Howling winds ravaged the sky, mingling with the salty scent of the sea breeze as it swept across the horizon. A giant seagull spread its wings, obscuring the sky and sun, resembling a massive battleship cleaving through the waves as it sped through the sea of clouds. Wherever its wings swept, the clouds churned like boiling water.
Below, the mountains of the Tian Hun Empire rose and fell. Sea Spear Douluo stood steadily on the seagull's back, his sharp gaze surveying the vast land beneath them. Their destination was the Haotian Sect.
Although the ancient texts of the Sea God Family contained records regarding the Haotian Sect's location, it was only a rough area. The current region was filled with rolling mountains and lingering mist; accurately finding the deeply hidden Haotian Sect was no easy task.
Meanwhile, inside the main hall of the Haotian Fortress, Niu Tian (Da Ming) and Tai Tan/Titan (Er Ming) sat facing each other, drinking.
For them, since they weren't allowed to step foot outside the Haotian Fortress, this was their only remaining source of amusement.
If they didn't drink, they were afraid they would die of boredom!
Suddenly, Tai Tan jolted, his thick voice making the cups and bowls tremble slightly: "Big brother, Tang San just sent me another message using his divine sense."
With confusion in his eyes, he subconsciously shifted his gaze to Niu Tian beside him.
He didn't understand why Tang San would give them such an order.
Since it concerned Xiao Dong, he was being exceptionally cautious.
"Could it be that he plans to let Xiao Dong inherit the Sea God's godhood? Or is it like back in their day, where he'll take Xiao Dong to participate in the God's Examination to boost his strength? Tsk—, logically speaking, we should be capable of that too..."
A burly man who had lived for over a hundred thousand years was now muttering to himself, even dragging the topic completely off-track.
Yet, even so, Niu Tian's face remained as calm as water.
He didn't speak, as if he had already seen through everything.
Slowly standing up, he put down the wine jar and simply said, "Second brother, go welcome our guests from afar."
Before his voice faded, Niu Tian's aura abruptly erupted.
A majestic and vigorous aura shot straight into the sky, like a bright beacon shining in the dark, piercing through the heavy surrounding mist and spreading into the distance.
This aura contained endless power and majesty, as if it could shake the heavens and the earth.
At this moment, Sea Spear Douluo and Sea Gull Douluo, who were miles away, instantly sensed this powerful aura.
Seeing this, a hint of pleasant surprise flashed in Sea Spear Douluo's eyes.
"Found it. It's over there!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, the giant seagull transformed by Sea Gull Douluo fiercely flapped its wings, accelerating toward the direction of the aura.
Before long, they broke through the layers of mist and arrived right in front of a magnificent yet unadorned ancient castle.
The castle before them was built against the mountain, towering into the clouds. It seemed to have merged with heaven and earth, standing unshakeable like a mountain peak.
Sea Gull Douluo had already slowly retracted his martial soul true body, reverting to human form, and landed on the ground beside Sea Spear Douluo.
He was tall and slender with a resolute face, his eyes shining with a shrewd and capable light. Sea Spear Douluo, on the other hand, had a burly physique with bulging muscles. Much like his own martial soul, he exuded a sharp, aggressive aura.
Just then, the grand gates of the Haotian Fortress slowly opened, and six figures in black walked out with steady strides.
Every single one of them was tall and sturdy. The Hao Tian Hammers they carried in their hands were the size of water vats, their hammerheads gleaming with a cold metallic luster.
With every step they took, the ground trembled slightly, as if bearing an endless weight. Their auras were restrained and profound, much like towering mountains, exerting an invisible pressure.
This scene caused Sea Spear Douluo and Sea Gull Douluo to be secretly startled. Not a single one of the six men before them had a cultivation level lower than their own.
In terms of combat power, they were perhaps even superior.
This was a show of dominance right from the very start!
Immediately after, the six men parted, standing to either side.
The next second, Niu Tian and Tai Tan strode out side by side.
Niu Tian wore a green robe. His face was as refined as a scholar's, but his eyes were deep and sharp, seemingly capable of seeing right through a person. The surging pressure around him made the air feel stagnant. Tai Tan wore coarse linen clothes, his muscles knotted like mountain ranges, radiating a wild sense of power. Every step he took seemed to make the ground quake.
The appearance of these two instantly sent a shock through Sea Spear Douluo and Sea Gull Douluo, the horror in their hearts difficult to suppress.
Sea Spear Douluo marveled inwardly; the strength displayed by these two was actually not inferior to their own clan leader, the Sea God Douluo, and in some aspects, even surpassed him.
Sea Gull Douluo beside him couldn't help but click his tongue in secret:
Worthy of being the family where the Sea God originated. Their foundation is truly profound, and they are clouded with experts—they even have two Ultimate Douluos!
Terrifying to such a degree!
Just as the two of them were about to step forward...
"You two."
