Chapter 227

Chapter 227: The Horned Tiger Fish That Couldn’t Be Killed

"What just happened!"

Leaving Feng Yang for the moment, Lou Yun dashed forward in one swift step to the ship’s bow and looked down at the sea. The once calm surface was now churning with turbulent currents, marked by countless long white streaks surging one after another. Clearly, something beneath the water was moving at incredible speed!

The ship’s sudden lurch wasn’t accidental; these underwater creatures were attacking the vessel itself!

Feng Yang also stood up and leaned over the bow railing to look down. His face instantly paled, and he cried out in alarm, "How can there be horned tiger fish here!"

Just then, the ship lurched violently again, twice in succession. Shaken by the turbulence, the people inside the cabin hurried out, crowding onto the bow to peer down.

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

The horned tiger fish Feng Yang mentioned were ramming the ship furiously. Though the vessel wasn’t small, the sheer number of horned tiger fish beneath the waves was immense. If they continued smashing into it at this rate, the whole ship would be sunk before long!

Suddenly, a massive splash erupted near the bow. A bizarre-looking fish leaped out of the water, slammed into the hull, and then swiftly plunged back down.

Seizing this chance, everyone got a clear look at the fish. It had a sharp, thick horn protruding from its forehead, and its face somewhat resembled a tiger’s, complete with the character "王" (king) etched on its brow. Yet, its body was that of a long, fish-like form. The name "horned tiger fish" was truly fitting.

Feng Yang said urgently, "This is truly strange! This species shouldn’t exist in these waters at all! Moreover, horned tiger fish never attack ships unprovoked. What in the world is going on?"

Hearing Feng Yang’s words, Lou Yun and Wen Hou exchanged a look. The same thought struck both of them simultaneously: it must have to do with the six-tailed giant snake back in Xinghai Village!

According to Shui Lingluo, that six-tailed giant snake hadn’t originally inhabited that sea area. It had been forcibly driven from its habitat without anyone noticing. Now, these horned tiger fish, similarly foreign to this stretch of ocean, had appeared here and were actively attacking their ship. This suggested that someone had also driven these horned tiger fish here and was controlling them to assail their vessel!

Wen Hou smiled faintly. "Let’s not dwell on how they got here just yet. Our immediate task is to kill them, and fast. Tie Sha, let’s go!"

As his words fell, he and Tie Sha both propelled themselves towards the sea’s surface, each riding their own magical weapon.

Lou Yun didn’t rush to join them. Instead, he calmly observed their actions. Since they were using their magical weapons solely for flight to stay above the water, they could only attack the horned tiger fish with their bare hands and feet. However, the skin of the horned tiger fish seemed unnaturally tough. The blows delivered by fists and kicks couldn’t inflict fatal wounds. Worse, both men narrowly avoided being struck head-on several times by horned tiger fish leaping from the water!

Taking in this situation, Lou Yun shouted, "Get back up here quick! You can’t kill them without your magical weapons!"

Neither man particularly wanted to return empty-handed, but they knew Lou Yun spoke the truth. The skin of the horned tiger fish was far too thick. Physical strikes barely registered. Reluctantly, they guided their magical weapons back to the ship.

Back on board, Wen Hou still wore a smile. "What now? Seems we’ve been set up, eh?"

Indeed, the mastermind behind this had clearly anticipated such a scenario. These horned tiger fish weren’t human; they were, at best, low-level demon beasts. Yet their skin was thick and rough, their offensive power terrifying. While killing them required magical weapons, using those weapons prevented flight, leaving attackers unable to reach their submerged targets. Effectively, everyone was trapped!

Shui Lingluo finally emerged from the cabin, making her way unsteadily to the bow. Her face paled slightly as she took in the scene below.

However, at the sight of her, Wen Hou instantly had an idea. "Miss Shui! Could you lend us a hand? Get Tie Sha and me to stand firm on the water!"

Having accompanied Lou Yun’s trio for so long, this was the first time Shui Lingluo was directly asked for help by Wen Hou. She seemed momentarily stunned. Recovering quickly, she nodded vigorously. "Yes! Yes! Absolutely!"

As she spoke, Shui Lingluo raised a hand. Ripples formed on the sea surface, and three water blossoms slowly rose. Wen Hou and Tie Sha wasted no time. They immediately jumped back down, one landing firmly atop each blossom!

This time, the situation was completely different. Freed from the need to propel their magical weapons for flight, both Tie Sha and Wen Hou could fully focus their attention—and their weapons—on the horned tiger fish.

Tie Sha brandished his massive sword. Eyes closed, he repeatedly thrust the enormous blade into the water solely relying on the surface disturbances for targeting. Every thrust brought a spurt of blood from beneath the waves!

Wen Hou fragmented his mirror into countless shards. Given the sheer multitude of horned tiger fish below, aiming was unnecessary. He simply scattered the shards downwards into the water. Instantly, countless jets of blood erupted!

Their attacks were devastatingly effective. Within moments, the sea across a hundred-meter radius was stained crimson with horned tiger fish blood. The number slain was uncountable!

