Even Tang San himself had overlooked it — after successfully passing the eighth Sea God trial, his yearning to become the Sea God had only grown more intense. He had already been delayed here for a considerable time, and the worry that Dai Mubai had voiced earlier now echoed in his own mind. What if Qian Renxue had already gone to the battlefield? That would be serious trouble indeed. All their friends and family were over there! It was only now, with Xiao Bai's reminder, that he recalled the Deep Sea Demon Whale King might still have something valuable left for him. Xiao Bai would never speak without purpose. As a fellow fish-type Soul Beast, she understood the Deep Sea Demon Whale King far better than he did.
He nodded toward Xiao Bai and smiled. "Thank you." Though he still felt somewhat uncertain about his current condition, the eighth Sea God trial was done regardless, and everything else could wait until they reached Sea God Island. The battle to kill the Deep Sea Demon Whale King and absorb its Soul Ring had been arduous, but relatively speaking, things had gone smoothly — at least everything had proceeded according to plan without causing him too much trouble. Especially now that his Soul Power had risen to level ninety-nine, Tang San was confident that even if he encountered Qian Renxue, she would be unable to kill him within a short period. Of course, that was on the condition that the battlefield was on the open sea or within a forest.
He launched himself into the air, and a torrent of Soul Power instantly surged into the Sea God's Trident. Though the divine artifact could no longer display its former glory, the massive infusion of Soul Power combined with the release of his Blue Silver Emperor Martial Soul flooded the trident with brilliant blue-gold radiance, causing its three main blades to shine once more.
The Deep Sea Demon Whale King truly earned its reputation as a million-year-level Soul Beast. Though seven days had passed and its body had been submerged in seawater, decomposition was remarkably minimal. Moreover, when Tang San rose into the air, he discovered that the surrounding waters of the Demon Whale Territory were now teeming with Great White Shark Spirits. Clearly, Xiao Bai had used some special method to summon her entire clan. The reason was obvious — she couldn't bear to let the Deep Sea Demon Whale King's magnificent flesh go to waste.
Though Tang San had already absorbed the vast majority of energy from the corpse when he first killed it, there were still remnants left behind. Furthermore, the Deep Sea Demon Whale King's body had reached a level approaching divinity, so letting the Great White Shark Spirits consume some of it would be tremendously beneficial to their own evolution. It was easy to imagine that after this battle, the Great White Shark Spirits' overall strength would increase dramatically. Xiao Bai herself might even transcend the hundred-thousand-year age limit for Soul Beasts, becoming the true overlord of the seas.
However, Xiao Bai had protected the Deep Sea Demon Whale King's head with great care — only its flesh and bones had been consumed. Tang San's level-ninety-nine Soul Power erupted at full force, requiring no Soul Skills whatsoever. Relying purely on physical strength combined with Soul Power channeled into the Sea God's Trident, he drove the razor-sharp main blade straight toward the whale king's skull.
"From the side — be careful!" Xiao Bai hurriedly called out.
Tang San nodded in midair. The Sea God's Trident tilted slightly, and he drove it in through the gill area — a naturally vulnerable part of the Deep Sea Demon Whale King's body, now stripped of its protective energy. The trident pierced through with ease, producing a soft squelch.
Tang San twisted his wrist, his body sweeping horizontally through the air, and slashed open the whale king's skull from the point of entry.
What caught him off guard was that the foul, fishy stench he had expected never materialized. Instead, a rich, heady fragrance surged forth from the opening. Even from his close position, Tang San inhaled several deep breaths and immediately felt refreshed and invigorated.
The Great White Shark Spirits throughout the sea had all stopped their movements — no longer swimming about — and turned to gaze in this direction. Even a look of longing flickered in Xiao Bai's eyes.
The Sea God's Trident flipped upward, prying the skull plate off the Deep Sea Demon Whale King's head. Instantly, golden light flooded the ocean surface. The Deep Sea Demon Whale King's body was enormous — its head alone spanned over a dozen square meters. With the skull plate removed, the whale brain was exposed beneath.
Whales were massive creatures, but their brains were remarkably small, and even a being as formidable as the Deep Sea Demon Whale King was no exception. The limitation of its brain was a key reason its spiritual power had been inferior to Tang San's. The exposed brain matter covered less than a square meter within that dozen-plus-square-meter head cavity. Yet that intoxicating fragrance was emanating entirely from this patch of whale brain paste.
The brain matter was a pure golden color, thick and paste-like, resembling molten gold. Its rich aroma was utterly seductive. And there, nestled at its very center, lay a fist-sized bead radiating a deep purple-gold light. Though the brain paste was already captivating, the moment Tang San's eyes fell upon the bead, he could not look away.
