The Eerie Ship

Heavenly South, near the coast of the South Sea.

A dilapidated little boat slowly approached the shore, its hull gently parting the waves, creaking but still relatively stable.

On the sea some distance from the ship, an old man and a young man slowly watched the vessel.

"Your Majesty, I still feel we shouldn't make contact with it. This ship came from the deep sea and is likely tainted by eeriness and misfortune. You know, the Endless Sea holds countless secrets."

Ao Xi shook her head. "Grandma, I have a feeling this ship can take me away from here."

"Grandma, don't even think about denying it. I'm sure you've felt it too. Our mermaid clan's protective formation is becoming increasingly unstable and may not be able to hold for much longer. Once the formation is broken, we won't be able to hold out in this deep sea for long either."

"Mother-in-law, we really don't have much time left."

"Even so, I still disagree with you going aboard this ship." The old merman said firmly, "Queen, I know you care about your people, but even if the formation can't hold for long, we can still get to land, to those lakes. We're not without a way out."

"But I don't want to stay here anymore." Ao Xi said coldly, "Mother-in-law, you've told me a lot about the glory of the former queen, and I admire it very much, but do you think I can reach that level if I stay here?"

"You know it's impossible." A resolute glint flashed across Ao Xi's face. "That's why I'm leaving here, leaving Heavenly South, to go to a wider world."

"My arrival is destined to bring unparalleled glory to the Mermaid Race, not to stay here idly cultivating and enjoying the adoration of my people. I must lead the entire Mermaid Race away from this world!"

The old merman's expression suddenly became dazed. Yes, Her Majesty the Queen was born extraordinary. She carried the hopes of the entire Mermaid Race on her shoulders. How could she be allowed to live in this increasingly desolate world?

"Perhaps we have a better way; we don't necessarily have to contact this ship," the old merman said, somewhat relenting.

"No." Ao Xi shook his head, his eyes fixed resolutely on the distant ships. "Grandma, I'm sure you've sensed it too. The people on those ships are very strong. Their purpose is probably to cross Heavenly South and Heavenly South."

The old merman remained silent for a long while before letting out a soft sigh, "You are the queen, you should make the decision yourself."

Ao Xi turned to look at the frail old woman beside her; she seemed to have a faint smell of the sea on her.

"Grandma, I entrust the clan to you. I will surely return and lead the entire clan away in the future."

This is an oath, and also a promise.

After saying this, Ao Xi resolutely turned around and chased after the ship.

The old merman stood still, quietly watching the queen slowly disappear, until his eyes became somewhat glazed before he slowly looked away.

"Your Majesty, I eagerly await your triumphant return, but I fear I may not witness your glory then."

Phoenix City in the Heavenly South.

Phoenix City has now become the largest city in the entire Heavenly South. Even if an ordinary person were to ride a horse at full speed, it would take more than half a month to get from the city gate to the city center.

In the palace, Han Yu, dressed in a phoenix robe, suddenly opened her eyes, and then she took a step and disappeared from the palace.

On the South Sea coast, a flash of fire appeared, and Han Yu, dressed in a phoenix robe, slowly appeared on a mountaintop with an air of dominance over the world. Her eyes were calmly watching the wrecked ship that was constantly approaching the shore.

Although she looked on calmly, she carried a faint but unmistakable aura of authority, which was so subtle that the sea breeze nearby suddenly became gentler.

Soon, the ship slowly sailed away from the sea and into the air, continuing its unhurried journey as if the people inside were not in a hurry.

Han Yu narrowed her eyes slightly, but remained silent, simply watching.

Although the ship gave her a sense of danger, it wasn't a very strong feeling, so Han Yu wouldn't take any action until the other party showed any hostility.

Soon, the ship flew past in the air beside them, without stopping because of Han Yu.

Suddenly, a rope fell from the boat, heading towards Han Yu.

Han Yu didn't move, but the rope stopped on its own not far from her in mid-air.

"The Spirit Moon Sect?"

Han Yu glanced at the ship, then waved his hand and put the rope away.

Suddenly, a clear female voice rang out from not far away. "Excuse me, are you the emperor?"

Mermaids, or rather, mermaids who ran ashore on their own—that's interesting.

Han Yu nodded slightly and said calmly, "What is it?"

Ao Xi bowed and said in a pleading tone, "I would like to ask the Emperor to allocate a lake for us. Our clan's protective formation is about to collapse, and the sea is too dangerous, so I would like to request that my people evacuate to the lake on land."

"Are you the chieftain of the merfolk?"

"I suppose so." Ao Xi then pleaded, "Your Majesty, I am about to leave. Could you please take care of the Mermaid Race?"

"From now on, that lake over there belongs to your Mermaid Race. However, you must guard this coastline and never allow the sea Demon Beast to run rampant," Han Yu said casually, pointing in a direction.

"Furthermore, from now on, the patriarch of your mermaid clan will be granted the title of the Marquis Who Suppresses the Sea, and will enjoy the blessings of the nation's fortune."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Ao Xi said sincerely. Now that her clansmen's future was secured, she could leave with greater peace of mind.

"If you're leaving Heavenly South, please deliver a letter for me."

After Han Yu waved his hand and inscribed something in the air, a golden envelope landed in front of Ao Xi.

Ao Xi accepted the gift with both hands, his expression solemn, and said, "Ao Xi will certainly not fail the Emperor's trust."

Han Yu nodded, then tossed some more things over. "Take these, you'll need them on the way."

Looking at the pills, talismans, and Law Treasure artifacts hanging around her, Ao Xi hesitated, unsure whether she should accept them.

But Han Yu didn't care whether she accepted them or not; after leaving those things behind, he simply disappeared.

In the end, Ao Xi still put these things away. After all, the owner was gone, and she couldn't just leave them there.

"He's not as bad as my mother-in-law says. This emperor is quite generous; he not only designated a lake for his people but also gave them so many things."

"But this emperor is really powerful. I'm like an ant in front of her. We're both kings, I wonder when I'll be as powerful as her."

After a few sighs, Ao Xi telepathically informed her mother-in-law of what had happened, asking her to arrange the evacuation. As for herself, she would have to stay on that ship.