Chapter 155: Chapter 155: "Prince You Sen!
They had been waiting here for a long time.
Ever since receiving word from Yusen, they had been guarding this stretch of sea, hoping to welcome the Young Master’s return as soon as possible.
The Mermaid stepped onto the deck, his skin covered in a layer of snow-white scales. His ice-blue eyes were dim and cold, his long brown hair tied back low. The lines of his bare upper body were distinct, a simultaneous expression of androgynous grace and rugged strength.
His azure tail, coated in a layer of frost, vanished as he emerged from the sea.
In its place were human legs.
An old man in a white robe tremblingly took the bamboo basket from the Mermaid’s hands. "This is... the Young Master."
Inside the bamboo basket.
An egg as azure as the sky rested within, its surface adorned with patterns symbolizing the ocean.
A nearby attendant draped a white cloak over the master who had just come ashore. From the grim, imposing warship, they gazed out at the ocean stretching for thousands of miles.
Yusen stood barefoot on the deck, and the seawater dripping from his body evaporated in an instant.
The old man sighed with emotion. "Heaven bless the Mermaid Clan—"
They actually had a new generation, more than a decade earlier than expected.
"Young Master, the Sea Emperor has passed away."
The bamboo basket was handed over to a careful servant for tending, and the old man followed closely behind the youth. "The Empire held an emergency meeting overnight. In the end, they chose you to assume the position of Sea Emperor."
The Deep Sea Empire had two major political powers: the Land Royal Family and the sea nobles.
All matters were primarily handled by the Land Royal Family.
But the sea nobles held hereditary positions, and the Mermaids, as the nobility among nobles, had always been the undisputed choice for Sea Emperor.
The previous Sea Emperor, Ping’an, died of old age.
Within the Mermaid Clan, there were several who met the requirements.
But in the end—
A smile appeared on the old man’s face. "Lord Shen He, he threw his full support behind you, Young Master, to become the Sea Emperor."
From the moment Lord Shen He appeared at the Empire’s meeting, all dissent vanished, and the choice for Sea Emperor was quickly settled.
Although the two brothers had never met.
Blood is thicker than water.
No one dared to question Lord Shen He’s recommendation.
Whether it was his birthright, his age, or his yet-to-be-awakened latent Strength, Yusen was more than qualified for this great responsibility.
Yusen seemed not to have heard.
A trace of hesitation appeared on the old man’s face. Although he had never been to the Glacier, he had always paid attention to the young master’s growth.
The young master’s eyes held a deep, impenetrable gloom. His entire being was like a withered tree, devoid of any trace of life or light.
The old man reported in a low voice, "The selection ceremony will be held in two months. During this time, Your Highness must return to the Sea Clan Palace with this old servant. There are many things we must prepare in advance."
"Also..."
The old man didn’t know if he should say it. He hesitated again and again, but finally decided to speak. "News has come from the Moon Rising Empire. That young lady, she—"
"Do not speak of her." Yusen suddenly spoke, his voice colder than ever before. "I don’t want to hear it."
"...Yes, Your Highness."
...
「Paradise, Sixth Region.」
Yu Zhizhi, who had turned into a little turtle, hid quietly in the pocket on Lou’s chest.
The sounds of battle could be heard from a great distance.
Ai Li’s face was pale. She walked in the middle of the group, with Leopard and Stag protecting her from behind.
However, in Ai Li’s eyes, both of them were "useless" with very weak spiritual power, only good enough for logistical support.
Ai Li quickened her pace, wanting to get closer to Lou.
The thought of how comfortable the little turtle was made her heart ache with a pang of bitterness, which was quickly followed by a surge of boundless desire—
’I need a powerful backer.’
’Lou is the strongest male I can get close to right now. Does he only like turtles? Or would other Beast Forms be acceptable too?’
With this in mind, Ai Li’s thoughts stirred. She transformed into a beautiful white butterfly and fluttered her wings, flying toward the young man.
Lou sensed the approaching presence from behind.
He didn’t turn around. With a slight movement of his fingertips, the white butterfly was instantly bound by invisible threads. Its wings were pulled taut, as if they would be torn apart the very next second.
Ai Li’s heart leaped!
"Lord Lou, it’s me!"
She wasn’t an enemy attacker; she had just used her spiritual power to assume her Beast Form.
Lou sneered. "Of course I know it’s you."
He curled a finger, and the threads tightened. The butterfly’s wings trembled, shedding pollen with a RUSTLE, and bloody marks appeared on its crystalline wings.
"If you don’t want to die, don’t take on this form."
Ai Li trembled in fear.
Behind her, Leopard’s face was filled with terror. He had almost thought the butterfly was about to be sliced in half!
The invisible bonds were released, and the butterfly fell, transforming back into a young woman.
Her legs were trembling so much that if Leopard hadn’t been supporting her, she would have collapsed to the ground.
’...How terrifying.’
Ai Li’s eyes were vacant. In that moment, she felt as if she had stepped through the gates of hell.
Lou had never revealed his Beast Form to this day.
After all these years, no one knew what clan he truly belonged to.
Bloodstains seeped through the back of Ai Li’s clothes. She could almost still feel the piercing pain of her wings being cut, and her body shuddered involuntarily.
’Why isn’t the turtle afraid?’
’Is it because turtles have shells...?’
In Lou’s pocket, Yu Zhizhi swayed gently. She would occasionally poke her little head out to see what was happening outside.
The sounds of a chaotic battle grew closer, and Yu Zhizhi couldn’t help but feel tense.
As if sensing the little turtle’s tense mood.
Lou gently stroked her little head. "Go back to sleep for a bit. It’ll all be over by the time you wake up."
This was the only path to the Paradise Temple.
The White-eyed Young Boy, who had gone ahead to scout, returned.
For once, there was a ripple in his tone. "It’s Team 14."
Leopard and Stag looked at each other in dismay.
—Team 14!
In the current team points ranking, they were in third place. And the team in second place was none other than Team 14!
"If I remember correctly, they’re a three-person team?"
The White-eyed Young Boy nodded. "It’s three people. The other two are a Powerless and a Fire Element user. Oh, I also found something else out. They’re openly recruiting."
Leopard was stunned. "We’re already in the Sixth Region, and they’re still recruiting teammates?"
The young boy hugged his damaged scabbard. "They need a power user of any type."
Ai Li, who had been silent all this time, suddenly looked up.
’Team 14...’
She had also secretly followed their broadcast room.
And that Number 777.
Besides Lou, the team Ai Li wanted to join most was Number 777’s. But he had always been a lone wolf, showing no intention of teaming up.
So Team 14 was Ai Li’s backup plan.
Hearing that Team 14 needed a power user of any type, Ai Li’s mind began to race.
"There must be a lot of people applying, right?" Stag mentioned casually.
Joining a team with such high points is basically a guaranteed ticket to the top three, isn’t it?
The White-eyed Young Boy grunted in affirmation.
Suddenly, the young man in front of him handed the little turtle into his arms.
Lou looked down at him. "Your next task is to ensure her safety. Can you do that?"
The White-eyed Young Boy immediately straightened his back. "Yes!"
From the back, Ai Li watched this scene, her stomach churning with bitterness. ’I’m a Decipherer, I’m just as important! Sometimes even more important than a Healer.’
’So why don’t I get this kind of treatment?’
’Lord Lou is truly blind!’
Yu Zhizhi was held in the young boy’s palms. She stuck out her four little claws and watched as the young man’s back gradually disappeared at the end of the road.
For some reason, she felt a persistent sense of unease.
"Lord 14, I see their team. There are two females—which one should we grab?"
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