Futile Devices Scans

Chen Yixin kept his chin lifted long after the Roc Demon Emperor had left. That innate arrogance of a phoenix was unmistakably displayed on him—but he was far more cunning than an ordinary phoenix, unwilling to suffer even the slightest loss.

He had directly stated in the arranged duel that if he lost, Wenren Li would step in to teach the Roc Demon Emperor a lesson—utterly shameless.

“Don’t worry, A-Li. I was just scaring him. Ten years is enough.”

“I’ll follow A-Rong’s arrangements,” Wenren Li said, raising a hand to gently stroke Chen Yixin’s cheek. A faint smile surfaced in his eyes before he pulled him into an embrace, his tone half a sigh, half a confession. “I feel like I’m liking A-Rong more and more.”

“That’s only natural. I’m worth it,” Chen Yixin replied, his narcissism completely unchanged. After saying this, he leaned closer to Wenren Li’s ear. “Shall we go back to the room?”

His self-admiration didn’t stop him from being stirred by Wenren Li’s words. Desire was human nature—there was no need to suppress it.

After a full day of continuous drizzle, the treasure ship shrank and was put away by Ze Fang. They entered the water and continued toward the underwater domain of the Merfolk Clan.

Chen Yixin and Wenren Li sat on a silver hide the size of a cloak. Around them were demon palace guards in close protection, and further out were four Soul Transformation merfolk accompanying them. Only behind them came Ze Fang and Nan Ke leading the other cultivators and ordinary practitioners.

They were heading toward the Merfolk Clan’s territory, to subdue the last remaining Soul Transformation merfolk before proceeding to the place where the immortal light had appeared. As for whether that place was the Northern Sea Water Palace Chen Yixin’s father had asked them to find—that would have to be seen when they arrived.

“Father, Mother, the water here feels really comfortable…” Yinzi, who had been asleep for over half a year, spoke. Its true form had grown from the size of a cushion to the size of a cloak. This growth was largely due to the Upper Realm sword spirit given by Han Zichuan.

“It seems the spatial rifts in the Northern Sea aren’t just a legend,” Chen Yixin said to Wenren Li, reaching out to scratch Yinzi. “When we get there, have your father take a proper look at you.”

Compared to Wenren Li, Chen Yixin’s knowledge was still limited. Even if his special constitution allowed him to sense certain things, he couldn’t give Yinzi much guidance. Wenren Li, however, was different—he knew far more, often able to explain things even the palace spirit couldn’t.

“Alright!” Yinzi replied and continued swimming through the depths.

The people behind struggled to keep up, while Chen Yixin and Wenren Li remained completely at ease. Sitting atop Yinzi was even more comfortable than being on the ship. Yinzi could travel safely even through the void, let alone the seabed.

According to the Soul Transformation merfolk, the journey would take nearly three days.

Their routine was no different from when they were on the ship—mainly cultivating, discussing issues when they arose. Any troublesome sea beasts were dealt with by the merfolk or Ze Fang’s group; Chen Yixin and Wenren Li didn’t even spare them a glance.

“Reporting to Master, ahead lies the Merfolk Clan,” the leading Soul Transformation merfolk named Yan reported with a slight bow from outside the demon palace guards. The others behind also came to a stop.

Ze Fang and the Roc Demon Emperor both hesitated. Bringing everyone into the Merfolk Clan territory didn’t seem appropriate. Yet letting only Chen Yixin and Wenren Li go in with the merfolk felt unsafe. Leaving the younger generation outside was equally concerning.

Chen Yixin and Wenren Li stood up. Yinzi shrank back to cushion size and flew into Chen Yixin’s arms. Chen Yixin nodded to Wenren Li, then waved his hand behind him—Nan Ke and the others were all taken into the Burning Heaven Nether Palace.

Previously, when he had been in bird form, he couldn’t open the jade pendant space or the Burning Heaven Nether Palace. Now that his cultivation had returned, he could access it again. Although the palace was heavily damaged, with some areas nearly devoid of spiritual energy, it was fine for a short stay.

Ze Fang and the Roc Demon Emperor both showed slight shock. They had never seen a spatial treasure capable of storing living people. But Chen Yixin would never harm his own demon palace guards, so Nan Ke and the others were surely safe.

“Your Highness, could you also take them in?” the Roc Demon Emperor asked first. The Young Roc Lord and the others looked over, their eyes still burning with fervor.

Chen Yixin nodded. “Yes—but you’ll have to sleep.”

Nan Ke and the others could move freely inside the Burning Heaven Nether Palace, but these cultivators and demon practitioners could not. Their fervor meant little to Chen Yixin.

Ze Fang and the Roc Demon Emperor both agreed. Chen Yixin carried Yinzi and swam forward a bit, collecting everyone.

The once large procession was now reduced to a simple group of eight—no, one more if Yinzi was counted. It was a weapon no less formidable than Wenren Li; anyone who underestimated it would suffer greatly.

“In the clan, there is the Clan Leader, and in addition, three elders,” Yan explained. The Merfolk Clan did not have just five Soul Transformation cultivators as Ze Fang had believed, but eight. Three of them had long been in seclusion and did not interfere in clan affairs or conflicts with humans.

