Yun Liu looked at the Storm Prism and laughed, “Not at all. Whenever the Great Whirlpool rises, the Merfolk Race offers blessings with their sacred relics, praying that the Kun Spirit will sleep peacefully for the next hundred years. Otherwise, with a creature that size, if it doesn’t sleep well and keeps rolling around, the first to suffer would be Qiongxiao Palace.”
“Restrictions, and so the Sea Market came to be—though in the beginning, it was really just their clan’s ritual.”
“I see.”
“Later, people discovered that the Storm Artifact could unveil the sealed mysteries of Mirage City…”
Qin Xiang watched the magnificent dance of the waves. Her little husband was young, yet remarkably knowledgeable.
“This tradition goes back a thousand years. Whenever the time of blessing came, adult merfolk who had someone they admired would offer a Mermaid Pearl, sealing a beautiful union.”
As he finished, Yun Liu twisted his waist and nimbly dodged his beloved wife’s clawing hand.
“I knew you were about to strike!”
Qin Xiang’s strike missed. Watching the smug little brat get ready to wander out and chase flowers again, she said with a sweet smile, “I’m warning you—don’t bring any shady characters home. I like Shiyu and Xinran, and I’m happy to help Master and Aunt Master along. As for anyone else? Hmph. Husband, you’d better watch your step.”
“Taken a mistress?”
“No, I haven’t figured out how to face that rebellious daughter yet. The wife can take care of him first—”
“Snap out of it, Sister Qin, she’s not your daughter!”
“Then don’t touch me anymore.”
“Wait, if she really were your daughter, that would be even more messed up, wouldn’t it?”
“I can’t control Shiyu or Xinran, but if you dare touch that pearl…”
Yun Liu felt nothing but sweetness.
The schools of fish split apart in waves, then gathered again, like a sea-firework. If I don’t touch it, there’s always that Silly Girl who’ll do it for me.
Qin Xiang crossed her arms, her smile “kindly,” showing off her rare moment of wifely authority.
A Blue Girl was surrounded at the center.
Everyone looked up in unison, their gazes burning as the Mermaid Princess rose above them all.
The Dragon Girl, Rosy Consort, lifted her veil, revealing a stunningly beautiful face, and smiled radiantly.
“The pig?”
The Little Yellow Hair, who had been scurrying through the Sea Market, suddenly looked up. The lively little Aunt Master had run off again.
Mu Shaohua pressed a hand to her heart, whispering a blessing toward Mirage City. Her long lashes trembled slightly, and a single azure tear fell from the corner of her eye.
The crystalline droplet solidified, radiating a gem-like luster. It was drawn by the Storm Artifact, guided by the unpredictable winds and waves.
The Five Island Heroes who had been summoned looked excited, all of them prepared.
That was the Dragon Pearl.
A Mermaid’s Essence is the very core of a merfolk’s life, and only one can be formed in a lifetime. To bond with one grants the ability to dwell beneath the sea, making Breathing and Spirit Gathering as effortless as breathing itself. For cultivators with a Water Spiritual Root, it was nothing short of Life Transformation.
And Princess Rosy Consort carried the Flood Dragon bloodline, combining the power of the Tide Caller lineage. The Dragon Pearl she wept was even more precious!
To win such a beautiful and talented bride, and to rule the Inner Sea’s Qiongxiao Palace—surely no man of the Boundless Sea could refuse.
“My daughter, Rosy Consort, is in the prime of her youth. I hope all you gallant heroes will treat her with tenderness.”
Yingluo Madam, serving beneath the Prism, flicked her crimson tail and smiled softly.
Boom!
Violent forces hurled countless Coral Reefs into the air, forming a staircase that led to the Storm Center, providing a foothold for travelers whose Divine Sense was restricted.
The Dragon Choosing Son-in-Law—may the capable win.
“No, it’s already promised to someone.”
“Going down to the sea to make a living. I hope you’ll all look after me.”
Qin Xiang stifled a giggle and poked Yun Liu’s waist.
“Why does this sound like the madam at Silver Sparrow Terrace? ‘My daughter comes of age today.'”
