A Zi wasn’t entirely certain about identifying him as human because she had never seen humans before, and only heard descriptions of their physical characteristics passed down through tribal elders.

The descendants of gods and demons lived overseas, rarely interacting with the Nine Provinces. However, periodically, the merfolk would send representatives ashore to gather information about the Nine Provinces and learn of their history.

Thus, coastal regions had legends about merfolk, though these weren’t widely spread.

To return to the matter at hand, the more powerful a god-demon descendant was, the more their transformed human appearance retained characteristics of their original form unless concealed by illusion techniques.

For instance, when the Queen transformed into human form, her eye and hair color wouldn’t change, and some parts of her body would retain scales.

A Zi hadn’t noticed anything unusual about that man, so she boldly guessed he was human.

Oh right, there was also that nine-tailed fox… A Zi added: “The other female is a god-demon descendant, she…”

A Zi described the Nine-tailed Celestial Fox in detail, particularly praising her incomparable beauty and soul-stirring charm, while overlooking her strength.

Because she hadn’t witnessed the nine-tailed fox in action.

The Merfolk Queen furrowed her delicate brows, then showed a look of understanding, saying softly: “I see, so it’s her.”

She looked at A Zi, her smile gentle and graceful as water, and said quietly: “You’re mistaken. The one who subdued the evil flood dragon should be the nine-tailed fox, not that human male.”

A Zi was surprised, thinking that couldn’t be right—the human male was very powerful, and she had seen the evil flood dragon showing him the utmost respect. Also, who was this nine-tailed fox?

The Guard Captain beside them recalled for a moment, saying uncertainly: “My Queen, you mean…”

The Merfolk Queen nodded slightly: “In the southern region of the Nine Provinces mainland, there is a Monster Nation, ruled by the Nine-tailed Celestial Fox. They are descendants of the ancient god-demon Qingqiu Fox. Three hundred years ago, the nine-tailed fox visited Merfolk Island—A Zi wasn’t even born then.”

“The Nine-tailed Celestial Fox is extremely powerful, a top-tier expert both on the Nine Provinces mainland and overseas.”

Speaking of this, she frowned slightly: “Not long ago, I sensed her aura. By rights, she shouldn’t venture to sea so frequently. Could something have happened in the Nine Provinces…”

Months ago, she had sensed that ruler’s aura on Merfolk Island, but she had merely passed by, her aura vanishing in an instant without stopping.

The Queen’s reasoning was sound, and A Zi finally understood her mistake. So the real important figure was that fox spirit—no, the Nine-tailed Celestial Fox.

She was the one who had subdued the evil flood dragon.

The Guard Captain smiled: “Regardless, her subduing the evil flood dragon is an enormous favor to our merfolk race.”

It solved their urgent crisis.

A Zi followed up: “I just saw her outside, and she requested to meet with you.”

The Merfolk Queen didn’t agree immediately, pondering for a long while before slowly nodding: “Where are they? I will lead our people to welcome them personally.”

She had dealt with the Nine-tailed Celestial Fox before. Though the fox spirit was flirtatious and temperamental, her attitude toward merfolk was relatively mild, at least without hostility.

Moreover, with her cultivation level, forcing her way into Merfolk Island would be effortless—there was no need to have A Zi announce her arrival.

As she spoke, she rose from the agate bed, floating lightly into the water. The water flow seemed to come alive, surging up like a fountain to support the Merfolk Queen’s delicate form.

The “fountain” carried her toward the palace exit, with the Guard Captain and A Zi following closely behind.

The three left the palace. By now, dense crowds of merfolk had gathered outside, either standing in the water or sitting by the shore, raising clamorous discussions.

They argued over A Zi’s news, but none dared to go out and verify it.

At this moment, the palace gates opened wide, and the Queen stood atop the fountain, appearing before her people.

The merfolk immediately ceased their discussions, realizing the Queen would give them an accurate answer.

“My people!” The Merfolk Queen’s golden eyes surveyed the surroundings, her voice soft and pleasant: “The evil flood dragon has been subdued by friends who have come from afar. Our crisis is over.”

The merfolk looked at each other, and after a brief silence, cheers echoed through the cave, lingering for a long time.

A Zi hadn’t lied.

Who was this powerful expert who had subdued the evil flood dragon?

[…]

“National Preceptor, being burned by karma fire is no trivial matter. One misstep leads to eternal damnation,” Chu Yuan Zhen frowned, expressing his concerns, then continued: “Moreover, the Human Sect’s mental techniques only risk karma fire burning at the Chaofan realm, how could I…”

As his words fell, he saw Luo Yu Heng’s whisk lightly strike toward him. Chu Yuan Zhen instinctively wanted to dodge but controlled himself.

