He Yiming and the others watched the Starfish Monster flee in panic. They did not give chase but instead collected themselves, looking towards the colossal Super Sacred Beast, the Black Shark King.

A palpable tension slowly began to ripple through the atmosphere.

After witnessing He Yiming and his group instantly annihilate a Starfish King, even the Black Shark King couldn't help but betray a flicker of fear. With its intelligence, it naturally understood that the combined strength of He Yiming’s party far surpassed its own.

What it couldn't fathom, however, was why He Yiming and his companions would assist the shark clan in this ocean war.

He Yiming frowned as he looked at the massive Black Shark King. He suddenly realized he had forgotten the most crucial thing: humans and sharks could not communicate.

Chu Haozhou approached He Yiming. He seemed to grasp the leader’s frustration. He ran a hand over his short hair, sighed deeply, and finally took a step forward in the water, clasping his hands into fists and offering a respectful bow.

He Yiming rolled his eyes. What’s the point of bowing to a shark king when it isn’t human?

Yet, to his utter astonishment, the Shark King’s small-mountain-sized body actually swayed, then began to nod slowly.

He Yiming stared, dumbfounded, at the Black Shark King’s clumsy performance, his heart filled with shock. Could this brute actually comprehend the goodwill Chu Haozhou was displaying?

Chu Haozhou swept his hand in a wide circle, pointed upward, and then began to ascend slowly toward the surface. He Yiming blinked twice and quickly motioned for White Horse to follow closely.

It was uncertain whether the Black Shark King understood Chu Haozhou’s intention, but after a moment of hesitation, it too began to swim slowly upward.

He Yiming lightly patted Thunder's spine, and it immediately sped up, drawing alongside Chu Haozhou. He focused his voice into a thin thread and asked, "Brother Chu, can you communicate with it?"

Chu Haozhou shrugged, "No."

"Then why did you ask it to come up?"

Chu Haozhou replied testily, "Brother Bai is too enigmatic. Since he proposed this suggestion, he should be the one responsible for communicating with the Black Shark King."

He Yiming paused, considered the statement, and slowly nodded. If anyone among their group could truly communicate with the Black Shark King, it would likely be only Bai Lingba.

Chu Haozhou suddenly inquired, "Why didn't Brother Bai come down? If he had acted, that other Starfish Monster wouldn't have escaped." His tone held clear regret, obviously still dwelling on the departure of that one Sacred Beast Starfish.

He Yiming managed a wry smile. He couldn't very well tell Chu Haozhou the truth—that Bai Lingba was constrained by some damned code that prevented him from harming intelligent creatures.

His eyes darted around, and He Yiming said, "Brother Bai is above protecting the Precious Pig and dares not risk coming down."

Chu Haozhou asked suspiciously, "What is the origin of this Precious Pig?"

He Yiming straightened up with gravitas. "It is the most beloved pet of the Ancestor from our lineage at the Northwest Heavenly Lake. It cannot, under any circumstances, be lost."

Chu Haozhou sucked in a sharp breath. Though he had never visited the Northwest in his life, his status meant he had certainly heard of the Ancestor of the Northwest Heavenly Lake—a figure recognized as one of the most supremely powerful individuals in the world, someone he absolutely could not afford to offend.

Knowing the Pig’s lineage, his curiosity about Bai Lingba’s identity intensified. He muttered to himself, Could this mysterious Five Qi master actually originate from the Northwest Heavenly Lake sect?

Suddenly, massive waves surged across the sea surface, and a line of towering water-mountains materialized from nowhere.

Innumerable droplets cascaded off the Black Shark King’s body, and a shark as large as a small mountain abruptly appeared on the ocean’s surface.

He Yiming, astride White Horse, stood next to the Black Shark King, appearing as insignificant as a fly beside an adult.

However, only they knew that the combined might of this man and horse undoubtedly far surpassed that of the Black Shark King.

Bai Lingba drifted down leisurely from the air. The Precious Pig leaped from his chest, hopped onto his back, stood on its hind legs atop his shoulders, and rested its front hooves on his head. It stared at the incomparably enormous Black Shark King with its small, bright eyes.

"Hmph hmph hmph…" the Precious Pig suddenly squealed rapidly, its sound so urgent that it caused distinct ripples in the air.

He Yiming’s eyebrows lifted slightly as he looked at the Pig in surprise.

The Black Shark King had emitted similar fluctuations in the water when ordering its kin to retreat earlier. This seemed to be a method of communication among aquatic creatures, conveying intent through water vibrations.

What astonished He Yiming beyond measure was that the Precious Pig also appeared to have mastered this method of expression. Of course, the Pig used air as its medium, not seawater, but the underlying principle was identical. And clearly, the behemoth opposite had understood the Pig’s message through this very mechanism.

