Chapter 57: The Gods Bestow Their Grace, Calming the Sea and Settling the Waves (2/2)

She looked at Su Fu, her gaze inscrutable. 

“About the A paper… I owe you an apology.”

She paused. 

“As compensation, I’ll give you this may the gods have mercy.” 

She spoke the last five words slowly, then left without giving anyone time to react.

“What was that about…?” Lin Mingxi frowned. 

“Boss, what did she mean?”

Without any explanation-he absolutely hated people who spoke in riddles! 

Jiang Qingyu frowned slightly. 

“She seems to be hinting at something?” 

Moreover, these words weren’t unfamiliar to the three of them-in fact, they were quite familiar.

Every morning at nine, the school’s daily announcement would broadcast this very phrase:

“Gratitude to every pioneer fighting to safeguard human civilization. May the gods show mercy, may humanity endure.”

The meaning was simple-giving thanks for divine protection and honoring the guardians.

But in this current scenario…

Gratitude for what?

Gratitude for Poseidon giving them such a ‘test’?!

No, it probably wasn’t that straightforward.

“This feels so bizarre…” Lin Mingxi scratched his head. 

“Boss, I think they all seem to know something?”

Su Fu said meaningfully, “Not ‘seem’-they definitely know something.”

This was also why she hadn’t acted earlier.

Something wasn’t right.

During the A and B exams, these three had been fiercely competitive, never hesitating to eliminate her if given the chance.

But in the C exam, their attitude had done a complete 180.

ZongZeng Ye had even proposed a truce?

That made it even more suspicious!

In the last round, she had beaten them so badly they fled in defeat-for proud heirs like them, that was an absolute humiliation. 

If it were her, she would’ve sought revenge long ago.

How could they just swallow their pride? 

Even act submissive?

Unless…

Su Fu thought, unless they had another objective.

One far more important than pride or victory.

Important enough to make them set everything else aside.

That made this objective extremely significant.

But aside from passing the exam to enter Tianqi High, what else could it be?

She mused that Su Luan’s words were probably true-she really was trying to extend an olive branch.

“May the gods show mercy”?

What did that have to do with the current exam?

Wait.

Su Fu’s gaze sharpened.

No-it probably was related to this exam.

Otherwise, why would Elai and ZongZeng Ye go to such lengths to obtain passes?

But finding the answer was simple: just observe what these three did next.

At that moment, Lin Mingxi’s pupils abruptly constricted.

The Prophecy of Fate had activated!

Fragmented scenes flashed before his eyes-

Roaring tidal waves surged into the sky, rain pouring down in sheets.

A shadow slowly emerged from the depths of the sea, massive tentacles tearing through the darkness.

The entire ocean seethed, as if ready to devour everything in its path.

It felt so real that sweat instantly drenched him.

“Boss…” Lin Mingxi’s voice was filled with unprecedented terror.

“I saw it…”

“I saw it! The entire ocean is going to go berserk!”

Su Fu: “???”

She knew it!

There was no way Poseidon wouldn’t wield the power of the sea!

With this level of fury, how could they possibly evade it? 

How were they supposed to cross the ocean to reach the City of Dawn?

This idiot clearly never intended for them to pass the exam!

Just then, the room suddenly began to shake violently.

Su Fu braced herself with her golden staff, Jiang Qingyu staggered and steadied himself against the wall, and Lin Mingxi took two steps back before regaining his balance.

All three turned their gazes toward the window-

The once-gray sky had turned ink-black, heavy storm clouds pressing oppressively low.

Dark waves churned across the sea’s surface, one after another, growing higher and higher.

The distant horizon had unknowingly risen, forming a pale “wall.”

It was a colossal wave.

“Oh my god…” Lin Mingxi gasped, “What kind of apocalyptic scene is this?!”

The shaking grew increasingly violent, making it almost impossible for the three of them to keep their balance.

Su Fu immediately warned, “Hold onto something stable! Stay away from the windows! Back against the wall, bend your knees, and lower your center of gravity!”

Almost simultaneously, screams erupted throughout the corridor, a cacophony of panicked shouts in various languages.

Everyone realized-Poseidon’s Wrath had arrived!

Just then, a piercing alarm sounded.

“Emergency! Emergency!”

A trembling female voice came over the broadcast:

“The cruise ship has encountered a super hurricane! A Category 12 storm is imminent!”

“A hundred-meter-high abnormal tsunami has been detected forming!”

“A massive shadow has appeared in the deep sea ahead!”

“All passengers must evacuate immediately! Proceed to the lifeboats at the stern! I repeat! All passengers must evacuate immediately!”

The broadcast continued, but it was soon drowned out by the deafening roar outside.

As the storm began to rise, the seagulls on the ship let out shrill cries, frantically flapping their wings to escape.

From their fleeing perspective, Su Fu spotted Elai and the others already standing on the stern deck.

“Head to the stern!” 

Su Fu made the call without hesitation.

The three of them quickly left the room. 

The ship rocked violently, causing decorative paintings on both sides of the corridor to crash to the ground.

