"There's no point in arguing."
Ning Rongrong gazed at the Demon Empress, whose eyes were sharp, trying to buy time.
"Compared to us hunting sea soul beasts, your Deep Sea Demonic Whale clan, with its unique devouring ability, has probably killed far more sea soul beasts, hasn't it?"
"Or is it fine as long as the meat rots in your own pot, no matter how much?"
"It's all rotten anyway, right?"
Ning Rongrong shrugged indifferently.
There was no justice or evil. As long as the God Realm's rules remained unchanged, soul beasts and humans could never fully coexist peacefully. The hunter-prey relationship couldn't be balanced.
"Hmph, humans, you're inherently evil," the Demon Empress said coldly. "It's not about numbers—it's that your soul tools could threaten our future."
"So, please die here!"
A six-pointed star array appeared.
"Wrath of the Demon Empress!"
In an instant, the Demon Empress's aura surged dramatically.
Terrifying energy erupted into the sky, striking at Ning Rongrong like a beam of light.
"Really, no way to talk this out!"
Ning Rongrong gave a light laugh, and the space around her rapidly distorted.
The next second, she vanished from her spot.
The Demon Empress's terrifying beam missed its target, veering off and striking the sea.
"Boom!"
With a loud roar, the sea surface steamed with thick, scorching mist.
Waves hundreds of meters high surged upward.
"Sword Technique—Ten Thousand Swords Return!"
Using a spatial leap, Ning Rongrong appeared behind the Demon Empress. Her ink-black longsword glowed, and the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda floated silently around her, releasing zhenqi.
Water droplets in the air rapidly condensed into tiny ice swords.
Ice-attribute swords surrounded the Demon Empress from all directions.
"This is…"
The Demon Empress was startled, gazing at the ice swords closing in from every angle with no blind spots.
Her face showed a trace of shock.
"Ten Thousand Swords Return—Ice Throne!"
Countless ice swords rained down, each infused with Ning Rongrong's defense-breaking zhenqi.
The Demon Empress blocked some of the swords with her soul power but was still hit by others.
"Damn it, this energy isn't soul power…"
A piercing pain hit her, and the Demon Empress clearly sensed a unique force, somewhat similar to divine power but distinctly different upon closer inspection.
"Curse it!"
"Don't underestimate the Deep Sea Demonic Whale clan!"
Suddenly, blinding golden light erupted around the Demon Empress, spreading outward in layers, illuminating the sea and evaporating the incoming ice arrows with intense heat.
"Demonic Abyss Sea Roar!"
Countless beams of light radiated outward, the Demon Empress shining like a dazzling golden sun.
"Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda—Defense!"
The radiant Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda fell into Ning Rongrong's hands, creating a spherical barrier around herself and the pagoda.
The dense golden light struck the barrier, causing it to tremble violently.
"Cough, cough—"
A trace of blood seeped from Ning Rongrong's lips.
As expected of a Limit Douluo—facing her head-on was still incredibly difficult.
Ning Rongrong extended her senses and found the Zi Zhenzhu had left her perception range.
"Phew—"
"Just stall a bit longer, and I can withdraw."
…
At the Zi Zhenzhu's location, all sailors were stationed in the engine room, pushing the ship toward Vast Sea City at full speed.
Wang Quan Fugui and a few others stood on the deck, guarding against any reckless soul beasts during the journey.
However, the terrifying energy from the distant horizon kept them uneasy.
"Rongrong, she'll be fine, right?" Ning Yun stared at the aurora-like flickering sky, murmuring as if reassuring others—or himself.
"That's the Young Sect Leader's strength?"
Worry crossed Wang Quan Fugui's face, but his tone carried awe.
He had thought that as a Title Douluo, he was among the elite at the top of the Soul Master world.
But seeing that woman—likely a transformed soul beast—effortlessly block his ninth soul skill, Wang Quan Fugui realized the vast gap between himself and the world's pinnacle.
"Young Sect Leader, you must be safe!"
From now on, if you tell me to go east, I won't go west.
Even if it means forcibly ousting your father, I'll stand by you.
…
"Clang—"
With a sword strike, Ning Rongrong deflected the Demon Empress's soul skill with finesse.
She exhaled lightly. "As expected, you're still holding back!"
"You deliberately controlled the attack's range."
"I don't know what you're talking about," the Demon Empress said, meeting Ning Rongrong's gaze. Though she appeared as a human girl, she was someone the Demon Empress had to take seriously.
Moreover, she didn't seem like a typical Soul Master.
"Hehe." Ning Rongrong slowly pulled back, smiling faintly. "Let me guess—you're worried about Sea God Island."
"If I'm not mistaken, that 990,000-year Deep Sea Demonic Whale King is gravely injured, isn't he?"
"Human, do you really think I can't kill you?" The Demon Empress's face turned cold.
"Who knows!" Ning Rongrong shrugged. "Well, time's up. I should go."
"Human, your aura is weakening."
"That may be, but capturing me alive is impossible," Ning Rongrong said after a moment's thought. "By the way, you've met Di Tian, haven't you?"
"You…" The Demon Empress's expression shifted. This human girl knew too much—not only that she was the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King's wife but also about Di Tian.
"As I thought." Seeing the Demon Empress's uncontrollable expression, Ning Rongrong smiled. "I know Di Tian too. Overall, I have no intention of fighting you, nor am I tied to Sea God Island or the Clear Sky Sect."
"Speaking of which, since you've crossed paths with the Star Dou Great Forest…"
"Are you aware that soul beasts can't become gods?"
The Demon Empress fell silent.
"Fine, I won't ask." Seeing her reaction, Ning Rongrong spread her hands. Under the Demon Empress's intense gaze, her body dissolved into specks of light, scattering into the air.
"She escaped?"
The Demon Empress stood suspended in midair, sighing after a long pause.
"Let her escape, then." She sighed again. "I wonder if my husband knows this girl's identity."
Having just returned from the Sun-Moon Continent, the Demon Empress was unclear on many matters and planned to observe quietly. The soul tool Ning Rongrong used was an unexpected discovery.
Her large-scale control of small fish and shrimp wasn't aimed at ordinary humans.
Her target was Sea God Island's movements.
With her husband injured and Sea God Island seemingly planning something big, she had to be cautious.
But as a pseudo-demigod, she could only watch.
Avoiding unforeseen incidents.
"Damn Sea God Island."
If she hadn't returned early and used a soul beast fusion skill with her husband to repel Bo Saixi and Tang Chen, who wielded divine artifacts, she might have returned to a grave.
Even so, her husband was still gravely wounded.
Though Bo Saixi and Tang Chen were also injured, they had a god backing them.
"It seems a trip to the Star Dou Great Forest is necessary."
Whether to break through to demigod or to clarify the girl's words, she needed answers.
The Demon Empress transformed back into her true form and dove, her over-150-meter body striking but a mere speck in the boundless sea.