Landing on Sea God Island

On Sea God Island, Tang San had long since locked onto the Evil Orca King with his spiritual power.

He had discovered the Evil Orca King even before Xiao Bai received the report, but he had not rushed over immediately. He was genuinely curious. The Evil Orca King dared to come to Sea God Island-when had he become so bold? Or had devouring the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King's Whale Pearl inflated his confidence enough to look down on Sea God Island?

"The Evil Orca King came looking for you?!"

Bo Saixi's voice rang out in Tang San's mind. Clearly, she had also discovered the Evil Orca King.

As a Peerless Douluo, with a spiritual realm on the same level as his, she could communicate freely with him mentally as long as they were within the range of their spiritual power.

But now, the question in her tone became a certainty.

For at that very moment, Ren Tao said, "Have Tang San come out and meet me."

"Oh!"

Tang San had naturally heard the Evil Orca King's words as well. Ripples stirred in his usually calm and steady heart.

If the Evil Orca King had previously been nothing more than a powerful hundred-thousand-year soul beast in his eyes, he had now become an opponent who demanded his utmost attention.

First, he had schemed against the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King, then used the Whale Brain to lure away his pursuers and escape. Now, he actually dared to storm Sea God Island with a mere nine orcas. His cunning, intelligence, and courage all far exceeded Tang San's expectations.

"A worthy opponent!"

Tang San made no attempt to conceal his admiration for the Evil Orca King. He knew this was probably the most outstanding soul beast he had encountered in his entire life. The desire to fight began blazing in his heart, and he actually started looking forward to battling the Evil Orca King. "May I accept?"

He was asking Bo Saixi. After all, this was Sea God Island, and by choosing it as his battlefield, the Evil Orca King intended to confront Tang San head-on before Bo Saixi and the Sacred Pillar Guardian Douluos.

"Whatever his intentions, you must accept his challenge!"

Bo Saixi drew a deep breath. "This is about defending the Sea God's majesty, as well as earning merit for yourself. Defeat the Evil Orca King here, and Sea God Island will bear witness to your glory!"

The moment she finished speaking, a golden pillar of light suddenly rose from the Sea God Hall and shot high into the sky. Immediately afterward, seven equally dazzling but somewhat slenderer beams of golden light burst from the Seven Sacred Pillars. They converged in midair, forming an enormous golden curtain of light that enveloped the surroundings of Sea God Island, including the area where Ren Tao and the Evil Spirit Orcas were.

"It's the Sea God's Light!"

"It's the Sea God's Light! Lord Sea God's radiance has descended upon us once more!"

Countless residents of Sea God Island fell to their knees, prostrating themselves in worship and offering devout prayers to the sky.

The seven Sacred Pillar Guardian Douluos also rose, looking toward the Sea God Hall above with expressions of surprise and solemnity.

Boom!

Ren Tao blasted Xiao Bai away with a water-column attack, then glanced back at the Evil Spirit Orcas trembling in the water.

Under the intimidating force of the Sea God's Light, they had all begun shuddering involuntarily. Though they desperately wanted to stand firm, the pressure emanating from the depths of their souls wrested their bodies from their control.

In the distance, a blue figure approached as though riding the waves, traveling from the Sea God Hall toward the shore of Sea God Island. Great swaths of grass and vines, shimmering with brilliant blue-gold light, spread down the hillside like endlessly surging waves. Bearing their emperor in their midst, they swiftly arrived before Ren Tao.

What a display of lotuses blooming beneath every step!

Ren Tao's gaze sharpened slightly as he studied Tang San closely for the first time.

Tang San was also sizing up Ren Tao.

But the longer they looked at each other, the more uncomfortable Ren Tao felt.

He was in the water, while Tang San stood onshore, looking down at him from atop a great mass of Blue Silver Grass, with long blue hair and snow-white robes... whereas he himself looked like a stupid fish from every angle!

Round one, the contest of appearances: a crushing defeat for Ren Tao!

But Ren Tao swiftly adjusted his mindset. He drew a deep breath, then began transforming rapidly before Xiao Bai's and Tang San's astonished eyes. Bursts of lightning erupted over his body. Amid a chorus of crackles and pops, the entire "whale" quickly shrank. As the lightning dispersed and the energy withdrew into his body, a man appeared, clad in robes formed from soul power.

He wore pale gray robes with a faint metallic sheen, his long hair flowing freely. With sharply defined features and perfectly proportioned limbs, he carried himself like a scholar steeped in poetry and books despite his bare feet-gentle yet unrestrained, someone who inspired warmth at first glance.

