Chapter 780: Sea Serpent Emperor Arrives

Jiang Fan remembered that massive princess vividly. He quietly retreated behind the crowd, lest he be seen.

The disciples of the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets looked curiously towards the hall entrance. Although the Pavilion bordered the South Sea, there had been little interaction with the South Sea demon race. For at least a hundred years, the South Sea demon race had not set foot on the continent, so the current generation of disciples had never seen sea demons.

The smell of the sea grew stronger. Two groups of sea demons, distinct in appearance, entered one after another.

The first group was from the South Sea demon race. Compared to humans, they were about half a head shorter, with sharp eyes, appearing short and agile. They carried a sedan chair adorned with coral and agate. Inside sat a graceful young beauty with a small patch of colorful fish scales on her forehead. Around twenty years old, she subtly exuded the aura of a perfected ninth-level Golden Core realm cultivator. This was the South Sea Princess.

When the sedan stopped, a servant lifted the curtain, and she slowly stepped out, bending at the waist. Her exquisitely sculpted face, delicate enough to break with a touch, drew many gasps. Most people imagined sea demons to be bizarre and monstrous; it was considered good if they even vaguely resembled humans. No one expected this South Sea Princess to be so beautiful.

At this moment, Liang Feiyan squeezed over, winking as he said, "Junior Brother Jiang, do you think I have a chance to become a sea demon consort?"

Jiang Fan glanced at him, speechless. "For this South Sea Princess, your chances are slim," he said. "As for the East Sea Third Princess... isn't it good to be alive? Why seek death?"

Liang Feiyan was suspicious. It sounded like the East Sea Third Princess was very undesirable.

He curiously peered at the group of demons behind them. He saw a group of distinctly tall and corpulent East Sea demons carrying a giant seashell. Inside, reclining gracefully, was a beautiful woman with a lithe figure and long, slender legs. She wore a pink long dress, her dark hair casually draped, and a coral hairpin adorned her ear. Her skin was as fair as mutton-fat jade, and her dazzlingly beautiful, jade-like face shimmered in the sunlight.

Liang Feiyan was stunned by the sight. "Junior Brother Jiang," he exclaimed, "this... this East Sea Third Princess... she's a great beauty! Are you afraid I'll succeed, so you're saying she's bad?"

He received no response from Jiang Fan. Turning his head, he saw Jiang Fan frowning deeply, gazing intently at the East Sea Third Princess.

"What's wrong?" Liang Feiyan asked, puzzled.

Jiang Fan said in a deep voice, "Stay away from her. This East Sea Third Princess... something's not right."

He would recognize the real East Sea Third Princess even if she were reduced to ashes. After all, she was such a mountain of flesh that her ashes alone would be more than an ordinary person's. How could she possibly be the ethereal, peerless beauty standing before him?

"South Sea Princess Xue Zhen, by the order of the South Sea Demon Emperor, greets the Pavilion Master of Heavenly Secrets."

"East Sea Third Princess Shan Hu, by the order of the East Sea Demon Emperor, greets the Pavilion Master of Heavenly Secrets."

The Pavilion Master of Heavenly Secrets was surprised. Since the South Sea and East Sea Demon Emperors had refused to help fight the Infernal Beasts, why would they send their royal princesses to visit? His eyes flickered slightly, and he cordially greeted them: "Two distinguished guests from the sea demon race, there's no need for such formality. Please follow me to the reception hall."

The East Sea Third Princess, however, suddenly looked around at the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets disciples and said meaningfully, "Pavilion Master, may I ask you about someone?"

"Uh—" The Pavilion Master of Heavenly Secrets raised an eyebrow slightly. He was all too familiar with this line. Gu Xin'er had said it before, then Fa Yin Vajra. Now, the East Sea Third Princess was asking the same. When did the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets become a lost and found office?

He probed, "Who are you looking for?"

From the East Sea Third Princess's alluring red lips, the words came out clearly: "Jiang Fan!"

It really was him! The Pavilion Master of Heavenly Secrets' eyelid twitched. What exactly had Jiang Fan been doing during his time among the demon races? People from the Jiangshan First-Class Pavilion were looking for him, as were those from White Horse Temple, and now even the East Sea demon race, who were completely unrelated!

"Is Jiang Fan here?" the Pavilion Master of Heavenly Secrets asked, looking around.

From behind the crowd came a muffled, nasal voice: "Jiang Fan is not here."

However, Jiang Fan had just been at the center of attention, known by all. There was no hiding. The crowd parted, revealing Jiang Fan squatting on the ground, pinching his nose as he spoke.

The Pavilion Master of Heavenly Secrets paused, then lightly reprimanded, "Don't be rude! Come over here!"

Jiang Fan could only brace himself and step forward. He cupped his hands and said, "Greetings, South Sea Princess." His words trailed off as he watched the tall, stunning beauty in pink, her clothes billowing. His eyes were unusually wary. After much thought, he decided to tell the Pavilion Master of Heavenly Secrets. It was the Pavilion Master who had rescued him from the demon race and settled Xu Youran, Liu Qingxian, and Chen Siling for him. Now, knowing that the East Sea Third Princess was an impostor and could potentially harm the Pavilion Master, how could he conceal it?

"Pavilion Master," Jiang Fan whispered, leaning close to the Pavilion Master of Heavenly Secrets, "be careful. The East Sea Third Princess is an impostor. I've met the real person; this is definitely not her."

"What?" The Pavilion Master of Heavenly Secrets' heart tensed. He immediately fixed his gaze on the East Sea Third Princess, his eyes containing faint arcs of lightning. But before he could open his mouth to question her, the East Sea Third Princess calmly opened her palm. A faint golden scale flashed across her palm. The Pavilion Master's pupils constricted. Golden scales in the palm — this was the unique feature of the East Sea Demon Emperor, Yi Zhu. If she was the East Sea Demon Emperor, then who was this South Sea Princess...? The latter winked at the Pavilion Master, revealing green pupils in her eyes. These were the Jade Spirit Eyes, unique to the South Sea Demon Emperor! He understood at once. The East Sea and South Sea were not unwilling to come to the continent; rather, for some reason, they dared not come openly. Therefore, they had secretly come under the guise of their daughters.

He was overjoyed, cupping his hands and saying, "East Sea Dem—" He quickly caught himself. He corrected himself: "East Sea demon race princess, South Sea demon race princess. This is not the place to talk; please follow me to the main hall."

The Demon Emperor Yi Zhu glanced at Jiang Fan and said, "Young Master Jiang should also come along. I have something to ask him."

The Pavilion Master of Heavenly Secrets was secretly surprised. What exactly had Jiang Fan done to be remembered by the East Sea Demon Emperor? This woman, who commanded the vast East Sea, had always been very proud.

He nodded. "Jiang Fan, come along," he said.

"Uh—" What was going on? Jiang Fan was a little confused. He had just said the East Sea Third Princess was an impostor, yet the Pavilion Master not only didn't care but greeted them warmly? Could it be that the Pavilion Master knew her true identity and felt she posed no harm?

After thinking about it, he shook his head slightly. Who cares? He had already told the Pavilion Master the truth. Since the Pavilion Master was acting as if nothing was amiss, he must have his own considerations.

Still, what did this fake East Sea Third Princess want with him? Considering this was the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets, and the Pavilion Master was right there, his suspended heart quietly settled. Could the fake Third Princess really do anything to him here? If she dared to make an improper demand, the Pavilion Master could simply swat her away with a single slap.