57: Chapter 57 Two Hundred Thousand Naga, A New Tier 5 Hero

After the establishment of the Naga Council, the Deep Blue Sea Abyss entered an unprecedented period of prosperity.

Economically, they established stable trade networks with the Shadow Demons, Ice Crystals, and Mushroom People. The Naga provided deep-sea specialties in exchange for resources and technology from other races.

Culturally, they developed their own writing, art, and religion. They carved statues of their ancestors from coral, recorded history on shells, and wove ritual banners from seaweed.

In terms of education, every Naga hatchling received a free education. They learned combat techniques, the council system, and how to become a qualified Naga citizen.

Militarily, they established a standing army under the direct command of the Council. The army's duty was not internal suppression, but external defense, protecting this hard-won peace.

The six hundredth year.

The Naga population grew from twenty-three thousand to fifty thousand.

The seven hundredth year.

It grew to ninety thousand.

The eight hundredth year.

It grew to one hundred and thirty thousand.

The nine hundredth year.

It grew to one hundred and eighty thousand.

The nine hundred and ninety-ninth year.

The population of the Deep Blue Sea Abyss reached two hundred thousand.

Two hundred thousand Naga established hundreds of undersea cities in this grayish-white ocean, developing a complete system of civilization.

They had their own laws, their own army, their own schools, their own hospitals, their own theaters, and their own museums.

They had their own holidays, their own celebrations, and their own heroic legends.

They had their own faith.

They did not worship a specific person.

Rather, they believed in a certain spirit.

The spirit of "living on one's own feet."

The spirit of "equality for all."

The spirit of "deciding one's own destiny."

And Lan remained the Chief of the Council.

He had lived for nine hundred years, and his strength had climbed from Rank 1 to Rank 5, Five Stars. He was the most powerful warrior of the Naga Race and also their wisest mentor.

But he was never arrogant because of it.

He still woke up the earliest and went to sleep the latest every day. He still personally taught the young Naga, personally visited every injured clansman, and personally participated in every Council discussion.

His scales had changed from silver-gray to pure silver, shining brightly amidst the Yin Qi.

His eyes had changed from pale gold to pure gold, as if they could see through everything.

His aura was unfathomable, yet as gentle as water.

But no matter how strong he became, his attitude toward every clansman remained the same.

Equality.

Respect.

The last day of the nine hundred and ninety-ninth year.

Lan swam alone to the highest point of the Deep Blue Sea Abyss, overlooking the land he had protected for nine hundred years.

Two hundred thousand Naga were busy in the undersea cities, living, laughing, crying, loving, and hating.

He watched the hatchlings chasing each other in the streets, watched the young people sparring in the training grounds, watched the elderly basking in the sun in the plazas, and watched couples cuddling in the seaweed forests.

He watched the silver flag atop the Council Building, snapping in the ocean currents.

He looked into the distance at the three equally prosperous lands.

The Mycelium Deep Forest.

The Shadow Demon Abyss.

The Extreme Cold Ice Plains.

The corners of his mouth curled up slightly.

"Nine hundred years..."

He whispered softly.

"It was worth it."

The first day of the one thousandth year.

The time flow adjustment ended.

The Deep Blue Sea Abyss gradually cleared from its blur, reappearing before Su Bai's eyes.

But it was no longer the same ocean from a thousand years ago.

The seawater was grayish-white, merging with the Yin Qi. The seabed was no longer desolate; instead, hundreds of coral cities had been built, layered like pearls of the sea. Broad undersea passages connected the cities, with countless Naga swimming through them, busy and orderly.

At the highest point of the city stood a massive Council Building. Atop the building, a silver flag snapped in the Yin Qi.

In the plaza in front of the building, two hundred thousand Naga were lined up neatly, in total silence.

At the very front of the plaza, a silver figure floated quietly.

