Douluo Continent: My Martial Soul is the Black Dragon, I am the Lord of the Gods

Chapter 330: Fight First

……

As soon as the Deep Sea Demon Whale King finished uttering the words "sacrifice" filled with humiliation and despair, Xuan Ming didn't hesitate at all and nodded slightly to Zi Ji.

Zi Ji understood. Although she was still in awe of Xuan Ming's methods, she immediately released the restraints on the pale blue little demon whale.

The little whale, now free, let out a terrified whimper and instinctively fled behind the Deep Sea Whale King to hide.

"Child!" The Deep Sea Demon Whale King's single eye flashed with disbelief upon seeing its cub released. It glared at Xuan Ming, its voice hoarse and deep, "You...you just let it go like that? Aren't you afraid I'll change my mind?!"

It originally thought that the other party would keep a tight grip on its child until it completed the sacrifice, and might not even let go!

Xuanming hovered in place, his ice-blue eyes calm and undisturbed.

"Change your mind? You can try."

Even if you change your mind now and fight me to the death, or even by chance defeat me or escape, do you think you, a minor, can survive in this cruel ocean after you die?

Xuanming's gaze swept over the terrified little demon whale:

"You have dominated the seas for hundreds of thousands of years, growing stronger by devouring others. How many enemies have you made? In the past, they feared your power and dared not speak out against you. Once the news of your death spreads, how will those sea spirit beasts, who were oppressed and devoured by you and your clan, treat you, their only offspring?"

The Deep Sea Demon Whale King's single eye contracted violently, and its massive body trembled slightly.

It knew better than anyone that every word Xuanming said was true!
Its existence is a deterrent.

If it dies, its people and its descendants will surely face annihilation!
Those enemies hidden in the deep sea will swarm in like sharks that smell blood!

Xuanming continued, his tone still calm: "As for your wife... if she senses your death, she will surely rush back from her hiding place at all costs to save your child. At that time, I won't even need to go to the trouble of looking for her."

He paused, looking at the Deep Sea Demon Whale King's single eye, which had completely lost its luster.

"So, whether I let you go or not makes no difference to me. Going back on my word will only make your whole family die faster and more tragically."

"Now," Xuanming's voice carried the weight of an ultimatum, "make the choice you truly won't regret. Will you fulfill your promise, sacrifice yourself to me, and gamble your family's future? Or will you choose... to let hatred and destruction descend upon you immediately?"

The Deep Sea Demon Whale King was completely paralyzed, and its last thought of resistance was utterly crushed by this cruel reality.

Its massive head hung limply on the sea surface, letting out a long and mournful sigh, a sigh filled with endless weariness and resignation.

"Humans...you...are ruthless..."

It no longer had the strength to be angry.

This human... is terrifying. He not only possesses terrifying power and bizarre methods, but also a cold-blooded mind that can see into people's hearts and control the whole situation!
He wasn't afraid of going back on his word at all, because he had already calculated all the consequences! He... had absolutely no choice.

Snow Empress and Ice Empress hovered behind Gu Yuena, taking in everything that had just happened.

They watched Xuanming's profile, so calm it was almost indifferent, watched him release the baby whale so casually, watched him utter the most cruel words in the most indifferent tone, completely shattering the Deep Sea Demon Whale King's last psychological defenses...

The shock and complex emotions in the two women's eyes intensified.

They suddenly realized that their previous judgment of Xuanming as "despicable" seemed to be somewhat one-sided.

He is not simply despicable or unscrupulous.

He is... absolutely rational and ruthless!
All his actions are based on the logic of achieving his goals in the most efficient way.

Capturing the cubs is to create an opportunity for negotiation; releasing the cubs is to reduce unnecessary trouble and potential backlash; and stating the consequences is to completely eliminate the possibility of the other party reneging.

He had no superfluous emotions, no cruel penchant for torture, and no hypocritical kindness.

Only precise calculations and ruthless execution are required.

This near-absolute control and precise strikes at people's hearts, more than mere brute force, sent a chill down the spines of the Snow Emperor and Ice Emperor, who were accustomed to straightforwardness and the supremacy of strength.

However, they also had to admit that this method was... terrifyingly efficient.

The Deep Sea Demon Whale King's enormous single eye took one last deep look at the trembling cub hiding behind it, its eyes filled with reluctance and sorrow.

It knew this was the final farewell. The Deep Sea Demon Whale King raised its head, its gaze passing over Xuanming and landing on Di Tian. Its voice was hoarse and heavy: "Di Tian... I can offer a sacrifice... but I do not trust this human! I demand that you swear in the name of your Beast God! Within your power, ensure my child grows up safely! Otherwise... I would rather die a thousand deaths than let him succeed!"

It did not believe Xuanming's promise, but it knew that Ditian, as a beast god, valued promises and dignity extremely.

This is the last, and perhaps only, insurance it can secure for the child.

