The Asura Demon Sword cleaved through the sky, its sharp blade splitting the sea in two. In an instant, the ocean surged with towering waves reaching hundreds of meters high. The waters raged as if howling ghosts and gods had been unleashed.
Ye Hao's single sword strike had thoroughly enraged the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King. This humiliation was beyond endurance. This time, whether Xiao Hong was present or not, it was determined to kill Ye Hao – nothing less would satisfy its burning hatred.
"Human, you've crossed the line!" The Deep Sea Demonic Whale King breached the surface, its massive form dwarfing Ye Hao as it roared in fury.
"Deep Sea Demonic Whale King, you finally showed yourself."
Ye Hao gripped his sword single-handedly, his expression icy. Xiao Hong wasn't present this time – he stood alone against the enraged beast whose combat power now surpassed its usual limits.
Having previously avoided confrontation thanks to Xiao Hong's two decisive interventions that served as powerful deterrents, the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King mistakenly believed Xiao Hong must be lurking nearby, waiting to strike when it emerged.
"I'm not at my best today. Let's postpone our duel."
The memory of being clamped in Xiao Hong's jaws still terrified the beast. It turned to leave immediately.
"Postpone?" Ye Hao laughed coldly.
"Why wait for another day when today is perfect?"
He swung the Asura Demon Sword, releasing countless dark-red sword energies that caught the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King completely off guard.
"A Titled Douluo?!"
The whale king barely dodged, its single good eye widening in shock.
"How have you progressed so rapidly? In mere years you've reached Titled Douluo rank, with strength rivaling even Bo Saixi herself!"
Ye Hao smiled faintly as he landed lightly on the sea's surface, standing steadily atop the waves.
"Progress is inevitable, Deep Sea Demonic Whale King. You know why I'm here – to settle our unfinished business. That ambush you launched last time, and your attempt to devour me during our first encounter – these debts remain unpaid."
Revealing his true capabilities, Ye Hao summoned the Soul Devouring Spider Emperor. Eight soul rings ignited beneath his feet in sequence: Red, Red, Black, Red, Red, Red, Black, Black.
"See this empty slot?"
Ye Hao pointed at his ninth soul ring position with a cold smile.
"I've reserved it especially for you."
"So you possess twin martial souls. That explains your unnatural growth rate."
The Deep Sea Demonic Whale King blinked its single functional eye warily.
"But know this – neither Bo Saixi nor the Sea God himself could destroy me. What makes you, a mere Titled Douluo, believe you can succeed where gods failed? To claim me as your ninth soul ring? Aren't you afraid I'll drag us both to oblivion?"
Ye Hao remained utterly unfazed.
"Not in the slightest."
His voice was calm as still waters.
"You mentioned the Sea God couldn't destroy you. Tell me then – how did you lose that eye?"
The Deep Sea Demonic Whale King erupted in fury. Ye Hao had struck its most sensitive nerve – that blinded eye represented its greatest humiliation! Though currently possessing power unrivaled among soul beasts, it remained confined to the sea, unable to ascend and challenge the gods directly.
"You've signed your death warrant, human! Whether that dog is present or not, you die today!"
The beast's massive jaws gaped open, unleashing a devastating blue energy beam directly at Ye Hao.
"Martial Soul Fusion Skill – Twin Spider Emperor!"
Ye Hao's shout summoned the phantom images of Zhuzhu and Zhu'er behind him. Instantly, his power surged to demi-god levels. Since Zhuzhu and Zhu'er's sacrifice, Ye Hao could activate their fusion ability at will.
"Your strength… how?!"
The Deep Sea Demonic Whale King stared in disbelief, completely stunned by this development.
"How?"
Ye Hao gripped his sword with both hands, effortlessly bisecting the incoming energy beam.
"All things are possible."
Countless purple spider spikes materialized behind Ye Hao, blanketing the sky until even the clouds were obscured.
"Deep Sea Demonic Whale King, I'm no longer the weakling you remember. Back then I needed Xiao Hong's protection against you. Now I stand as your equal. Even without Xiao Hong here today, I will still claim your life!"
"Insolent whelp!"
The whale king's roar shook the seas. In its millennia of existence, no junior had ever dared such arrogance.
"Sixth Soul Skill – Bloodsucking Spider Thorns!"
Ye Hao's hand swept downward, unleashing a torrent of venomous spikes that rained upon the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King.