He was about three meters tall, with pure silver scales, pure gold eyes, and an unfathomable aura. Behind him stood dozens of Naga with powerful auras, including members of the Grey Scale Clan and the Deep Blue Clan, both old and young.

He watched the light slowly descending from the sky.

He knew that it was the Creator.

The existence who had created this world and given them a second life.

He knelt.

Behind him, two hundred thousand Naga knelt simultaneously.

Su Bai's consciousness avatar landed on the plaza, standing before the silver figure.

He looked at this Naga, and information about him surfaced in his consciousness.

[Lan (Hero Unit)]

[Rank: Rank 5]

[Quality: Five Stars]

[Skills: Deep Sea Affinity (Passive), Yin Energy Mastery (Active), Golden Pupils (Passive), Council Leader (Passive), Unyielding Will (Active), All Streams Return to the Source (Active)]

[Description: A leader born from the Naga Race through a thousand years of evolution, growing from the lowest-tier orphan into the Council Chief respected by the entire race. He led his people to overthrow tyranny and establish a system of equality, allowing the Naga Race to truly take root in the Yin Qi ocean. His charisma and wisdom are the Naga Race's most precious treasures.]

Su Bai looked at this information and remained silent for a long time.

He saw many things within the "Council Leader" skill.

This Naga had not declared himself king.

He had established a council.

A system where everyone participated equally and made decisions together.

What did this mean?

It meant he was not just a hero, but a true leader.

He did not rely on force to make people submit.

Instead, he used systems and spirit to make everyone follow him voluntarily.

Su Bai looked into those golden eyes and said softly:

"You have done very well."

Lan looked up, a hint of hard-to-conceal excitement flashing in his eyes.

"Creator, it was you who gave us a second life."

"It was you who gave us the opportunity to take root in this land once more."

"The Naga Race shall never forget."

Su Bai nodded.

He turned around, his gaze sweeping across the two hundred thousand kneeling Naga, across the coral cities, and across this prosperous ocean.

[Deep Blue Sea Abyss: Naga population 38,000 → 200,000; Lan's Rank: Rank 1 → Rank 5, Five Stars; Number of Rank 4 Naga: 0 → 50; Number of Rank 3 Naga: 0 → 3,000; Daily Power Of Faith output: increased from 0 to 500 points]

[Current total daily Power Of Faith output: 100 (Mushroom People) + 200 (Shadow Demon) + 60 (Ice Crystals) + 500 (Naga) = 860 points]

The corners of Su Bai's mouth curled up slightly.

A thousand years of evolution.

The epic of a race.

The legend of a leader.

It was worth it.

He withdrew his consciousness and turned to leave.

Behind him, Lan's voice rang out:

"Creator."

Su Bai stopped and turned his head slightly.

Lan knelt where he was, head bowed, his voice low and devout:

"The Naga Race will forever be your most loyal followers."

"Forever."

Su Bai was silent for a second.

He nodded gently.

"I know."

The light dissipated.

The consciousness avatar vanished.

The Deep Blue Sea Abyss returned to tranquility.

Lan stood up and gazed in the direction where the light had disappeared, remaining motionless for a long time.

Behind him, the two hundred thousand Naga also gazed in that direction.

After a long while, Lan turned around and looked at his clansmen.

He smiled.

"Did you all hear that?"

"The Creator said we have done very well."

In the plaza, thunderous cheers erupted.

The cheers penetrated the seawater, the Yin Qi, and the entire Netherworld World.

"Master, that one called Lan is really amazing."

"Mhm."

"Is he the most intelligent warrior you've ever seen?"

Su Bai thought for a moment.

"It's different."

"He is a leader."

"Not a warrior."

The Ghost Bride nodded, seemingly understanding yet not quite.

"Then is he a good person?"

Su Bai smiled.

"He is a good person for the Naga Race."

"That is enough."

"The Naga Race will go further and last longer under his leadership."

Just after the Naga Race's evolution was complete, Su Bai received an urgent message from Chu Kuangren.