Everyone was puzzled. What could be so mysterious that only those directly involved were qualified to know?
Meanwhile, Qin Feiyang, bathed in golden light, heard the words of the Mermaid Emperor, his eyes showing confusion. He turned his head to look at Princess Mermaid. He noticed her eyes were slightly closed, her cheeks shimmering with a hazy radiance, as serene as if she were in a deep sleep.
Huh! Suddenly, his gaze fell upon her back, his eyes flashing with a strange light. The clothes on her back had bulged high, as if something was about to break free.
RIP! The Golden Scale Garment suddenly tore apart.
Two wings, growing from small to large, appeared behind her. They seemed cast from molten gold, shimmering with a brilliant light. Each feather was as soft and lustrous as silk.
Was it successful?
But what does this have to do with me? Qin Feiyang was puzzled. It was Princess Mermaid who was receiving the legacy; why was he roped into this?
He tried, but still couldn't release his hand.
What was going on?
Were they toying with him?
BOOM!
As the golden wings unfurled, Princess Mermaid's aura also skyrocketed, stabilizing at the One-Star War King realm! Simultaneously, a golden Battle Soul materialized behind her. Though its true features were obscured, its silhouette resembled that of the First Generation Mermaid Emperor. Princess Mermaid herself now looked like an empress descended to the mortal world, emanating a sacred and inviolable aura.
Qin Feiyang muttered to himself, If she didn't have that fishtail, her beauty would definitely rival that so-called sister of mine.
Just then, Princess Mermaid opened her eyes. Her pupils, too, gleamed with a hazy golden light. She turned to Qin Feiyang and asked, "What are you mumbling about?"
"Did I?" Qin Feiyang gave an awkward smile, eager to change the subject. "No, no. Congratulations on obtaining the legacy."
"Legacy?" Princess Mermaid was startled. She looked up at the Battle Soul overhead, then back at the wings on her back, her face instantly lighting up with joyous surprise.
"It worked!" she exclaimed. "I really did it! Father doesn't have to abdicate now! Qin Feiyang, thank you!"
She was incredibly excited, hopping with joy like a three-year-old girl. She then leaned over and planted a kiss on Qin Feiyang's cheek.
"Uh!" Qin Feiyang was stunned. He touched the place where she kissed him, an unusual sensation welling up inside him.
After all, he was almost seventeen now. He was mature in certain aspects. By teasing him like this, wasn't she afraid of playing with fire?
Seeing his reaction, Princess Mermaid covered her mouth and giggled. "Don't overthink it. In my eyes, you're just a little brother who hasn't grown up yet."
Qin Feiyang's face twitched. Other youths his age were already out carousing and chasing women.
He might not share that pastime, but it didn't mean he hadn't grown up! Besides, this Princess Mermaid didn't seem much older than him, did she?
Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Princess Mermaid's pretty face flushed slightly. "Can you try to let go of my hand now?"
"Why should I let go?" Qin Feiyang grinned. "In any case, I'm just a little brother to you. I can't cause you any harm."
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Princess Mermaid said anxiously, "But if we continue like this, others might misunderstand..."
"So what if they misunderstand!" Qin Feiyang looked indifferent.
Princess Mermaid glared at him and said angrily, "Why are you being like this?"
"Like what?" Qin Feiyang retorted.
"You..." Princess Mermaid ground her teeth, flushed with anger and embarrassment.
Qin Feiyang couldn't help but find it amusing. He stopped teasing her and slightly loosened his grip. This time, it wasn't like before; his hand came away easily.
Qin Feiyang opened his palm and looked at it, finding nothing amiss. Why had their hands stuck together then?
He then looked at Princess Mermaid's wrist but found nothing unusual there either.
Strange. Qin Feiyang frowned as he stepped out of the golden light. The light also quickly surged back into Princess Mermaid.
In no time, she appeared before the crowd.
"She really succeeded!" The Black Wing King and the others were dumbstruck.
The golden wings and the golden, humanoid Battle Soul were exceptionally dazzling in their eyes. Fear and respect welled up in their hearts. This fear and respect stemmed not from Princess Mermaid, but from that Battle Soul—a symbol of the First Generation Mermaid Emperor!
Qin Feiyang temporarily suppressed his doubts, looked up at the two Ancestors, and said with a faint smile, "Do you have anything else to say now?"
The two remained silent.
Qin Feiyang said, "Seeing as you have nothing more to say, then go back where you came from!"
The two Ancestors exchanged a glance. The White-Winged Ancestor said, "We admit defeat, but you must come with us."
"On what grounds?" Qin Feiyang frowned.
The Black Wing Ancestor said gravely, "Let us be frank. We don't believe you'll keep this secret, so you cannot leave the Sea of Despair."
A chill ran down Qin Feiyang's spine. The very thing he had worried about had happened.
The White-Winged Ancestor said, "As long as you stay here peacefully, not only will we not harm you, but we will also treat you as an honored guest."
Qin Feiyang shook his head. "I have many things to do. I cannot stay here."
The two Ancestors' gazes turned icy.
The Mermaid Emperor said, "Ancestors, I can guarantee that he will not expose our Mermaid clan."
"What guarantee can you offer?" the two Ancestors said angrily. "The words of humans are utterly untrustworthy!"
The Mermaid Emperor stated firmly, "I guarantee it with my life!"
The two Ancestors frowned.
The Mermaid Emperor continued, "If it were anyone else, I wouldn't dare vouch for them. But Qin Feiyang is trustworthy."
