"You said where? Sea God Island?!"
"Qian Xunji, isn't your request a bit too much?"
Ning Fengzhi exclaimed, finding it incredibly unbelievable.
And he was merely incredulous.
Yu Yuanzhen, however, frowned deeply, then spoke angrily, scolding Qian Xunji directly.
"That's right, you're clearly not willing to marry Bibi Dong to my son, Yu Chen. Is this what you call being lenient and giving us a break?"
As his words fell, spirit power fluctuations radiated from several people.
Invisible surges of energy swept through the field like a hurricane.
For a time, sand rolled, and grass bent over.
Although the numerous onlookers on the Douluo Continent were not present at the scene, merely watching through the heavenly curtain, they could feel the terrifying pressure, like a storm brewing.
This feeling stood in stark contrast to the pleasant atmosphere between them earlier.
And it was precisely this contrast that made everyone feel particularly surprised and incredulous at this moment.
A moment later, they came back to their senses and immediately began a heated discussion about Sea God Island.
"??"
"What's going on? Weren't things fine just now? Why does it seem like they're about to break down again?"
"What great terror is hidden on Sea God Island that could make Yu Yuanzhen and the others show such terrifying expressions?"
The Shrek Seven Devils were naturally no exception.
After hearing the content, they immediately turned to Sword Douluo beside them and asked.
"Grandpa Sword Douluo, what kind of place is Sea God Island? Is it very dangerous?"
"Why did the expressions of the two Sect Masters of the Upper Three Sects change the moment that name came up?"
Sword Douluo didn't answer directly. He spoke with a sigh, saying,
"More than dangerous… Spirit Hall once dispatched two thousand top Spirit Masters to Sea God Island, attempting to incorporate the Spirit Masters there. Do you know what the outcome was?"
Ning Rongrong wasn't a fool. Hearing Sword Douluo say this, she immediately blinked, a playful expression on her face, and said, "Since you put it that way, it must have been a failure, right? Why even ask?"
Hearing her words, Sword Douluo didn't get angry. Instead, he chuckled and shook his head, sighing again.
"Haha, if it were just a failure, that would be one thing. To be precise, it should be called a crushing defeat. Even with the Angel Legion protecting them, fewer than a hundred returned alive, and they even lost two Titled Douluo-level powerhouses."
Even though Ning Rongrong had been mentally prepared for the plan, she couldn't help but be truly startled.
She gasped and spoke again, her voice eight octaves higher than before, with a hint of disbelief, asking again,
"How many?"
"Two Titled Douluo?! Are you sure you didn't make a mistake, Grandpa Sword Douluo?"
Seeing her incredulous expression, Sword Douluo chuckled.
He then spoke, adding seriously,
"Do I still need to lie to you? That place is surrounded by the sea on all sides, and many of the Spirit Masters' Spirit Beasts are extremely skilled in water combat, making the entire Sea God Island easy to defend and difficult to attack. Plus, it has been dedicated to the Sea God for many years, enjoying the Sea God's protection. As a result, to outsiders, that place is completely impenetrable. It's absolutely impossible to succeed by relying purely on force."
His words were absolutely resolute.
Seeing his confident demeanor, Ning Rongrong's face, however, showed a hint of suspicion.
She then spoke, a bit unconvinced, and asked,
"That absolute? There's always an exception, right?"
"There certainly are exceptions."
Sword Douluo knew that Ning Rongrong was Yu Chen's biggest fan, so he wasn't angry at her reaction. Instead, he seriously considered the question.
After a long silence, he finally spoke, stating his judgment.
"However, not everyone is qualified to be that exception. Even Yu Chen would probably need to reach Qian Xunji's level, or even become a god, at the very least. And he would also need to deploy a large number of troops and personnel to accompany him to completely unify the entire Sea God Island."
"What level?!"
Ning Rongrong didn't think Sword Douluo would deceive her, so upon hearing his reply, her expression changed drastically, and she exclaimed,
"Forget becoming a god, even with Yu Chen's talent, it would take at least 8 to 10 years to reach Qian Xunji's level. Isn't this an impossible mission?"
