C7 Ribbon Sawtail Fish

Her teeth were truly impressive.

Xiao Hao exchanged a look of disbelief with the beauty, whose true nature was now fully exposed, creating an incredibly awkward moment.

The beauty quickly adjusted, her previously fierce gaze softening into compliance.

The delicate and tragically beautiful woman clenched the spear between her sharp teeth, her face the picture of aggrieved innocence, though it failed to sway Xiao Hao's resolute heart.

She didn't just bite; she twisted, too, mimicking the appearance of someone impaled by the spear.

Xiao Hao attempted to extract the spear, but her grip was too firm, and he struggled to free it.

She assumed the guise of a victim, as if Xiao Hao was the one aggressively jabbing her.

After wrestling with it, Xiao Hao gathered his strength and counted down, "Three! Two!" and then, catching her off guard, he yanked the spear free.

Ha! Bet you didn't see that coming!

He had acted before even reaching "One."

The beauty was livid, nearly bursting out with accusations of dishonor.

Xiao Hao couldn't help but admire her; the iron spearhead was sharp, yet she had clamped down on it without yielding.

Reinvigorated, Xiao Hao prepared for another attempt.

Her fish scales seemed tough, so he targeted her eyes, not believing they could be as resilient.

The beauty quickly uttered, "No, no! I don't need you to ease my pain!"

Xiao Hao stood firm, "No need for pleasantries. Helping others is a virtue!"

With that, he thrust the spear again!

But she dodged with surprising agility.

"I'm not human!"

"I enjoy aiding creatures, too!"

Stab!

Dodge!

Cursed, she evaded him again!

"I don't want the curse lifted! I've transcended it!"

"Transcendence aside, you're in need of salvation!"

The Dark Domain enveloped her like a vanishing mirage, dark tendrils binding her tightly.

Now, let's see you dodge this!

She writhed desperately, trying to escape the shadowy bonds, but the eight seahorses held her fast, like eight strong men, immobilizing her completely.

The woman turned her head towards Xiao Hao, pleading earnestly, "Being kind is also a virtue. Please, spare me..."

"You're not human."

"And you like helping little animals!"

"That's precisely why I must end your suffering."

Despair washed over the beautiful woman's face.

"Then... then don't impale me with your spear. Use... something else..."

Curses!

This drama queen was trying to shake my inner peace!

Not a chance!

Just as Xiao Hao was about to finish it off with his spear, the wild monster jerked its head up and unleashed a jet of water!

The blast shattered the Exploring Bubble and speared right through Xiao Hao's chest!

Xiao Hao's form dissolved slowly, like a 3D hologram, leaving only a shadow in its place.

Shadow Vanishing!

I knew this creature couldn't be trusted!

From within the shadow, Xiao Hao surveyed the crater left by the water jet. Dark red sand swirled in the air, the sea around him tainted.

Was that power not ridiculously over the top?

It looked so frail, yet a single spit could have been the end of him!

That was a close call!

Good thing Xiao Hao never dropped his vigilance!

The Ribbon sawtail fish blinked, noticing Xiao Hao revert to human form, and offered an awkward, apologetic grin. "If I say it was an accident, would you believe me?"

Xiao Hao recognized the monster's stalling tactic.

It needed more time to charge its attack.

With courtesy, Xiao Hao responded, "This humble monk shall liberate you now."

Without further delay, his iron spear plunged into the creature's eye and deep into its brain.

One must never underestimate any monster.

Xiao Hao glanced at the panel. This creature should fetch a decent number of Spirit Beads.

Ribbon sawtail fish deceased.

Spirit Bead +500

Would you like to bind the Ribbon sawtail fish?

Xiao Hao held off on binding immediately, opting to seek the advice of his online followers.

See, I told you my hubby wouldn't fall for tricks! Told you so!

Hubby? That's your brother-in-law!

As everyone knows, a brother-in-law and sister-in-law are always... Oh, hahaha!

This kid's beyond saving...

And the thread's gone off-topic again.

Xiao Hao had to steer it back.

"Should I bind the Ribbon sawtail fish?"

Bind it! Absolutely!

With looks like that, anyone who wouldn't bind it isn't human!

Xiao Hao's mouth twitched as he recalled the reason he had previously refused to bind it — it was too ugly.

But what he really needed to know was whether this creature could take on the Deep Sea Phantom!

Dealing with this crowd of netizens was proving to be quite the challenge.

Xiao Hao whispered to himself, "Is the Ribbon sawtail fish capable of handling the Deep Sea Phantom?"

