Chapter 148: Chapter 148: The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, Unaware of the Oriole Behind

A storm was coming.

Dark clouds pressed down from above as a sinister wind howled.

Panicked gulls skimmed low over the surface of the sea.

「Chaotic Reef District.」

A massive fleet cut through the wind and waves.

But as they sailed onward, a demonic aura gathered on the sea’s surface around them!

"Careful! Demon beasts are attacking!"

The cultivators’ Magical Artifacts flashed with spiritual light as the sounds of battle erupted!

SHINK!

A rainbow-hued sword gleam condensed into a single white line, cleaving through a demon beast’s body as if it were tofu!

Blood and viscera stained the seawater red as the heavy carcass of the demon beast fell into the ocean.

SPLASH.

A wave dozens of feet high erupted into the air!

"As expected of Yuqing..."

A voice rang out in praise.

The flying sword spun back and landed in Bai Xiuying’s hand.

With the strength of the Immortal City Fleet, the small swarm of demon beasts was completely slaughtered within a quarter of an hour.

Sikong Xin, however, was quite pleased. He murmured,

"So many different kinds of Tier 2 demon beasts, all attacking at once..."

"There’s no mistaking it. Only a Tier 3 Demon King could command them to do this!"

Bai Xiuying stroked her flying sword, remaining silent.

The deeper they ventured into the Chaotic Reef District, the stronger the sense of unease in her mind grew.

She had reported this to Sikong Xin, but he hadn’t paid it much mind.

"We’re hunting a Tier 3 Demon King and competing with the Cyan Profound Sect. Of course it’s not going to be without risk."

This reasoning left Bai Xiuying with no reply.

Indeed, under these circumstances, there were undeniable risks that couldn’t be underestimated.

’If we abandon the mission every time we feel ’uneasy,’ then we might as well not even bother hunting demons!’

’It’s just...’

Bai Xiuying clutched her chest.

Her heart was pounding uncontrollably, a powerful throb!

At that moment, standing at the bow of the Fubo, Sikong Xin’s eyes suddenly lit up.

BOOM!

Over a hundred nautical miles away, a tyrannical wave of Demon Power spread out!

But within that tyrannical power, there was a hint of weakness, as if it were an exhausted lamp running out of oil!

"The White Whale!"

"All hands, full speed ahead!"

...

"The White Whale!"

Zhaoxia was overjoyed.

His eyes shone brightly as he stared into the distance.

There on the sea’s surface was a patch of white, like alabaster, radiating intense Demon Power!

"Just as I thought... its injuries haven’t healed!" Zhaoxia said with delight.

"Entire fleet, concentrate your fire!"

"Foundation Establishment cultivators, rely on the Array and assist me!"

Then, without hesitation, Zhaoxia summoned a jade wheel!

He poured Magical Power into it, and the jade wheel began to glow with five colors.

White, cyan, black, crimson, and yellow!

The five spiritual lights circulated, corresponding to Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth!

The Five Elements flowed, a cycle of creation and destruction!

This was none other than Zhaoxia’s magical treasure—the Five Elements Ring!

The Five Elements Ring, once summoned, swelled in the wind, transforming into a five-colored wheel of light over a hundred feet wide that emitted a terrifying spiritual pressure!

BOOM!

The five-colored wheel of light came crashing down on the heavily injured White Whale Moby Dick!

The White Whale did not just wait to be slaughtered.

VMMMM!

A powerful whale song rang out!

The White Whale opened its mouth and spat out a pale golden Demon Pill, which shot out like a comet, wrapped in a massive amount of Demon Power!

"Hmph... bringing out its Demon Pill. Planning to fight to the death?" Zhaoxia sneered.

The five-colored light of the Five Elements Ring grew even more dazzling!

BOOM!

The Demon King’s Inner Core and the five-colored wheel of light collided head-on!

The White Whale reeled as if struck by lightning, its song now laced with intense pain.

The pale golden Demon Pill dimmed significantly, wobbling as if about to fall!

Zhaoxia was not surprised.