Before Sea Spear Douluo and Sea Gull Douluo could even open their mouths to state their purpose, Niu Tian had already raised a hand to stop them. His gaze was like a torch, staring directly at them, his voice carrying an undeniable sense of rejection.
"I already know of your purpose. However, my Haotian Sect has long retreated into the mountains and has cared nothing for worldly affairs for many years. The disputes of the mortal world have nothing to do with us."
These words and tone were like a basin of cold water, leaving Sea Spear Douluo and Sea Gull Douluo utterly speechless. They had originally hoped to borrow the strength of the Haotian Sect, but they never expected to be rejected so cleanly.
Even the tone...
Was less than friendly.
It was as if they had somehow offended the Haotian Sect.
Sea Spear Douluo frowned slightly, taking a step forward as he cupped his fists and said, "Senior of the Haotian Sect, to tell you the truth, our visit this time concerns a matter of great importance. Back then, Lord Sea God slew the Deep Sea Devil Whale King and ascended to godhood, bringing blessings to the ocean. However, there are still remnants that escaped, and their whereabouts remain unknown. If we let this remnant run rampant, it will undoubtedly endanger the safety of the continent and the ocean. We hope that..."
"No need to say more."
Niu Tian interrupted her, his gaze sweeping over the two of them. He maintained a calm expression, completely unmoved, but deep within his eyes lay rejection, and even a hint of disgust.
"Enshrined elders of the Sea God Family, I don't know how much truth lies in your words. But my Haotian Sect has weathered many storms and now lives in seclusion atop these mountains. Past grudges and favors, the rights and wrongs of the continent—none of these are our focus anymore."
Tai Tan crossed his arms, watching coldly from the sidelines. You must know, even though he and his big brother naturally stood on the side of the Sea God, it didn't mean they agreed with the Sea God Family's rhetoric.
At the end of the day, they were spirit beasts.
What remnants and whatnot...
How rampant could they really be?
He hated it the most when people used this kind of excuse to push an agenda.
"You two, please leave!"
Accompanied by Tai Tan's suddenly heavy tone, he didn't give Sea Spear Douluo and Sea Gull Douluo any chance to explain—that this remnant was a genuine threat, not just an excuse to deal with the Deep Sea Devil Whale, and that this so-called "help" was merely a request to track its whereabouts.
But obviously, the order Tang San had just given had already pissed Tai Tan and the others off. Why would they bother listening to the explanations of these two sea soul masters?
And just let Xiao Dong go with them...
Bah!
It would be better to keep Xiao Dong by their side to cultivate.
Just as Tai Tan's thoughts were wandering, Niu Tian rejected them once more.
"Our minds are made up. You need not say any more. My Haotian Sect has its own way of conducting itself and will not easily be drawn into external conflicts."
Sea Spear Douluo and Sea Gull Douluo exchanged a glance, both seeing the helplessness in each other's eyes.
Obviously, they weren't going to change their minds.
"Seniors, we take our leave." ×2
With that said, the two turned and left.
They hadn't expected their trip to be so unsmooth. They could only hope that Sea Shark, Sea Serpent, and the others on their clan leader's side were having better luck.
...
Shrek City.
Two men stepped inside.
One was tall and robust, his skin glowing with a bronze luster, emitting a cold aura much like a shark's. The other was slender and agile, a shrewd gleam flashing in his eyes, exuding an indescribable charm.
These two were precisely Sea Shark Douluo and Sea Serpent Douluo.
Because Shrek City had previously suffered a joint pincer attack from the Holy Spirit Cult and the Sun Moon Empire, coupled with the currently tense battlefield where many experts had rushed to the frontlines, the sudden appearance of these two immediately put Shi Xing, who was responsible for guarding the city, on high alert.
"Someone, go notify the Academy."
"Yes!"
At the same time, inside the Sea God Pavilion.
Elder Song hadn't gone to the frontlines like the other elders. Because Elder Xuan was currently in closed-door cultivation to break through to the Ultimate Douluo realm, Shrek Academy needed a powerful expert to hold the fort, as well as to protect Elder Xuan.
However, just then, "Elder Song." Yan Shaozhe suddenly arrived at the Sea God Pavilion and reported, "Shi Xing just informed me that two Titled Douluos suddenly arrived in Shrek City. They are heading straight for the Academy."
"Oh?"
Elder Song frowned slightly. After a brief moment of thought, she said, "Shaozhe, I'll leave this place to you. I'll go see for myself."
"Yes."
Yan Shaozhe nodded slightly, taking over Elder Song's position. He would sit in the Sea God Pavilion while simultaneously acting as a guardian for the closed-door cultivating Elder Xuan.
Elder Song's figure flashed, disappearing from the Sea God Pavilion like a ghost as she hurried toward the academy's entrance. At the same time, Sea Shark Douluo and Sea Serpent Douluo were strolling leisurely toward the gates. As they walked, they looked around with great interest at this legendary academy that had birthed Lord Sea God.
Soon, they arrived at the academy gates.
Right at that moment, Elder Song also arrived.