The Ribbon sawtail fish's only tricks were confusion and water cannons.

Confusion was useless against the Deep Sea Phantom, and the water cannon was no more threatening than a shower. Against the Phantom, it would be defeated in an instant.

A shower... Hahahaha!

Not this guy again! His laughter is so sleazy! Someone gag her, quick!

Xiao Hao was at a loss for words.

These netizens were giving Xiao Hao a real headache.

Xiao Hao, once again refusing to bind, concocted another excuse: "I prefer honesty. This one's too much of an actor. I refuse!"

No sooner had he spoken than he regretted it.

Because...

Look at that, my husband adores my straightforwardness! Love should be declared boldly and openly!

Well then, it looks like I'll have to compete with all the sisters here.

Oh my! The guy's so good-looking, why is he competing with us for the handsome ones?

Ha, as if everyone doesn't know that we Mercury Men are into both men and women!

Sob sob sob, all the handsome ones are taken...

Unsheathe your sword! My husband can only belong to me!

...

Life is no longer worth living.

Sure enough, netizens from any race could make Xiao Hao's temples throb with frustration.

Having refueled with a quick bite, Xiao Hao decided to level up right there and then, before going back to battling wild monsters.

600 Spirit Beads were just enough to upgrade both the Shellfish House and the seahorse to level four.

The upgrades might not have changed their appearance much, but the boost in strength was tangible.

The second round of monster fighting was a breeze compared to the first.

Just as Xiao Hao was about to seek guidance from the netizens, the chat exploded with activity.

The Deep Sea Phantom was here!

This was bad. The host was too far from the Shellfish House now; he didn't stand a chance of outrunning the Phantom!

Ah, it's such a shame to lose a player I've finally taken a liking to in this way.

What to do, what to do? The Phantom may be hundreds of meters away, but it has already spotted him!

No, no, no! Don't die, my love!

A flurry of bullet messages zipped across the screen, the barrage so thick that Xiao Hao couldn't make out any information on how to escape.

Xiao Hao forced himself to stay calm.

In the past, that would have been a tall order.

But having faced death several times over, Xiao Hao's heart had grown much more resilient.

His night vision extended a mere ten meters, yet the Deep Sea Phantom had detected him from hundreds of meters away—a testament to its formidable power!

Retreating to the Shellfish House was out of the question. He'd been injured in his last sprint over a mere hundred meters; the current distance was far greater.

He couldn't fight it off, nor could he outrun it!

Xiao Hao's mind raced with panic. His only option was to hide!

With determination, Xiao Hao switched off his phone's light. In the sudden darkness, a suffocating oppression enveloped him.

It felt like countless eyes were watching him, as if every stone and plant had sprouted eyeballs, all fixed on him!

Suppressing the eerie sensation, Xiao Hao didn't bother to memorize the terrain beneath his feet. The bullet screen's guidance meant he didn't have to fear getting lost at sea.

Luckily, the area was home to Ribbon sawtail fish, whose past eruptions had pockmarked the seabed with large pits, some even connecting to form small fissures—perfect for concealment.

Xiao Hao avoided the pit leading towards the Shellfish House, opting instead for a more intricate and trench-like depression.

Without a moment's hesitation, he used Shadow Vanishing and slipped into the pit.

Within half a minute—barely after Xiao Hao had settled into hiding—the Phantom arrived.

All was pitch black and eerily silent. Xiao Hao crouched in a small cavity within the ravine, with only one way out. If discovered, it would be a dead end.

Conversely, his hiding spot was quite good. The ceiling was a dark red blend of soil and rock, with only a vent-sized exit, making it nearly impossible to be detected.

Xiao Hao held his breath, unsure if it was just his imagination, but his heartbeat seemed to echo with unusual clarity in the stillness of the sea.

The host was clever not to flee in panic.

But how did he know the Deep Sea Phantom had noticed him?

At that moment, Xiao Hao couldn't afford to speak up or fabricate an excuse. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, trickling down to his lips, yet he dared not wipe them away.

He was as still as a wax statue, afraid to make the slightest movement.

Some people have a strong intuition, and sensing ghosts is not out of the ordinary for them.

"Hu... Hu..."

The phantom drifted back and forth above him, the psychological pressure mounting on Xiao Hao. To keep his nerves from fraying, he resorted to watching the stream's chat to calm himself.

Then, abruptly, the whispering ceased.

The female ghost's mocking voice pierced the silence.

"I found you..."