Chapter 680: They Are Also My People

Zhuying Huan also noticed He Jiuzhang approaching them. And he was a human. His expression immediately turned stern.

"Your Highness, Crown Prince of the West Sea, step back!"

*The Crown Prince of the Sea Demon Race?* He Jiuzhang grew even more excited.

He quickly cupped his hands and said, "Friends of the West Sea Demon Race. I am a Grand Elder of the Human Giant Sect. I am currently being hunted by the Mainland Demon Race. Please lend me your aid; I will surely repay your kindness."

Zhuying Huan frowned deeply. He flatly refused, "What do your land affairs have to do with us? Step back!"

It was the North Sea Demon Race that was at odds with the Mainland Demon Race. Their West Sea had no particular feuds with the Mainland Demon Race. Would he be crazy to incur the enmity of the Mainland Demon Race for a stranger?

He Jiuzhang was terribly anxious and said, "I, I'll use this as compensation, will that be enough?" He took out a blood-red fruit.

"A Blood Bodhi?" Zhuying Huan's pupils constricted, and he exclaimed in a low voice. "It is rumored that the Bodhi Pill, made from this item, possesses the ability to resist heavenly tribulation! It can increase the chances of successfully overcoming a tribulation!"

The Crown Prince of the West Sea, who was seated on his coral throne, suddenly sat up straight. His eyes gleamed. "There are good things on the mainland after all. Take it! Go negotiate with them and ask them to show us some respect."

Zhuying Huan also felt that a Blood Bodhi was worth intervening for. He'd mediate first. If that didn't work, then they could resort to force. He immediately accepted the Blood Bodhi.

He Jiuzhang felt an immense pang of regret. He had encountered an injured girl on his journey; she seemed to be from an Outer Realm Divine Sect. She had been attacked by an ancient giant and was critically injured. She had traded this Blood Bodhi for some healing elixirs from him.

For a powerful cultivator at the perfected Ninth Layer of the Core Formation Stage, the significance of the Blood Bodhi was self-evident. Yet, before he could even properly possess it, he had to hand it over.

At this thought, he looked venomously at Jiang Fan! He wiped the blood from his face and roared grimly, "Jiang Fan! I will make you pay for this today with your blood!!!"

Currently, Jiang Fan was protected by Concubine Yunxia and the Sea Enchantress Demon King. But what about when he returned to the human race? Not a single Grand Elder of the Azure Cloud Sect was at the perfected Ninth Layer of the Core Formation Stage. Who else could protect him then? Moreover, Jiang Fan had colluded with demons and persecuted a Grand Elder of the Giant Sect. That charge alone was enough for him to die ten times over!

Jiang Fan said coldly, "Do you think you still have a chance to live?"

He Jiuzhang burst into laughter. He retreated to Zhuying Huan's side and scoffed, "Why don't you open your dog eyes and see? Who is standing before you? The Crown Prince of the West Sea Demon Race. Is this someone you can afford to provoke?"

Qin Wangchuan and several Grand Elders' expressions shifted slightly. "Jiang Fan, just let it go! I haven't lost a limb or anything." Qin Wangchuan quickly tried to persuade Jiang Fan. Jiang Fan offending He Jiuzhang so much for her sake already made her feel guilty. If he were to offend the Crown Prince of the West Sea Demon Race as well, and bring catastrophic trouble upon himself, she would rather die than cause Jiang Fan further trouble.

The Grand Elder of the Spirit Beast Sect also advised: "Jiang Fan, I know you care for Grand Elder Qin. But the West Sea Crown Prince is no trivial figure. Offending him could trigger hostilities between the Human Race and the West Sea Demon Race." The other Grand Elders also tried to dissuade him. "Jiang Fan, just bear with it for now. When we return, I'll help you get justice. That's right, if animosity breaks out between the Human Race and the West Sea Demon Race, it would actually harm Grand Elder Qin. If the Heavenly Dao Pavilion were to impose punishment, she, as a Grand Elder, would be held accountable."

This matter wasn't about the strength or weakness of either side. Rather, the West Sea Crown Prince's status was sensitive. A conflict with him would undoubtedly provoke a dispute between the two races. The Human Race was already stretched thin and struggling immensely in dealing with the Mainland Demon Race. If the West Sea Demon Race also seized the opportunity to cause trouble, the Human Race would be in peril.

Hearing them speak like this, He Jiuzhang grew even more emboldened. He threw his head back and burst into laughter. "Jiang Fan! Did you hear that? Why don't you wag your tail and admit defeat like a dog? Hahahaha!"