The White-Winged Ancestor said solemnly, "If something goes wrong, will you take responsibility?"
"As I said, I vouch with my life!" the Mermaid Emperor declared.
"Since you are so obstinate, we shall wait and see," the two Ancestors snorted coldly. "I'd like to see if this human is truly as you claim." Then, they transformed into streaks of light and quickly vanished from everyone's sight.
The Black Wing King and White Wing King exchanged a look, then, filled with deep unwillingness, turned and departed.
"Hey, hey, hey, have you forgotten something?" Wolf King suddenly hollered.
The two figures shivered.
Qin Feiyang said nonchalantly, "Forget it. Making people like them bark like dogs would be an insult to dogs."
"Don't you go too far!" The two whirled around, staring daggers at Qin Feiyang, murderous intent flickering in their eyes.
"Did I say something wrong?" Qin Feiyang challenged. "Dogs represent loyalty; they will defend their master to the death. And you? Back then, the First Emperor Qin not only refrained from exterminating your Mermaid clan but also granted you this sanctuary, a world apart. Yet, instead of showing gratitude, you plotted to overthrow the Great Qin Empire. You are truly worse than beasts!"
The two were so furious their heads were practically steaming, their bodies trembling. In their hundreds of years of life, no one had ever dared speak to them this way, let alone humiliate them in public!
Qin Feiyang glanced at them indifferently, then smiled at the Mermaid Emperor. "I have something I'd like to discuss with you."
"I was thinking the same. Follow me." The Mermaid Emperor then cast a cold glance at the departing figures. "Black Wing King, White Wing King, I hope you will consider your actions carefully from now on." With that, he led Qin Feiyang, Princess Mermaid, and Wolf King away.
The Black Wing King and White Wing King glowered at Qin Feiyang's receding figure, their faces contorted with rage. "Little Bastard, sooner or later I'll kill you with my own hands!"
If it weren't for Qin Feiyang's intervention, helping Princess Mermaid and the Mermaid Emperor, they would have long since ascended the throne. Thus, Qin Feiyang was, without a doubt, a thorn in their side they desperately wanted to remove.
「In a palace.」
"Young friend, I am truly grateful for your help. Please accept my bow of gratitude!" The Mermaid Emperor bowed deeply.
This time, without Qin Feiyang, losing the throne would have been a minor issue; it was likely that both he and his daughter would have lost their lives!
"Senior, you are too kind. It was merely a small effort on my part," Qin Feiyang smiled, helping the Mermaid Emperor up.
To Qin Feiyang, it was indeed a small effort, but to the Mermaid Emperor, it was a life-saving favor.
"If there's anything here you fancy, please take it. I only hope, young friend, that you won't find our offerings too humble," the Mermaid Emperor said, cupping his fist.
"Of course not, of course not," Qin Feiyang hurriedly waved his hands and smiled.
He was kidding himself if he thought he'd refuse. Anything from here would be a priceless, rare treasure out in the world. He wished he could take it all. How could he possibly find it humble?
Wolf King was even more direct, already rummaging through the palace, its eyes gleaming with avarice.
"Behave yourself," Qin Feiyang rolled his eyes at it, then turned to the Mermaid Emperor. "Senior, what caused that situation earlier?"
The Mermaid Emperor said, "That is precisely what I wanted to discuss with you. Please, take off your upper garment."
"Take off my upper garment?" Qin Feiyang frowned but complied.
When he removed his upper garment, revealing the red Potential Mark, the Mermaid Emperor stared in astonishment.
Qin Feiyang, too, was stunned. But he wasn't looking at the Potential Mark. He discovered that above his heart, a golden, heart-shaped mark had appeared!
When did that get there? How had he not felt a thing?
At that moment, the Mermaid Emperor exclaimed in awe, "I never imagined you'd unlocked the Third Layer of the Door of Potential! No wonder your innate talent is so terrifying."
"It was just luck," Qin Feiyang smiled, then asked doubtfully, "But what's this heart-shaped mark about?"
"Luck?" The Mermaid Emperor shook his head, not pressing further. He explained, "This is called a Heart Knot. It's not just on you; my daughter has one on her heart as well."
"I have one too?" Princess Mermaid was taken aback. She turned, lifted the Golden Scale Garment over her chest, and indeed, there was a heart-shaped mark.
She adjusted her clothing, turned back to the Mermaid Emperor, and asked in confusion, "Father, why has this happened?"
"This is a secret known only to the successive Mermaid Emperors," he replied. "Legend says that the First Emperor of humankind and the First Generation Mermaid Emperor, fearing future wars between Mermaids and humans, left a Heart Knot within the divine statue."
"The Heart Knot only appears when a human possessing the Bloodline Power of the First Emperor and a Mermaid possessing the Bloodline Power of the First Generation Mermaid Emperor experience skin-to-skin contact."
"And once the Heart Knot appears, it signifies an eternal truce between our two races."
"For generations, I and the Mermaid Emperors before me believed this to be merely an ethereal legend. I never imagined it was true, let alone that it would happen to my own daughter." The Mermaid Emperor sighed; even he felt as if he were dreaming.
After hearing this, Qin Feiyang was also deeply moved. The First Emperor was truly a monarch of profound foresight.
Princess Mermaid pondered for a moment, then asked, "Father, how can we make the Heart Knot disappear?"
She had known Qin Feiyang for less than two days, and their relationship wasn't particularly intimate, so this Heart Knot made her feel exceptionally awkward.

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