Billions of motley flames drifted from Ricardo, arranged in orderly patterns that suggested novel, innate formations, utterly unfazed by the seawater’s attempt to extinguish them. These luminous beacons floated forward, closing in on the Sea Shark Emperor.
Ferrell remained silent, attacking again. A millstone-sized thunder sphere coalesced, rolling menacingly toward the Sea Shark Emperor.
Neptune snorted, flicked a finger, and three monstrous, troll-like fierce souls materialized out of thin air, towering thousands of meters high, bearing down like colossal mountains.
These three fierce souls were his true trump cards!
Ricardo, Ferrell, and Neptune struck simultaneously, aiming to seal off every escape route for the Sea Shark Emperor, determined to extract Shi Yan’s whereabouts.
The Rune Pagoda of Profound Truth was a treasure coveted by every race, deemed even more precious than a Primordial Artifact! For the sake of the Pagoda, they cared nothing for the fact that the Sea Shark Emperor was also a Domain Ancestor; even if it meant destroying the Sea of Annihilation, they would find Shi Yan and seize the Pagoda!
“Audrey! That’s Audrey!” Ya Yun shrieked from within the crowd.
Tu Shiqi and the Dragon Lizard Ancestor looked from a distance and saw that the one being attacked by Neptune’s fierce souls was none other than Audrey. They knew that after parting ways with them, Audrey must have gone looking for Shi Yan.
Spotting Audrey, they felt certain Shi Yan must be nearby. In a startled cry, Tu Shiqi, Ya Yun, and the Dragon Lizard Ancestor swept toward Audrey’s location, momentarily setting the Sea Shark Emperor aside.
“She is closely connected to Shi Yan; what do you plan to do?” the Dragon Lizard Ancestor suddenly asked.
Tu Shiqi and his wife hesitated, then Ya Yun spoke up, “Let’s trap her first; we can always use her to negotiate with Shi Yan, right?”
“This actually helps her, preventing her from being killed by Neptune’s fierce souls,” Tu Shiqi observed.
The Dragon Lizard Ancestor nodded. “That will suffice.”
When they rushed over, preparing to lend aid, they found Ming Hao fighting alone, surprisingly holding off two of the fierce souls released by Neptune.
Countless souls of Ming Hao, each wielding a blade forged from space, battled fiercely against the two monstrous entities.
As Ming Hao’s phantom soul shifted and flickered, it would suddenly vanish, only for an Immortal Realm expert nearby to instantly fly into a frenzy, screaming as they charged toward Neptune’s fierce souls.
The Dragon Lizard Ancestor and the other two watched in profound astonishment. “That fellow’s method of soul possession is frighteningly fast! What is his origin?”
“He must be a master from the Devourer Race who cultivates the Mystic Arts of Soul Control. It is rumored that those who cultivate these arts can effortlessly slip into the minds of lower-realm experts, forcibly seizing control of their souls, twisting their will until they become personal thralls,” Tu Shiqi stated with a grave expression, his eyes filled with suspicion. “I cannot fathom how that girl Audrey became involved with the Devourer Race. Wait, that fellow’s soul form is definitely not what the Devourer Race excels at; it bears a resemblance to the Soul Race. I simply don't understand!”
Ya Yun was equally perplexed and frozen in place, unsure of what course of action to take.
Ming Hao, as the foremost master of Soul Control within the Bloodthirsty lineage, had perfected the Mystic Arts of the Nether Emperor Clan, the Divine Abilities of Bloodthirsty Soul Control, and the profound mystery of Space. Over ten thousand years of silent cultivation, he had perfectly fused these three mystic arts, reaching the peak of the Third Heaven of the Immortal Realm. If he could grasp the power of Dark Energy, he would securely ascend to the Domain Ancestor level.
Today, within the Sea of Annihilation, he revealed his true strength. With wisps of phantom souls swirling, he seized the soul-will of fifteen Immortal Realm experts, enslaving them to launch self-destructive, devastating attacks against Neptune’s fierce souls, shocking many onlookers.
Even many warriors who had been besieging the Sea Shark Emperor recoiled in horror, watching as Neptune’s two fierce souls were shattered by the soul self-detonations, their expressions filled with dread.
