Reunion with Little White, Hunting the Demonic OrcaThree months later, in Seahorse City.
After several months of rest, everyone's fatigue was gone, and they were full of energy.
During this period, unlike the previous two years, everyone did not immerse themselves in cultivation all day long. Instead, they would cultivate for a while whenever they wanted, and would also stroll around Seahorse City from time to time, enjoying the exotic scenery, admiring the sunset, and feeling the sea breeze, living a leisurely life.
However, this leisurely state did not slow down the pace of cultivation much. On the contrary, the relaxation after a long period of tension had a miraculous effect of achieving twice the result with half the effort.
Inside the palace, the doors suddenly opened, and a string of silvery laughter rang out.
"I'm back!"
Ning Rongrong said excitedly. After three months of recuperation, Ning Rongrong's skin gradually recovered and became fair and radiant again.
Dugu Yan and Bai Chenxiang stood beside Ning Rongrong. Dugu Yan still maintained a certain self-respect, while Bai Chenxiang's face was already beaming with uncontrollable arrogance.
Hearing the noise at the door, Dai Yao and Zhu Zhuqing, who were standing on the windowsill admiring the scenery, turned around at the same time. Looking at the three women, Zhu Zhuqing smiled and teased:
"Rongrong, Sister Yan, Xiangxiang, it seems you've had a great day."
Ning Rongrong sat on the sofa, raised the jade bracelet on her wrist, and smiled:
"That's right, there are just too many beautiful things in Seahorse City. My storage soul tool is almost full. Xiangxiang and Sister Yan bought a lot today too. It's a pity you didn't go, Zhuqing. But I bought you all the dresses and stockings that suit you, and I also bought some for Sister Wutong."
Zhu Zhuqing smiled faintly, exchanged a glance with Feng Wutong, and said with a smile:
"Thank you, Rongrong."
Seeing the women's excited expressions, Dai Yao felt incredibly relaxed. How could he not be satisfied with his wives getting along so well? But he also knew that they had rested enough and couldn't stay in such a comfortable environment forever. Everyone had reached a bottleneck, and it was time to move on to the fourth test.
"Alright, everyone get ready. In a few days, we will begin the fourth test."
Dai Yao said solemnly.
The women all suppressed their smiles. They all knew about the fourth test: helping the Demon Soul Great White Shark clan defeat the Evil Orca clan while ensuring minimal casualties was no easy task.
However, the women were not worried about the success or failure of the mission, but rather they had a great prejudice against the Demon Soul Great White Shark.
Back during the second test, the Demon Soul Great White Shark attacked Dai Yao, which made them feel intense hostility towards the entire Demon Soul Great White Shark species. Now, having to help the Demon Soul Great White Shark species defeat their natural enemy is something they find quite unpleasant.
"Helping that demonic great white shark is really a headache—"
Dugu Yan spoke calmly, a cold, eerie light gleaming in her emerald eyes.
"If I could, I'd like to see them both suffer heavy losses."
Feng Wutong spoke calmly. Feng Wutong, who was usually silent, stunned everyone the moment she opened her mouth. Her nonchalant tone made it sound as if she were discussing something as trivial as stepping on an ant.
"That being said, since the assessment requires this, we shouldn't hold back. If we cause heavy losses to the Demon Soul Great White Shark clan, it might affect Dai Yao's assessment."
Zhu Zhuqing pondered for a moment and then offered some words of advice.
The women's words surprised Dai Yao. How could their hostility towards the Demon Soul Great White Shark be even stronger than his own?
"The matter is over, and the Grand Elder has apologized, so let's not dwell on it. What we need to do now is to complete the fourth test as soon as possible. Now, except for Xiangxiang, everyone has reached level 80 and is lacking suitable soul rings."
"The Demon Orca and the Demon Soul Great White Shark are both top-tier soul beasts in the ocean, comparable to the Titan Giant Ape among the soul beasts on the continent."
"The battle with the whale sharks will inevitably result in huge casualties, which will provide us with suitable spirit rings."
"Wutong's martial soul is fire-attribute, which is not suitable for absorbing these two types of soul rings, but it is a rare opportunity for Zhu Qing and Yan Yan. Xiang Xiang can also absorb a suitable soul ring."
Upon hearing this, Bai Chenxiang stammered:
"Can I... do it? I'm an agility-type Soul Master, can I really absorb the Soul Ring of the Demonic Orca?"
