“Yes, Mother.”
Mu Shaohua was clever.
She waved her hand, flicked her tail, and swam off, tossing Qing Li a look that said, help me keep those two girls busy.
This was a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity!
“Lord Ji, this way, please.”
Oh? Quite bold, aren’t we?
Ji Shiyu raised an eyebrow, taking it as a challenge by default.
She rolled up her sleeves and gave chase.
Keeping her away from the teacher was naturally for the best.
You want a one-on-one?
I’m game!
Qin Senior Sister can cool her heels.
I’ll handle this small fry myself!
Qin Xiang nodded to Yun Liu, then dragged the reluctant Yu Shen Yinglian off toward the other side of the coral grove, strolling along the seabed.
Ao Tian seized the chance to squirm out of Ah Lian’s arms, flapping his little wings desperately underwater, slipping back into Yun Liu’s bubble and shaking off his drenched feathers.
He sniffed hard, then excitedly pecked the young man’s head, whispering:
“I smell new, unknown fortune!”
If luck held, this trip down the mountain could be a two-for-one jackpot.
Absolutely couldn’t miss it.
Despite being strangers, there was no awkwardness between them.
Eyes met, Yun Liu smiled without speaking, while Madam Yingluo remained composed, sizing him up in turn.
What do two business-minded people talk about?
Nothing but probing and partnership.
“The vast, unbound world of freedom—does the young master find it to his liking?”
“All is well, though I’m not quite used to deep-sea life. It’s like being back in the Qi Refinement Realm.”
“Hehe.”
Yingluo extended a jade-like hand from her sleeve, exhaled gently, and bestowed the Water Phase Blessing.
A warm current enveloped Yun Liu, no longer needing the bubble to resist the Great Whirlpool’s suppression.
His spirit-gathering speed improved slightly, and his Divine Sense visibility extended by ten feet.
“Thank you for your kindness, Madam.”
“How much does the young master know about Qiongxiao Palace?”
Madam Yingluo’s expression turned sorrowful, her beautiful face etched with deep exhaustion.
As expected.
Now came the sob story.
Yun Liu pretended not to catch on, flattering her while giving a thumbs-up.
“Before I arrived, I thought the Five Islands Cave Heaven ruled the Chaotic Sea. Now I realize the true master of the Boundless Sea lurks in the depths. The powers of Shipwreck Bay and the clans of Anchao Liekou all await your command.”
“The young master flatters me. The Kunpeng is the true Master of the Great Whirlpool. We are merely a weak group parasitizing the edge of its nest. We seized the chance of the Kun Spirit transforming into a Peng to spread rumors of ancient relics, manufacturing opportunities for profit. If it truly came to strength, any faction could slaughter Qiongxiao Palace.”
The implication was clear: Mirage City was no different from any ordinary Blessed Land.
It was just a facade Yingluo had woven to attract cultivators from near and far, generating buzz.
Just like the Qixi Festival—a tragic love story endowed with beautiful meaning, making merchants a killing every year.
By the same logic, the Great Whirlpool appeared once a century.
Over time, the Mirage Sea Market became a legendary encounter, and Qiongxiao Palace became a sacred site beneath the waves.
Ao Tian squinted.
Since when did people share secrets this big with outsiders so easily?
Yun Liu exclaimed in admiration:
“This is exactly where Madam’s brilliance lies. You’ve secured breathing room for your people while keeping both the Human Race and Sea Demons from acting rashly.”
Madam Yingluo’s lips pressed together lightly.
Say what you will, this young man’s silver tongue truly charmed this old woman.
“For the young master to be singled out by Yu Steward, you are hardly a fool. Some things I may speak plainly of, unlike those outsiders. Qiongxiao Palace owes its current standing half to the Mirage Sea Market, and half to the alliance I forged with the Huanchao Clan three hundred years ago.”
Yun Liu nodded knowingly, but the more he listened, the more something felt off.
These secrets weren’t being handed out for free.
