The deep sea. Silhouettes drifted like specters, poised in every corner of the water, their eyes blazing with either excitement or sheer dread, all fixed upon two swirling halos of light.
The collision between the Domain of Thunder and the Domain of Water had instigated a massive collapse on the seabed, exposing fine, meandering spatial rifts. Near these fissures, many cultivators at the Immortal Realm looked on in palpable panic, instinctively retreating.
No one knew where those spatial rifts led; even at their level of attainment, they dared not venture into them lightly. Naputon and Ricardo stood amidst the crowd, their expressions grave as they continuously unleashed power to mend the widening cracks, striving to stabilize the increasingly volatile maritime domain.
“Rumble!” Within the Domain of Thunder, one after another of the thunderous continents crumbled into dust. With the disappearance of each landmass, Friel’s gaze flickered, and the aura suffusing his Domain of Thunder gradually waned.
Conversely, the Sea Shark Emperor seemed to grow more formidable with every passing moment. His eyes were bloodshot, his aura ferocious—a stark contrast to his previous low-key composure.
It was as if many present were seeing the true nature of the Sea Shark Emperor for the first time. After this battle, the Sea Shark Emperor’s renown would undoubtedly sweep across the entire Void Sea!
For many years to come, powerful beings would speak of this figure, recounting his dominance in the Sea of Annihilation. Billows of watery curtains sprouted ceaselessly from the Sea Shark Emperor’s domain, surging into Friel’s Domain of Thunder, enveloping the orbs of lightning, squeezing them, and grinding them into powder!
A trace of terror flashed across Friel’s expression. He finally realized that the typically reserved Sea Shark Emperor was by no means someone to be trifled with.
A seed of regret sprouted in his heart—regret for so easily initiating this conflict. “The Sea of Annihilation is truly a marvelous place,” observed Ming Hao, standing far away alongside the Divine Lord.
Ming Hao’s eyes shone with a deep luminosity as he stared at the spatial rifts appearing nearby. “A battle of this magnitude, occurring in our Desolate Domain, would trigger the collapse of entire star systems.
A clash between us Immortals—ordinary space cannot bear it—yet down here, it only results in these spatial fissures.” Ming Hao’s comprehension of Spatial Profundity was profound, marking him as a grandmaster. He knew that the collision of such powerhouses would overwhelm any conventional world.
Both the Sea Shark Emperor and Friel were Ancestors of the Domain; the residual shockwaves from their fight could cause massive devastation in the Desolate Domain. Yet, in this place, the seabed merely showed cracks.
Ming Hao mused inwardly, quietly remarking, “It seems this oceanic region possesses the resilience to withstand the tearing forces of spatial energy without truly disintegrating. A pity my current spectral form cannot endure the backlash generated by tearing space; otherwise, I might have tested it.” “Bang!
Bang! Bang!” Lightning orbs exploded and vanished within Friel’s domain.
Gradually, Friel’s domain began to shrink, forcing Friel himself to retreat step by agonizing step. Suddenly, numerous lightning orbs coalesced, transforming into a single, terrifying sphere of light.
Friel roared from within that orb, violently bursting free. His face was haggard, and countless serpentine lightning giants coiled deep within his eyes.
“Sea Shark Emperor!” The Sea Shark Emperor’s eyes, crimson just moments before, seemed to register a jolt, as if suddenly regaining clarity. He scanned the surroundings, as if searching for someone within the crowd, appearing somewhat bewildered.
“Friel! What is going on?” Ricardo demanded.
“Sea Shark Emperor!” Naputon called out as well. “I discovered traces of that Shi Yan, intending to seize him, but the Sea Shark Emperor stopped me!
I don’t know his motives, but he allowed that brat to leave!” Friel bellowed, as several thunder orbs floated up from the seabed while he spoke, emitting dazzling and fearsome electrical glows. “Sea Shark Emperor, is this true?” Naputon asked, stunned.
“You promised me you would help me find that boy. Is this your commitment?” Ricardo, Tu Shiqi, Qi Mo, and the others looked on with surprise, turning toward the Sea Shark Emperor in confusion.
The deep crimson color still clung to the Sea Shark Emperor’s eyes, not entirely faded, and his expression remained distant, still searching through the gathering crowd. A single flame suddenly flickered into existence… The Sea Shark Emperor’s eyes instantly brightened, and he suddenly cried out, “Shen Ren!” Shen Ren, who had mysteriously vanished during the battle between the Sea Shark Emperor and Friel, suddenly materialized amidst the flickering flame.
The clamshell he had hidden in shimmered with overlapping layers of fire. The moment he appeared, he stated decisively, “We must leave now.” He knew that powerhouses of Naputon and Ricardo’s caliber would inevitably arrive, and he understood the Sea Shark Emperor’s intent: to prolong the fight with Friel long enough to draw everyone’s attention.
Shen Ren was the most conspicuous figure around the Sea Shark Emperor, akin to a shadow that rarely left his side. He knew that once Naputon, Ricardo, and the others arrived, they would search for him and demand answers about what transpired.
Therefore, he needed to remain hidden; he absolutely could not show himself until the battle between the Sea Shark Emperor and Friel had reached a temporary pause. And now, this was his moment to emerge!
He needed to remind the Sea Shark Emperor that opposing the entire martial force of the Sea of Annihilation single-handedly was entirely unwise! Hearing his sharp call, the Sea Shark Emperor smiled faintly and nodded.
“Indeed, we should depart. I have not yet descended into true madness.” Sheets of soul clouds began to condense beside the Sea Shark Emperor.
Naputon’s face grew grim. “Sea Shark Emperor, I believe you owe me an explanation.” Ricardo stepped forward too, knitting his brows.
