Crossover anime, and you call this a slice-of-life story?

The commander of the guards found this speculation hard to believe.

The Naga people have never welcomed outsiders; this has been a rule for hundreds or thousands of years. Is Her Majesty the Queen going to break this long-standing rule?

Cecilia's gaze was profound: "A powerful being with such strength is better a friend than an enemy. At least, we should first make our clan's stance clear to avoid unnecessary disaster. Go."

Rules also vary from person to person; she can disregard the God King of the Divine Realm and several other world-class powerhouses.

That's because she possesses the power to completely suppress her opponent.

This unfamiliar powerful figure clearly possessed strength at the same level as her, or even stronger.

"Yes!"

Although the commander of the guards had his doubts, he was absolutely obedient to the Queen's orders and immediately took them away.

Cecilia gently stroked the warm, lustrous pearls on the armrest of the throne, her amethyst eyes sparkling.

"What is meant to be will be... Let me see what kind of being you really are."

On the other side, Shangguan Yun had just restrained his peak seventh-level cultivation, and the surging aura around him gradually subsided, but the invisible pressure still made Suo An tremble with fear.

"Your Excellency, what shall we do next..."

Soan asked cautiously, his gaze involuntarily drifting towards the very core of the Sea of ​​Curses.

He knew that the Naga clan, who lived in seclusion deep within the Sea of ​​Curses, could not possibly be unaware of their undisguised actions in the depths of this cursed sea.

He wasn't worried about Shangguan Yun; the opponent's invincible strength had clearly deeply impressed him.

What he feared was that if a fight broke out, he might be killed by the aftershocks.

Shangguan Yun keenly caught the prying gaze, but the other party didn't seem to be hostile, which made him slightly disappointed.

Having broken through to the peak of the seventh rank, he still wanted to test his strength.

If the opponent is not very discerning, his strength might even increase again.

But since the other party has shown goodwill, he naturally won't try to use them as a learning experience; that's a matter of principle.

Shangguan Yun's lips curled slightly: "It seems the owner of this place has noticed us."

As soon as he finished speaking, the seawater in front of him suddenly parted like a curtain, forming a wide and calm underwater channel.

Squads of well-equipped and imposing Naga warriors lined both sides of the passage, wielding tridents made of coral and strange metals, their expressions solemn.

These warriors all possessed at least Saint-level strength, with the leader reaching the sixth-order God level.

As expected of a great clan that lives in seclusion deep within the Sea of ​​Curses, a place that even the Emperor of the End and the Divine Realm fear.

Immediately afterwards, a group of beautiful Naga girls dressed in gorgeous gauze dresses, carrying various fragrant underwater flowers, swam out gracefully and lined up on both sides of the passage, scattering petals.

The melodious and ethereal music seemed to rise from nowhere, echoing in the sea and carrying a calming power.

An elderly Naga, dressed in a silver-blue priest's robe and holding a staff inlaid with the "Heart of the Tide" gem, slowly swam from the end of the passage, surrounded by a group of guards.

His aura was profound, having already reached the level of a mid-level god. Yet, he approached Shangguan Yun with a respectful expression, placed his right hand on his chest, and bowed in a gesture of respect, using an ancient and elegant language.

With a slight perception, one can understand what the other person is saying.

"Honorable powerful figure from afar, High Priest Alvin of the Naga clan, has come to greet you on the orders of Her Majesty Empress Cecilia. Her Majesty senses your arrival and cordially invites you to the Crystal Palace for a discussion. Our clan has prepared a modest banquet; we hope you will grace us with your presence."

Shangguan Yun's gaze swept over the grand welcoming procession, and he understood.

He never expected that the Naga Queen would invite him to be her guest.

He had thought that it would be fine as long as they didn't bother each other, but since the other party had clearly shown enough goodwill, he was happy to see what was going on with the Naga's Crystal Palace.

"Lead the way," Shangguan Yun said calmly, his voice ringing directly in the other person's mind, ignoring the language barrier.

A hint of surprise flashed in High Priest Alvin's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure and bowed again: "Please follow me, Your Excellency."

Guided by the Naga honor guard, Shangguan Yun and Suo An proceeded along the underwater passage toward the core area of ​​the Naga tribe.

Looking at the powerful Naga warriors and exquisite decorations on both sides, Soan was secretly amazed. The Naga race was indeed profound. The power they displayed alone was enough to rival a major force in the God Realm.

Passing through the enormous archway made of glowing corals, the view suddenly opens up before you.

It was a magnificent city that defied description.

Countless structures are built upon natural underwater mountains and giant corals, and are mostly made of pure white jade, colorful seashells, and various self-luminous crystals.

