174: Chapter 174 Lan Xiyao, Director of the Coastal Patrol Division
"Splash!" The dark sea surface was struck, sending up a spray of water as Xu Que's body submerged beneath the surface, instantly transforming into a long, strip-shaped spiny loach.
Its sides bore dark horizontal bands, and its dorsal and anal fins were preceded by hard spines, reaching a full ten meters in length.
A pair of eyes, as large as lanterns, rolled around once before it suddenly turned into a blur, swimming off into the distance.
Wherever the spiny loach passed, one sea beast after another vanished.
"Oh no!" Suddenly, a strong aura of danger struck from the deep sea. Xu Que was greatly alarmed and, without caring about anything else, instantly reverted to his original form and shot out of the sea.
"Boom!" With another muffled sound, six female figures appeared before Xu Que.
They were the six members of the Sea Patrol Division: Selina, Aurora, Nicole, Lysia, Seveline, and Zoila.
Selina's brows were tightly knit.
Although the man before her appeared to only have the cultivation of the early Body Integration Realm, she felt a dangerous aura coming from him.
Because of this, she did not attack directly, but instead looked at Xu Que with a cold expression. "I didn't expect it to be a Body Integration Realm spiny loach demon. Since you have slaughtered weak kin, surrender now and follow me back to the Sea Patrol Division to accept your punishment."
Hearing Selina's words, Xu Que stood frozen in place.
"What? I've actually become a spiny loach demon? The Sea Patrol Division? Is this place like a government office?"
With a supreme treasure like the Small World, even if his cultivation were sealed, he could still return to the Small World. Perhaps he could go with them...
"Fine, I am willing to follow you back to the Sea Patrol Division."
Huh!
Xu Que's reaction immediately stunned Selina and the other five demons.
He actually surrendered? Was he planning a feigned surrender?
Seeing Selina's vigilant gaze, Xu Que quickly said, "With so many experts at or above the Body Integration Realm here, it's useless for me to struggle. It's better to just go with you to the Sea Patrol Division."
Selina narrowed her eyes slightly, scrutinizing Xu Que, her doubts not dispelled by his words.
"Hmph, you're sensible enough. However, you'd better not have any crooked ideas, otherwise, you'll have a hard time in the Sea Patrol Division."
Having said that, she waved her hand, and a rope of spiritual energy instantly flew out, binding Xu Que tightly.
The spiritual energy rope emitted a deep blue glow and seemed to carry some kind of restrictive power, making Xu Que feel that his entire body's spiritual energy could not be used.
Aurora said softly from the side, "Big Sister, this spiny loach demon submitted so easily. Could there really be some conspiracy?"
Selina snorted coldly, "Regardless of whether there is a conspiracy, with so many of us, are we afraid of any tricks he might pull? Let's take him back to the Sea Patrol Division first; everything will be decided by the Director."
Immediately, the six demons escorted Xu Que, turning into seven streaks of light, and flew rapidly toward the Sea Patrol Division of the Sea God Palace.
"Fairy sisters, do all the demons in your Sea God Palace look as good as you?" Being held by one of Selina's hands, Xu Que asked face-down.
"How is that possible? Although there are many good-looking ones in our Sea God Palace, not everyone is like us." As Seveline spoke, she suddenly realized she had said too much, her vigilance instantly rising, and her expression stiffened: "Shut up, you are not allowed to ask random questions."
"Uh, alright then! My name is Xu Que. May I ask what the names of you fairy sisters are?"
"My name is Seveline, and the one holding you is our Big Sister Selina... No, why should I tell you? Don't ask so many questions!"
"Fifth Sister, I usually tell you that you aren't very smart, and you don't believe me. Now you believe it, right!"
"Second Sister, you... you! Big Sister, aren't you going to discipline Second Sister?"
Selina glanced at Seveline and Aurora, then looked at the held Xu Que, and said, "Stop arguing, everyone, and focus on traveling. On this journey, no one is allowed to talk to this spiny loach demon again, lest we fall for his schemes."
Seeing this, Xu Que chuckled inwardly, but said no more, obediently being carried by Selina as they flew toward the Sea Patrol Division.
The Sea God Palace, as one of the five major forces in the Endless Sea, had unfathomable heritage.
Its sphere of influence covered nearly one-fifth of the Endless Sea, and it had countless experts under its command, along with a wide variety of sea demon races, all of whom followed the lead of Empress Hai Ling of the Sea God Palace.
The architecture of the Sea God Palace was quite unique; the main body of the palace resembled a huge coral reef, built from countless colorful corals, and the seawater was separated by an invisible force, unable to enter the palace.
Inside the palace, pavilions and towers were arranged in a staggered and orderly fashion, waterways crisscrossed, and various strange marine plants dotted the area, creating a dreamlike scene.
The Sea Patrol Division was located in the northwest corner of the Sea God Palace, similar to a government office in ancient times or a police station in the urban world, specializing in patrolling the territory of the Sea God Palace in the Endless Sea, maintaining maritime order, handling various disputes, and apprehending demons who committed crimes.
Whether it was disputes between sea beasts or the intrusion of foreign cultivators into the sea area, everything was within the jurisdiction of the Sea Patrol Division.
And Xu Que had slaughtered and devoured countless weak demon kin, which was a serious crime that would be judged personally by Director Lan Xiyao of the Sea Patrol Division.
After an hour of rapid travel, the group finally landed at the Sea God Palace.
Watching Xu Que, who was looking around sneakily, Seveline kicked Xu Que in the buttocks and scolded coquettishly, "Hurry up and walk, don't look around."
"I won't look then, why are you kicking me!"
Xu Que glanced lightly at Seveline and followed behind Selina toward the main hall of the Sea Patrol Division.
"Director, the culprit who slaughtered weak kin, the spiny loach demon, has been captured by your subordinates. Please make a decision, Director!" At the entrance of the main hall, Selina said respectfully.
"Come in!" A cold female voice came from within the main hall.
Xu Que was escorted into the main hall by Selina and the others.
The hall was spacious and bright, with the floor paved with smooth blue jade, reflecting everyone's figures.
The surrounding walls were inlaid with various glowing shellfish, emitting a soft light.
Directly in front, sitting on a throne carved from a huge white coral, was a woman with a noble temperament. It was none other than Director Lan Xiyao of the Sea Patrol Division.
She was wearing a light blue dress, her face was stunning and cold, her eyes revealed majesty and coldness, and her long dark blue hair was casually draped behind her, with her hair tips shimmering, as if gathered from the stars in the deep sea.
Xu Que looked up and was immediately captivated by Director Lan Xiyao's beauty.
"A spiny loach demon? Why can't I feel a trace of demon aura, but instead, it's like... a human?!" Director Lan Xiyao frowned, a flash of doubt passing through her beautiful eyes.
Just as she was about to probe Xu Que's memories, an ethereal and misty voice suddenly reached her ears.
"Selina, take him to the prison first!" Director Lan Xiyao said, and her figure disappeared from the main hall of the Sea Patrol Division.
"Yes, Director." Selina and the other five were slightly stunned, then replied in unison.
"It's fortunate that the Director had something to attend to, otherwise you would be dead or at least lose a layer of skin by now. Let's go!"
Xu Que did not resist and was escorted by Selina and the other five to the entrance of a dark and deep cave.
This place was the prison of the Sea God Palace, a place to detain criminals, where the restrictions were set by Empress Hai Ling and the High Priest. Even if a Tribulation Transcendence Immortal Venerable were imprisoned inside, they wouldn't be able to escape successfully for a while!