Hearing this, the Merfolk Queen slightly furrowed her brows, her voice gentle yet grave:

“His body was covered in strange spiritual patterns. Those weren’t his innate divine abilities—his natural talents were water control and physical enhancement. It’s incredible; I’d never heard of spiritual patterns being formed after birth.”

“I believe this might be the reason for his madness. Unfortunately, the last time I saw him was five winters ago, so I don’t know what he’s encountered recently.”

The Nine-tailed Celestial Fox turned to translate the conversation for Xu Qi An.

To still pursue you after going mad—that must be true love… Xu Qi An examined the Merfolk Queen’s delicate features and said: “Can we communicate through thought transmission? I don’t understand the divine demon language.”

For someone of the Merfolk Queen’s level, thought transmission wasn’t difficult.

The Nine-tailed Celestial Fox turned to the Merfolk Queen with a smile: “He says he wants to communicate with you specially.”

“A special way?” the Merfolk Queen asked in her soft voice.

“Mm-hmm!” The silver-haired demon beauty’s lips curved mischievously: “Like mating!”

The Merfolk Queen’s beautiful face instantly flushed red as she stared at Xu Qi An with shock, anger, and embarrassment: “No, absolutely not…”

Merfolk were a faithful race, having only one partner in their lifetime.

The silver-haired demon beauty asked in surprise: “You already have a partner?”

“No…” The Merfolk Queen shook her head gently: “The Chaofan lifespan is long. I… I’m still young, and not in a hurry to find a partner. But mating is forbidden—I can only mate with my chosen partner.”

After speaking, she worried that her rejection was too harsh and feared this first-grade martial artist might turn cruel. She frowned delicately, looking pitiful as she pleaded: “Your Majesty, please intercede for me.”

What are they saying? The Merfolk Queen’s expressions are so varied. Not learning foreign languages puts you at a disadvantage. Oh! My God, why am I still thinking about learning foreign languages after migrating? This is terrible… Xu Qi An maintained a calm exterior while his inner thoughts ran wild.

“Don’t worry, I’ll speak for you.” The Nine-tailed Celestial Fox turned to Xu Qi An and said, “She thinks you’re a great hero and wants to mate with you. She hopes I’ll act as a matchmaker.”

I should knock her teeth out first… Xu Qi An coldly stared at her: “Want me to spank you right here in front of all the merfolk?”

He wasn’t some lust-addled fool—he could tell the nine-tailed fox was teasing him.

Since the merfolk were a faithful, monogamous race, their choice of partner must be very serious.

The Merfolk Queen couldn’t be some loose woman who went weak-kneed at the sight of any man. If it was about submitting to the powerful, she would have submitted to the flood dragon long ago.

The silver-haired demon beauty’s expression changed slightly as if recalling an unpleasant memory. She glared at him, then said coquettishly: “I was just joking!”

This manner somewhat resembled Fu Xiang, though Fu Xiang was gentle and considerate, unlike this fox spirit who always loved teasing others.

The Nine-tailed Celestial Fox looked at the Merfolk Queen and said: “I’ve convinced him.”

After a pause, she brought the topic back to thought transmission communication.

The Merfolk Queen nodded gently.

Xu Qi An stirred his Yuan Shen, transmitting his thoughts into the Merfolk Queen’s mind: “Where is the Western Sea? How far from here?”

The Merfolk Queen thought for a moment: “Swimming southwest for twenty days and nights would reach his territory. I’ve been there—his transformation probably isn’t related to his territory.”

Twenty days and nights… Merfolk can control water, so they’re not slow. Even flying at full speed, would probably take me about ten days. Too far… Xu Qi An nodded.

That place wasn’t on the Nine-tailed Fox’s “safe sea route.”

After some casual chat, Xu Qi An put the matter aside and asked about the purpose of this sea journey.

“Do you know of any Chaofan-level experts overseas? Preferably second grade, or even first grade,” Xu Qi An asked.

The Merfolk Queen shook her head: “There are very few second-grade or higher experts overseas now, including god-demon descendants.”

