Chapter 149: Retreat and Hidden Worries, Lei Chen's Considerations
The Demonic Emperor's massive, mountain-like dark purple form, carrying with it towering resentment and unwillingness, ultimately vanished into the dark trench in the direction of the deep sea.
The corrosive black mist that had permeated the battlefield gradually dispersed with the ocean currents, leaving behind only the churned and overturned seabed terrain and the not yet fully settled energy turbulence, proof of the intensity of the battle that had just transpired.
Chen Yunshen hovered within the seawater. The sea god helmet he wore emitted a soft, azure-blue halo, calming the chaotic currents around him.
He did not give chase. Instead, with a grave gaze, he watched the direction where the Demonic Emperor had disappeared. The powerful aura around him, comparable to a demigod's, slowly receded, yet a layer of unshakeable worry clouded his brow.
He understood clearly in his heart that being able to repel it today was already the result of relying on the power of the sea god helmet and the assistance of the Sea Princess from the sidelines.
The energy accumulated within this Deep Sea Demon Whale was far too vast, nearly limitless. Its vitality and tenacity far exceeded that of ordinary Soul Beasts. The 'Judgment Spear' he had just unleashed, which concentrated his lifelong cultivation and faith in the Sea God, had only managed to severely injure it, falling far short of being able to completely slay it.
"Alas..." Chen Yunshen sighed inwardly. "To think that after tens of thousands of years, the sea has given birth to another such Deep Sea Demon Whale, one that intends to achieve its own ascension by devouring all things and walking the path of destruction! Moreover, this one... compared to the one recorded in history, its madness and potential are likely even greater."
As the current patriarch of the Sea God Family, the clan's archives contained records of that ancient Deep Sea Demon Whale King who had almost overturned the seas. The being before him, who styled itself the 'Demonic Emperor,' with its alarming growth rate and the resentment that filled heaven and earth, sent a shiver of apprehension through him.
If it were allowed to continue devouring marine life and growing stronger, it wouldn't be long before even he, wielding the sea god helmet, would be powerless against it. He might even fall victim to it himself. By then, the entire ocean, and even the coastal regions of the continent, would face a cataclysm.
Just as Chen Yunshen's mood was heavy, a gentle yet somewhat weak voice sounded beside him:
"Thank you for your assistance, esteemed sir, for saving my clan and these myriad ocean beings from the brink of annihilation."
Chen Yunshen turned to look. He saw the Sea Princess slowly swimming closer. Her peerlessly beautiful face bore the pallor left by the fierce battle. Her originally crystal-clear, jade-like skin now seemed somewhat dull. A trace of pale golden blood at the corner of her lips had not yet been fully wiped away, clearly indicating she had suffered significant internal injuries in the previous fight. Yet, her deep blue eyes still held clear and sincere gratitude as she inclined her head slightly towards Chen Yunshen in acknowledgment.
Chen Yunshen collected his thoughts, a look of solemnity appearing on his face as he cupped his hands in return. "You flatter me, Sea Princess. Maintaining the balance of the ocean and protecting all living beings is the duty passed down through generations of my Sea God Family. Seeing such a demonic creature wreak havoc and slaughter innocents, how could I stand idly by? It is you, Sea Princess, with your compassionate heart, who spared no thought for yourself to shelter the displaced. Such benevolence is truly the ocean's fortune."
His words were sincere, carrying recognition and admiration for the Sea Princess's actions. The core belief of the Sea God Family was protection and order, and the Sea Princess's deeds undoubtedly aligned perfectly with their ideals.
Hearing this, a faint, reassuring smile appeared on the Sea Princess's pale face. She said softly, "You praise me too highly, esteemed sir. If not for your timely arrival, today's outcome would have been hard to predict. This is no place for conversation. Although the Demonic Emperor has retreated, its residual menace remains and may disturb the beings here. If you do not mind, please come to my clan's settlement to rest awhile, allowing us to fulfill our duties as hosts. Also... I hope to have a proper discussion with you, esteemed sir, and with all the brave warriors who joined in resisting the Demonic Emperor."
Her gaze swept over the surrounding ocean beings who had survived the calamity and were now looking at them with grateful eyes. Her meaning was clear: she hoped to gather everyone to discuss subsequent countermeasures.
