DD Black White [235-237] (Patreon)

Chapter 235: Lan Fozi and the Demon Empress

Recalling his past journey to Shrek Academy, Du Busi had personally witnessed the battle where Dragon God Douluo Mu En fell and experienced the terrifying power of the Snow Empress at the demigod level.

That experience was etched into his heart like a brand.

Upon returning to the Body Sect, he pondered day and night, gaining insights, and resolutely chose to enter seclusion for a breakthrough.

Perhaps due to subtle changes in the Douluo Continent's heavenly rules, the entire continent was gradually strengthening, with restrictions on the powerful becoming less stringent.

Under this opportunity, Du Busi, relying on his accumulations and foundation, successfully broke through to become a Ultimate Douluo at the pinnacle of the continent.

"The Holy Grail War—this excitement, how could my Body Sect miss it? The position of Sea God is something we absolutely cannot pass up."

Fresh from seclusion, Du Busi received information about the Holy Grail War from the planetary will.

In an instant, emerald flames ignited in his eyes—a thirst for the divine position.

Back then, the Snow Empress was merely a demigod, yet her displayed strength had made Du Busi tremble deeply.

Even now, having broken through to Ultimate Douluo, recalling the Snow Empress's power still filled him with lingering fear.

He knew clearly that even with his current strength, facing the Snow Empress would leave escape as his only option.

If a demigod was already this powerful, how unimaginably strong would a true god be?

Du Busi's heart was filled with awe and anticipation. This era might see gods emerge, recreating the grandeur of the Three Gods War from ten thousand years ago—this was his intuition.

At the Clear Sky Sect, Niu Tian and Tai Tan received the Holy Grail War message almost simultaneously.

They exchanged glances, their eyes instantly filled with shock and astonishment.

They maintained close ties with the God Realm, but had never heard any hint from Tang San about passing down the Sea God position.

This sudden Holy Grail War—what was it? It was utterly baffling.

As figures from ten thousand years ago, they understood god trials somewhat.

But a moment's thought revealed this so-called Holy Grail War did not match the standard god trial format.

No god's trial was like this, especially not for the Sea God's inheritance.

"Holy Grail War, Sea God position—Dad wants to pass down his divine position?"

Tang Wutong tilted her head, eyes full of confusion.

She clearly remembered her father had only recently elevated the Sea God position to God King level. Given his personality and the current situation, how could he suddenly decide to pass it down? There must be more to it.

"This Holy Grail War is suspicious, the inheritance method is off, and now we can't contact the God Realm—what's going on?"

Niu Tian's brows furrowed tightly, as if they could crush a fly.

He was certain Tang San had no intention of passing down the Sea God position.

Even if that day came, the successor would prioritize Tang Wutong, or perhaps her future husband, or even a potential son.

From any angle, Tang San wouldn't choose a successor in such a bizarre way.

With the loss of contact to the God Realm, Niu Tian felt an ominous premonition; Douluo Continent was slipping from their control.

At that moment, the golden trident mark on Tang Wutong's forehead flickered faintly, emitting a mysterious, gentle light.

Simultaneously, in her mental space, a handsome youth with sea-blue long hair slowly opened his eyes.

He was Tang San's divine consciousness clone, instantly grasping the external situation upon awakening.

He frowned slightly, attempting to contact his main body, but received no response.

Normally, contact meant the God Realm was fine, but no feedback now indicated his main body was extremely occupied, unable to spare attention.

"Could Destruction have done something, and the main body is fighting him?" Tang San's divine consciousness clone pondered with furrowed brows.

Events had spiraled out of his control. First, Huo Yuhao escaped his grasp; he might have misidentified the child of destiny, forcing him to awaken Xiao Qi early to contact the true one.

It was a significant mistake, but salvageable.

But this sudden Holy Grail War and alleged Sea God inheritance—what was it?

He was 100% certain he had no intention of passing down the Sea God position.

Under the immense pressure from the God of Destruction, abandoning the position would be like cutting off his own limbs—how could he do something so foolish!

"Who dares scheme against me?" Tang San's divine consciousness clone's face darkened extremely.

He could feel an invisible hand manipulating everything from behind, and he was unwittingly ensnared.

"Could it be Destruction? But his rigid personality makes that unlikely!"

Tang San's clone first suspected the God of Destruction but quickly dismissed it.