Ze Fang’s pupils shrank slightly—he had underestimated the Merfolk Clan, and perhaps even the Sky Clan. There were likely hidden Soul Transformation experts among them. Whether the human race had similar hidden powerhouses remained uncertain.

Chen Yixin also fell silent. Below Soul Transformation, the Taixuan world had no shortage of talented individuals—it was truly a land of prodigies. Yet the path to immortality was severed; no matter how talented or numerous, they would all eventually be worn down here.

The scenery underwater was completely different from the surface. Upon entering Merfolk territory, the view became even more breathtaking—corals, sea grasses, and playful fish shimmering in brilliant colors.

After traveling quickly for an hour, a light barrier appeared ahead—the entrance to the Merfolk domain.

Yan stepped forward, waved his hand, and opened a gap in the barrier. He entered first.

Wenren Li held Chen Yixin’s hand as they entered together. Ze Fang and the Roc Demon Emperor followed two steps behind, stepping in as well, and only then did the remaining three Soul Transformation merfolk enter.

As Yan stepped in, a short-range teleportation array appeared beneath his feet. Wenren Li, who entered immediately after, only glanced at it once before fixing his gaze on Yan and saying, “Shatter!”

The teleportation array shattered into powder instantly, and the burst of void power sent Yan coughing up blood. At the same time, he clutched his head—he knew that the fleeting chance he had hoped for was gone.

If he had managed to enter the teleportation array, the clan elders might have had a way to help him resist the threat of the slave mark. But he had failed. Now, Wenren Li could kill him in an instant.

“Master, spare me!” The three Soul Transformation merfolk who entered after him realized the situation had changed and immediately knelt to beg for mercy.

Wenren Li and Chen Yixin both looked on coldly, unmoved. The small schemes these four had attempted over the past few days had not escaped their notice. But they still needed them to lead the way—killing them too early would not be ideal.

“Have your clan leader and the three elders come out. Unless you want to watch them die before reaching your territory.”

As Wenren Li spoke, the four Soul Transformation merfolk clutched their heads and writhed on the ground. Their souls were being continuously twisted, on the verge of either exploding or extinguishing. Wenren Li was not exaggerating—having control through the slave mark, he could kill them at any moment. Even without it, killing them would not take much effort.

“A misunderstanding, a huge misunderstanding! Two Divine Lords, please come inside!”

A plump old merfolk rolled out from behind a coral reef. He didn’t spare the four writhing merfolk a glance. Instead, his small eyes were filled with delight as he looked at Chen Yixin and Wenren Li, waving his hands anxiously. “A misunderstanding, a misunderstanding!”

“It is their fortune to serve you—it is the fortune of our clan! Please, come inside. This old one has finally been waiting for you two.”

Chen Yixin had never heard of any prophecy concerning the Merfolk Clan, so he showed little reaction. Wenren Li, however, had heard of it before, though he hadn’t expected the old merfolk to recognize Chen Yixin’s uniqueness at a glance.

“Kneel! All of you, kneel!”

The fat old merfolk shouted loudly. The clan leader, though hesitant, still followed his command and knelt in greeting.

One after another, they all knelt. Even the arriving merfolk army froze in shock before kneeling as well. Wenren Li’s plan to establish dominance through killing now seemed unnecessary.

At that moment, Yinzi floated forward from Chen Yixin’s arms. Its long whiskers flicked outward, releasing a strange power, dragging out two Soul Transformation experts who had been hiding in the void with the help of a treasure.

“A misunderstanding, a misunderstanding!” the fat old merfolk cried out again in alarm, crawling forward in haste to explain. But Yinzi had already extracted their souls and swallowed them whole.

“Ah…” Gasps of shock erupted one after another—everyone was stunned by Yinzi.

Chen Yixin beckoned, and Yinzi returned to his arms. He poked it lightly. “Greedy…”

That was the extent of his discipline. In Yinzi’s view, the law was survival of the fittest. Only Chen Yixin and Wenren Li were exceptions.

Yinzi’s whiskers brushed against Chen Yixin’s hand as it stared wide-eyed at the merfolk, clearly capable of devouring them all in one bite—depending on whether they dared continue hiding and plotting against its father and mother.

“Let’s go in first,” Chen Yixin said, taking Wenren Li’s hand and leading him inside. He wanted to hear what this old merfolk had to say—aside from the Heaven’s Secret Sect, there were others who knew something about him.

As Chen Yixin led him away, Wenren Li’s killing intent faded. The four Soul Transformation merfolk, who had been writhing in agony, fell unconscious. After such torment, they would likely never dare harbor rebellious thoughts again.

The pain of having one’s soul torn and crushed—even Soul Transformation cultivators would fear it.

The fat old merfolk personally led the way, though the anxious expression on his face had not faded. He was clearly troubled about how to resolve this “misunderstanding,” and it was obvious he did not wish to become enemies with Chen Yixin and Wenren Li.

Upon entering the main hall, Chen Yixin and Wenren Li showed no courtesy. They walked straight to the clan leader’s throne and sat down together. The Merfolk Emperor’s throne was wide enough for a person to lie down on, so it easily accommodated both of them. It even seemed as though they naturally belonged there.