Chen Yunshen was of the same mind. Being new to these waters, he needed a deeper understanding of the specific situation here, the Demonic Emperor's detailed movements, and these allied marine races. Communicating with the Sea Princess and the core forces of her alliance was the most urgent matter at hand.
The Demonic Emperor's massive, mountain-like dark purple form, carrying with it towering resentment and unwillingness, ultimately vanished into the dark trench in the direction of the deep sea.
The corrosive black mist that had permeated the battlefield gradually dispersed with the ocean currents, leaving behind only the churned and overturned seabed terrain and the not yet fully settled energy turbulence, proof of the intensity of the battle that had just transpired.
Chen Yunshen hovered within the seawater. The sea god helmet he wore emitted a soft, azure-blue halo, calming the chaotic currents around him.
He did not give chase. Instead, with a grave gaze, he watched the direction where the Demonic Emperor had disappeared. The powerful aura around him, comparable to a demigod's, slowly receded, yet a layer of unshakeable worry clouded his brow.
He understood clearly in his heart that being able to repel it today was already the result of relying on the power of the sea god helmet and the assistance of the Sea Princess from the sidelines.
The energy accumulated within this Deep Sea Demon Whale was far too vast, nearly limitless. Its vitality and tenacity far exceeded that of ordinary Soul Beasts. The 'Judgment Spear' he had just unleashed, which concentrated his lifelong cultivation and faith in the Sea God, had only managed to severely injure it, falling far short of being able to completely slay it.
"Alas..." Chen Yunshen sighed inwardly. "To think that after tens of thousands of years, the sea has given birth to another such Deep Sea Demon Whale, one that intends to achieve its own ascension by devouring all things and walking the path of destruction! Moreover, this one... compared to the one recorded in history, its madness and potential are likely even greater."
As the current patriarch of the Sea God Family, the clan's archives contained records of that ancient Deep Sea Demon Whale King who had almost overturned the seas. The being before him, who styled itself the 'Demonic Emperor,' with its alarming growth rate and the resentment that filled heaven and earth, sent a shiver of apprehension through him.
If it were allowed to continue devouring marine life and growing stronger, it wouldn't be long before even he, wielding the sea god helmet, would be powerless against it. He might even fall victim to it himself. By then, the entire ocean, and even the coastal regions of the continent, would face a cataclysm.
Just as Chen Yunshen's mood was heavy, a gentle yet somewhat weak voice sounded beside him:
"Thank you for your assistance, esteemed sir, for saving my clan and these myriad ocean beings from the brink of annihilation."
Chen Yunshen turned to look. He saw the Sea Princess slowly swimming closer. Her peerlessly beautiful face bore the pallor left by the fierce battle. Her originally crystal-clear, jade-like skin now seemed somewhat dull. A trace of pale golden blood at the corner of her lips had not yet been fully wiped away, clearly indicating she had suffered significant internal injuries in the previous fight. Yet, her deep blue eyes still held clear and sincere gratitude as she inclined her head slightly towards Chen Yunshen in acknowledgment.
Chen Yunshen collected his thoughts, a look of solemnity appearing on his face as he cupped his hands in return. "You flatter me, Sea Princess. Maintaining the balance of the ocean and protecting all living beings is the duty passed down through generations of my Sea God Family. Seeing such a demonic creature wreak havoc and slaughter innocents, how could I stand idly by? It is you, Sea Princess, with your compassionate heart, who spared no thought for yourself to shelter the displaced. Such benevolence is truly the ocean's fortune."
His words were sincere, carrying recognition and admiration for the Sea Princess's actions. The core belief of the Sea God Family was protection and order, and the Sea Princess's deeds undoubtedly aligned perfectly with their ideals.
Hearing this, a faint, reassuring smile appeared on the Sea Princess's pale face. She said softly, "You praise me too highly, esteemed sir. If not for your timely arrival, today's outcome would have been hard to predict. This is no place for conversation. Although the Demonic Emperor has retreated, its residual menace remains and may disturb the beings here. If you do not mind, please come to my clan's settlement to rest awhile, allowing us to fulfill our duties as hosts. Also... I hope to have a proper discussion with you, esteemed sir, and with all the brave warriors who joined in resisting the Demonic Emperor."
