In front of them stood a high platform, upon which a statue was erected.
At first glance, it was clear that the statue depicted a woman, dressed in a long skirt with her hair falling past her shoulders.
She stood on the platform with a serene smile, her hands clasped together in a gesture of piety and gentleness.
Even as a mere stone statue, Ye Feng could tell she was a peerless beauty, and he wondered how much more beautiful her real self must have been.
Between the clasped hands of the statue, a water-blue crystal ball floated, emitting a blue light. Countless water droplets seemed to defy gravity, revolving ceaselessly around it.
Ye Feng could feel a powerful force emanating from it.
Outside the crystal ball, a massive light shield enclosed the statue and the crystal ball.
The black-robed figure was currently drawing strange, blood-red array patterns around the statue. As the array operated, the crimson light it emitted was weakening the power of the light shield.
It was clear that the black-robed figure's target was the water-blue bead within the light shield.
However, the moment Ye Feng saw the blue bead, the Sea God's Trident in his mind vibrated violently, and a piece of information emerged.
After reading the information, Ye Feng was utterly shocked and exclaimed, "Is this the Ding Shui Pearl?"
Through the information transmitted by the Sea God's Trident, Ye Feng understood the entire story.
It turned out that the gentle statue before them was the Sea God's sister, who had unfortunately sacrificed herself during a great battle.
And this Ding Shui Pearl was actually the Sea God's sister's life weapon, a formidable magical treasure.
Whoever was recognized by this item could freely control seawater, which was truly miraculous.
After his sister's death, the Sea God had created a stone statue for her and used her life weapon, the Ding Shui Pearl, to forge the treasure that controlled the Sea God City.
Whoever gained the Ding Shui Pearl's recognition could control the Sea God City and become its master.
Upon hearing Ye Feng's words, the black-robed figure was startled and asked, "Who exactly are you? You actually know about the Ding Shui Pearl?"
"Hmph! It's none of your business who I am. You cannot touch this Ding Shui Pearl. If it's taken, the entire Sea God City will collapse!" Ye Feng declared.
The black-robed figure sneered, "So what if it collapses? What does that have to do with me!"
"You selfish wretch! I won't let you succeed!" Ye Feng shouted, then charged directly towards the array the black-robed figure had set up, seemingly intending to destroy it.
However, seeing this, the black-robed figure hurriedly exclaimed, "Kid, how dare you! Blood Fiend Fist!"
"Hmph, Thunder Collapse Fist!"
Ye Feng fearlessly met the attack with a punch.
*Bang!*
With a deafening roar, blood mist and lightning scattered everywhere, causing the surrounding objects to tremble.
Both Ye Feng and the black-robed figure were sent flying backward, and then they continued to grapple with each other.
Their strengths were nearly equal, and neither could gain the upper hand.
Neither of them noticed that the light shield protecting the Ding Shui Pearl was already on the verge of collapse due to the array's erosion.
After they exchanged more than ten rounds of fierce fighting, a cracking sound was heard, and the light shield shattered with a roar.
Seeing this, both of them turned their heads to look at the Ding Shui Pearl and, in the next second, charged towards it.
They moved with incredible speed, one on the left and the other on the right, and were about to seize the Ding Shui Pearl.
However, at this critical moment, a figure suddenly appeared and forcefully struck both of them in the chest.
*Puff! Puff!*
With two sounds of spitting blood, Ye Feng and the black-robed figure were sent flying.
"Who?"
"Who is it?"
Ye Feng and the black-robed figure crashed to the ground, roaring in pain.
In front of them, a figure clad in a red robe, wearing a crown, and a ghost mask, floated in mid-air.
The figure glanced at Ye Feng and the black-robed figure and said indifferently, "The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind! This Ding Shui Pearl is mine!"
The person's voice was peculiar, a dual tone, as if a man and a woman were speaking from the same body, making it impossible to distinguish their gender and sending a shiver down one's spine.
With that, he turned and directly took the Ding Shui Pearl into the water.
"What? Damn it! I can't believe it! Someone else snatched it again!" Ye Feng exclaimed in anger.
The black-robed figure was even more furious, roaring, "Damn it, my Ding Shui Pearl!"
When he and Ye Feng had fought for the Black Dragon Pearl before, it was He Shasha who had secretly intervened.
And now, to have someone barge in again, not only injuring them but also snatching the Ding Shui Pearl, was enough to drive him mad.
"You two, stop right there!"
At the same time, more than ten people suddenly rushed in from outside, all holding weapons and speaking to Ye Feng and the black-robed figure.
Ye Feng quickly turned to look and realized that all these people were wearing black lotus attire, which startled him.
"You, you are from the Black Lotus Sect?" Ye Feng exclaimed loudly.
In the next second, a voice came from outside.
"That's right, it's us! Haha, kid, it seems fate has brought you to us! We've finally found you!"
Ye Feng found the voice somewhat familiar and quickly looked towards the entrance.
In the next moment, he saw a man with a full beard.
"Eh? It's, it's you! Hall Master Qiu of the Black Lotus Sect?" Ye Feng said with a frown.
Indeed, these were people from the Black Lotus Sect, and the one leading them was Hall Master Qiu, whom Ye Feng had severely tricked.
Seeing the Black Lotus Sect members, the black-robed figure's expression became even more grim.
"Ahem! Hall Master Qiu, you know him?"
At this moment, the figure floating in mid-air, wearing the crown, coughed a few times and asked.
Hall Master Qiu quickly replied, "Reporting to Your Holiness the Pope, this Ye Feng is the culprit who destroyed our stronghold, caused the deaths of our five enshrined elders, and ultimately led to us being purged by the Dragon Police!"
"Pope?"
Hearing Hall Master Qiu's words, both Ye Feng and the black-robed figure were shocked.
Could this person actually be the mysterious Pope of the Black Lotus Sect?
However, they didn't know that the Pope was equally stunned upon hearing Hall Master Qiu's words.
He stared intently at Ye Feng, remaining silent for a long time.
If Ye Feng could see the face beneath his mask, he would have been even more astonished.
For at this moment, the Pope's face beneath the mask was exceedingly complex.
After observing Ye Feng for a while, he finally spoke, "Good, I understand! Keep an eye on them. Once I've refined this Ding Shui Pearl, I'll settle accounts with them!"
"Yes! Your Holiness the Pope!" Hall Master Qiu quickly responded.
Ye Feng and the black-robed figure had both sustained significant injuries from their earlier battle, followed by the sneak attack from the Black Lotus Sect's Pope. They were now in no condition to resist.
They could only lie there, silently recovering from their injuries, while contemplating a way to deal with the situation.
Meanwhile, the Black Lotus Sect Pope sat cross-legged on the high platform, preparing to refine the Ding Shui Pearl.
He forced out a drop of blood and dripped it onto the Ding Shui Pearl, about to refine it.
However, at that very moment, an unexpected event occurred...