Sea Shark Douluo and Sea Serpent Douluo looked up. They saw a short elderly woman. Although her face was kind, she vaguely emanated an aura of innate majesty.
Even more so, when they felt the vigorous aura radiating from Elder Song's body, their hearts couldn't help but shudder.
This aura was steady and deeply restrained, yet fiercely and abnormally powerful—not in the slightest inferior to their eldest brother, Sea Dragon Douluo.
Sea Shark Douluo and Sea Serpent Douluo exchanged a glance. After stepping up to Elder Song, they respectfully cupped their fists and spoke with humble attitudes, "Senior, we have come to visit presumptuously and caused a disturbance. We hope you will forgive us."
As they spoke, Elder Song keenly caught the fishy scent of the sea on them, allowing her to instantly deduce that they were sea soul masters.
But why would sea soul masters come to Shrek Academy?
Elder Song's gaze was calm as water. After a slight nod, she asked, "Who are you? What is your business at Shrek Academy?"
Sea Shark Douluo hurriedly explained, "Senior, we two are Sea Shark Douluo and Sea Serpent Douluo. We belong to the Sea God Family, which was formerly known as Sea God Island. We have come this time to discuss an important matter."
Saying this, he revealed the mark on their glabellas.
The black stars appeared dazzling at this moment.
Hearing the words "Sea God Family" and "Sea God Island," and even seeing the stars on their foreheads that represented the God's Examination, Elder Song suddenly understood. As the core secret of Shrek Academy, the Sea God Pavilion's long historical records naturally contained no shortage of information regarding Sea God Island's God's Examination, and even its local customs.
No wonder these two sea soul masters came to the academy...
If they were from Sea God Island, then it made perfect sense. After all, ten thousand years ago, their academy's ancestor, Tang San, had achieved the Sea God godhood. By that logic, there was indeed a bond between the two sides.
"I see."
Elder Song nodded slightly, her expression relaxing a bit. "Since you are from the Sea God Family, then follow me into the academy."
Sea Shark Douluo and Sea Serpent Douluo were overjoyed. After thanking her, they followed behind Elder Song and stepped through Shrek's grand gates.
As Sea Shark and Sea Serpent walked past a certain section of the academy, a several-meter-tall statue of Tang San stood firmly within it.
Seeing the statue, a fervent respect instantly flashed in the eyes of Sea Shark Douluo and Sea Serpent Douluo. Under the gaze of many students, they neatly bowed in unison, their movements pious and solemn.
This action immediately made the surrounding students whisper among themselves.
Elder Song, naturally, had no intention of stopping them.
Before long, they leaped over the Sea God Lake. When they stepped into the Sea God Pavilion, Yan Shaozhe cast his gaze over the three of them.
"These two are Titled Douluos from the Sea God Family."
Yan Shaozhe was startled upon hearing this!
The Sea God Family? Weren't those the people from the original Sea God Island?
What were they doing here?
Compared to Elder Song, the more utilitarian Yan Shaozhe immediately began guessing their motives. They hadn't had any interaction for ten thousand years, and now they were suddenly paying a visit? No matter how he thought about it, they had an ulterior motive.
However, just then, Elder Song spoke up.
"Shaozhe, go attend to your duties first."
Hearing this, Yan Shaozhe had no choice but to cut off his train of thought and turn to leave. Just as Elder Song said, with the war growing more intense by the day, he, as the Dean of the Martial Soul Department, had absolutely no free time.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Yan Shaozhe left. Sea Shark Douluo and Sea Serpent Douluo followed Elder Song and took their seats in the main hall.
After briefly surveying the room, Sea Shark Douluo set his gaze on Elder Song and probed, "Senior, may I ask if you are the person in charge of Shrek Academy?"
Elder Song's expression remained calm and composed. She didn't directly answer his question but instead looked at them with a sharp gaze and countered, "Please first speak of the Sea God Family's purpose. What exactly brings you to Shrek Academy after all this trouble?"
Sea Serpent Douluo nodded, signaling Sea Shark Douluo to speak.
Sea Shark Douluo cleared his throat and said with a grave expression, "Senior, to tell you the truth, we came here this time to ask Shrek Academy if it has any information regarding a remnant of the Deep Sea Devil Whale King. We wonder if your esteemed academy knows anything about this?"
Elder Song frowned slightly, a secret shock rippling through her heart.
A remnant of the Deep Sea Devil Whale King!
In an instant, Elder Song already had a target in mind.
"Are you talking about her..." Following Elder Song's verbal description, the eyes of Sea Shark Douluo and Sea Serpent Douluo grew brighter and brighter.
Although they had never seen the true face of this remnant, the situation Elder Song described was almost completely identical to the impression their clan leader had given them!
They never expected to find a solid lead just from asking one question.
At this moment, Sea Shark Douluo and Sea Serpent Douluo were overjoyed and said, "We beg Senior to tell us the general whereabouts of that remnant."
However, Elder Song simply shook her head slightly.
"I don't know either."
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