"That's exactly what it means."
Sword Douluo nodded. "Otherwise, Yu Yuanzhen wouldn't be so angry and lose his composure."
After hearing his words, Ning Rongrong's brows furrowed completely, and her heart was in her throat.
And just as her heart was filled with worry for Yu Chen's future, at the same time, on the heavenly curtain, facing the doubts of Ning Fengzhi and Yu Yuanzhen, Qian Xunji's expression remained unchanged.
He then spoke, instead snorting coldly in retort,
"How is this not being lenient? You were all so confident before, telling me that Yu Chen's excellence was unprecedented? That his peers couldn't even stand shoulder to shoulder with him, let alone see his back. If he has superhuman abilities, he naturally needs to do superhuman things to prove himself. Otherwise, how can he convince the masses? Without performing an unprecedented feat, how can my Spirit Hall break tradition and tacitly allow the Holy Maiden to marry an outsider?"
"This is not me deliberately making things difficult, but a choice I had to make to silence the murmuring of Spirit Hall's believers."
"Yu Chen, can you do it? If you really can't, it's fine. After all, you have many women around you, so I suppose you won't be lacking just my foolish disciple. Not to mention anything else, just Ah Yin alone is a 100,000-year Spirit Beast who has taken human form, and you've even subdued her. My disciple can't compare to her."
Qian Xunji looked up at the end, sighing with emotion. His words even carried a hint of envy.
However, none of the people present were truly foolish; they immediately saw that Qian Xunji's envy was fake. His true intention was to sow discord and use a taunting tactic.
Precisely because they realized this, both Bibi Dong and Ah Yin were a little anxious at this moment.
"Master, how can you say that?"
"That's right, how can matters of the heart be measured by status and identity?"
However, as the two spoke this time, their words were cut short by Yu Chen beside them.
"Enough, Ah Yin, Bibi Dong, both of you say less… I've already made a decision on this matter."
But hearing him say this, neither Ah Yin nor Bibi Dong obediently listened.
Instead, they spoke anxiously, urging again,
"A decision? What decision are you talking about?"
"Yu Chen, you can't possibly be serious about taking on this task, can you? You absolutely must not act impulsively and do something foolish."
"Exactly! Isn't Qian Xunji clearly trying to provoke you with a deliberate taunt? Can't you even see that?"
"Of course, I can see it."
"But as a man, besides accepting, do I have any other choice?"
He retorted.
At his words, Bibi Dong and Ah Yin both fell silent.
They wanted to add something, but they didn't know what to say.
As they fell silent, Qian Xunji, seeing Yu Chen's reaction, couldn't help but tilt his head back and burst into laughter.
"Good!"
"Courageous!"
"As expected of the most renowned young man on the Douluo Continent right now. He truly is spirited and far beyond what ordinary people can compare to."
"Then I'll take Bibi Dong with me for now. When you complete the task, that's when I'll allow you to see her again!"
After saying this, he reached out, intending to directly take Bibi Dong with him and leave the scene.
However, his right hand had just extended and touched Bibi Dong's shoulder.
Before he could make any further moves, Bibi Dong had already broken free and retreated backward.
As she retreated, she spoke, shaking her head resolutely at her master.
"No!"
"I'm not going back!"
"If I go back now, I don't know when I'll be able to see Brother Yu Chen again."
Hearing him say this, Qian Xunji naturally flew into a rage, immediately glaring and scolding Bibi Dong.
"How dare you!"
"Are you threatening me?"
"A man unmarried and a woman unbetrothed, constantly together—do you know how the outside world will view this? Do you know how much it will affect your own reputation?"
However, halfway through his words, his tone softened a bit.
He began to persuade her with a hint of earnestness.
But his earnest persuasion clearly had no effect.
Hearing him, Bibi Dong showed no sign of changing her mind.
Instead, she raised her hand and took out a sharp blade from her In arms.
She placed it directly against her neck.
Her words were resolute.
