The sea breeze blew gently as warm sunlight danced across the ocean's surface, making the waters shimmer with blue radiance.
A large vessel with purple sails cut swiftly through the waves. At the ship's rail, Ning Rongrong, Dugu Yan, and Dugu Bo admired the seascape, occasionally feeling the refreshing spray of ocean mist against their faces.
"So, how do you find the ocean views?" Zi Zhenzhu emerged from the cabin, her purple hair tied up neatly in seafarer's attire.
"Quite magnificent," Ning Rongrong replied with a slight smile.
"We'll reach our destination in two days." Zi Zhenzhu moved to the railing, edging slightly closer to Dugu Yan, who instinctively shifted away.
With a shrug, Zi Zhenzhu didn't press further, not wanting to cause discomfort. Her gaze turned from Dugu Yan to Ning Rongrong:
"Speaking of which, shouldn't you tell me who you really are?"
"We're from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda," Ning Rongrong answered calmly, seeing no need to conceal their origins.
"Oh?" Zi Zhenzhu's expression showed surprise. "The fabulously wealthy Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda? I've heard of your sect."
"What position do you hold there?" To Zi Zhenzhu, anyone who could casually produce so much gold while being escorted by a Title Douluo must hold significant status.
"I'm the daughter of the sect master. As I mentioned earlier, my name is Ning Rongrong. Beside me is Elder Dugu Bo, the Poison Douluo of our sect, and his granddaughter Dugu Yan."
"Incredible. You came all this way just for ten-thousand-year whale glue?" Zi Zhenzhu found it puzzling while valuable, was it worth a Title Douluo's personal involvement?
"For sect alchemical purposes. It must be ten-thousand-year grade..." Ning Rongrong offered no further explanation.
"I see." Zi Zhenzhu nodded thoughtfully, recalling the auctioned pills and the antidote Ning Rongrong had provided days earlier.
"Since you're asking about our sect, may I assume you're considering joining us?"
Zi Zhenzhu blinked in surprise. "Why would the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda want a mere Soul King like me?"
"I'm a sea soul master my strength is nearly useless on land."
Sea soul masters dominated maritime battles against land-based peers but became disadvantaged ashore.
"You wouldn't need to relocate. Our sect plans to expand trade operations in Vast Sea City hence my invitation."
"What business would you conduct here?" Zi Zhenzhu pondered.
Unlike her more volatile future self eight years later, the current Purple Pearl Pirates remained relatively obscure.
"Pill sales and medicinal ingredient collection. The ocean holds abundant resources, and our sect possesses exceptional appraisal abilities."
"How does this concern me?"
"Because your talent is exceptional, and we wish to recruit you."
"Uh..." Zi Zhenzhu froze momentarily.
Are all land soul masters this blunt?
"We've investigated your character these past days before formally inviting you," Ning Rongrong added quietly. "There's another reason you don't worship the Sea God."
Zi Zhenzhu: "..."
"Simply put, joining us offers numerous benefits. Your crew could abandon piracy wouldn't that be preferable?"
"May I have time to consider? I'll give my answer after we return."
"Of course." Ning Rongrong nodded.
As the Purple Pearl pirate ship sailed toward their destination, days passed without Zi Zhenzhu mentioning the recruitment offer.
Under the scorching noon sun, Zi Zhenzhu ordered the crew to halt.
She pointed toward distant waters from the railing, explaining to the trio:
"Three kilometers ahead lies where the ten-thousand-year Sea-Swallowing Whale surfaces to breathe. These massive creatures usually live solitary lives rather than in groups."
"Do you know its exact age?" Though disinterested in Zi Zhenzhu's personality, Dugu Yan felt concerned this being her grandfather's first battle against deep-sea spirit beasts.
"Legends say they grow ten meters longer every ten thousand years," Zi Zhenzhu mused. "Based on past sightings, this one measures roughly fifty meters."
"A fifty-to-sixty-thousand-year sea spirit beast?"
Dugu Bo murmured, assessing the matchup. As a 92nd-ranked Title Douluo with Jade Phosphor Serpent venom, while less effective against Title Douluo-level foes, a mere fifty-thousand-year beast should pose no challenge.
This battle's advantage is mine!
"When will it surface?"
"Within two to three days." Zi Zhenzhu gestured toward undisturbed marine life. "No feeding disturbances yet mean it hasn't appeared."
Each surfacing engulfs kilometers of fish, requiring weeks for ecological recovery. Current conditions suggested the whale remained deep below or was still ascending.
"There!"
"Something's coming up it's the whale."
Sea soul masters indeed held sensory advantages on water. Almost simultaneously with Dugu Bo's spiritual detection of the massive creature, Zi Zhenzhu also noticed anomalies.
She immediately ordered the helmsman to retreat from the area.
The whale's surfacing zone was approximate, not fixed remaining nearby risked catastrophe. The ship needed distance from potential emergence points.
All eyes turned toward the horizon where previously calm waters began churning violently.
Beneath the surface, an enormous dark silhouette became visible, its hue noticeably deeper than surrounding waters.
"What a colossal creature." Dugu Yan stared at the expanding shadow. Though not yet surfaced, the sheer scale emanated palpable pressure.
Bubbles erupted in furious "glugging" bursts as the dark mass's location became a swirling vortex hundreds of meters wide, seawater pouring endlessly into its center as if being devoured.
"Hmph! A mere ten-thousand-year beast dares flaunt power before me?"
Dugu Bo snorted coldly.
Two yellow, two purple, and five black soul rings materialized instantly, unleashing a Title Douluo's crushing aura.