The Demon Soul Great White Shark King, Xiao Bai, raced through the sea at a speed far beyond that of any ship.
Though her body was enormous, she was impossibly agile in the water. She cleaved through layer upon layer of waves, shooting toward the depths like a streak of white lightning.
Li Qing and Bo Saixi stood on her broad back, feeling the sea wind roar past as the scenery flew by around them.
As they ventured farther out, the water gradually changed from the bright green of the coast to a deep, profound blue. Sunlight pierced the surface, casting shifting beams of light below.
All kinds of strange-looking Sea Soul Beasts began to appear around them. Some radiated powerful auras, but sensing the terrifying pressure of Xiao Bai, a hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast, they all fled in panic.
Bo Saixi's long skirt snapped in the sea wind. She glanced at Li Qing, who stood beside her with a calm expression, though excitement and anticipation shone in his eyes. A thought struck her, and she asked, "Xiao Qing, judging from its characteristics and aura, your Martial Soul, the Mysterious Origin Water-Controlling Flag, seems inclined toward controlling and commanding water elements. Have you thought about which path you want to take? Do you plan to become a Control System Soul Master, or a Power Attack System Soul Master?"
It was a routine question, but one that concerned a Soul Master's future development.
Usually, after Martial Soul Awakening, choosing a path based on the Martial Soul's characteristics was the crucial first step.
At her words, Li Qing turned to look at Bo Saixi. A composed smile, at odds with his age, appeared on his face as he replied, "Sister, to be precise, my Martial Soul should be considered a control-type one. Its core power lies in commanding and controlling all waters."
He paused. There was an indescribable confidence in his voice as he continued, "But for the Mysterious Origin Water-Controlling Flag, there aren't really any strict limits on what type of Soul Ring it absorbs or what kind of Soul Skill it gains. Whether it's a Power Attack, Agility Attack, defense, or support Soul Skill, it can accommodate them all and bring out their full power. As long as the Soul Ring's cultivation age is high enough and it provides enough energy, pure and powerful, that will benefit me the most. Attribute compatibility is secondary."
[You've got to be kidding!]
Li Qing thought with a hint of pride: [This is the Mysterious Origin Water-Controlling Flag, one of the Five Innate Flags of the Primordial World! It's an innate spiritual treasure wielded by an existence on the level of Ancestor Minghe! It embodies the origin of the Great Dao of Water and commands all the waters of the world. Its defense is unmatched, and its uses are endless. How could Douluo Continent's so-called Martial Soul system and Soul Ring rules possibly limit the growth of a treasure like this? Forget the distinction between Power Attack and control types. Given enough energy, it could even evolve complete laws of power! These things simply aren't on the same level.]
Bo Saixi heard Li Qing's entire inner monologue clearly.
Although she had long known that Li Qing held many secrets, the amount of information this time still shook her to the core!
"Five Innate Flags of the Primordial World? Ancestor Minghe?"
Bo Saixi silently repeated these two completely unfamiliar terms. Her willow brows drew together slightly, and her deep, ocean-like eyes filled with unprecedented curiosity and wonder.
She didn't understand what exactly the "Primordial World" was, or what sort of existence "Ancestor Minghe" might be. But from Li Qing's casual tone, as though he were mentioning common knowledge, and the pride that ran deep in his bones, Bo Saixi picked up on several crucial details:
First, the Mysterious Origin Water-Controlling Flag wasn't native to Douluo Continent. It had originally belonged to an existence named Ancestor Minghe, who sounded extraordinarily powerful, and had been that mighty being's treasure or weapon. For some unknown reason, it had become Li Qing's Martial Soul.
Second, there were five "flags" like the Mysterious Origin Water-Controlling Flag!
And the other four were beings on a par with it!
Third—and most importantly—Li Qing's entire frame of reference seemed to lie beyond Douluo Continent!
When he spoke of "rules and restrictions," he hadn't taken Douluo Continent's Martial Soul Theory seriously at all!
[These five divine flags... There's no record of them in Douluo Continent's history or legends. The Divine Realm doesn't seem to have heard of them either... Where did they come from? Could they... be from another world?]