Dai Yao smiled. In the original story, Bai Chenxiang absorbed a spirit ring from a demonic tiger whale, thus developing considerable offensive capabilities. This time, with the amplification from the ten-thousand-year-old whale glue and the improvement from Dai Yao's day and night use of azure light, Bai Chenxiang was able to absorb a spirit ring from a demonic tiger whale that was between twenty thousand and three years old.
"Xiangxiang, don't worry. Both the Demon Orca and the Demon Soul Great White Shark are extremely high-quality soul rings, enough to make up for the deficiencies in your attributes. In fact, the speed boost might be much stronger than the soul rings the clan prepared for you. Stop thinking about it. You're mine now, so just do as I say."
Hearing Dai Yao's domineering words, Bai Chenxiang felt no aversion, but rather a sweet feeling, and gently hummed in response.
Dugu Yan glanced at Bai Chenxiang, then turned her gaze to Feng Wutong and smiled:
"Wutong, although you broke through to level 80 before me, it seems that I will break through to the Soul Douluo level first. When that time comes, I will wait for you at the Soul Douluo level, and after you have absorbed the appropriate Soul Ring, we will have a final showdown."
Feng Wutong nodded without backing down.
Dai Yao was actually happy to see the competition between Feng Wutong and Dugu Yan. Both women were strong-willed, and replacing the unhealthy scramble for favor with healthy competition was undoubtedly the best outcome.
Of course, Dai Yao understood that this was deliberately orchestrated by Dugu Yan to maintain the atmosphere around him. Otherwise, given Dugu Yan's shrewdness, why would she act so childishly?
"Alright everyone, get ready. We're leaving tomorrow."
Dai Yao made the final decision.
After preparing sufficient supplies, Dai Yao and the others activated their martial spirits and headed towards the sea. Although Seagod Island was large, everyone's strength was considerable, and before long, they reached the edge of the island.
Standing on the soft sand, facing the sea breeze, Dugu Yan smoothed her long, emerald-green hair, gazed at the boundless sea, and her emerald eyes, like those of a snake, slowly narrowed as she asked:
"Dai Yao, how do we find that Demon Soul Great White Shark? Do we have to go into the sea to search for it?"
Feng Wutong said coldly, "Kill a few, and she'll naturally come out."
Dai Yao glanced at Feng Wutong in surprise. He hadn't expected Feng Wutong to be so hostile towards Xiaobai. He understood that Feng Wutong hated Xiaobai because of his own past experiences. He wouldn't advise Feng Wutong to let go of her hatred. He hadn't done anything wrong, so why should he advise Feng Wutong on behalf of an outsider?
Sensing the movement of the sea, Dai Yao said in a deep voice:
"The soul beast we've been waiting for has arrived."
Just as they were speaking, a dorsal fin as sharp as a blade sliced through the water, and a huge shadow, like an island, appeared before them.
Xiaobai glanced at the crowd on the beach, especially the undisguised hostility on the faces of a few people, which made her expression somewhat unnatural. She said:
"Greetings to all the examiners, greetings to the inheritor."
However, no one responded to her. Dai Yao simply grunted an "Mmm," his shark tail flapping unnaturally. He gritted his teeth and said:
"My esteemed successor, I must sincerely apologize to you. Because of my recklessness, I have harmed you and brought irreparable consequences upon you. Please forgive me."
Dai Yao slightly raised his eyes and said:
"I understand. You should know why we're here, right?"
Xiao Bai's breath hitched, then involuntarily became rapid. She carefully observed Dai Yao. Although the Dai Yao in front of her was completely different from the 'Dai Yao' who had defeated her before in terms of appearance and aura, the sense of oppression he brought her was even greater.
Moreover, the women surrounding Dai Yao were all quite remarkable. Except for the one who was less attractive, each of them posed a considerable threat to her. Especially the woman in red; her sharp eyes made no attempt to conceal her hostility.
A slight chill ran through her. Although she owed Dai Yao a great deal, the battle against the whale sharks was a battle of their races. As the leader of her tribe, she had to be responsible for the entire tribe. She steeled herself and said:
"Your Excellency, though I hate to admit it, those who defile the ocean are indeed stronger than us, the Demon Soul Great White Sharks. Every ten years or so, our two races wage a holy war, but each time we are at a disadvantage."
"The fourth test concerns the lives of our entire clan. We hope you will consider it carefully and act only when you are absolutely certain. Otherwise, our clan will not be able to bear such a great loss."
The Demon Orca was her old adversary and she wasn't particularly afraid of it. What she feared was that Dai Yao would take advantage of the situation to settle personal scores, deliberately not going all out and allowing the Demon Orca to kill her people.
