Chen Qing has already gone to West Sea Island?
It was seven days later when Ziyue returned with her army. With a large number of civilians, the army could not march too fast. Not many people from Cloud Capital were willing to come; most were unwilling to leave their homes. In addition, Cloud Capital itself had a relatively good environment. Even with all the incentives, it only attracted less than 100,000 people. Even so, it slowed down the army's journey.
"I only heard about it after they left." Shen Laosan looked helpless. He had wanted to ask about the incident in Cloud Capital, but Chen Qing and Wei Gongcheng left in such a hurry that they only left a letter.
Shen Qi, who had returned alive, also frowned. The matter hadn't even settled down yet, so why was their master in such a hurry to go to West Sea Island?
"Let's discuss the most urgent matters first," Shen San said hastily. "Princess Ao Zhen went to the South Sea to investigate and hasn't returned yet. Now that Lord Chen Baifeng has also come to Jiangnan, we should focus on resolving the situation there."
Chen Baifeng's expression softened slightly upon hearing this. A large part of the reason he had pledged allegiance to Jiangnan was because he believed that Jiangnan could help him rescue the Chen Household in the South Sea. However, Chen Qing seemed to take it all lightly, going directly to another place as soon as he arrived, which dampened Chen Baifeng's spirits.
Fortunately, the people below didn't completely ignore him.
Shen San took out the letter and said, "Before the Lord left, he assigned tasks, saying that after Lord Ziyue returns, she should lead half of the West Sea Army and the remaining Four Saints Army to the South Sea immediately to negotiate with the West Sea Dragon King and bring Ao Zhen and the people of the South Sea families back safely as much as possible."
Hearing this, Chen Baifeng's anger finally subsided. Although he didn't know why Chen Qing had left in such a hurry, he at least remembered the situation of his West Sea family.
The situation there wasn't too urgent. Ten days ago, South Sea City had already been breached, but the aristocratic families of South Sea City hadn't suffered any devastation. Ao Zhen was captured alive, and the other side immediately sent an envoy to Jiangnan, demanding that Jiangnan hand over the white crystal stones belonging to the South Sea. These past few days, Shen Laosan and Wei Gongcheng had been dealing with this matter, but they didn't expect that their master would leave the matter to Ziyue upon his return.
Ziyue wasn't too surprised; it would actually be more appropriate for her to handle this herself, and Chen Qing's matter was indeed urgent.
"Does the elder know the specific situation in the South Sea?" Ziyue asked the war priest who had followed her.
The Shen Family exchanged glances, a slight wariness rising in their eyes towards the elder of the Ancient Demon Clan.
When they entered the city gate, the Four Saints Army remained outside. The gatekeepers had sounded the alarm long ago. The people Ziyue brought back were all demons, and very powerful demons at that!
They had learned some details through Shen Qi's advance letter. The Ancient Demon Clan that had orchestrated everything had fallen apart, and Ziyue, as a former member of the royal family, was now the nominal leader of the Ancient Demon. It was clearly more appropriate for her to negotiate in this situation.
" The South Sea is overseen by an elder-level figure," the war priest said gravely. "He's of higher seniority than me, a former third elder, and now... he's chosen to Symbiosis with the West Sea Dragon King."
"Third Elder." A cold glint flashed in Ziyue's eyes.
The Third Elder was among those who had humiliated her in the past. They all wanted to use her to give birth to royal blood. The three elders took turns doing so. After many years, the shadow of that time made her tremble almost subconsciously. A red light flashed in her eyes, and a wild bloodlust spread through her!
Those around instinctively took a step back, including Shen San and others who were still somewhat puzzled.
Shen Qi said that Ziyue and the Lord had reached a new level. They were originally only half-believing, but now that they saw it, they immediately understood the so-called new level. The aura that Ziyue was showing now was no less than that of the old Dragon King who was sealed in the West Sea, and even gave people a more terrifying feeling.
"It's the Third Elder," Ziyue said, revealing her gleaming white teeth. "It's been such a long time since I've seen him."
The voice was calm, but everyone felt a chill creep over them, especially the priest, who knew the cause and effect of what happened back then and didn't know what to say for a moment.
The Third Elder went too far back then, but this time he risked his life to negotiate with the South Sea Dragon King, securing a solid ally for the Ancient Demon Clan —that's an undeniable fact, and he's a hero. If Your Highness Ziyue wants to settle accounts, under what pretext?
It should be noted that the Ancient Demon civilians who came along were unaware of what happened back then. If the Third Elder is to be tried, those humiliating events from back then must be brought up. Otherwise, as an elder, he cannot be easily convicted and executed.
The question is, will Princess Ziyue allow this matter to be exposed?
Such a shameful thing, let alone a noble princess, no woman would want it exposed to the public, right?
But if they don't expose it, there's no way to settle the score. At this moment, looking at the murderous Ziyue, a trace of worry flashed in the priest's eyes.
Lord Ziyue is very popular now. Those Lord Ziyue do so because of her courage to sacrifice for the clan and her sense of responsibility in Cloud Capital.
If this image is tarnished, how many people will still be willing to wholeheartedly follow His Highness?
I just hope I didn't choose the wrong side this time.
"Long time no see, my dear niece."
South Sea City, the South Sea Clan, who had held out for many days with the help of the magic array, ultimately could not withstand the South Sea's attack. However, this was to be expected, as the enemy they were facing was something several levels above them.
At this moment, Ao Zhen was covered in wounds, his armor was almost completely soaked with blood, and his limbs, including his collarbone, were nailed with ice spikes. There was not a single patch of good skin on his body.
Even in such a miserable state, the fierce aura Ao Zhen still drew the attention of many Yaksha guards.
Princess West Sea's reputation was built on her illustrious military achievements. She was almost universally recognized as the next generation of Dragon King Level figures. Despite the passage of time, the spirit of this female war goddess remains awe-inspiring.
Just now, facing the siege of hundreds of Yaksha and the four Dragon Whale Generals, she almost managed to break through. If the Dragon King hadn't intervened at the crucial moment, she might have actually succeeded.
It really is true that a person's reputation influences their actions.
"What?" The middle-aged man dressed in a fiery red, alluring outfit looked at the Princess of the West Sea and smiled slightly. "Don't you recognize your uncle?"
Ao Zhen lifted her bloodied and mangled face and looked at it with cold eyes. Among the four Dragon King, the West Sea Dragon King was the youngest and the one who acted most like a ruthless hero. In contrast, the South Sea Dragon King had always given people the image of a kind old man.
Perhaps the four Dragon King underestimated this Dragon King of the highest seniority. Ao Zhen exchanged a move with him and was certain that he was a powerful expert proficient in top-tier martial arts.
Having spent ten thousand years training in the mortal realm, she had mastered many martial arts techniques, which was one of the reasons why she was invincible on the battlefield. In terms of combat skills, even her cheap father, the emperor, was far inferior to her. The only difference between him and her was his Dragon King Level strength.
But the one from the South Sea just now made a completely different move, a single, astonishing swordsmanship that she still can't figure out how to counter.
That old guy is hiding his true nature exceptionally well.
Moreover, Ao Zhen sensed it. This guy, like Chen Qing, is Reincarnator!