Chapter 328: You... Is Something the Matter?

"Now that I see the famine returning to the way it was before, even if I were to die, I would have no regrets."

Crystal-clear tears shimmered in the Great Elder's eyes; although he was currently trapped, he felt as if his scattered wounds did not hurt quite as much at this moment.

Those dozens of steel nails could not be moved at will, as they corresponded to various acupuncture points in his body; the slightest carelessness could result in bleeding from his seven orifices and death.

No one dared to move the Great Elder easily, but seeing him in this state, it would be a lie to say it was not heartbreaking.

Natasha cried outright; after all, he was her family, yet she was powerless to help.

"Just this last bit of Spiritual Power left in my body—give me a quick end. I have been lingering on in this state for so long, I have long wanted to go down and find my brother."

The Great Elder revealed a desolate smile, even carrying a sense of relief.

In the few days he had been here, he had suffered countless inhuman tortures, but he had always gritted his teeth and never once uttered a word of pain.

Now that everything had settled, he could finally be completely at ease.

It was just a pity that he would not be able to see the future of the Mermaid Race.

The Mermaid Race had, after all, been buried by their hands.

"No, we will definitely find a way to save you. Besides, there isn't that much Spiritual Power in your body; it doesn't matter if you don't return it. There is no need to sacrifice yourself."

Su Chen shook his head, his gaze gradually becoming firm.

"There is no meaning in whether I live or not. Aside from Natasha, all the others of the Mermaid Race are dead. It is because I did not handle those predecessors well, letting the Mermaid Race end here. I feel ashamed and have no face to continue living in this world."

The Great Elder could not help but sigh, and thinking of the scene of bloody slaughter at that time, he could not help but redden his eyes.

Among those merfolk, there were no lack of cubs, adults, youths, and even the elderly. These were all his clansmen with whom he had lived day and night; in the face of danger, they had not abandoned a single person.

Yet in the end, not one survived. How could he let this go?

"No, there is still hope! The ten mermaid cubs captured before are also the future hope of the Mermaid Race. They are still waiting for you, Great Elder, to teach them. You must hold on!"

Natasha shook her head desperately; she could clearly feel that the Great Elder was only hanging on by a single breath.

Now that his obsession had vanished, he likely would not last much longer.

In her anxiety, she immediately thought of the cubs they had rescued and the bloodline of the Mermaid Race, and she spoke hurriedly.

Upon hearing this, the fire of hope instantly ignited in the Great Elder's previously dim eyes.

"What!? Is what you say true?"

The Great Elder looked at Natasha with an expectant face.

"That's right, so you must hold on. They are still waiting for you to teach them."

Natasha nodded earnestly, forcibly restraining the urge to cry, though her voice was already somewhat choked.

Hearing this, the Great Elder nodded forcefully, but in the blink of an eye, he thought of his current predicament.

"Forget it. I am trapped here, and the dozens of steel nails in my body have suppressed my cultivation. I am now nothing more than a burden with no strength to truss a chicken," the Great Elder sighed, unable to help but say, his words already carrying a hint of melancholy.

"No, Luo Shen is knowledgeable and experienced; he will definitely have a way to help you remove these steel nails and restore your cultivation."

Su Chen immediately shook his head and comforted the Great Elder, "I will first try to unlock the chains securing you. The process might be a bit painful, so please bear with it."

Upon hearing this, the Great Elder revealed what he considered his best smile, but as he was now withered and looked exceptionally haggard, it only made one's heart ache more.

Fortunately, there were only shallow restrictions placed on the chains, not powerful seals. Su Chen only spent a little effort before using his Spirit Fire to burn through the chains.

Next, they prepared to return to the Dragon Race to have Luo Shen take a look.

The Great Elder was now unable to move, and the steel nails in his body had almost turned him into a sieve; there was nothing he could do.

Su Chen volunteered to carry him on his shoulders.

"That won't do. I am now but a crippled body. Even if these steel nails are removed, I will not be as I once was. With such a precious body, how can you carry me? I can persist on my own and follow you back to the Dragon Race."

The Great Elder looked terrified and waved his hands repeatedly.

"You are the hero of the entire Mermaid Race. Moreover, Natasha is already my woman, so you are equivalent to Natasha's kin, and therefore my kin as well. At a time like this, how can there be any distinction between high and low status?"

Su Chen smiled, not caring at all.

Immediately after, he carried the Great Elder back to the Dragon Race in a clean and swift manner. It did not take long, and the first thing Su Chen did upon arriving at the Dragon Race was to have Natasha take the Great Elder to find Luo Shen.

Su Chen had originally intended to go along, but he was spotted by Ao Yuan. As soon as he saw the great hero who saved the Western Wasteland return, Ao Yuan immediately and impatiently called Su Chen to the Council Hall.

"Master, you've finally returned! Everyone is waiting in the Council Hall; we were just missing you."

Ao Yuan said excitedly, his expression as proud as could be. Despite his advanced age, he was as happy as a child.

Seeing him like this, Su Chen thought something major had happened. He was worried about what to do regarding the Great Elder, but thinking that matters of the Dragon Race could not be delayed, he could only let Natasha go ahead, his mind distracted throughout the journey.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he entered the Council Hall, he saw many Spirit Beasts sitting there. The moment they saw Su Chen arrive, all eyes fell upon him in unison.

Stared at by so many eyes, Su Chen suddenly felt a bit creeped out. He could not help but pause his steps and ask tentatively, "You... is something the matter?"

Upon hearing this, Xiaoxian was the first who could not help it, and she burst into laughter.

She skipped over to Su Chen and intimately took his arm: "Master, you are now the great benefactor of our entire Western Wasteland. They have all come to thank you."

Hearing this, Su Chen was even more bewildered. If one were to speak of saving the entire Western Wasteland, it was clearly the Spirit Beasts of the Western Wasteland who had contributed more; he had only thought of a countermeasure.

Thus, Su Chen hurriedly waved his hands and said earnestly, "It's nothing, nothing. Defeating Lanbo was achieved through your own efforts. If it weren't for you all, this might not have succeeded."

The other Spirit Beasts could not help but laugh upon hearing this, feeling that Su Chen was truly incredibly humble.

The White Tiger Clan Chief was an impatient person. Hearing this, he immediately stood up with the generous gift he had prepared and walked toward Su Chen.

He was robust in build, walking like a small mountain, and coupled with his savage appearance, he looked aggressive and imposing.

(End of chapter)