Boom—!
The blast of air erupted, sending wood splinters flying.
Xia Ming remained where he stood, not even blinking.
The punch landed on his chest, only to be firmly stopped, unable to advance another inch.
The Mad Shark phantom gave a mournful cry and scattered.
The man froze in place, his arm trembling slightly from the recoil, his face filled with disbelief.
"Is that enough?"
Xia Ming spoke, his voice as calm as ever.
The man's Adam's apple bobbed as he stared fixedly at Xia Ming.
It was as if he wanted to see through that youthful body and discover what kind of being lay hidden within.
After a long while, he spoke hoarsely:
"You're definitely more than just a Soul Emperor."
He had seen the strength of Soul Emperors before. None had ever been this unfathomable, like standing before the vast depths of the sea.
"You said you'd avenge us. That wasn't a joke?"
"I never joke about matters of life and death." Xia Ming's gaze fell upon the other man's blood-soaked bandages.
"You hate it. I need a ship. It's merely a trade."
The man's breathing quickened, bloodlust and hope intertwining in his eyes.
"As long as you can kill that beast...
"No—even if you only grievously wound it, so my brothers can rest in peace!
"Take this ship. Take my life!"
Xia Ming shook his head slightly.
"No need to make it sound so tragic.
"The place I'm going may be far away, but it isn't a dead end.
"Once this is done, I'll return the ship to you intact."
He paused and looked toward the thinning mist in the east.
"Where does that whale usually appear? If we leave now, can we reach its hunting grounds before sunset?"
The man took a deep breath and clenched