The banquet atmosphere was warm and harmonious.
Although the recent campaign against Jade Dew Blessed Land had sent Shark Demon and his companions back empty-handed, afterward, Shark Demon still graciously invited both Tai Bai Yun Sheng and Fang Yuan to visit his home.
Tai Bai Yun Sheng's As-It-Was Immortal Gu was something Shark Demon greatly desired. And as the Stellar Constellation Child, Fang Yuan's display of profound Wisdom Path mastery had shown Shark Demon and Su Bai Man his value — especially regarding the campaign on Jade Dew Blessed Land.
Therefore, it was no surprise that Shark Demon invited the two of them.
Shark Demon's residence was called the Shark Sea.
This was a vast ocean region, spanning over five billion mu. Converted to Earth's units of area, this Shark Sea was roughly equivalent to China's South China Sea.
In other words, an ocean area comparable to the South China Sea belonged entirely to Shark Demon alone.
Everything within this ocean region — countless species of sharks, abundant kelp and seaweed, the sand and stones of the seabed, and the immense volume of seawater — all of it was Shark Demon's private property.
Just as in the Northern Plains, where lush pastures were carved up among various factions, in the Eastern Sea, ocean regions rich with resources were similarly divided.
Although Shark Demon was an Immortal Zombie, his strength was formidable — more than capable of holding this ocean territory.
His palace sat at the depths of the seabed, at the very center of the Shark Sea.
The banquet featured dishes unique to the Eastern Sea, delicious and flavorful, with a distinctive flair.
Regardless of whatever schemes either side harbored, on the surface, this banquet was being held to great effect, filled with warmth and good cheer.
Shark Demon savored his wine with relish. Although he was an Immortal Zombie, with the aid of Gu Insects, he could restore his sense of taste.
Then he set down his cup, and with a mere thought, the magnificent yet exquisitely crafted palace ceiling turned transparent.
"Everyone, please look — this is the Divine Halberd Shark, this is the Shardtooth Gold Shark, and over there is the Silver-Scaled Great Treasure Shark... These are all my carefully cultivated little pets." Shark Demon pointed them out without the slightest attempt to hide his pride and self-satisfaction.
Fang Yuan looked up and saw that the seawater was pitch dark, the palace's lights illuminating only two or three zhang of distance.
The undersea palace itself was brilliantly lit. Viewed from outside, it would resemble a warmly glowing, oddly shaped giant gemstone.
Fang Yuan had his own reconnaissance killer move, so the dark seawater posed no obstacle.
He quickly spotted the sharks Shark Demon was pointing out.
The Divine Halberd Shark was a solitary creature with a peculiar appearance — the tip of its head had grown into a horizontal halberd shape. The outer surface of the halberd was no longer smooth shark skin, but exposed white bone.
The Divine Halberd Shark swam freely through the seabed, charging wildly in every direction. The horizontal halberd on its head was unexpectedly sharp while retaining tremendous ramming force. Everywhere it went, underwater rocks were shattered, clearing a path through the seafloor.
The Shardtooth Gold Sharks were the most numerous, often gathering in groups of two or three hundred.
This species of shark had extremely fine, fragmented teeth. When the Shardtooth Gold Shark opened its mouth to feed, Fang Yuan keenly observed that inside its mouth — both upper and lower — there were six full rows of fine, sharp teeth.
Although this Gold Shark was also a carnivore, it did not prey on large fish. Instead, like whales, it specialized in swallowing tiny fish and shrimp. These six rows of fine teeth formed six airtight lines of defense, sorting the sand and silt from the small fish and shrimp. No matter how minuscule the prey, nothing escaped the Gold Shark's mastication.
The Silver-Scaled Great Treasure Shark was the largest in size — if placed on Earth, it would be comparable to a small whale.
This Treasure Shark appeared to live in family units, groups of three or four. Normally, they drifted along at a leisurely pace, but the moment food appeared, they would whoosh forward in a flash to hunt.
Don't let their massive size fool you — the Silver-Scaled Great Treasure Shark possessed astonishing speed completely at odds with its bulk.
Once it moved, its velocity was extreme. In the dim depths of the seabed, it was like a streak of silver lightning!
The Silver-Scaled Great Treasure Shark was also the most ferocious in temperament, preying not only on other fish species but on other sharks as well.
Of course, sharks with formidable combat power — like the earlier Divine Halberd Shark and Shardtooth Gold Shark — the Treasure Shark generally wouldn't provoke, as long as food was plentiful.
"Well? My little fish here — not bad, are they?" Seeing Fang Yuan and Tai Bai Yun Sheng watching with rapt attention, Shark Demon grew even more delighted.
"Not just 'not bad' — every one of these sharks is spirited and vibrant, raised splendidly. The various species in this ocean region coexist in harmonious balance, and these sharks carry a dense aura of Gu Insects. I even caught sight of one or two Desolate Beast sharks in the distance just now," Fang Yuan said.
Tai Bai Yun Sheng also sighed with emotion, nodding: "No wonder the Eastern Sea is the most resource-rich of the Five Regions. This ocean region alone gives a glimpse of why."
Shark Demon tilted his head back and laughed heartily.
Su Bai Man, standing beside him, smiled and said: "Don't go praising him to the heavens, you two. My husband's usual pastime and refined hobby is raising these sharks, and he loves nothing more than hearing others compliment them."
At the banquet, whether it was Shark Demon or Su Bai Man, they appeared far more approachable than they had at Jade Dew Blessed Land.
It was clear the couple drew a firm line between public and private matters. In public, they led with gravity and impartiality, serious and even-handed. In private, they were warm and gentle, occasionally teasing — putting others greatly at ease.