Fortunately, with Lin Mingxi’s Serpent God protective shield, they managed to reach the stern safely despite the perilous journey. 

They weren’t the only ones there.

A dense crowd had gathered on the deck, all eyes fixed on the distance.

Su Fu followed their gaze and instantly felt her breath catch.

The distant sky had turned an ominous, pitch-black hue. 

The waves had surged to unimaginable heights, forming a towering wall of water that blotted out the sky.

White foam churned violently, creating a stark contrast against the blackened heavens.

BOOM-

A thunderclap roared, and lightning danced menacingly through the dark clouds.

This was the raw power of the ocean!

“Eghhhg…..”

“We’re done for…”

“We’re all going to die…”

Su Fu felt her scalp tingle at the sight and cursed again.

Poseidon, you idiot!

Is this what you call a test?!

This is outright murder!

Tsunami, storm, deep-sea creatures.

Even as divine blessed, how insignificant they were in the face of nature’s fury!

Just then, Su Fu noticed that ZongZheng Ye and the other two looked… eerily calm?

Something wasn’t right.

How could they not be afraid in the face of such terror?

It was almost as if they were waiting for something.

Suddenly, Elai moved.

He raised his head, his gaze piercing through the layers of dark clouds as if locking eyes with some unseen presence.

Then, Gungnir: Ragnarök.

A pale blue light flared up, burning like a star amidst the storm.

The next second, Elai leaped into the air.

Su Fu: “???” 

Wait, has one of them lost their mind?

Elai’s figure soared into the raging winds, Gungnir: Ragnarök standing upright before him as the light condensed into a towering pillar. 

He declared, “I call upon the King of Gods—”

“Odin!”

Instantly, a colossal phantom slowly materialized behind Elai.

The one-eyed Allfather, clad in dark golden battle robes and wielding the Eternal Spear, overlapped with Elai’s form.

The two spears intertwined, their brilliance illuminating the storm.

In the next instant, the divine spear in Elai’s hands erupted with a blinding radiance, carrying the momentum of splitting heaven and earth as it thrust toward the towering wall of water!

A terrifying pressure swept across the entire sea.

The collision of light and waves instantly illuminated the entire sky.

Su Fu sensed something amiss-why did Odin’s phantom behind Elai seem so… substantial?

As if… brimming with divine power?

This wasn’t right.

Had the divine energy limit provided by the C-level Divine Manifestation been raised?

Wait-

Su Fu felt she might have grasped the crux.

BOOM-

Another thunderclap shook the heavens.

Elai soared through the sky, Gungnir: Ragnarök cutting through everything in its path, overwhelming the waves with sheer force. 

“This……” Su Fu frowned slightly, an absurd thought forming in her mind.

Was this… a performance?

The sky was the grandest stage, the storm the most cooperative actor, and Elai the undisputed protagonist of this spectacle.

But for whom was this performance intended?

Just then, Su Fu noticed Su Luan and ZongZheng Ye had also sprung into action.

ZongZheng Ye activated his divine power, conjuring layers of water screens to resist the tempest.

Yet Su Fu’s gaze was drawn to Su Luan.

A dense black aura unfurled behind her, coiling around her body like countless wailing souls.

Su Fu: “……”

Wait, wasn’t her patron god Tsukuyomi of the Amaterasu pantheon?

But now…

Su Luan had summoned her patron deity’s phantom-a colossal divine figure emerging from the black mist, crowned with the diadem of the underworld, wielding a bident, and cloaked in dark robes.

Hah…

Hades?!

Lin Mingxi gasped, “Boss, she’s like Jiang Jiang-a dual-patron deity wielder?!”

The shadow of Hades emerged from the dark clouds, gazing down imperiously at the gradually cooling body.

The death god slowly raised his twin-pronged trident, and a profound black light descended like a meteor, landing upon Su Luan.

This was… the gift of the underworld god!

Su Fu suddenly realized why Su Luan had charged forward despite knowing she couldn’t overcome the storm.

Because this was an offering to the god of death.

Before the all-devouring waves, she had chosen to face death with composure.

With her life, she proved to the death god that death was not an end, but an inevitable destination.

Without fear or avoidance, she was willing to offer her life.

This was the answer she submitted in her divine interview.

She had won the god’s mercy.

This was a desperate gamble-staking her life for divine favor!

The black light enveloped Su Luan’s body. 

Without a doubt, this was no punishment, but… a reward.

The god had bestowed upon Su Luan divine power.

“May the gods have mercy…” Su Fu finally understood the true meaning of those parting words.

Offer your life, and beg for divine mercy!

Lin Mingxi’s expression was complicated, his voice trembling slightly:

“So… this is the true divine interview?”

“Su Luan proved her loyalty to the gods with her life…”

Jiang Qingyu’s face was grave as he looked toward the sky.

But would it truly succeed?

High above, Elai was still battling the storm, his Eternal Spear cutting through the sky with dazzling brilliance.

He sought the mercy of Odin, the Allfather.

But… was Odin’s gaze truly upon this place?

In the distance, ZongZeng Ye’s figure flickered amidst the towering waves.