However, Jiang Fan's expression remained calm. His gaze upon He Jiuzhang was consistently as if he were looking at a dead man. "This man insulted my elder and tried to kill me. West Sea Demon Race, are you sure you want to protect him?"

Zhuying Huan's expression had already darkened. Hearing this, with extreme decisiveness, a multicolored palm struck He Jiuzhang. He Jiuzhang was caught completely off guard. He took a solid blow. Half his bones were shattered by that ruthless palm strike. Screaming, he tumbled backward like a shriveled old tree root.

*Thud—* With a heavy thud, he landed on the ground. He Jiuzhang lay on his back and spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. After being continuously attacked by three perfected Ninth Layer Core Formation cultivators, He Jiuzhang was critically injured!

He said in disbelief, "You... what do you mean by this?"

Qin Wangchuan and the other Grand Elders were also dumbfounded. What was going on? Jiang Fan made a casual remark, and the West Sea Demon Race decisively changed their minds?

Then, Zhuying Huan's next words utterly stunned them. With a cold expression, Zhuying Huan threw the Blood Bodhi next to He Jiuzhang. "Insulting Young Friend Jiang's elder, and even trying to kill Young Friend Jiang? You must be tired of living! Take your Blood Bodhi back!"

Immediately after, he quickly cupped his hands towards Jiang Fan and apologized, "Young Friend Jiang, a misunderstanding, a complete misunderstanding. Had I known it was you we were facing, I wouldn't have even spared this Blood Bodhi a second glance!"

Qin Wangchuan's mouth was wide open, wide enough to fit an egg. What did the West Sea Demon Race expert call Jiang Fan? *Young Friend?*

The West Sea Crown Prince's tightly furrowed brow, upon hearing the three words "Young Friend Jiang," immediately relaxed. No wonder Zhuying Huan had suddenly changed his mind. It turned out Jiang Fan was the disciple of Venerable Qinghe whom he had spoken of earlier. He immediately leaped down from his coral throne and walked over, laughing heartily and enthusiastically: "So it's Brother Jiang. I've long admired your reputation."

The Grand Elders' eyes instantly widened! The West Sea Crown Prince was actually addressing Jiang Fan as a brother! This... the mythical prodigies from the Heavenly Dao Pavilion weren't even qualified to address the West Sea Crown Prince as a brother, were they?

Both Qin Wangchuan, and the Grand Elders from various sects, felt a sense of dizziness. They felt that something must be fundamentally wrong with the world. This kid Jiang Fan had been captured by demons for so long. It was already a miracle that he hadn't died. Yet, he was doing better and better? He was protected by the flower-like beautiful Sea Enchantress, safeguarded by Concubine Yunxia (known for her ethereal beauty), and cherished by a fresh-faced, talented demon girl. *Alright. That would have been enough.* But how was the West Sea Crown Prince also calling him a brother?

An absurd thought emerged in the minds of the Grand Elders from the various sects: Was this kid Jiang Fan truly a prisoner?

Jiang Fan cupped his hands, smiling, and surveyed the West Sea Crown Prince, saying, "Radiant and exceptional. Truly worthy of the West Sea Crown Prince, you are indeed extraordinary. From afar, you possess the demeanor of a wise human sovereign; up close, you exude the lingering grace of a demon emperor. In the past thousand years of the West Sea, few figures like Your Highness have emerged."

The West Sea Crown Prince rubbed his nose. Listening to these fresh, sophisticated terms like "exceptional," "demeanor of a human sovereign," "lingering grace of a demon emperor," and "in the past thousand years," he felt a bit embarrassed. He secretly mumbled, "Humans really do speak pleasantly. Being cultured truly makes a difference." Who doesn't like to hear praise? Even if it was their first meeting, these words ensured that his impression of Jiang Fan would at least not be negative.

"Brother Jiang, you flatter me. I'm merely a Crown Prince with a title, nothing more. Brother Jiang, do you drink? Come to my throne; we can drink and chat."

Since this person was Venerable Qinghe's disciple, and extremely favored, even being given the Calming Whisk for self-defense, he naturally had to befriend such a disciple wholeheartedly.

Jiang Fan said, "No hurry. Allow me to finish dealing with the person before me first." He shifted his gaze. His eyes fell upon He Jiuzhang, who was trying to quietly crawl away. A chilling glint flashed in his eyes.