Speaking of this, she unconsciously lowered her voice: “According to information passed down by merfolk ancestors, countless ages ago, a powerful god-demon came overseas and massacred the strong among the god-demon descendants, plundering their spiritual patterns. To this day, there are no more second-grade or higher god-demons.”

“Well, perhaps some god-demon descendants have been born to that level since then, but I haven’t met any.”

She was considered a rising star, with a lifespan under a thousand years.

The Merfolk Queen’s gaze swept over Xu Qi An and the Nine-tailed Fox. “I’ve never seen that legendary murderer, but I think it’s still alive and very real. You must be careful when traveling the seas.”

“Especially you, Your Majesty, since you’re also a god-demon descendant—you would be that one’s prey.”

These matters were ancient secrets kept by the merfolk race, which she wouldn’t normally share. But because the Monster Nation Ruler and the human martial artist had done the merfolk a favor, she held nothing back, giving them a kind warning.

Xu Qi An and the Nine-tailed Fox exchanged glances before the former sighed: “Huang’s situation is special. His true form encountered some unknown accident and fell into slumber. He can only use some of his divine abilities. Hunting god-demon descendants was probably to awaken his true form or something similar.”

Since learning that “Huang” was that god-demon from years ago, Xu Qi An had changed to addressing Him as “He.”

Every transcendent was like a deity.

The Nine-tailed Fox nodded: “You might be bolder in your guess—He wants to return to peak condition, to reclaim transcendent status.”

“He devoured all the powerful god-demons overseas but still couldn’t recover transcendent status, so He set His sights on the Guardian, believing the Doorkeeper’s spiritual patterns could help Him return to full power.”

“You overpowered Him with brute force last time. Next time, He’ll crush you.”

Xu Qi An pinched his brow, feeling a headache coming on.

Three transcendents in the Nine Provinces wasn’t enough—if this overseas “Huang” also returned to peak condition, it would be a situation of four transcendents dividing up the Central Plains.

Shen Shu and I can only cover our heads, crouch down, and cry “Please go easy on us, mighty ones”… Xu Qi An thought, finding humor in misery.

The Merfolk Queen listened to their conversation, falling into confusion.

What were they talking about?

“He” referred to… that one? The Monster Nation Ruler said this supreme human expert had once overpowered that one with brute force.

Zhenzhu felt a strong curiosity well up inside her.

Seeing her golden eyes widen with curiosity as she looks at him, Xu Qi An explained briefly: “That fellow is called ‘Huang.’ He came to the Nine Provinces not long ago but was driven back by me. Finding Him is one of my purposes for traveling the seas.”

To maintain his first-grade martial artist dignity, he didn’t explain at length.

But the Merfolk Queen was still greatly shocked, her small mouth slightly open as she stared at him.

This human martial artist had fought with the legendary being from Merfolk tales and driven him away. How powerful was he, and such a powerful male had just proposed to mate with her?

The Merfolk Queen’s heart raced wildly, unable to distinguish between anticipation and resistance, joy and fear.

But as a beautiful female, her vanity was certainly greatly satisfied.

Next, he asked the Merfolk Queen for a “deep sea map” recording some god-demon descendant settlements.

Unfortunately, most god-demon descendant settlements weren’t very powerful, some lacking even Chaofan experts.

But there were two places the merfolk designated as forbidden zones. One was in the southeast, reportedly an ancient battlefield from primordial times. That battlefield had an abyss where terrible monsters dwelled.

All who approached died.

The other was a certain underwater volcano in the Western Sea. Deep within the volcano lived a monster that devoured everything. Merfolk ancestors speculated the ancient god demon “Phoenix” resided there.

I remember the Phoenix died long ago—that’s what was in the Poison God’s memories… Xu Qi An added these two locations to his destinations. If this sea journey yielded nothing, he would investigate these places.

After discussing business, Xu Qi An rubbed his hands together: “I’ve heard merfolk core beads can reveal one’s true love. I humbly request one.”