“I promised someone I would capture that young man named Shi Yan. Sea Shark Emperor, I too require an accounting.” Tu Shiqi, Qi Mo, and the others surged forward, and even many powerhouses lurking in the distance converged.
They encircled the Sea Shark Emperor, their expressions unfriendly, demanding the direction Shi Yan had fled. Many sharp minds, having heard Friel’s words, realized the Sea Shark Emperor had intentionally allowed Shi Yan to escape, fighting Friel only to distract everyone.
They concluded the Sea Shark Emperor must have a prior arrangement with Shi Yan and therefore knew his precise location. “This Sea Shark Emperor… actually let Shi Yan go?” the Divine Lord exclaimed in astonishment, shaking his head.
“Incomprehensible.” “That brat is always strange; anything is possible when it involves him,” Ming Hao frowned. “Seen this way, he must have escaped safely.
That is perhaps for the best…” Far in the distance, Audrey crept closer, listening to the exchange between the Sea Shark Emperor and the others, a hint of joy in her eyes. “Retreat immediately!” Suddenly, Ming Hong, perched on her shoulder, cried out.
“The Dragon Lizard Ancestor, Tu Shiqi, are here, and that old devil Naputon! If they spot you, this will become troublesome!” Audrey froze, immediately reacting, not daring to linger for a second, preparing to leave as instructed.
Just then, Naputon of the Soul Clan’s eyelid twitched. He suddenly turned, his eerie gaze sweeping past hundreds of cultivators, landing with uncanny accuracy on Audrey.
He licked his lips and murmured sinisterly, “The aura of a Vicious Soul belonging to Singh. Interesting.
A Vicious Soul controlled by my Soul Clan has been handed over freely to an outsider.” A Vicious Soul, dozens of meters tall, resembling a bear and a lion, entirely jet black, rapidly materialized beneath Naputon’s feet. The Vicious Soul let out a low growl, transforming into a spectral light that lunged directly at Audrey!
“Bad! Even from this distance, the old devil sensed it instantly!” Ming Hong’s scalp prickled, hastily urging, “Leave at maximum speed!” Audrey’s face turned ashen.
Seeing the gigantic Vicious Soul rushing towards her, her very soul trembled. The gap in their cultivation with Naputon was too vast.
A mere manifestation of Naputon’s Vicious Soul was beyond her ability to resist. Even Ming Hong felt a surge of terror as the Vicious Soul charged.
He, too, was a Vicious Soul, but merely one tempered by Singh, unable to withstand the might of a Vicious Soul summoned by a Domain Ancestor like Naputon. “Eh?” Ming Hao sensed the sudden disturbance in the aura Audrey carried from him.
He focused his perception, and his expression subtly shifted. His spectral form vanished in an instant.
“Whoosh!” Ming Hao flickered into existence beside Audrey. Seeing Naputon’s Vicious Soul approach, he gave a cold laugh and casually reached out.
A nearby spatial rift condensed into a blade of uncanny sharpness, which he grasped in his hand. Ming Hao decisively raised the blade and slashed down.
The Vicious Soul emitted a piercing shriek as it was cleaved into two halves. Since the Vicious Soul was not a physical entity, the two severed pieces continued to snarl fiercely, changing targets and lunging toward Ming Hao.
Naputon’s mind throbbed painfully, his expression turning incredibly gloomy. He glared back at Ming Hao, then shifted his gaze to Ming Hong and Audrey.
“Insignificant lower races, daring to stand against me! You court death!” From the sea of souls beneath him, another Vicious Soul materialized—a massive python hundreds of meters long, entirely emerald green, enveloped in thick, acrid mist.
Its gaping maw was lined with densely packed fangs, and as it writhed, it swallowed several cultivators blocking its path whole. The giant python Vicious Soul chewed once, and the devoured cultivators were instantly annihilated, their souls scattered.
“Hmm?” The Divine Lord, who had been watching the exchange between the Sea Shark Emperor and Friel, was caught off guard when he realized Ming Hao had vanished beside him. He turned his head to see Ming Hao engaged in combat with Naputon’s Vicious Soul.
He looked astonished, hesitated for a moment, and remained rooted to the spot. He had no intention of interfering in this matter.
“Let’s go!” Shen Ren seized the opportunity to shout. The Sea Shark Emperor, unfamiliar with Audrey and her group, certainly offered no aid.
Seeing that they had successfully diverted Naputon’s attention, he immediately nodded, pushing aside the waves to leave the surrounding throng. “Don’t let him leave!” Friel commanded.
Even before he finished speaking, Ricardo, Qi Mo, and the gathered onlookers instinctively struck out. In an instant, the seabed erupted in brilliant light.
Countless light screens, luminous circles, and glowing masses materialized. All kinds of esoteric barriers sprang up, and divine power sliced like swords, darting across the seafloor, making the depths suddenly chaotic.
Those daring enough to witness the battle of Domain Ancestors were mostly highly cultivated experts. Many among them were connected to the Seven Clans, while others coveted the Runic Pagoda of Profundity themselves.
Whether motivated by the reward promised by the Five Clans or by the Pagoda of Profundity itself, they all desperately wanted to know Shi Yan’s whereabouts. Thus, they attacked in unison.
“Sea Shark Emperor, regardless of the outcome of this fight, you will have no foothold left in the Void Sea. The clansmen of the Soul Clan, Devouring Clan, Ancient Demon Clan, Black Demon Clan, and Profound Heaven Clan will not forgive you.
Core members of their races have been killed, and you allowed that boy to escape. You must bear the consequences!” Ricardo sighed softly, his tone laced with melancholy.
…(To be continued)RQ