"Why are you all staring at me like that?!"
Yu Xiaogang sensed the strange looks from everyone and angrily pointed at the Sky Screen as he cursed:
"Whatever I say, this Sky Screen shows the opposite. It keeps contradicting me at every turn. Don't you think that's suspicious? Someone is clearly pulling strings behind the scenes!"
"Maybe some bastard jealous of my theoretical accomplishments used special means to create this Sky Screen and smear me through such despicable methods!"
Hearing this, Ma Hongjun and Zhao Wuji nearly burst out laughing.
When Yu Xiaogang had claimed that the Sky Screen was a fabricated wild ranking created by someone, they had supported him to some extent.
After all, seeing was believing. They had not personally witnessed many things, so it was only natural for them to have doubts.
But now Yu Xiaogang was saying that the Sky Screen was targeting him alone. Wasn't that a little too ridiculous?
Even Flender, who had always supported him, fell silent at this moment.
"Teacher, I believe you!"
Only Tang San stepped forward and firmly stood at Yu Xiaogang's side.
Under everyone's helpless gazes, Tang San stared at the Sky Screen with killing intent in his eyes and snarled in a low voice:
"I will definitely find the creator behind this Sky Screen. Daring to smear my teacher like this, you have already earned your death!"
Yu Xiaogang heard every word clearly and patted his shoulder emotionally:
"Good! As expected of this Grandmaster's disciple. This Grandmaster will surely devote all my lifelong knowledge to raising you into an unparalleled powerhouse!"
In the distance, Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu could only find it absurd.
Then Zhu Zhuqing looked toward the Sky Screen again, a trace of worry rising in her eyes.
Only five powers remained to be announced. Would she find one suitable for her among them?
Extreme North.
Ice Empress, Snow Empress, and the others were discussing how to find the Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Cave.
When they saw the newly announced ranking on the Sky Screen, they could not help crying out in shock:
"A sea soul beast nearly a million years old! The ocean actually has such a powerful existence!"
They had always lived in the Extreme North and only occasionally went outside to learn about the continent.
But they had never visited the distant ocean, so they knew next to nothing about it.
Ice Bear King Xiao Bai could not help opening his mouth wide. Looking at Snow Empress, who had raised him, he asked:
"Mom, if that guy receives a Heaven-Sent Reward and breaks through to a million years, what would that even mean? You have seven hundred and ten thousand years of cultivation now. Could you stand against him?"
Snow Empress's white hair fluttered in the cold wind as she shook her head:
"If he breaks through to a million years, he may have already touched the threshold of godhood. I know I would be no match for him."
"Hmph."
Seeing Snow Empress diminish her own momentum, Ice Empress's crystal-like eyes brimmed with pride:
"Judging from the evaluation, that Deep Sea Demonic Whale King merely relied on his devouring power to rapidly increase his cultivation. Once we find the Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Cave, we can also use the supreme treasure within to quickly raise our cultivation. By then, Xue'er, you may not necessarily be unable to surpass him!"
Snow Empress nodded, but then shook her head helplessly. Her gaze swept across the boundless ice plains:
"The Extreme North is so vast that finding it would be like searching for a needle in the sea. Still, let us follow the original plan and search first. If we gain nothing, we can find another way. The exposure of the Extreme North will surely have drawn the attention of human powerhouses. We can no longer remain dormant as before. We must find the Ten Thousand Year Profound Ice Cellar and increase our strength to deal with what comes!"
Star Dou Forest, Life Lake.
Within the small world below, inside the silver-white crystal palace.
Ripples appeared in Gu Yuena's purple eyes as she looked at Di Tian and questioned:
"Di Tian, I recall that you went to the ocean twenty thousand years ago. Why did you never mention that the ocean had an existence of this level?"
Di Tian knelt on one knee, his voice carrying incredulous alarm:
"My Lord, the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King only had two hundred and seventy to two hundred and eighty thousand years of cultivation back then. Because he tried to stop Poseidon from conquering the ocean, one of his eyes was stabbed blind. Seeing that he was nothing remarkable, I did not give him another thought. I never expected that in merely twenty thousand years, he would reach such a level through devouring power!"
Gu Yuena withdrew her gaze, slightly surprised.