The massive beast proved cunning, swiftly diving into the ocean depths to use the water's resistance against the attack. Yet several thorns still found their mark, piercing deep into its flesh.
"Poisoned by my Death Spider Emperor's venom, do you truly believe escape is possible?"
Ye Hao smiled coldly as bull horns sprouted from his forehead – the Sky Azure Bull Python's external soul bone.
The sky darkened ominously as lightning gathered around the horns.
"Sky Azure Annihilation Thunder!"
Bolts of devastating lightning struck the sea, creating hundred-meter waves crackling with electricity.
"Water conducts electricity perfectly, and this is the boundless ocean. How long can you hide, Deep Sea Demonic Whale King?"
The sea boiled under the electrical onslaught, patches of red surfacing – the beast's blood.
The Demon Whale Sea's notoriety kept all other creatures away, leaving the whale king completely isolated in its domain.
"ROAR—!"
The Deep Sea Demonic Whale King convulsed violently, its massive body entangled in crackling lightning. Though it had long begun its draconic transformation, it remained ultimately a soul beast – and soul beasts could never ascend to godhood!
"Human! You've awakened true fury!!"
The whale king's body suddenly vaporized, disappearing from view.
In its place stood a three-meter-tall humanoid figure with flowing blue hair, clad in seamless azure armor stained with blood at the chest. Its cold eyes burned with killing intent as it strode across the bloodied waves toward Ye Hao.
Behind it, a blue vortex rose, condensing into a fist-sized pearl embedded in its chest armor.
"Energy Armor – just one step from godhood."
Ye Hao observed coolly.
"Pity that soul beasts can never complete that step."
The humanoid whale king's shoulders bore gaping wounds from the spider spikes, blood flowing freely.
"If I devour you, that limitation disappears!"
It lunged with terrifying speed, like a living cannonball.
"Still dreaming of devouring me? Let's test your capacity!"
Ye Hao met the charge head-on. Their collision created shockwaves that sent thousand-meter waves radiating outward, the impact felt even on distant shores.
At the Sea God's Shrine, Bo Saixi watched the distant battle with complex emotions.
"Ye Hao, you've actually reached this level. Your growth since we last met is inconceivable. I must accelerate Tang San's trials and expel him from the island. Once he departs, Sea God Island can seal itself for a century."
Meanwhile, Tang San – preparing to absorb his eighth soul ring – sensed the terrifying battle energies. One aura felt familiar yet unplaceable; both combatants possessed strength that could obliterate him with a casual gesture.
"After I absorb this soul ring and complete the Sea God's sixth trial… The Deep Sea Demonic Whale King is part of my eighth trial. Perfect – I'll kill it myself someday!"
Tang San's lack of soul bones made him desperate. The Evil Spirit Orca King incident had left him seething at Ye Hao; now he coveted the whale king's power.
Back in the Demon Whale Sea, Ye Hao panted heavily.
"The Deep Sea Demonic Whale King truly lives up to its reputation. No wonder only the Sea God's Trident can subdue it!"
"Die, human!"
The whale king attacked relentlessly. But Ye Hao suddenly spread his arms and grappled the beast's waist.
"What trickery is this?!"
Confusion turned to horror as spider spikes erupted from Ye Hao's back, impaling the whale king. His arms transformed into piercing spider limbs, pinning the beast midair.
"Devouring you, of course."
The Soul Devouring Spider Emperor's thorns began draining the whale king's life force and energy. Despite desperate struggles, the Death God's Scythe and Asura Demon Sword pressed against its back, ready to deliver final judgment.
"I surrender! I yield!"
The Deep Sea Demonic Whale King roared in panic.
"Between us, there's only life or death."
Ye Hao's voice was merciless. The beast's body suddenly swelled alarmingly, energy concentrating in its chest pearl which began cracking.
"You'd self-destruct?!"
Ye Hao's Death God's Heart split into six mirrors, releasing soul-binding chains that immobilized the whale king while accelerating the devouring process.
The beast withered visibly, its self-destruction outpaced by Ye Hao's absorption. With a final sword strike, Ye Hao severed its head while the Death God's Scythe annihilated its soul completely.
Examining the desiccated remains, Ye Hao smiled.
"Time to break through to level 99."
The crimson-gold soul ring and torso bone – his final soul bone – pulsed with immense power as he began absorption, the first step toward true godhood.