To the Blackfang Shark, meeting Yun Jin was the greatest opportunity of his entire life. When she asked him questions, he hurried to spill everything he knew in detail.
"There are four supreme races in the East Sea: the Ink Sea Dragon Clan, the Abyssal Merfolk, the Nether Turtles, and the Blue-Scaled Sirens. Together, they're known as the Four Overlords. Among them, the Ink Sea Dragon Clan reigns supreme!"
Yun Jin listened quietly, then asked, "How strong are these four races?"
The Blackfang Shark's face stiffened with fear. Lowering his voice, he said carefully, "This kind of matter isn't something a small fry like me should even mention. But since you asked, Senior, I'll speak boldly. The Ink Sea Dragon Clan is the leader of the four. Across the entire Boundless Sea, they're one of the undisputed overlords. Their clan chief, Mo Hai Zhēnzūn, is a peak Mahayana dragon."
He hesitated, then pressed his voice even lower. "He once followed the Sea Emperor. Just that alone makes him someone no creature in the East Sea dares to disrespect."
"Sea Emperor? Who's that?" Yun Jin asked, her gaze steady.
The Blackfang Shark nearly trembled. "Senior, please don't scare me. In the entire Boundless Sea, who else would dare call themselves emperor?"
He took a deep breath and said with reverence, "As the Sea Emperor, he's the ruler of the Boundless Sea, the one and only supreme being!"
Yun Jin stayed silent, but she remembered that name.
The Sea Emperor...
Alright.
That would be her ultimate goal. If the rest of the Boundless Sea couldn't help her perfect her Primordial Water, then sooner or later, she'd have to meet that Sea Emperor herself.
The Blackfang Shark continued, "Besides Mo Hai Zhēnzūn, the Ink Sea Dragon Clan has more than ten Mahayana experts, not to mention countless others at lower realms."
Yun Jin frowned slightly. "More than ten? Doesn't sound like a lot."
Cold sweat instantly formed on the Blackfang Shark's forehead. He couldn't tell if she really didn't know, or if she was testing him.
He quickly explained, "The Ink Sea Dragon Clan's domain is the Ink Sea Dragon Palace. Every member of the palace's core is from the Ink Sea Dragon Clan, one of the supreme races, unmatched in strength. But the palace also commands many other powerful sea beasts. If we count every strong one under their banner, the total number's terrifying. Just among the Mahayana experts alone, there are likely over a hundred."
Yun Jin nodded slightly, finally understanding.
Encouraged, the Blackfang Shark went on, "The same goes for the other three factions: the Abyssal Merfolk rule the Merfolk Cavern, the Nether Turtles control the Nether Lake, and the Blue-Scaled Sirens dominate the Siren Hall. Together, the four forces control almost all the territories in the deep East Sea. The smaller ones either aren't qualified to join or are too weak. They form their own little groups, but none of them amount to much."
Yun Jin nodded again.
She waved her hand and tossed him a jade bottle. "That's all I wanted to know. This bottle of pills will heal your wounds. Take it and go."
The Blackfang Shark clutched the bottle as if it were treasure, but he didn't move to leave.
Yun Jin narrowed her eyes. "What's wrong? Not enough?"
Her voice turned cold. The shark flinched, shaking his head frantically. "I wouldn't dare! It's just... I overheard that Senior intends to go to the deep sea region. With your strength, joining one of the four powers would be effortless. It's just... Senior seems to be alone, without any subordinates."
He swallowed, then said cautiously, "If you don't mind, I'd like to follow you, Senior. I can handle menial tasks."
Yun Jin gave him a faint, amused smile. "You think I'm heading there to join the four powers?"
The Blackfang Shark froze, confused.
Wasn't that the obvious reason?
For any sea beast in the East Sea, joining one of the four overlords was the ultimate dream.
Yun Jin looked at him and asked, "Do you know about the Spirit Pearl Clams?"
The shark nodded automatically.
"Their pearls are greatly beneficial for cultivation," Yun Jin said. "A race that unique must belong to one of the most powerful factions. They're kept by the Ink Sea Dragon Palace, aren't they?"
The shark nodded again. "Yes. The Ink Sea Dragons treasure them. Even their core members take turns guarding the Spirit Pearl Clams."
Yun Jin's eyes glinted. "Then that's perfect. I'll be killing every beast guarding them."
She said it so casually that the Blackfang Shark's pupils shrank sharply. In the next instant, he bolted dozens of meters away and fled without looking back.
Yun Jin chuckled softly at his retreating figure, then continued toward the deep sea.
Before long, she suddenly stopped.
Turning around, she saw the Blackfang Shark panting heavily as he swam back toward her.
His whole body was trembling, his face twisted in terror, but even as he shook, he said, "Senior... I still want to follow you."
That actually surprised Yun Jin. She raised an eyebrow. "You're terrified out of your mind, so why force yourself?"
"I'm not afraid, I'm not afraid, I'm really not afraid!" he muttered to himself, trembling. After repeating it a few times, his body finally stopped shaking. He gritted his teeth and said, "If you dare go against the Ink Sea Dragon Clan, then you must be one of the strongest beings in the world! Staying here in the shallow sea means living in constant fear anyway. If I follow you, maybe it'll be my chance! Even if I die, at least it'll be a death worth remembering!"
Yun Jin looked at him thoughtfully. He actually had guts. In this vast, boundless sea, having someone capable at her side wouldn't be a bad thing.
"Fine," she said. "You can come with me. You're also free to leave anytime. I won't stop you."
The Blackfang Shark's eyes lit up with joy. "I won't leave! Even if I die, I won't!"
He dropped to his knees and bowed. "Thank you, Senior, for taking me in!"
Yun Jin waved her hand dismissively. "I don't like formalities. Don't do that again."
"Yes!"
With that, Yun Jin led the Blackfang Shark downward. After several hours of diving, they finally entered the deep sea region. It was his first time here, and the Blackfang Shark's whole body was stiff with tension.
Yun Jin, however, looked perfectly calm. According to the map, they were now within the Ink Sea Dragon Palace's territory.
The palace that imprisoned the Spirit Pearl Clams was nearby.