Chapter 126: Close Relatives
Everyone’s attention was on the weapon, and hers was no exception. But beyond the weapon, she also noted Lu Jingyu’s reaction.
Lu Jingyu was clearly bothered by the attention on his weapon. His reaction was particularly strong when Chen Yunfei said it looked familiar.
An instinct told her there had to be a secret behind this weapon—a secret that was likely tied to Lu Jingyu’s true identity.
At this thought, Xu Qingsui couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. She found herself hoping Chen Yunfei would remember where the weapon came from.
At Lu Jingyu’s urging, the team members had already reformed and were preparing to continue their exploration.
But before they could set off, Xu Qingsui’s eyes suddenly flew wide.
’Crap!’
’I still ended up attracting that stinky seafood’s relatives!’
"The Deep Sea Dominator has been awakened! Everyone, prepare for battle!" As Xu Qingsui finished speaking, a massive shadow fell over them all.
Feeling the shadow fall over them, everyone looked up.
All they could see was a partial body, so immense it blocked their entire view.
The Mutant was so enormous that no one could see it in its entirety.
At the sight, Lu Jingyu finally recalled the third rule, but it was too late.
"What in the world is the Deep Sea Dominator?" Chen Yunfei asked, oblivious enough to still be in the mood for questions.
"A Giant Octopus! They’re called Deep Sea Dominators because they’re naturally enormous. This one has also been contaminated. Everyone, be careful. A fierce battle is inevitable."
Lu Jingyu had already put away his sword-like weapon, but now, facing the Deep Sea Dominator, he had no other choice but to draw it again.
The moment the weapon appeared, Chen Yunfei’s gaze snapped to it again. Unexpectedly, that glance sparked a realization.
"I remember now! Isn’t this weapon Tan Lang?"
Lu Jingyu’s grip on Tan Lang tightened, but he offered no answer, saying instead, "We have a powerful enemy before us. Let’s figure out how to deal with this Deep Sea Dominator!"
Chen Yunfei’s attention was successfully redirected, but Xu Qingsui already had her answer.
’Tan Lang?’
’When I get the chance, I’ll have to investigate that thoroughly.’
"Guide Xu, this Mutant is unlike the others. Once the fight starts, I’m afraid I won’t be able to protect you. Find a place to hide, or use the chaos to get back to shore."
Ever since Xu Qingsui had been with him, she was the first person Lu Jingyu thought of whenever danger arose.
"Everyone, stay alert. When you get a chance, get back to the shore. Don’t make any needless sacrifices."
As Lu Jingyu spoke, several tentacles, each as thick as a grown man, appeared before them.
Unlike the tentacles of the deep-sea aberrant Tentacle Monster they had encountered before, these only brought an intangible pressure, with no accompanying chill.
Just the sweep of these few tentacles was enough to generate waves that sent everyone stumbling and staggering.
With a reverse grip, Lu Jingyu plunged Tan Lang into the seabed, clinging to it to steady himself.
As the waves gradually receded, he pulled Tan Lang free, preparing to charge.
But just then, a circular maw the size of a volcanic crater appeared before them. In the next second, a jet of inky black mist erupted, instantly plunging everyone into darkness.
Having lost their sight, the team members’ hearts clenched. An unknown fear crushed them, making it hard to breathe.
The moment she was blinded, Xu Qingsui began to release her spiritual power, attempting to sense danger in advance and at least give everyone a warning.
But for some reason, her spiritual power failed this time. After sending it out, she received no feedback whatsoever.
Furthermore, just as she tried to retract it, the spiritual power she had just sent out was severed from her connection.
She hadn’t panicked when the Giant Octopus sprayed its ink, but now, she was starting to.
"System, your relative’s here! Aren’t you going to say hello? We’re practically family. Why don’t you talk to it? Tell it to go back to sleep, and we promise to be quieter from now on."
Xu Qingsui was feeling unnerved, so she pinned her hopes on the Golden Octopus.
[Host, please do not try to take shortcuts!]
The Golden Octopus saw right through her ploy.
Xu Qingsui didn’t feel the least bit awkward. "I’m not trying to take a shortcut! I’m just asking. Didn’t you say you were related to the Deep Sea Dominator? If you’re really family, can’t you pull a few strings for me?"
"Besides, if I get hurt, you’ll be affected too, right? If you’re really family, there’s no reason for both of us to suffer!"
Xu Qingsui’s silver tongue left the Golden Octopus momentarily speechless.
Seeing the Golden Octopus still hadn’t relented, Xu Qingsui decided to fan the flames.
"What’s wrong? You weren’t just bluffing, were you? Knowing your personality, if you were really related to the Deep Sea Dominator, you’d be eager to prove it, not be at a loss for words like you are now."
After she said this, Xu Qingsui could have sworn she saw a blush creep across the Golden Octopus’s face.
’Did I actually make the stinky seafood blush?’
[The Giant Octopus and I share a common origin. That is indisputable. However, after tens of thousands of years of evolution, we have become different branches.]
[Furthermore, I am now a being that transcends biology, an entity that carries the system’s functions. Even though it is the Deep Sea Dominator, it is no longer on the same plane of existence as me. Why would I need to brag about it?]
Xu Qingsui raised an eyebrow. "So in other words, you two aren’t that close anymore. That means even if I devour it, you won’t blame me, right?"
[Of course. One of the host’s primary tasks is to improve yourself by devouring the spirit bodies of Mutants and sources of contamination. I will only support the host in carrying out your duties.]
Xu Qingsui nodded. She had led the Golden Octopus right into the trap she’d set.
"You’re the one who said it. But to make sure you don’t go back on your word, how about this: tell me its weak point and help me devour it. That way, when I succeed, half the credit will be yours. Then you’ll have no reason to bring this up later or cause trouble for me."
The Golden Octopus fell silent. It studied Xu Qingsui, a vague feeling dawning on it that it had been played.
But the words had been spoken, and it had already walked into the trap. It could only accept its fate.
[Its belly! The Giant Octopus’s weak point is its belly. Find the right spot, and you can kill it with a single strike.]
The Giant Octopus was massive, and the Golden Octopus hadn’t specified where exactly on its belly the weak point was.
Xu Qingsui wanted to press for more details, but she was afraid the Golden Octopus would get desperate and refuse to cooperate, so she had to let it go.
But at least she had a starting point, which was better than flailing about blindly.