"You... how can I trust you?"
Good grief, another one demanding soul bones.
You soul beasts want soul bones, but instead of stripping them from your own kind, you always come to rob the spoils of war. Is that right?
No, it's not.
But he mentioned repaying a favor to the Star Dou Great Forest; not giving them wouldn't do either!
Who told him and Bo Saixi to chase down the Demon Empress.
However, no matter how he thought about it.
Putting himself in the other's shoes, Tang Chen didn't think handing over the soul bones would make the other side let him and the others go.
Moreover, this fat-headed big whale seemed a bit off, slightly different from his previous personality.
But perhaps it was because he had slept too long and woken up in a bad mood! It didn't seem impossible.
Just as Tang Chen was hesitating, the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King's voice rang out again:
"You can only believe me. If you don't, that's fine too." The Deep Sea Demonic Whale King spread his hands open.
"Then I'll take them myself. Last time, after Ning Rongrong's treatment, and devouring the Sea Princess and the guys from the Ice Sea Clan, my injuries have recovered quite a bit."
"Not to mention you—even if Bo Saixi joins in, I won't fear it in the slightest."
He knew about the Sea Princess, and knew that the Ice Sea Clan had devoured the Sea Princess?
Tang Chen's brows furrowed tightly.
No mistake, that's the vibe!
The one before him was absolutely the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King.
Only someone who had personally experienced it would know about the Sea Princess and the Ice Sea Clan, and know that the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King had devoured the Sea Princess and the corpses of the Ice Sea Clan.
If not a firsthand witness, it would be impossible to describe it so clearly.
The electric arcs on his body were also exactly like those of the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King; it could be said they were cast from the same mold.
Personality could be faked, but power?
Unless it was someone extremely familiar, how could it be faked?
The only ones who had truly gone through the entire Ice Sea beast tide incident were Ning Rongrong and the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King.
It couldn't be that the person before him wasn't the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King, but the young sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Rongrong, in disguise, right?
That would be ridiculous.
And who was he?
The invincible Tang Chen of the continent—if someone were truly impersonating the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King, would he not see through it?
"I can give you the soul bones, but I have a condition: I want you to swear that this matter is over."
"Of course, soul beasts are more trustworthy than humans." The Deep Sea Demonic Whale King nodded. "Since that's the case, I also have a condition: swear on your martial soul that you won't attack our Deep Sea Demonic Whale Clan again."
"Alright!" Tang Chen nodded. Not attacking the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King only limited to himself—this oath, Tang Chen was willing to make. Since it was only himself, it didn't represent Bo Saixi, nor Tang San.
In this way, even if the Sea God's divine trials later involved the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King.
As long as he didn't make a move, it would be fine.
Now that he was under someone else's roof, how could he not bow his head.
The Deep Sea Demonic Whale King's condition was generous enough; with enemies ahead and pursuers behind, he couldn't afford to drag this out any longer.
Thus, Tang Chen pointed his hand toward the sky.
"I, Tang Chen, swear on my martial soul, the Haotian Hammer: as long as the Deep Sea Demonic Whale Clan does not take the initiative to become my enemy, I, Tang Chen, will not attack or harm the Deep Sea Demonic Whale Clan in any way."
"If I violate this oath, may heaven and earth destroy me, and may all men and gods abandon me."
Tang Chen lowered his hand and looked toward the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King opposite him.
"Now it's your turn. A dignified 990,000-year soul beast wouldn't go back on his word, right?"
"Of course, a 990,000-year soul beast certainly won't break his word." The Deep Sea Demonic Whale King laughed.
"Though you have a bit of playing word games in there, I'll let it slide with my magnanimity and pretend I don't know."
With that, the electric arcs around the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King dissipated, restoring him to his ancient-clothed, middle-aged man appearance, looking like a worldly hermit.
"I swear on the Deep Sea Demonic Whale Clan: as long as you hand over the soul bones of the Sky Blue Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape to me."
"I, the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King, will write off all grievances with Tang Chen. If Tang Chen can fulfill what he said in his oath, I, the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King, will owe him a favor and let them leave."
"And the rest?" Tang Chen's brows furrowed tightly.
"Hmph, we soul beasts don't trust humans, nor gods. I only trust myself and the rules."
"You..."
Tang Chen was so angry his nose nearly twisted.
"Alright, hand over the items, and I'll let you leave."
"Hmph!" Tang Chen took out the soul bones of the Sky Blue Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape and tossed them over; the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King caught them casually.
"Can we leave now?" Tang Chen was still wary of the other.
"Of course, please!" The Deep Sea Demonic Whale King stepped aside, making a gesture to invite him, signaling Tang Chen to hurry and take Tang San out of the Star Dou Great Forest.
