Chapter 2322 - 2325: Deadly Crisis

In an instant, the face of the Sea Demon King Yu Jiang turned a little unpleasant. After all, before Shen Qiang returned to the Dragon Palace, he had always been the one reigning supreme in that sea region, and inexplicably, he felt a sense of superiority in front of Shen Qiang.

This sense of superiority came from multiple aspects. His daughter was with Shen Qiang, he was of a higher generation, his family members were Shen Qiang's stewards, and had he not pushed Shen Qiang to the position of Dragon Emperor, helping him fight for this status, the current situation wouldn't have existed.

Therefore, instinctively, he did not consider whether Qingxuan herself was strong enough, because in his eyes, Qingxuan was Shen Qiang's servant, while he was Shen Qiang's family. Hence, a servant is a servant, and when speaking to a servant, courtesy is unnecessary.

But evidently.

Qingxuan didn't buy it.

"Angering me won't do you any good, little girl."

The Sea Demon King Yu Jiang's gaze was cold.

"I'm always ready for a fight!"

Compared to the Sea Demon King Yu Jiang, though Qingxuan's words seemed indifferent, her pride was something Yu Jiang couldn't accept.

And that was because he did not know who the real Qingxuan was.

If he knew that the real Qingxuan was a close friend of Empress Yong Zhen of the Immortal Realm Central State, a Great General of the Immortal Realm Central State, then he would understand that Qingxuan, already accustomed to being below one and above thousands, wouldn't be courteous to anyone outside of an Emperor.

Not to mention, Qingxuan's cultivation was at the True Immortal Realm, which placed her as an elite among the youths of the Immortal Realm Central State.

If she were courteous to a sea demon, that would be a joke.

"Stop arguing."

Shen Qiang interrupted and said, "If you want to quarrel or get into a scuffle, you'll have plenty of time for that once we return."

Seeing the two snort coldly at each other but stop their argument afterward, Shen Qiang looked at the breathtaking Qingxuan and smiled, "Is your Dao Fruit stronger than Athena's? This is indeed good news; I'd like to know if you can use it now?"

"The most basic level can be used." Looking at the increasing number of sea demons surrounding them, Qingxuan replied, "But given the current state of my body, it's hard to fully exert it."

Shen Qiang smiled upon hearing this, a bit disappointed but not surprised.

Firstly, Qingxuan had just obtained Athena's divine body, and secondly, this was a corpse that had slept for over four thousand years. Though it hadn't decayed, after being left for so long, its physical state wouldn't be very good.

It's like even a healthy person would feel weak if lying in bed for several days straight.

Let alone four thousand years.

"Youying?"

Upon realizing the crux of the issue, Shen Qiang glanced at Taiyin Youying, whose graceful figure was now alluringly beautiful as a crescent moon after acquiring the Flower Crown.

Understanding that Shen Qiang was inquiring about her state, Youying calmly said, "With only one-twentieth of my power, I'm currently weaker than Yu Jiang and Gui Yuanba, but fortunately, I lack a physical form, so it's not easy for them to harm me."

Shen Qiang frowned.

He waved his hand, scattering food among the many sea demons present.

"Eat, you need to replenish your strength."

The numerous elite sea demons, upon hearing this, immediately began devouring food fiercely.

"Thirty elite ones, three have had bad luck, missing the chance to reach your side before being cut into pieces." Uncle Gui came over and said.

Shen Qiang nodded and said, "After we return, I'll take care of his family."

This statement made the many Great Sea Demons present look at Shen Qiang with great respect.

But shortly after, as they watched the slowly pressuring mass of Atlantic City sea demons, someone among them spoke.

"Dragon Emperor, while they haven't encircled us yet, we should protect you and break out from above."

"Yes, Dragon Emperor, we can still leave from the sky."

"We will do our utmost to protect you!"

The suggestion from the many elite sea demons brought a smile to Shen Qiang's lips.

He then spoke calmly, "Don't you find it odd that although there are so many sea demons from Atlantic City, there isn't a single one guarding the sky above?"

The elite sea demons were taken aback.

"Perhaps they haven't thought of it yet."

Shen Qiang laughed, "This is their territory; they're intimately familiar with it. How could they not think that an enemy could escape from above? The only reasonable explanation for them not defending it is that the sky above is completely inaccessible, with either a massive net or a device that causes certain death to anyone trying to reach it."

The expressions of the sea demons immediately turned solemn.

Even though they couldn't see the danger in the sky above, they instantly believed Shen Qiang's judgment.

Because it's inherently an illogical matter; when faced with danger, instinct prompts not just humans but also fish to try escaping toward the sea.

Not having defenses above clearly indicates reliance on something else.

"What do you think the chances are for negotiation?" Shen Qiang quietly inquired, looking at the sea demon king who was now close enough to see the faces of many Great Sea Demons clearly.

Yu Jiang chuckled, "If the temple were still here, about twenty percent. With the temple destroyed, there's no hope for negotiation. This is the symbol of Atlantic City. Going into someone else's home, smashing the family shrine, overturning the ancestor's memorial tablets, and stomping on them—do you think there's still room for negotiation?"

"Don't be naive; this is a life and death affair. If they can't take us down, the Sea Emperor's reputation would be ruined, and sea demons worldwide would laugh at him. If you're planning to foolishly jump out and negotiate a deal, you'd be like a clown."

Shen Qiang frowned and calmly said, "Do you really think I'm that kind of person?"

Yu Jiang responded, "I think you'd make that decision right away, but that would be the worst; it'd be suicide."

"Prepare to forcefully break out; it's our only chance." Uncle Gui said, "With so many sea demons present, even with myriad reasons, the Sea Emperor wouldn't negotiate with us; otherwise, he couldn't maintain his position as Sea Emperor."

Upon hearing this, Qingxuan said, "Master, Lord Youying will guard you closely. We will carve a bloody path for you; as long as you bypass that trench and return to the sea surface, you'll be safe."

"You have to take Qian Ning with you; that's my only request." The Sea Demon King Yu Jiang looked at Shen Qiang seriously.

The many Great Sea Demons present also spoke out.

"Dragon Emperor, you must take Princess Qian Ning away; she's so beautiful, you can't abandon her."

"Yes, our Princess Qian Ning must not fall into the hands of Atlantic City's sea demons!"

"That Prince Butes is always scheming for Princess Qian Ning; I really hope we encounter him during the breakout, so I can take him down."

Amid the clamor of many sea demons, Shen Qiang calmly looked at the approaching Sea Emperor and said solemnly, "Silence, I won't leave anyone behind to escape alone, so put away your martyrdom and focus. My goal is for all of us to leave together."