Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
When Chen Xiaobei reunited with the soldiers, they greeted him in unison, “Welcome, Childe Chen upon your triumphant return… Welcome, Childe Chen upon your triumphant return… Welcome, Childe Chen upon your triumphant return…”
Every one of them welcomed the return of their hero with gusto, veneration, and reverence.
It took Chen Xiaobei quite some time to pacify the crowd of 100,000.
After that, the troops returned to Neptune’s capital city.
Upon their return, the story on how Chen Xiaobei had saved the merpeople would be spread throughout the entire capital city, and eventually the entire Neptune Starfield.
The honorable name of Childe Zhufeng would be etched in the hearts of every one of the merpeople for the foreseeable future.
All of Neptune would honor Chen Xiaobei as they honored the gods.
…
“Childe Chen, what are your plans after this?” Ao Chun’er had removed her helmet and was swimming around Chen Xiaobei like a little fangirl.
“Silly girl, Childe Chen will return to Saint Duke Starfield, of course!” Ao Liancheng said to his sister. “Tomorrow is the deadline of the first elimination round of princess Puti’s betrothal! Not returning means forfeiting his place in the competition!”
“Childe Chen, is this true?” Ao Chun’er’s pretty brows were furrowed, and there was a hint of envy in her tone.
Chen Xiaobei nodded. “It is. I have to hurry back. In fact, I will have to leave tonight!”
“Oh, so, it’s true…” Ao Chun’er’s face fell.
When she noticed that the people around her were giving her strange looks, she quickly tried to cover up. “I… What I meant is that Childe Chen, your strength is unparalleled, why would you covet…”
Ao Chun’er trailed off.
“Covet what? Princess Puti’s beauty? Or the Saint Duke’s Fu Ma position?” Chen Xiaobei smiled. “I have a compelling reason to go! But that is also my secret!”
“You really do have so many secrets…” Ao Chun’er said bitterly, biting her lip.
“Chun’er, you should retire.” The holy emperor swam into the room with all the Wangyes and Princes trailing behind him. “We are pressed for time and I still have some things I’d like to discuss in private with Childe Chen!”
“Yes…” Ao Chun’er nodded obediently and left.
“Your majesty, how may I assist you?” Chen Xiaobei asked.
“The 100 million Spiritual Stones – did you use all of it?” The emperor asked.
“Yes, I did…” Chen Xiaobei nodded. “50 million to rebuild the altar and the formation; 30 million to wield all three of the two-star Earth-God instrument, and the remaining 20 million to activate the Sealing Formation. May I ask why? Is your majesty running low on Spiritual Stones?”
“No, no, no…” The emperor quickly explained. “I asked this question because I was afraid that you had to dip into your own pocket. After all, we were the ones who asked you for help. We cannot possibly allow you to suffer any losses.”
Chen Xiaobei shrugged, smiling.
He did not have to use his personal supply of Spiritual Stones. But because of this undertaking, Chen Xiaobei had eaten the Ginseng Fruit and lost 300 years from his lifespan. On top of that, he also used up one dog biscuit experimenting on the Demonic Beast.
Taking those things into consideration, Chen Xiaobei did suffer some losses.
“Alright! Since the Spiritual Stones were just enough, let’s not mention it any more!” The holy emperor paused for a moment and then said, “Next, please allow me offer you our sincerest gratitude on behalf of the people of Neptune!”
All the Wangyes and Princes pressed their hands on their fists and bowed to Chen Xiaobei.
Chen Xiaobei was slightly taken aback. After all that he had done, how would offering their appreciation to him in words alone suffice?
“Childe Chen, please accept our gift!” The holy emperor stretched out both hands. On his left was an Ambergris the size of a fish tank, and on the right was a combat saber with a green dragon on the hilt.
“What… What does this mean…” Chen Xiaobei did not know how to react.
“This is 1 million-year Ambergris!” The holy emperor looked at his right hand and said, “There is only one of this left in the entire Neptune Starfield! You won’t be able to find a second one outside of an Earth-God realm!”
Chen Xiaobei’s eyes lit up in delight.
He thought that he had made some small losses for this undertaking. He never thought that the holy emperor of Neptune would present him with the one and only 1 million-year Ambergris left in their realm as a token of appreciation!
What a charitable thing to do!
The emperor looked at the combat saber on his right and said. “This is a Green Dragon Sea Shifting Saber. It’s the last Two-Star Earth-God Instrument of our people. Please accept our sincere gifts!”
“Two… Two-Star…” Chen Xiaobei swallowed.
It was only a while ago that Chen Xiaobei had a taste of the power of three Two-Star Earth God instruments.
The usage of each instrument required 1 million Spiritual Stones!
Large expenditure meant large killing power – powerful enough to eliminate an Earth-God at the early phase of Primordial Spirit!
Chen Xiaobei felt like his brain had short-circuited. The small loss had suddenly become an astronomical gain! How out of this world was that?
Even though he was as high as a kite inside, Chen Xiaobei did not let it show but maintained a calm facade.
Having thought about it, Chen Xiaobei accepted the 1 million-year Ambergris but did not take the Green Dragon Sea Shifting Saber.
“Childe Zhufeng! You don’t have to be decorous!” the holy emperor said. “You saved me from death and you saved our people from complete damnation! You deserve to have these gifts! Please… accept the Green Dragon Sea Shifting Saber!”
“No, I’m not being decorous!” Chen Xiaobei said, aplomb. “I do deserve these two gifts after everything I’ve done! I’m not accepting the Green Dragon Sea Shifting Saber because I don’t want this gift!”
“What? Don’t… Don’t want?” The holy emperor was taken aback.
All the other Wangyes and Princes were just as flabbergasted.
Two-Star Earth-God Instruments were the most powerful killing weapons in the nine zones! Even in an Earth-God realm, it was considered to be an upper middle-tier rare item.
For the common cultivator, the prospects of getting their hands on one was like wanting to boil the ocean.
It was far-fetched even for an Earth-God at the early phase of Primordial Spirit to own one.
But here was Chen Xiaobei denying this gift!
“Yes! I don’t want it!” Chen Xiaobei said with certainty. “First of all, a Two-Star Earth-God Instrument is too valuable. and I might not have the chance to use it! Earth-Gods may come and attempt to take it from me – just owning it may cost my life! Secondly, the three Two-Star Earth-God Instruments your race possess are used seal the Demonic Beast! If I take this Green Dragon Sea Shifting Saber, a lot of people from the nine zones will invade Neptune Starfield! When that happens, you will have nothing to protect yourselves with!”
Everyone could not help but nod in agreement.
Chen Xiaobei was not done. He continued, “Lastly, I don’t want the Green Dragon Sea Shifting Saber, but I want the promise of the entire Neptune race!”
“Promise? What promise?” the holy emperor of Neptune wondered.
What kind of promise would be interchangeable with a Two-Star Earth-God Instrument?