When he had killed the Evil Spirit Tiger, he had also seen a bead — a three-colored one — but its size paled in comparison to this one. The only difference was that the bead formed by the Evil Spirit Tiger had been far more spiritually vibrant, while this one appeared almost inert. Yet in terms of the raw energy it contained, this whale pearl was vastly more powerful. At a mere glance, Tang San could tell it was a supreme natural treasure.
Xiao Bai's voice drifted from behind him, soft and reflective. "Sea Soul Beasts that surpass a hundred thousand years undergo an evolution in their brain matter, transforming it into a special medicinal substance. This substance is extraordinarily nourishing for any living creature and contains tremendous energy, serving many purposes. The Deep Sea Demon Whale King cultivated for a million years — its brain paste is naturally a priceless treasure. I won't say it can bring back the dead or regrow flesh on bone, but it's undeniably a treasure all the same. As for how to use it, that's up to you. You killed it — this is your rightful share. And I won't hide it from you: after you helped us kill the Tyrant Demon Whale King, I secretly consumed its brain paste. Think I'm selfish?"
Tang San shook his head. "Why would I? I consider you a friend. Besides, I already received the greatest benefits back then — the Tyrant Demon Whale King's Soul Ring and Soul Bones were both absorbed by me. Never mind that brain paste; even this one in front of us — if you want it, you can take it."
"Really?" Xiao Bai's eyes widened with delight.
Tang San smiled faintly. "What? Have I ever gone back on my word?"
Xiao Bai sighed and shook her head. "No, I appreciate the offer, but keep it for yourself. I can't accept it — not because I'm being polite, but because I've absorbed far too much external energy recently. It's already enough to push my cultivation to the next level. I know the wisdom of not biting off more than I can chew. Take it. The way this whale brain paste looks, even after you become a god, consuming it would still benefit your body. You still have to complete the Sea God's inheritance — having it might help you overcome the final trial."
Tang San nodded slightly and pointed at the whale pearl resting atop the brain paste. "What is that? Something that grew inside the Deep Sea Demon Whale King's head?"
Xiao Bai looked somewhat uncertain. "I'm not sure about that one. It probably only appears at the million-year cultivation level. But I'd guess it's formed from the Deep Sea Demon Whale King's long centuries of absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, condensed into this. It's definitely a treasure. If you embed it in a weapon, you might be able to forge a divine artifact."
At Xiao Bai's words, Tang San felt a stir of interest and glanced at the diamond-shaped socket on the Sea God's Trident. He turned to look at his companions. Dai Mubai grinned. "Why would you be formal with us? Even if these things were useful to us, we can figure that out when we get to Sea God Island. Senior Bo Saixi will know far more about this sort of thing than we do. Hurry up and pack it away — we need to get moving."
Tang San nodded, unfastening the Magic Treasure Bag from his waist. For storing medicinal substances, the Magic Treasure Bag was the most suitable container. But there was far too much whale brain paste — he didn't have a vessel large enough to hold it all. He would have to clear some space inside the bag and put it in for now.
His right hand grasped at empty air. A faint layer of blue-gold light spread across his fingers and palm as a powerful suction force reached out. The whale pearl came out first — Tang San caught it, and the rich fragrance immediately cleared his mind. He took several deep breaths, indescribably comfortable.
The whale pearl was warm and yielding to the touch, like an egg yolk, only far larger. Though it felt soft when held, the outer layer was actually quite resilient — breaking through it would not be easy. And Tang San vaguely sensed that the warm, yielding interior was not liquid at all, but rather an entirely soft, gelatinous substance.
Without examining it further, Tang San stored the whale pearl in the Magic Treasure Bag. Then he amplified the suction force in his palm and employed the Crane Control Dragon Catch technique. Faintly, the blue-gold light emanating from Tang San's body flowed down his arm as a subtle dragon's cry rang out — as though a dragon had taken root along his limb, assuming the pose of a great whale drinking water. The paste-like brain matter was drawn out as a golden ribbon, sucked directly into the Magic Treasure Bag.
Hunting the Deep Sea Demon Whale King had been agonizing, but the harvest was equally staggering. The unknown-level Soul Ring alone and the powerful Body Soul Bone had elevated Tang San's strength by yet another tier.
"Let's go." With a splash, Xiao Bai swept past Tang San and alighted on the water's surface before him.
Tang San smiled, leaped into the air, and with a wave of his right hand, a strand of Blue Silver Emperor wrapped around Xiao Wu's waist, bringing his beloved over to land alongside him on Xiao Bai's back. The Great White Shark Spirits into whom Tang San had channeled the Deep Sea Demon Whale King's energy using his Devouring Gold Thread each carried another member of the Shrek Seven Devils, and together they surged forward toward Sea God Island.
Xiao Wu leaned against Tang San's chest without a word, quietly wrapping her arms around his waist. Her silence struck Tang San as unusual — it was unlike the Xiao Wu he knew.
