Even though the Voyager had long since retreated to a greater distance and was protected by a secondary shield, it was still like a leaf in a storm, tossed up and down, its hull emitting a heart-stopping groan.
All the crew members on board were so shocked by this scene, which resembled divine punishment, that they lost the ability to think and their minds went blank.
Between the sea and the sky, only the fading, disappearing silhouette of the giant pillar remained, along with the shattered sea below that could not be calmed for Jiujiu.
Luo Yuan's head, like a rusty machine, turned inch by inch, extremely stiffly, toward Kong Xuan's direction.
His gaze was empty and dull, the afterimage of the colossal pillar crashing down still lingering deep in his pupils, as well as the final scene of the Demon Empress's figure being completely swallowed up.
His lips trembled, opening and closing several times, but he could only utter broken, incoherent syllables. "You... this... I... that..."
He was rambling incoherently, as if his mind had completely shut down.
Just moments before, his strongest attack, delivered with Level 9 Fixed Soul Guidance Cannon, failed to inflict any substantial damage on the Demon Empress.
At that moment, despair, like a cold, deep sea, completely overwhelmed him.
He had already accepted the fate that everyone would soon become prey for this powerful Ferocious Beast beast.
In the blink of an eye, the world turned upside down!
That junior he had always regarded as someone who needed protection, the young tower master of the Spirit Pagoda, that "kid" who even had the mind to joke in times of crisis, actually... with a casual wave of his hand, triggered the divine might that seemed like divine punishment!
The dark clouds parted, the divine pillar descended, and with one strike... the Demon Empress!
The powerful Divine Power, at the level of Titled Douluo, had thoroughly explored the area beneath the sea surface time and time again.
There is... there is nothing!
Besides the violently churned seawater, the collapsed seabed, and the countless remains of low-level Sea Soul Beast killed in the blast, there were also other debris.
The terrifying aura that had previously filled him with despair had vanished completely, utterly and completely!
Dead... really dead...
Gu Yuena stood quietly to the side, taking in the earth-shattering scene that had just unfolded.
A look of surprise involuntarily flickered in her deep purple eyes.
Although she knew that Kong Xuan must have a trump card to deal with powerful enemies, she also anticipated that he should have the means to subdue the Demon Empress was close to the god level.
However, she never expected that this "method" would be so... domineering!
It was just a casual gesture, a flick of the finger.
With a casual gesture, as if brushing dust off her shoulder, she annihilated the deep-sea Ferocious Beast that had given her some trouble, destroying it completely!
This was the first time she had truly witnessed a glimpse of the majesty displayed by this otherworldly God King.
Amidst the shock, a more reassuring and even subtly joyful feeling quietly welled up within her.
Regardless, Kong Xuan was her ally at this moment.
The stronger and more unfathomable her allies are, the more advantageous it will be for her to achieve her goals.
Kong Xuan, seeing Luo Yuan still in a daze, reminded him, "Senior Luo, the crisis has passed."
His calm voice forcibly pulled Luo Yuan's almost paralyzed thoughts back to normal.
Luo Yuan jolted awake, as if waking from a deep dream, his muscles tensing up involuntarily.
He looked at Kong Xuan with an extremely complex expression, a mixture of emotions.
"Master Kong... Pagoda Master Kong! Please... please don't call me 'senior' anymore! It's too much of a burden for me!"
He took a deep breath, trying to calm his turbulent emotions. "Your strength is truly... unfathomable, far beyond what I, Level 9 Soul Engineer, can compare to."
The doubts in his heart surged like boiling water; he couldn't understand how Kong Xuan, a Soul Douluo, could unleash such a powerful attack.
However, Luo Yuan's ability to rise to a high position in the complex Imperial Navy was not only due to his strength, but also to his wisdom in being cautious in his words and actions and in discerning the appropriate boundaries.
He knew all too well that some secrets were better left unknown, and some powers were beyond his comprehension.
Therefore, despite his burning curiosity, Luo Yuan ultimately relied on the composure he had cultivated over many years to suppress all his questions deep in his heart.
Despite his superior strength, Kong Xuan showed no arrogance. His smile remained calm as he spoke gently to Luo Yuan, whose expression was complex, "Senior Luo, in this world, strength is not the only measure of worth."
"You are an elder, and your seafaring experience is needed for this expedition to find new continents."
"You truly deserve the title of 'senior,' so please don't refuse it any longer."
These words were spoken sincerely, and to Luo Yuan, they were like a warm current, instantly dispelling much of the alienation and unease that arose from his shock.
Kong Xuan's ability to still show him respect and recognition despite possessing absolute power, along with his magnanimity and character, inspired Luo Yuan to feel not only awe but also genuine admiration and closeness.
Luo Yuan's stiffness eased considerably, revealing a genuine smile, "Since the Tower Master has said so, then I'll shamelessly accept."
"I'll go check the damage to the Voyager immediately and organize manpower to repair it as soon as possible. Please wait a moment, Tower Master; we'll be able to set sail again soon."
Thank you for your help, senior.
Kong Xuan nodded.
Luo Yuan clasped his hands in a salute, then turned and transformed into a streak of light, rushing back to the deck of the Voyager.
Before long, his voice was clearly transmitted throughout the area via the ship's Amplifying Soul Tool.
"Attention all personnel! Immediately inspect your respective posts and areas for damage to the ship's structure and soul-guided array!"
"The entire repair team is in position. Prioritize repairs to the powertrain and core protection systems!"
"Logistics team, assess supply losses! We must restore navigation capability as quickly as possible! Repeat, act immediately!"
As soon as the order was given, a tense but orderly flurry of activity filled the Voyager.
The crew members seemed to have recovered from their initial shock and threw themselves into the maintenance work.
Kong Xuan did not immediately return to the ship. He stood alone in the gradually calming sea breeze, his gaze fixed on the sea below, where the terrifying aftershocks of energy still lingered.
Then, he lightly raised his right hand and made a grasping motion towards the sea.
"Come!"
A dazzling red streak of light pierced through the waves, shooting out from the deep seabed, drawing an arc in the air, and finally hovering steadily in front of Kong Xuan.
The red light gradually subsided, revealing its true form.
It was a long, thin bone, its entire body a dark, blood-red color, neither gold nor jade in texture, yet faintly gleaming with a metallic sheen...
The surface of the bones was covered with intricate and eerie deep red patterns, flowing slowly like living things, exuding a chilling, fierce, and tyrannical aura.
Gu Yuena moved slightly and quietly arrived at Kong Xuan's side.
Her purple eyes swept over it, her expression calm and unfazed, showing little surprise. She simply said, " Soul Bone."
Kong Xuan nodded slightly. "That's right, it's the Demon Empress's right arm bone."
Compared to when he used the power of the Sea-Calming Divine Needle to defeat Titan Giant Ape Er Ming outside Star Luo City, Kong Xuan is now clearly stronger against Zhang Ming with the Sea-Calming Divine Needle.
The earth-shattering attack he unleashed earlier was actually much less intense under his control; otherwise, the current Demon Empress would have been reduced to dust like Er Ming before, with no Soul Bone left behind!
His gaze returned to the dark red right arm bone before him, and even with Kong Xuan's composure, a faint ripple of emotion stirred within him.
Million-Year Soul Bone!
In the long history of the Douluo Continent, this Soul Bone can be considered a peerless treasure!