Whale Speech

The Deep Sea Demon Whale's swimming speed had slowed to a crawl due to its severe injuries. Jingtian had no choice but to expand the range of Guixu Assimilation, doing his utmost to conceal the unavoidable disturbances in the water and faint scent of blood caused by the behemoth's movement. He chose an extremely winding route, specifically passing through complex sea regions where Soul Power was chaotic, undercurrents surged, or natural Soul Power interference existed, avoiding possible pursuit to the greatest extent.

Moyuan—named by Jingtian because its scales gleamed like black jade in the faint light—was like a moving, bleeding mountain of flesh. Every difficult stroke tugged at its wounds, drawing dull, pained whimpers from it. Jingtian's Ninth Tentacle continuously released gentle Silence energy, barely stabilizing its injuries, but unable to stop its life force from draining away. He knew he had to find a sufficiently hidden and relatively safe place for the giant beast to catch its breath, or it might not last much longer.

"Hold on. We're almost there." Jingtian sent a soothing thought through Spirit Energy while vigilantly sensing his surroundings. The "safe place" he spoke of was actually only a vague concept—a Hydrothermal Vent Fissure Field he had sensed from afar during his escape, located where two enormous trenches converged. The area was filled with high temperatures, crushing pressure, sulfurous gases, and chaotic energy fields that could effectively disrupt most forms of detection. Its complex terrain also made it easy to hide and defend. Such an environment was nothing to Jingtian's poison resistance, but it might not have been ideal for the injured Demon Whale's recovery. Still, they had no other choice.

Just as they were about to approach the thermal vent region, Moyuan, who had silently endured its pain all this time, slightly turned its enormous head toward Jingtian. A weak soul ripple, carrying an ancient and weighty rhythm, slowly reached him.

"Powerful... benefactor... thank... thank you..." Its thoughts were broken and full of pain, but its meaning was clear. It evidently possessed considerable intelligence. Its form of address had also changed to the more respectful "benefactor."

"Just happened to be there." Jingtian's reply was calm, revealing little emotion. "Can you tell me what happened? Why were those sharks and humans hunting you?"

Moyuan fell silent for a moment, as if gathering strength—or hesitating. After a while, a clearer thought arrived, carrying even deeper grief and indignation. "It was... a hunt... Those... traitors, the Demon Soul Great White Sharks... colluded with... the humans of Sea God Island... They are... deliberately... hunting... my clan..."

"Your clan? How are they now?" Jingtian guided the conversation onward.

Moyuan's thoughts fluctuated violently, filled with helplessness and despair. "The clan... has scattered... The elders... are being... personally hunted... by several... top human experts... wielding... glowing giant forks... Some elders... have already fallen... We are... no match for them at all..."

"Glowing giant forks..." Jingtian's heart tightened. As expected, Sea God Island's highest-ranking figures had acted personally. At minimum, they were Super Douluo; they might even be High Priest-level figures wielding divine artifacts. That was a level he absolutely could not contend with yet.

"There are... many clansmen... like me..." Moyuan continued, its voice growing more mournful. "Our strength... is below one hundred thousand years... We are being... hunted everywhere... by those... human experts without forks... but equally... vicious... leading sharks... Some have Soul Power... only comparable to... human Soul Douluo... or even... Soul Saints... Under the humans' siege and the sharks' sneak attacks... casualties... have been devastating..."

Its enormous eyes looked toward Jingtian, and within them burned a final faint spark of nearly hopeless expectation. "Benefactor... you are... so powerful... Your poison... can even... instantly defeat... those savage shark leaders... Can you... save them? Save... my clansmen... being hunted... by human Soul Douluo and Soul Saints... leading sharks..."

Its request was extremely clear, and extremely practical—it only asked him to save those clansmen below one hundred thousand years who were currently being hunted by Sea God Island's mid- and lower-level forces: Soul Douluo, Soul Saints, and the teams under their command. It did not, and did not dare, ask him to fight Title Douluo, especially those wielding "glowing giant forks." It knew that was unrealistic, asking the impossible, and would only destroy its sole remaining hope.

This was exactly what Jingtian wanted! The targets were clear, and the risks highly controllable! With his current early ninety-thousand-year strength, Dan-Devour, and many strange poison arts, dealing with hunting squads led by Soul Douluo would have an extremely high success rate when paired with ambushes and terrain, while posing very little danger to himself. This was the ideal way to build prestige and strengthen his foundation.

But Jingtian did not agree immediately. He needed to maximize the value of this "rescue," making Moyuan and those saved in the future clearly understand the weight and price of this "favor."

"Save them?" Jingtian's thoughts carried the right amount of deliberation and evaluation, even a faint sense of detachment. "Moyuan, you should understand that I hold no old grudge against Sea God Island or those sharks. Saving you was already an exception. My poison and my power are not for charity."

He paused, and his thoughts turned cold and practical like a deep-sea current. "If you want me to continuously make enemies of a force like Sea God Island for your clansmen, even if only against their lackeys... then I need a reason. A reason strong enough to make me willing to bear the risk of being listed as Sea God Island's mortal enemy in order to save a group of Deep Sea beasts unrelated to me."

Moyuan's huge body trembled violently, causing its wounds to split open and seep even more dark blood. It understood Jingtian's unspoken meaning—he wanted compensation, promises, and their fate completely bound to his interests. This was not a simple plea for help. This was a transaction, a desperate transaction with the remaining strength of the entire clan as its bargaining chip.

