Chapter 447: Bessie's Scheme
Dai Yao's taunt echoed like thunder across the sky. The Demon Spirit Great White Shark's pupils contracted as a bone-chilling aura radiated from her. This human's arrogance had fully enraged her! She, one of the ocean's apex predators and the sacred guardian beast of Seagod Island, had never faced such insolence. No one, not even the Evil Demon Orca or the Deep Sea Demon Whale, dared speak to her in this way.
"So what if you're chosen by the Seagod? You still need to be taught a lesson!" growled Xiao Bai.
A powerful gray-white glow erupted from her body, instantly blanketing the entire Sea Within Sea. The previously turbulent waters went eerily calm, like a mirror without a single ripple. Yet this strange stillness only heightened the tension, making hearts tremble in fear. It was Xiao Bai's exclusive domain—the Demon Shark Domain!
Xiao Bai shot Dai Yao a contemptuous glance before diving back into the water. Strangely, she left no ripples as she entered. Submerged, she moved like a shadow, an expert hunter lurking in the depths, waiting for Dai Yao to make a wrong move and deliver a fatal blow.
Inside the domain, Dai Yao found movement increasingly difficult. The entire Sea Within Sea, along with the space above it, was sealed by Xiao Bai. Looking up, he could see a barrier blocking him from ascending to evade her pursuit.
As he glanced back, he saw his wives pressing forward into the domain, moving slowly but determinedly toward him. With a slight raise of his brow, he gestured for them to stay back, locking his gaze on the water below with a wicked smile.
"Don't come any closer," he commanded.
Although Dai Yao's demeanor had shifted, Zhu Zhuqing and the others understood that this was merely his alternate persona. Even so, any injury he sustained would also harm the true Dai Yao.
"But you—" Zhu Zhuqing began, but Dai Yao interrupted her.
Dai Yao's alter ego was initially irritated, but the sight of Zhu Zhuqing quelled his annoyance. With a sigh, a deep black aura erupted from him, stretching to cover the entire Sea Within Sea. It was none other than the innate domain of the Dark Devilgod Tiger—the Evil Tiger Domain!
A black spirit ring then rose around him, a ten-thousand-year spirit ring that, despite its age, felt as powerful as a hundred-thousand-year ring. However, hadn't the Seagod's trial sealed all his spirit rings? How was "Dai Yao" still able to use one?
"Enough worrying," he said. "The other guy's spirit rings might be sealed, but mine aren't. Do you think he'd risk this if he weren't sure? Zhu Zhuqing, you've been with him long enough to know. Now go back. Don't make things messy. Today, someone tried to cross me, and I'm going to show them the consequences."
Chastising Zhu Zhuqing, he turned back to the calm waters below, his dark eyes filled with chilling intent.
From the moment the second trial had begun, as he entered the Sea Within Sea and encountered the Demon Spirit Great White Shark, his domain had surfaced—along with his spirit ring, revealing glimpses of their true form. For Dai Yao to make such an oversight was unthinkable. There could only be one explanation: someone had deliberately set him up. And on Seagod Island, there were only two possible culprits: the Seagod himself, or Bessie.
The Seagod had no reason to resort to such crude tactics, so the mastermind was clear.
With a faint sneer, "Dai Yao" cast a glance at the distant, majestic Seagod's Temple. He was both Dai Yao and yet also his own person. To scheme against Dai Yao was to scheme against him, and though he understood Bessie's motives, it didn't mean he would forgive them.
Upon seeing Dai Yao's unsealed spirit ring and hearing his words, his wives visibly relaxed and retreated. Although this side of Dai Yao wasn't quite as powerful as the main persona, he could certainly hold his own against the Demon Spirit Great White Shark.
"Rongrong," Zhu Zhuqing instructed, "continue boosting him. If he can't match that beast alone, I'll join and initiate our spirit fusion with him. Be prepared for a major drain on your spirit power."
