"Ahem!"
Sea Maiden Douluo coughed up a mouthful of grey-colored blood again. Her face was no longer pale. The gorgeous fabric of the palace dress in the middle of her chest seemed to be intact, but if you look closely, you can see that the skin underneath seemed to have lost its luster and elasticity, showing a strange Rock texture that seemed to have been forgotten by time for millions of years. Moreover, the traces of grayness were spreading to the surroundings at an extremely slow but extremely determined speed.
She sat cross-legged in the emerald green light cocoon temporarily constructed by Sea Star Douluo with Purification Light. The light cocoon continued to exude a warm breath of life, trying to nourish and fight against the Wither Force that was entrenched in her body and eroding like a gangrene on the bone.. Outside the light cocoon, the blue water light that is so rich that it almost turns into liquid is constantly flowing. It is her own vast tide Soul Power, fighting with Sea Star Douluo's Purification Light internally and externally, trying her best to slow down the speed of erosion.
However, the effect is minimal.
The gray devouring power, like the most stubborn curse, is deeply rooted in her origin. The light of purification can weaken the speed of its spread, but cannot remove it; her own tidal soul power is as majestic as a river, washing up, but it is like a mud bodhisattva crossing the river. She cannot save herself, but is slowly swallowed by it. Every movement of soul power, every heartbeat and breath, is accompanied by a sharp pain as if the soul is being peeled off inch by inch, and a sense of irreparable loss of vitality.
She could clearly feel that her Origin was being "erased" bit by bit by that force. This process was slow but irreversible.
"Hainv, stay calm, don't force Soul Power to fight, it will only accelerate the devouring!" Sea Star Douluo's face was solemn, Emerald Coral Staff's light was always outputting steadily, but there were beads of sweat on his forehead. This was a hundred times more difficult to deal with than any toxin he had experienced in Purification before. It attacked not the organs but Origin.
Sea Maiden Douluo opened her eyes with difficulty, and her eyes, which were originally as deep and charming as the deep sea, were now covered with a layer of light gray. She looked out of the light cocoon, her lips moved, and her voice was low and hoarse. "...High Priest, don't be distracted by me... This power is weird, unusual and can be solved... The overall situation is more important..."
Her words were clearly transmitted to the ears of every Sacred Pillar Guardian. Haiwang Douluo's figure flickered not far away, and Shadow Longsword pointed vigilantly at the depths of the lair. In his "Mind Image Perception", that huge, twisted "existence" full of decay and greed was always dormant in the darkness, like a poisonous snake patiently waiting for its prey, exuding heart-stopping malice.
Sea Horse Douluo's face was livid. While assisting the legion in clearing out the remaining "Wither Dust" that were slowly floating in the solidified seawater and were being destroyed by Sea Star Douluo and Sea God Island Soul Master's remote Soul Skill, he stared at the entrance of the lair with blazing anger and aggrievedness in his eyes.
Sea Dragon Douluo is still hovering right in front of the entrance to the lair. The aura around him is as dense as the ancient sacred mountain. The absolute realm that solidifies the sea water is the manifestation of his huge Soul Power and Ocean Authority. However, there is no expression on his resolute face that is like a marble sculpture. Only the chill deep in his eyes is enough to freeze the soul.
He understood what Sea Maiden Douluo meant. He could also clearly see the situation in front of him.
Stalemate.
From the first wave of sudden attacks on Hainv, who was injured, to the time he used "Sea Solidification" to control the whole place and clean up the strange dust, the whole process only took a hundred breaths. However, during these hundred breaths, the opponent did not move, and they did not move forward.
Deep in the lair, there was only a sickening aura of decay that kept pouring out like a mockery. Haiwang Douluo's perception was heavily distorted, Sea Maiden Douluo's Tidal Detection was also isolated, Sea Star Douluo's Purification Light are like mud cows entering the sea, unable to penetrate deep into the core. They seem to be facing a huge shadow that is constantly leaking venom. They don't know its depth, and they don't know when it will spit out the deadly dust that ignores defense again.
On our own side, Hainv was seriously injured, and his combat power was reduced, and Sea Star needed to concentrate on maintaining it; Haima was hit by Strange Poison, and his strength could be used at most 70%; although there were many legions in the rear, facing that treacherous enemy With such a strange ability, ordinary Soul Master would be either dead or injured upon contact, and the formation no longer dared to get close. More importantly, the attack method was too unpredictable and impossible to guard against. If Haima hadn't been alert in advance, and if he hadn't reacted very quickly, the casualties would have been far more than that.
If the confrontation continues, it will only become more disadvantageous for our side. The other side is hiding in the dark, waiting for work, and its methods are unpredictable, but it consumes our own Soul Power, energy, and... Hainv little time left.
Sea Dragon Douluo's eyes slowly swept behind them. Although the faces of the elite Sea God Island Soul Master had no fear, their eyes were filled with solemnity and vigilance. Those infected comrades were struggling in pain and were quickly taken away from the front line for treatment, but it was still unknown whether they could save their lives. Those two Ten-Thousand-Year The shocking gray marks on Sea Dragon Beast's back are still spreading slowly, and he is letting out painful and low whimpering.
He looked at the entrance of the lair again. The opponent was consuming and delaying. What was the purpose? Is he waiting for Hainv to die completely? Is he setting up a more terrifying trap? Or... the opponent's power was also lost in the previous attack, and it also takes time?
Hailong has never been afraid of a head-on fight, and he has the courage to punch even if his opponent is at his limit. But this method of hiding in the dark, weakening and torturing his opponent with strange means has left him with an indescribable anger and depression in his chest. This is not the way he is familiar with fighting, nor is it Sea God Island's upright style of conduct.
