1671 Let’s Place A Be (1/2)

”May not be?” smiled the Octopus man. ”Childe Chen, I'm afraid you don't understand that the oceans in Neptune Starfield are the deepest, most expansive in the human realm*! The deeper we go, the greater the pressure would bear down on you. It would difficult for a human, even one with a high cultivation level to swim quickly to the bottom!”

”I already told you that I'm good with water!” Chen Xiaobei answered calmly. ”If you don't believe me, we can race each other!”

”Are you sure, Childe Chen? Are you sure you're not just joking?” Octopus man chuckled. ”This is the first time in my life that I'm hearing a human challenging a merperson to a swimming race!”

”Childe Chen, don't be stubborn!” Ao Liancheng was also very amused. ”Every race* has its own strengths; the merpeople's strength is water! The oceans are the merpeople's homeground! You are the first person to have ever challenged a merperson in his backyard!

Chen Xiaobei merely shrugged at the comment. ”Childe Liancheng's cultivation is higher than mine so I cannot compete with him, but I am confident enough to compete with Brother Octopus.”

”Childe Chen, you are our honored guest but…” Octopus man frowned. ”I must tell you this, however – you're being a bit too ostentatious!”

”You think I'm being ostentatious?” Chen Xiaobei's eyebrows raised. ”Does Childe LiangCheng think so too?”

Ao Liancheng smiled. ”It's a little rude for me to say this, but to be honest, a human challenging a merman to a swimming race undoubtedly is quite the ostentatious move indeed!”

”Alright! Since both of you think that way, why don't we place a bet?” Chen Xiaobei grinned. ”Brother Octopus and I will dive 3,000 meters deep. The first person to reach wins! If I lose, I will fulfill any request you have but if I win, you'll have to give me a 100,000 years Ambergris!”

”What?!” Ao Liancheng and Octopus man stared at each other, a strange expression adorning their faces.

”Why? Are you guys afraid?” Chen Xiaobei challenged.

Ao Liancheng hesitated for some time before saying, ”Childe Chen, it appears that you do not understand the current condition in Neptune! We don't even have a 30,000 years Ambergris to spare!”

”Why… Why is that?” The disappointment was evident on Chen Xiaobei's face.

Chen Xiaobei had hoped that he could increase his cultivation as quickly as possible using high-grade Ambergris. Woefully, Ao Liancheng had just shattered his dream of that ever happening!

Ao Liangcheng answered. ”That information is kept secret – it has something to with our holy emperor's illness! If you could cure his royal highness, I will tell you everything! Should anything happen to him, this secret will be buried forever, and our race will face the risk of extinction!”

”Extinction? That drastic?!” Chen Xiaobei was suddenly worried.

Ao Liancheng smiled comfortingly. ”Don't worry, Childe Chen. The danger is there but we should be fine for the time being.”

Chen Xiaobei's forehead wrinkled. He found it difficult not to worry.

If even the Neptunes could not save themselves, what would happen to him should he get entangled in their affairs?

”Childe Chen! There really is no need to worry! I can vouch for your safety!” To lighten the mood, Ao Liancheng steered the conversation in another direction. ”So that bet you were mentioning just now. Are you still on? Don't tell me you're scared now!”

”Scared? Such a word does not exist in my dictionary!” Chen Xiaobei said with full confidence.

”Alright! The conditions are the same except we'll have to raise the stakes!” Ao Liancheng said. ”If my bodyguard loses, I will agree to fulfill an attainable request you have! If you lose, I won't pay your consultation fee!”

”Alright! I concur!” Chen Xiaobei answered.

Although he may not obtain the Ambergris, he could at least ask for Ao Liancheng's help to find the emperor of Greenhill.

This had to do for the sake of Bai Lingsu and girls' safety – this was of paramount importance.

”Then, I'll go wait at the 3,000-meter mark first! The first to arrive wins!” Ao Liancheng smiled. He dove into the ocean so quickly he was but a blur of a red, leaving a crimson trail behind.

Chen Xiaobei could not help but exclaim, ”Wow! So fast!”

Ding!