The streets are wide, with Naga people swimming among them, as well as various gentle and beautiful deep-sea creatures.

At the very center of the city stands the magnificent Crystal Palace, a colossal palace entirely carved from the "Heart of the Deep Sea" sapphire.

The interior of the palace is even more magnificent and exquisite.

The dome is inlaid with countless luminous pearls and star crystals, as if the real starry sky has been moved to the seabed.

The walls are carved with the ancient history and legends of the Naga people, in a lifelike manner.

Soft light emanated from all directions, without the slightest sense of gloom, but rather filled with holiness and tranquility.

In the most magnificent main hall of the Crystal Palace, Queen Cecilia of the Naga sat on her opulent throne, smiling as she watched Shangguan Yun and his 'attendants' being respectfully led into the hall.

When she saw Shangguan Yun in person, a barely perceptible look of surprise flashed across Sercia's amethyst-like eyes once again.

She had originally thought that the being with such domineering aura and methods, who had almost wiped out a group of overlord sea beasts in the Cursed Sea, would be an ancient being with imposing presence, and perhaps even a touch of evil.

Unexpectedly, he was such a young man with extraordinary temperament and refined appearance.

While a cultivator's appearance is unreliable, their temperament is something that cannot be faked.

His aura was harmonious and restrained; if one did not know beforehand, one would hardly be able to sense the terrifying power hidden beneath his calm exterior.

"Welcome, powerful traveler from afar, to the homeland of the Naga."

Cecilia's voice, like the most beautiful melody, echoed in the hall, "I am Cecilia, the Queen of Naga. Please forgive me for not being able to greet you from afar."

Chapter 281 The Queen's Gift

Shangguan Yun nodded slightly in return, his gaze filled with curiosity as he looked at the empress.

She was indeed a person of unparalleled elegance and formidable strength.

The feeling he got from the other party was in no way inferior to that of Ercoya, the feathered serpent god.

He is clearly a peak seventh-tier being.

"Shangguan Yun".

He gave his name concisely.

"Young friend Shangguan," Cecilia cleverly used a common human form of address to shorten the distance between them.

"I have already sensed what my young friend Shangguan has done in the Sea of ​​Curses recently. Those ancient sea beasts are of low intelligence, only knowing how to destroy and devour. They are of no benefit to the balance of this sea area, and instead often harass our borders. Your elimination of them has saved me a lot of trouble."

Her words not only indicated that she was aware of Shangguan Yun's hunting activities, but also cleverly positioned herself on Shangguan Yun's side, defining his actions as "cleaning up trouble," thus defusing any potential awkwardness or hostility.

Shangguan Yun naturally understood her meaning and went along with it, saying with a hint of apology, "I didn't inform you in advance, which has disturbed His Majesty."

Cecilia was quite pleased to see that Shangguan Yun was so 'sensible', and said with a smile, "Young friend, you are too kind. In any case, your presence here makes you an honored guest of our clan. I have already ordered a banquet to be prepared, and I would like to ask you to do me the honor of being here, so that our clan can show some hospitality."

"Then thank you very much, Your Majesty."

Shangguan Yun nodded in agreement.

As for Soan, who stood respectfully to the side, he never dared to raise his head in front of the Empress who dominated the Sea of ​​Curses.

Soon, a grand welcome banquet was held in a side hall of the Crystal Palace.

The long dining table was laden with all sorts of seafood delicacies.

The meat of a thousand-year-old clam, glistening with an alluring sheen; the meticulously prepared deep-sea cod; the rainbow jellyfish sashimi, prepared with a unique method to preserve its ultimate freshness; and the Azure Nectar brewed with various exotic seaweeds and spices…

During the banquet, beautiful Naga girls also performed graceful dances.

Their figures swayed in the water, like seaweed drifting with the current, or like dancing fairies, accompanied by ethereal music, making for a delightful sight.

Soan, as a follower, also had a seat. He looked at the rare underwater delicacies in front of him and ate with relish. He sighed in his heart that the Naga people were indeed the overlords of the Cursed Sea, and their quality of life was exceptionally high.

Shangguan Yun was also very interested in these special foods; they did taste quite good.

At the same time, he could also feel the sincerity of the Naga people.

During the meal, Cecilia and Shangguan Yun talked mostly about the customs and culture of the seabed, or discussed some things about cultivation. She never mentioned Shangguan Yun's origins, purpose, or sensitive topics related to the Divine Realm, and she kept a very good eye on things.

Shangguan Yun also felt that they got along very well; the other party was indeed worthy of being able to control the Sea of ​​Curses.

