Chapter 2211: You Alone Might Not Be Able to Defeat All of Us!

"Ah?" Shang Hongyu's face went pale. She swayed and then collapsed, unconscious. Fortunately, Zu An reacted quickly and caught her. Shang Liuyu also reached out in a panic to support her, but upon sensing her sister's steady breathing and abundant vital energy, she immediately understood. She couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "My sister's acting fooled even me."

With Zu An holding both sisters, the numerous Merfolk ministers paid little mind to their embrace, as they were far more stunned by a greater revelation.

"What? The Dragon King is dead?"

"How could someone of the Dragon King's cultivation level possibly die?"

Suspicion grew in their eyes as they stared at Zu An, their gazes seemingly accusing him of the Dragon King's demise.

"This matter is rather peculiar," a Merfolk elder finally questioned. "Do you have any evidence?"

At this point, Shang Liuyu spoke up voluntarily. "I am an eyewitness," she stated. "What the Regent says is true."

Zu An smiled, glancing at her. She had indeed chosen his side.

"This..." The numerous Merfolk ministers began whispering, their expressions clearly conflicted. Given Shang Liuyu's character and reputation, her words should, by all logic, be truthful. Yet, seeing her held so tenderly by Zu An, it was hard for anyone not to speculate about their relationship.

"Where are Prince Ao Yong and the other elders?" a minister from Ao Yong's faction inquired. They had just searched everywhere for their lord, but apart from Zu An and Shang Liuyu, they had found no trace of anyone else.

"That's right, many people entered the Tomb of Ten Thousand Dragons with the Dragon King," another elder added, looking around. "How is it that no one else has emerged?" Many of their friends had gone in, and not one had returned.

Shang Liuyu shot a worried glance at Zu An, thinking of the gruesome events that had transpired inside and wondering how to delicately explain them to the crowd.

Zu An gave her a reassuring look before speaking. "Those demons were incredibly treacherous," he began. "And had set up a powerful demon-suppressing formation within. Prince Ao Yong and many elders fought valiantly alongside the Dragon King to eliminate them, ultimately sacrificing themselves."

His words instantly sent a ripple of shock through the crowd.

Shang Liuyu was speechless.

*That's certainly... subtle,* she thought.

"All of them died? Only you survived?" The skepticism in the eyes of some Merfolk elders intensified, and many who had lost loved ones grew agitated.

Ao Yong's subordinates, however, were utterly bewildered. Some close confidants vaguely knew that Ao Yong had planned a major formation to deal with the Dragon King. How had that turned into fighting alongside him?

Had he, on the verge of launching a coup, discovered the demons' plot against the Merfolk and thus decisively abandoned his enmity with the Dragon King, choosing instead to unite with him against the fiends?

*He truly... what a hero!*

Still, Prince Ao Yong and the Dragon King had always been like fire and water. It was far more likely he would have allied with demons against the Dragon King.

Amidst the growing clamor, Shang Hongyu "opportunely" stirred awake. She quickly asked Zu An, "What kind of demons were they, and what was the battle like?"

Knowing she was providing him cover, Zu An went along with it. "There were five demons," he began. "The Flayed Demon King had impersonated Karchil, the Captain of the Royal Guard. There was also the Fear Shadow Demon, the Bloodthirsty Crocodile Ancestor, the Flame Demon Siren, and the Master of Ten Thousand Transformations..." He then described each demon's abilities and skillfully adapted the events of the tomb, presenting a clear and seemingly faultless narrative.

Shang Liuyu listened, impressed. She thought that if she hadn't been a direct participant, she might have been fooled herself; his ability to fabricate was truly superb. *Hmph, I wonder if he's so skilled because he often deceives women,* she mused.

After hearing the entire account, Shang Hongyu's expression shifted. Knowing there was no actual Dragon King, she mentally replaced the details and largely reconstructed what had truly happened in the Tomb of Ten Thousand Dragons. She couldn't help but feel grateful for Zu An; anyone else would surely have failed to manage such a situation.

Many Merfolk ministers, having heard the complete story, also fell silent. His account was logical and contained no obvious flaws, leading them to believe that this was likely the truth. However, with the Dragon King's passing, the Merfolk realm was surely on the cusp of significant change.

Just then, a confidant from Ao Yong's faction suddenly interjected with a challenge: "This matter is far too suspicious. How did Zu An, a human, get into the Tomb of Ten Thousand Dragons in the first place? And what exactly happened inside that everyone else died, but only the two of you survived? Doesn't that mean you can simply fabricate any story you wish?"

