The moment the words left his mouth, the news had already spread.
The seven Holy Pillar Douluo waiting outside the hall all surged inside at once, their eyes shining as if to say, Pick me! Pick me!
Poseinan was a little taken aback. By his reckoning,
his first choice should definitely be Xiao Bai. After all, they had spent the most time together, and he was most comfortable around her.
But Xiao Bai couldn't stay in human form for long after leaving the shore. Taking a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast with him like that would be far too conspicuous.
While he was still hesitating, Sea Dragon Douluo strode forward, pounding his solid chest. "Your Highness, choose me! I'm the toughest man among the Seven Sacred Pillars! I'm the strongest, with the most experience! I guarantee you'll be able to swagger across the mainland!"
He made a point of showing off his knotted muscles.
"Shoo, shoo! Get out of here!"
Sea Horse Douluo immediately objected, elegantly stroking his beard. "Your Highness, don't listen to Big Brother's bragging. When traveling abroad, steadiness and caution are what matter most."
The rest of them—Sea Star Douluo, Sea Ghost Douluo, Sea Illusion Douluo, and Sea Spear Douluo—also showed off their own strengths one after another.
Last came Sea Maiden Douluo, Sea Witch.
She didn't rush to speak. She merely blinked her deep, captivating eyes, as vast as the sea.
She gently plucked the golden flute in her arms, and a string of ethereal, melodious notes, as if they could cleanse the soul, flowed forth—the music of the sea.
She didn't boast about her fighting ability or any particular talent. She simply looked at Poseinan with a smile in her expressive eyes, her gaze brimming with anticipation.
Seven Titled Douluo, fourteen eyes, all fixed on Poseinan. Invisible sparks of competition crackled in the air.
Poseinan's gaze slowly passed over the seven of them.
He rubbed his chin and flashed a sly smile. His eyes finally settled on the pretty figure holding the flute, and he pointed with his little hand:
"I choose... Big Sister Sea Witch! It's you!"
"Eh? Me? You mean me?"
Sea Witch still looked a little disbelieving.
Once she was sure he really had chosen her, a brilliant smile bloomed across her face. She even secretly lifted her chin at the other six before happily replying:
"Lord Bo Saixi, rest assured. I'll make sure to protect Your Highness!"
The six who hadn't been chosen sighed.
Poseinan could only silently apologize to them.
After all, when it came to traveling,
having a fragrant, soft, easy-on-the-eyes mermaid big sister by your side who could play beautiful music—
surely that was more comfortable than being surrounded by a bunch of muscle-bound or eccentrically tempered men, right?
He admitted it. He was shamelessly obsessed with looks!
Three days later.
Vast Sea City.
When Sea Witch first set foot on land outside Sea God Island, she was so excited she was like a curious little child.
She looked here, then there.
Poseinan didn't stop her, as long as she didn't delay what they needed to do.
After all, by the standards of the Mermaid Clan and humans, Sea Witch was only the equivalent of a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old girl.
Of course, the striking pair of them—a beautiful young woman and an exquisitely charming child—drew quite a few eyes as they walked down the street.
Sea Witch especially.
On land, she walked on two legs.
Her long, shapely legs were straight and perfect, wrapped in a light, gauzy skirt.
With every step, she made countless passersby stare, their eyes glazing over and their hearts wavering.
Before long, a few greasy-looking, middle-aged men with lecherous eyes pretended to brush past her, hoping to take advantage of the crowded street and get handsy.
But before they could get close, the terrifying aura radiating from Sea Witch frightened them away.
Poseinan found the whole thing rather vexing.
Sea Witch was so strikingly beautiful that even without using Soul Power, she could easily attract trouble.
He decided she needed a disguise.
Sea Witch herself was uncomfortable with those sticky, disgusting gazes, so she gladly agreed to Poseinan's suggestion.
After searching for a while, the two found an upscale clothing store with an impressive storefront and a Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda emblem hanging outside. They went in.
"Shopkeeper, pick out an outfit for my big sister... hmm, something that won't draw so much attention," Poseinan said to the proprietress who came to greet them.
At first, the proprietress hadn't thought much of it. No matter how pretty or eye-catching she was, how pretty could she possibly be?
But when she saw Sea Witch, she realized there was, indeed, a need.
She really was too beautiful.
How could someone be both cool and adorable?
