These sea monsters were entirely unlike any he had seen before.
Ao Yuan watched them quietly, contemplating what their original forms might have been.
Normally, even with the spiritual energy revival, they would only grow larger and stronger.
Yet, the sea monsters before him, though massive, bore no resemblance to any known marine life to Ao Yuan.
It was clear these were not species familiar to Blue Star, or perhaps, undiscovered ones!
"I didn't expect to find so many undiscovered species in the deep sea!" Ao Yuan exclaimed, though he wasn't entirely surprised.
Humanity's exploration of the deep sea was, after all, limited.
It was perfectly normal to encounter unfamiliar marine creatures.
It would be more surprising if he didn't.
"Their strength is considerable."
After a brief scan, Ao Yuan nodded slightly.
Naturally, these sea monsters were not powerful to Ao Yuan, but if they were to appear on land, they would undoubtedly be among the strongest on Blue Star!
And this was just in this single stretch of ocean; he had no idea about the conditions in other regions.
*Splash!*
As Ao Yuan mused on this, the water suddenly churned.
Ao Yuan's attention snapped back as he realized the varied sea monsters before him were all swimming, their cavernous mouths agape, charging at him.
It was as if they intended to tear him apart.
"Hmph! You want to eat me?" Ao Yuan wasn't nervous; instead, he smirked contemptuously. "I truly wonder where you get such courage."
With that, Ao Yuan stood perfectly still, allowing the horde of sea monsters to surge towards him.
The monsters were swift, reaching within a meter in an instant!
"ROAR!"
They lunged, their jaws snapping shut on Ao Yuan.
Throughout the entire ordeal, Ao Yuan offered no resistance, observing as if he were a mere spectator.
However.
Just as they attempted to tear him limb from limb with their immense strength, they found that no matter how hard they struggled, they could not even budge his body.
They exerted all their might, yet Ao Yuan remained utterly unmoved.
His expression didn't even falter.
This stunned the sea monsters gnawing at him.
Their strength was formidable; each was a veritable overlord in their respective territories.
Normally, a casual tug would rip countless creatures in half, let alone a full-force effort.
Even the sea monsters with their hard, shelled exteriors were no exception.
But Ao Yuan!
Why was he so incredibly difficult to bite, especially without any shell?
And at this very moment.
Ao Yuan, being gnawed by numerous monsters, slowly opened his eyes, a faint smile playing on his lips as he looked at them.
"Have you had your fill of biting?"
Ao Yuan's voice was not loud, but it resonated with clarity in the profound depths of the sea.
Hearing his voice, a potent sense of danger inexplicably surged within the sea monsters.
However.
Before they could react.
*Splash!*
A bolt of lightning flashed from Ao Yuan's body.
*Sizzle sizzle!*
"This is bad! Danger!"
At this moment, a primal fear gripped the sea monsters.
They wanted to release their jaws and flee, but it was too late.
The lightning bolts offered no escape, instantly spreading and clinging to the sea monsters.
The lightning Ao Yuan unleashed wasn't exceptionally strong, but his power was far beyond their comprehension.
Moreover, they were in the deep sea.
Water conducted electricity; no matter how quickly they reacted, how could they possibly escape?
*Sizzle sizzle!*
Fearsome arcs of lightning raged through the sea monsters, causing their bodies to convulse violently.
It was as if they had expended all their energy; escape was out of the question, and even moving was a struggle.
At this moment!
Ao Yuan patted himself down and slowly withdrew from the assault of the massive sea monsters.
He was completely unharmed, appearing as if he had sustained no damage at all.
"You lot? Trying to eat me? Utterly delusional," Ao Yuan's voice boomed.
The sea monsters who had attacked him trembled even more violently.
While the current wasn't fatal to them, it had completely paralyzed their bodies.
They couldn't feel their limbs, yet their minds were acutely aware.
This sensation was beyond unpleasant.
Especially when they saw Ao Yuan staring directly at them.
"Tell me... how would you like to die?"
Ao Yuan asked calmly, his gaze fixed on them.
Despite not perceiving any immediate threat in Ao Yuan's words, the sea monsters' bodies quivered as if being shaken through a sieve.
Now, they finally understood.
They were no match for Ao Yuan.
Opposing him would only lead to their demise!
*Thump thump thump!*
Just then, the water stirred, and Ao Yuan slowly swam towards them.
The lightning crackling around him was incredibly conspicuous in the dim, deep sea.
As they watched Ao Yuan approach, their breaths hitched instinctively.
It was as if they had seen the Grim Reaper.
"Don't... don't kill me!"
"Don't kill me."
...
At the same instant, a faint, almost imperceptible voice echoed in Ao Yuan's mind.
The voices were incredibly weak, and the words barely coherent.
If Ao Yuan hadn't been listening intently, he wouldn't have been able to decipher their pleas.
"Oh? You don't want to be killed?" Ao Yuan paused, looking at the sea monsters with a knowing smile. "If I were weaker just now, wouldn't you have already torn me apart?"
"I've never eaten sea monster before. I wonder what they taste like."
Trembling!
Quivering!
Fear!
Hearing Ao Yuan's calm, unperturbed words, the sea monsters' bodies shook even more violently.
Though they couldn't move, a profound terror was evident in their eyes.
"Please, spare us this time!"
"Really, we didn't mean to."
"From now on... we'll never bother you again!"
Ao Yuan smiled faintly. "Actually, I don't mind if you bother me."
"I don't mind being provoked by people or beasts, as long as they can offer a price that moves me."
"At the very least..." Ao Yuan surveyed the sea monsters slowly, continuing, "it seems to me that you fit the bill."
"Hmm, let me think, would steamed be good, or braised, or perhaps in a soup?"
Every time Ao Yuan shifted his gaze and met the eyes of a sea monster.
The terror in that monster's eyes intensified.
Ao Yuan's words made it clear he intended to eat them.
Humans feared death.
And so did sea monsters.
"Please, spare us."
"We know many secrets."
"Secrets that you'll surely be very interested in!"
...