Focusing on the water's surface, Zhu Zhuqing kept a watchful eye, determined to aid Dai Yao if he needed her. As his longest-standing companion, she understood his anger deeply. She wanted to help, but partnering with his alternate persona felt odd. Still, she wouldn't hesitate to jump in if needed.
Ning Rongrong, slightly stunned, nodded and continued to strengthen Dai Yao with an even greater intensity.
As dazzling light enveloped "Dai Yao," his power rose steadily. Phoenix and Dugu Yan fixed their gazes on the water, their eyes icy. Had Dai Yao not been sealed, how could this beast even slow him down? As his wives, they couldn't help but bear a grudge against this so-called guardian beast for attacking him.
"Dai Yao" hovered above the water, his dark wings flaring, a look of disdain in his gaze. His scornful voice echoed across the Sea Within Sea.
"What's wrong?" he taunted. "A great hundred-thousand-year spirit beast, one of the ocean's mightiest, resorting to sneak attacks? Isn't that embarrassing?"
He knew that invoking the name of the Evil Demon Orca—the natural enemy of the Demon Spirit Great White Shark—would get under Xiao Bai's skin.
Predictably, a furious shout rang out from beneath the water.
"You brat! I was just going to teach you a lesson for the Seagod's sake, but if you're so eager for death, I'll oblige!"
As her words resounded, the surface of the Sea Within Sea began to tremble. A dark shadow burst from below.
A brilliant blue beam gathered on the shark's head, and in the next moment, it shot out in an explosive wave. The blue light tore through the water, splitting the Sea Within Sea down to the rock at its base.
This was Xiao Bai's top-tier ability, Despair Wave. Once it connected with a target, it immobilized them, leaving them at her mercy. And she didn't stop there. Moving with surprising agility, her massive form lunged toward Dai Yao, her overwhelming size making him appear insignificant.
"Finally showing yourself."
Dai Yao's face held not a trace of fear, only a hint of a victorious smirk. Bands of purple-black lightning crackled around him, and then, with a flash, lightning streaked across the sky.
It was none other than the Dark Devilgod Tiger's skill—Devilgod Thrust.
Evil energy surged as Dai Yao charged with lightning speed, almost like teleportation. Though it was a powerful attack, he wielded it as a swift movement technique. In an instant, he reappeared to the side, evading Xiao Bai's attack. Xiao Bai paused in confusion, startled by Dai Yao's agility within her domain, yet soon after, her gaze turned blank with shock.
"Since you've shown yourself, don't expect me to hold back!" Dai Yao raised a finger to the sky, his face a mask of chilling hostility. Suddenly, an endless torrent of dark gray energy surged from his body, shrouding the sky, while purple-black thunderbolts crackled ominously, sending chills down the spine.
Although Dai Yao's spirit abilities had been sealed, his control over lightning was unaffected, and the Dark Devilgod Tiger's martial spirit inherently possessed the attributes of evil, thunder, and wind. His mastery over lightning was unparalleled.
Countless bolts of demonic thunder began to condense into spheres, each one brimming with compressed energy so terrifying it made Xiao Bai's skin crawl. This was the Dark Devilgod Thunder—a powerful skill from the Dark Devilgod Tiger, blending the energies of wind, thunder, and evil into a devastating attack.
But more alarming than the skill itself was Dai Yao's boundless spirit power. He used his lightning manipulation to fill his entire Evil Tiger Domain with hundreds of these thunder orbs. If they detonated, the entire Sea Within Sea would be obliterated.
"How… how is this possible?" Xiao Bai stammered, gaping at the sky filled with destructive lightning spheres. "You're just a Spirit Sage—how can you wield something so powerful?"
Dai Yao, however, had no desire to explain. With a flick of his finger, a Dark Devilgod Thunder orb shot downward toward Xiao Bai. The air around it grew hot as it fell, boiling the sea surface below.
