When the time came, the Mermaid Princess moved swiftly, raising two water spheres from the sea surface with a wave of her hand.
Huo Yuhao and his companion stepped forward and touched the water sphere, instantly being enveloped within it.
Xiao Xiao extended a dark golden claw from her fingertips and slashed at the water sphere in front of her.
A feeling of being unable to move forward came from my fingertips.
Xiao Xiao shook her head at Huo Yuhao, indicating that there was nothing she could do.
The Mermaid Princess said, "Don't worry, this water sphere is just for your protection. It also allows you to move in the water, but it can only last for about half an hour."
"This is a wisp of my Spiritual Power; I can use it to escape the water sphere."
Huo Yuhao and Xiao Xiao both withdrew their Spiritual Power.
The Mermaid Princess then carried the two of them and flew towards the depths of the sea.
Xiao Xiao looked at the scenery receding behind her with a solemn expression.
She even felt that the temperature inside the water sphere increased the closer it got to the depths of the ocean.
Unbeknownst to them, the air was now slightly hot.
Xiao Xiao could clearly see sparks suddenly appearing out of thin air.
The Mermaid Princess quickened her pace slightly, a hint of urgency flickering in her eyes.
Huo Yuhao's eyes held a faint purple hue, indicating that he had already sensed the residual Divine Power hidden in the air.
Coupled with the fire-attribute aura permeating the air, Huo Yuhao had a rough idea of which Deity it was.
He was probably just a pitiful person who had been deceived by that God King.
Before long, the outline of an island could be faintly seen on the distant horizon.
Looking at the island that appeared, Xiao Xiao felt uneasy. Since setting off, she had been silently calculating the distance to the mainland.
They have traveled at least several hundred kilometers and are now in deep sea.
They just want to escape back, and it will probably take them more than half a day just to get back to shore.
After all, there are no landmarks in the ocean, and if you lose your way, escaping from the Mermaid Princess won't be an easy task.
While brainstorming solutions, Xiao Xiao looked towards the small island in the distance.
At this moment, the small island was clearly visible to them.
Xiao Xiao was so shocked that she couldn't speak.
This island—no, it can no longer be called an island, it's a fire island!
An island almost entirely made of flames.
On the island's mainland, the dense forests turned fiery red, with countless flames surging within, emanating terrifying heat.
"This is... the Ultimate Fire?!"
Xiao Xiao exclaimed in surprise, somewhat incredulous.
How could there possibly be Ultimate Fire here? Could it be that Sister Xiaotao is really connected to this place?
Xiao Xiao looked at the vast expanse of fiery forest again, her shock growing even stronger.
The branches and leaves of these trees were intact, and the flames burning on them seemed to have appeared out of thin air, enveloping them.
The terrifying heat didn't even dry out the moisture in the leaves.
Such extreme control—how many people on this continent can achieve that? Could there truly be Deity here?
Thinking of this, Xiao Xiao felt even more panicked.
Phew!
A phoenix cry suddenly resounded through the sky deep within the Fire Island!
Huo Yuhao and Xiao Xiao subconsciously looked towards the depths of the fire island.
" Fire Phoenix?! Xiaotao Tao is really here!?"
Huo Yuhao transmitted his voice, "I can't be sure, but it's very likely. Xiao Xiao, our plans have been disrupted. Before we escape, we probably need to confirm whether that place really is Sister Xiaotao Tao."
Xiao Xiao nodded. After all, Ma Xiaotao had a good relationship with them, and they had investigated the whereabouts of Sister Xiaotao's disappearance for a long time.
Now that they've finally gotten a lead, they can't possibly give up.
Moreover, Wang Dong'er and the others are at least safe now, and the Soul Tool they've set up will periodically send messages back to the Shrek Academy.
Theoretically, if they can stall long enough, they will eventually receive support.
But that's not realistic.
Xiao Xiao and Huo Yuhao communicated telepathically, and the Mermaid Princess had already brought the two of them to the beach of Fire Island.
In an instant, Xiao Xiao felt a wave of heat coming from in front of her.
The Mermaid Princess slowly spoke, "I don't know where that person has imprisoned my people. I need your help to find them and ensure their safe departure. I will keep my promise."
As soon as he finished speaking, the water sphere that had been enveloping Huo Yuhao burst open, and the seawater evaporated directly into the air.
Huo Yuhao landed easily and used his Soul Power to resist the heat wave.
The Mermaid Princess then waved her hand, and the water sphere enveloping Xiao Xiao flew directly to her side.
"I will ensure this lady's safe return home after everything is over."
"After all, you don't want to be distracted, right?"
The Mermaid Princess smiled slyly, as if her scheme had succeeded.
Xiao Xiao suddenly slapped the water sphere in front of her, using her previous Spiritual Power to escape from it, but found it had no effect.
"Didn't we agree on this? We'll help you rescue your people, and you're just going to stall for time!"
"Going back on your word!"
"Hateful!"
The Mermaid Princess smiled, her eyes narrowing, and said, "I learned this from you humans; you always like to go back on your word."
"But don't worry, I'm different from you. Since I've promised you something, I won't go back on my word once it's done. I've just added one more condition."
Xiao Xiao said, "How cunning! We have never gone back on our word."
The Mermaid Princess shrugged and said, "Humans are all the same. Just because you haven't done it doesn't mean I can't take precautions."
"You are my bargaining chip. Rest assured, I will protect you before the Deity."
Huo Yuhao's eyes brightened, and he replied, "I promised you, and I will naturally do it. I will protect her safety, otherwise..."
The Mermaid Princess nodded and said, "Of course."
The Mermaid Princess then prepared to leave with Xiao Xiao.
Xiao Xiao called out to Huo Yuhao with a worried expression, " Yuhao, you must protect yourself! If..."
Before Xiao Xiao could finish speaking, the Mermaid Princess dragged her into the fiery forest and they disappeared.
Huo Yuhao surveyed his surroundings, the black liquid on his body surged and transformed into a robe that enveloped him, and with a shift in his figure, he vanished from the spot.
Meanwhile, on the shore where Wang Dong'er and the others were, inside the Soul Tool that Xiao Xiao had set up.
Jiang Nannan, Ling Luochеn, and Xi Xi sat cross-legged in black robes, their exquisite faces illuminated by the Soul Guidance Lamp.
Jiang Nannan said, "It seems that Deity has indeed appeared in the depths of the sea. Lord Shadow has already given me some guidance."
Ling Luochеn asked, "Should we ask for backup?"
Jiang Nannan replied, "'You' and the others have already received the message. Support will be here soon. I'll head out first to support Lord Shadow. You stay here and provide backup."
The two nodded and said simultaneously, "Understood, Lord 'Sorrow'."
"This is our first real encounter with Deity; let's call this operation ' God Hunt '!"