Among the Five Great Demons, the Merfolk were arguably the weakest of the Yao Race.
Seeking shelter under a bigger tree was only natural.
The so-called alliance was a union between two clans—the Merfolk chieftainess married the then-mightiest Tide-Calling Dragon King and bore a Dragon Girl.
Now the old Dragon King had fallen, and the South Sea Dragon Clan had a new sovereign.
The alliance no longer held, and Anchao Liekou was inevitably growing restless.
Unless…
“So you hope the Rosy Consort will also take up the mantle and continue the dragon clan alliance?”
“Quite the opposite!”
Madam Yingluo let out a cold laugh.
Her late husband was gone, and she held no fondness for those increasingly brazen Demon Dragons.
There was no way she would push her daughter into the fire.
“I have always hoped that humans and the Yao Race could coexist peacefully—at least within the Boundless Sea. Joining the Shanhai Pavilion was to abolish the slave trade and better protect my people.”
“I see.”
Madam Yingluo lifted her eyelids to glance at the white-robed youth, playing hard to get.
“Perhaps I’m overthinking it. These years, I’ve often felt the strain. Treat it as an old woman’s rambling.”
“No, your dream will come true. It will.”
Yun Liu smiled.
In the future, the Great Whirlpool would become a permanent fixture, and Qiongxiao Palace would rise to become the Main City of the Boundless Sea—all thanks to Madam Yingluo.
“Young master truly thinks so?”
Madam Yingluo’s eyes shone with hope.
She gritted her teeth and lowered her head, and sensing the moment was ripe, finally revealed her true purpose:
“Then this humble woman will swallow her pride and beg the young master to lend me your strength!”
“Help with what?”
Yun Liu quickly shook his head.
“Madam overestimates me. What could an outsider like me possibly do?”
“You… don’t have to be an outsider! You saw what happened earlier. The Sea Demons of Anchao Liekou want Qiongxiao Palace to expel all humans, and they will never allow the Dragon Girl to marry outside the clan. At a time like this, if a suitable human were to step forward and become the master of Qiongxiao Palace, treating half-demons and residents equally—perhaps that would be a good beginning!”
The beautiful Merfolk woman’s eyes gleamed, her words laced with implication and encouragement.
The master of Qiongxiao Palace… that would mean—
Yun Liu glanced at the widow’s graceful figure, swallowed hard, and shuddered in fright.
Was this seasoned veteran asking him to climb aboard?
This Dinglu was way too big.
He couldn’t even grip the steering wheel, let alone press the gas.
Ao Tian sucked in a cold breath too.
Who throws themselves at someone the first time they meet?
The Minghuang Holy Body’s allure was way too powerful.
Could this kid be a natural predator of older women!?
“No, no, that won’t do. I’m merely a junior, even if I hold the deepest respect for Madam…”
At those words, Madam Yingluo froze too.
It took her a long moment to react, her face flushing crimson.
“Young master… where has your mind wandered to!”
“Huh?”
“Forgive my intrusion, I—I was referring to the Rosy Consort! I am but a withered flower, and I know my place. How could I dare…”
Yun Liu scratched his head in embarrassment.
Perhaps it was from driving too many big rigs—Old Mother Ji had left a deep shadow, and he tensed up around any Madam.
“Ahem. My mistake. But Madam is too modest—your reputation across the Nine Provinces far exceeds your daughter’s.”
“Is… is that so?”
Madam Yingluo shyly lowered her head.
After all that elaborate buildup, the junior had thrown her off balance.
She stammered:
“The young master and the Rosy Consort share a destined bond, and you are an Extreme Dao Executor. If you were to enter Qiongxiao Palace as a Heavenly Dao Alchemy Master, surely even Anchao Liekou would tread carefully. If… if you find the girl acceptable, this humble woman would spare no effort to help!”
“No, no. I can’t. I really can’t.”
Yun Liu waved his hands repeatedly.
So this was the trap the Master of Boundless Pavilion had set.
It was a matchmaking session all along.