"That's right, no one knows if it's true!" other confidants of Ao Yong's faction chimed in. "Perhaps you conspired with the demons to eliminate everyone!"

Shang Liuyu's expression instantly changed. "Are you implying that I am lying?" she challenged.

"Who knows?" a Merfolk minister sneered. "Given that you two are still embracing each other, your relationship is clearly quite intimate."

"Precisely," another voice added. "We've heard that during your earlier years among humans, you had a significant relationship with this Zu An, with rumors of a scandal even circulating. Given your close ties, your testimony cannot be considered reliable."

While Shang Liuyu had previously been a beloved figure, she was single then, naturally surrounded by an aura of charm. Now, seeing her with another man, their idealized perception shattered. In their anger and frustration, a "if I can't have her, I'll destroy her" mentality began to take hold.

Sensing the rising tensions, Shang Hongyu quickly interjected, "The Regent had previously discussed with us that he was undercover in the team to assist the Dragon King in combating the demons. Both the Dragon King and I were aware of this. Are you suggesting that I, too, am lying?"

"Of course, we wouldn't suggest the Queen is lying," another elder said, "but you didn't witness what happened inside the Tomb of Ten Thousand Dragons yourself. Furthermore, Shang Liuyu is the Queen's sister, so it's natural that the Queen would instinctively speak in their defense."

"You!" Shang Hongyu exclaimed, both shocked and furious, a deep worry welling up within her. The situation was spiraling out of control.

She was about to speak again, but Zu An stopped her. He calmly surveyed the crowd. "Anyone who disputes my words," he stated, "may step forward now."

At his words, the noisy assembly instantly fell silent. Everyone present had heard at least something of his past exploits in the Demon Royal Court.

Then, a direct elder of Ao Yong's faction gritted his teeth. "Do you intend to overpower us by force?" he challenged. "Though your cultivation is high, the Merfolk realm boasts countless masters. You alone may not prevail against so many of us!" He felt compelled to speak; his life's efforts had been invested in Ao Yong. Had Ao Yong ascended, he would have enjoyed the prestige of a kingmaker, rising to the highest echelons of Merfolk nobility. With all that now gone, how could he not demand answers?

"Is that so?" Zu An chuckled softly. Without any perceptible movement, a flash of sword energy ignited, and the minister's head promptly shot into the sky. The head, spinning mid-air, had wide, disbelieving eyes. He had actually dared to strike.

This sight caused an uproar. Numerous Merfolk experts recoiled, drawing their weapons and cautiously encircling him.

"Zu, do you truly intend to make an enemy of our entire Merfolk race?" a venerable Merfolk elder said, his voice trembling despite his attempt at bravery. The elder who had just been killed was not significantly weaker than him, yet no one had even seen Zu An move before he was instantly slain. He knew his own fate would likely be no better.

Their only remaining confidence lay in being on home ground, surrounded by their army. No matter how high his cultivation, how could he possibly contend with the might of a full military force?

As expected, nearby troops arrived, surrounding everyone three layers deep. The grim atmosphere suggested they would obliterate any threat at a single command. Just as the Merfolk elders were about to order Zu An's capture, an inexplicable pressure descended from above. Everyone felt a terrifying dread, and one by one, they involuntarily dropped to their knees. It was like the aura of a legendary god, immense and unmatched, making everyone feel utterly insignificant. While the army had specialized formations to counter the aura of powerful individuals, this pressure was of a different dimension entirely. Their formations proved utterly useless, and even the soldiers prostrated themselves.

The assembled crowd stared in horror at Zu An, who floated in mid-air, trembling. How could one person wield such immense power? In that moment, a chilling realization dawned upon them: he seemed to be one with the very fabric of the world, his will akin to the will of the heavens themselves. Not just the Merfolk, but the entire world, who could possibly stand against the will of heaven and earth?

Only the Shang Liuyu sisters remained standing, one held in his arms and the other with her hand clasped in his. Shang Hongyu's red lips parted slightly, her face etched with profound shock. How could he have grown so incredibly powerful in such a short time? While she had always known he was strong, his power had previously been within a comprehensible realm. Now, however, his strength felt akin to divine might, placing him on an entirely different plane from the world's greatest masters. No wonder he had remained so composed throughout.

A wave of relief washed over her, as if their meeting at the seaside tavern had been fated. Otherwise, she truly wouldn't have known how to navigate the perilous situations of the past few days.