Qian Daoliu Arrives at Sea God Island!

It forced out a smile uglier than a grimace, attempting to salvage the situation: "That... a misunderstanding, it's all a misunderstanding! I didn't know you were here... Xiao Bai... her hunting my kin this time, surely there must be... some reason for it, right? Let's just call it even this time. If she comes again, then I..."

It had intended to drop a harsh threat to give itself a way out, something along the lines of "I won't be so polite next time."

However, before it could finish, Bo Saixi, who had been standing perfectly still, slowly lifted her gaze.

Those deep, ocean-blue eyes looked at the Evil Demon Orca King with absolute calm, devoid of any emotional fluctuation, yet they made this 150,000-year-old ocean hegemon feel a chill rising from the depths of its soul.

Bo Saixi parted her red lips, and her ethereal, majestic voice resonated clearly within the Evil Demon Orca King's mind. It carried no trace of hostility, yet it held an unquestionable power:

"What will happen if she comes again?"

"..."

The Evil Demon Orca King was instantly struck dumb. Its massive mouth opened and closed, but not a single word could escape. In its heart, ten thousand sea soul beasts were stampeding: [You stupid woman! Can't you see I'm trying to give myself a graceful exit? Do you really need me to finish that sentence just so you can slap me to death? You have absolutely no sense of the situation!]

Complaints aside, faced with Bo Saixi's calm yet oppressive gaze, the Evil Demon Orca King immediately plastered on a smile of extreme sycophancy, its massive tail even wagging in a fawning manner: "Nothing will happen! Absolutely nothing! Your Highness, the High Priestess, you've misunderstood! I meant, if you need a soul ring next time, why bother Xiao Bai? Just come to me directly! I know this sea area like the back of my fin. I know which soul beasts are of better quality and the right age—I know much better than that stupid... ah, no, much better than Xiao Bai! I guarantee to arrange everything perfectly for you and this young master!"

It knew perfectly well that Bo Saixi coming to hunt soul beasts in person must have been instigated by its nemesis, Xiao Bai.

But did it dare blame Xiao Bai?

It did not!

It could only take all the blame upon itself and scramble to curry favor; after all, it was not the Deep Sea Demon Whale King and lacked the strength to rival Bo Saixi.

Watching the Evil Demon Orca King's sudden shift from arrogance to servility, a flicker of imperceptible indifference crossed Bo Saixi's eyes.

She nodded slightly, as if she had merely dealt with a trivial matter, and waved her hand dismissively:

"Fine. You may go."

Four simple words, yet they felt like a pardon to the Evil Demon Orca King. It bowed and scraped repeatedly: "Yes, yes! Thank you, High Priestess! I'm leaving, I'm leaving right now! I won't disturb you and the young master any further!"

With that, it dared not linger for even a second. Its massive body turned with a clumsy, frantic motion, kicking up an undercurrent as it vanished into the deep sea, terrified that a moment's hesitation would invite a fatal disaster.

Watching the Evil Demon Orca King's panicked retreat, Xiao Bai let out a snort of disdain.

Bo Saixi turned her gaze back to Li Qing, who was at a critical juncture, a hint of deep thought in her eyes.

The appearance and departure of the Evil Demon Orca King was merely a small interlude, but it seemed to signal that the arrival of Li Qing, the successor to the Sea God, had already begun to stir the currents of the deep sea.

At this moment, Li Qing was completely unaware of what was happening around him; he was channeling the Mysterious Origin Water-Controlling Flag with all his might, completing the final fusion with the 3,000-year soul ring.

The runes on the flag's surface flared with brilliant light, as if some powerful force were being awakened.

Meanwhile, in the sky above Sea God Island, which was perpetually bathed in a soft halo, a golden stream of light tore through the morning mist like a sharp blade. Moving at a speed that seemed slow but was actually impossibly fast, it pierced straight through the protective barrier surrounding the island and landed silently on the pristine white beach at the edge of the land.

The golden light dissipated, revealing a tall, upright figure.

He wore a simple grey robe, yet it could not conceal his innate, sacred aura.

His face appeared to be that of a middle-aged man, breathtakingly handsome, with golden hair like flowing sunlight draped casually over his shoulders.

He was none other than the High Priest of Spirit Hall, the spokesperson for the Angel God in the mortal realm, and a ninety-nine-level Peerless Douluo—Qian Daoliu.

Qian Daoliu stepped onto the soil of Sea God Island, his gaze slowly sweeping over the familiar yet slightly strange scenery.

The azure sea, the blue sky, the white sand, the towering Sea God Mountain in the distance, and the magnificent temple looming at its peak... everything seemed identical to when he had visited decades ago.

Time seemed to have stood still here; only the water elements in the air, several times denser than on the mainland, and the pervasive aura of the Sea God reminded him of where he stood.

A complex, indescribable emotion flickered through Qian Daoliu's heart. It was here that he had first met the peerless Sea God Douluo, Bo Saixi.

It was also here that he and his lifelong friend and rival, Tang Chen, had shared those years filled with competition, mutual admiration, and subtle sentiments.

Sea God Island held too many of his memories—memories of power, of duty, and of that heartbeat buried deep in his heart, forever impossible to voice.

However, the uninvited guest's reflections did not last long.

Less than three breaths after he landed, several powerful auras surged into the sky from the depths of Sea God Island like sharks smelling blood. They tore through the air at high speed, carrying undisguised vigilance and hostility, and descended above the beach in an instant, forming a loose encirclement.

There were seven of them, varying in appearance, but every one of them radiated the formidable fluctuations of a Title Douluo.

They wore armor or robes of different styles, all inscribed with oceanic runes; they were the guardian Douluos of the seven Sacred Pillars of Sea God Island!

The leader, a man of burly build with a dragon-like stride, had a faint blue dragon phantom circling his body. His aura was the most vast and majestic of the seven—he was the head of the seven Sacred Pillars, the Sea Dragon Douluo!

When the Sea Dragon Douluo's sharp, blade-like gaze landed on Qian Daoliu and recognized him, a flicker of undisguised shock crossed his eyes, followed immediately by icy coldness and deep wariness.

The other Sacred Pillar Douluos behind him, such as Sea Horse and Sea Maiden, also wore grave expressions.

Qian Daoliu?

Why was he here?

This pillar of Spirit Hall, an existence on the same level as their own High Priestess, had almost never set foot here in decades.

The painful memory of Spirit Hall's last large-scale invasion of Sea God Island had not yet faded; what was the supreme leader of their enemy doing here alone?

The Sea Dragon Douluo suppressed the turmoil in his heart and stepped forward. His powerful aura pressed toward Qian Daoliu like a tsunami, his voice cold and hard as iron, carrying an unceremonious interrogation: "Qian Daoliu! This is Sea God Island, and we do not welcome people from Spirit Hall! You have trespassed on our island without notice; what is your intent? Could it be that the lesson from decades ago wasn't enough, and you wish to ignite a war again today?"

His tone was filled with gunpowder.

This stemmed not only from dissatisfaction with Spirit Hall's history of invasion but also from a deeper reason: the secret, burning affection for Bo Saixi hidden in the depths of his heart.

He knew his status was far beneath Bo Saixi's, and that this affection could never bear fruit, nor did he dare to reveal it.

Now, facing this "love rival" who had once been as famous as Bo Saixi and perhaps even shared some subtle connection with her, the Sea Dragon Douluo's pent-up emotions found an outlet, making his tone exceptionally harsh.