Oscar saw the black radiance flying toward them from the distance and called out in alert.
"Boss, look! What is that?"
Oscar did not need to remind him; Yun Ming had already seen the incoming object. Sensing that familiar energy fluctuation, Yun Ming's eyes lit up.
But before Yun Ming could respond, in the blink of an eye, the black radiance had crossed dozens of miles, charging straight toward him and completely enveloping him within its glow.
The sudden turn of events caused Oscar and Ning Rongrong to cry out in alarm.
"Boss!"
"Captain!"
Only Ya Li sensed the long-lost fluctuation of Soul Power within the black radiance. Seeming to understand something, she spoke up to reassure the two of them.
"Don't worry, this is a good thing."
"Let's go, let's do what we can for now."
She then took the lead and left the deck. A super-giant wave was approaching again, and she needed to have Hai Lan steer the ship at full speed to try and buy them more time.
Seeing that Ya Li seemed to know what was going on, Oscar and the other felt their hearts settle slightly. They followed Ya Li to go and help out.
Inside the black light, in Yun Ming's spiritual world.
A miniature Mountain Sea Dragon Turtle was confronting Yun Ming's spiritual body.
This miniature Mountain Sea Dragon Turtle was naturally the soul body of Ao Tian. Although he had been forced to burn his Life to fight the Demon Emperor to the death, that did not mean he was willing to die.
To survive, and also to see the wonders of the god-level realm, he ultimately decided to gamble with Yun Ming. That was why, at the very last moment before the massive explosion, he had sent his origin and remaining energy to Yun Ming. Regardless of whether it succeeded, the outcome couldn't be worse than death.
However, as Ao Tian recalled it, the Demon Emperor seemed to have been drawn over by Yun Ming's aura. It was only later, when the Demon Emperor couldn't find Yun Ming, that he started eyeing his dragon meat, leading to the current situation. (Ao Tian subconsciously ignored his own overestimation of his abilities.)
So, he was essentially "sitting at home when disaster fell from the sky"—a pure victim of circumstance!
And now that he had walked right into Yun Ming's trap, conspiracy theories began to surface in Ao Tian's mind. Was this thick-browed, big-eyed kid doing this on purpose, or was it an accident?
Thinking of this, Ao Tian questioned Yun Ming with a hostile tone.
"Kid, speak! Did you intentionally scheme against this King? Did you know that old mother whale was nearby and deliberately lure her over to make her trouble me?"
If it were anyone else, Ao Tian would never have such thoughts; after all, how could a mere human know of the Demon Empress's existence? But Yun Ming was too mysterious—he even knew his name, which was highly suspicious.
Before they had left the battlefield, Yun Ming had heard the exchange between the Demon Emperor and Ao Tian, but they had been speaking in beast language, which Yun Ming could not understand. Now, hearing Ao Tian's words, Yun Ming was thoughtful. So, the Deep Sea Demon Whale had been drawn by him! To this, Yun Ming stated clearly.
"No."
The facts were indeed as Yun Ming said. The Demon Emperor had been wandering ten thousand meters underwater, over ten kilometers away; he truly hadn't known she was nearby. Otherwise, if he had known in advance, he would have waited a few more days to come. Ao Tian wouldn't have moved his home in just a few days, so there was no need for him to take such a risk.
The spiritual world was not like the outside; it was difficult to lie. Seeing that there was no abnormal change in Yun Ming's Spiritual Power when he answered, and knowing that his words were likely true, Ao Tian let go of his final guard and looked at Yun Ming seriously.
"I agree to what you said earlier, but I have one more condition."
Yun Ming said.
"Speak. As long as it doesn't violate my principles, I will certainly do it."
To this, Ao Tian said indifferently.
"Rest assured, my condition is very simple."
"I hope that one day, when your strength is sufficient, you will help me kill that old whale, the Demon Empress."
"A Soul Master killing a Soul Beast—this certainly doesn't violate your principles, right!"
Ao Tian was no saint, and he naturally did not want to let the Demon Emperor, who had a blood feud with him, go free.
Hearing this condition, Yun Ming had no reason to refuse and nodded in agreement.
"Fine, I agree."
The two reached a final agreement, and Ao Tian prepared to begin the sacrifice, but was stopped by Yun Ming.
Ao Tian: "?"
Looking at Ao Tian's puzzled expression, Yun Ming explained.
"The timing isn't right. The aftermath of the final clash between you and that Demon Empress is too great, and we are still in danger!"
Ao Tian sensed the giant wave rapidly approaching from the outside, which looked like a natural barrier. Realizing it was at a level even his main body would have to be careful to handle, he temporarily held back and muttered.
"Do you need this King's help?"
With a powerful assistant, Yun Ming naturally wouldn't refuse.
"Of course, later."
After hearing Yun Ming's request, Ao Tian agreed.
During the time Yun Ming and Ao Tian were communicating, Ya Li, Oscar, Ning Rongrong, and Hai Lan had gathered around Yun Ming again. Looking at the giant wave closing in behind them while Yun Ming remained hidden in the black radiance, Hai Lan looked at Ya Li and said anxiously.
"Your Highness, the wave is almost here, and Young Master Yun cannot act. What should we do?"
Ya Li's brows furrowed slightly. She looked at the increasingly nervous expressions of the group and the giant wave, quickly brainstorming in her mind, hoping to find another way to solve the problem. Under conditions that allowed for it, Ya Li did not want to disturb Yun Ming's cultivation.
But she was only a Support System Soul Master; her abilities were good at saving people, not at blocking disasters. Based on the existing conditions, Ya Li could not think of a second viable method.
Just as Ya Li felt troubled, a change finally occurred on Yun Ming's side.
All the black light dissipating around Yun Ming rapidly retracted and surged into the Atlas Divine Spear in his hand, transforming into a pitch-black, ink-like Dragon Turtle rune upon the spear.
Once the final wisp of black light flowed into the rune, Yun Ming opened his eyes, glanced at Hai Lan, and then turned his head to look at Ya Li.
"Your Highness Saintess, leave this kind of rough work to me."
Seeing Yun Ming wake up, Ya Li breathed a sigh of relief and asked earnestly.
"Did it affect you?"
Yun Ming shook his head, indicating he was fine.
On Hai Lan's side, seeing that Yun Ming had awakened, he immediately spoke up.
"I will go arrange for the Sea Soul Masters to prepare right away."
But before he had walked far, he heard Yun Ming say calmly.
"No need, just have the helmsman hold the rudder steady."
Hearing this, Hai Lan was somewhat confused, but he still followed Yun Ming's instructions to make the arrangements. Believe first, question later; he felt that Yun Ming would not joke with the lives of so many people.
Seeing the waves drawing near, one yellow and one purple Spirit Ring lit up beneath Yun Ming's feet, and the Dragon Turtle rune on the Atlas Divine Spear continuously injected pitch-black Soul Power toward the two Spirit Rings. Driven by Soul Power far exceeding the level of a Soul Emperor, a boundless silver light suddenly erupted from Yun Ming's body, quickly spreading to the entire hull of the ship.
Then, in the next instant, the ship on the sea surface vanished, and high above in the sky, an iron-blue vessel appeared, riding the wind and waves, heading toward an unknown destination atop the swells.
Not long after Yun Ming and his party had departed, the angry whale-like cry of the Demon Emperor rang out from the original center of the battle.
"Gu-gu--"
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Translated by: randomtranslator.com
Proofread by: DaoistReader