While the Black Iron Dwarves and the Sea Demon Clan were negotiating at Moon Mud Beach, a significant event was taking place at the Vasqi Temple of the Sea Demon Clan.
The Sea Demon Clan of the Tidal Sea is divided into three tribes, all of which worship the Sea God, although there are some differences.
The tribe ruled by High Priestess Sona worships Vasqi Temple and is also known as the Vasqi Sea Demons.
This tribe holds the Sea God's Scepter, which is inlaid with the gemstone containing the Sea God's power, the Heart of the Tides.
This is the strongest foundation of the Vasqi Sea Demons.
In addition, there are two other Sea Demon Tribes in the Tidal Sea, namely the Trench Tide Sea Demons and the Shallow Sea Demons.
The three Sea Demon Tribes all originated from a single Sea Demon Tribe, and the formation of three separate tribes is primarily due to different habitats.
The Trench Tide Sea Demons reside in the deep sea, preferring to live in the darker depths, while the Shallow Sea Demons inhabit the stormy Storm Bay.
The Shallow Sea Demons are more like an amphibious species, spending significantly more time on land than other Sea Demons.
Of course, compared to the other two Sea Demon tribes, the Shallow Sea Demons still spend most of their time in the sea, coming ashore roughly a quarter of the time.
Even so, the Shallow Sea Demons are indeed the most adept at land activities among the three Sea Demon Tribes.
Among the three Sea Demon Tribes, the Vasqi Sea Demons have always been the most powerful branch, thanks to the gemstone on the Sea God's Scepter, the Heart of the Tides.
This is the embodiment of the supreme authority within the Sea Demon Clan.
The Heart of the Tides is governed by the High Priest of each generation of the Vasqi Sea Demon Tribe and also carries the responsibility of managing the Tidal Sea.
Because of the significance of this Sea God Gem, all three Sea Demon Tribes desire to possess it.
In the history of the Sea Demon Clan, there have been instances of internal struggles among the three tribes over the Sea God Gem.
However, such internal conflicts do not escalate into tribal wars but remain limited to small-scale competitions among the tribal elite.
The Trench Tide Sea Demons and the Shallow Sea Demons appeared outside the Vasqi Temple, and the priests and elders of the two tribes were confronting High Priestess Sona in the temple hall.
Aside from the priests and elders of the Trench Tide and Shallow Sea Demons, there was another elder present in the dome hall, a Vasqi Tribe elder named Onatu.
Onatu was placed under house arrest by High Priestess Sona, but the order was not enforced.
Even if the guards wanted to stop him, they could not.
However, at this moment, he was not standing with High Priestess Sona but with the other two Sea Demon Tribe elders.
With a grim expression, High Priestess Sona demanded, "Onatu, what are you doing?"
Onatu bowed his head in respect, "High Priestess, you are too merciful, and some decisions lack decisiveness. I wish to correct certain erroneous decisions of the High Priestess."
Sona angrily retorted, "Do you desire my position?"
Onatu knelt on one knee, "I hold the highest loyalty to the High Priestess and the tribe, but for the future of our community, something must be done.
"As long as the High Priestess agrees to my three conditions, I remain the most loyal supporter of the High Priestess."
Clearly, what was unfolding in this temple today was a coup within the Sea Demon Clan.
Alternatively, it could be called an ultimatum.
Onatu did not possess the power to confront High Priestess Sona's authority, so he allied with the other two Sea Demon Tribes to besiege the Vasqi Temple, thereby forcing the situation.
Sona's face darkened as she asked, "Speak, what are your demands?"
Onatu stood up and solemnly stated, "First, lift the seal on the Deep Freeze Sea Trench and release the Gros Embers inside."
Sona's gaze deepened as she questioned, "Do you know what consequences this will bring?"
Onatu replied matter-of-factly, "I know, it will bring forth the early revival of Flame Demon Gros."
Sona: "Knowing this, you still dare to make such a demand?"
Onatu shrugged and replied, "Perhaps the High Priestess misunderstands something? Flame Demon Gros has never been an adversary to our Sea Demon Clan.
"On the contrary, we share a common enemy with Flame Demon Gros, which is the Black Iron Dwarves.
"I have already communicated with the will of Flame Demon Gros. Once it revives, it will immediately leave the Tidal Sea and return to the Molten Crown.
"By then, the deteriorating environment of the Tidal Sea will swiftly recover, and the elevated seawater temperature will gradually cool down, restoring our Sea Demon Clan's habitat to its former state."
A glint in her eyes, High Priestess Sona questioned angrily, "You dared to secretly contact the will of Gros within the Deep Freeze Sea Trench!"
Onatu replied calmly, "I did this with the future of our community in mind, as Flame Demon Gros is an elemental creature of the land, a flame being that will not enter the ocean territory.
"Moreover, the troubles we've faced from Flame Demon Gros were entirely due to the Black Iron Dwarves dumping volcanic ash into the Tidal Sea.
"What I propose is merely to return Flame Demon Gros to its rightful place; it is the rightful ruler of the Molten Crown, and it was the Black Iron Dwarves who stole its territory.
"The Black Iron Dwarves have occupied the Molten Crown for over a hundred years; it's time to return it to its original master."
High Priestess Sona remained silent.
From the standpoint of the Sea Demon Clan, Onatu's statement was not entirely unreasonable.
Under normal circumstances, Flame Demon Gros could not enter the Tidal Sea, as fire and water are incompatible.
Furthermore, the Sea Demon Clan, dwelling in the deep sea, has no environmental conflict with Flame Demon Gros.