Her gaze swept over the surrounding ocean beings who had survived the calamity and were now looking at them with grateful eyes. Her meaning was clear: she hoped to gather everyone to discuss subsequent countermeasures.
Chen Yunshen was of the same mind. Being new to these waters, he needed a deeper understanding of the specific situation here, the Demonic Emperor's detailed movements, and these allied marine races. Communicating with the Sea Princess and the core forces of her alliance was the most urgent matter at hand.
So he nodded without hesitation and said solemnly, "Indeed, that is appropriate. Then I shall impose upon your hospitality."
"Please follow me." The Sea Princess offered a faint smile, forcibly suppressing her injuries. She led Chen Yunshen while simultaneously using the Merfolk Clan's unique sound waves to convey information, summoning several powerful Sea Soul Beast leaders and Merfolk Clan elders to swim together towards that Undersea City constructed from resplendent coral.
A host of ocean beings clustered around them, as if embracing a beacon of hope, slowly returning to their temporary sanctuary.
Meanwhile, within the Plane Origin Sea, Lei Chen calmly withdrew his 'gaze' from that stretch of sea.
The initial meeting between Chen Yunshen and the Sea Princess, as well as their subsequent intent to communicate, were all within his expectations. In fact, one could say it was a result he had orchestrated.
"The seeds have been sown, and the soil is quite fertile." A faint arc curved at the corner of Lei Chen's mouth. "The banner of the Sea God Family, representing 'orthodoxy,' has now been planted at the heart of this oceanic conflict. Next, it's about letting faith naturally converge and shift in the face of a common enemy."
He was quite satisfied with this opening. Chen Yunshen's sense of crisis, the Sea Princess's gratitude and acceptance—all laid a good foundation for the subsequent script. As long as the pressure from the Demonic Emperor, this 'antagonist,' continued to exist, the light of faith upon the Sea Princess would shine brighter and brighter. And the attitude of the Sea God Family would also undergo subtle changes in this process.
However, Lei Chen's thoughts did not linger on the current'smooth progress.' His gaze seemed to penetrate the endless void, falling upon that deep, dark trench—where the Demonic Emperor had retreated and hidden—now filled with a violent and agonizing emotion.
In his perception, the Demonic Emperor's condition was indeed poor. Chen Yunshen's spear, infused with the Sea God's power, had inflicted substantial, serious wounds upon it. Coupled with the constant erosion and purification from the Sea Princess's spiritual power, its aura had weakened considerably compared to before. It was now slowly recovering by devouring scattered seabed creatures around it and absorbing the meager energy from the earth veins.
"Repelled... not slain." Lei Chen murmured softly to himself, a flicker of consideration in his eyes. "Given the combined strength of Chen Yunshen, the Sea Princess, and those allied ocean beings, this is indeed the limit of what they can achieve for now. The Demonic Emperor's energy reserves are a fact. To completely eradicate it would require a true god-level powerhouse to take action, or multiple demigod-level existences to besiege it at all costs."
But doing so would run counter to his original intention of nurturing a new Sea God. Without sufficient pressure, how could the most resilient faith and the most powerful God Position be forged?
"As the 'Antagonist Boss' I have designated, merely possessing vast energy reserves is not enough. It needs even more extreme madness, an even more despair-inducing sense of oppression."
Lei Chen's gaze grew profound.
The current Demonic Emperor, after this setback, harbored deeper resentment, but its aggressive edge had been blunted. If it couldn't be granted stronger power soon, once the Sea Princess's side caught its breath and consolidated its forces, they might even suppress it instead. The tension of this play would be greatly diminished.
Lei Chen needed the Demonic Emperor to remain a powerful threat, even become stronger. Only then could it continuously apply pressure to the Sea Princess's side, forcing them to unleash greater potential in desperate situations. It would also make the Sea God Family realize more profoundly that the only way forward was to support a new Sea God, one who could truly lead them to triumph over evil.
"It's time to add more fuel to your fire." Lei Chen had already made a decision in his heart.
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