Several soul threads snapped in Neptune’s mind. His face contorted as he spun around abruptly to glare at Ming Hao, roaring, “The Mystic Arts of Soul Control of the Devourer Race!”
Qimo and the members of the Devourer Race, hearing Neptune’s loud accusation, looked at Ming Hao with terrified expressions.
“He is not one of our Devourer Race!” Qimo, who cultivated Chaotic Mystic Arts, his whole body crackling with strange magnetic fields that made the seawater appear to writhe within countless mirrors, looked utterly bizarre.
He had been attacking the Sea Shark Emperor, but at that moment, a memory struck him, causing him to scream out, “He is from the Barren Domain!”
“The Barren Domain!”
“Someone from the Barren Domain!”
“The domain realm condensed by the Primordial Being, the Barren!”
“He’s actually from over there!”
At these words, numerous powerful figures nearby began to shout, each one more astonished than the last.
Tu Shiqi and Ya Yun exchanged a glance, recognizing the surprise mirrored in the other’s eyes. Knowing that Audrey and Shi Yan hailed from the Barren Domain, upon hearing Qimo reveal Ming Hao’s identity, their expressions shifted, and they suddenly recalled what Hantian had once discussed concerning the Bloodthirsty lineage; they immediately understood.
“Like the Bloodthirsty lineage, they are fortunate individuals who received the Devourer inheritance in the Barren Domain. Their understanding of the Eight Great Evil Forces is perhaps even more complete than that of the Devourer Race itself; only their cultivation levels are somewhat lacking,” Tu Shiqi said to the Dragon Lizard Ancestor. “Many years ago, a Barren Domain expert named Bloodthirsty came here and caused immense bloodshed. Many of our Devourer Race perished, and even our Ancestor Hantian fought him, resulting in… being at a disadvantage. That Bloodthirsty mastered the Mystic Arts of Devouring and controlled the Devourer Race’s Eight Great Evil Forces; he was terrifyingly formidable…”
“Even Senior Hantian suffered a near-defeat?” the Dragon Lizard stammered in shock. “Senior Hantian is one of the Ten Great Domain Ancestors! How terrifying must that Bloodthirsty have been?”
“Shi Yan is from the Barren Domain, Audrey is as well, and this Soul Controller too. He excels in the Mystic Arts of Soul Control, perhaps he is connected to that Bloodthirsty from back then. This is truly strange…”
Tu Shiqi murmured, then his eyes suddenly lit up, and he whipped his gaze toward the Sea Shark Emperor, his expression becoming extremely peculiar.
“What did you think of?” Ya Yun whispered softly.
“Do you still remember what Ancestor Hantian told us back then? He said that the Sea Shark Emperor, when he was at the bottom of the Sea of Annihilation, once acted as a guide for Bloodthirsty. That Bloodthirsty… suddenly appeared at the bottom of the Sea of Annihilation, initially dazed and curious about everything. He encountered the Sea Shark Emperor when the latter was still weak and coerced him into showing him the way…”
“I seem to recall Ancestor Hantian mentioning something, but because that Bloodthirsty disappeared for so long, I didn't pay much attention. What are you trying to say?”
“Why is the Sea Shark Emperor suddenly going to such lengths to protect Shi Yan?”
“Who knows.”
“Perhaps it’s related to Bloodthirsty!”
“Are you saying the Sea Shark Emperor might have sensed Shi Yan’s connection to Bloodthirsty, and is protecting Shi Yan from destruction because of that relationship?”
“I’m just guessing wildly.”
As Tu Shiqi and Ya Yun exchanged thoughts, the Dragon Lizard Ancestor listened, deeply shocked. He watched Ming Hao, his form shifting, seizing the souls of surrounding warriors to detonate them and shatter Neptune’s fierce souls, causing his scalp to tingle. “That guy is immensely powerful. Even if my true body arrived, I might not be his match.”
“A person from the Barren Domain!”
Qimo suddenly shrieked, abandoning the Sea Shark Emperor and charging toward Ming Hao. “Tell me the Domain Gate of the Barren Domain, and I will spare your life! My Devourer Race must enter the Barren Domain to reclaim the inheritance of our Progenitor!”
