Killing Intent, Ambush

"Big Brother, how did you turn into this?"

When the Evil Spirit Orca underlings saw Ren Tao assume human form again, they all cried out in surprise.

The wounds on Ren Tao's body had healed, but that was not what surprised them. Nor was it the decorations and patterns on his clothes; the Evil Spirit Orcas paid no attention to those.

Rather, Ren Tao now radiated the intense pressure of a superior being. Though they belonged to the same species, they still felt weighed down and stifled, as though they were facing an existence even more terrifying than the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King.

"Hmm?"

Ren Tao was in high spirits and had no interest in answering his underlings' questions.

He had reaped great rewards in the Sea of Inheritance, and he now had a lead on how to unravel the Sea God's Loathing: the same Gene Reverse Decoding technique. Though he could not accomplish it yet, his Evil Soul Master predecessor had set an example. So what if it's the Sea God's Abhorrence? At worst, it's just a higher form of energy. Sooner or later, I'll crack it!

The question now was, where could he go to devour genes and energy?

"What do you think about me going to devour Sea Maiden Douluo?"

The Evil Spirit Orca Group fell silent.

"Not realistic, huh?"

Ren Tao shook his head. He thought it was unrealistic, too. Never mind that Sea Maiden Douluo was on Sea God Island, where he could not set foot-even if he managed to get there and devour her, wouldn't Bo Saixi fight him to the death?

A Peerless Douluo's strength was beyond what he could contend with right now.

"What should I do?"

Ren Tao looked toward the outer sea. Would he really have to venture out there and try his luck?

After emerging from the Sea of Inheritance, fighting, and transforming, he truly felt hungry now. Besides, the Sea of Inheritance's energy came from the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King's "gift," and it certainly would not withstand his endless expenditure. Sooner or later, he would eat through his reserves. To climb another step beyond the top of a hundred-foot pole, he would have to rely on himself and work hard!

After mulling it over, Ren Tao decided to take a look around the outskirts of Sea God Island. Tang San had not passed the Sea God's Fourth Trial, and he did not know whether Dai Mubai and the others' Fifth Trial had begun. Also, would the Sea God give Tang San special treatment and secretly teach him the Sea God Thirteen Forms?

On Sea God Island, Tang San was sitting quietly at the foot of the mountain.

His injuries from the earlier battle with Ren Tao had been extremely severe.

The lightning and flames had seemingly not even burned his clothes, yet they had nearly melted the meridians around his heart. Though he had quickly repaired the damage with the Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone's powerful regenerative ability, the lingering flames and thunder force kept coursing through his meridians. He had to wear them away continuously with the Mysterious Heaven Skill's internal energy.

Even more terrifyingly, Ren Tao had dissolved his external soul bone, the Eight Spider Lances, during the reverse-devouring process. The destructive power contained within seemed to keep breeding inside the soul bone, clinging to it like maggots burrowing into bone.

Only today had he finally purged it all.

He had also been reviewing his battle with the Evil Orca King, Ren Tao, reflecting on his mistakes.

When Ren Tao had seized Xiao Wu, he had indeed lost his composure, desperate to charge forward and fight Ren Tao to the death. Ren Tao's decision to release Xiao Wu had dealt him an even heavier blow. He had promised to protect her, yet failed her time and again.

To be precise, he had already lost at that moment.

When Ren Tao released Xiao Wu, he had seized the moral high ground.

Tang San's subsequent struggles had seemed almost laughable.

Everyone knew Ren Tao could have threatened Xiao Wu's life to force him to stop and concede, yet Ren Tao had chosen not to.

This man... just where did he come from?

And his devouring ability had actually countered Tang San's Eight Spider Lances. At that thought, Tang San's heart tightened again. Had I still underestimated my enemy too much?

Tang San slowly opened his eyes.

Before him stood a slender figure in red, her long hair and skirt drifting gently. She seemed as otherworldly as ever.

"Victory and defeat are commonplace. Don't dwell on it."

Bo Saixi's gentle voice sounded much as it always had, yet Tang San felt there was something more in her words, something he could not quite put into words.

Was it more like taking pleasure in his misfortune?

"Senior, how much do you know about the Evil Orca King's origins?"

Tang San had not been discouraged by his defeat. He still had more than half a year left for the Sea God's Fourth Trial, and he believed he could surpass the Evil Orca King in that time. What mattered most was forming a thorough and accurate assessment of his opponent.

"I don't know!"

Bo Saixi's tone was mild. "During his earlier battle with Sea Witch and Xiao Bai, he was still just an ordinary Evil Orca King."

"You mean he fought Sea Witch?"

Tang San froze for a moment. It seemed he really had overlooked a great deal of information. But from what Bo Saixi said, had the Evil Orca King's transformation only happened afterward?

"Then do you know what effects the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King's Whale Pearl has, Senior?"