The God of Destruction strictly adhered to God Realm rules, never meddling in lower realms or breaking them.

Unable to identify the mastermind or contact his main body, Tang San's clone murmured helplessly, "For now, I can only observe quietly. I'll see what this Holy Grail War aims for and what secrets the so-called Sea God inheritance hides."

…

In the vast, endless depths of the ocean, a whale of unimaginable size swam slowly.

It exceeded a thousand meters in length, covered in mysterious, eerie dark red patterns, exuding danger and evil.

Suddenly, as if sensing a summons, it burst through the waves like a cannonball, soaring into the sky.

Instantly, violent thunder raged, turning the sea into an apocalyptic scene.

Countless thick lightning bolts danced like silver serpents, transforming the area into a terrifying thunder hell.

Innumerable marine creatures were paralyzed by the sudden electric surge, floating lifeless on the surface.

The Deep Sea Demonic Whale's chilling predator aura had already scared away nearby intelligent sea soul beasts.

Only ordinary, unintelligent marine life failed to sense the imminent deadly threat.

"God grants me the crown, draws lightning as arrows, shatters all things, King of Conquest!" As thunder fell like rain, the massive Deep Sea Demonic Whale transformed into human form mid-air.

In a flash of light, a voluptuous beauty appeared in the sky.

She had dark red long hair cascading like a waterfall, surrounded by dark red lightning that danced and roared like loyal guards.

Her alluring voice chanted words of power. The Demon Empress felt unprecedented strength in her body, a sinister yet satisfied smile curving her lips.

She clearly sensed she was now stronger than her husband, cruelly slain by Sea God Tang San ten thousand years ago, just a step from the lofty divine position.

Recalling her once happy family shattered in an instant—husband killed, forced to flee with her daughter, constantly hunted by sea soul beasts, living in peril—the Demon Empress's eyes blazed with vengeful flames.

This hatred burned like eternal karma in her heart for ten thousand years, never extinguishing.

It was this bone-deep hatred that made her join the so-called World Serpent organization without hesitation when a snake-like green-haired girl approached, promising vengeful power.

She desperately sought greater strength to one day avenge herself on Sea God Tang San, making him pay dearly.

"Mother!" Nearby, a smaller Deep Sea Demonic Whale, over two hundred meters long, followed and transformed into human form.

She was a beautiful girl with blue long hair, like the purest ocean sprite.

Her gaze swept over the floating marine creatures, flashing with pity.

These innocent lives perished instantly under her mother's rampant power.

Then, she looked worriedly at the Demon Empress, eyes full of concern and anxiety.

"Mother, please don't go. Isn't it fine to live quietly in the deep sea?"

Lan Fozi's face was full of worry, pleading with a begging tone.

Deep down, she didn't want to join her mother's vengeful plan of hatred and slaughter, only wishing for a peaceful, stable life with her mother in the tranquil deep sea.

Yet, her mother relentlessly devoured sea soul beasts, obsessively cultivating to grow stronger.

Worse, that woman named Mobius gave her mother a mysterious gem.

Afterward, her mother's strength soared, gaining control over lightning, improving daily, soon surpassing her father's former power.

Moreover, her mother joined the World Serpent as the Third Seat, titled King of Conquest, intent on returning to the continent to avenge against Sea God Tang San.

Now, she was acting, leaving the deep sea for Douluo Continent.

Chapter 236: Demon Soul Great White Shark

Lan Fozi's heart was filled with worry; she knew hatred had thoroughly twisted her mother's mind, making her mad and reckless.

She feared her mother would face divine punishment from endless hatred and slaughter, leaving her alone and helpless.

"Didn't I tell you not to follow? You won't listen to me anymore." Seeing her daughter follow, the Demon Empress's face turned cold instantly.

Though blinded by hatred, deep down she didn't want Lan Fozi involved in this dangerous revenge.

If her daughter wanted a quiet life, let her hide peacefully in the deep sea, away from strife and killing, not drawn into her hateful world.

Scolded by the Demon Empress, Lan Fozi instinctively shrank back; she feared her mother's angry, icy gaze that could freeze everything.

Even so, she mustered courage and stubbornly said, "Mother, it's been ten thousand years. Stop the killing; it'll bring divine punishment."

"Divine punishment? Hahaha, what a joke!" The Demon Empress scoffed at Lan Fozi's words, eyes full of disdain.

