After countless clashes between Yang Podi and the Deep Sea Demon Whale King, their battle had reached a stalemate.
There was no denying that the Deep Sea Demon Whale King, as a quasi-million-year soul beast, had reached the pinnacle in all aspects. Now that his power had been compressed, his strength and lightning attributes were even more violent, reaching an extreme.
As the battle progressed, the Deep Sea Demon Whale King even used his divine power to manifest two giant hammers, which seamlessly integrated with his purple armor, making him even more formidable.
However, after such an intense battle, Yang Podi simply stretched his limbs and even twisted his neck, causing his joints to crack audibly. He chuckled, "Deep Sea Demon Whale King, your strength is indeed impressive. No wonder I took an interest in you. Unfortunately, you're still too far behind me. I advise you to agree to my proposal. Don't force me to get serious."
Through their prolonged battle, the Deep Sea Demon Whale King had come to realize Yang Podi's terrifying power. Despite countless exchanges, Yang Podi remained as composed as ever, indicating he had not even exerted his full strength.
On the other hand, despite possessing immense soul power, the Deep Sea Demon Whale King had failed to break through Yang Podi's defenses, let alone compete with him in terms of strength.
At this moment, the Deep Sea Demon Whale King let out a furious roar, "I, the Deep Sea Demon Whale King, will never be enslaved! Even if I die, I will not yield!"
As soon as he spoke, the armor on his body underwent a transformation. The white pearl embedded in the center of his armor radiated a dazzling light before shooting out, carrying an incomparably powerful force.
Yang Podi locked his gaze onto the pearl at the Deep Sea Demon Whale King's chest and couldn't help but remark, "Deep Sea Demon Whale King, that must be your Whale Pearl. It truly is remarkable."
Without hesitation, Yang Podi activated the eighth ring of his Breaking Soul Spear. Immediately, the entire spear gleamed with golden radiance and grew significantly larger before shooting forward.
This was Yang Podi's eighth soul skill—Golden Behemoth Break!
Even though the Deep Sea Demon Whale King's pearl radiated a powerful divine light, under the thrust of the Breaking Soul Spear, it was pierced through as if it were nothing.
The spear then struck the Deep Sea Demon Whale King's right shoulder, puncturing both his body and his purple armor. Blood gushed out, staining the armor crimson. The Deep Sea Demon Whale King let out a pained scream, clearly suffering severe injuries.
Gritting his teeth, the Deep Sea Demon Whale King roared, "Human! What exactly do you want? Why is your strength so overwhelming?"
Yang Podi smiled faintly and replied, "I have always felt some sympathy for your Deep Sea Demon Whale Clan. You are not inherently evil, but your nature forces you to devour other beings in order to grow stronger. If you willingly offer yourself as a sacrifice to me, I promise that once I become a god, I will resurrect you and even protect your wife and daughter."
But the Deep Sea Demon Whale King bellowed in defiance, "I refuse to accept this! I am only one step away from godhood! If I had already ascended, I would never have lost to you!"
Yang Podi sighed, "The fate of soul beasts has long been determined. If you want to blame someone, blame the gods of the Divine Realm. What does this have to do with me?"
The Deep Sea Demon Whale King roared once more, gathering all his remaining power into the surrounding seawater. It was as if he had merged with the ocean itself. His body then shot forward like a cannonball, forming a massive sphere of light around him. Behind him, a colossal phantom of the Deep Sea Demon Whale King emerged, roaring like the very fury of the sea.
Yang Podi merely smirked coldly. Even after losing, the Deep Sea Demon Whale King was still unwilling to accept defeat. It seemed that only by displaying his true strength could he make the beast recognize reality.
Retracting his Breaking Soul Spear, Yang Podi gripped the Asura Demon Sword and drew it from its sheath.
At the moment the sword was unsheathed, the entire world changed. The sky darkened, and an overwhelming Asura force spread throughout the heavens and the sea.
A sword light of unimaginable magnitude burst forth, as if it were splitting the world itself. Even the enormous sphere of light formed by the Deep Sea Demon Whale King was severed in an instant. The massive phantom behind him was also obliterated by the sword's radiance, and even the ocean itself was cleaved in two.
This was Heaven-Slashing Sword Draw!
Ever since consuming the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass, Yang Podi's swordsmanship had vastly surpassed his spear techniques. However, due to his martial soul being the Breaking Soul Spear, he had never found a sword powerful enough to fully unleash his sword skills.
This Heaven-Slashing Sword Draw was the pinnacle of swordsmanship. As long as the sword art was strong enough, the sword path profound enough, and the weapon powerful enough, it could truly destroy the heavens and the earth.
As the sword light descended, the sky and sea were split apart, finally condensing into a blood-red longsword that rested directly against the Deep Sea Demon Whale King's throat. A faint sword mark had already appeared on his neck.
The Deep Sea Demon Whale King was completely stunned. He had thought that with his desperate all-out attack, he could at least severely wound his opponent. If nothing else, he believed he could create an opportunity to escape. As long as he made it back to the depths of the ocean, this human would never be able to find him again.
Yet, this single sword strike shattered all of his confidence. The killing intent emanating from the blood-red longsword made him certain—if he dared to resist further, the next slash would sever his head.
Yang Podi simply shook his head. "Do you still want to fight? The gap between us is too vast. Even if I were facing a true god, I could still slay them with this sword."
The Deep Sea Demon Whale King's face was filled with fear. "What exactly do you want? If all you seek is my soul ring and soul bone, wouldn't it be easier to just kill me?"
Yang Podi responded coldly, "Your soul ring is too special. I won't waste it so easily. If you offer yourself as a sacrifice, I will have the chance to break through to Rank 100."
The Deep Sea Demon Whale King swallowed hard. "That's impossible. Even if you possess a divine weapon, you still can't do it. You don't have a God Position, and the world itself restricts you. No matter what, you cannot cross that final step."
Yang Podi let out a soft laugh. "That's not something you need to worry about. Becoming a god is my destiny. I'll give you one day to handle your final affairs. After that, come with me. If the outcome pleases me, I will revive you in the future."
"Oh, and be sure to warn your wife and daughter—they should hide for now. There are quite a few people in this world who covet their soul rings and soul bones. They are both kind-hearted by nature. I don't want them to die a meaningless death. And I especially don't want them to do something reckless in pursuit of revenge, because if they do, I won't show mercy."
The Deep Sea Demon Whale King and his family were truly tragic figures. He himself was killed by Tang San, an undeserved calamity. His wife later succumbed to darkness and became the Demon Empress, while his daughter, Lan Fuzi, lived a lonely and miserable life.
The Deep Sea Demon Whale King hesitated for a moment. "Aren't you afraid I'll run away? Once I dive into the ocean, no one will ever be able to find me."
Yang Podi merely let out a cold laugh. "I'm giving you a chance—your only chance to become a god. The Sea God's Eighth Trial requires the Sea God's successor to kill you. Do you really think you can escape? Especially when you still have a wife and daughter?"
After finishing his words, Yang Podi sheathed his sword and closed his eyes, as if nothing around him had anything to do with him anymore.