After a long while, as they slowly descended into the chaotic energy field at the edge of the Hydrothermal Vent Fissure Field, surrounded by high temperatures and the scent of sulfur, Moyuan's thoughts came again. This time, they were heavier, clearer, and filled with the resolve of one staking everything on a final gamble.

"Benefactor... I... Moyuan, vanguard elder of the Deep Sea Demon Whale clan... swear... in the name of the Deep Sea's soul and my ancestors..."

"If... you are willing... to act... to save... my clansmen... who are being hunted... by human Soul Douluo, Soul Saints... and their lackeys..."

"I... Moyuan... and... every clansman you save... shall... acknowledge you as our master! We shall offer... Soul Marks! We shall become... beneath your command... your most loyal... servants and blades!"

"The secrets of the Deep Sea we know, its mineral deposits, clues to ancient ruins... our remaining... strength... all shall be... yours!"

"We only ask... that in this abyss of despair... you tear open... for us... a sliver... of a path to survival! So that we may have... a chance... to take revenge on those traitors and humans!"

Acknowledge him as master! Offer Soul Marks! Become servants and blades!

That promise was countless times weightier than any wealth or empty friendship! It meant completely surrendering their independence and freedom, placing their clan's future entirely in the hands of this powerful, inscrutable Poison Lord whose goals were unknown!

But only this might move a cold, interest-driven expert. Moyuan understood very clearly that if it did not offer everything, did not display absolute submission and value, why would the other party risk himself for them?

Jingtian's thoughts remained as still as an ancient well, but deep down, he was exceedingly satisfied. This was precisely the effect he wanted—presenting terms that could not be refused when the other side was at its most desperate and helpless, in exchange for the most complete loyalty.

He did not immediately accept the oath, nor did he appear overly eager. He needed to maintain the reserve and unfathomable air of a powerful expert. He also needed to make this loyalty seem harder won.

"Moyuan," Jingtian's thoughts returned to calm, carrying an indifferent control over the whole situation, "your oath carries great weight. But acknowledging a master and offering Soul Marks are matters for later. I need to see your sincerity, and I need to see... value worth investing in."

"First, you need to survive and recover some strength. This place is harsh, but hidden enough. Heal your wounds here. I will set up defenses."

"Second," Jingtian's thoughts sharpened, taking on an unquestionable commanding tone, "I need intelligence. The exact locations, conditions, and detailed assessments of the number and strength of the pursuers for every clansman you can contact who is being hunted by Soul Douluo, Soul Saints, and their teams. Remember, every one of them. Leave none out. But only make contact. Do not give them any instructions to act, and do not expose my existence or our location."

"Then I will decide which can be saved, and which... cannot." Jingtian's thoughts were cold and cruel. "Our strength is limited. It must be used where it matters most. Saving clansmen fated to be surrounded and killed, or those who would draw enemies we cannot handle, would be foolish. Do you understand?"

Pain flashed through Moyuan's huge eyes, but it laboriously and firmly nodded its enormous head. It understood that its benefactor spoke the cruelest reality. Save those who could be saved; those who could not... could only be abandoned. This was for preserving their last remaining strength, for that faint hope of revenge.

"I... understand..." Moyuan's thoughts choked with emotion. "I will... use a secret art... to contact them carefully... and report... truthfully... Everything... will be... for you... to decide..."

"Good." At last, a hint of almost cruel approval emerged in Jingtian's thoughts. "Once you have gathered the intelligence, tell me. I will assess it, then decide... on the first target."

"As for acknowledging a master and offering Soul Marks..." Jingtian's Ninth Tentacle lightly brushed across the edge of Moyuan's wound, carrying a cold, irresistible implication. "We can discuss that after we save the first group of your clansmen, after they willingly offer their loyalty, and after I confirm your value."

"Now, your task is to survive, contact your clansmen, gather intelligence, and then... await my orders."

"As for those Sea God Island lackeys and white sharks hunting you..."

Killing intent spread through Jingtian's thoughts like a tangible freezing current.

"They will soon discover that hunter and prey ought to trade places."

Once he finished speaking, Jingtian said no more. He guided Moyuan into a relatively "calm" enormous stone cavern deep within the Hydrothermal Vent Fissure Field, then mixed his poison with the surrounding sulfurous substances to set up a simple concealment and warning poison barrier at the entrance.

After settling Moyuan in, Jingtian found a corner not far away and coiled down. He did not continue recovering. Instead, he raised his senses to their limit, guarding against any presence that might have tracked them here, while rapidly calculating in his mind.

Hunting squads led by Soul Douluo and Soul Saints... With his current strength and the strange nature of Dan-Devour, paired with ambushes and terrain, he had a great chance of silently wiping them out and rescuing the hunted Demon Whales.

Every Demon Whale he saved would mean another powerful force grateful to him, perhaps even forced—or willing—to submit to him.

Every squad he annihilated would weaken Sea God Island by another measure, accumulate another measure of hatred, and buy him more time to recover and develop.

More importantly, through this method, he could quickly establish an irreplaceable image and authority as a "savior" within the Deep Sea Demon Whale clan, which stood on the brink of collapse.

As for those Demon Whale elders above one hundred thousand years who were being hunted by Sea God Island's Title Douluo... Jingtian sneered inwardly. That was not his responsibility, nor was it within his ability. He would make Moyuan completely abandon any thought of contacting them, lest they bring disaster upon themselves.

Those he could save, he would save and turn to his own use.

Those he could not save, he would abandon and watch with cold eyes.

This was the way to survive in chaotic times—to snatch chestnuts from the fire.

The Deep Sea hunting ground quietly changed its rules.

And the new hunter had already readied his poisoned fangs, waiting only for the first "menu" to arrive.