"Tang San, don't fall for his provocation! The Evil Orca King has already broken through the two-hundred-thousand-year threshold. You're no match for him now! Since he's come to Sea God Island, let's attack together and wipe out the Evil Spirit Orcas!"
Xiao Bai's voice rang out at just the right moment, sounding like heavenly music to Ren Tao's ears.
An opponent like a god was nothing to fear; a teammate like a pig was the real terror!
What Xiao Bai had said was practically a godsend of an assist!
Hearing this, Bo Saixi immediately shot Xiao Bai a fierce glare. You fool! You've disgraced Sea God Island completely!
"The Evil Orca King charged onto Sea God Island precisely to force you, Little San, into a duel despite the enormous gap in your strength."
Oscar truly deserved his place as the brains of the Shrek Seven Devils, second only to Tang San. He immediately spoke up to help his brother out. "Little San, even if you do fight him, there should be restrictions. Otherwise, Lady Bo Saixi could slap him dead with one hand. Why would we need to do anything?"
"This king is naturally no match for Lady Bo Saixi. But she has her reasons for being unable to act, and you all know that better than anyone!"
Ren Tao didn't want to waste any more breath. If we keep yapping, are we ever going to fight?
"I'll take human form and won't draw on the power of the sea. We'll duel on land. Sea Maiden Douluo, sorry for the trouble, but could you choose a place for us?"
Hmm?
Everyone first looked at Ren Tao, then turned in unison toward Sea Maiden Douluo.
Wasn't this Evil Orca King jumping between subjects a little too wildly?
One moment, the guardian Douluos of the Seven Sacred Pillars and the Shrek Seven Devils were still stunned that the Evil Orca King dared to duel Tang San in human form without drawing on the sea's power. As a sea soul beast, his strength would be greatly diminished.
But the next moment, that thought became: Why bring Sea Maiden Douluo into this? Could the Evil Orca King and Sea Maiden Douluo be old acquaintances?
Sea Maiden Douluo's face flushed red all the way to her ears. Her large, normally gentle and lovely eyes seemed ready to spit flames.
"Who gave you the right to address Sea Maiden Douluo? What scheme are you plotting? If you think you can sow division among Sea God Island's guardian Douluos, dream on!"
Ren Tao chuckled. He had intended to say something, but instead, he involuntarily made one of those "saranghae" gestures from Korean dramas, little stars sparkling in his eyes.
It wasn't because he was lovestruck, nor because he had fallen for Sea Maiden Douluo. His instinct to devour was acting up.
Indeed, in his perception, Sea Maiden Douluo was now like an enormous diamond, radiating dazzling light as she stood among the drab, dusty-looking guardian Douluos of the Seven Sacred Pillars.
Looking at Sea Maiden Douluo was like looking at the most delicious food. Though the battle was imminent and he fought to control himself, his body and words still betrayed his heart.
"Very well! I accept your challenge!"
Tang San's words eased everyone's embarrassment. As the Sea God's Heir, he had lost any choice the moment the Evil Orca King set foot on Sea God Island. Refusing would be like slapping the Sea God squarely in the face. "As for the battlefield, let's use the mountain behind Sea God Hall. Lady Bo Saixi, do you have any objections?"
Bo Saixi said nothing, merely nodding slowly.
At that moment, for some unknown reason, her feelings grew tangled and difficult to express.
It was as though a faint anticipation was slowly stirring in the sea of her heart, which had lain still for so long.
A short while later, everyone arrived at the foot of the slope behind Sea God Hall.
This was Sea God Mountain, where Tang San could unleash his Blue Silver Grass Domain to its fullest extent. But that wasn't all. A faint pressure seeped from Sea God Hall above, carrying a trace of loathing as it settled over Ren Tao, making even the circulation of his soul power feel sluggish.
That's just like you, Tang San!
Ren Tao silently admired him. By choosing this battlefield, Tang San had secured every advantage of timing, terrain, and support. Coupled with the intimidating force of Sea God's Light, it was wearing away his will, spiritual power, and soul power at every moment.
Today's battle would probably be even harder than he had imagined.
"Tang San, rank-eighty control-type Soul Douluo. Please enlighten me!"
Tang San bowed slightly to Ren Tao, observing every courtesy to express his respect for his opponent.
Seeing this, Ren Tao had no choice but to respond.
"Besides being the Evil Orca King, I have another identity. My name is Ren Tao! Ren, as in roaming freely through heaven and earth; Tao, as in the sound of waves that endures!"
