The Zi Zhenzhu swayed gently on the water's surface.
Ripples spread across the boundless sea, and the dry, cold sea breeze brought an inexplicable chill.
Everyone noticed the graceful figure hovering in the distance above the water.
Her water-blue hair blended almost seamlessly with the sea, and her clothing, fluttering lightly in the breeze, added a touch of enchantment to her presence.
No one could ignore the seemingly calm figure, especially since she stood effortlessly on the vast sea.
"Who… who is that?" Zi Zhenzhu swallowed hard, feeling an intangible pressure. Even as a newly advanced Soul Sage, she felt fear, like prey facing a predator.
"Title Douluo!" Wang Quan Fugui, now a Title Douluo himself, felt an overwhelming oppressive force.
This could only mean the graceful woman before them was a far stronger Soul Master, likely by more than a small margin.
"A ship capable of exploring the deep sea—humans shouldn't possess such a thing." The woman's indifferent gaze swept over them, making everyone feel as if they were targeted by a great terror.
The increasingly intense aura caused their faces to pale.
"I don't know who you are."
"But if you intend to block us, I'll be your opponent." Wang Quan Fugui flew forward boldly. As a Title Douluo, brief flight was no issue.
Having just broken through to Title Douluo, he carried a certain pride.
The woman gathered a soul skill at her fingertip, but Wang Quan Fugui was faster.
Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black.
Nine soul rings rose instantly, with the seventh and the deepest ink-black ninth soul ring lighting up, emitting an intense glow.
"Seventh Soul Skill—King's Authority Sword True Body!"
"Ninth Soul Skill—Sword of the World!"
Wang Quan Fugui's body grew massive under his Martial Soul True Body, and his ninth soul skill activated.
The surrounding water elements and the lightning elements on his sword compressed into the blade.
This strike was his strongest attack.
Wang Quan Fugui was confident that even a level 92 or 93 opponent wouldn't emerge unscathed.
"Woman, if you've got the skill, take this attack head-on."
He swung his King's Authority Sword, releasing a terrifying pressure with soul power-infused sword energy, taunting her not to dodge.
"Insignificant strength, feeble human!"
The woman looked on indifferently, slowly raising her empty left hand.
The surrounding seawater churned rapidly, gathering at her palm with unbelievable speed.
"Water Cannon."
A soft whisper.
A highly compressed stream of water shot out at astonishing speed.
Compared to the dazzling brilliance of the King's Authority Sword, her attack seemed like a mere stream of water.
"Boom!"
An explosive roar echoed across the sea. The water cannon shattered Wang Quan Fugui's ninth soul skill, continuing toward him without slowing.
"No, impossible!" Wang Quan Fugui's pupils contracted. The skill's recoil and the terrifying speed of her attack left him no chance to dodge.
"Let me handle this!"
A sudden voice startled Wang Quan Fugui.
Ning Rongrong stood in front of him, holding a pitch-black longsword in her right hand, which seemed out of place for a delicate support-type Soul Master like her.
"Young… Young Sect Leader."
"Hm, a level 99 Limit Douluo isn't an opponent you can handle."
"Leave this to me. Take the Zi Zhenzhu's crew and get to safety."
With that, Ning Rongrong swung the black longsword.
"Sword Technique—Subspace Slash!"
The calm space began to distort, instantly enveloped by terrifying zhenqi, tearing open a massive spatial rift nearly a kilometer long.
The woman's devastating water cannon was completely swallowed by the dark rift.
And then it vanished.
"Young… Young Sect Leader!"
Wang Quan Fugui's face was filled with shock.
He knew his Young Sect Leader was strong, but to effortlessly block…
Level 99, Limit Douluo?
He gasped, stunned.
"What are you waiting for? Do you want to die here?"
"Ah, yes!"
Wang Quan Fugui's body jolted.
Snapping back to reality, he quickly returned to the Zi Zhenzhu.
The ship then sped off in another direction at full throttle.
"Trying to escape? Have you asked me?"
"Let's see if you have what it takes, Your Excellency Demon Empress!"
Ning Rongrong flashed forward, blocking the Demon Empress's path. Her longsword radiated chilling killing intent, and with the domain released beneath her feet, a terrifying sword technique locked onto the Demon Empress.
However, the Demon Empress casually waved her hand.
The surging energy was extinguished, but the Zi Zhenzhu had already gone far. The Demon Empress suppressed her urge to pursue.
Her deep blue eyes studied Ning Rongrong, particularly the weapon in her right hand.
"A divine artifact, like those of Bo Saixi and Tang Chen. Which deity stands behind you?"
After identifying Ning Rongrong's weapon as a divine artifact, the Demon Empress quickly pulled back, her expression turning extremely cautious.
"Who knows?" Ning Rongrong replied ambiguously. "Your Excellency Demon Empress, I have no intention of being your enemy. How about we both stand down?"
"Stand down?" The Demon Empress sneered. "Hmph, humans possessing such soul tools will eventually use them against us soul beasts. For my husband, I must crush such notions."
"No, you've already used them against soul beasts. Hunting in the deep sea—is that your idea of sending us warmth?"
Ning Rongrong didn't respond, her brows furrowed tightly.
Something was very wrong—twelve kinds of wrong.
Based on the unscientific analyses of the Douluo series, the Demon Empress's personality shift happened after the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King's death.
The current Demon Empress, in the style of the Continent of Love, should have a personality like Bi Ji's—easily swayed.
Could something have happened to the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King?
Ning Rongrong recalled something Ning Fengzhi had mentioned in passing before she left.
A few months ago, a battle suspected to involve Limit Douluo occurred in the Vast Sea City waters.
Afterward, Ning Fengzhi began investigating.
He found that Tang Chen of the Clear Sky Sect was in Vast Sea City during that time.
"Could Tang Chen and Bo Saixi have teamed up to take down the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King?"
According to Sword Douluo, Tang Chen's injuries from the Star Luo and Heaven Dou war hadn't fully healed, so he'd be in a weakened state even if he fought the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King.
Even so, could he and Bo Saixi really defeat it?
In the original story, defeating the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King was a plot-driven kill by the protagonist team.
Ning Rongrong pulled back her thoughts, studying the Demon Empress.
"Strength at the peak of Limit Douluo, pseudo-demigod realm, roughly 590,000 years of cultivation."
In the Legend of the Dragon King era, tens of thousands of years later, the Demon Empress, fueled by hatred, reached a million years and became a true god. That wasn't impossible.
After all, the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King, at just over 300,000 years old, had 990,000 years of cultivation.
The Demon Empress, of the same species with similar devouring abilities, could reach a higher level after tens of thousands of years, especially with the God Realm gone, allowing a breakthrough to godhood.
"But 590,000 years!"
"Why do I always run into these high-stakes battles? I'm not Uchiha Sunny-Pillar, acting on a whim…"
"Sigh, can't I just show off a little?"
Life is tough, Rongrong sighed.