From the Abyss Invasion to the Blasting Star.

Chapter 351: The Seal of the Flame Demon Gross
Internal strife broke out among the Sirens, causing the situation to head in an unknown direction.

One of the important reasons why Lu Heng was able to facilitate reconciliation between the Dark Iron Dwarves and the Sirens was that the High Priest of the Sirens was able to see the situation clearly and understood that reconciliation was the best option to fight against the abyss.

Now that Onatu is in power, it’s a different story.

In order to prevent the reconciliation between the two races, Onatu even sent his Siren warriors to attack the peace envoys of the Dark Iron Dwarf Kingdom.

This behavior has broken the bottom line of order that civilized races should have.

Although Celian signed a settlement agreement on behalf of the Sirens and the Dark Iron Dwarves, it is hard to say whether this settlement agreement is still effective.

Given Onatu's style, he can tear up the agreement at any time.

After thinking about it, Lu Heng looked at the Siren Clan's Tidecaller Elder Celian and asked, "What are you going to do now?"

Celian hasn't figured out this question yet.

All she knew now was that Onatu had successfully seized power and got the scepter of Poseidon, and that the high priest Sona was placed under house arrest in the temple.

If she went back now, she would probably be imprisoned in the temple like the high priest.

She now wanted to contact the high priest to discuss countermeasures, but obviously there was no way to communicate with the high priest. Onatu cast magic to cut off the channel of information transmission with the high priest.

She considered taking her Siren warriors back to rescue the high priest.

However, the success rate of doing so is not high. After all, Onatu now has the Scepter of Poseidon and has the assistance of two other Siren tribes.

A head-on conflict would only lead to infighting among the Sirens.

"I haven't thought about it yet. The current situation is very tricky. I must meet the high priest first to know what to do next. But the high priest is under house arrest in the temple, and Onatu will definitely send heavy troops to guard it." Celian had never experienced this kind of situation, so she couldn't make up her mind for a while.

Lu Heng thought for a moment and said, "If it's just to go see your high priest, I think I should be able to do it."

Celian frowned and reminded, "I don't mean to attack the temple. I don't want to see our tribe killing each other."

In fact.

High Priest Sona chose to hand over the Scepter of Poseidon because she did not want to see the tribes killing each other.

Otherwise, she might not be without the ability to fight against the siege of the elders and priests of the two tribes, the Tide Sirens and the Shallow Sirens.

However, if it really came to a fight for life, even if she won in the end, the Sirens would be seriously injured.

From the perspective of a ruler, this high priest of the Siren tribe was indeed not decisive enough in killing.

Lu Heng smiled faintly and explained: "I'm not talking about storming the temple, but finding a way to sneak in."

Celian's eyes suddenly lit up, and she immediately asked, "What method?"

……

after one day.

Lu Heng and his group of thirteen returned to the Siren's territory with Celian's team.

After arriving at the outskirts of the territory, Celian found an underwater cave and said, "You guys can hide here for the time being. No sirens will come here to patrol."

Since the purpose of returning to the Sirens' territory this time is to sneak into the Temple of Vashj to meet the High Priest Sona, we cannot bring too many people with us.

After Celian settled the others, she asked, "What do we do now?"

Lu Heng glanced at her siren team and said, "Choose a team of siren warriors to follow you, and make sure they cannot be recognized by the guards at the entrance of the temple."

"This is easy. Draw the patterns on the surface. In dim light, you can't recognize it unless you get close." Celian pointed to a few Siren warriors with no obvious features to follow.

Then, Lu Heng took out the [Shapeshifting Orb], transformed into the appearance of Onatu, and then began to imitate the swimming of the Sirens.

When Celian saw it, she was surprised and said, "They are exactly the same."

Lu Heng continued, "I can't speak in the water, so I need your help when necessary."

"Understood." Celian nodded.

After confirming the action plan again, Lu Heng led the team and swam towards the Temple of Vashj.

Celian is the tidecaller elder of the Vashj tribe. She is familiar with everything here, so she chose a safer route.

The team arrived in front of the temple smoothly.

Seeing the Siren guards in front of the temple, Celian whispered, "The guards have been changed. This team of guards is from the Tide Siren tribe."

After hearing this, Lu Heng felt more relaxed.

If it was a siren guard from the Vashj tribe, he would be worried that they would recognize that he was not the real Onatu.

If they were replaced by guards from other Siren tribes, they would be even less familiar with Onatu and would be even less able to recognize him.

Lu Heng swam over and waved to the siren guards at the temple entrance, signaling them to open the door.

The siren guards in front of the door looked at each other and felt a little strange, after all, Lu Heng didn't say anything.

