forward. Now the only one ahead of him was Dugu Yan.

Dugu Yan has a powerful body tempered by the two immortal herbs, Acacia Heartbreak Red and Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng. She also has the Phosphorus Dragon King martial soul that has evolved twice. She can condense dragon balls, master domains, open up her martial soul's true form, and has a soul power of up to level 78.

At this time, she had already climbed the 200th step, but she was pushed to her limit and immediately used her martial soul's true body.

In an instant, Dugu Yan's soul power surged, and in the green light, it transformed into a gigantic Green Phosphorus Dragon King, with a body nearly 30 meters long, covered with shining scales, double horns on its head, four limbs under its belly, and a long roar coming from its mouth.

The water elements in the air quickly condensed and turned into clouds, which diffused around her body, supporting her martial soul and making her martial soul become extremely light.

Riding on the clouds and mist, Dugu Yan relied on this special ability to advance quickly. She wanted to rush to the 333 steps in one breath, but when she rushed to the 300th step, the huge pressure pressed her down on the steps. Even the clouds condensed by the water element could no longer support her body.

After struggling for a long time, Dugu Yan was finally forced to break away from his martial spirit body and was unable to move forward. The last 33 steps seemed like an insurmountable barrier.

Chen Yuan walked over quickly, helped up Dugu Yan, who was half-kneeling on the steps and breathing heavily, and said to her with a smile:

"Let's stop here. Accompanying you through the levels is my assessment, so you can't let me be useless."

Duguyan laughed tenderly when she heard this, and was moved. Then, she pretended to be relaxed and said:
"Well, I've already climbed 300 steps. Let's climb these last 33 steps together."

Afterwards, Chen Yuan pulled one of Dugu Yan's arms, placed it on his shoulders, and hooked it around his neck. With the other arm, he hugged Dugu Yan's slender waist, and with a little force, he almost hung her entire body on him.

Step by step, not fast but very steady, Chen Yuan and Dugu Yan climbed up the 333 steps together.

In just a moment, the pressure surrounding his body suddenly loosened. The marks on the foreheads of Chen Yuan and Dugu Yan, Chen Yuan's ring-shaped mark and Dugu Yan's golden trident mark, each emitted a curtain of light, which then shattered and merged into the body.

After a moment, Chen Yuan and Dugu Yan looked at each other and smiled.

Dugu Yan said:

"I don't have any other rewards, just tell me that increasing the affinity of the Sea God by 5% may be related to the Sea God's position."

Chen Yuan smiled calmly and said:
"I don't have any reward. I have only completed one-ninth of the assessment. The rewards are cumulative. I will not be able to truly receive them until you become a god."

　Thanks to my book friend Fantuanera for the reward of 252 Qidian coins!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)