The girls were carefree, chasing each other across the sandy beach in a lively game of volleyball or diving and splashing in the sea.
"Catch me if you can!" one of them called, laughter bubbling like wind-chimes in the sunlight.
Tang Yin lounged lazily nearby, upper body bare, basking in the sun as their silver laughter rang in his ears. His gaze roamed freely, unabashedly admiring the girls' playful curves.
They bent, twisted, and struck poses with deliberate charm, clearly reveling in the moment—and keeping him thoroughly entertained in the process.
To everyone's surprise, the priestess made frequent visits, always finding a spot on the beach to sunbathe alongside them, her gaze drifting toward Tang Yin from time to time.
Yuehua, sharp-minded as ever, immediately picked up on the subtle signals and guessed that Bo Saixi had come for Tang Yin.
Swoosh—
At one point, Xiao Wu accidentally swatted the volleyball a little too hard, and it rolled straight to Bo Saixi's feet. Rongrong hurried to retrieve it—but froze when she noticed the priestess lost in thought, her eyes lingering on Tang Yin's bare chest.
Seeing this, Rongrong and Xiao Wu, their sixth senses tingling, shot Tang Yin—who wore an innocent expression—exasperated looks.
"Don't tell me… even the Priestess fell for his charm?" they wondered inwardly, though they weren't entirely sure yet.
What could they do?
Resigned, they let themselves be swept up in the carefree tide, surrendering to days filled with laughter and leisure.
The rest remained clueless—until, in the days that followed, they gradually noticed the priestess frequently glancing toward him, and slowly, they too came to understand.
And just like that, two weeks passed.
During this time, neither Tang Yin nor the girls gave a thought to cultivation. They completely indulged in idleness, letting the days drift by in a blissful haze.
On this day, Tang Yin stood atop Xiao Bai, who had returned to her Great White Shark form, while his lovers perched atop their own great white sharks, savoring the ride.
He cast a quiet glance back at Bo Saixi, still standing on the shore, as poised and aloof as ever. Yet there was something in her gaze—a reluctance to part, like a worried wife torn from her husband—that made him smirk.
Still, he nodded with quiet respect.
"See you later, priestess," he said, bidding his farewell. She returned the gesture with a soft hum. The brief exchange left Xiao Bai beneath him feeling oddly unsettled.
"Alright then, let's depart!" he commanded.
Xiao Bai surged forward, the rest of her clan close behind. Waves splashed and churned around them as hundreds of white sharks cut through the water, embarking on a journey that would determine their fate.
Bo Saixi watched reluctantly, gripping her sacred staff, as Tang Yin and his companions gradually faded into the horizon.
"Tang Yin… come back soon~" she muttered, before gliding back to the Sea God Temple. Once inside, she closed the door behind her, ready to indulge her worried heart.
***
Tang Yin lounged atop Xiao Bai, completely unbothered by the looming battle. In contrast, Xiao Bai seemed restless, weaving through the ocean waves and chattering nonstop as they sped forward.
"The Evil Spirit Orcas are our sworn enemies. Every decade or so, our clans clashes," she rambled. "One Evil Spirit Orca can fight two of our fully grown kin—we've always been at a disadvantage."
"I hate to say it, but the Evil Spirit Orca King is stronger than me," she added, glancing up at him nervously. "Even though you beat me fair and square, don't think for a second you can take him lightly. Let me tell you—"
Tang Yin finally grew irritated by her endless nagging and gave Xiao Bai a light smack on the head—just enough to shut her up.
Whack—!
"Keep nagging and see if I don't smack your butt next," he warned lazily. "Did you already forget, or do you need me to remind you once again?" His tone left no room for doubt.
Xiao Bai shivered as the fresh memories of that punishment resurfaced—painful, yet embarrassingly enjoyable.
"Hehe~" A thin line of drool gathered at the corner of her lips as her mind wandered, and she couldn't help but make a lewd face.
For a moment, she was even tempted to speak up again just to experience it once more, but she forced the thought down.
Now wasn't the time.
They were marching toward a battle that would decide the fate of her entire clan. Her frivolous demeanor dissolved as she straightened, and for once, her voice carried genuine weight.
"My brother was killed by the Evil Spirit Orca King. Tang Yin… I know you're powerful, and only you can avenge him. If you can kill the Evil Spirit Orca King—I will be devoted to you from this day on," Xiao Bai said solemnly.
