Whale Pod

When Jingtian returned to the temporary cave with the newly subdued eighty-three-thousand-year Demon Whale Tieshan, the sixty-thousand-year Demon Whale Huiban, the seventy-thousand-year female whale Yinyi, and the Young Whale, the sixty-thousand-year Demon Whale left behind emitted joyous hums. From deep within the cave, that powerful, heavy soul fluctuation rippled out once more.

It was Moyuan. Under the continuous nourishment of energy, this nearly hundred-thousand-year-old Deep Sea Demon Whale elder, though severely wounded, had regained considerable clarity and mobility. He raised his head and looked at his returning kin, his gaze complicated.

"Benefactor... Moyuan... thanks you... on behalf of the clan..." His thought was weak, but sincere.

Jingtian merely sent the thought, "Rest easy and recover," before immediately distributing energy and sorting through their gains. He coiled at the cave entrance, assessing and planning for this fledgling force.

Core: Jingtian (Poison Lord, mid-stage ninety thousand years), Moyuan (nearly one hundred thousand years, severely injured, highly intelligent, soul-link user).

General: Tieshan (eighty-three thousand years, severely injured, strongest combat power).

Main force: Huiban (sixty thousand years, scout), Yinyi (seventy thousand years, recovering).

Wounded/potential: Lanxi (fifty thousand years, severely injured), the Young Whale, and weaker Demon Whales who might be drawn in by Moyuan.

The rudimentary structure had taken shape, but it was far too weak and urgently needed consolidation and expansion.

"Moyuan," Jingtian's thoughts first turned to the elder, "continue using your methods to sense, screen, and guide those scattered kin who are weakest, most easily overlooked, but also easiest to rescue. The target is clear: individuals over ten thousand years but under fifty thousand years, being hunted by scattered low-level enemies—small teams led by Soul Emperors or Soul Saints—and whose rescue routes are relatively safe. Save them, bring them here, and strengthen the foundation of the clan. Remember, concealment comes first, safety comes first. Better to miss an opportunity than expose ourselves."

Moyuan nodded his enormous head slightly. "Moyuan understands! I will not fail your trust!" He immediately gathered his mental power and sent faint guiding fluctuations into the darkness of the Deep Sea in a more concealed, more selective manner. This was what he excelled at most, and it was also the task with the lowest risk and clearest reward for the currently fragile whale pod—secretly absorbing lower-level strength and expanding their numbers and intelligence network.

Next, Jingtian's thoughts turned to Tieshan. This Dark Gold Demon Whale was gravely wounded, but his savage aura still rushed forward with overwhelming force.

"Tieshan," Jingtian's thoughts were direct and clear, "from now on, you are the deputy leader of this 'whale pod.' When I am absent, you will be fully responsible for combat command, troop training, and routine vigilance and defense. Your first task is to familiarize yourself with Huiban's and Yinyi's combat traits while recovering from your injuries. Based on our enemies' characteristics—the coordination, speed, purification, and long-range attacks of Sea God Island and the Demon Soul Great White Sharks—consider and drill the simplest coordinated offensive and defensive tactics. Everything related to battle is yours to decide."

Deputy leader! Full authority over combat command!

This appointment made every Demon Whale in the cave tremble slightly. Understanding flashed through Moyuan's eyes, followed by even deeper admiration—his benefactor truly knew how to employ others. Tieshan was indeed the most suitable for this position: brave, direct, worshipful of strength, and fully capable of intimidating and leading the combat members. Handing over combat command entirely also demonstrated his benefactor's absolute trust in Tieshan and absolute confidence in his own authority.

Tieshan's massive body suddenly shook, and his ferocious eyes stared at Jingtian in disbelief. He had never expected that he, a hot-tempered brute who had only just been rescued, was gravely injured, and had not even had the chance to show much "loyalty," would be entrusted with such heavy responsibility! An indescribable surge of emotion—a mixture of excitement at being acknowledged, the weight of responsibility, and the overwhelming feeling of being absolutely trusted—instantly washed away the last trace of awkwardness he had felt over being saved.