A bold conjecture surfaced in Bo Saixi's mind—one that left her shaken.
When she thought of Li Qing's seemingly prophetic "predictions," his familiarity with the names of various deities, and his knowledge of Whale Rubber's special uses... it all seemed to point toward an unbelievable possibility.
Bo Saixi couldn't help drawing in a quiet, sharp breath. The sea wind blew a stray lock of hair across her lips, but she didn't notice.
She looked once more at the seemingly ordinary six-year-old child beside her, her gaze turning extraordinarily complicated.
Only now did she truly realize that Li Qing's origins were likely far more astonishing than even her boldest prior imaginings!
The secrets behind him might concern the very origin of the world!
Just as Bo Saixi's heart surged and her thoughts churned, Xiao Bai began to slow beneath them.
She let out a low, wary whine, sending a mental message into Bo Saixi and Li Qing's minds: "High Priestess, Son of God, we've arrived. The waters ahead are where the Evil Orca Clan often roams."
Bo Saixi composed herself and looked up.
The water ahead had darkened, almost ink-blue, and a faint aura of bloodthirsty violence permeated it.
Some huge, grotesque sea creatures swam in the distance. Their bodies were dark red or black, their heads massive and their mouths lined with sharp teeth. They were none other than the infamous Evil Spirit Orcas!
The Demon Soul Great White Shark Clan and the orcas had been mortal enemies for generations.
Since Li Qing had said his Martial Soul had no particular requirements for Soul Ring types and that cultivation age was the main consideration, hunting these savage Evil Spirit Orcas, who were also enemies of Xiao Bai's clan, was undoubtedly the best choice for now. After all, with Bo Saixi there, the Evil Orca King wouldn't dare come near.
Li Qing also sensed the change in their surroundings and the baleful, oppressive aura that made him uncomfortable.
He looked toward the enormous shadows that appeared and vanished in the waters ahead. Far from showing fear, his eyes gleamed with excitement.
He politely addressed Xiao Bai beneath him. "Senior Xiao Bai, sorry for the trouble. Please help me find two suitable Evil Spirit Orcas. The first should be around fifteen hundred years old, and the second around three thousand."
Hearing Li Qing address her so courteously as "Senior," Xiao Bai felt even more favorably toward the Sea God Inheritor.
She gave a soft chirp to show she understood. "Leave it to me. I know the auras of these old rivals better than anyone."
With that, Xiao Bai's enormous body silently sank deeper into the sea. She concealed most of her aura and began searching the enemy's territory with the skill of a seasoned hunter.
Her senses spread like an invisible web, precisely distinguishing each Evil Spirit Orca's aura and cultivation age.
Standing on Xiao Bai's back, Bo Saixi let the Sea God's Power ripple faintly, completely concealing her and Li Qing's auras to avoid alerting their prey.
Seeing how eager Li Qing looked, she couldn't help reminding him again, "A thousand-year Soul Ring contains far more energy than a hundred-year one. The Evil Spirit Orcas are especially violent, and the Soul Shock within their Soul Rings will be unusually intense. When you absorb it, you must keep your mind steady and guide the Mysterious Origin Water-Controlling Flag's power to suppress it. If you feel any discomfort, stop immediately. I'll help you."
Li Qing could feel the concern in Bo Saixi's words. He nodded seriously. "Don't worry, Sister. I know what I'm doing."
Before long, Xiao Bai's search bore fruit.
Her mental message came again, carrying the precision of someone who had locked onto her targets. "Found them! At the edge of the black Seaweed Forest to the left, there's a lone one around sixteen hundred years old. It's just right. Farther away, at the entrance to an undersea canyon, there's another lurking—nearly three thousand two hundred years old. It looks like a sentry."
Bo Saixi and Li Qing looked in the direction Xiao Bai indicated and spotted the targets.
The first Evil Spirit Orca was relatively "small," but its fangs jutted out and its eyes were savage. It swam through the Seaweed Forest, hunting small fish.
The second was hidden in the shadows. It was much larger and radiated a far more vicious aura.
The hunt was about to begin.
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