"Xiao Wu, what's wrong? Are you angry? I didn't want to take the risk either, but you know…"
Xiao Wu quickly shook her head. "No, I'm not angry. Ge, I understand — you were forced into it. If you didn't grow stronger, how could you face those powerful enemies? I just hate that I can't help you."
Tang San tightened his arms, pressing her lovely form close against him, and whispered, "Who says you can't help me? Just having you by my side is the greatest help I could ask for. Because only when I see you does my heart find clarity, and everything I do gains its meaning. Every time I think about how, once all these trials are behind us, I can spend the rest of my days in peace with the Xiao Wu I love most, my heart fills with happiness. It's that promise of future happiness that drives me forward. When Qian Renxue was hunting me down, it was you I thought of every moment. I told myself over and over that no matter what, I had to survive — for my Xiao Wu. I could never bear to make you cry again. Without that conviction, I might never have found the strength to come back to all of you."
"Ge…" Listening to Tang San's words — not exactly poetic love language, yet so profoundly sincere — something seemed to catch in Xiao Wu's throat. She threw her arms around him in return, her vision already blurring with tears.
Tang San said apologetically, "It's all my fault. After your resurrection, I haven't had nearly enough time to be with you. Xiao Wu, do you know how much I want to marry you? I want to give you the grandest wedding on the continent and make you my bride. Remember that — it's my promise to you. It won't be long. Once we've crushed the Spirit Empire, I will make you my wife. From then on, I'll spend all my time with you, however you like. And when the time comes, give me a few children. Wherever you want to live, that's where we'll make our home."
"Ugh, I can't take you two — I'm still right here, you know! Can you dial back the mushiness?" Xiao Bai's body wobbled slightly. But in her eyes, there was unmistakable envy.
Tang San smiled without a word. Xiao Wu's cheeks flushed crimson, and she buried her face in his chest — her shy, lovely expression was so beautiful it was almost otherworldly. Tang San gazed at her, slightly dazed.
From the Deep Sea Demon Whale King's territory to Sea God Island, with the Great White Shark Spirits swimming at full speed, it took only a single day.
Seeing that expanse of azure sea and silver sand once more, all the members of the Shrek Seven Devils felt a surge of vindication. The last time they had come here, they had crept in like thieves, barely managing to use the camouflage ability of the Deep Sea Protective Shield, traveling along the ocean floor to get there. Back then, even Tang San — the strongest among them — had possessed only a mere sixty-something level of Soul Power.
But now, the Shrek Seven Devils' strength had undergone a seismic transformation. Setting aside Tang San, who had reached the pinnacle as a level-ninety-nine peerless Titled Douluo, the others had all made tremendous leaps in Soul Power after absorbing the Deep Sea Demon Whale King's energy.
Measured by level, Dai Mubai's increase had been the smallest — but that was because his own cultivation had already been the highest after Tang San's. He was now at level eighty-eight, tantalizingly close to the Titled Douluo rank. With his talent, under normal cultivation, he would surely break through to become a young Titled Douluo within five years. He might not be as freakishly powerful as Tang San, but Dai Mubai wasn't even thirty yet!
Oscar had absorbed less energy due to his body's limitations, but his Soul Power had still advanced — reaching level eighty-five. As a Food Type Soul Master, reaching such a level was already terrifying. Oscar was confident that he would become the first Food Type Titled Douluo in history. When that time came, he would surely possess even more powerful Titled Douluo-grade sausages. He only prayed that his next Soul Incantation wouldn't be something like "Daddy has a caterpillar" again. Even with thick skin, there were limits to what a person could endure.
Ma Hongjun's Soul Power was one level higher than Oscar's — a result of his greater physical constitution allowing him to absorb more of the Deep Sea Demon Whale King's energy. At level eighty-six, his offensive power was even more terrifying, and the might of his Phoenix Flame was steadily increasing as well. The higher his level grew, the more pronounced the advantages of his top-tier Martial Soul became. Among the Shrek Seven Devils, aside from Tang San, only Dai Mubai could rival him in strength.
Xiao Wu's Soul Power had reached level eighty — though that was only her current state. By Tang San's estimation, the amount of energy she had absorbed at the time was second only to his own, and her Soul Power should still have room to climb by roughly three more levels. That meant once she obtained a Soul Ring at level eighty-one, she might jump straight to level eighty-four, bringing her much closer to the rest of the group. Moreover, there was something Tang San had not forgotten: Xiao Wu had undergone the Supreme Trial on Sea God Island. That trial would not be considered complete until Tang San finished the final task of the nine Sea God trials — all previous rewards had been accumulating. Clearly, the benefits Xiao Wu stood to gain from her Supreme Trial would exceed even those of Ning Rongrong's Supreme Seventh Trial. Tang San remembered exactly how many Soul Power levels Ning Rongrong had been rewarded. Once he completed the inheritance, Xiao Wu's Soul Power might well catch up to Dai Mubai's.