Although summoning its Demon Pill was a Demon King’s strongest attack, after being hunted for over a year, this White Whale Demon King was already an exhausted lamp, its combat strength greatly diminished!

The White Whale had no choice but to recall its Inner Core.

Summoning the Inner Core had its pros and cons. If the Inner Core were to shatter, it would die instantly!

After that, Zhaoxia proceeded with a steady and calculated approach.

He controlled the Five Elements Ring, supplemented by the fleet’s firepower, and continuously inflicted wounds on the White Whale!

The flow of the Five Elements was incredibly destructive, rendering the White Whale’s resistance almost useless!

Just then, Zhaoxia suddenly raised an eyebrow.

"Hm?"

Within his perception, not far away, a cyan-purple Escape Light, like a bolt of lightning, was rapidly closing the distance!

"That little brat Sikong..." Zhaoxia’s expression hardened.

And the White Whale seemed to have sensed a path to survival!

Demon Power surged through its body, which began to glow with a deep blue light. Its speed increased dramatically as it tried to escape!

"Hmph! Trying to run?!"

Zhaoxia snorted coldly, and a terrifying spiritual pressure flared from the Five Elements Ring!

The Five Elements circulated, and the five-colored halo suddenly condensed into a single beam of divine, five-colored light!

SHINK!

The White Whale let out a mournful cry as blood gushed out of it like a bursting dam. Its body stiffened and then went still!

"Is it dead?" Sikong Xin’s eyes lit up, and his Tunneling Speed suddenly increased as he approached the White Whale.

"Sikong, you brat, you dare?!" Zhaoxia was furious.

However, it seemed the five-colored divine light from before had consumed too much of his Magical Power.

His Tunneling Speed was a step too slow!

Sikong Xin didn’t have time to hesitate. He got close to the White Whale, preparing to dig out its Demon Pill and Whale Brain Oil.

But just then, the White Whale’s eyes snapped open.

BOOM!

The Demon Pill shot out!

"Not good!" Sikong Xin’s face changed drastically, his skin crawling with a sudden chill.

POW!

He was sent flying backward, the surging lightning around his body weakening by several degrees.

"Cough, cough... that beast..." Sikong Xin coughed up blood unceasingly.

In his haste, he had no choice but to take a risk. However, that gamble had left him seriously injured!

"Heh... Sikong, you’re still a bit too green..." Zhaoxia said with a calm, self-assured smile.

"I’ll be taking the Demon Pill and Whale Brain Oil, then!"

The five-colored wheel of light descended to crush it!

"Die..."

At this moment, Zhaoxia was using seventy percent of his focus to guard against Sikong Xin and thirty percent to guard against a final, desperate attack from the White Whale.

However, at that very moment!

SHINK!

A piercing gust of wind struck!

"Huh?!"

Zhaoxia’s expression changed abruptly!

In the next instant, a pale, thin, withered beast’s claw appeared behind him!

It pierced through Zhaoxia’s protective barrier, penetrated his flesh, and seized his heart!

It squeezed hard!

SQUELCH.

The heart exploded!

Then, a monster with black antlers, a completely pale body, and sharp teeth appeared at Zhaoxia’s side!

This scene stunned everyone present!

"What?!"

"A second Tier 3 Demon King?!"

Aboard the fleet, Xiao Sheng’s face was filled with terror.

Not far away, Sikong Xin was the same, his pupils constricting!

POOF!

Zhaoxia’s "corpse" suddenly exploded, turning into a five-colored haze.

His figure reappeared a thousand feet away.

Zhaoxia’s face was as pale as gold foil. His aura was weak, and he was still clutching his heart, his expression twisted in pain.

Even though he had used a Substitute, how could an injury like a shattered heart be so easily repaired?

"Entire fleet, retreat! Now!"

"Sikong Xin! Let’s team up!"

Zhaoxia shouted.

"Agreed!"

Sikong Xin said without hesitation.

He could feel a terrifying malice and a sense of threat from the antlered monster!

Navasen’s cold eyes swiveled to look at the two Crystallization cultivators, its Divine Sense vibrating the air.

"Moby Dick... you go hunt down the fleet..."

"You both... will die!"