"Roar—!" Tieshan let out a low, powerful soul roar. There were no complicated thoughts, only one most fundamental, most resolute thought-symbol—obey! I will die in your service!

He lowered his enormous head deeply. This was a posture of submission even deeper and more thorough than before. Then he abruptly raised his head, swept his savage gaze over Huiban and Yinyi, and began transmitting simple tactical orders to them through his distinctive soul impacts, carrying an unquestionable command. He also began forcing them to drill the most basic formation movements. It was crude, but highly efficient.

"Huiban, you will handle scouting, pathfinding, and resource gathering, and devote yourself to caring for Lanxi. Yinyi, recover as quickly as possible, protect the Young Whale, and coordinate with Tieshan in drills."

With the division of duties complete and authority clearly defined, the whale pod began operating efficiently.

Over the following days, the whale pod displayed astonishing potential.

Moyuan's secret soul technique proved remarkably effective. On the third day, he sensed a young Demon Whale with roughly thirty thousand years of cultivation being chased two thousand li away by three ten-thousand-year Demon Soul Great White Sharks. The target's strength was moderate, the enemies were weak, and the route was safe. Moyuan relayed the precise intelligence to Jingtian.

Jingtian did not hesitate in the slightest. He ordered Tieshan to guard the cave and oversee training, while he himself entered the Guixu Assimilation state once more and sped toward the coordinates.

By the time he arrived, the young Demon Whale—later named "Lijia" by Tieshan—was already on the verge of collapse. Hidden in the dark, Jingtian used the Ninth Tentacle as his foundation and launched three swift, silent Dan-Devours, precisely striking the three demon sharks and ending the battle in an instant. He then injected a gentle stream of guiding energy before turning away.

Having narrowly escaped death, Lijia followed the guidance and reached the cave several days later. After being severely questioned by Tieshan in his capacity as deputy leader, he was accepted and immediately assigned to training. In his rough but effective way, Tieshan swiftly made Lijia familiar with the basic coordination commands.

On the sixth day, Moyuan caught another distress signal—a forty-five-thousand-year Demon Whale was being hunted by a Soul Saint leading four Demon Soul Great White Sharks. Jingtian set out again, sniping the enemies from afar and leaving guidance behind. This Demon Whale, named "Wojiao," also quickly integrated under Tieshan's "training."

In just seven days, besides consolidating their original forces, the whale pod had secretly absorbed two mid-level Demon Whales under Moyuan's intelligence and Jingtian's precise hunts: Lijia, thirty thousand years, and Wojiao, forty-five thousand years. Their lower and middle ranks were steadily replenished, and their intelligence network extended further. Under Tieshan's command, the simple coordination among the Demon Whales had already begun to take shape.

As for Jingtian, amid constant vigilance, energy expenditure, tactical observation, personal cultivation, and two efficient long-range rescue hunts, his cultivation steadily advanced toward the high stage of ninety thousand years. His use of Dan-Devour—ultra-long-range, concealed, low-consumption precision kills—became increasingly refined. His delicate control over the Poison Domain also grew more exquisite.

However, late on the seventh night, just as Wojiao had completed a coordination drill, the whale pod was feeling slightly encouraged by its renewed strength and initial teamwork, and Jingtian had just stabilized his high-stage ninety-thousand-year cultivation—

Moyuan, who had been maintaining faint perception across the vast sea through his secret soul technique, suddenly went rigid! His enormous eyes snapped open, filled with unprecedented terror and despair!

"Benefactor! Deputy leader! Disaster is upon us!!" Moyuan's thoughts were sharp and trembling as he sent them to Jingtian and Tieshan at once. "It's... it's the Demon Soul Great White Shark King! She has personally set out! She brought... at least two of our kind whose fierce auras are no weaker than mine! And... several pure, powerful traces of Sea God's Power! They have locked onto the strong remnants from the previous battles and are rapidly tracking toward us along the 'trail' of Soul Power and blood!!"

"They're too fast! The distance... at most one day! Perhaps even less! We've been discovered! It was the traces left by the earlier battles that exposed us!"