Led by Qimo, the Devourer Race members surged toward Ming Hao.
“Legend holds that the Primordial Being, the Barren, was shattered into pieces after battling the Devourer. If one could enter the Barren Domain and devour the fragmented avatars of the Barren one by one, they could reach an unimaginable state and master the profound secrets of the Primordial Era, gaining insight into the fundamental principles of mystic arts!”
“It is said the Barren also possesses two Primordial Artifacts!”
“If we enter the Barren Domain, won't we reap unimaginable rewards!”
“Naturally.”
Many people yelled, their spirits surging, looking at Ming Hao with the hungry gaze of a lustful man spotting a beautiful woman—their eyes glowing with greed.
“Someone from the Barren Domain, he is also from the Barren Domain!” the Sea Shark Emperor screamed internally.
Having followed Bloodthirsty for a time, he naturally knew Bloodthirsty came from the Barren Domain. Observing Ming Hao’s mastery of Soul Control, he guessed Ming Hao might also have a close connection to Bloodthirsty. The Sea Shark Emperor, who had intended to slip away, suddenly hesitated, very much wanting to capture Ming Hao and question him thoroughly.
While he was reeling internally, Ricardo and Ferrell struck him savagely, and the opportunistic warriors surrounding them also unleashed their full power. Hailstorms, fire rains, icebergs, and crystals shot across the water; the Sea of Annihilation was nearly compressed and blasted apart. Ricardo’s Flame Domain evaporated a vast empty zone on the seabed.
The Sea Shark Emperor had been locked in fierce combat with Ferrell for a long time and his divine power was waning. This sustained barrage caused the water bubbles within his Water Domain to burst one after another.
The Sea Shark Emperor’s eyelids twitched, a hint of paleness touching his face; he managed to suppress a mouthful of bright blood from erupting.
“Regardless of whether they are connected to the Benefactor or not, we must leave first. We can’t manage all this!” Shen Ren, positioned outside the Sea Shark Emperor’s Water World, screamed urgently, his expression shifting as he realized the danger. He continuously unleashed fire barriers, but they were struck hard by Ricardo’s more exquisite Flame Mystic Arts, rapidly draining his divine essence.
“Sea Shark Emperor, I have no desire to make an enemy of you. I only need you to tell me Shi Yan’s location and direction. I want the Rune Pagoda of Profound Truth, not your life,” Ricardo stated calmly, flames surging around him as if he wore layered scales of fire, appearing like a blazing inferno at a glance.
Billions of tiny flames spread toward the Sea Shark Emperor, evaporating the seawater and carving out a vacuum zone on the seabed.
Within that vacuum, Ferrell sneered, continuously bombarding and cracking the defenses with rolling thunder spheres, refusing to leave the Sea Shark Emperor alone.
“Ricardo, even joining forces with Ferrell, you cannot stop me. Do you believe me?” The Sea Shark Emperor’s pupils gradually reddened again.
Ricardo paused, a troubled look crossing his face. “If you truly fought with all your might, Ferrell and I couldn't hold you. But I imagine you are well aware of the price you would have to pay.”
“If I went all out to assist Ricardo and Ferrell, could you truly escape so easily?” Neptune interjected.
His three fierce souls had not budged an inch. Even though the other two had been obliterated by soul slaves detonating on a soul altar commanded by Ming Hao’s Soul Control Arts, Neptune had not altered the assault pattern of the remaining three fierce souls, for Neptune also had a contingency plan!
He roared out loudly, “Badi!”
In the crowd, a seemingly ordinary human warrior suddenly shrank, becoming no more than a meter tall, resembling a grotesque dwarf. His face was greenish-brown, and his eyes glowed green like ghostly fire. He suddenly drifted toward the direction of Audrey and Ming Hao.
“Ancestor Earth Ghost!” The Dragon Lizard Ancestor and Tu Shiqi shrieked in unison.
All three of them had suffered at the hands of Ancestor Earth Ghost before; seeing this fiend appear filled them with shock and rage—truly a case of old enemies meeting face-to-face.