Celian behind him immediately shouted: "What are you doing? Didn't you hear what the elder said? Open the door!"

This reprimand carried the pressure of a superior from the Siren tribe, and immediately made several Siren guards bow their heads and obey orders, then open the door.

Lu Heng led the team in. After Celian went in, she raised her hand to call for a stream of water and closed the door.

After entering the temple, Celian did not walk slowly like before, but rushed into the temple at an accelerated speed and found the high priest Sona in the back hall.

Just as she was about to rush in, she suddenly discovered that there was a magic barrier in the back hall, sealing it up.

High Priest Sona also noticed Celian's appearance and showed a look of surprise. She stood up and asked, "Why are you back? Are you imprisoned here too?"

Because when she got closer, she saw another mermaid elder swimming behind Celian, it was "Onatu".

Celian quickly explained: "I was not arrested, I sneaked in to see you."

"But..." High Priest Sona frowned and looked at "Onatu" behind Celian.

Lu Heng canceled the effect of [Shapeshifting Orb], restored his original appearance, and asked the Siren to put a bubble on him. Only then could he speak: "This is the only way to deceive the guard at the door."

Seeing this, the high priest Sona sighed and said, "It turned out to be you. I also felt strange at first sight. Onatu is not that much less violent."

Lu Heng raised his eyebrows and said, "So, my acting is not realistic enough."

High Priest Sona shook her head and replied, "It's very similar. Aura is something that is really hard to fake."

Lu Heng quickly got to the point: "Time is tight now. We don't know how long we can keep the fact that we sneaked into the temple a secret. We must arrange everything before we are discovered."

Celian replied, "That's right, let's get you out first."

Sona shook her head, looked at the seal barrier in front of her, and said: "This is a seal released by the Poseidon Scepter. Unless you get the Poseidon Scepter back, it can't be solved."

Lu Heng thought for a moment and asked, "What is Onatu doing now?"

Sona thought for a moment and answered, "He should be going to the Deep Frozen Trench. He wants to unlock the seal of the Deep Frozen Trench and release the Fire Demon Gross."

Lu Heng was a little surprised when he heard this: "Is there a seal on the Deep Frozen Trench? I don't think I saw it last time."

The last time I went to the Deep Frozen Trench, I didn't see the seal. Sona explained: "What you see is just the tip of the iceberg. In the past ten years, a lot of Gross embers have been poured into the Deep Frozen Trench.

“Three years ago, when I discovered the embers of Gross in the deep frozen trench, I also discovered the seal there.

“That was a magic circle placed by the Dark Iron Dwarves to seal the Embers of Gros, but as the Embers of Gros became more and more, the seal was leaked.

“When I found it, I reinforced the seal several times and finally buried it underground.

“So the deep frozen trench you see is actually buried, and there is a buried area 300 meters deep underneath.

"Onat took the Seagod's Scepter in order to unlock the seal and release the Fire Demon Gross."

Lu Heng frowned and asked, "Why did he release the Fire Demon Gross? This will not benefit the Sirens, right?"

Sona explained, “Not entirely. According to Onatu, the Firelord Gross has promised him that he will leave the Tidal Sea and return to the Lava Crown immediately after his resurrection.

"That is to say, after the Fire Demon Gross leaves, the Tidal Sea will be able to restore its previous ecology."

Lu Heng raised his eyebrows, realizing that this method could indeed effectively solve the problem of deteriorating tidal sea environment.

At least that's how it looks on the surface.

One reason for the deterioration of the Tidal Sea environment is the increase in sea temperature, which is caused by the Gross embers.

Even though the temperature in the surrounding sea areas has only risen by one or two degrees, it has a huge impact on the marine ecology.

More importantly, once the Firelord Gross revives and returns to the Lava Crown for revenge, the Dark Iron Dwarf Kingdom will inevitably decline.

The Sirens and the Dark Iron Dwarves have been hostile to each other for three years, so they must have a grudge against each other.

What Onatu did was tantamount to revenge against the Dark Iron Dwarves.

In terms of motivation, it is in line with the Sirens' short-term interests and emotional catharsis.

Lu Heng figured this out and asked in a deep voice, “So does the high priest agree with Onatu’s approach?”

High Priest Sona was silent for a moment, then replied, "From a big picture perspective, this approach won't do much good for the tribe's long-term development, but it can certainly improve the marine environment in the shortest possible time."

After listening to her, Lu Heng understood what she meant.

She knew that Onatu's approach would not be of much benefit to long-term development, but it would bring obvious short-term benefits.

