149: Chapter 149 The Coming Whale Fall

The five demons of the Eastward Expedition Team raised their heads once more.

That majestic aura was drawing closer and closer.

Then, they saw a whale swimming across the top of the trench.

Its size was so massive that the entire trench trembled beneath its shadow.

Its spine swept over the trench like a moving mountain range, its dark brown skin covered in mottled scars.

The Whale Demon's eyes were cloudy, its pupils somewhat dilated, and the skin around the corners of its eyes was wrinkled into deep crevices.

It swam very slowly, and every flick of its tail seemed to take a bit of effort.

Even so, the majestic aura emanating from this Whale Demon still terrified all the demons in the trench.

Bengbu felt this aura and sensed that this Whale Demon's aura far surpassed that of the Little Li Dragon.

In that case, the Whale Demon's cultivation realm was highly likely to be—

Level 5!

The Blue Crab stopped opening its claws, and its eight legs stopped digging.

It lay flat on the sandy seabed, looking up to watch the whale swim past the top of the trench, its shell trembling slightly in the undercurrent.

Its Level-3 cultivation was ridiculously minuscule in front of this whale.

Having lived for so many years, it had cultivated from a small crab to Level-3, running rampant in the near seas.

But after entering the deep sea and seeing this whale, it finally realized that it was nothing.

The Mantis Shrimp lay completely flat, its compound eyes staring at the whale, its antennae drooping in the seawater like two soggy noodles.

Haishen looked at the five demons who had obediently raised their heads and finally felt a bit safer.

It sighed and explained with the grievance of someone who had just been beaten up.

"Actually, there didn't used to be so many demons in this trench. After all, as you know, many demons are loners."

Pointing its tentacles at the densely packed caves on both sides of the trench, it continued.

"In the past, these caves were basically empty, with only an occasional demon living here."

"It's because this Whale Demon is nearing the end of its lifespan, and it chose this place as its site for the Whale Fall."

"So, it has been circling this sea area, waiting for that day to arrive."

Haishen also looked up at the massive whale.

"Once the news spread, all the demons in this sea area came, and even those from neighboring waters."

"Some even came from places we've never even heard of. All of them are here to wait for the Whale Fall."

"You know about a Whale Fall, right? When a whale dies and sinks to the ocean floor, its body nourishes the living creatures of the entire sea."

"A single whale can bring a dead sea back to life, let alone a Level-5 Whale Demon."

The five demons of the Eastward Expedition Team looked up at the Whale Demon swimming above the trench. Hearing Haishen's explanation, everything clicked for them.

So that was why!

No wonder there were so many demons in this trench, and no wonder they could crowd together without fighting.

It turned out they were all waiting for the old whale to die, waiting for the Whale Fall.

The Whale Fall of a Level-5 Whale Demon was a feast that this sea area wouldn't see once in a thousand years.

And the demons in this trench would share in this Whale Fall.

The Whale Demon swam past the trench, and its decaying yet majestic aura drifted further and further away.

The five demons also withdrew their gazes and returned to Haishen's cave, packing it to the brim.

As for Haishen, the owner of this cave, it had already shrunk into a corner, curling itself into a ball with its tentacles tucked in and its eyes tightly shut, pretending it didn't exist.

If it didn't do so, it feared those claws would come to beat it up again.

It didn't want to be beaten again. It had already spat out over half a year's worth of white silk; another beating might cost it its very life savings.

Bengbu lay on the Mantis Shrimp's back, its shell half-open, its eyes scanning the cave walls as it said,

"With so many demons gathered here, this place is the most suitable for meeting Lord Qinling's requirement to build a temple."

"However, there really are too many demons here, and quite a few of them are extremely powerful."

"With the strength of us five demons, it's still too difficult to accomplish anything."

Bengbu flicked its tongue and continued,

"So, we must stay here first and thoroughly investigate the situation in this trench."

Hearing Bengbu's words, the other four demons nodded in agreement.

They all desperately wanted to stay in this trench. After all, a Whale Fall would happen here eventually!

The Whale Fall of a Level-5 Whale Demon was a feast that the East Sea wouldn't see once in a thousand years.

No living creature in the East Sea would not yearn for this Whale Fall.

A Level-5 Whale Demon's flesh, its bones, and even every patch of its skin were treasures.

Eating its flesh could boost one's cultivation; swallowing its blood could loosen bottlenecks; if one could just take a bite of its meat, they might even break through a level directly.

What demon wouldn't be tempted by such a feast?

They were demons too, so of course they were tempted!

Haishen huddled in the corner, listening to the five demons discuss.

It didn't know who this "Lord Qinling" they spoke of was, nor did it know why they wanted to build a temple in the trench.

It only knew that these five demons had no intention of leaving for now and were going to sponge off its cave.

It opened one eye and said in a muffled voice, carrying the helplessness of someone who had been beaten up,

"How long are you going to stay here? My cave is small; it can't accommodate so many demons."

Bengbu's tongue extended from its shell's crack, patting Haishen's shell.

"We are staying here until the Whale Fall. Get out and vacate this cave for us."

Haishen's eyes widened in shock, its tentacles springing up as its voice pitched higher.

"This is my cave!"

Bengbu did not retract its tongue, patting its shell again.

"Your cave has been requisitioned by us. Before the Whale Fall, this is where we will live. Get out and find another cave."

Haishen's tentacles drooped, rose, drooped again, and rose again.

It wanted to argue, but the moment it opened its mouth, it saw the Blue Crab's two claws, which had not yet been retracted.

Seeing the Blue Crab snapping its claws at it from a distance, Haishen immediately swallowed the words at the tip of its tongue.

"Alright, I'll let you have this cave. I actually just felt that this cave wasn't quite suitable for me anyway..."

It scrambled up from the sandy ground and wiggled its way toward the cave entrance.

Reaching the entrance, it stopped and looked back, its eyes filled with grievance and reluctance.

Its tentacles pointed to the traces of white silk smeared on the cave walls, its eyes full of heartache.

"You must take good care of this cave."

Having said its final words, Haishen crawled out to search for a new cave.

The five demons packed the cave full. They discussed how to investigate the trench next and how to wait for the Whale Fall.

Haishen searched around outside but couldn't find a suitable cave.

Those caves were either too small, already occupied, or too close to those five demons.

It didn't dare live too close, fearing another beating.

It found a crevice on the wall of the trench, squeezed itself inside, tucked in its tentacles, closed its eyes, and curled into a ball.

It was going to sleep. Today had been too tiring—it got beaten up, its cave was taken, and it had spat out over half a year's worth of white silk.

It would take a long time to recover.

That gang of five demons was simply too detestable!

Just which unscrupulous bastard sent them over here?