The Merfolk Queen naturally wouldn’t refuse—pearl beads were the tribe’s most abundant resource.

“Ordinary pearl beads only work on common people. To test a Chaofan expert’s love interest, you need a pearl bead left by a Chaofan-level merfolk—only then can it make the holder reveal their true feelings.”

The Merfolk Queen smiled gently, soft as water: “I’ll have someone fetch one now.”

She immediately ordered the Guard Captain with crow’s feet waiting outside the pavilion to fetch a pearl bead.

A quarter hour later, the crow’s-footed Guard Captain returned, holding a huge clam which she presented to the Merfolk Queen.

The Merfolk Queen waved lightly, and the black-shelled clam, as large as a copper basin, flew to the stone table and slowly opened.

Among the soft white clam meat lay a transparent bead the size of a chicken egg, milky white without any impurities.

Just from appearance alone, it was worth a fortune.

The Nine-tailed Fox’s beautiful eyes fixed intently on the bead, completely focused as if anticipating Xu Qi An taking it.

I could use this to trick Li Ling Su later, make him take it in front of all his female companions… Xu Qi An’s hand stopped halfway as a thought struck him. He turned to the silver-haired demon beauty with a smile: “You take it!”

With this fox spirit’s personality, she would surely be the first to play with such an interesting treasure—she couldn’t possibly be this well-behaved.

The Nine-tailed Fox narrowed her eyes, smiling: “What’s wrong, Xu Silver Gong? Afraid to take the bead in front of me? Worried it’ll reveal you secretly admire this ruler?”

Xu Qi An countered: “Yes, yes, that’s why I can only let Your Majesty take it.”

The silver-haired demon beauty snorted coldly, lifting her pointed chin: “This ruler won’t give you that satisfaction.”

Xu Qi An questioned skeptically: “Your Majesty dares not take it because you’re afraid of revealing your feelings, right?”

Any other woman would be blushing by now, but not the fox spirit. She smiled seductively: “Care to guess?”

After their brief battle of wits, Xu Qi An looked at the Merfolk Queen and smiled: “Your Majesty, please!”

Zhenzhu followed his instruction and picked up the pearl bead—nothing happened.

That dead fox was indeed tricking me… Xu Qi An took out the Earth Book fragment and shone it at the pearl bead, storing it inside.

This merfolk probably hadn’t experienced love yet.

[…]

After enjoying the feast, the Merfolk Queen arranged for female merfolk to dance in the lake. Xu Qi An watched the merfolk dance while checking message scrolls.

Though the signal was weak, he could still receive messages from Earthly Society members.

[Four: Everyone, how can I experience karma fire burning without entering the Chaofan realm?]

Seeing Chu Yuan Zhen’s question, the Earthly Society members fell silent.

[Five: Do you also want to dual cultivate with Xu Ning Yan?]

Li Na had always been clever, voicing the first guess that flashed through the Earthly Society members’ minds.

???

Chu Yuan Zhen hurriedly explained via message:

[Li Na, don’t talk nonsense! I’ve just figured out a path to Chaofan advancement, but it needs the seven emotions and six desires as a medium.]

Numbers One, Two, and Three all sighed in relief.

The essence of Nurturing Intent was accumulating will and emotions, while karma fire was fierce “emotion.” If he could mobilize karma fire at will to practice Nurturing Intent, Scholar Chu’s combat power would surely skyrocket, achieving qualitative transformation… Xu Qi An, equally versed in Nurturing Intent, immediately grasped the essence.

[Seven: Brother Chu, just lie flat—why trouble yourself about advancing to Chaofan? The future’s great powers will be transcendents and first-grades fighting it out. Second and third grades can only assist. Even if you advance to third grade, it won’t help matters.]

The Holy Son had already chosen to lie flat.

Both in reality and in bed.

Showing an extremely negative attitude.

At most, he would get up to practice martial arts for an hour each day, then go to the Imperial Astronomy Bureau to ask his sworn brother for miraculous pills to boost virility and nourish the kidneys.