"In that case, it is indeed astonishing. With this Heaven-Sent Reward added in, he has already reached the realm where he can become a god. What a pity the God Realm has restrictions."
At that moment, Xiong Jun, who had always loved competing for strength, could not help asking:
"My Lord, if the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King breaks through to a million years, who would be stronger between him and me?"
The other Beasts also turned to look.
They were equally curious about just how far his strength had reached.
Gu Yuena glanced at him, then at Di Tian, and said indifferently:
"Forget you. Even if Di Tian did not use a divine skill like the Dragon God Claw, he would absolutely be unable to defeat that opponent in the ocean."
Hearing this, all the Beasts were startled.
Wan Yao Wang stepped forward and respectfully said:
"My Lord, if that is the case, we might as well recruit him into our faction and fight humanity together. With your Divine Might, you will surely make him submit willingly!"
Gu Yuena nodded and turned her gaze toward the Sky Screen again.
"Let us wait and see. Once the Sky Screen announces the Power Ranking one by one, there may be other similarly hidden powerful soul beasts. We can deal with them together then. Perhaps once Star Dou takes first place on the ranking, they will come to us of their own accord."
Sea God Island, before Sea God Hall.
The guardian Douluo of the Seven Sacred Pillars looked at the Sky Screen, then all turned anxiously toward Bo Saixi:
"High Priest, that Deep Sea Demonic Whale King, that utterly evil creature, has made the ranking. What should we do?!"
"A million years! They say that is the boundary for soul beasts to become gods. If he really becomes a god, how can we possibly contend with him?!"
Just as they finished speaking, Xiao Bai, the Demon Soul Great White Shark who had been hurrying here, arrived as well. Panting, she anxiously said:
"Lady Bo Saixi, Sacred Pillar Lords! The Deep Sea Demonic Whale King is about to break through to a million years! What should we do?!"
Faced with their panic, there was not a ripple in Bo Saixi's eyes as she calmly said:
"There is no need to panic. Lord Sea God left instructions twenty thousand years ago. The God Realm will never allow soul beasts to become gods. Even if the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King breaks through to a million years, he cannot become a god. Besides, Sea God Island is protected by the divine consciousness left behind by Lord Sea God. There is nothing to fear."
Everyone was still somewhat worried:
"But he has reached a million years after all. His strength will definitely increase drastically. What if..."
Bo Saixi remained calm. Her gaze involuntarily turned toward the Sky Screen in the heavens, and a trace of anticipation flashed through her eyes:
"Do not forget that Sea God Island has not yet made the ranking. What if we also receive a Heaven-Sent Reward after making it? Considering Sea God Island's foundation, across the entire continent, I fear only Spirit Hall can compete with us."
As soon as she said this, everyone's eyes lit up. Delighted, they said:
"That's right, Sea God Island has not made the ranking yet! Once we receive the reward, the situation may very well reverse. Then it will be the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King's turn to fear us!"
As they spoke, they could not help dwelling on the latter half of the High Priest's words. Looking toward the continent, they said disdainfully:
"Spirit Hall? Those fools who led an army to attack Sea God Island back then, only to flee in disgrace after we beat them back—are they worthy of competing with us for the ranking?"
"Sea God Island will definitely hold first place on the Power Ranking!"
For a time, the anxiety on Sea God Island was replaced by confidence and anticipation.
Everyone stared fixedly at the Sky Screen, waiting for Sea God Island's first-place reveal.
Ocean, Demonic Whale Sea Area.
"How is this possible?! How can this king's ocean not even make the top five?!"
The Deep Sea Demonic Whale King stared at the Sky Screen above with his scarlet single eye and roared in utter unwillingness.
His wife, Demon Empress, was equally astonished, as was their daughter Lan Fozi in the distance.
Amid his unwilling roar, a golden pillar of light descended from the Sky Screen above and instantly enveloped him.
"Rumble—!"
The Deep Sea Demonic Whale King felt a continuous stream of energy pouring into his body. He immediately realized that this was a Heaven-Sent Reward, and his fury instantly turned to joy:
"Finally, finally, the moment has come! This king is about to break through to a million years! Once I become a god, no one in the world will be this king's enemy any longer! Hahahahaha!"
Before you continue