"Huff… huff…"
Hearing those words, the Demon Empress's breathing grew heavy — a mixture of excitement and urgency born of long-awaited revenge.
For over twenty thousand years, every day and night, whenever she closed her eyes, the image of her husband's death — the father of Lan Fozi — would replay in her mind like a nightmare.
Tap, tap, tap…
In the near distance, the atmosphere was so still one could hear a pin drop. The only sound came from the crisp echoes of her heels striking the ground — the Demon Empress walking toward Tang Hao.
At the same time, around her, an intense wave of spiritual energy radiated out, fueled by overwhelming emotion.
Spirit Manifestation!
A scene from twenty millennia past was once again being reenacted before the world.
Tang Hao, utterly unable to move, stared wide-eyed as the spiritual painting formed from the Demon Empress's manifested memories played out before him. His pupils contracted in shock.
What the Demon Empress was manifesting was something Tang Hao had never personally witnessed, but was intimately familiar with:
It was a scene from his son Tang San's Sea God Trial — the Eighth Trial — where he hunted the Deep Sea Demon Whale King, whose cultivation was near the million-year mark.
This memory had been pieced together by the Demon Empress using the brains of the Devil Soul Great White Shark clan.
In the spiritual vision projected by her mental power...
"This is great! The Eighth Trial is complete — only the final inheritance remains!"
After absorbing the torso bone and the ultimate red-gold soul ring from the Deep Sea Demon Whale King, Tang San stood up with excitement, pumping his fist as he felt the power surging inside him.
Thanks to the inheritance of the Demon Whale King, his soul power had broken through early to the peak Douluo level — Rank 99.
Just as Tang San was eagerly preparing to receive the Sea God's inheritance, Xiao Bai, the guardian of Sea God Island and a Devil Soul Great White Shark, stopped him.
"Did you forget what I told you? The Demon Whale King has more than just his ring and bones — there's something even better!"
Her reminder brought Tang San to his senses.
With Xiao Bai's guidance, the "better thing" was revealed — the Demon Whale King's brain.
"Sea soul beasts over 100,000 years old undergo brain evolution, turning into a special medicinal substance. It's an incredible tonic for any being — packed with immense energy and capable of all sorts of effects."
"The Deep Sea Demon Whale King cultivated for nearly a million years. His brain must be a treasure. Maybe it won't bring the dead back to life, but it's close."
"Also, Demon Whales like him often condense a Whale Pearl during their cultivation."
"Typically, there's only one Whale Pearl per whale, but who knows — maybe a being this strong has cultivated more than one."
"But one thing's for sure: a Whale Pearl is priceless. Embed it in a weapon, and you might be able to forge a divine artifact."
"You killed the Demon Whale King, so the pearl and brain are yours by right."
"I'll be honest — when you helped me kill the Evil Demon Tiger Whale King, I secretly ate its brain myself."
"So... do you think I'm selfish?"
Tang San shook his head. "Not at all. We're best friends."
"Mmhm." Xiao Bai nodded, clearly pleased.
Then came the distant sounds of whale song. All around the Demon Whale Sea, Devil Soul Great White Sharks emerged — summoned by Xiao Bai through some secret method.
She wasn't about to let all that good meat go to waste.
The Whale King's brain and pearl were for Tang San. The rest? The sharks would take care of the scraps. Not too greedy, right?
The Demon Whale King's body, nearly divine in nature, would massively boost the evolution of the Devil Soul Great White Shark clan.
After this, their overall power would definitely leap forward. Xiao Bai might even break the 100,000-year limit and become the ocean's true ruler.
Tang San glanced at the suddenly-gathered shark tribe but said nothing, instead flying straight to the Demon Whale King's head.
He rose into the air, pouring soul power into the Sea God Trident.
A brilliant blue-gold light surged into the weapon, re-illuminating its three blades.
The main blade thrust cleanly into the Whale King's skull with a soft "puff".
Tang San twisted his wrist, his body spinning mid-air, and split the Demon Whale King's head wide open from the entry point.
With an upward flip of the trident, the skull cap was pried off.
At once, golden light poured out over the ocean's surface.
The whale brain was pure gold in color — gel-like, as if molten gold — and emitted a rich, alluring scent.
At its center lay a purple-gold pearl, about the size of a fist, radiating quietly.
Though the brain was impressive, it was the pearl that captured all of Tang San's attention.
Its size and Xiao Bai's words about forging divine weapons perfectly matched the diamond-shaped hollow in his trident.
With a wave of his hand, the golden, viscous whale brain and the precious pearl flew into his wishful treasure pouch like a golden ribbon.
…
The Demon Empress's spiritual vision recreated every harrowing moment in painful detail.
There was no forgetting, and certainly no forgiving.
Only hatred — hatred so deep not even the flow of time could wash it away.
Now, she stood before Tang Hao.
Her five-word battle armor detached itself, reshaping in her hand into a trident — just like the Sea God's, except dyed a blood-red hue.
"Who are you to that Deep Sea Demon Whale King?"
"What... what are you trying to do?!"
"Whatever your good son did to my husband — I'll do to you!"
Though her voice was angelic, to Tang Hao, it sounded like a banshee's cry from the depths of hell.
The blood-red trident, transformed from her armor, was the embodiment of her vow — "returning the favor in kind."
Ignoring the fact that Tang Hao was still alive, she used the weapon's main blade to begin dissecting him — personally.
The vengeance she had suppressed for twenty thousand years now erupted.
Her face twisted with bloodlust, and her pupils dilated with a hint of madness.
…
By this time, Di Tian had already left the Blood River God-Slaying Formation.
Though he wasn't present to watch the Demon Empress take her "payment," he still controlled the formation and could sense the events within.
"Tang Hao must be in so much pain right now."
But of course… that had nothing to do with Di Tian anymore.
(End of Chapter)