In other words, she was against Onatu's approach, but her opposition was not that strong.

Lu Heng's expression became serious, and he asked, "Has Onatu gone to the Deep Frozen Trench?"

Sona shook her head and replied, "I'm not sure. I've been sealed here and haven't received any news from the outside world for several days."

Celian continued, "Onatu has already left the territory. According to reports from my siren warriors, he is heading to the Deep Frozen Trench."

Lu Heng felt that things were becoming difficult.

Now Onatu has the power of three Siren tribes and the Scepter of Poseidon in his hand.

It is impossible to stop him from releasing the Fire Demon Gross at this time.

The Sirens are the overlords of the ocean. Lu Heng may not be able to suppress Onatu who possesses the Scepter of the Sea God in the sea, let alone the elders and priests of other Sirens tribes.

Even if all human recruits were deployed, they probably wouldn't be able to stop Onatu.

High Priest Sona sighed and said, "Conscript, I have done my best. If the Firelord Gross is resurrected, it is also the fault of the Dark Iron Dwarves, and they must bear the consequences."

When Lu Heng heard her words, he guessed her attitude.

After all, she is the high priestess of the Sirens, so she must be looking at the issue from the Sirens' perspective.

As for the fate of the Dark Iron Dwarf Kingdom, it has nothing to do with her, and she is not responsible for the rise and fall of the Dark Iron Dwarves.

What's more, just a few days ago, they were still hostile to the Dark Iron Dwarves.

At a time like this, being able to refrain from adding insult to injury is already the friendliest way of treating someone.

Lu Heng found that the current situation was very unfavorable for the Dark Iron Dwarves.

This conscription was to help the Sirens solve the pollution of the Abyss, but according to the current situation, it seems that the Dark Iron Dwarves are the ones who are about to be in trouble.

If the Firelord Gross really revives and returns to the Lava Crown, the Dark Iron Dwarf Kingdom will be in a tough battle even if it is not destroyed immediately.

The purpose of this conscription was originally to find the source of abyssal pollution among the Sirens, but it almost destroyed the Dark Iron Dwarf Kingdom.

Lu Heng frowned and thought for a moment, then raised his head and looked at the High Priest Sona with sharp eyes, and asked: "Give me a positive answer, are you willing to fight against the Fire Demon Gross?"

In this world, the Sirens are the nemesis of the Fire Demon Gross.

If there is any race capable of defeating the Fire Demon Gross, it can only be the Sirens.

Therefore, Lu Heng needed an attitude from the high priest of the Siren tribe in front of him.

High Priest Sona thought for a moment, then shook her head and replied, "I'm afraid there's nothing I can do..."

Lu Heng interrupted her and asked again: "I am asking about your attitude. Are you willing to fight against the Flame Demon Gross?"

Sona looked at the twinkling light in Lu Heng's eyes, and replied after a moment: "If I have the ability, I am willing to try, but I will not sacrifice the future of the Sea Monster Clan."

This answer already shows the attitude.

In fact, her attitude has exceeded Lu Heng's expectations.

After all, she is the high priestess of the Sirens and has no obligation to help the Dark Iron Dwarves fight against the Balrog. Her agreement to help is already the greatest help she can offer.

There was no way she would destroy the Sirens just to fight against the Fire Demon Gross.

Lu Heng confirmed her attitude and asked, "What do I need to do to help you get out?"

High Priest Sona was stunned for a moment before she replied, "Take back the Scepter of Poseidon, and I can get out."

Now the Scepter of Poseidon [Heart of the Tide] is in Onatu's hands, and it will be difficult to get it back.

Things have come to this point and there is no other choice.

Among the entire Siren clan, Sona is probably the only high-ranking member willing to fight against the Fire Demon Gross.

Now Onatu has gone to the deep frozen trench to lift the seal of the Fire Demon Gros. Once the Fire Demon Gros comes out from the bottom of the sea, the consequences will be unpredictable.

In order to reverse the situation, we must take back the Scepter of Poseidon and let Sona take power again. Only then will it be possible for the Sirens to fight against the Balrog.

No matter what the final result is, a trip to the deep frozen trench is necessary.

……

After meeting Sona, Lu Heng used the [Shapeshifting Orb] to transform into Onatu's appearance again and left through the main entrance of the temple.

The guard at the temple gate watched Lu Heng and his team of "sea monsters" leave the temple, and muttered to himself in surprise: "Didn't Elder Onatu go to the Deep Frozen Trench? Why is he back again?"

Lu Heng returned to the underwater cave where the team members were hiding, explained the current situation to everyone, and then discussed countermeasures together.

(End of this chapter)