Strength fluctuations, similar yet subtly different, propagated around the group. Although neither He Yiming nor Chu Haozhou understood the specific meaning, their keen senses allowed them to detect the subtle changes in their surroundings.

He Yiming finally could not contain his curiosity and asked Bai Lingba, "Brother Bai, is the Pig communicating with the Black Shark King?"

"Yes," Bai Lingba replied calmly.

"What are they saying?"

"The Pig demands that the Black Shark King guard that stretch of sea and allow no one else to trespass unless it is us descending."

He Yiming nodded with satisfaction, but then realized, "How does the Pig understand the language of water-based spirit beasts?"

"I don't know," Bai Lingba stated readily.

Chu Haozhou suddenly interjected, "Brother Bai, can you understand what they are saying?"

"Of course, I can."

Chu Haozhou's eyes brightened, flashing with profound astonishment. His action of calling the Black Shark King to the surface had merely been to discuss a means of communication with the group. He never imagined that Bai Lingba and the Precious Pig could genuinely converse with the massive creature before them. At this moment, Bai Lingba seemed even more inscrutable to him.

He Yiming merely shook his head. He was long accustomed to Bai Lingba’s myriad strange abilities. Since they could resolve this troublesome hurdle, he was naturally delighted.

A moment later, the strange fluctuations in the air ceased. The Black Shark King’s enormous body swayed towards the group a few times before sinking back down.

Bai Lingba faced the questioning gazes of He Yiming and the others and stated gravely, "It has agreed. No human, other than us, will be permitted to dive in this sea region."

He Yiming nodded contentedly. Through these brief exchanges, he had gained a clear understanding of the Black Shark King’s intelligence; he knew that once it gave its word, unless its strength failed, it would certainly not go back on its promise. With this giant guarding the entrance to the cave dwelling, it was unlikely anyone else would discover the secret there.

He waved his hand grandly. "Gentlemen, we have been out for nearly a month. I wonder about the situation on the island; it’s time we went back to check."

Chu Haozhou immediately agreed. "Indeed. I wonder if Zhan Hongtu and the others have wiped out the Sea Heaven Sect yet." He paused, then couldn't help adding, "And Huo Dongcheng—I wonder how much progress he has made in this month."

He Yiming laughed heartily, "Brother Chu, you still worry so much about that prized disciple!"

Chu Haozhou let out a soft snort. "His talent is indeed exceptional. Although his current cultivation is modest, precisely because of that, his foundation is quite solid, which will greatly benefit his future growth. However…" He shifted his tone, "He is already eighteen this year. If, before he turns forty, he cannot cultivate all three of his primary techniques to the tenth level of Inner Force, then his future achievements will be severely limited."

He Yiming chuckled and flattered him, "With you, Brother, supervising him, he is certain to avoid unnecessary detours. Combined with my Golden Core assistance, he is guaranteed to advance to Venerable in this life. Whether he can progress further, that is difficult to say."

A strange glint suddenly flashed in Chu Haozhou's eyes. Seeing his expression, He Yiming immediately understood his thought process. He must have been contemplating his self-devised method for refining a Second Divine Weapon. But that method was far too perilous, a true do-or-die gamble. If the first Divine Weapon was destroyed and the second failed to materialize into its ethereal form, the outcome would be disastrous failure after daring effort.

After a long silence, Chu Haozhou sighed deeply. "Never mind. I will pass this method down when the time comes. As for whether someone chooses to cultivate it, that will be their own decision."

He Yiming nodded slightly. Such matters could only be decided by the individual; even the best friends or relatives could not make a decision that could alter the entire life path of a Venerable Master.

He patted the horse’s back lightly. White Horse immediately let out a piercing neigh, its resonant sound carrying far across the sea, shaking the heart. Then, spreading its four hooves, it bolted forward like lightning.

Bai Lingba and Chu Haozhou ascended into the air, vanishing in an instant.

About half an hour later, Ganshan City came into view. He Yiming slowed his horse's pace, proceeding at the speed of an ordinary steed toward the gates.

The guards at the entrance, seeing the single-horned White Horse from a distance, immediately changed color and began shouting frantically.

The city gate, which had only been half-open, was immediately thrown wide open in the shortest possible time, and the people queuing to enter automatically parted, clearing a wide avenue.

He Yiming’s eyes flickered slightly as he spurred his horse through the cleared path. By now, he was gradually growing accustomed to the deference shown to him; he no longer felt that people clearing a path for him was inappropriate. Years of experience had caused a sixteen-year-old youth to mature, truly ascending to a position above ordinary men, making him gradually accustomed to viewing the common masses from a superior vantage point.

In the sky, a streak of light flashed, following the White Horse into the city…