“Pfft, still in the mood for jokes. If you don’t go up soon, the Sea Tower Token will—”
“Pfft, still in the mood for jokes, if you—”
“No rush. This father has only one task! If you don’t go up soon, the Sea Tower Token will—”
Yun Liu grinned with a cold smirk. A wicked person needs a wicked person to deal with them; a Ghost Axe needs a Ghost Axe to fix it. As if he were the only one with a beloved daughter.
“Come on, then! Let’s hurt each other!”
Whoosh!
While many guests were still on guard against one another, a Little Pink Hair girl carrying a Sword Case on her back charged forward, taking the lead, her little short legs running at top speed.
“The Blue Gem is all sparkly—A Lian wants it!”
Yingluo Madam blinked, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. A woman seizing the pearl wasn’t entirely out of the question.
Though how to pass on the bloodline afterward would be a bit of a headache…
Just then, a flash of golden light streaked across the sky. A valiant Young Man stepped on the Seven-Star Sword with sharp, explosive footwork, grabbed the girl by the collar, and caught the runaway Little Jellyfish.
“Aiyah, finally caught you. Be good, little Aunt Master—I’ll play with you in a bit.”
With that, Ji Shiyu spotted his Shi Niang cheering in the crowd, rolled the pink-haired girl into a ball, and tossed her over.
Qin Xiang caught A Lian and held her close, smiling. “A Lian, be good. That’s something dirty. You can’t eat it.”
“Okaaay.”
Yu Shen Yinglian looked down in distress and turned her gaze to her Senior Brother for help.
Honestly, she was a little afraid of that smiling older sister. Both of them were Chief Disciples, so why was the gap so huge?
“Ji Shiyu!”
Fang Ya of Chain Docks gritted his teeth, drew his Sword, and under his ancestor’s signal, shot straight forward.
For the few, it was worth a gamble. Even a minor prize wasn’t bad. Wu Lei of the Sea-Severing Alliance followed close behind, and plenty of thrill-seekers piled on too.
With someone making the first move, the Chaotic Sea cultivators hesitated no longer. Each showed their own skills, quickly climbing the steps like a plague of locusts—a sight that made one’s skin crawl.
“Go, Lord Ji!”
“Don’t worry, Senior Sister, I’ve already bribed Senior Brother Luo Xiu! If Young Master Ji succeeds, from now on, half of Tianyin Fang and Qiongxiao Palace’s business will be given to him to supply!”
Qing Li said excitedly, trying to reassure her.
Mu Shaohua waved her little fist, wishing Ji Shiyu would take down everyone else.
“He’d better.”
“Where’s Mr. Yun? Where’s the brother-in-law? We’re all family—help out a little! Hey!”
From Penglai Island’s lineage, a tall, steady man couldn’t withstand Qing Li’s murderous glare. He sighed and was forced to step in.
“Little Luo… you’re also into Lady Rosy Consort?”
Canghai turned his head in surprise. He hadn’t expected this Martial Nephew to have the leisure to fool around with the youngsters.
“Yeah, more or less… I’m off, Martial Uncle Canghai.”
Luo Xiu smiled awkwardly, covered his face, and summoned his Life-bound Green Light Cauldron.
The Dragon Girl’s suitors were as numerous as carp crossing a river. Soon, fierce conflict broke out on the Coral Steps, spiritual light clashing everywhere.
Li Su watched with boiling blood. If it weren’t for her recent record, she’d have wanted to join the Little Yellow Hair for some fun.
“I see all those old shameless ones from Tianyin Fang running up there. You’ve returned to your peak—why not show everyone a thing or two?”
Canghai patted his old friend’s shoulder and teased with a light laugh.
To be honest, the White Whale Island Master was top-tier in both cultivation and looks. People called him “Uncle Circle’s Top Pick,” and even after his severe injury, he still had countless admirers. At over two hundred years old, he wasn’t exactly elderly in the Cultivation World.
The White Whale shot him a sideways glare, snorted coldly, and gave a flat two-word reply.
“Brain rot.”
“Fine, don’t go, no need to curse at me…”
Women are like floods and beasts. Young Master Yun is at an age where impulse is normal. When he grows up a bit more, he’ll understand the mistakes of his youth.
The White Whale watched the White-robed Youth with interest as he walked while stretching his limbs, seemingly warming up, moving at a leisurely pace.