But, he is High Priest. He must be responsible for everyone's life and death, must complete the task, and must... make the most beneficial decision.
Sacrifice is inevitable. But unnecessary sacrifices are never allowed.
A cold, almost cruel idea gradually took shape in his mind. This idea was not in line with Sea God Island's philosophy, and even had a hint of compromise and deal. But at the moment, this may be the fastest way to break the deadlock, force the opponent out, and reduce unnecessary casualties on his own side.
Especially when Haiwang Douluo's slightly strange voice sounded in his mind again:
"The high priest...Mind Image Perception has arrived. In addition to the existence of Demon Empress and the poison in the core area, there are also... a large number of weak, chaotic, 'mental images' full of fear and desire for survival, concentrated in deeper and more hidden places... It seems that they are... larvae? There are... quite a few."
Baby whale...
A cold light flashed in Sea Dragon Douluo's eyes. Yes, Deep Sea Demon Whale Clan has been operating here for many years and must have heirs. The other party is unable to retreat. In addition to its own condition, it may also be worried about these burdens.
He slowly raised his hand and made a gesture.
Sea Star, Haiwang, Haima, as well as several leaders of the Soul Master legion behind them, immediately focused their attention.
Sea Dragon Douluo's voice no longer contains anger, but has returned to a cold, waveless calm. Like the water of the eternal cold abyss, it clearly spreads throughout the entire solidified sea area, and also reaches the depths of the dark lair without any hindrance:
"The hidden rat, and the lingering Demon Whale."
"Do you think that by relying on these insidious tricks and delaying time, you can change the outcome?"
He paused for a moment, and his eyes seemed to Penetration pass through many obstacles, looking directly at the pair of ice blue eyes in the deepest part of the lair.
"I admit that your method does have some tricks. You ignore defense and you can't prevent it. If you insist on shrinking and using this method, I, Sea God Island, will inevitably suffer losses."
His words were calm, as if he was stating a fact that had nothing to do with him, but it made everyone Sea God Island behind him feel trembling, and also made Kraken deep in the lair slightly raise his eyelids.
"But," Sea Dragon Douluo changed the topic, his voice suddenly became as sonorous as gold and iron, with unquestionable determination and a hint of... cold temptation, "I am here today. My primary target is you, the heretic, and that Demon Empress. The rest of the evildoers are just dust to be wiped away."
"The stalemate is not good for you. How long can you drag it out? How long can your strength support such consumption? When I use my strength to defeat my cleverness and forcefully crush your nest, what can your meager tricks do to me? It will only increase the disaster of your family's extinction and let your hidden young whales be buried with you."
His words were like heavy hammers, beating in the silent sea water, and also in the heart of the three huge and declining auras deep in the lair. Kraken remained silent, but those three auras clearly fluctuated violently, especially the weakest one, which revealed endless grief, anger and despair.
Sea Dragon Douluo seemed not to notice the emotional fluctuations, and continued to say in his cold, sentence-like tone:
"I give you, and also Demon Empress, a choice."
"Show up and fight with us."
"In exchange..."
He raised his right hand and pointed at the huge Sea God Island Army behind him and the tight blockade beyond.
"I, Sea God Island High Priest, Sea Dragon Douluo, promise in the name of Sea God - this battle is only between you and me with high-level combat power. I, Sea God Island, all Soul Master, all Sea Soul Beast, will withdraw immediately, and it will be the same if you don't participate -"
His finger turned to point at the entrance of the dark lair, and his voice was decisive:
"Demon Whale who are below the level of Hundred-Thousand-Year, leave immediately. I, Sea God Island, will never intercept them."
"This battle does not involve the innocent and the weak."
"How?"
"Like a real warrior, come out and make an end, use your strength to decide life and death, and win your slim chance of survival..."
Sea Dragon Douluo's voice suddenly became extremely cold, and the solidified seawater around him seemed to tremble from his murderous intention:
"Should I continue to hide like a rat in the gutter, and then watch helplessly as I crush your turtle shell bit by bit, erasing you and all the scoundrels you protect, completely... from this world?"
As soon as the words fell, a deathly silence enveloped the entire sea area.
On the Sea God Island side, everyone held their breath. They understood the intention of High Priest's move - to use the "baby whales" that the opponent might care about as a bargaining chip, plus the safety of their own elite, to force the opponent to abandon the most troublesome attrition tactics and engage in a head-on decisive battle.
This is a conspiracy and a strategy to break the situation. But... negotiating conditions with the "heretics" and "remnants of Demon Whale", and even promising to let some of them go... In their view, this is almost a departure from Sea God Island's code of conduct. But no one raised a voice to question it, and everyone believed in High Priest's judgment.
Deep in the lair, an imperceptible fluctuation flashed across Kraken's ice-blue giant eyes.
He "heard" and understood.
Sea Dragon Douluo, this is using the potential casualties of Sea God Island elites and the Demon Whale cubs that Kraken "might" care about as double bargaining chips to force him to show up for a decisive battle.
Very direct and very effective.
Especially... the three Deep Sea Demon Whales who had run out of gas, their emotions were on the verge of collapse when Sea Dragon Douluo mentioned "baby whales" and "extinction". If it weren't for Spider Web's forced restraint, they would have rushed out desperately.
"Baby whale..." The cold mental fluctuations rippled in Kraken's consciousness. His huge body moved slightly. The huge and complicated "Spider Web" covering the entire core area of the lair, with countless gray nodes, and the frequency of flickering, quietly changed.
Finally, for the first time, a voice came out from the depths of the lair, echoing in the sea solidified by Sea Dragon Douluo:
"Sea God Island...High Priest..."
"In the name of Sea God... promise?"
The mental fluctuations were filled with unabashed sarcasm, coldness, and a trace of... indescribable greed.
"Okay."