The Sea Demon Clan fell into internal turmoil, causing the situation to veer toward an unknown direction.
The reason why Lu Heng was able to facilitate the reconciliation between the Black Iron Dwarves and the Sea Demon Clan was mainly that the High Priestess of the Sea Demon Clan could see the situation clearly and understood that reconciliation was the best strategy against the Abyss.
Now that Onatu is in power, it's a different story altogether.
Onatu, in order to prevent the two clans from reconciling, did not hesitate to send his Sea Demon warriors to attack the peace envoys of the Black Iron Dwarf Kingdom.
This behavior has already crossed the fundamental lines of order that civilized species should maintain.
Although Sarian represented the Sea Demon Clan in signing the reconciliation agreement with the Black Iron Dwarves, whether this agreement still holds is now uncertain.
With Onatu's style, he could tear up the agreement at any time.
After some thought, Lu Heng looked at the Sea Demon Tide Calling Elder Sarian and asked: "What are you planning to do now?"
This question, Sarian had not yet figured out.
She only knew that Onatu had successfully seized power and obtained the Sea God's Scepter, while High Priestess Sona was placed under house arrest in the temple.
If she returned now, she would likely end up imprisoned in the temple like the High Priestess.
She wished to contact the High Priestess to discuss countermeasures, but clearly could not communicate with the High Priestess since Onatu had cast magic to cut off the channel of information.
She had considered bringing her Sea Demon warriors back to rescue the High Priestess.
However, the success rate of such an endeavor was not high given that Onatu now held the Sea God's Scepter and had the support of two other Sea Demon Tribes.
A direct conflict would only lead to internal strife within the Sea Demon Clan.
"I haven't figured it out yet; the current situation is very tricky. We must first see the High Priestess to determine what to do next. But with the High Priestess under house arrest in the temple, Onatu will surely deploy heavy guards." Sarian had never experienced such a situation before, so she couldn't make a decision immediately.
Lu Heng pondered a bit and said, "If it's just to see your High Priestess, I think I might have a way."
Sarian frowned and reminded him: "I didn't mean to storm into the temple; I don't want to see our clans fight each other."
When the High Priestess Sona chose to hand over the Sea God's Scepter, it was also to avoid clans fighting amongst themselves.
Otherwise, facing the elders of the Trench Tide Sea Demon and Shallow Sea Demon tribes, and the Priests' siege, she might still have the power to fight.
But if things really escalated to desperate fighting, even if she won in the end, the Sea Demon Clan would be severely damaged.
From the perspective of a ruler, this High Priestess of the Sea Demon Clan was not quite ruthless enough.
Lu Heng smiled faintly and explained, "I'm not suggesting a full assault on the temple, but rather finding a way to infiltrate it."
Sarian's eyes immediately lit up, and she quickly asked: "What way?"
Lu Heng, accompanied by twelve others and Sarian's team, returned to the Sea Demon Clan's territory.
Upon reaching the outskirts of the territory, Sarian found an underwater cave and said: "Stay hidden here for now; no Sea Demons patrol this area."
Since their mission in returning to the Sea Demon Clan's territory was to infiltrate the Vasqi Temple to see High Priestess Sona, they couldn't bring too many people along.
Once Sarian settled everyone else, she asked: "What do we do now?"
Lu Heng scanned her Sea Demon team and said: "Pick a team of Sea Demon warriors to ; they can't be recognized by the guards at the temple's entrance."
"That's simple. Use some cover markings; in dim lighting, they won't be able to recognize us without close inspection." Sarian selected a few Sea Demon warriors without distinctive features to accompany them.
Then, Lu Heng took out the [Illusion Pearl], transformed into the likeness of Onatu, and began imitating the way the Sea Demon Clan swims.
Sarian was astonished upon seeing it: "It's almost identical."
Lu Heng continued, "I can't speak underwater, so if necessary, I'll need your help."
"Understood." Sarian nodded.
After reconfirming their action plan, Lu Heng led the team toward the Vasqi Temple.
Sarian, as the Tide Calling Elder of the Vasqhi Tribe, was very familiar with everything here, so she chose a relatively safe route.
The team arrived smoothly at the front of the temple.
Seeing the Sea Demon guards at the temple entrance, Sarian quietly reminded, "The guards have changed; these ones are from the Trench Tide Sea Demon Tribe."
Lu Heng felt more at ease after hearing this.
If the guards had been Sea Demon warriors from the Vasqhi Tribe, they might recognize he wasn't really Onatu.
With guards from another Sea Demon Tribe, who were unfamiliar with Onatu, they wouldn't recognize the deception.
Lu Heng swam over and gestured to the Sea Demon guards at the temple entrance to open the doors.
The Sea Demon guards exchanged glances, feeling a bit puzzled, as Lu Heng hadn't spoken.
Sarian immediately shouted: "What are you dawdling for? Didn't you hear the Elder? Open the door!"
This reprimand carried the authority of a Sea Demon Clan superior, compelling the Sea Demon guards to obediently open the door.
Lu Heng led the team inside; after Sarian entered, she used a wave to close the door.
Inside the temple, Sarian did not proceed leisurely as before but accelerated into the temple, finding High Priestess Sona in the rear hall.
Just as she was about to rush in, she realized that a magic barrier was sealing the rear hall.
High Priestess Sona also noticed Sarian's presence, showing a look of surprise. She approached and asked, "Why have you returned? Were you captured too?"