stonecrandall Chapter 397 The Great White Shark with the Ten-Thousand-Year Demon Soul
Chapter 397 The Great White Shark with the Ten-Thousand-Year Demon Soul
Meanwhile, Poseidon Island, a ring-shaped sea.
This is an inland lake located behind Poseidon Mountain. It is connected to the sea, yet it forms its own world.
The lake is a deep, dark blue color. When calm, it looks like a huge sapphire set in the center of the island. But if you look closely, you will find that there are undercurrents beneath the surface, as if countless unseen beasts are swimming in the depths.
The name "Ring Sea" comes from its shape.
A near-perfect circle, with a small island at its center, upon which stands a pure white sacred pillar. Atop the pillar floats a pearl the size of a fist, radiating a soft, milky-white light. That is the endpoint of the second trial: the sacred pillar guarded by the Demon Soul Great White Shark.
The lake is more than ten miles in diameter and its deepest point is said to be a thousand feet deep.
The outer perimeter of the ring-shaped sea is composed of steep rock walls, with only a few gaps for access.
It was early morning, and a thin mist shrouded the lake like a veil. Sunlight refracted through the mist, creating a rainbow of colors that made the waters look like a fairyland.
But Tang Chuan knew that beneath this fairyland lay deadly danger.
Poseidon stood on a rock by the circular coastline, her red dress fluttering in the sea breeze. Her gaze swept over Tang Chuan and his group of five, finally settling on the lake, and she said calmly:
"The second test of the Sea God: cross the ring-shaped sea, reach the central sacred pillar, and touch the pearl on the sacred pillar to pass."
"The rules are simple—you must not harm any sea spirit beasts. Whatever method you use, as long as you don't kill or seriously injure any sea spirit beast within the ring-shaped sea, you're in compliance. But if you violate them…"
Her voice suddenly turned cold.
"The assessment will fail immediately, and you will be permanently disqualified from participating in the Poseidon assessment."
Ning Rongrong muttered to herself:
"How are we supposed to get through this... If we don't hurt them, what if they hurt us?"
Poseidon heard this, but simply smiled and said, "Then let's see what you can do."
She stepped back, giving way to the lakeshore: "Let's begin."
The five people stood on the shore, gazing at the calm and mysterious lake, and fell silent for a moment.
The Ring Sea is home to a wide variety of sea creatures, ranging from the most basic starfish and sea urchins to overlords that are tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of years old.
The true king of this body of water is a 100,000-year-old demonic great white shark.
The Demon Soul Great White Shark, one of Poseidon's mounts, possesses unfathomable strength.
It is no ordinary sea spirit beast, but a guardian with a contract with Seagod Island. It possesses extremely high intelligence and can even communicate with humans. Its duty is to guard the sacred pillar in the center of the ring sea and test every spirit master who participates in the Seagod's Trial.
"We have to break through their blockade without harming the sea spirit beasts..." Dugu Yan frowned and said, "Unless we can swim over silently without being detected."
"Impossible." Xiao Ruier shook her head, her golden eyes fixed on the lake surface, and said, "I can sense that the number of sea spirit beasts in the lake is terrifying. And that great white shark... its perception covers the entire ring-shaped sea. Any creature that enters the water will be detected by it immediately."
Ye said softly and coldly, "Then, could we... negotiate with it?"
"Negotiation?" Ning Rongrong blinked and laughed, "Negotiation with a shark?"
"It's no ordinary shark," Tang Chuan said, his gaze profound. "A 100,000-year-old soul beast, its intelligence is no less than that of a human. And having guarded the Sacred Pillar for so many years, it must have seen countless examinees. Perhaps…"
He paused, looked in Poseidon's direction, and seemed to be deep in thought.
Poseidon's words just now seemed to leave room for interpretation.
She said that no sea spirit beasts could be harmed, but she didn't say that other methods couldn't be used.
If it were simply a matter of not being discovered, that would be far too easy.
The test set by the sea god would never be so superficial.
"Observe first." Tang Chuan made a decision and said seriously, "Leng Leng, use the life perception of the Nine-Hearted Begonia to investigate the distribution of sea spirit beasts in the lake. Rong Rong, use the amplification of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda to help Leng Leng expand her perception range. Yan Zi, release a little poisonous mist on the lake surface and see the sea spirit beasts' reaction. Rui'er, come with me into the water and test the depth."
"Go into the water?" Xiao Ruier raised an eyebrow, puzzled.
"Can't you breathe underwater?" Tang Chuan smiled slightly, transmitting his voice, "A 100,000-year-old soul beast in human form, you should have this much ability, right?"
Xiao Ruier smiled and said, "Of course."
The five people divided the tasks and acted swiftly.
Ye Lengleng sat cross-legged, her Nine-Heart Begonia Martial Soul appearing, its emerald light spreading across the lake like ripples. Ning Rongrong stood behind her, her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda shining brightly, four beams of amplifying light falling upon Ye Lengleng.
With Ning Rongrong's blessing, Ye Lengleng's life perception range expanded by a full three times!
