Chapter 2404 - 2407: The Strongest Power of the Sea Border Must Be Held in One's Own Hands

Upon hearing the sea demon's words, Shen Qiang smiled, and he suddenly recalled the time when Heshenghe was first established. The demands made by those demons back then were immediately clear, whether land demons or sea demons, food was definitely the best reward for them.

Looking at Shen Qiang's smile, the sea demon hesitated and said, "Dragon Emperor, if what I ask for is too much, you can just give me two, or even one would do. I haven't been to the land for a long time, it's been too long since I last had it."

Upon hearing this, Shen Qiang's eyes crinkled with amusement, "Five pigs are too few. For my brothers who share life and death with me, there can't be such a meager reward. Each of you will receive fifty fat pigs. Are you satisfied?"

Instantly, the eyes of those elite great sea demons present lit up.

"Thank you, Dragon Emperor!"

The elite great sea demons grinned from ear to ear.

Simultaneously, the Great Sea Demon King Yu Jiang also communicated, "This reward is good. In various coastal nations, there are cultivators patrolling, and pigs are rarely found near the sea. Ordinary sea demons are unable to go ashore, so pigs are legendary delicacies for sea demons. Sea demons lacking status and prestige don't even know what pigs taste like."

Moreover, the old steward Gui Shu also communicated.

"For ordinary sea demons without grand ambitions, they are most interested in things related to survival: food and medicine. These two are the best rewards, even better than a Divine Weapon."

Hearing these words, Shen Qiang nodded with a smile.

Meanwhile, observing that the rewarded elite sea demons had already left, the remaining opulent-dressed sea demons were restless.

After all, they were different from ordinary sea demons. They had their own channels, businesses, and ordinary human food didn't interest them much, so they were more concerned about what exactly happened with Shen Qiang at Ying Xiu's place.

However, before they could ask, Shen Qiang waved his hand, indicating he was tired and wanted them all to leave.

This left them feeling vaguely disappointed.

After all, not only did the rewards exclude them, Shen Qiang explicitly stated he wasn't interested in talking to them, which made them uncomfortable.

Outside the Dragon Palace, the array of opulent-dressed great sea demons gathered.

"This Shen Qiang is really impressive," one opulent-dressed great sea demon said, eyes full of shock, "I've asked around, and he really did settle it with just one yuan, managing to handle the unruly and self-willed Ying Xiu."

"The price of medicine was five times ours," another opulent-dressed great sea demon smiled derisively, "This Dragon Emperor isn't bad, making a miser like Ying Xiu pay five times for medicine. Just thinking about it feels satisfying; surely he felt his heart bleeding."

"Shen Qiang is really impressive. Why not recognize him as Dragon Emperor?"

A sea demon proposed.

Yet, just as many sea demons were about to respond, an ancient-looking great sea demon suddenly opened his eyes, bright and sharp, and said, "The Dragon Emperor said only those who master the Three Divine Artifacts are the true Dragon Emperor. Until Shen Qiang produces the Three Divine Artifacts, I may pretend to be deaf and blind, but don't expect me to do anything for him."

The other opulent-dressed great sea demons exchanged glances and laughed.

"Don't get involved blindly, the old man. Shen Qiang is indeed impressive; he can light up the Dragon Palace and sit on the Dragon Throne, and that's enough. As for the Three Divine Artifacts..."

"Presumptuous!" the elder's gaze instantly turned icy cold and berated, "The Dragon Emperor's Three Divine Artifacts represent the strongest power of the Sea Border! As an Emperor, if he cannot protect the commoners, what's the use? Currently, the Sea Border is fragmented."

"The Pacific Ocean's five great Demon Kings are in constant friction, the Sea Emperor is menacing, and if he doesn't acquire the Three Divine Artifacts, even if we acknowledge him as the Dragon Emperor, in a great war, he'd still be beaten back to the original form. A Dragon Emperor who threatens by poisoning cannot command respect."

Instantly, the opulent-dressed great sea demons fell silent.

Until the eerie and uncomfortable silence lasted a long time, one great sea demon sighed and said.

"To wear the crown, one must bear its weight. Being the Dragon Emperor is not easy; without demonstrating absolute strength, it's extremely difficult to make all sea demons willingly follow Shen Qiang."

Upon hearing this, another opulent-dressed sea demon sighed and said.

"During the thousands of years the Dragon Emperor was missing, battles among the great Demon Kings were endless. Every Demon King longed for the throne. Previously, Shen Qiang didn't appear, with the old Dragon Emperor's fame protecting them, no one dared to covet the Crystal Palace. But now Shen Qiang is here, except for poisoning and selling medicine, he can't suppress other Demon Kings. Just wait, once the other Demon Kings find a way to counteract Shen Qiang's decaying gill disease, wars will surely burst forth."

The great sea demons nodded upon hearing his words.

"People have already been purchasing diving suits in bulk, supposedly they can counteract Shen Qiang's poison."

Hearing this, the sea demon nodded.

"Diving suits have special materials, in water, unless the diving suit is damaged by blades, Shen Qiang's ability to poison is reduced to zero. Then, true strength will be relied upon."

"Indeed, in the Sea Border, power is king. If Yu Jiang weren't beaten in single combat, his Demon King title would have long been snatched away."

"Tianzhao will come back, and the next time she comes, she'll probably challenge Shen Qiang head-on. By then, without the Dragon Emperor's Three Divine Artifacts established, there will be countless strong warriors challenging Shen Qiang, and he'll lose. Once he loses, the invincible legend of the Dragon Emperor will be shattered."

"Alas, what's the use of saying these things? Shen Qiang can light up the Dragon Palace, sit on the Dragon Throne, and open the Dragon Emperor's treasury; maybe by that time, he's already mastered the Three Divine Artifacts."

"Hopefully," the array of sea demons sighed, and then, as if they had a mutual understanding, they left.

As they left the Dragon Palace.

Inside the Crystal Palace, Shen Qiang was smilingly talking to Great Sea Demon King Yu Jiang and the old steward Gui Shu.

"Before mastering the Dragon Emperor's Three Divine Artifacts, I should reduce my public appearances in the Sea Border, because the situation now is pretty evident. The Five Great Demon Kings, excluding Yu Jiang, should be in agreement, and without acquiring the Three Divine Artifacts, none of them will concede to me. Therefore, for the next step, I plan to focus on resolving this issue."

Hearing Shen Qiang's words, both men nodded.

"The Three Divine Artifacts are the strongest powers of the Sea Border; if you truly master them, you'll be invincible."

"If you successfully master the Three Divine Artifacts, whether it's Tianzhao or Ying Xiu, they will submit before you, and the Sea Emperor will flee like Wang Feng upon seeing you. So this is a good plan; if you keep on drifting aimlessly in the Sea Border now, it may lead to significant problems."

Shen Qiang nodded.

At this point, the Mermaid Princess, Jinli Qianning, hurriedly entered. Upon receiving Shen Qiang's signal, she spoke, "Shen Qiang, Yu Wenzi invites you and me to visit her. She says there's something very important to tell us."

Hearing this, Shen Qiang agreed, after all, there wasn't much to discuss about the matter of the Three Divine Artifacts; once obtained, the matter would be settled.

But as for Yu Wenzi, she was probably in a hurry to spin a colossal lie...