"Why do you want to know that?"
"To have some expendable tools ready—for tasks that aren't convenient for me to handle personally."
Xiao Changfeng was silent for a moment before shaking his head. "Whenever we run into scum like that, we kill them on the spot. Even if we manage to capture them alive, we don't keep them around long. If you want to use Evil Soul Masters for dirty work, you'll have to catch new ones. I'll check when we return—see if the Star Luo Empire has posted any active bounties."
"That's perfect."
Xu Tianxi let out a breath of relief. He was about to break through to his third Soul Ring, and once that was settled, heading to Star Luo to hunt a few Evil Soul Masters would be a good warm-up.
Punishing these degenerates was something he, Xu Tianxi, saw as his personal duty.
Sure, some of them might be unfortunate souls like Scorpion Tiger Douluo Zhang Peng or Raven Douluo Wu Yun—those who never did anything wrong but were forced into becoming Evil Soul Masters—but their circumstances weren't his responsibility. If they wanted someone to blame, let them go after Shrek or the soul master aristocracy of the Three Great Empires.
He just cleans up the trash—nothing more. He wasn't about to waste time or energy pitying people for the mess others created.
Three days later, beneath a moonlit sky.
On the deck of the soul guidance vessel, Xu Tianxi and Xiao Changfeng opened their eyes in unison. Silvery light reflected in their gaze as they looked toward the horizon.
They had entered the sea region marked on the chart—one where Deep Sea Silver Demon Whales were known to appear.
"It's time."
Xiao Changfeng pulled out the essence blood of Evil Demon Orcas and Demon Soul Great White Sharks—bait he'd long since prepared—and poured it into the ocean.
In coastal waters, the Evil Demon Orca, Demon Soul Great White Shark, and Deep Sea Demon Whale were the three dominant races. The former two lacked the sheer strength of the Deep Sea Demon Whale, but their pack nature made them dangerous even to such solitary apex predators.
Conflicts among them were common. All three races were natural enemies—any member of one would go into a frenzy at the scent of the other, seeking to tear the intruder limb from limb.
With the essence of both orca and shark now in the water, results came quickly.
"ROOOOAR—"
A thunderous, low-pitched whale cry echoed from the depths. Sound waves rippled across the sea, and a flash of blue light shot skyward in the distance—followed by the arrival of a massive, ferocious aura.
The waves slammed into the soul-guided vessel, rocking the deck. Xu Tianxi stumbled several steps before regaining his balance, his gaze sharpening.
A towering form breached the surface—sleek, powerful, and clad in deep blue. Its body shimmered under the moonlight, and its lantern-sized red eyes radiated pure savagery.
Seeing the full figure, Xiao Changfeng narrowed his eyes.
"Azure body… at least a six-thousand-year-old ordinary Deep Sea Demon Whale. Not exactly great luck, but not the worst either."
"I wouldn't call that good luck," Xu Tianxi replied, shaking his head.
His target was a silver soul beast—something rare and noble. A standard demon whale held no value for him; he'd eaten enough whale jelly over the past few years to last a lifetime.
"Fair point. Still, since it's already charging us, we'll need to deal with it first."
With that, Xiao Changfeng's figure flickered and vanished, reappearing in an instant before the thirty-meter-long whale. The crashing waves suddenly calmed.
It was as if an invisible wall of ice had split the world, sealing the Deep Sea Demon Whale beyond reach.
"Beast. Leave now, and I may spare your life," Xiao Changfeng said coldly, his frost-like eyebrows stern.
"ROAR!"
The whale's eyes blazed with bloodlust. Drawn by the scent of blood, its instincts were fully ignited. Even if it could understand human speech, it had no intention of retreating.
It let out a roar, stirring the tides. Its massive tail whipped forward in a devastating strike.
"Hmph."
Xiao Changfeng didn't even bother summoning his martial soul. He casually pointed a single finger.
A streak of blue light burst forth, slamming into the whale. A strange phenomenon followed—the ocean surface beneath them began freezing rapidly, spreading outward in terrifying silence.
Boom!
The Deep Sea Demon Whale crashed down—not into the familiar waters, but onto a shelf of ice. Its colossal body shuddered, blood spurting from ruptured tissue.
Frost spread like wildfire. In mere seconds, the whale was encased in ice, immobilized like a sculpture—motionless.
Xiao Changfeng descended gently, elegance in every movement. The battle had ended in a single strike.
"Swish—"
Xu Tianxi arrived late, dressed in full Level 5 soul-guidance gear—none of which he'd gotten to use. He landed beside Xiao Changfeng, still a bit awed by the power on display.
Seems Soul Land's top-tier strength wasn't all for show. The heavy hitters really had some flair.
Xiao Changfeng nodded at him, then looked back at the frozen whale.
