The tiger shark brother's face changed. He instinctively shielded his sister behind him and said, "The treasure you want to forge only needs one tiger shark bone. Take all of mine, it should be enough. Please, I'm begging you, let my sister go!"
"I don't want him to let me go!" the sister cried desperately. "Brother, I'd rather die with you!"
"Don't talk nonsense!" he barked, about to scold her.
Before either could say more, the massive Splitjaw Whale in front of them opened its enormous, blood-red maw. Its voice was cold and cruel. "Such touching sibling affection. Unfortunately, neither of you will escape today. Tiger shark bones are top-quality materials for forging, and I don't see any reason to let that go to waste."
The brother's expression froze.
Without another word, he spun around and used every ounce of strength to shove his sister away.
She was thrown back uncontrollably, tears welling up in her eyes as she screamed, "Brother!"
The Splitjaw Whale sneered, then opened its mouth wide. A jet of water shot out like a cannon.
The tiger shark brother fought back with all his might, but the next instant, he was completely swallowed by the water pillar.
His sister watched from afar, eyes filled with despair.
Then she suddenly remembered the new decree of the East Sea.
After the fall of the Ink Sea Dragon Palace and the rise of the new ruler, a set of new laws had been proclaimed.
The one most widely spread said this:
"All sea beasts, when facing danger beyond their ability to resist, may silently recite the three words 'Wushuang Sect' in their hearts and pray for help from the Wushuang Sect. If their faith is sincere enough, they may witness a miracle."
Miracles, huh?
She'd never believed in such things. She'd thought that decree was just the new ruler's trick to inspire false hope. But now, in this moment of utter despair, she found herself yearning for that so-called miracle.
With tears streaming down her face, she cried silently in her heart.
"If miracles truly exist in this world, please... let one fall upon me."
In the distance, her brother's face twisted in pain. Trapped within the swirling column of water, he was suffocating, dying right before her eyes.
He looked toward her and mouthed wordlessly—
Run!
Run!
Don't look back!
Get out of here, now!
Her eyes filled with hopelessness. So miracles really weren't meant for her, were they?
She bit down hard, tears blurring her vision. If her brother died, she'd spend her entire life taking revenge on that Splitjaw Whale.
Everything her brother suffered, she'd make that monster suffer too. But right now, she couldn't waste his sacrifice.
Crying in despair, she turned to flee. And just then, a crisp, calm voice sounded behind her.
"Looks like this is the place."
A woman with a graceful, clear face appeared out of thin air. One moment she was hundreds of meters away, the next she was standing right before the tiger shark sister.
"You're the mission issuer, Tiger Shark Ling Long?" the woman asked with a curious smile.
Ling Long froze, stunned.
"Mission issuer? Why did this woman know her name?"
"I... I am," she stammered, bewildered.
"Your request is to save your brother and eliminate the Splitjaw Whale that's been hunting you," Bai Yiran said as she glanced at the mission panel and nodded. "No wonder it's just a B-rank mission. It's a pretty simple one."
If she were just completing it for rewards, it'd take her only a few minutes.
A few minutes for that much profit—this mission was practically free money.
"B-rank mission?" Ling Long repeated, dazed. She wanted to ask what that meant, but there was no time.
Her brother was about to die!
"Senior, please, can you save my brother?" she begged. "That Splitjaw Whale has reached the late Unity stage. My brother and I are still at early Unity. We're no match for him. If you can save my brother, I'll serve you as your slave for life!"
Without hesitation, she dropped to her knees. She didn't know who this woman was, but her calm and composed demeanor showed no trace of fear toward the Splitjaw Whale.
A wild thought flashed through Ling Long's mind.
Could this woman's appearance be the miracle the new ruler had spoken of?
"Relax," Bai Yiran said gently, flicking her wrist. Ling Long's body rose from the ground involuntarily.
"I've accepted the mission," Bai Yiran said with a light smile. "Of course I'll complete it."
In the distance, the Splitjaw Whale finally noticed the change. His eyes narrowed warily.
"I don't care who you are," he shouted coldly. "Leave now! I'll tell you the truth, my clan has already pledged allegiance to the new king! If you dare lay a hand on me, you'll have nowhere to live in the East Sea!"
"New king?" Bai Yiran raised a brow.
A sharp glint flashed from her fingers as a shard of ice shot forward, piercing straight toward the whale's brow.
The Splitjaw Whale's eyes widened in rage. "You actually dare to—"
Before he could finish, the icicle pierced clean through his forehead. His sea of consciousness shattered instantly. His massive body went limp, sinking as his awareness faded into nothingness.
The Splitjaw Whale was dead.
The tiger shark brother, freed from the water pillar, gasped for air and looked at Bai Yiran in disbelief.
That late Unity Splitjaw Whale... killed in one strike?
Could this Senior be a Tribulation-stage cultivator?
"Senior!" Ling Long swam over excitedly. "Senior, you're amazing!"
"Ling Long, mind your manners!" her brother said sharply. He pulled her down and bowed deeply. "Thank you, Senior, for saving our lives. May we know your name, so my sister and I can remember it and repay your kindness someday?"
Before he could finish, he looked up—
Only to find that the mysterious woman was gone.
He froze.
She just... left?
She hadn't even left her name. How were they supposed to repay her in the future?
"Brother! It's the new king! The miracle the new king spoke of!" Ling Long said, her voice trembling with excitement.
He was puzzled, but as his sister eagerly recounted everything, understanding slowly dawned.
Scenes like this were happening all across the East Sea.
Hundreds of Wushuang Sect disciples had arrived.
After Yun Jin gave them coordinates, they completed their individual missions quickly, then began heading toward the marked location.
"Just as I thought," Bai Yiran murmured as she traveled, catching sight of an image recorded in a memory crystal.
It was a recording of Yun Jin slaying a Lóngzūn.
That very same crystal was practically a collector's item among the sea beasts. Every creature who could afford one had it.
As another sea beast replayed the scene nearby, Bai Yiran glanced at it and couldn't help but smile faintly.
The new ruler...
Was indeed their Sect Master.
In only three months, Yun Jin had become the King of the East Sea.
Meanwhile, Su Lingling, after helping an elderly sea beast find her way home, chatted and coaxed every bit of information she could.
By the time she'd pieced together the full story, her eyes were wide with awe.
Her master was simply unbelievable.