"You're insane! If you harm the Sea Within Sea's soul beasts, you'll fail your second trial!" Xiao Bai shouted, enraged and alarmed.
As Dai Yao's display of strength became increasingly unsettling, Xiao Bai's anger subsided, replaced by caution. She no longer sought to kill him outright but grew more rational—and even worried for him.
"Oh? So you understand that harming the Sea Within Sea's soul beasts will make me fail?" Dai Yao's voice was icy. "Yet you didn't think of that when you tried to kill me. You creatures only show respect when confronted with real power. Let me teach you something—if you stir up trouble, be prepared to face the consequences!"
"If you're so concerned about my second trial failing, then why don't you shield the other soul beasts yourself? Let's see how many you can block." Dai Yao's voice was filled with scorn as he looked down at the Demon Spirit Great White Shark. Ignoring her frantic protests, he sent the Dark Devilgod Thunder crashing down.
This one orb alone held the power of a Title Douluo's strongest attack. Forced to respond, Xiao Bai unleashed her own ability, Sharktooth Wave—a swirling blue energy storm resembling sharp teeth that intercepted the descending orb.
The two spirit skills clashed, unleashing a massive shockwave across the Sea Within Sea. The once-still surface of the water trembled under the impact, and even the trees on Seagod Mountain, protected by Seagod's Light, would have been torn asunder.
"Tsk, impressive—you blocked one. But what about all the others?" Dai Yao's smirk remained, his expression calm but chilling. If he triggered the remaining Dark Devilgod Thunder spheres, it would be a catastrophe for Seagod Island.
As the guardian beast of Seagod Island, and the catalyst of Dai Yao's wrath, Xiao Bai had no choice but to take responsibility for the conflict. If Dai Yao harmed the Sea Within Sea's soul beasts, he would fail his trial, and the Seagod's millennia of preparation would be in vain. Xiao Bai would become a traitor to Seagod Island.
She had to block his attacks, no matter what.
"Madman!" Xiao Bai cursed, glancing nervously at the descending spheres. The sky filled with Dark Devilgod Thunder spheres emanated destruction, their ominous presence like the tolling of a doomsday bell. Xiao Bai muttered bitterly as she fully activated her Shark Domain, shielding the trembling soul beasts below while using her remaining power to deflect the incoming attacks.
Meanwhile, seven figures clad in black robes arrived from different directions, horrified by the scene. Sea Dragon Douluo shouted urgently, "We need High Priest Bessie's intervention!"
A soft sigh echoed through the air, and then all space seemed to freeze. The Dark Devilgod Thunder spheres halted mid-descent, suspended in place. Even the previously roiling surface of the Sea Within Sea calmed, and Xiao Bai sighed in relief, hanging her head like a child caught in mischief.
Dai Yao's gaze shifted slightly as a beautiful figure in a red robe appeared in midair, leaning on her majestic staff.
Bessie surveyed the scene coldly, her eyes soon locking onto Dai Yao. Upon noticing the absence of the golden trident mark on his forehead, her usual composure gave way to surprise.
In place of the golden trident was a dark orb, faintly exuding a wicked aura. Bessie's gaze grew uncertain; she couldn't understand what had happened to make Dai Yao's Seagod Nine Trials mark vanish.
"Dai Yao, the Seagod Temple is no place for insolence," Bessie said flatly. "Since this matter began with Xiao Bai, I won't hold you accountable. But if it happens again, I won't overlook it."
An overwhelming soul power pressed down upon Dai Yao. Normally, even a Title Douluo would be paralyzed under such pressure. Yet Bessie was startled to see that Dai Yao appeared unaffected, remaining as calm as ever.
"Bessie," Dai Yao replied, his voice cold, "you know exactly why this is happening. I'll settle this with you later. But if you interfere now, I'll abandon the Seagod's trial and begin a new divine path. If you're done here, leave!"
His voice reverberated with authority, and everyone around the Sea Within Sea stood in stunned silence.