"I'll use your blood to lure your kin. Let's hope the demon whales are the loyal, vengeful sort."
A flicker of blue flashed in his eyes. The whale's spilled blood was enveloped in soul power, then scattered across the surrounding sea.
The plan worked.
"ROOOAR!"
Half an hour later, another whale cry rang out—higher, sharper, more forceful than before. Waves on the horizon surged wildly, hiding the shape of an enormous creature beneath.
Glug-glug-glug—
From the depths, torrents of bubbles rose, and massive pillars of silver light burst skyward, racing toward them.
"This is more like it."
Xiao Changfeng stepped forward. His soul power surged, his restrained aura bursting outward and shielding Xu Tianxi behind him.
Clang—!
A clear and piercing phoenix cry resounded. Ice-blue phoenix wings spread wide, exuding the majesty of a sovereign. Soundwaves blasted the incoming silver light into harmless mist.
Then—one yellow, three purple, three black, two red—nine soul rings rose into the air, brilliant and terrifying.
Xu Tianxi couldn't help clicking his tongue.
No wonder Grandmaster always talks him up. He really went all in raising Senior Martial Uncle.
As Xiao Changfeng displayed his full strength, the silver-hued whale broke through the waves, sensing the danger yet refusing to retreat. It reared up, body glowing with soul power and oceanic might, readying a devastating blow.
Its instincts screamed—kill these humans.
"A silver body? Finally!"
Xu Tianxi's eyes gleamed. This was it—a true Deep Sea Silver Demon Whale. Its shimmering, silver-white form gleamed under the moon, reflecting a pure, flowing light. Even its crest pulsed with radiant power.
This was his real target.
Ooooooh—!
Bathed in moonlight, the creature's power surged. Its haunting song was like a sacred chant, drawing down the radiance of the moon itself.
A massive silver-white glow burst from its body—dense as mist, deep as an abyss. The ocean roared. Waves churned. The very sea came alive.
Xiao Changfeng narrowed his eyes.
A domain soul skill. The most precious of soul abilities—exclusive to super soul beasts.
The whale's silver glow intensified. Its forehead shone like a new moon. Both soul power and spiritual force swelled—doubling in intensity.
A silver, lightning-laced water bomb—ten meters wide—rose from the sea, swirling above the beast before launching forward like a meteor storm.
Xu Tianxi's scalp tingled. He was certain—each orb packed the power of a Level 5 Fixed Soul Guidance Cannon Shell.
A simultaneous volley of those? Even a Soul Sage would perish. A Soul Douluo would be in danger.
"ROAR!"
The whale's colossal form launched skyward, radiating purple-silver arcs of electricity. A massive vortex followed, drowning the ocean in light and fury.
Xiao Changfeng calmly admired the beast's might. "Near-Ultimate Water and Lightning? Exceptional talent. In your own element, even a Soul Douluo might fall to you."
"But today, your misfortune is meeting me."
With a flap of his wings, freezing wind swept across the sea. His first soul ring shone, and phoenix feathers scattered—a divine frost unleashed.
Time seemed to pause.
The incoming meteor shower—frozen midair—fell harmlessly into the ocean. Ultimate Water and Lightning became meaningless.
The hundred-foot wave and crushing vortex turned to ice, the sea blooming into a stunning frostflower panorama.
The whale—fifty meters of raw power—was caught in the storm and frozen solid.
Xiao Changfeng stood, triumphant.
"Tianxi, its cultivation is deep. Think carefully. If it's too much, don't force it."
His brow furrowed in concern. Against Xiao Changfeng, this soul beast was nothing. But for Xu Tianxi, absorbing it was an entirely different challenge.
"I'll be fine. As long as it's not a ten-thousand-year soul beast, I can take it. My will isn't so weak."
Xu Tianxi levitated into the air, aimed his soul cannon, and fired a Level 5 Fixed Cannon Shell with explosive force—straight at the whale's head.
BOOM!
The whale's skull shattered. A majestic 8,000-year soul ring rose from its remains, deep purple with a faint black glow.
Landing lightly, Xu Tianxi sat cross-legged. His body trembled as he drew the soul ring in.
It began—an overwhelming tide of energy surged through him like lava, searing his meridians.
A cold, furious mental storm swept into his spiritual sea, bringing rage, madness, and hatred. The soul of the silver demon whale fought back with everything it had.
Sweat streamed down Xu Tianxi's face. His teeth clenched as his body began to swell dangerously. But the radiance of the moon behind his head flared brightly—he had entered the most intense phase of soul ring fusion.
Xiao Changfeng clenched his fists.
"Hang in there, Tianxi…"
Time passed. The moon fell. The sun rose.
On the ice, Xu Tianxi finally opened his eyes. He exhaled a long breath.
"…I did it."
PS: Read Advance Chapters at https://www.patreon.com/c/ReadJin