"You'll have your revenge," Tang Yin declared.
A warm smile broke across his face, confident and gentle all at once. "You're already mine. After all, I'm going to be the next Sea God."
Xiao Bai felt warmth bloom in her chest. This master… he was far too great to miss out on.
The rest of the journey slipped by in near silence—Xiao Bai gliding wordlessly through the water as Tang Yin savored the rare calm before the inevitable storm.
***
In the open ocean, the Great White Shark clan circled a particular stretch of water, refusing to cross the invisible boundary ahead.
Something beyond that line radiated danger—enough that even these fearless predators hesitated. Their movements grew tense, eyes sharp, every sense primed for an attack.
"The Evil Spirit Orcas can use a special wave-detection method," Xiao Bai warned. "If they sense any unnatural breathing or movement, they'll send a signal for reinforcement. Once that happens, the whole clan will know we're here. So we can't get any closer."
"Leave it to me," a confident voice answered.
Standing atop Xiao Bai's Shark head, Tang Yin closed his eyes and released his telepathic sense. Mental power began unfurling like a spreading wave, rippling through the sea and cutting through layer after layer of water as it mapped everything below.
20 km… 50 km… 70 km… and finally—90 km.
That was his current limit.
But once he obtained a soul ring for his Spirit Brain Martial Soul, his range would easily surpass a 100 kilometers—and likely extend far beyond that.
Just then, something vile brushed against his perception. Waves of malice—hundreds of them—oozed through the dark waters, thick, suffocating, dangerous. And among them… a presence far more corrupt than the rest.
"This disgusting aura…" Tang Yin muttered, eyes narrowing as his light blue eyes turned violet from activating the Purple Demon Eye, fusing it seamlessly with his telepathy.
'It's just like that Human-Faced Demon Spider back in Star Dou Forest.' He thought as his enhanced eyesight pierced the depths.
Hundreds of Evil Spirit Orcas patrolled the waters in a formation, moving in organized routes. It wasn't chaos—it was discipline forged from terror.
"They're not acting like mindless beasts at all," Tang Yin realized. "This level of coordination, it's the handiwork of the Evil Spirit Orca King, who has gained near-human-level cognition."
He swept his senses over the entire group. Fifteen or so at the 10,000-year old… the rest are millennia or mere century old beasts.
The 10,000‑year Orcas won't be a problem for the girls or Xiao Bai. I'll deal with their leader first and reinforce them afterward if needed.
Tang Yin opened his eyes, sharp and decisive.
"I'll go deal with the Evil Spirit Orca King. Xiao Bai, you're coming with me— you'll be luring the rest. As for you all…" His gaze swept over the girls. "Rongrong, Lingling, Yuehua—you support the Great White Sharks. The rest of you, remember to be careful."
The girls nodded seriously, taking his words to heart. Except for the support‑types, each of them needed to kill fifteen Orcas to complete their trial—and the stronger the soul beast they defeated, the better their rewards.
A faint blue radiance sparkled between his brows as he unleashed the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, cloaking both him and Xiao Bai in its shimmering veil.
In an instant, the two vanished from the girls' and the Great White Sharks' sight.
"Huh—?!" Xiao Bai flinched as the veil formed a vacuum around them. With the surrounding water displaced, she was forced back into her human form, staggering in midair.
"Aah!" she cried, caught completely off guard as she began to fall. Tang Yin hovered beside her, descending gracefully.
He caught her effortlessly, his telekinesis holding them both steady. Cradling Xiao Bai's lean figure in his arms, he drifted downward toward the seafloor.
"You can become invisible?" she asked, wide-eyed. "Is that your soul skill? No… you didn't release your soul ring… then it must be a soul bone!"
Tang Yin chuckled, a playful glint in his eyes. "Aren't you supposed to be the Sea God's pet? This is one of his inheritances. Can't even recognize his artifacts? Truly, you're a capable subordinate."
Xiao Bai rolled her bright gold eyes in mild annoyance. "Being his pet doesn't mean I was always at his side. My task as his subordinate was simply to assist him in battles alongside my clan when he unified the seas. That's it. Hmph…"
Putting the teasing aside, Tang Yin increased their pace. Soon, he and Xiao Bai arrived at the outskirts of the Evil Spirit Orca's territory.
Without hesitation, Tang Yin weaved skillfully through the group of Orcas. Though he made no sound, the unnatural movement of the water around them was impossible to fully conceal.