"Don't worry, the fourth test is crucial to my success or failure. I won't hold back. As for being 100% certain, who can guarantee that? All I can do is try my best."
Upon hearing this, Xiaobai breathed a sigh of relief, but she was still somewhat uneasy. How could she dare disobey the Sea God's decree?
Helplessly, it turned around, opened its mouth and emitted a buzzing sound. The sound was initially very soft, but as it spread wider and wider, it became as loud as a great bell, even drowning out the waves at sea.
As their dorsal fins sliced through the water, more than two hundred adult Demon Soul Great White Sharks appeared before the crowd, lined up in neat formation, resembling a powerful army.
"My Lord, before I depart, I would like to ask you for a favor."
Xiao Bai turned around and transmitted her voice to Dai Yao.
"explain."
Xiao Bai said sadly, "My Lord, in this battle, I am willing to be the sharpest spear in your hand, to fight against the Demon Orca. If I die, it will be my atonement for you. At that time, I beg you to take care of the Demon Soul Great White Shark population for my sake."
Dai Yao glanced at Xiao Bai, and upon hearing Xiao Bai's words, his resentment lessened somewhat. He said:
"Don't worry, you won't die. Rongrong's assessment task is to keep you alive. If you die, her task will fail."
Xiao Bai's eyes immediately lit up as she marveled that the Sea God hadn't abandoned her, allowing Dai Yao to stand on her back, and then having several powerful demonic great white sharks carry the women beside Dai Yao.
After Dai Yao and the others landed smoothly on the back of the Demon Soul Great White Shark, the two hundred Demon Soul Great White Sharks officially set off, their white waves transforming into sharp blades that slowly disappeared into the boundless blue sea.
······
On the vast ocean, the enormous swarm of Demon Soul Great White Sharks slowly came to a stop.
"My Lord, what's wrong?"
Xiao Bai asked in confusion, "Just now, when she told Dai Yao that they were still a hundred miles away from the Demonic Tiger Whale horde, Dai Yao signaled all of his soul beasts to stop."
Dai Yao said in a deep voice:
"From now on, everyone wait here. Xiaobai, you and I will act alone. When I give the signal, it will be time for the final assault."
Although Zhu Zhuqing and the others didn't understand Dai Yao's actions, their years of trust meant they carried out his orders without hesitation. Xiao Bai, however, hesitated. From Dai Yao's words, it seemed they were to charge into enemy lines for harassment; in her view, this was tantamount to suicide.
"My Lord, perhaps you should reconsider? Your strength is indeed formidable, but the Demon Orca is no ordinary creature. Even the Deep Sea Demon Whale, a dominant species on the high seas, must be wary of them. If we are surrounded by them, we will have virtually no chance of survival."
Xiao Bai offered his advice.
Dai Yao didn't say much. What he was going to do was exactly what Tang San planned in the original story: use the spring water of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well to secretly kill the Demonic Tiger Whale and weaken its strength. He calmly said:
"To achieve victory against overwhelming odds and preserve the strength of the Great White Shark population as much as possible, we must take extraordinary measures. If you trust me, then we will proceed; if you do not, then I will terminate this plan."
Xiao Bai fell into a long silence, and after a long while, she finally said:
"If you, the inheritor, are truly confident in weakening the Evil Tigers, I am willing to take a risk with you!"
If it could reduce the sacrifices of the tribe, Xiaobai was willing to take the risk and entrust his life to Dai Yao.
"A wise choice."
Dai Yao said with a smile.
Immediately, with a thought, a blue light enveloped Dai Yao and Xiao Bai, causing them to abruptly disappear before everyone's eyes.
Amid Xiaobai's excited exclamations, Dai Yao instructed Xiaobai to dive 100 meters and swim towards the habitat of the demonic killer whale.
Surrounded by seawater, the water beneath their feet was pitch black, seemingly capable of swallowing everything. After an unknown amount of time, Xiaobai stopped without making a sound, but Dai Yao knew they had reached their destination.
Therefore, Dai Yao released his mental energy to ascertain the location of each demonic orca as possible. As his mental energy penetrated deeper, the aura emanating from the demonic orcas grew stronger and stronger, until at the very center, a mental aura, like a torch, was burning fiercely.
Dai Yao knew that this was his target—the Demon Orca King.
"A hundred-thousand-year-old demonic tiger whale, your soul ring and soul bone are extremely precious, and you are destined to be with me. The Sacred White Tiger Martial Soul is already full, so you shall become the second soul ring of my Dark Demonic Tiger Martial Soul!"
Dai Yao thought to himself.