Beast Taming: Invincible Breeder-Chapter 207 - 182: Loyalty?

Chapter 207: Chapter 182: Loyalty?
The Crystal Shrimp General remained unmoved, its loyalty commanded respect from Li Cunxu.
With such loyal subordinates, even in the afterlife, the Crystal Dragon would have no regrets.
It seemed destined that this trip would not result in the subjugation of the Crystal Shrimp Soldiers. Li Cunxu sighed softly and prepared to leave.
Suddenly, Li Cunxu sensed something was amiss and abruptly looked up at the Crystal Shrimp Soldiers huddled behind the Crystal Shrimp General after the battle had ceased.
The Crystal Shrimp General’s loyalty, its indifference to the temptation of becoming the Crystal Shrimp King, was understandable to Li Cunxu.
But why were the other Crystal Shrimp Soldiers also unmoved?
Evolving into a Crystal Shrimp General was their lifelong obsession!
Take a look at the Crystal Shrimp General; it would rather regress from a ninth-level lord to a ninth-level golden than devolve from a Crystal Shrimp General back to a Crystal Shrimp Soldier.
What could possibly make these Crystal Shrimp Soldiers resist the temptation of allying with another Crystal Dragon? As Li Cunxu saw it, only another Crystal Dragon could do that.
Li Cunxu muttered, "Did the Crystal Dragon leave its offspring behind?"
Upon hearing this, the Crystal Shrimp General was greatly alarmed.
"How did you know?"
The expression on the Crystal Shrimp General’s face and its words confirmed Li Cunxu’s suspicion.
"The expressions of the Crystal Shrimp Soldiers, your ability to resist the temptation to become the Crystal Shrimp King is understandable, but why are none of them tempted? There’s only one truth: the Crystal Dragon left its offspring, and you don’t lack a Crystal Dragon to serve."
Li Cunxu adjusted the nonexistent glasses on his nose and said.
"Huh?"
The Crystal Shrimp General looked perplexed, then said with a strange expression: "Isn’t it possible that they’re unmoved because they don’t understand what you’re saying?"
"Huh? Didn’t the Crystal Dragon create sub-level Language Crystals for them to consume?"
Sub-level Language Crystals, produced by the Crystal Dragon, once consumed, allow comprehension of any language mastered by the Crystal Dragon, though not the ability to speak it.
Compared to the Language Crystal, the sub-level Language Crystal has the advantage of lower production costs, allowing the Crystal Dragon to produce several at a time.
The Crystal Shrimp General shook its head, "The Crystal Dragon lord is rather lazy."
Understood, the Crystal Dragon couldn’t be bothered to make sub-level Language Crystals for the Crystal Shrimp Soldiers.
Turns out it was a misunderstanding, but it didn’t matter, the outcome was favorable.
He had guessed the greatest secret of the Crystal Palace.
The greed that had been dispelled by the Crystal Shrimp General’s display of loyalty revived, and this time Li Cunxu not only wanted to take away the Crystal Shrimp Soldiers but also the Crystal Dragon.
The Crystal Dragon, after all, is exceedingly rare among dragon pets.
And the ability of a Crystal Dragon to generate wealth is top-notch.
Even without a contract, keeping it at home would be beneficial.
The Crystal Shrimp General recalled its duty, "Leave quickly, human, or don’t blame me for being impolite."
Li Cunxu smiled and said: "Impolite? What can you do to me, and are you sure you want me to leave? I already know the location of the Crystal Palace, and next time, I’ll come with a King-level helper."
The Crystal Shrimp General appeared incredulous, living at the bottom of the sea cloaked in the sealed fog, well aware of the terror of the sealed fog.
Li Cunxu waved his navigation ring.
"As the steward of the Crystal Palace, surely you have the skill of artifact appraisal, identify this and see if this ring can guide me back here."
The Crystal Shrimp General conjured a ray of appraisal light, and under its glow, the navigation ring emitted a faint golden aura, a color belonging to a treasure.
