"Roar—!!"
Deafening roars echoed from the dark seabed, the sound waves radiating outward in tangible ripples through the water, causing the vast ocean itself to tremble.
"Gurgle gurgle—!"
In an instant, the deep seawater was compressed by the surging power erupting from the ocean's depths, producing gurgling sounds, as if boiling. The water was boiling!
The azure sea churned, creating colossal waves. The oppressive pressure emanating from all directions made the sea soul beasts within a twenty-kilometer radius agitated and fearful. They cried out and fled further away, yet couldn't resist observing from the "trenches," speculating which terrifying soul beast dared to challenge the might of the Deep Sea Demon Whale King.
"Buzz—"
A peculiar buzzing, like a sound wave, rapidly expanded through the water.
Suddenly, sea soul beasts inhabiting adjacent or even one or two seas away from the Demon Whale territory were alerted.
They communicated through their unique methods, swiftly spreading the news of a battle between the Deep Sea Demon Whale King and another soul beast of unknown strength. The message flew like wings across the near-shore waters.
This included the sea soul beasts residing within Sea God Island's vicinity and the King of Sea Soul Beasts, Bai, who was still sparring with Tang San and his companions.
"Whoosh—!"
The Clear Sky Hammer, crackling with lightning, narrowly missed Bai, who had inexplicably frozen in place.
The teammates preparing to follow up were also halted by Tang San, who had first noticed something was amiss.
"Wait!"
"Huh—ah?" Dai Mubai's right fist, condensed with golden soul power, paused. Oscar, who was preparing to flank Dai Mubai, also slammed on the brakes.
Before they could voice their confusion, Bai, like a cat startled by its tail being stepped on, suddenly lunged forward, tightly gripping Tang San's arm. Her voice was choked with excitement and fear, "You, you, your sister she, she she she!"
How dare she actually go into the Demon Whale territory and provoke the Deep Sea Demon Whale King!!!
If not for the thread of sanity still intact in her mind, Bai would have screamed in front of Tang San and the others.
"My sister? What happened to Suisui? Bai, speak clearly." Tang San's heart skipped a beat, a bad premonition rising.
Xiao Wu, unable to receive the sonar transmissions from the sea soul beasts due to the communication barrier between land and sea soul beasts, was equally bewildered.
"Your sister, and Lord Shang Yang, they've gone up against the Deep Sea Demon Whale King."
Bo Saixi's voice abruptly sounded.
The gravity within her words caused Tang San and the others' hearts to sink.
"The Deep Sea Demon Whale King... is it the patriarch of the Deep Sea Demon Whale tribe?" Tang San asked, his voice tightening as he looked at the grim-faced Bo Saixi.
Dai Mubai, not understanding, guessed, "I remember the Deep Sea Demon Whale is also a very powerful sea soul beast race. Its patriarch, could it be stronger than you, Bai?"
"No! The Deep Sea Demon Whale King represents an absolute crushing force for me, and for all the sea soul beast subspecies in the near-shore waters. It's a different league entirely!" Bai's expression was panicked, her brow filled with hesitation.
Emotionally, she desperately wanted to rush to the vicinity of the Demon Whale sea domain.
However, reason and the teachings of generations of White Whale elders cautioned her against ever stepping foot into the forbidden zone of the near-shore sea soul beasts—the Demon Whale territory.
"The Deep Sea Demon Whale King is a king-level sea soul beast with a cultivation nearing one million years, just one step away from transforming into a dragon. Even I don't have absolute certainty when facing it," Bo Saixi's brow was etched with unshakeable worry.
One million years of cultivation!
The Shrek Eight Monsters present were stunned by Bo Saixi's words.
Ma Hongjun swallowed hard and asked, "You mean, this Deep Sea Demon Whale King... has been cultivating for nearly a million years?"
"Not exactly," Bo Saixi shook her head. "That fellow has cultivated for over 300,000 years. But it has managed to accumulate power close to a million years by devouring other sea soul beasts and through its unique special abilities."
Zhu Zhuqing stepped forward. "Senior Bo Saixi, what does 'transforming into a dragon' mean?"
A complex glint flashed in Bo Saixi's eyes. "Transforming into a dragon is actually a soul beast becoming a god. It requires enduring nine heavenly tribulations, which is far more difficult than a soul master cultivating to godhood."
"Just as Tang Suisui's path of inquiry is incredibly arduous, if a soul beast wishes to attain enlightenment, the process will be doubly difficult. And once they transform into human form and cultivate, although they start from zero, they face much less danger. That fellow has already broken through eight tribulations."
As she spoke, Bo Saixi looked towards Xiao Wu.
Xiao Wu, who deeply understood this, said, "Precisely. That's why my mother and I resolutely chose to transform back then."
"This..."
Everyone, including Bai, felt heavy-hearted.
"Special abilities... devouring..."
Tang San, integrating the information, had a flash of inspiration. He reordered and connected the keywords revealed by Bo Saixi.
Suddenly, a bold guess surfaced in his mind. Tang San's expression changed drastically. Even from kilometers away, he could guess the Deep Sea Demon Whale King's intentions.
"That Deep Sea Demon Whale King wants to achieve godhood by devouring Suisui?!"
Everyone suddenly understood, their faces turning grim in unison.
Sensing the Deep Sea Demon Whale King's scheme, Tang San could no longer stay put.
"Senior Bo Saixi, do you know Suisui's current location?"
Bai wanted to speak and tell Tang San, but under Bo Saixi's gaze, she closed her mouth and stood there, conflicted and silent.
"I do."
These three words made everyone's hearts surge with emotion.
But Bo Saixi's next sentence was like a bucket of ice water drenching them from head to toe.
"But I will not tell you."
Tang San's heart turned cold. Dark clouds churned in his azure eyes. The fingers gripping the Clear Sky Hammer turned pale white, and the veins on the back of his hand bulged.
"Why?"
Tang San questioned in a hoarse voice, as if squeezing each word from the depths of his throat.
Dai Mubai and the others clenched their fists by their sides, their breaths becoming heavy, like the calm before a storm.
Bo Saixi took in the scene, sighed, "If measured by human strength, it's equivalent to a level 99 peak Douluo. Facing such overwhelming power, going out would only be a futile sacrifice."
"But I can't just watch my loved ones die while standing idly by!" Tang San slightly lowered his head, his bangs obscuring his complex and unclear emotions, making it impossible to read his expression.
"To me, my sister's life is more important than my own."
This statement was tantamount to telling Bo Saixi that even if his assessment concerned the fate of Sea God Island, he would unequivocally place Tang Sui above Sea God Island.
Indeed, upon hearing this, a dark hue appeared in Bo Saixi's gaze.
"Senior Bo Saixi, our thoughts are the same as Xiao San's."
Dai Mubai and the others also took a step forward, affirming their resolve.
"Senior, we Shrek Nine Monsters are united. Even if we are weak and few, we wish to help our companion and grasp that sliver of hope for survival!"
Ning Rongrong looked at Bo Saixi with determination.
But Bo Saixi remained unmoved.
"I have already issued an order upon my arrival. Effective immediately, Sea God Island will enter its highest state of alert. No one is permitted to leave the island or go outside."
"You are no exception."
--- Author's Notes ---
The battle begins tomorrow~