The whisk struck his arm with little force, but it brought joy, anger, sorrow, fear, love, hatred, desire… These emotions were so intense, like a broken dam, instantly overwhelming Chu Yuan Zhen’s rationality.

He alternated between wanting to destroy the world in anger, feeling like a worthless failure in despair, and wanting to sing and dance in joy…

At this moment, Luo Yu Heng’s magnetic voice, like ice crystals colliding, sounded in his ear: “Return to the origin, try to control the seven emotions with your Nurturing Intent technique.”

Her words contained a certain power that effectively calmed Chu Yuan Zhen’s chaotic mind. He grasped this thread of clarity, steadied his Yuan Shen, and then began using the Nurturing Intent mental technique to try converting the seven emotions into sword intent.

Nurturing Intent involved accumulating and compressing emotions within the sword, day after day, bit by bit, until finally releasing everything at once.

Its core requires a strong emotion or will.

The burning of karma fire perfectly matched this requirement.

Luo Yu Heng’s gaze passed over Chu Yuan Zhen’s face to the sword behind him. Even in its scabbard, its sharp energy was palpable.

How powerful would it be when drawn?

She nodded in satisfaction, again striking Chu Yuan Zhen’s shoulder with her whisk, retrieving the seven emotions and six desires she had planted in his body.

At her level of Terrestrial Immortal, karma fire was no longer a threat—she could even manipulate it against enemies.

After the karma fire was withdrawn, Chu Yuan Zhen’s condition immediately improved. He opened his eyes, both delighted and wary, gazing at Luo Yu Heng’s flawless countenance, sighing: “So this is karma fire burning. So the National Preceptor has been enduring such pain all along.”

Indeed, anyone who could achieve first grade was someone of great willpower, talent, and fortune.

Just considering the Human Sect’s karma fire burning—those without sufficient willpower would have long since become slaves to the seven emotions or perished from mental collapse.

Yet Luo Yu Heng had endured it for twenty full years.

“National Preceptor, how should I gather the seven emotions myself?” Chu Yuan Zhen humbly sought guidance.

He hadn’t cultivated Human Sect mental techniques. Even if Luo Yu Heng’s method was correct, without being able to produce the “fuel” himself, it was meaningless.

Luo Yu Heng said coldly: “Figure it out yourself!”

…Chu Yuan Zhen opened his mouth, then thought better of it.

The National Preceptor’s personality wasn’t very likable.

The scholar only dared complain quietly in his heart, then reflexively looked around, relaxing when he didn’t see Guardian Yuan.

Like Xu Ning Yan and the others, he had developed a condition called “Guardian Yuan Stress Disorder.”

Luo Yu Heng’s expression turned cold as she said flatly: “Get out!”

This attitude—she had seen it several times from Xu Qi An, was virtually identical.

Chu Yuan Zhen’s vision blurred, and he found himself outside the Lingbao Temple gates.

“Whew…” He let out a breath, bowed deeply toward the temple, then turned to leave.

The path ahead, he would walk alone.

A young scholar in green robes walking free and easy, just like years ago when he abandoned the civil path for martial arts.

[…]

On the rippling sea surface, Xu Qi An saw the water ahead suddenly rise, forming a fountain-like spout.

Atop the fountain stood a merfolk woman in her prime. Her dark green hair was casually tied up, adorned with two mother-of-pearl pieces. Her golden eyes were beautiful as a dream, her features combining into breathtaking beauty, while also carrying a pitiful vulnerability.

This gentle, delicate bearing inexplicably reminded him of his sister Xu Ling Yue—both were the kind of fragile women who looked like they’d take a long time to recover from a punch.

The kind that strongly aroused men’s protective and possessive instincts.

She wore a pearl necklace, her chest wrapped in tough fish skin as undergarments, revealing a fair and supple waist with faint muscle definition. Her lower half was an agile, slender fishtail covered in blue-green scales.

Around her, more and more fountains rose, each supporting a merfolk.

At a glance, there were probably over two thousand.

“Hmph, quite the grand welcome,” the silver-haired demon beauty crossed her arms in an imposing stance, lifting her pointed chin slightly like a queen awaiting tribute.

The Merfolk Queen rode her “fountain” over, stopping dozens of feet from the boat. She gave a graceful courtesy, saying softly: “Greetings, Monster Nation Ruler. Three hundred years have passed, yet your grace remains unchanged.”