Shui Lingluo looked over at Lou Yun. Clearly, the third water blossom she had created was meant for him. Yet he still hadn’t moved.

Lou Yun actually had a way to deal with the horned tiger fish without even needing to enter the water. But seeing Shui Lingluo’s expectant gaze, he didn’t want to decline her kindness. Offering a small smile, he leaped onto the third water blossom.

Taking a deep breath, Lou Yun flicked his wrist towards a more distant patch of water, launching a palm-sized fireball!

The fireball flew straight ahead until it struck the water’s surface far off, where it erupted with a violent explosion. Innumerable golden lightning bolts, like agile serpents, slithered underwater. An audible zzzt of electrical current accompanied the spectacle. One after another, horned tiger fish bodies bobbed to the surface, belly-up. Without delay, Lou Yun hurled another fireball!

Engulfed in this battle formation, the three of them unleashed attacks of astounding power. Yet the horned tiger fish inhabiting those depths seemed utterly limitless. The killing never seemed to cease.

In that frantic period, they estimated having dispatched at least six or seven hundred horned tiger fish. However, beneath the surface, undercurrents still surged and whitecaps raged – a clear sign that vast numbers remained.

Lou Yun and Wen Hou exchanged another glance. In each other’s eyes, they recognized a shared grim resignation. Both understood: this relentless slaughter, effective as it was, exacted a heavy toll on their spiritual energy reserves.

Wen Hou and Lou Yun were somewhat better off. Their attacks were ranged and targeted groups. Tie Sha, however, operated differently. He was engaged in a brutally physical struggle, repeatedly thrusting his magical weapon into the murky depths for each kill. The horned tiger fish’s thick hide demanded significant spiritual energy expenditure with every piercing strike. Maintaining this punishing rhythm had visibly slowed his thrusts considerably already!

Halting now was not an option. The horned tiger fish, likely driven by the concentrated scent of their own kind’s blood floating in the water, had descended into a savage frenzy. They charged relentlessly, heedless of their own lives, assaulting the three figures standing on the waves and clawing desperately at the ship’s hull!

Feeling truly helpless, Lou Yun dragged Xiao Huo out from the Chaos Golden Cauldron. Without explanation, he simply pointed at the water below. Xiao Huo’s beady eyes, however, were fixed greedily on the lightning-infused flames blazing around Lou Yun’s hand—the unmistakable aroma of Heavenly Fire was intensely alluring.

Infuriated, Lou Yun smacked Xiao Huo’s head. "This isn’t snack time! Hurry up and spew fire! Kill these horned tiger fish!"

Xiao Huo naturally grasped Lou Yun’s command. Its fascination with Heavenly Fire was just an instinctive reaction. After enduring the head-slap, a distinctly aggrieved expression crossed its little face. But it wasted no more time dawdling. Opening its mouth wide, it unleashed a blast of Hellfire directly into the seething water below.

Unlike Lou Yun’s combined attack, Xiao Huo’s Hellfire sliced across the water’s surface, leaving behind a weird trail of black fire. Any horned tiger fish near this sinister black line were instantly incinerated to ash.

Xiao Huo’s arrival bolstered their forces, yet its power wasn’t inexhaustible. After spewing three blasts of Hellfire, Lou Yun noted exhaustion settling onto its small features. He recalled it only managing four such blasts a day previously. While its endurance had improved, endless torrents of fire were impossible to sustain.

Sure enough, after unleashing a fifth Hellfire blast, Xiao Huo swayed unsteadily—it had clearly hit its limit. Lou Yun hastily patted its head in appreciation and quickly stowed it back inside the Chaos Golden Cauldron.

Suddenly, Shui Lingluo could hold back no longer. With another gesture, she conjured another water blossom from the waves and leaped down onto it herself. Closing her eyes, she began forming complex hand seals.

Seeing this, Lou Yun instantly understood her vulnerability. During this moment of concentration, she was completely defenseless! If a horned tiger fish were to leap from the water and attack her now, it would be catastrophic! He immediately drew his Dream Emperor Sword and positioned himself protectively beside her.

Just as Lou Yun used his sword to skewer a horned tiger fish foolish enough to attempt leaping at Shui Lingluo exactly as feared, she suddenly opened her eyes, her face lighting up with excitement. "Everyone, stop attacking! Stop right now!"

Though Lou Yun, Wen Hou, and Tie Sha were utterly baffled by the timing of Shui Lingluo’s call for a ceasefire in such a critical moment, they understood she must have a compelling reason. Despite their vastly superior individual cultivation levels, beneath the waves, Shui Lingluo reigned supreme. Following her instruction, they instantly halted their attacks, turning towards her with questioning looks on their faces.

Precisely as their offensive ceased, an enormous splash suddenly erupted on the sea surface in the distance. The horned tiger fish surrounding their location went absolutely berserk. Yet, they no longer aimed their frenzy at the ship or the human figures on the water. All of them turned as one, charging in a mad rush towards the spot where the giant splash had appeared!