CHAPTER 373: CHAPTER 365: WHAT TO SAVE WITH?

"This is really not good news..."

Shen Eleven’s face, like everyone else’s, was filled with worry and frustration.

Chen Qing went to the Dragon Palace Secret Realm, a complex environment where encountering situations that prevent sending messages is quite normal, but trouble had to arise precisely at this moment...

If His Majesty cannot make decisions in such a critical matter, the responsibility will fall on the subordinates who take the initiative.

Xuu Hu is a very passionate man, advocating for the rescue of hundreds of millions of people in the northern regions who are awaiting help from beneath the jaws of the serpents.

And as representative of the established powers of Jiangnan, the third and second brothers naturally hope to prioritize stability, given that the Shen Family’s foundation is in Jiangnan. Chen Qing has made Jiangnan so prosperous that the Shen Family cherishes it greatly and naturally does not want this advantage to be jeopardized by recklessness.

Choosing self-preservation over the lives of a billion northern people sounds rather mean-spirited but is also unavoidable. In these times, it’s quite an achievement to be able to fend for oneself. Who has the luxury to play the savior of the world?

"Lord Xuu..." Shen Lao San clearly had more patience and tried to persuade with a gentle tone, focusing on the positive aspects when arguing with Xuu Hu: "You have seen it too, we know very little about these giant serpents that have appeared in the north, rash actions could lead to heavy losses, and moreover, the ships previously sent to the north haven’t returned, which shows that even vessels of superior performances face destruction when facing those giants serpents. How can we ensure that the rescue forces can safely cross the Northern Sea to save those billion people?"

"Exactly!" Shen Eleven chimed in: "For a billion people, you’ll need enough ships to transport them. Do we even have that many ships?"

"I don’t expect all to be rescued, it’s just about doing our best," Xuu Hu said in a deep voice. "As for safe passage across the sea, I have an idea. We use Wind Jade to make the ships fly, those giant serpents will have a much harder time attacking aerial targets without the sea, and if the ships are airborne, the newly developed weapons from the academy will also be more effective!"

"That’s easy for you to say!" snapped Second Master Shen, his face turning dark: "Making ships fly and fetching hundreds of millions of people? All of them flying? Do you have any idea how much Wind Jade that would take? The Flaming Sun Array has already consumed so many Jade Stones; if you squander resources like this, are you planning not to leave anything for later?"

Shen San also looked unhappy. These Jade Stones, now so valuable that just one could fetch a fortune in Capital City, were being consumed so fast that it pained him greatly. And this man actually had the nerve to come up with such a reckless idea of rescue. Was he mad?

"This isn’t just about saving people," Xuu Hu said solemnly. "A billion people can greatly benefit us. If we can assimilate them, Jiangnan’s power will climb to another level. Our Divine Path Sect has always needed more people. These people may be burdensome in the short term, but in the long run, they could be our greatest asset. With demons on the rise, saving them is tantamount to saving ourselves!"

"You have to eat bit by bit. A billion people? With the current situation, can we afford to wait for them?" Second Master Shen said darkly. "One must act within one’s capabilities. No use in spouting lofty ideals if you don’t have the means to back them up. I disagree with your plan; the risk is too high. One wrong move could cost us all of Jiangnan, and besides, His Majesty also needs our forces for support."

"General Xuu Hu would do well to cool down," Shen Eleven also added. "The northern people are indeed pitiable, but mustn’t we ensure our own safety first?"

"Those giant serpents have complex motives..." Xuu Hu took a deep breath and continued, "General Tian Heng mentioned it before. Those creatures, once they gather enough blood essence, will summon Mother Earth, maybe even more terrifying beings. If we just look out for ourselves now, won’t the fire eventually spread our way regardless?"

"What do you think, Old Tian?" Xuu Hu turned and looked at Tian Heng.

Tian Heng furrowed his brows, uncertain of what to say. He too wanted to save them, but as the Shen Family pointed out, the risks were too high...

While hesitating, Tian Heng suddenly started: "The sovereign has sent a message!"

"What does it say?" The people of the Shen Family stood up abruptly, faces tense.

Xuu Hu also held his breath, waiting for the rest of the message.

"I have to go over there!" Tian Heng stood up and said, "His Majesty’s wishes are that everything in the north must wait until his return, and we must not act rashly!"

"This..." Xuu Hu was taken aback, not expecting such a response from Chen Qing. Though he didn’t say not to rescue the north, in the current situation, could the northern people even wait?

"See..." Second Master Shen relieved, had feared that Chen Qing might also be impulsive, and immediately said with a smile, "The sovereign has spoken. Now, protect this place well and don’t entertain any rash ideas!"