Sea Witch was, after all, a princess of the Mermaid Clan. It went without saying that her looks were exceptional.
The proprietress assured him, "Don't worry, young master. Leave it all to me. I guarantee your big sister will look pretty without attracting attention."
After that, she had Sea Witch try on all kinds of outfits, but every one of them looked too stunning.
In the end, with no other choice, she could only pick the outfit she thought was the ugliest.
Sea Witch came out in it and looked at Poseinan expectantly, turning in a circle. "What do you think, Little Nan Nan? How does this look?"
Poseinan looked her up and down.
The tight black leather outfit outlined her graceful, curving figure even more clearly. Her legs especially looked longer and straighter in the leather pants, full of supple strength.
It still drew plenty of attention.
But compared to her earlier ethereal, otherworldly look,
this outfit, with its hint of wildness and coldness, did make her seem less delicate and approachable. She looked cooler and more unapproachable, which might help her avoid a little trouble.
"Yeah, much better than before."
Poseinan nodded, reasonably satisfied.
After paying, the two set off again. Sure enough, there were far fewer pesky flies around them.
Since their destination was Sunset Forest, there was no direct route. Taking a detour would cost them several days.
But there was another way.
They could cut straight through Star Dou Forest and save a great deal of time.
Poseinan had hesitated at first. After all, Sea Witch only had level ninety-two Soul Power. Running into the Titan Giant Ape and the Sky Azure Bull Python could be troublesome.
But as the two passed by Star Dou Forest, they overheard two passing merchants quietly talking by the roadside.
"What's with all the pomp today? Why are there red carpets laid out in front of all the nearby Spirit Hall Branches?"
"Shh! Her Holiness the Pope is leading a team here to hunt Soul Beasts today."
The low murmur naturally didn't escape Poseinan's ears.
Bibi Dong was hunting Soul Beasts?
Right, wasn't the Seventh Soul Ring of Bibi Dong's Second Martial Soul supposed to be the Soul Ring of Xiao Wu's mother?
The timing seemed to match perfectly.
At the thought, Poseinan felt a little delighted.
Bibi Dong bringing people to hunt Soul Beasts was truly doing him a huge favor.
Once she stirred up the waters, how could the Titan Giant Ape and the other Soul Beasts possibly spare a thought for travelers like them?
Poseinan no longer hesitated. He decided on the spot to cut straight through Star Dou Forest.
"Big Sister Sea Witch, let's go through the forest and take a shortcut."
Sea Witch had heard plenty about Star Dou Forest's fearsome reputation, but seeing how decisively Poseinan had made up his mind, she showed no fear at all. She smiled sweetly. "All right, Little Nan Nan. I'll do whatever you say. Big Sister will protect you!"
In the lush, fragrant forest,
the two walked along a woodland path in utter silence.
Along the way, Sea Witch released a faint Titled Douluo aura, driving away the low-level Soul Beasts that didn't know any better.
They ventured deeper into the forest, and the journey went smoothly.
Until they neared a clearing in the woods.
The sounds of a fierce battle and surges of Soul Power reached them, mixed with anxious shouts.
Poseinan raised an eyebrow and signaled Sea Witch to conceal her aura.
The two slowly drew closer.
In the clearing,
a small team of five or six people was fighting a huge, three-eyed Three-Eyed Demon Ape.
After watching for a while, Poseinan understood. "So it's a Three-Eyed Demon Ape. No wonder they're having such a hard time."
Three-Eyed Demon Apes were among the top Soul Beasts of the ape variety, possessing both spiritual and physical strength.
This one had been fighting a Soul King for so long. It was probably at least eight or nine thousand years old.
Sea Witch asked softly, "Little Nan Nan, should we help?"
The team was clearly at a disadvantage. Two of its members were already lying injured on the ground.
At their head was a middle-aged Soul King, gritting his teeth as he circled the Three-Eyed Demon Ape. Most of his attacks were either nimbly dodged or withstood by the ape. Several wounds already marred his body, blood streaming down him.
Not far away,
a little girl in a pale blue dress, who looked about six or seven, stood with her hands clenched nervously. Her face was pale, and she was praying for the others:
"Teacher Chen, please be all right..."
"Can't someone come and save us?"
She had the same blue hair as Poseinan, along with delicate features and especially beautiful, wide eyes, now filled with helplessness.