Di Tian's golden dragon eyes stared at the Deep Sea Demon Whale King, then glanced at the expressionless Xuan Ming, and remained silent for a moment.

He understood the despair and resentment of the Deep Sea Demon Whale King.

Finally, he nodded slowly, his voice low and solemn: "Very well. I, Di Tian, ​​swear in the name of the Beast God that after your sacrifice, as long as I am still alive, I will do my best to protect your offspring, to keep them from being bullied and slaughtered, until they have the power to protect themselves."

Having received Di Tian's promise, the Deep Sea Demon Whale King seemed to have finally unloaded its last burden. Its massive body relaxed, and a hint of relief flashed in its single eye.

It gently touched the cub with its nose one last time, letting out a low, soothing whimper, before resolutely turning to Xuanming, and the deep purple sacrificial flames began to rise again.

However, just as the sacrifice was about to officially begin, Xuanming suddenly spoke:
"and many more."

The Deep Sea Demon Whale King was taken aback, the sacrificial flames paused slightly, and its one eye looked at Xuan Ming with a puzzled expression.

A flicker of... fighting spirit ignited in Xuanming's icy blue eyes?
“Before the sacrifice,” Xuanming slowly raised the blood spear in his hand, the dark red killing spirit ring slowly rotating around him, “fight me first.”

Not only the Deep Sea Demon Whale King, but also Gu Yuena, Di Tian, ​​Xue Di and others were taken aback.

Xuanming continued, his tone calm yet undeniably assertive: "I want to test just how strong I am now."

His gaze swept over his blood spear, sensing the spiritual power of the half-step divine consciousness within him, the evolved killing domain, and the even deeper colorless domain.

"Others might not be suitable, but you are perfect."

A hint of surprise flashed in the Deep Sea Demon Whale King's enormous single eye, which was then replaced by a long-suppressed rage!

This human not only forced it to sacrifice itself, but also used it as a tool to test its strength before it died?!
What a shame!
But in an instant, this rage transformed into a ferocious pleasure!

"Good! Good! Good!" The Deep Sea Demon Whale King uttered three "good"s in succession, his voice filled with deep-seated hatred and madness. "Human! Since you have sought your own death, I will grant your wish! Even if you are destined to die today, I will let you taste what true despair is!"

Xuanming didn't care about this at all, and turned to Gu Yuena and the others, saying, "You all step back."

Gu Yuena gave Xuan Ming a deep look, asked no further questions, and her silver-purple figure floated backward first.

Di Tian, ​​Zi Ji, and the others immediately followed.

The Snow Empress and the Ice Empress exchanged a glance, both seeing surprise and doubt in each other's eyes, but they did as they were told to step back, leaving the vast sea area to the two facing off.

They also wanted to see what kind of combat power Xuanming could unleash after absorbing the million-year soul ring of the Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm and reaching the half-step Divine Sense realm! Could he contend with this nearly million-year-old ocean overlord!
Once everyone had retreated to a safe distance, Xuanming stopped talking nonsense.

With a thought, the Ice and Fire Divine Crown on his forehead began to glow!

There was no earth-shattering display; he simply took a step forward with utter calmness, while simultaneously pressing his left hand downwards in a half-pressing motion.

Ultimate Ice - Absolute Freeze!

Om-!
An indescribable, extreme chill suddenly erupted silently from Xuanming's center! It was not an ordinary low temperature, but an absolute zero that seemed to freeze even the rules and time!
CRACK——!!!
Starting from Xuanming's feet, the sea surface within a radius of several thousand meters, along with the seawater thousands of meters deep below, instantly transformed into an enormous, crystal-clear, and even harder ice domain than ten-thousand-year-old Xuanbing within a hundredth of a second!

The once turbulent sea was now as smooth and still as a mirror! Under the sunlight, it reflected a chilling light!

Even the massive, mountain-like body of the Deep Sea Demon Whale King was frozen solid in a huge block of ice by this sudden and terrifying freezing!
Its power to stir up the ocean was instantly suppressed in the face of this absolute law of freezing!
"What?!" The Deep Sea Demon Whale King roared in horror, its single eye filled with disbelief!
It struggled desperately, but the ice was extremely tough, and even with its nearly million years of cultivation, it couldn't break free for a while!

In the distance, the crowd that had retreated all paled!
Snow Empress's ethereal eyes suddenly narrowed, and she gasped in disbelief, "This...this freezing power..."

As the rulers of the far north, their control over ice was unmatched! But at this moment, they could clearly feel that Xuanming's power to freeze thousands of meters of ocean in an instant—its icy nature, its freezing intensity, its vast range—was even... beyond their own!
How is that possible?! He's just a human being!

A hint of surprise flashed in Di Tian's and Gu Yuena's eyes.

Xuanming's strength has increased far beyond their expectations!
This half-step divine consciousness's spiritual power and control over the elements of heaven and earth have undergone a qualitative change!

(End of this chapter)