"Are you human, or a soul beast?"
Tang San wore an elegant, genial smile, light flickering in his eyes.
Yet in an instant, azure light surged forth. Spiritual power as vast as the sea raised towering, terrifying waves and crashed savagely into Ren Tao's mind almost the very moment their eyes met.
This was Purple Pole Divine Light, unleashed after his Purple Demon Eye had reached the Boundless realm. Tang San had launched the spiritual attack directly, without even using the enhancements of Divine Slaughter's Domain or his Blue Silver Grass Domain.
His goal was to strike with the utmost speed and seize the initiative in that very first second.
Immediately afterward, Tang San's Sixth Soul Ring flashed. He vanished from where he stood and reappeared behind Ren Tao, reaching out at the same time to wrap his arms around him.
These were precisely the skills granted by Xiao Wu's sacrificial Soul Ring-Teleportation followed by Invincible Golden Body.
The Evil Orca King's spiritual power had already been an entire tier below Tang San's Boundless realm. After taking that spiritual attack, Ren Tao's consciousness was thrown into extreme confusion and turmoil. Yet to be safe, Tang San still used his first Invincible Golden Body of the day, demonstrating both his extraordinary caution and how seriously he regarded Ren Tao.
During the three seconds in which Invincible Golden Body ignored all attacks, the Eight Spider Lances emerged from Tang San's back. Hugging his arms, they locked tightly around Ren Tao like eight brilliant golden hoops, while a ring of golden light around them radiated a sacred aura.
Only then did the Blue Silver Emperor on the ground surge madly upward from every direction, spiraling and entwining as it rapidly grew, completely enveloping Tang San and Ren Tao.
This was the skill Tang San had gained after the third evolution of his Blue Silver Spirit Domain: Myriad Phenomena.
"Gasp!"
Only now did the spectators let out their first exclamation.
No one had expected Tang San to adopt such tactics right from the start. They were utterly unlike his previous steady, methodical approach, almost a frenzied gamble with his life. Disregarding the spiritual cost of Purple Pole Divine Light, as well as the Evil Orca King's formidable strength and physical advantages, he had gone straight into a close-quarters attack.
Since when had Tang San become a close-range assault fighter?
Not only the seven guardian Douluos of the Sacred Pillars, but even the Shrek Seven Devils, who knew Tang San best, were deeply bewildered.
Yet within the area covered by Blue Silver Grass, the sharp tips and barbs of Tang San's Eight Spider Lances had already sunk deep into Ren Tao's body.
Even though Ren Tao had Soul Power Armor to protect him, that unexpected spiritual attack had briefly dazed him, leaving him no time to mobilize his soul power for defense. Moreover, the Eight Spider Lances had already been able to pierce the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King's defenses before. Now, after absorbing the god-bestowed Seventh Soul Ring, they had evolved again, becoming far harder and sharper than before.
Thus, the "soul garment" covering Ren Tao offered only a little resistance before the spikes of the Eight Spider Lances pierced through it and plunged into his flesh.
At this point, it seemed that from the moment Tang San had closed in on Ren Tao-no, from the moment the spiritual attack struck-the outcome of this battle had already been decided.
Tang San mobilized his soul power, pouring out deadly poison and drawing in energy through devouring without holding anything back. Energy and toxins began circulating between them, and his voice sounded right against Ren Tao's ear.
"Whoever you are, this battle ends here!"
Blue Silver Grass rose beneath Ren Tao's feet, growing and entwining wildly while also attacking with poison and devouring. But all of that was merely support, a fallback Tang San had prepared against unforeseen changes.
Watching from a distance, Bo Saixi had sent her spiritual power through the layers of Blue Silver Grass and had long since observed every movement Tang San and Ren Tao made.
Now, seeing that the battle was decided, she somehow felt a faint melancholy stir within her.
Was the Evil Orca King going to lose just like that?
Even someone with Bo Saixi's discerning eye believed at this point that Ren Tao was powerless to turn the tide.
"No matter how dazzling your talent or how peerless your schemes, don't you end up meeting the same fate?"
After saying this, Tang San suddenly felt puzzled. Why? These weren't words I wanted to say at all!
Yet his body still seemed beyond his control as he voiced the thoughts buried deepest in his heart. "Now tell me, what exactly is a two-faced cheating bastard? In exchange, I can spare those few Evil Spirit Orcas outside!"
After saying that, Tang San sank into a brief daze.
Before you continue