He not only possessed extensive knowledge, but also gained insights into the path of cultivation.

After the banquet, Cecilia invited Shangguan Yun to a quiet side room.

“Young friend Shangguan, we hit it off immediately. I have prepared some specialties from my clan as a token of my appreciation, and I hope you will not refuse.” Cecilia said, clapping her hands lightly.

Several Naga maidens swam in, carrying several exquisite jade boxes.

Cecilia opened the first jade box herself, inside which were ten pearls, each the size of a longan, perfectly round and flawless, radiating a soft, moon-white glow.

"This is the 'Moonlight Pearl,' which our clan cultivates only once every hundred years by absorbing the essence of the moon from the Moon Shadow Shell in the deep ocean trench. Wearing it has the effects of calming the mind, nourishing the spirit, and delaying aging, and is especially beneficial for female cultivators."

As she spoke, she gave Shangguan Yun a meaningful look.

Such a young and powerful person would naturally have some female confidantes.

Shangguan Yun's eyes flickered slightly. This Moon Pearl was indeed extraordinary. The pure moonlight power it contained should be very beneficial to Kaguya and Ai.

The second jade box contained three scales that resembled blue crystals, with naturally formed intricate patterns and faintly visible water ripples.

"These are the 'tidal scales' shed by my clan, containing a trace of tidal power. After refining them, they can greatly enhance one's affinity and control over the water element, making them a treasure for those who cultivate water-attribute techniques."

Shangguan Yun's eyes narrowed slightly; he could sense the aura of a sixth-tier being emanating from these tidal scales.

This is a sixth-tier treasure, so its value is self-evident.

Not only that.

The third jade box contained a piece of coral that was entirely emerald green, as if it had been carved from jade.

“‘Life Coral’ is born from the eye of the sacred spring in our clan’s holy land. It contains abundant vitality. Its powder can be used as medicine to heal the flesh and revive the dead. Even if worn directly, it can slowly nourish the body and prolong life.”

The fourth jade box contains a set of exquisite jewelry, including a necklace, earrings, and bracelet, made of a silver sand called "star sand" and tiny gemstones of various colors. It is gorgeous yet elegant, with a restrained yet dazzling brilliance.

"This was crafted by our clan's skilled artisans using stardust and seabed gems. It is called 'Dream of the Starry Sea.' In addition to its beauty, it also has the subtle effect of gathering starlight and aiding in cultivation."

Finally, Cecilia also presented dozens of small storage shells, filled with various tempting deep-sea fruits and local specialty teas.

These gifts are all exquisite and clearly carefully selected, showcasing the Naga people's heritage and sincerity, while also being very practical, making them especially suitable for gifting to relatives and friends.

Sersia's thoughtfulness was undeniably meticulous.

Shangguan Yun looked at the gifts and was amazed.

The Naga Queen was incredibly generous; he was indeed very moved and satisfied.

Now he doesn't need to prepare any more gifts for his return; it's fair to say that the gifts the Naga Queen gave him were exactly what he wanted.

"Your Majesty is too kind." Shangguan Yun did not feign refusal, but instead waved to put the gift away.

"These gifts are far too precious. If Her Majesty the Empress ever asks for anything in the future, I will do my utmost to help."

As he spoke, Shangguan Yun raised his hand and conjured a talisman that flashed with dazzling lightning.

"I came in a hurry and didn't prepare a gift for His Majesty. This thunder talisman will unleash my full power once it is crushed, and I will also sense those coming to support me."

Sercia took the lightning talisman and felt the immense energy it contained, which made her heart pound with fear. She was overjoyed, and her smile became even more genuine.

Some local specialties in her eyes are not as important as the promise of a world-class powerhouse.

This is something that could save the entire clan's lives in a critical moment!

Although she did not believe that there was anything in this world that could threaten her.

After exchanging compliments for a while, Shangguan Yun prepared to take his leave.

After Cecilia's attempts to persuade him to stay failed, she smiled and said, "The Sea of ​​Curses is dangerous, but it also has its own unique scenery. If you have time in the future, you are welcome to visit again."

Shangguan Yun nodded: "Yes, Your Majesty. I hope you won't find it inappropriate."

With the guests and hosts enjoying themselves and the purpose achieved, Shangguan Yun decided not to linger any longer and took his leave.

Sercia personally escorted Shangguan Yun and Suo An to the outside of the Crystal Palace, watching their figures disappear into the dark seawater before finally letting out a sigh of relief.

Even she remained on edge when facing this unfathomable powerhouse.

"Order to lift the alert and resume normal operations."