The sea was vast and boundless.
Layer upon layer of sapphire waves surged as Su Wen hovered in midair, looking down at hundreds of crab-type sea soul beasts bowing respectfully before him. He smiled. Using the portion of Sea God's origin he'd stolen from Tang San as a foundation, and with the help of the World's Will, he had nearly forged a "pseudo" Sea God divine position.
The Sea God's faith was widespread across these waters.
For most sea soul beasts, it was etched into their DNA. Even Bai, the White Shark Guardian of Sea God Island, might never see the true Sea God in her lifetime…
Most sea soul beasts, upon sensing the divine aura radiating from Su Wen—an aura that compelled respect and worship—immediately took him for the true Sea God.
Thus, the anchor of faith began to shift.
With the World's Will's help, Su Wen could clearly see pale blue streams of faith converging on Sea God Island. One fifth was diverted, flowing directly into his body.
It was a strange sensation.
Su Wen clenched his palm gently.
It felt as if, within his very blood, he'd gained a new layer of connection to the ocean—a sense of dominion.
With a wave of his hand, the ocean below erupted in towering waves.
The old Sea God had long since become indifferent to his followers, wishing to retire as soon as possible. Of course, compared to the new Sea God ten thousand years later, he was far better; at least the Demon Soul Great White Sharks, though bullied, weren't driven to extinction...
Still, Su Wen remained cautious, skipping over the soul beasts near Sea God Island—especially the Demon Soul Great White Sharks—and instead targeted fringe sea creatures and those who did not worship the Sea God, such as...
"Human, get out of my territory!"
Not far away, several massive Evil Orca Whales surged through the waves. The leader was over seventy meters long, the rest like miniatures in comparison.
Their skin gleamed with a metallic sheen, clearly marking these apex predators as top-tier in both offense and defense—no wonder the Great White Sharks had suffered so badly.
"Patriarch, that's the one!"
An Evil Orca Whale covered one side of its face with a fin, glaring venomously at Su Wen. A large bruise was visible where the fin covered its face.
"Go, eat him!" ordered the patriarch, narrowing his eyes.
"But..." The Evil Orca looked bewildered. Big bro, I just got beaten up and you're not going to help? You want me to go again?!
"Hmph, with me here, he won't dare act rashly. You're just a mere fifty-thousand-year Evil Orca—of course he isn't afraid. But with me here... he's too scared to even speak!" the leader declared proudly.
"Yes!" The Evil Orca nodded, excited, and charged at Su Wen.
But seconds later...
It returned at twice the speed, sulking, both fins now pressed to its face—clearly having taken another slap, this time perfectly symmetrical.
"Patriarch!!!"
"I know, but I'm not feeling well today. Human, you just wait—next time I'll..." The Evil Orca King spewed threats as he swam away at top speed, leaving a white wake on the now-calm sea. The smaller orcas, once so aggressive, were all stunned.
"Trying to run?"
Su Wen smiled.
He'd deliberately lured them here—there was no way he'd let them go.
Under countless stunned gazes, he stretched out his hand toward the escaping Evil Orca King and gently made a grasping motion.
Rumble!
The sea erupted in a wave tens of thousands of meters high, like Su Wen's giant hand, sweeping up the fleeing Evil Orca and tossing it back. Even with two hundred thousand years of cultivation, the Evil Orca King was utterly helpless before the Sea God's divine power.
"Where are you going?" Su Wen asked, smiling down at the trembling orca.
For hundreds of kilometers around, all the seawater was under Su Wen's control. With the faith of the Sea God he now wielded, creating such spectacles was effortless.
This display made all nearby sea soul beasts abandon any doubts, including the Evil Orca King.
Having dealt with Sea God Island for years, the Evil Orca King knew the truth.
Even the most powerful human priest on Sea God Island couldn't perform such feats—this was the true Sea God's authority...
"Lord Sea God, we have always faithfully worshipped you, keeping your statue on the seabed. Now, to see you descend in person—it's almost too much to believe!" the Evil Orca King gushed, weeping and sniffling.
"Do you believe in me?" Su Wen stood with his hands behind his back, looking at him with interest.
"Yes, yes!" The Evil Orca King's eyes darted, clearly searching for an escape.
Yet Su Wen saw no stream of faith coming from him.
He shook his head.
"Xuan Ji." (Former Little Gold)
In the next instant, under the Evil Orca King's dazed stare, a gigantic figure rose from the sea—over a hundred meters tall, gleaming golden scales reflecting the sunlight.
"Beat him."
Su Wen's voice was cold.
"No, wait!"
"Roar!"
"Roar—roar—roar!" (Insert Tom Cat sound effects.)
The surrounding soul beasts couldn't bear to watch. Even the orcas the king had brought were trembling with fear. Before a god, their usual arrogance was nothing.
"Do you believe in me?" Su Wen asked, looking down at the Evil Orca King.
"I do! I—" The orca, battered and bruised, struggled at the surface.
"Continue," Su Wen gestured.
"Roar—roar—roar—"
Finally, a faint blue thread of faith emerged from the Evil Orca King, drifting toward Su Wen. He nodded in satisfaction.
Do you think I can't tell whether you believe or not?
Clearly, the orca king realized this too. To others, faith might be something you could fake. But to a true god, it was visible and real...
"The Evil Orca clan is to migrate to the western sea. You are forbidden from harassing Sea God Island again. Disobey, and you'll answer to me," Su Wen said coolly.
"Yes," the Evil Orca King replied dully.
Clearly, he was frustrated and unwilling.
"And as for faith, you get only one chance. I want the faith of your entire clan. If it's broken, it will mean your destruction," Su Wen said coldly, ignoring him.
Then he vanished from above the sea.
From then on, Su Wen's appearance quickly spread through the sea. The faith of countless sea creatures flowed his way...