On the Douluo Continent, even gods who are reborn cannot cultivate without soul rings and soul bones. The Sea God was no exception.
When she saw the Sea God Poseidon's gaze turn toward her, Dong Qianqiu's body trembled slightly.
Sacrifice—becoming Poseidon's soul spirit.
That was way too sudden.
Dong Qianqiu didn't understand why the Sea God Poseidon would choose her.
While it couldn't be said that hundred-thousand-year sea soul beasts were everywhere here, there were still several of them—some had even survived heavenly tribulations and become savage beasts. Meanwhile, she was only ninety thousand years old.
Did Poseidon not know the gap between a ninety-thousand-year and a hundred-thousand-year soul beast?
Dong Qianqiu turned her head and looked around, only to see the surrounding citizens of the Sea Nation looking at her with eyes full of envy.
Even her mother, the Demon Soul Great White Shark King Xiaobai, was trembling slightly, with both surprise and envy in her gaze.
What they envied was that Dong Qianqiu had the chance to become Poseidon's soul spirit and gain eternal life alongside him.
What brought them joy was that Dong Qianqiu was Xiaobai's daughter.
Ten thousand years ago, many soul beast kings followed the God of Emotions, Huo Yuhao, into the Divine Realm, gaining immortality.
At that time, Huo Yuhao hadn't even officially become a god, yet so many soul beast kings were willing to follow him—just for the elusive dream of eternal life.
Poseidon was different. He was originally the Sea God. As long as he didn't fall prematurely, he was guaranteed to become a god. That was beyond doubt.
Others had to attain godhood—he merely needed to recover his divine power.
Which meant that becoming Poseidon's soul spirit was a guaranteed path to eternal life.
And not just with anyone, but with their most revered Sea God himself.
This opportunity was now laid before Dong Qianqiu. How could the sea soul beasts not be envious?
As she felt all those envious gazes on her, Dong Qianqiu suddenly felt like her shark head had swelled to twice its size.
"Respected Sea God, I am but a lowly beast. I haven't even reached a hundred-thousand-year cultivation. I am unworthy of becoming your soul spirit," Dong Qianqiu said with a brave face.
Although she wasn't a hundred-thousand-year soul beast yet, she could already speak human language.
She was indeed, just like her mother Xiaobai, a devout follower of Poseidon.
For Poseidon's sake, they would even give up their lives.
But when truly faced with "death," who wouldn't feel fear?
Even if she became a soul spirit, she would have to give up her physical body and her freedom.
Poseidon asking her to sacrifice herself right away—she really couldn't accept that so suddenly.
After cultivating for tens of thousands of years, and being the daughter of the Sea God's mount, she held a lofty status in the sea. No species dared to offend her. She was practically unstoppable.
Over the years, she had nearly explored every corner of the sea.
But since she hadn't yet reached a hundred thousand years, she couldn't go ashore.
Her mother, Xiaobai, often told her stories of the surface world, tales of the two previous Sea Gods and their legendary deeds.
These stories filled Dong Qianqiu with longing for the land.
Her greatest wish was to reach the hundred-thousand-year mark, take human form, and make her name known on the mainland.
Maybe, just like the Soft Bone Rabbit Xiao Wu from twenty thousand years ago, she could meet a great hero who loved her with all his heart, and become famous throughout the continent.
She was, after all, the little princess of the Demon Soul Great White Shark clan. Was she really inferior to a rabbit?
If a rabbit could achieve such things, surely she could too.
Dong Qianqiu still had that kind of confidence.
That was the life she yearned for in her heart—her own vision for the future.
Her future should be colorful and full of freedom—not spent forever living in someone else's spiritual world, losing her freedom as if in eternal imprisonment.
That kind of life was not what she wanted.
Even if it meant being Poseidon's soul spirit, she couldn't accept it.
Hearing Dong Qianqiu's words, Poseidon was momentarily stunned. Of course he could hear it—Dong Qianqiu was refusing him.
But only Poseidon himself noticed her rejection. All the other sea soul beasts, including Xiaobai, thought she was being sincere.
It wasn't that they were foolish—it was just that they couldn't believe the daughter of the Sea God's mount would refuse the Sea God himself.
Poseidon hadn't expected the daughter of the Demon Soul Great White Shark King to refuse him.
Had the Demon Soul Great White Shark clan forgotten the glory and status he had brought them?
That didn't make sense. Judging by Xiaobai's behavior, she still held him in deep reverence.
Poseidon frowned slightly. Being rejected by the daughter of his own mount in front of so many devout followers—if word got out, his prestige in the sea might plummet.
He knew Dong Qianqiu very well.
He chose her because he thought she wouldn't refuse him.
And also to use this as a public display of "honor" to reward the Demon Soul Great White Shark clan.
He wanted all sea soul beasts to believe one thing: Believe in the Sea God, and you shall receive eternal life.
Poseidon never expected Dong Qianqiu to refuse.
"No worries. Once you become my soul spirit, I'll naturally have a way to help you reach the hundred-thousand-year level. Once I recover my divine power, even a hundred thousand years will be trivial. I could even directly elevate you to godhood—not only saving you from the hardship of cultivating for a million years and enduring tribulation after tribulation, but also granting you eternal life like mine," Poseidon said with a kindly smile, as if he hadn't noticed her refusal at all. His voice was filled with temptation.
In his view, no soul beast could resist the allure of eternal life.
And sure enough, when they heard Poseidon himself say that becoming his soul spirit could lead to godhood, all the sea soul beasts began to breathe heavily.
But Dong Qianqiu didn't feel particularly tempted. In her heart, she thought: Becoming a god? Once I break through to a hundred thousand years and take human form, I can cultivate to godhood on my own.
She had grown up under Xiaobai's protection, and thanks to her mother's status as Poseidon's mount, her cultivation had gone smoothly and without obstacles.
So she had no real understanding of the risks of re-cultivating after taking human form.
Nor did she understand just how slim the chances were of reaching godhood that way.
She simply believed that if Xiao Wu could do it, then she certainly could too.
"Lord Sea God, I still feel I'm unworthy. Please choose another sea soul beast," Dong Qianqiu spoke again.
Poseidon had already laid things out so clearly, yet Dong Qianqiu still repeated the same words. This time, all the sea soul beasts realized it—she was rejecting Poseidon.
In an instant, every sea soul beast glared at her as though she were a heinous criminal.
How dare she defy the Sea God?
Even as the daughter of the Sea God's mount, she deserved death.
If Poseidon weren't present and they didn't fear overstepping their bounds, they would've already stepped forward to eliminate this ungrateful little shark on his behalf.
"Qianqiu, what nonsense are you spouting? The Sea God personally chose you—that's a blessing you couldn't earn in ten lifetimes! And you dare make excuses? Hurry and apologize to the Sea God!" Xiaobai exploded with fury. Her emotions were no better than the other sea soul beasts'.
To be offered such divine grace—how many sea soul beasts could only dream of such fortune?
She never imagined her own daughter could be so ungrateful, and not just once, but twice.
This was a blatant slap to the Sea God's face.
As the Sea God's mount, how could Xiaobai stand by and let such a thing happen?
If Dong Qianqiu weren't her daughter, she would've already dealt with this "traitor" herself.
"I don't want to become a soul spirit. I still have so many things I want to do… and once I become a soul spirit, I won't be able to do them anymore." Dong Qianqiu lowered her head. Even as Xiaobai berated her, she didn't back down.
(End of Chapter)