102: Chapter 102 A Deal is Made: Take me to the Dragon Clan, and I'll help you quell the rebellion.

"Are you... serious?"

Long Aoxue couldn't help but confirm once more.

"Just for that one ancestral dragon divine grass, you're willing to go head-to-head against the entire Dragon Race rebel army?"

In her eyes, this was simply madness.

Although Xu Chen had just displayed terrifying physical strength by suppressing her with one hand, she believed it was because she had underestimated him and couldn't draw upon the world's momentum while outside the flying boat.

The Dragon Palace headquarters, however, possessed a protective formation blessed by generations of Dragon Emperors. Coupled with that insidious and cunning Black Dragon King, even a Saint of the human race wouldn't dare claim they could escape unscathed.

"You think I'm joking?"

Xu Chen raised an eyebrow, pulled a handkerchief from his robe, and slowly wiped the fingers that had just touched the dragon horns.

"Princess, you might not understand the parental heart of us humans."

"To ensure a child wins at the starting line, let alone a mere Black Dragon King, even if I had to pluck the stars from the sky, this Young Master would try without hesitation."

At this point, Xu Chen's tone shifted, and his gaze became sharp.

"Of course, this is a transaction."

"I'll help you slaughter that 'dear uncle' who wants to force you into marriage and help you reclaim the throne of the Dragon Emperor. In exchange, I'm taking the ancestral dragon divine grass, and..."

Xu Chen held up a finger and wagged it in front of Long Aoxue.

"I get to pick three items from the Dragon Race's treasury."

"Deal?"

Long Aoxue bit her lip and fell into silence.

It was an extremely tempting yet risk-filled proposal.

If she agreed, she would be betting her life and soul on this seemingly frivolous yet unfathomable human. If they lost, she would not only die but also become a sinner of the Dragon Race.

"On what grounds?"

After a moment, Long Aoxue looked up, her silver vertical pupils staring intently at Xu Chen as her dignity as a Princess returned.

"Though your physical body is strong enough to suppress my True Dragon form, you'll be facing more than just a Black Dragon King."

"That traitor Ao Hei is only at the peak of the Half-Saint realm, but he controls the Dragon Palace's protective formation, the 'Myriad Dragon Sky Locking Formation'. With the formation's blessing, he can exert combat power comparable to a true Saint!"

"Furthermore, he has three thousand Dragon Guards under his command, each a battle-hardened elite."

"With just you and a single female sword cultivator, you want to charge into a dragon's den?"

Long Aoxue's tone carried a hint of mockery; she was clearly using reverse psychology to see what trump cards Xu Chen actually held.

"Comparable to a Saint?"

Upon hearing this assessment, not only did Xu Chen show no fear, but he actually burst out laughing.

He turned his head toward Nangong Waner, who was still clutching her sword with a vigilant expression, and teased her.

"Waner, did you hear that? That Black Dragon King is actually comparable to a Saint!"

"How terrifying."

Although Nangong Waner was still jealous of Long Aoxue's figure, she stood firmly by her husband's side when it came to matters of importance.

She cooperated by rolling her eyes and adding a cold remark:

"Husband, if he's not even a Saint, then your two hundred..."

"Ahem!"

Xu Chen coughed quickly, interrupting Waner. One had to be low-key; if he told this silly dragon right now that he had brought two hundred Saints as guards, wouldn't she be scared witless?

If she was scared witless, how would she lead the way?

"Anyway."

Xu Chen turned back to Long Aoxue, dropping his playful smile as a domineering aura of supreme authority suddenly radiated from him.

"Be it a Saint or a grand formation."

"In this Young Master's eyes, they are nothing more than a bunch of clay chickens and pottery dogs."

"You only need to answer me: are you taking this deal or not?"

"If not, I'll throw you down right now. You can go explain to your dear uncle yourself why you're here."

This was an outright threat.

Looking into Xu Chen's eyes, which were as deep as an abyss, Long Aoxue felt an inexplicable chill. Her intuition told her this man wasn't lying. His wasn't a blind arrogance, but an absolute confidence rooted in strength.

Right now, she was at the end of her rope.

Rather than waiting for death, it was better to take a gamble!

"Fine!"

Long Aoxue gritted her teeth, her silver hair fluttering in the wind.

"I agree!"

"As long as you can help me reclaim the Dragon Palace, let alone one ancestral dragon divine grass, even if you want to empty out half the treasury, I'll accept it!"

"Straightforward."

Xu Chen snapped his fingers, and his stern expression instantly melted away, returning to the image of a cynical young master of a noble house.

"Since we're partners now, let's not be so distant."

"Here, eat this."

With that, Xu Chen casually tossed a pill over.

The pill was golden throughout with cloud patterns swirling on its surface. The moment it appeared, a rich medicinal fragrance filled the deck. Just one sniff made one's blood surge.