Her consciousness was like an invisible net, covering the entire ring-shaped sea and feeding back the distribution, number, and strength levels of the sea spirit beasts in the lake.
"So many..." Ye Lengleng's face turned pale, and she said with some worry, "There are more than 100,000 sea spirit beasts in the lake. There are more than a thousand of them that are over 10,000 years old. In the deepest part... there is an extremely powerful life force, which should be the Demon Soul Great White Shark."
"What about the distribution?" Tang Chuan pressed.
"A circular distribution." Ye Leng Leng closed his eyes, his brows slightly furrowed.
"The outer circle has the most, mostly small sea spirit beasts that are a hundred or a thousand years old. The middle circle has ten-thousand-year-old sea spirit beasts, with a lower density but stronger individual strength. The inner circle... has almost no sea spirit beasts, only that great white shark and the central sacred pillar."
"In other words, once we break through the outer and middle rings and enter the inner ring, we only need to face one enemy: the Great White Shark," Dugu Yan analyzed.
Xiao Ruier frowned and said, "But the problem is how to break through. The outer circle of sea spirit beasts is densely packed, with almost no gaps. Moreover, their perception is very strong, and any unusual movement will alert them. Once alerted, the ten-thousand-year-old sea spirit beasts in the middle circle will swarm in, and then..."
She didn't finish her sentence, but everyone understood the consequences.
One hundred thousand sea spirit beasts, thousands of ten-thousand-year-old sea spirit beasts, plus a one hundred-thousand-year-old demonic soul great white shark—this is simply not something that human beings can overcome by force.
Even if Tang Chuan has a cultivation level of 96.
It's also impossible to break through without damaging them.
"Try the poisonous fog," Tang Chuan said to Dugu Yan.
Dugu Yan nodded, raised her hand, and a pale purple poisonous mist drifted from her palm, slowly floating towards the lake surface. The concentration of the poisonous mist was very low, not enough to harm the sea spirit beasts, but enough to trigger their reaction.
The moment the toxic fog touched the lake surface.
"Whoosh—!!!"
The once calm lake surface suddenly boiled!
Countless sea spirit beasts burst forth from the water, densely packed, blotting out the sky!
There were deep-sea rays with sharp teeth, groups of sea urchins covered in spikes, and giant octopuses with tentacles like snakes... They frantically rushed towards the poisonous fog, as if driving away the invaders!
"Hiss—!" Ning Rongrong gasped.
Just a wisp of toxic mist triggered such a violent reaction.
If it's a person going into the water...
The poisonous fog was quickly dispelled by the collective attack of the sea spirit beasts, and the lake returned to calm. However, the sea spirit beasts did not disperse; instead, they lingered in the water, warily watching the shore.
Dugu Yan frowned and said, "They are very vigilant and extremely sensitive to unusual auras. It's almost impossible to pass through silently."
Tang Chuan didn't speak immediately. Instead, he walked to the lakeside, squatted down, and reached his hand into the water.
The lake water was icy cold, with a hint of saltiness. The mark of the Vast Ocean Universe Cover between his brows glowed faintly, and a subtle, approachable aura emanated from his palm, resonating with the lake water.
Those who inherit the legacy of the sea god are born with a close affinity to the ocean.
He closed his eyes and sensed everything in the water—the aura of the sea spirit beast, the trajectory of the water flow, the reefs at the bottom of the lake… Gradually, a vague idea emerged in his mind.
Perhaps, there is no need for a breakthrough at all.
"I have an idea," Tang Chuan said, standing up to the four of them.
"What are your thoughts?" the four women asked in unison.
Tang Chuan did not answer directly, but looked in Poseidon's direction and said loudly:
"High Priest, does the damage that doesn't harm any sea spirit beasts include putting them into a slumber?"
Poseidon paused for a moment, then shook her head: "No. Any control-type soul skill can be used as long as it doesn't cause substantial physical damage."
Tang Chuan's lips curled into a smile: "That makes things easier."
He turned to Dugu Yan:
"Yanzi, do you have a variant of your Jade Phosphorus Snake venom that can cause unconsciousness without being fatal?"
Dugu Yan's eyes lit up: "Yes! I have a move called Azure Phosphorous Smoke, which releases hallucinogenic poisonous mist that puts creatures into a brief sleep. The toxicity is very mild and will not cause any harm, but the duration is short, at most half a quarter of an hour."
"Half a quarter of an hour is enough." Tang Chuan nodded.
He then looked at Ye Lengleng:
"Leng Leng, can your Nine Heart Begonia enhance the resistance of living beings in a short period of time? I don't want to weaken them, but... to make them sleep better."
Ye Leng was taken aback for a moment, then understood what he meant:
"You mean... you want them to go into a voluntary sleep?"
"It's not proactive, it's a harmless way to appease them," Tang Chuan said. "Since we can't harm them, let's get them to let us pass willingly. Leng Leng will use the Nine-Heart Begonia to release her life force and soothe the sea spirit beasts. Yan Zi will release a low concentration of sleeping gas to put them into a light sleep. The combination of the two should temporarily paralyze the sea spirit beasts in the outer and middle circles."