"Until the outcome of our duel is decided, you must guarantee that none of my clansmen will be harmed!"

Ren Tao lifted one foot and stepped onto the water. His next step brought him onto land. His seemingly breezy remark was actually an attempt to conceal his embarrassment.

After all, openly transforming in front of so many great white sharks and the Shrek Seven Devils was far too much of a "show."

But none of the Shrek Seven Devils, nor Xiao Bai or Tang San, noticed those details.

An absurd, incredulous feeling rose in all their hearts. Was this soul beast really a soul beast?

Why did his bearing, his every movement and gesture, seem more human than a human's?

"Who exactly are you?"

Tang San waved a hand, stopping Xiao Bai and Ma Hongjun behind him. He was becoming increasingly convinced that something was wrong with this Evil Orca King. He was far too strange! And in battle, misjudging an enemy could lead to an irreversible mistake.

Thus, he wanted to learn more.

"I'm just a humble fan of the books about the 'Douluo World'!"

Ren Tao stood opposite Tang San. Though he was still a head lower than Tang San, who stood atop the Blue Silver Grass, he felt much more comfortable. "High Priestess Bo Saixi, I need a promise from you. While I fight Tang San, you must ensure that no one harms my clansmen."

He infused his voice with soul power, making it boom like thunder across more than half of Sea God Island.

Bo Saixi could hear him regardless, but what mattered was making everyone aware of this. Those nine Evil Spirit Orcas were the last remaining core of the orca pod. Ren Tao did not want to see their corpses after the battle ended.

Seven figures suddenly appeared, some in the air, others on the water. Their powerful pressure made even the air at the scene feel thick and sluggish.

Farther away, behind the seven Sacred Pillar Guardian Douluos, a graceful figure in a red dress appeared in Ren Tao's field of vision. Perhaps she was too distant, or perhaps the force field around her obscured her, leaving her somewhat indistinct. Yet her voice sounded as though it were right beside his ear,

"If you dare offend Sea God Island, you should be prepared to accept punishment! That applies to both you and your orca pod!"

"The Evil Spirit Orca pod has suffered devastating casualties. Its feud with the Demon Soul Great White Sharks should come to an end as well. I came today only to settle my battle with Tang San. As for them..." Ren Tao pointed toward Hu Dong and the others below. "High Priestess, would it hurt to show mercy and let them go? I can offer news of Tang Chen in exchange!"

"What did you say?"

Bo Saixi's voice suddenly wavered. Everyone felt the air around them tighten, and then Bo Saixi appeared right before Ren Tao.

So this was the power of a Peerless Douluo?

Bitterness welled up in Ren Tao's heart. With speed like that, even if he broke through the two-hundred-thousand-year threshold, he would still struggle to contend with her.

"Great-grandfather?"

Tang San froze as well. He still knew nothing of the relationship between his great-grandfather and Bo Saixi. Hearing Ren Tao suddenly bring him up only made this feel all the more unexpected and abrupt.

Bo Saixi's lips moved, seemingly exchanging words with Ren Tao. But suddenly, no one around them could hear their conversation anymore.

They only saw uncertainty in Bo Saixi's eyes as she stared at Ren Tao for a full three or four seconds before finally nodding.

Her figure abruptly drifted back a hundred meters, and her calm voice rang in everyone's ears,

"Tang San, the Evil Orca King wishes to duel you alone and thereby settle his grievances with Sea God Island. Are you willing to accept?"

At the same time, unheard by anyone else, her mental transmission rang out in Tang San's mind. "The Evil Orca King's strength has already reached the threshold of rank ninety-five. I suggest you obtain your Eighth Soul Ring before fighting him."

Hearing this, Tang San turned to look at Ren Tao, who was looking at him as well.

Their gazes and expressions shifted rapidly. Tang San was now wondering how Ren Tao knew anything about his great-grandfather, and what agreement he had reached with Bo Saixi.

Ren Tao, meanwhile, was thinking of something entirely different. Swaying Bo Saixi was merely the first step. The Sea God Inheritance required Bo Saixi's sacrifice. If this woman had someone she cherished and became unwilling to sacrifice herself, the Sea God Inheritance would inevitably face further complications.

And Tang Chen was undoubtedly the only person who could move her heart!

"You... don't dare?"

A trace of contempt shone through Ren Tao's gentle blue-gray eyes. "Without a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring, you're nothing more than an ordinary Soul Douluo... that's all!"