With the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King being so "reasonable," Tang Chen immediately breathed a sigh of relief. He quickly grabbed Tang San by the waist, "whoosh"—transforming into a streak of red light and speeding away.
Tang Chen carried Tang San off like a handbag as he departed; the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King's calm gaze showed no ripples, as if it were all within expectations.
Moments later, the surrounding space trembled slightly.
"Master, aren't you worried about being discovered?" Beside the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King, a girl dressed in Gothic lolita attire appeared.
"Tang Chen is really easy to fool. If it were me, I'd definitely test it out—maybe it'd expose us."
"That's normal; that's human nature!"
The Ning Rongrong who had reverted to her original appearance shrugged her shoulders.
Tang San and Tang Chen's conditions were both poor, with dangers lurking everywhere; they needed to leave this place of trouble quickly. Plus, reconciling with the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King could be considered a good thing.
Especially since she knew details about the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King, which made Tang Chen no longer doubt the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King's authenticity.
And with the prior encounter with the Demon Empress, even if it was unbelievable.
It was possible for both the Demon Empress and the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King to appear in the Star Dou Great Forest at the same time.
As for testing it, the risk was too great.
If the test went wrong and provoked the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King, they might really end up done for here.
Better to break the bank and avert the disaster.
"I don't understand human nature or whatever; it's too complicated." Tokisaki Kurumi toyed with her handgun. "By the way, you just swore an oath, right? Is that okay?"
Oaths and such could sometimes affect one's own cultivation.
"The one who swore was the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King and Tang Chen; what does it have to do with me, Ning Rongrong?"
Ning Rongrong spread her hands, putting on an innocent expression.
Tokisaki Kurumi: "..."
The corners of Ning Rongrong's mouth curved into an arc as she smiled. "As for Tang Chen, the oath he made is effective on him."
"As long as the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King doesn't become his enemy, he can't attack the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King in any way."
"That way, even in the Sea God divine trials, Tang Chen can't intervene against the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King."
"How about that? Using this condition as a basis, I got two soul bones."
"Sly and cunning pink-cut-black sect young mistress." Tokisaki Kurumi couldn't help but roast.
"Where? Don't slander me." Ning Rongrong retorted. "Didn't I let Tang Chen and Tang San leave?"
"I can't argue with you." Tokisaki Kurumi rolled her eyes.
"Why didn't you just kill them outright?" A cold glint flashed across Tokisaki Kurumi's face. "The Asura God hasn't shown up for so long; he probably can't come to the rescue!"
"It's difficult. If I use that, the aftereffects will last a long time."
"Without using it, the opponent is a quasi-god powerhouse." Ning Rongrong sighed. "Forcing a quasi-god and a God King to death—who knows what price we'd pay."
"God King?"
"Mm, the original Tang San probably died. It's just that... the future Tang San unexpectedly fused with the current him. Otherwise, given the situation back then, Tang San couldn't have used such a terrifying Kuan Yin Tear and still injured Qian Renxue."
"But I'm not entirely sure."
"Some rhythm like those transmigration novels?" Tokisaki Kurumi pressed. "Then why not hurry and kill Tang San."
Don't raise a tiger that ends up devouring you.
"It's not that I don't want to, but I can't." Ning Rongrong sighed.
"We still have ties to the Star Dou Great Forest. We have no one above us; involving the Silver Dragon King—who knows if they'll take it out on us later."
Don't think the God Realm is all sunshine and rainbows. Without sufficient strength.
If they exterminate the Silver Dragon King, they'd rather kill three thousand innocents than let one go. If the Asura God really wanted to wipe out the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the other God Kings would turn a blind eye.
Of course, if Ning Rongrong herself were a God King, that would be another story.
Or if she could connect to the Evil God King and truly had backing—otherwise, Ning Rongrong wasn't willing to take such a risk.
This wasn't a game; you couldn't reload a save.
If you die, you're really dead!
If she's lucky, perhaps she could transmigrate back like Tang San, though she didn't know what stage the current Tang San was in.
Perhaps she could slowly observe and understand.
Ning Rongrong wasn't in a hurry because her cultivation method could continue to be practiced.
Right now, she was only at the peak of the Supreme Realm, not even reaching the second realm.
Even if she reached the second realm, there were still two realms left after that.
Afterward, it would be eternal life.
What she lacked wasn't the path, but time.
Suddenly, Ning Rongrong's brows furrowed as she felt the surrounding temperature drop slightly.
"Kurumi, someone's coming."
"Shall we meet them?" Tokisaki Kurumi looked toward Ning Rongrong.
"Let's meet. They're acquaintances after all." Ning Rongrong patted Tokisaki Kurumi's shoulder, then cast her gaze toward the distant dense forest. "Bing Di and Xue Di, since you've come, why hide anymore?"