The sense of direction, it seemed, grew hazy with age.
The two who had set out with such imposing confidence now sheepishly activated their concealment and, bypassing the vast Sea God Island, headed towards the correct direction and address.
This time, it didn't take them long before they spotted the destination island.
The island wasn't large, only a little over a hundred meters in its widest cross-section, truly a tiny isle, its entirety visible at a glance from above.
Sand particles swirled as Shang Yang landed on the soft beach, carrying Tang Sui.
As soon as they were steady, Shang Yang's gaze swept towards the sea, where silvery white waves occasionally surged onto the shore. His voice, laced with a hint of danger, said, "You've been following for a long time, it's time to show yourself."
Someone was following?
Tang Sui blinked, releasing her spiritual power and focusing her gaze in the direction Shang Yang was looking. Twenty meters away, the seawater rippled, and a fish head emerged.
That familiar golden pattern and the gray-blue, streamlined body—it was Xiao Bai. S.D.N.S.
Tang Sui slowly formed a question in her mind, "Xiao Bai? What are you doing here?"
Xiao Bai, not daring to get too close to Shang Yang, said from within the water, "Tang San and the others have finished their training for today. I sensed the commotion in the sea and was curious why you two had returned, worried you might be in danger, so I followed."
"Danger?" Shang Yang felt his authority was being challenged.
He narrowed his eyes and said, "Although we detected many powerful Sea Soul Beasts along the way, this sea area seems to be ownerless, so there shouldn't be any Sea Soul Beasts attacking us."
Besides, he was here.
Did he look like he was about to die?
Xiao Bai faltered, her voice dropping slightly, "That's because this sea area is adjacent to the territory of the Deep Sea Demon Whale King, so no Sea Soul Beasts dare loiter in the nearby waters."
While Xiao Bai was explaining to Shang Yang, Tang Sui poked the system in her mind.
'When did she start following us?'
[Although you blocked Poseidon's surveillance, she is, after all, the King of the Demon Soul Great White Shark. She began following you from the moment you overlapped and passed by Sea God Island again.]
The system stated calmly.
Tang Sui frowned, 'Why didn't you warn me?'
The system seemed to scoff, [Didn't your reliable guardian discover it? He found out long ago. Didn't he warn you either?]
This sarcastic retort left Tang Sui somewhat bewildered.
Why was the system acting so temperamental today?
It was strange, she'd think about it later.
Tang Sui pushed aside her scattered thoughts and beckoned to Xiao Bai, "Xiao Bai, why don't you come up and talk?"
Xiao Bai hesitated but finally chose to trust Tang Sui. With a flick of her fan-shaped tail, she transformed into human form and leaped onto the beach.
Under Shang Yang's watchful gaze, she nervously approached Tang Sui, "Tang Sui, why are you hunting soul beasts here? Sea Soul Beasts are rarely seen in these waters!"
Tang Sui's gaze flickered, "Well..."
"Little shark, you seem to know quite a bit of information. Do you know anything about the situation in the waters over there?" Shang Yang raised his hand and pointed towards the back of the island they were on.
About ten kilometers from this small island lay the genuine territory of the Demon Whale.
Xiao Bai's expression shifted slightly, "That's the territory of the Deep Sea Demon Whale King... Wait, you're not thinking of hunting the Deep Sea Demon Whale, are you? While you are strong, the Deep Sea Demon Whale clan is even more powerful. Provoking one will draw a whole horde! Not to mention the Deep Sea Demon Whale King, whom even the Great Enshrined Sea God herself fears!"
Shang Yang's eyes flashed, and without directly answering Xiao Bai, he appeared to be persuaded. He continued, "What is the origin of the Deep Sea Demon Whale King?"
Seeing Shang Yang's apparent ignorance, Xiao Bai quickly began to explain, "The Deep Sea Demon Whale King is an extremely terrifying Sea Soul Beast. When I was born, my elders strictly warned us that no member of our clan was ever to enter the Deep Sea Demon Whale King's territory."
"It's not just us, even the Evil Orca clan next door, their chief Xie Hu, likely received the same warning. Haven't there been rumors recently that Xie Hu is gathering strength to challenge the Deep Sea Demon Whale King?"
"But actually, much earlier, Xie Hu, being bold, once attempted to enter the Deep Sea Demon Whale King's territory." Xiao Bai paused, her voice filled with wistfulness. "Although I don't know what exactly happened then, after that incident, the Evil Orca clan didn't declare war on our Demon Soul Great White Shark clan for a full hundred years. Clearly, they suffered a great loss."
Hearing this, Shang Yang already had a triangular structure of the food chain in his mind.
Recalling the intelligence Tang Sui had provided him earlier, he added, "When I came, I heard a little one say the Deep Sea Demon Whale King had cultivated for a million years? To challenge it after existing for so long, wouldn't that be like throwing an egg against a rock?"
Xiao Bai exclaimed in surprise, "It hasn't cultivated for a million years. The Deep Sea Demon Whale King is actually only a little over three hundred thousand years old. However, by devouring other Sea Soul Beasts and utilizing its own special abilities, it has managed to inflate its cultivation to the level of a million years."
Shang Yang and Tang Sui exchanged thoughtful glances.
This was exactly the same way they, as demons, grew.
"It's rumored that the Deep Sea Demon Whale King is only one step away from transforming into a dragon. Oh, right, this 'transforming into a dragon' is when soul beasts become gods. I don't know if it's the same for your primordial beasts. But its current strength is equivalent to a human Soul Douluo at level 99. Even the Great Enshrined Sea God Poseidon, who is also at level 99, doesn't have complete confidence in defeating the Deep Sea Demon Whale King."
"Although your situation is extremely unique, it would still be difficult to survive under the Deep Sea Demon Whale King."
Although she hadn't witnessed Shang Yang's power, the terror of the Deep Sea Demon Whale King was etched into the DNA of every Sea Soul Beast and Sea Soul Master; no one could erase the shadow it cast.
Tang Sui and Shang Yang exchanged glances, each having their own considerations.
Fortunately, they, the demons from Heian-kyo, had no concept of becoming gods without enduring heavenly tribulations, but when they became strong, they could even tear apart gods.
Not gods, but great demons.
This was very Heian-kyo.
"Alright, little shark, you can leave now."
Having obtained the information, Shang Yang began to act like a bridge builder who had crossed the river.
Xiao Bai, not having heard a definitive answer, dared not confront Shang Yang and instead looked at Tang Sui nervously, "Tang Sui, you're not really going to put yourselves in danger, are you?!"
Tang Sui blinked, "Don't worry, Xiao Bai, I definitely won't provoke the Deep Sea Demon Whale King."
The only ones who could truly be weighed on the same scale were Snake Uncle.
Hearing Tang Sui say this, Xiao Bai was relieved. However, before leaving, she kept looking back at Tang Sui, repeatedly cautioning, "Then I'm leaving! You two must be careful, and don't stay on this island for too long! Leave early, there are no powerful Sea Soul Beasts around here except for the Deep Sea Demon Whale!"
"Mhm, mhm, I know, I know." Tang Sui waved her hand perfunctorily, watching as Xiao Bai transformed back into her Demon Soul Great White Shark form and dived into the deep ocean.
Turning her head, she became serious, "Snake Uncle, when do we depart?"
Shang Yang glanced at the sky, "We'll depart after sunset."
Even though they hadn't decided whether to fight, even for negotiations, it was best to have the timing, geography, and human relations on their side for stability.
"Okay."