Even invisible, their presence did not escape the Orcas' extraordinary senses. Several of the predators approached, investigating the ripples left in their wake.
Tang Yin realized there was no simple way to slip past them all. He had no choice but to use his telepathy to control some of the stronger Orcas, creating a distraction.
WHIRR—
Three of the 10,000-year-old Evil Spirit Orcas—the strongest in this part of the territory—came swiftly under Tang Yin's control. They immediately turned on the younger, millennia-old Orcas, attacking ruthlessly.
SHRIEK—
The millennia- and centennial-year-old Orcas were thrown into disarray, scattering in panic, while the three 10,000-year-old Evil Spirit Orcas blocked the path to the central area, wreaking havoc and killing without mercy.
Tang Yin zipped through the chaos with ease as Xiao Bai watched in stunned silence. She had no idea what had just happened, but she was certain it had something to do with him.
Her eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"Hey! What was that? How did you make them fight each other?!" she fired off questions, unable to contain her curiosity even in the midst of the battle.
Tang Yin smacked her lightly on the butt, a flicker of annoyance in his eyes. "Stop asking questions, or I'll leave you here alone," he warned. Xiao Bai finally fell silent—though she continued shooting him scowling faces.
She's definitely cursing me in her heart, he thought, shaking his head. Stuck with stupidity wherever I go… but hey, pair it with good looks, and I'll welcome it with open arms.
Wasting no more time, Tang Yin surged forward, heading straight for the heart of the territory where the Orca King awaited.
He's ahead.
Xiao Bai stiffened as she spotted the Evil Orca King resting; malice surged in her heart. Tang Yin quickly clamped her hand, stopping her from acting impulsively.
Swoosh—!
The Orca King, half-awakened by the malice rippling around him, sensed the disturbance but saw nothing immediately threatening.
After a brief moment of vigilance, it settled back into slumber. Xiao Bai exhaled in relief and cast him an apologetic glance; she felt guilty for having acted rashly.
Tang Yin began communicating spiritually.
"Calm yourself. You know you're no match for him, but I can give you one chance for revenge—a single strike. After that, you must lure the rest of them away."
Seeing that Tang Yin wasn't angry—instead giving her a chance to vent the hatred she'd been holding in—Xiao Bai was genuinely moved and felt a surge of emotion.
Her chest tightened, and the fury that had moments ago clouded her thoughts softened into something close to gratitude. She nodded quickly, almost trembling. "I… understand."
"Good." Tang Yin's tone turned firm, steady. "On my signal, you get one strike. Make it count. But afterwards, you must not interfere. Lure the others away immediately—!"
Xiao Bai swallowed hard, her golden eyes blazing with a mix of fear, excitement, and long-awaited vengeance. "I will."
With the plan set, Tang Yin fell into silence, surging forward with Xiao Bai close behind. Their movements were light, barely disturbing the water around them.
Step by step, they crept closer and closer to the slumbering Orca King, whose massive form loomed beneath the surface like a shadowy mountain.
When they were close enough, he paused and glanced back. He and Xiao Bai exchanged a small, decisive nod—silent confirmation of the danger they were about to face.
The moment had come.
In the blink of an eye, Xiao Bai shifted back into her Shark form, and Tang Yin also unleashed his Spirit Body Martial Soul. Together, they struck the Orca King in perfect coordination.
Boom—!
The Evil Spirit Orca King's eyelids flickered, but all he perceived was a blur of fists and a snapping of jagged jaws.
Yet he bore the strike head-on.
In the aftermath, blood trickled from his mouth as he staggered, slowly coming to his senses. His gaze fell upon the shark before him—
It was his longtime nemesis, the Great White Shark Queen. But when had she grown bold enough to confront him so brazenly?
Disbelief turned quickly to fury when he saw her dash away after attacking so brazenly.
Rage surged.
"You bitch! Stop right there—!" he roared, sending a signal to his subordinates. Today, she will not leave unscathed.
The nearby Evil Spirit Orcas immediately received his orders and gave chase to Xiao Bai—but she was too fast for them. Seeing this, the Orca King surged after her as well.
Yet as he lunged, something was wrong. His body didn't respond as it should. Glancing back, he saw a human clamping onto his tail, dragging him backward.
What in the world…? Attacked by a "cowardly" shark, and now restrained by a human? Today was not going at all as planned.