She replied with an unwavering tone:
"I know, but I don't care. I just want to be with Brother Yu Chen. Even if he goes to Sea God Island next, facing near certain death, I want to accompany him!"
"Master, if you truly want me to go back now, you are forcing me to die. I might as well commit suicide directly in front of you now, it would be simpler!"
"You girl, you…"
Seeing her like this, Qian Xunji was furious.
But while he could control Yu Chen, he couldn't control Bibi Dong.
Seeing her like this, especially with Ning Fengzhi, Yu Yuanzhen, and several other powerhouses present, his desire to use force to take Bibi Dong became a luxury.
As a result, Qian Xunji was now in a state of impotent rage.
Seeing his appearance, Yu Yuanzhen and the other man were naturally overjoyed, and after exchanging glances, they once again began to persuade him.
"Alright, alright."
"Qian Xunji, say a little less. It's always said that it's better to demolish ten temples than to ruin one marriage. That's the principle."
He repeated the same old arguments from before, trying to persuade Qian Xunji to change his mind.
However, as the current Supreme Pontiff, how could Qian Xunji be easily swayed by a few words?
After some hesitation, seeing that he ultimately couldn't take Bibi Dong away, he didn't give up there.
Instead, he suddenly reached out and grabbed Bibi Dong's wrist.
A burning pain suddenly shot through her right arm, causing Bibi Dong to shriek.
"Bibi Dong, what's wrong?"
"Qian Xunji, what are you doing?"
Everyone around was startled by this.
They all thought Qian Xunji was about to use force.
However, Qian Xunji retracted his hand as soon as he touched her.
Immediately, a crimson, cinnabar-like spot appeared on her wrist.
Everyone was surprised by this, and Bibi Dong herself felt bewildered.
"What is this?"
"A Cinnabar Mark!" Qian Xunji explained.
After saying this, he no longer looked at Bibi Dong behind him, but instead turned to look at Yu Chen, who was standing beside him.
He spoke, solemnly and promptly adding:
"If this Cinnabar Mark on Bibi Dong disappears before the Sea God Island matter is concluded… Yu Chen, you must understand what that means, don't you?"
"This junior understands!"
Yu Chen naturally knew what a Cinnabar Mark was.
So, hearing Qian Xunji say this, he had no intention of refuting it, and immediately cupped his hands, accepting the matter.
Seeing his attitude, Qian Xunji reluctantly led the Spirit Hall's large contingent away.
Watching the Spirit Hall members leave, everyone let out a long sigh of relief, as if a great weight had been lifted from their hearts.
However, when they turned back, there was no joy on their faces.
Instead, they gathered around Yu Chen, asking him with worried expressions.
Of course, while it was framed as a question, their words were more accusatory.
It was clear that even Yu Yuanzhen and Ning Fengzhi were extremely displeased with Yu Chen's decision to agree to this matter.
Seeing their reaction, Yu Chen smiled indifferently, then spoke, even proactively comforting them, saying:
"It's nothing. Sometimes, what a person needs is the courage to knowingly head into danger, even when aware of the risks."
"Besides, although I promised to conquer Sea God Island as a betrothal gift for marrying Bibi Dong, who told you that this conquest must be achieved by force?"
"Not by force? What do you intend to use?"
Hearing him say this, everyone was stunned.
However, everyone present was intelligent, and their momentary surprise quickly faded.
They soon understood the meaning of Yu Chen's words.
Their expressions immediately became excited.
"Do you intend to replicate the tactics you used against the Clear Sky Sect before?"
"Can this really work?"
However, not long after their excitement, Yu Yuanzhen seemed to remember something and immediately frowned, reminding him again:
"I heard that the residents of Sea God Island, regardless of their living habits or customs, are completely different from ours."
But compared to their worry, Yu Chen consistently displayed an air of confidence, as if he had everything under control, and replied solemnly:
"Why not? No matter what their beliefs are, and regardless of whether they belong to the same ethnic group as us, one thing is certain: the pursuit of a better life is the same for everyone, isn't it?"
"Who can refuse to live a better life?"