The appraisal result changed the Crystal Shrimp General’s expression.
The navigation ring could indeed lead him out of the sealed fog and bring people to find the Crystal Palace again.
The Crystal Shrimp General’s face changed repeatedly.
It wanted to keep Li Cunxu there, but it couldn’t contend with Xiaoruan, his pet beast.
While the Crystal Shrimp General contemplated, Li Cunxu released the Blood Lotus Carp.
"Can you detect the scent of a young dragon here?"
The Blood Lotus Carp shook its head.
"You’re saying there’s no scent of a young dragon here?"
Li Cunxu said, slightly surprised.
The Blood Lotus Carp nodded.
Li Cunxu had initially thought if the Crystal Shrimp General disagreed, he’d have the dragon pet Blood Lotus Carp sniff out the little Crystal Dragon using its draconic scent, capturing it to leverage control over the Crystal Shrimp General.
But there was no scent of a young dragon here, and young dragons are quite mischievous, liking to roam everywhere, so they certainly would have left a scent in the Crystal Palace.
There was only one possibility then: the Crystal Dragon’s offspring hadn’t hatched from its egg yet.
But that shouldn’t be the case! A Crystal Dragon’s egg should hatch within three hundred days at most.
The Crystal Dragon had been gone for several years; the egg should have hatched long ago.
Li Cunxu softly said, "I understand now, thank you, Blood Lotus, you’ve been a great help, come back now!"
The Blood Lotus Carp shook its head again, puffed out some bubbles, and communicated to Li Cunxu,
"Awo~ (The high-pressure environment here resonates well with my innate [Sturdy Body], I wish to stay a little longer.)"
Li Cunxu rejected: "Blood Lotus, your thinking is flawed; putting your life at risk for temporary training is exceedingly unwise. Hatred is your strength to climb higher, not a reason to disregard your life. Should you die in an accident in this dangerous environment, who will avenge your parents?"
Upon hearing this, the Blood Lotus Carp fell into deep thought.
Li Cunxu breathed a sigh of relief as the Blood Lotus Carp absorbed his words.
The Blood Lotus Carp’s obsession with getting stronger was intense; it constantly sought training.
Out of twenty-four hours a day, it trained for twenty-two, leaving only two for meals and sleep.
Although the fifth to join the team, it’s already surpassed the third in strength, closely chasing the second, the Little White Spider, and it seemed it wouldn’t take long to catch up.
Li Cunxu gave the Blood Lotus Carp a playful flick on the head and said sternly: "Reflect on my words carefully."
When knocking on the Blood Lotus Carp’s head, Li Cunxu’s fingers partially transformed into a golden jade body; since acquiring its durable scales, the Blood Lotus Carp had tougher armor, and without the transformation, only Li Cunxu would feel the pain, even with the transformation, the knock felt as gentle as a tickle for the Blood Lotus Carp.
Li Cunxu turned to the Crystal Shrimp General and said, "Is there a problem with the dragon egg the Crystal Dragon entrusted you to care for?"
"This... how do you know this as well?" The Crystal Shrimp General exclaimed in panic.
The Crystal Shrimp General really had no guile, pure as a blank canvas, prying information out of it was too easy.
"Where’s the dragon egg? Let me see it; maybe I can figure out what’s wrong."
The Crystal Shrimp General replied: "Well... no, don’t be fooled by pretty words, human. What exactly are you trying to do, and what is your true purpose in staying at the Crystal Palace?"
Li Cunxu replied: "My goal is you and the dragon egg. I want to take you all away from here."
The Crystal Shrimp General said: "We won’t leave."
Although the living conditions in this sea area were harsh, they were very safe; Li Cunxu was the only outsider to disturb them for years.
There were only sea beasts in the ocean? They wouldn’t come to disturb the Crystal Palace.
Inside the Crystal Palace, there was the Fish-Repelling Pearl, making this place naturally abhorrent to fish-like pets, preventing them from entering the range of the Crystal Palace.