Bo Saixi shook her head again, then quickly added, "Rather than worrying about that, you should strengthen yourself. I've received word that a hundred-thousand-year soul beast has gone mad in the outer sea."

With that, she fixed her gaze on Tang San, a meaningful smile appearing on her face.

"You mean... I should hunt the soul beast and obtain a soul ring?"

"Do you think there is any other way to defeat the Evil Orca King?"

Bo Saixi's smile faded. Ending the conversation, she departed in an instant.

"Senior..."

Tang San had wanted to ask about his great-grandfather, but judging by Bo Saixi's manner, she had no desire to speak with him any further.

He did not know why, but ever since he lost to Ren Tao, Bo Saixi's attitude had seemed ambiguous. Compared with her earlier kindness, there was now a faint sense of distance.

"Brother San!"

Ma Hongjun's voice rang out from far behind him.

Tang San abruptly turned and saw Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, Oscar, Ning Rongrong, and Ma Hongjun approaching him, not one of them missing.

"Brother San, have you heard? A hundred-thousand-year sea soul beast has appeared in the outer sea. They say it's gone mad and is heading toward the inner sea, killing countless soul beasts along the way. Blood is flowing in rivers!"

Hmm?

Tang San's thoughts stirred. He needed his eighth soul ring, and a soul beast had come right to his doorstep. Was this coincidence, or was his luck simply that good?

"You're going to hunt a soul beast? Hasn't the Fifth Trial already begun...? How can you still go out to sea?"

"Brother San, we're one team. Of course we advance and retreat together!"

Rongrong spoke gently. "Have you forgotten Grandmaster's teachings?"

"That's right!"

Oscar hurried to agree. "We're still not strong enough to challenge the Sacred Pillar guardian Douluos, so naturally, we need more tempering. This soul beast hunt is perfect. We can treat it as a trip to clear our heads!"

"But have your injuries healed?"

Though Zhu Zhuqing was quiet and reserved, she was actually very perceptive. She gave Tang San a concerned look.

"I'm fine!"

A smile appeared on Tang San's lips. In front of these companions who filled him with warmth, he naturally would not show his vulnerable side.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's head out to sea!"

Dai Mubai laughed heartily, swept his hand forward, and led the way toward the shore.

In truth, going out to sea to hunt a soul beast was secondary. Above all, they did not want to watch Tang San sink into the dejection of defeat. They wanted him to regain his spirit-that was the Little San they wanted to see.

"Have you heard? The hundred-thousand-year soul beast that's gone mad is a mutated Human-Faced Sea Anemone. Its spiritual power is incredibly strong, and it can absorb the soul power of sea soul beasts. It's almost as though it was prepared especially for you!"

Xiao Bai was already waiting for the Shrek Seven Devils on the outskirts of Sea God Island, and she provided more detailed information.

Clearly, Sea God Island had put a great deal of effort into helping Tang San obtain his eighth soul ring this time.

Xiao Wu had also left the Universe Bag by then and stood beside Tang San with her arm linked through his. Hearing Xiao Bai's words, she could not help frowning.

Oscar glanced at Xiao Wu. Knowing that, as a hundred-thousand-year soft bone rabbit, she had always felt some resistance toward hunting soul beasts for their soul rings, he could not help remarking sarcastically, "Xiao Bai, you're a hundred-thousand-year soul beast yourself. Doesn't hunting the creatures of the sea like this bother you?"

Xiao Bai raised her head and said disdainfully, "The Human-Faced Sea Anemone is extremely evil. It takes pleasure in devouring sea soul beasts, and its territory has practically become a forbidden zone for them. Lord Sea God banished it back then because he could not tolerate it either. Sympathy is utterly wasted on such an evil species!"

"Heh."

Oscar pursed his lips and wanted to say more, but Ning Rongrong caught his arm, leaving him no choice but to shut his mouth sheepishly.

They soon mounted the Demon Soul Great White Sharks and sped toward the outer sea like the wind and lightning.

Partway there, Tang San suddenly frowned and looked behind him.

"I think I sensed the Evil Orca King's presence. But from this far away, it shouldn't be the result of a spiritual power scan, should it?"

At his words, Xiao Bai stopped almost immediately and sent a message to the others of her kind beside her. The Demon Soul Great White Sharks turned in unison and swam back.

"That's the Sea God's Abhorrence. As the Sea God's Heir, even though you don't yet possess the complete Sea God's Light, you have an extraordinary ability to sense beings branded with the Sinner's Mark. Of course, that's only one of the Sea God's Abhorrence's functions. The Sea God's methods are beyond imagining!"

Listening to Xiao Bai's explanation, Tang San fell into thought. His eyes flickered, and he seemed to hesitate briefly, but then he made up his mind.

"Xiao Bai, tell your clansmen to slow down. Everyone, get ready. We're going to ambush the Evil Orca King in the sea!"