Long Aoxue caught it instinctively, her pupils shrinking instantly.

"Nine-Cycle Soul-Returning Pill?!"

This was a sacred healing medicine of the human race, said to be concocted only by top-tier alchemy grandmasters and worth a fortune. This man just threw it to her so casually?

"Don't misunderstand, I'm not doing this because I feel sorry for you."

Xu Chen shrugged at her shocked expression.

"It's mainly because your current half-dead appearance is quite an eyesore. Besides, when we get to the Dragon Palace, I'll need your help to open the doors."

"If you die halfway, who am I supposed to ask for the fetal-settling medicine?"

Long Aoxue: "..."

This man really couldn't go three sentences without mentioning the child.

Despite his poisonous tongue, a warm current flowed through Long Aoxue's heart. In a place like the Demon Realm where the strong devoured the weak, being injured only meant being abandoned or consumed by your companions. Who would give you a divine medicine of this level?

She hesitated no longer and tilted her head back to swallow the pill.

Boom!

The medicinal power dissolved, and a gentle yet majestic energy instantly flowed through her limbs and bones. The internal injuries she suffered from self-destructing her Saint weapon began to heal at a visible rate. Her previously withered aura began to climb, and her pale face gradually regained its color.

In just a few moments, she had recovered seventy percent of her strength.

"Thank you."

Long Aoxue took a deep breath and offered her thanks in a complicated tone.

"No need for thanks. Just put it on the tab; we'll deduct it from the treasury later."

Xu Chen waved his hand, walked back to sit on the soft couch, and pointed toward the front of the flying boat.

"Lead the way, Princess."

"Let's go deliver a big gift to your uncle."

...

With Long Aoxue, a "local," leading the way, the speed of the flying boat increased another notch.

They avoided the chaotic battlefields and storm zones on the outskirts of the Demon Realm, specifically choosing hidden void navigation routes.

Two hours later.

The flying boat passed through a thick layer of thunderclouds, and the scene before them suddenly opened up.

On the land below, a vast and boundless black ocean appeared. The seawater was as black as ink and bottomless, emitting a heart-chilling cold air.

In the center of the ocean, a massive cluster of crystal palaces floated on the sea surface like a miracle. Around the palaces, nine giant phantom water dragons circled and spiraled, tightly guarding the entire palace complex.

That was the ancestral land of the Demon Realm's royal family, the Ancient Void Dragons—the Wanlong Nest.

"We're here."

Long Aoxue stood at the edge of the deck, looking at her familiar home with eyes full of hatred and killing intent.

"That is the Dragon Palace."

"As I said, the Black Dragon King has already activated the 'Myriad Dragon Sky Locking Formation'. Now the entire Dragon Palace allows departures but no entries, and there are countless Dragon Guards patrolling the perimeter."

"Are we just going to charge straight in?"

She turned to look at Xu Chen. Though her injuries had recovered significantly, she still felt uncertain facing that impregnable formation.

"Charge straight in? That's too lacking in technical finesse."

Xu Chen stood up, straightened his clothes, and a mysterious smile curled on his lips.

"Since we're here to 'quell a rebellion,' we naturally should be a bit more open and aboveboard."

"However, before we act, we need to sneak in first and find the location of that Ancestral Dragon Abyss."

"Sneak in?"

Long Aoxue was stunned.

"How? That formation has a bloodline identification function. Anyone without Dragon Race blood will be attacked the moment they approach."

"And your aura is too strong; there's no way to hide it."

"Who said I was going to hide?"

Xu Chen glanced at Long Aoxue and then at Nangong Waner, a mischievous glint flashing in his eyes.

"As long as we make the formation believe I'm your 'captive,' won't that work?"

"Captive?"

Long Aoxue and Nangong Waner's eyes widened simultaneously.

"Exactly."

Xu Chen pointed at himself and then at Waner.

"Long Aoxue, you'll go back openly now. Say you captured two human geniuses outside: one is Born with a Sword Spirit, and the other is... well, a peerless cultivation furnace."

"You're going to present us to the Black Dragon King as your 'repentance' and as a dowry for agreeing to the marriage."

"This..."

Long Aoxue was dumbfounded.

Just how was this human's brain wired?

He actually wanted to offer himself as a 'dowry' to the Black Dragon King?

"This is too risky! What if the Black Dragon King attacks immediately?"

"Relax, he won't."

Xu Chen smiled confidently, his eyes shining with the wisdom of someone in control of everything.

"For a usurper, being able to subdue the previous dynasty's Princess without losing a single soldier, while also gaining two top-tier human furnaces, is an enormous temptation."

"Greed will make him open those gates."

"And..."

Xu Chen leaned in and whispered into Long Aoxue's ear:

"Once I'm inside that turtle shell, who eats whom will no longer be up to him."

"Are you ready, my Queen?"

"The upcoming play depends entirely on your acting skills."