"This world is survival of the fittest. Your father never offended humans; he stayed in his place, never invading the continent or humans. Yet, because Sea God Tang San coveted his soul ring and soul bone, he was cruelly killed."

"Our Deep Sea Demonic Whale clan devours sea soul beasts—it's part of nature, like wolves eating sheep or humans eating meat. What's wrong with that?"

"The Demon Soul Great White Shark clan is extremely bloodthirsty; they've killed no fewer sea soul beasts, yet have they faced divine punishment?"

"Humans hunt soul beasts for soul rings, killing billions—have they faced divine punishment?"

The Demon Empress believed Deep Sea Demonic Whales were essential to natural balance, limiting marine overpopulation, a part of the planet's natural selection, its favored children—how could they face divine punishment?

Moreover, now wielding lightning authority, she felt she was divine punishment itself—why fear it?

Lan Fozi's face twisted bitterly at her mother's words.

Her mother didn't believe in retribution, and her twisted logic seemed somewhat reasonable upon reflection.

In debates with her mother, Lan Fozi never won.

Besides, hatred had warped her mother's mind; even the sincerest advice was hard to accept, let alone from a daughter sheltered in the deep sea with little worldly experience.

"Don't follow me anymore. Go back and stay put." The Demon Empress coldly tossed out the words and headed toward the Douluo Continent without looking back.

According to that woman Mobius's intelligence, Sea God Tang San was preoccupied and unable to oversee the Douluo Continent.

She no longer needed to hide in fear daily.

Before, due to Sea God Tang San's power, despite her hatred, she buried it deep, hiding with her daughter in the ocean's depths, cautiously building strength, waiting for revenge.

Now, she felt that ten-thousand-year wait had finally arrived!

Lan Fozi watched her mother's receding figure, face full of helplessness.

She knew her mother's mind was set, but as a daughter, she couldn't watch her sink into hatred's abyss toward ruin.

After hesitating, determination filled her eyes. Even if she couldn't stop her, she couldn't rest easy. She chased toward the Douluo Continent.

Though a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, Lan Fozi was worlds apart from the Demon Empress, even in speed.

She could only follow her mother's faint scent trail.

She knew she couldn't stop her mother's sins, but deep down hoped to save her if retribution came, even at life's cost.

After all, her mother was her only family; she couldn't abandon her.

The Demon Shark Sea, this vast ocean region, was the territory of one of the ocean's three overlords, the Demon Soul Great White Sharks.

It was also the richest sea area near the Douluo Continent.

As one of the three overlords, backed by the Sea God and serving as his mounts, the Demon Soul Great White Shark clan had defeated and driven out the other two—Deep Sea Demonic Whales and Evil Orca—over the ages.

Today, in the vast seas near the Douluo Continent, they held absolute dominance, unchallenged.

Even clans with hundred-thousand-year soul beasts dared not provoke them or approach the Demon Shark Sea.

The clan was naturally bloodthirsty and fierce, and with the Sea God as backing, they roamed the ocean unchecked.

At this moment, a slender, silver-white small Demon Soul Great White Shark quietly left the Demon Shark Sea, embarking on another runaway adventure.

"Hmph, Mom treats me like a kid even though I'm grown and nearly breaking through to a hundred thousand years."

A crisp, bell-like girl's voice rang over the sea as the small shark swam swiftly, tracing a dreamy silver line through the sparkling waters.

"That girl Xiuxiu ran away again!"

A nearly hundred-meter-long Demon Soul Great White Shark with a powerful aura surfaced, eyes full of indulgence, gazing toward Bai Xiuxiu's direction.

From its aura and size, it was clearly a male over a hundred thousand years old.

"Let her go; she won't run far. That girl is such a handful—as princess of the Demon Soul Great White Shark clan, she inherited none of our warlike nature. She's a total weakling, can't even beat lower-cultivated sea soul beasts!"

A larger, more ferocious and noble Demon Soul Great White Shark surfaced, tone laced with helplessness.

As the Demon Soul Great White Shark King, her daughter Bai Xiuxiu was a rare variant with ice attributes, allowing her to dominate the ocean.

Yet, this unique little princess disliked fighting, brimming with curiosity about the world, her innocent demeanor like a naive human child.

In this fight-loving, aggressive clan, Bai Xiuxiu's personality was an outlier.