The Nine-tailed Celestial Fox gave an “mm” while examining the Merfolk Queen, smiling: “Likewise.”

The Merfolk Queen glanced inconspicuously at Xu Qi An, pretending to ignore his blatant stare, and continued: “A Zi tells me you subdued that evil flood dragon. Zhenzhu is deeply grateful for Your Majesty’s aid.”

After speaking, she added hopefully: “Might I see it?”

The Nine-tailed Celestial Fox nodded, her tails reaching into the sea. With a twist of her slender waist, she lifted out a massive flood dragon.

The flood dragon remained docilely still, allowing the fox tails to raise it.

The distant merfolk grew agitated, falling into fear, but soon realized the evil flood dragon had become more docile than fish or shrimp. They gradually calmed down, pointing and discussing, letting out excited cheers.

Because they confirmed that the powerful and brutal flood dragon had truly been subdued.

The Merfolk Queen examined the flood dragon, her delicate brows furrowing. “He… his consciousness has been erased?”

“You could say that!” the nine-tailed fox said. “It’s now our puppet.”

The Merfolk Queen let out a breath, her expression complex—both hateful and rueful—as she said gently: “The Monster Nation Ruler’s great kindness will forever be remembered by the Merfolk.”

The Nine-tailed Celestial Fox accepted this naturally—she had indeed captured this flood dragon.

“I happened to be traveling the seas with a friend and chanced upon Merfolk Island. It was nothing special, and you shouldn’t just thank me.” The silver-haired demon beauty glanced at Xu Qi An.

The Merfolk Queen followed her gaze toward Xu Qi An, smiling gracefully: “And you are…”

Xu Qi An couldn’t understand, so the Nine-tailed Celestial Fox introduced: “He’s a newly ascended Chaofan martial artist from the Nine Provinces, the renowned Xu Silver Gong of the Central Plains Dynasty.”

The Merfolk Queen nodded politely. The Nine Provinces had no shortage of Chaofan experts—a Chaofan martial artist wasn’t particularly noteworthy. As for “Xu Silver Gong,” she didn’t understand the reference at all.

But since he was an expert in the same realm, she naturally wouldn’t look down on him.

The silver-haired demon beauty added with a smile: “A first-grade martial artist.”

The Merfolk Queen whipped her head around, re-examining Xu Qi An, her golden pupils revealing undisguised shock.

She understood what first grade represented. Though the grading system was promoted by humans, it wasn’t recent, so she, as a god-demon descendant, understood what realm a first-grade martial artist symbolized.

It was a realm considered powerful even in the ancient era when gods and demons roamed freely.

As for now, a first-grade martial artist could practically sweep through the Nine Provinces and the various powers of overseas god-demon descendants.

The Merfolk Queen immediately lowered her head, no longer daring to look at Xu Qi An, her tone unconsciously becoming timid and weak: “Zhenzhu greets the great one.”

She suddenly realized A Zi hadn’t been wrong—rather, she had misunderstood.

The one who truly subdued the flood dragon and turned it into a puppet was likely this supreme human expert.

What are they talking about… Xu Qi An maintained a blank expression.

[…]

On Merfolk Island, in a lakeside pavilion.

Merfolk balanced stone plates carved from rocks on their heads, the plates filled with seafood, delivering them in waves to the pavilion.

This lake connected to the solution caves in the mountain’s belly, one of the places where merfolk regularly gathered in the open.

Merfolk Queen Zhenzhu hosted a banquet in the pavilion for the two distinguished guests from the Nine Provinces. Charming merfolk maidens used the opportunity of delivering dishes to carefully observe the human expert.

They knew he was an extremely powerful figure, someone even the Queen had to treat with caution.

He was the one who had subdued the flood dragon.

Attachment to and worship of the powerful was in their nature.

Xu Qi An ate seafood while making eye contact with the nine-tailed fox.

The latter smiled: “It’s a pity there’s no wine—merfolk don’t know how to brew it.”

After her comment, she looked at the Merfolk Queen beside her: “You knew that flood dragon?”

The Merfolk Queen was somewhat nervous, occasionally stealing glances at Xu Qi An. Seeing the Monster Nation Ruler’s question, she quickly collected her thoughts and frowned: “He was the overlord of the Western Sea Dragon Island. Many years ago, we had some interaction. After that, he kept pursuing me, wanting to mate with me—extremely annoying.”

The nine-tailed fox narrowed her eyes: “Then do you know how he went mad?”