He embraced the raging sea, but would Poseidon… truly be moved by his sincerity?

So far, only Su Luan had received a response from the gods.

That black light was the death god’s sole acknowledgment.

“Shall we go?” Jiang Qingyu suddenly spoke.

Lin Mingxi tightened his grip on the emerald serpent fang. 

“Yes, let’s gamble.”

He looked at Su Fu with a bitter smile. 

“Boss, the test is right before us. Now it’s our turn to answer.”

“We don’t have your luck of being favored by the gods,” Jiang Qingyu said softly. 

“This might be… our only chance.”

The phantom shadows of Artemis and Hecate shimmered behind Jiang Qingyu, while the feathered serpent god’s image coalesced around Lin Mingxi.

They gazed resolutely at the raging storm ahead and strode forward.

May the gods truly be watching over them…

May the gods… have mercy.

Su Fu watched as the two marched toward their goals with determination.

Yet their divine skills were ill-suited for battle at sea.

Lin Mingxi’s protective barrier trembled in the violent storm, the feathered serpent’s power appearing feeble against the ocean’s might.

Jiang Qingyu darted swiftly through the tempest, but even her speed was meaningless before such natural fury.

Artemis’s silver light was torn apart again and again by the raging waves-how could the moon goddess’s arrows pierce Poseidon’s watery veil?

Su Fu sighed, summoning her golden staff.

Damn you, Poseidon!

That arrogant bastard!

He never intended to give any candidate a chance, setting the test’s difficulty to the maximum from the start.

This was clearly a show of force, a punishment for mere ants daring to covet divine power!

Who besides someone like Su Luan-who already worshipped the God of Death and feared nothing could possibly survive such apocalyptic wrath?

The entire ocean roared in fury. 

Divine mercy?

Su Fu sneered.

As if Poseidon would show any mercy!

Look at this overwhelming rage. 

He clearly wanted to grind every examinee into dust.

Ants, mere ants-that was His definition of humanity.

Did insignificant mortals really think they were worthy of grasping at divine authority?

Death! 

They all deserved to die!

Su Fu raised her gaze to the sky, where behind the thick, black clouds, a colossal face flickered in and out of view.

Those eyes, looking down upon all living things, were filled with disdain, and the corners of His lips curled in mockery.

“If that’s how it is…”

The golden staff in Su Fu’s hand suddenly erupted with blinding radiance, its light piercing the heavens, dyeing even the dark clouds gold.

Then let Him witness what it truly meant to be-

The Ruyi Jingu Bang that Anchors the Seas!

The staff expanded wildly, growing as thick as a mountain and thousands of feet long.

Wherever its golden light passed, the heavens and earth paled in comparison.

The horrified onlookers realized—this was no mere staff. 

It was a pillar holding up the sky, ready to pierce straight through the firmament.

BOOM!

The golden staff came crashing down with the force of a collapsing sky.

The ocean roared, waves surging hundreds of feet high-but against the Ruyi Jingu Bang they posed no threat.

Unstoppable, the staff tore through layer after layer of towering waves.

It split the boundless sea in two!

Raging tides? 

Shattered!

Tsunamis? 

Obliterated!

Gale-force winds? 

Annihilated!

Tempests? 

Crushed!

Nothing could stand in its way.

No one knew how many waves the staff had pierced through as it descended with the momentum of creation itself, plunging straight into the ocean depths.

BOOM-!

The golden staff embedded itself deep into the seabed, shaking the entire ocean.

In the next instant, a golden shockwave rippled outward from the staff, spreading like a tranquilizing force.

Wherever it passed, the violent waves instantly stilled, the surging tides frozen in place.

What was the Ruyi Jingu Bang that Anchors the Seas?

A single strike could dim the heavens and overturn the seas.

The roaring, sky-high waves halted mid-air, suspended for a moment before dissolving into countless droplets that fell gently back into the ocean.

The turbulent sea calmed in an instant, its all-consuming fury vanishing without a trace.

The heavy clouds were torn apart as if by an invisible hand, revealing the long-lost blue sky.

Golden sunlight pierced through the gaps, scattering across the water in shimmering fragments. 

Seagulls circled once more in the sky, their cries echoing far and wide.

Unnamed fish leaped from the water, splashing up glistening droplets.

A gentle sea breeze carried the salty tang of the ocean, and even the air itself felt fresher.

Azure waves stretched endlessly, dotted with islands veiled in mist.

For a moment, people wondered had everything that just happened been a dream?

The golden staff, as massive as a mountain peak, stood rooted deep in the ocean floor.

Its overwhelming divine power enveloped the surrounding waters in an aura of serenity. 

And atop this divine artifact that bridged heaven and earth-stood a single figure.

She stood between the sky and the sea, beneath her feet the endless expanse of blue waves.

Above her, golden light pierced through the clouds. 

Countless seagulls circled the staff, their cries blending with the wind.

The sea breeze lifted the hem of her robes, her long hair streaming behind her.

Ants?

So what?

Even ants could calm the seas and tame the storms!