Without her princess status, she'd have been ruthlessly abandoned.

"It's good she's leaving now; I have a bad premonition about this Holy Grail War and Sea God inheritance—it's too strange!"

The Demon Soul Great White Shark King, Xiao Bai, had fought alongside Sea God Tang San ten thousand years ago, defeating the Evil Orca King and Deep Sea Demonic Whale King.

After that battle, she gained immense benefits, her cultivation rocketing; now she was a true ferocious beast.

Her strength matched Douluo Continent's top ten ferocious beasts, though slightly below the top three.

If ocean soul beasts were included in rankings (which focused on land ones), she'd compete for top five.

After Sea God Tang San ascended, the once-glorious Sea God Island faded.

To show loyalty, Xiao Bai led her clan to build a grand Sea God Temple underwater in the Demon Shark Sea, devoutly worshiping the Sea God and gathering faith power from countless deep-sea soul beasts.

Thus, for ten thousand years, they maintained close ties with the Sea God.

Yet, for such a major event as passing down the position, they—as his mounts—received no word.

In this eerie situation, Xiao Bai felt a strong ill omen; her sharp intuition warned of impending disaster!

Suddenly, the clear sky darkened with gathering black thunderclouds, threatening to devour the heavens.

Dazzling lightning flashed like silver serpents, deafening thunder rolling in, each boom pounding Xiao Bai's heart, making it skip beats.

"This aura—Deep Sea Demonic Whale King? Impossible; I saw him killed by the Sea God!"

Accompanying the sudden storm was a heart-palpitating terror aura.

It seemed from ancient times, carrying endless malice and oppression.

Xiao Bai was all too familiar with it—the signature of the Deep Sea Demonic Whales, once one of the ocean's three overlords.

Though all three were overlords, the Deep Sea Demonic Whale was the true king, claiming the throne single-handedly unlike the clustered Evil Orcas and Demon Soul Great White Sharks.

Chapter 237: Sea God Clone

"Xiao Bai, run!" The other hundred-thousand-year Demon Soul Great White Shark was the Demon Soul Great White Shark King Xiao Bai's husband.

He too had witnessed the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King's terror ten thousand years ago. Seeing the approaching thousand-meter horror, his sharp instinct told him that even together, he and his wife were no match.

This Deep Sea Demonic Whale was far larger than the one that had turned its body divine ten thousand years ago.

They had no chance back then, let alone against this stronger one now.

"Come for revenge?" Xiao Bai showed no panic and ignored her husband's urging to flee.

She knew escaping this Deep Sea Demonic Whale in the ocean was nearly impossible.

She decisively released unique demon soul waves, urgently summoning the clan.

With her penetrating call, all Demon Soul Great White Sharks in the Demon Shark Sea rushed toward her.

Thousands of figures shuttled through the water, all over ten thousand years old, including several hundred-thousand-year leaders.

To face this aggressive Deep Sea Demonic Whale, the clan mobilized nearly all elites.

"We can't escape; it's locked onto me. But with the Sea God Temple here, we have a fighting chance."

As the strongest, Xiao Bai sensed the divine consciousness locking her first.

A Deep Sea Demonic Whale with divine consciousness and a near-divine body had strength rivaling a level-100 true god.

Against such power, their only hope was the painstakingly built Sea God Temple below, borrowing its Sea God divine power for a slim chance.

Fortunately, over the years, they'd diligently gathered faith for the Sea God, retaining his protection.

Otherwise, in the vast sea, escape was impossible.

"Deep Sea Demonic Whale, I never thought another existed in this ocean. You dare show yourselves again!"

Xiao Bai stared gravely at the approaching whale as the underwater Sea God Temple sensed the crisis, emitting blue-gold mysterious light.

"In the past, I wouldn't dare appear rashly. But do you really think a mere temple can stop me? It's time you pay for your past actions."

The Demon Empress coldly eyed the glowing temple below, sensing the Sea God's divine power, her eyes surging with endless resentment.

She then turned to Xiao Bai, killing intent nearly tangible.

It was this seemingly weak Demon Soul Great White Shark King who, with the Sea God, cruelly killed her husband and devoured his whale pearl.

"You all deserve to die!"

The Demon Empress's roar thundered like rolling thunder, carrying endless fury and hatred, echoing with a massive whale cry.

