Ariel and Eva

Pearl Bay, at the edge of Sea God Island.

This was the habitat of Sea God Island's merfolk.

Beneath the clear, shallow waters, coral groves blazed like flames. Schools of multicolored fish darted through forests of swaying sea anemones, while fine white sand blanketed the seabed, reflecting sunlight that pierced the water like scattered gold.

And within these shallows was a small figure.

It was Ariel.

She hovered in the warm shallows, her tiny brows slightly furrowed and her expression intent.

Ariel stretched out her hand. A ring of pale blue ripples, visible to the naked eye, coiled around her fingertips, guiding the jellyfish that had been drifting aimlessly before her. They lightly gathered and scattered around her, forming a tiny, briefly shimmering crown.

"Perfect. Simply a treasure bestowed by the Sea God." A gentle voice sounded beside Ariel's ear.

A mermaid parted the currents and arrived at Ariel's side.

Her lower body was covered in silver-blue scales that gleamed with a pearly luster, while her upper body wore simple garments woven from thin sea silk. Her beautiful face carried the ocean's depth and majesty.

She was the Sea Maiden Douluo, the strongest of the merfolk and one of the guardians of Sea God Island's Seven Sacred Pillars.

Watching Ariel command the jellyfish before her, the Sea Witch's eyes were filled with amazement.

She had never imagined that this little mermaid, rescued by her people from the reefs, would possess such extraordinary talent.

Ariel's control over water was like an instinct she had been born with. She seemed to be the ocean's favored child.

The Sea Witch could almost foresee that, in the future, this child would hold a place among Sea God Island's Seven Sacred Pillars. She even suspected that Ariel might receive the Sea God's Nine Trials, something even she had never obtained.

"Ariel, your affinity with water amazes me more every day. It is as though the ocean itself has opened its arms to embrace you," the Sea Witch praised.

At her words, Ariel's furrowed brows relaxed into a smile. The ripples under her control instantly dispersed, and the jellyfish regained their freedom, drifting leisurely into the distance.

"Big Sister Sea Witch!"

Ariel flicked her tail and swam nimbly to Lorelei's side, rubbing against her arm.

Ariel had been summoned by Lin Wan some time ago. Her first foothold after arriving on Douluo Continent had been the reefs near Sea God Island.

And she had been fortunate enough to be quickly spotted by mermaids who had gone out to play. They brought her back to the merfolk, and she had remained in their settlement ever since.

Ariel's original plan had been to cultivate steadily on Sea God Island until she turned eighteen, gradually revealing her unparalleled talent. Then, during the Sea God assessment at eighteen, she would obtain the Sea God's Nine Trials and ascend to the position of Sea God.

The reason Ariel was so confident about her Sea God assessment at eighteen was entirely because she possessed that talent to begin with.

In the fairy-tale world, her father had possessed the Sea God's Trident, established the Mermaid Kingdom, and ruled over the entire ocean.

And from the moment she was born, she had possessed peerless talent. The sea loved her, and even the Sea God's Trident showed her favor. Thus, she had been called the Daughter of the Sea.

Her father had also regarded her as the Mermaid Kingdom's next successor from an early age.

However, Ariel did not care about power or the throne. She longed for an immortal soul like those possessed by humans, so she had gone to land in hopes of gaining human love and, through it, an immortal soul.

Although she had ultimately failed, she did not mind.

And now that she had come to this world, she was still the Daughter of the Sea. The entire ocean continued to cherish her.

If the position of Sea God had not already been claimed by Poseidon, Ariel could have become the Sea God through her own talent alone.

Now that she had arrived in a new world, Ariel was still searching for an eternal soul.

Therefore, she wished to become a god of this world and see whether gods possessed eternal souls.

If she failed to receive the Sea God's inheritance during her Sea God assessment at eighteen, Ariel would not lose heart.

She would continue cultivating, travel across this continent, and search for a way to obtain an eternal soul.

The Sea Maiden Douluo gently stroked Ariel's red hair.

"Little Ariel, your affinity with water has improved again. Once you grow a little older and awaken your martial soul, you will surely astonish all of Sea God Island."

She paused, a trace of solemnity entering her voice. "However, growing stronger requires a peaceful state of mind. I sense that you have seemed somewhat uneasy lately?"

Nestled in the Sea Maiden Douluo's embrace, a trace of worry wholly unsuited to her age surfaced in the depths of Ariel's azure eyes.

She could not tell the Sea Maiden Douluo that she came from another world, nor could she tell her that Ursula, her former enemy, had come to this world as well.

The two of them had both been summoned by Lin Wan and served him.

But their personalities differed, so their methods were destined to differ as well.

And Ariel and Ursula had once been enemies. Though they had now both come to Douluo Continent,

Ariel knew that Ursula and she were destined not to coexist peacefully.

Because of the system's restrictions, she could not explain Ursula's existence to the Sea Witch, nor could she explain the grudges from another world or the system's rules. Thus, Ariel could only answer the Sea Witch's question vaguely.

"Big Sister Sea Witch, I merely sensed a trace of unease within the ocean."

The Sea Maiden Douluo took it only as a child's natural fear of the unknown and comforted her gently. "Do not be afraid, little Ariel. The Sea God's radiance shines upon every sea, and evil cannot endure beneath holy light for long. You possess the purest ocean bloodline. Darkness will only fear you. Cultivate diligently. Once you are strong enough, you will be able to dispel every shadow."

Ariel nodded firmly, burying her little face in the Sea Maiden Douluo's warm embrace and drawing strength and comfort from it.

Big Sister Sea Witch was right. Fear could not solve anything. Since she could not confront Ursula directly, she would make herself stronger.

Strong enough to protect the ocean's peace and ensure that Ursula's schemes could not succeed.

Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, Emerald Palace.

This was Eva's bedchamber.

Eva lounged against a soft couch, idly playing with a crystal goblet between her fingers. The dark red wine within resembled congealed blood.

She wore only a wine-red silk robe, its neckline cut low enough to reveal a stretch of snow-white skin and her delicate collarbones.

Before her, the Magic Mirror clearly reflected the scene in the corridor outside the palace doors.

Xue Qinghe was currently making his way toward Eva's bedchamber at an unhurried pace.

"Tsk, tsk. Look at our little crown prince. The way he is forcing himself to remain calm is so adorable it makes one's heart itch."

Eva's red lips curved into an amused smile, her mockery entirely undisguised.

She gently swirled her wineglass and murmured to the Magic Mirror, "Tell me, do you think that far-sighted teacher of his is hiding in some corner right now, nervously awaiting His Highness the Crown Prince's triumphant return?"