Xiaobai had come in person! With at least two nearly hundred-thousand-year subordinates! Coordinating with titled powerhouses from Sea God Island!

Following the scent of blood and Soul Power, they were charging straight for the nest!

Within a day, utter catastrophe!

Inside the cave, the little burst of excitement that had just ignited froze instantly! Ferocity flashed in Tieshan's eyes, but there was even more gravity and resolve before an absolute enemy. Yinyi held the Young Whale close. Huiban looked toward Lanxi, his eyes full of anxiety. The newly arrived Lijia and Wojiao were frightened out of their wits. Moyuan's eyes were full of self-reproach.

The dark gleam in Jingtian's eyes surged as cold thoughts instantly swept across the cave. A direct fight meant death. Run? With so many to protect, how could they escape the pursuit of the Deep Sea's apex hunters?

A desperate situation. But a decision had to be made.

"Moyuan, immediately sever all soul perceptions and enter complete Silence!" Jingtian's thoughts were icy. "Tieshan, heed my command!"

"Here!" Tieshan raised his huge head sharply. All distracting thoughts had vanished from his eyes, leaving only the absolute obedience of a deputy leader facing battle.

"I order you to immediately lead **Yinyi, Lijia, and Wojiao. Protect the Young Whale and evacuate at once! Use pure physical strength. Do not leak even the slightest trace of Soul Power. Your destination—the Soul-Devouring Undercurrent waters! Moyuan knows the route. He will guide you and help you avoid danger. Once there, find a safe place to hide and wait for my signal or my arrival!"

"Yes!" Tieshan did not hesitate at all. He immediately turned toward Yinyi and the others, issued brief, harsh soul commands, and began organizing the evacuation.

"Benefactor! What about you? And Huiban and Lanxi..." Moyuan asked urgently.

"I will stay behind and make the final preparations. Huiban, take Lanxi and come with me." Jingtian's thoughts were decisive. "Carry out the order, Tieshan. Take them and leave immediately!"

Tieshan looked deeply at Jingtian, released a low roar mixed with concern, obedience, and resolve, and said no more. He immediately urged Yinyi and the others onward. Suppressing their fear and injuries, they swam out of the cave using only their physical bodies. Moyuan gave Jingtian one final look, sending him a thought of "Take care," then immediately followed the group to guide them.

In an instant, only Jingtian, Huiban, and the still-unconscious Lanxi remained in the cave.

"Huiban, take Lanxi to the natural crevice at the very back of the cave. Hide your auras as thoroughly as possible." Jingtian gave the order while moving at incredible speed. At the cave entrance and key points within, he frantically used his own source poison power and surrounding materials to lay down an extremely complex Fatal Poison Formation—one that combined concealment, illusions, multiple triggered poison explosions, and a final remotely controlled detonation. He would turn this temporary nest into a deadly trap, a grand "funeral" prepared for the pursuers, and also the final barrier left for Huiban and his mate, perhaps one that could help them escape like a cicada shedding its shell.

"Benefactor, you..." Huiban watched Jingtian set the formation at a pace that nearly exhausted his source power, tears filling his eyes.

"Carry out the order." Jingtian's thoughts were cold and beyond dispute. "Once the formation is complete, I will leave and rendezvous with Tieshan. This poison formation is your last chance. Remember, no matter what happens, unless I return personally or the formation is completely triggered, do not come out. Do not make any sound."

Huiban spoke no more. Taking Lanxi with him, he slipped into the narrow stone crevice deep in the cave and did everything he could to suppress their auras.

Jingtian's movements grew faster and faster. The Ninth Tentacle became a phantom, tracing countless intricate, lethal patterns of poison power. His aura was slightly unsteady from the rapid consumption, but his gaze—his thoughts—was as cold as ten-thousand-year black ice.

The killing intent of the Deep Sea was rushing toward them like the thickest black ink.

And he, the Deep Sea Poison Lord, had to lay the most treacherous trap in the final moments before the enemy arrived, arrange every sacrifice and contingency, then catch up with his whale pod and lead them through deeper darkness and chaos to fight for that slim chance of survival... where poison devoured the world.