He wasn’t worried about Xuu Hu taking any rash steps; after all, the latter’s Wind Jade plan would require the support of at least four provinces. Now, with seven provinces in Jiangnan, although officially the supplies were under the civil officials’ control, the Shen Family, acting as the local Nether Earth authorities, could intercept the supplies at a crucial moment. Without their approval, Xuu Hu couldn’t mobilize the resources of the seven provinces!

Watching everyone leave, Xuu Hu’s face was solemn, recollecting the words Chen Qing had said.

The world is about to fall into chaos, and what I can do is to build a place for the Human Race to survive....

But, Your Majesty... aren’t the people of the north part of the Human Race too?

-----------------------------

"Are we really not going for a rescue?"

Weichi Feihong, swimming outwards, couldn’t help but ask.

The Lu family people are heartless madmen, and that person at the Imperial Court also doesn’t regard human lives. But if no one goes to rescue, should we really let the northern people be devoured entirely by those Earth Serpents?

"With what shall we rescue?" Chen Qing rolled his eyes, "Xuu Hu sent me the rescue plan through Tian Heng two hours ago. He’s simply out of his mind. Transporting with Wind Jade ships—but has he even looked at the current stock? Is it enough for a round trip? And has he not considered that breaking through the Giant Serpent blockade, those coming from the aristocratic families... are they really here for help?"

"You mean..."

"What if it’s a trap?" Chen Qing said with a cold laugh, "Is the Giant Serpent blockade that easy to break through? With the Lu family people and the Southern Barbarians’ Serpent Sorcerers around, those serpents are nearly invincible in the water. What gives anyone the right to break through?"

"That makes sense..." Weichi Feihong nodded, but then he added, "But the message should be true... You also judged before that the North couldn’t withstand the attack of the Earth Serpents."

Chen Qing fell silent. Though he appeared to analyze the situation logically, how could he be unaware of the specific conditions in the North?

"Truly not going to save them?"

"With what do we save them?" Chen Qing’s tone grew a bit irritable, "Do you see me as a savior?"

"Aren’t you?"

"I... Come on, don’t flatter me," Chen Qing said with a laugh, "How come I never noticed before that you’re so slippery?"

"It’s not about being slippery, it’s that I feel like, in the face of anything, you always have a way..." Weichi Feihong said earnestly.

He wasn’t actually trying to pressure Chen Qing, but... a billion people, the North’s last spark! He had fought in the North for many years, mostly encountering its people, whose customs were rough but who were also simple and honest. Most heroes emerge from such harsh and cold places. Would there really be no more men from the North in the future?

"I can’t save them..." Chen Qing shook his head, "Even if I now transport these Jade Stones back, I would need time to collect enough wind energy to realize the plan Xuu Hu spoke of. The North now... it’s a dead end, nobody can save..." He suddenly paused, then added, "It’s pretty much a dead end..."

"Hmm?" Weichi Feihong’s eyes lit up as he caught that slight hesitation from Chen Qing, "Pretty much? So, there actually is a way, isn’t there?"

"There is one, but it might as well not exist..."

"Come on, do tell..." Weichi Feihong couldn’t help pushing.

"You..." Chen Qing gave him a look, "Do you think that the Duke of Wei would die for those billion northern people?"

Weichi Feihong: "......"

"It’s here!" Chen Qing suddenly looked upwards.

Weichi Feihong followed his gaze and saw that the huge Jade Disc was actually beginning to shatter layer by layer!

"Is this? Self-destruction?" Weichi Feihong said in astonishment.

"The Myriad Flood Dragons Array has been activated!" Chen Qing narrowed his eyes and said, "The monsters from the Dragon Palace are going to wake up. Although the water vapor helps them recover their bodies, they need other energies to supplement themselves. The Biological Weapons inside this Jade Disc, many of them can be used as nutrients!"

"Uh..."

So, this place is also a backup granary?

Bang!

Just as he spoke, a sound of shattering, like glass, came through, strange in its quality, as if it was right next to them but also as if it were very far away. And then, in the next instant, the entire space’s currents entered a chaotic torrent as the Jade Disc space’s array malfunctioned!

"Let’s go!" Chen Qing, who was prepared, quickly pulled Weichi Feihong into the mother-of-pearl shell.

A horrific roar came from not far away, and Weichi Feihong looked back, his heart chilled: "It’s that monster!"

He was indeed referring to the Heavenly Ghost Octopus!

"No need to bother with it!" Chen Qing whispered, "The Heavenly Ghost Octopus would also choose a large-headed monster to attack. The resurrected monsters of the Dragon Clan will do the same, and soon, you will see a feast of devils dancing in chaos!"