"What about the great white shark in the inner circle?" Xiao Ruier asked.
A glint of light flashed in Tang Chuan's eyes: "The Great White Shark... I'll deal with it. It's not an ordinary soul beast; it's intelligent and can communicate. I'll go and talk to it."
Ning Rongrong's eyes widened in disbelief. "Talk? Negotiate with a 100,000-year-old soul beast?"
"My identity as the inheritor of the Sea God's legacy should be of some use." Tang Chuan touched the trident mark between his eyebrows. "Besides, I also have something that interests it."
He didn't say what it was, but the four women vaguely guessed: the Vast Ocean Universe Cover. The Sea God's artifact possessed a natural affinity and deterrent effect on the soul beasts guarding Sea God Island.
"Okay," Xiao Ruier was the first to agree. "I'll go with you. If the negotiations break down, I can help you out."
Dugu Yan said:
"I'll go too. My poison mist needs to be released at close range for precise control."
"I... I'll just cheer you on from the shore," Ning Rongrong said softly, shrinking her neck. "I'd be a burden if I went into the water."
Ye smiled gently and coldly: "I'll maintain the calming range of the Nine-Heart Begonia on the shore, trying to cover the central circle as much as possible. Rongrong will help me increase its power."
"It's settled then," Tang Chuan decided.
Once everything was ready, the four of them immediately set off.
Ye Lengleng sat cross-legged on the shore, fully activating her Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul, and the emerald green life energy spread across the lake like ripples.
Ning Rongrong stood behind her, and all four amplifying rays of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda were applied to her, maximizing the coverage of her life force.
Wherever the emerald light passed, the sea spirit beasts in the lake fell silent.
They instinctively sensed the kindness and life force contained in this aura, and their volatile emotions were slowly calmed down.
Dugu Yan stood by the lake, her hands forming a mudra, and wisps of pale purple smoke drifted from her palms and merged into the lake water.
The concentration of the sleeping gas was extremely low, almost invisible to the naked eye, but each wisp drifted precisely towards the sea spirit beasts that had already been soothed, turning them from alert to drowsy, and from drowsy to asleep.
The sea spirit beasts on the outer edge began to sink to the bottom of the lake in large numbers, falling into a peaceful sleep.
"Go!" Tang Chuan shouted and leaped into the lake!
Xiao Ruier followed closely behind, her entire body enveloped in golden light, like a sharp sword cleaving through the lake. Dugu Yan rode silently behind, a phantom of a venomous snake formed from the venom of the Azure Phosphorous Serpent.
The three of them moved extremely fast, yet they barely made a splash.
Tang Chuan's Vast Ocean Universe Cover mark glowed slightly, merging the auras of the three with the lake water, making them undetectable to the sea spirit beasts that were not yet fully asleep.
The central circle is the gathering place of the ancient sea spirit beasts.
The sea spirit beasts here are larger, stronger, and more resilient.
Ye Leng Leng's life force had weakened by this point, and Dugu Yan's intoxicating smoke would take longer to take effect.
Just then, a giant tiger shark, thousands of years old, swam in front of the three of them. Its enormous body was like a small boat. Its eyes were half-open and half-closed, clearly affected by the sleeping gas, but not yet fully asleep.
Seeing this, Xiao Ruier gripped the Golden Dragon Spear tightly, ready to make a move at any moment.
"Don't move." Tang Chuan pressed her hand down and transmitted his voice, "Let me do it."
The next second, the mark of the Vast Ocean Universe Cover between his eyebrows shone brightly!
An aura of the sea god emanated from him, enveloping the tiger shark.
The tiger shark shuddered, its enormous eyes snapping open as it stared intently at Tang Chuan!
But soon, the wariness in its eyes turned into awe.
It sensed the aura emanating from Tang Chuan that was of the same origin as the Sea God. It was the aura of the Lord of the Sea, the supreme majesty that all sea spirit beasts had to submit to.
The tiger shark lowered its head and slowly sank to the bottom of the lake, making way for the shark.
Tang Chuan and his two companions continued forward.
Along the way, they encountered hundreds of ten-thousand-year-old sea spirit beasts, each of which actively gave way upon sensing Tang Chuan's aura of the Sea God. Ye Lengleng and Dugu Yan's cooperation became increasingly tacit, their life force intertwining with the misty smoke, sending all the sea spirit beasts along the way to sleep.
In less than fifteen minutes, the three broke through the middle circle and entered the inner circle.
In the inner circle, the lake water was as calm as a mirror, without a single sea spirit beast.
There is only one fish.
A giant, silvery-white shark, over thirty meters long, floated in the center of the lake, directly facing the sacred pillar. Its body lines were smooth and graceful, each scale radiating a metallic sheen, and its enormous eyes, like two black pearls, were deep and wise.
A 100,000-year-old demonic soul great white shark. (End of Chapter)