Instantly, purple-black light erupted from her colossal body, sweeping the sea like a tidal wave.

Simultaneously, countless thick lightning bolts poured from the sky like doomsday.

"Lightning, submit to me!" Bolstered by the Herrscher of Thunder's power, the Demon Empress controlled storms and lightning at will.

Lightning's might amplified infinitely in the vast sea.

In moments, the Demon Shark Sea fell into raging thunder-storm chaos.

Countless marine creatures died instantly in the terror, unable to react; the once-vibrant area turned deathly silent.

"Despair Beam!" In crisis, Xiao Bai united the clan to unleash the powerful mental soul skill, Despair Beam.

A silver-white beam shot like a blade toward the Demon Empress's massive body.

Upon impact, a strong mental shock erupted, staggering her.

However, empowered by the Herrscher of Thunder, the Demon Empress had condensed divine consciousness, just a step from level-100 true god.

The mental shock only briefly halted her.

Under raging thunder, amplified by seawater, hundreds of Demon Soul Great White Sharks were charred instantly, acrid burnt smell filling the air.

Seeing her clan suffer heavy losses, Xiao Bai hesitated no more, decisively activating the Sea God Temple to wield its mighty Sea God divine power.

Instantly, blue-gold divine light shot skyward like a brilliant meteor from the underwater temple, blooming radiantly.

Hundreds of kilometers of sea were enveloped in this blue-gold light, releasing the Sea God's supreme divine might.

Any intelligent sea soul beast instinctively fled upon sensing it.

The Demon Shark Sea had become lethally dangerous; approaching meant death.

…

"Huh?" Bai Xiuxiu, far from the Demon Shark Sea, glanced back and saw the dazzling divine light rising.

As clan princess, though young and somewhat childish, she knew the blue-gold light's meaning.

She was familiar with this power; her playful self was always scolded by her mother when nearing the Sea God Temple.

Now, with this power surging from the temple, Bai Xiuxiu—innocent but not foolish—realized the clan faced grave crisis; otherwise, her mother wouldn't use it.

Worried for her parents, fear and anxiety filled her. Without thinking, she turned in panic, swimming desperately back.

…

As the Sea God divine power gathered, the calm sea surged wildly.

Countless waters, drawn by some force, aggregated into a thousands-of-meters-tall giant.

The giant held a water-blue trident, resembling Sea God Tang San.

Towering imposingly, the giant thrust the trident with thunderous force at the Demon Empress.

The trident cleaved the sky, creating deafening sonic booms, as if tearing space.

This terrifying strike far exceeded the Ultimate Douluo level, capable of sinking a small island.

Facing the Demon Soul Great White Shark clan's ultimate trump card—a Sea God clone summoned from ten thousand years of stored divine power—the Demon Empress roared in fury.

She swiftly deployed her Deep Sea Domain, turning surrounding waters into a massive vortex like an indestructible shield before her.

The thousand-meter water-condensed trident carried immense weight.

This devastating strike tore space effortlessly, shattering the seemingly unbreakable vortex, then slammed heavily into the Demon Empress's body.

With an earth-shaking boom, waves rose hundreds of meters; the sea trembled like in a massive earthquake.

The Demon Empress let out a shrill wail, blood spraying from her mouth, dyeing the sea red. Her massive body flew like a broken kite, crashing into the depths.

"Did it work?"

Xiao Bai's face was pale as paper; summoning the Sea God clone had drained her immensely.

Though Sea God divine power was mighty, it wasn't theirs; each use exacted a heavy toll.

"Careful!" Unlike the drained Xiao Bai, her husband sensed the lurking danger in the depths first with sharp perception.

He unhesitatingly rammed her aside.

He himself was pierced by a massive thunder spear shooting from the deep.

Thunder ravaged his body, destroying tissues and meridians mercilessly.

With a boom, seawater parted as the human-formed Demon Empress soared from the depths to the thundercloud-filled sky.

Disheveled, with blood at her lips and a frosty pale face, she was clearly gravely wounded by the Sea God clone's fatal strike.

Yet, she didn't retreat.

That strike had exhausted the Sea God divine power; Xiao Bai couldn't unleash another soon.

Enduring pain, she flew high, raising her hand with fingers spread.

Instantly, endless thunder gathered toward her.

Above her head, it formed a thousands-of-meters-diameter purple-black thunder orb.