Ze Fang and the Roc Demon Emperor followed behind. They had intended to protect Chen Yixin and Wenren Li, but earlier there had been no chance for them to act. Now, it seemed even less necessary.

Fortunately, they had not stood against Wenren Li and Chen Yixin—otherwise, they would be the ones in trouble now.

“What did you mean just now? Divine Lords? You’re saying A-Li and I are Divine Lords?”

Chen Yixin could roughly guess the pattern, but hearing a similar prophecy so far out at sea made him want to hear it again. He also wondered whether it matched the four-character prophecy left to Wenren Li by the former Heaven’s Secret elder.

“The feather plumes on your forehead prove that your divine blood has awakened. Naturally, you are a Divine Lord,” the fat old merfolk replied, not daring to sit. After stepping forward, he chose to kneel as he spoke, as it gave him peace of mind.

“Your silver hair is also one of the signs of a Divine Lord. There is no need for further proof.” His gaze toward Wenren Li was even more fervent than toward Chen Yixin. He opened his mouth as if to say something more, but ultimately held back.

“You two… please follow this old one. You will understand at a glance.”

As he spoke, the old merfolk respectfully kowtowed. The other Soul Transformation merfolk followed suit, clearly familiar with the clan’s long-passed-down prophecy. They had never expected that the humans competing with them for the immortal light would be the reincarnated Divine Lords foretold in it.

“It’s said that the Merfolk Clan has a divine well that often shows strange phenomena. It seems that’s true,” Ze Fang said, offering some explanation. Having lived over a thousand years, he enjoyed collecting such information—true or false—and over time, he had gathered quite a lot.

“Let’s go take a look,” Chen Yixin replied. He was reminded of the divine well from the palace spirit’s memories—the one through which he had taken Wenren Li from the Upper Realm. If the Merfolk Clan also had such a well, it would certainly be extraordinary.

The divine well was located in the Merfolk Clan’s forbidden ground. Only the old merfolk and the clan leader were normally permitted to enter, but today, that rule was ignored.

To ensure that everyone in the clan would be convinced, the old merfolk allowed anyone interested to follow and witness it.

“This well is called the Three Lives Well. Aside from manifesting strange phenomena, it can also reveal a person’s past life, present life, and future life.”

The old merfolk explained its wonders earnestly, but Chen Yixin found it somewhat uninteresting. As a reincarnated phoenix, if he failed in this life, there would likely be no next. Having already acknowledged his father’s incarnation, seeing a past life held little appeal.

Still, since they were here, there was no harm in taking a look. The divine well stood alone in a barren clearing, surrounded by nothing—plain and desolate in appearance. Yet it was a sacred object the Merfolk Clan had guarded for generations.

“Please step forward, Divine Lords,” the Merfolk Emperor said. After performing a brief prayer, he bowed and gestured to Chen Yixin and Wenren Li. Everyone focused intently, waiting for the result.

Chen Yixin glanced at them, then took Wenren Li’s hand and walked forward. Halfway there, he turned and smiled. “A-Li, don’t worry. It’s just a look. I trust my own judgment.”

He would not let prophecies or divine objects shake his beliefs. No matter what he saw, it would not change how he felt about Wenren Li.

In truth, it didn’t matter whether they looked or not. But Chen Yixin believed there was value in understanding such divine objects. If they could be useful, they would be kept. If they became obstacles, they would be removed.

He believed the future was something he and Wenren Li would carve out together—not something predetermined by words written elsewhere.

“Mm,” Wenren Li nodded. He was indeed somewhat hesitant, but since Chen Yixin wanted to see, he was willing to accompany him.

Chen Yixin quickened his steps. As soon as he reached the divine well, a phoenix-shaped spiritual light spread its wings and flew out, circling around him. Everyone present—including Ze Fang and the Roc Demon Emperor—knelt down in submission and respect.

Chen Yixin paid them no mind, nor did he care about the phenomenon. He looked carefully, wanting to see what Wenren Li might reflect in the well—but there was nothing. As the vision faded, the calm water clearly reflected his own true form as a small phoenix chick, yet Wenren Li, whose hand he held, had no reflection at all, as if what he held was merely empty nothingness.

Chen Yixin frowned slightly in disbelief. He crouched down, leaning forward to peer closer. Wenren Li reached out and wrapped an arm around his waist, inexplicably worried he might fall into the well.

“What kind of broken well only shows this much…”

As Chen Yixin muttered, Wenren Li’s pupils suddenly shrank. He had seen an image—a blue-feathered phoenix stained with blood, shedding tears. But when he focused again, there was nothing. Whether it was a past life or the future, he could not tell.

His arm around Chen Yixin tightened. Chen Yixin stopped leaning forward and turned back with a slightly bored expression. “A-Li, don’t worry. I won’t look anymore.”

As he spoke, he rubbed his forehead lightly against Wenren Li’s chin. The three feather plumes brushed across Wenren Li’s lips, unintentionally stimulating himself instead.

Wenren Li held Chen Yixin and instantly teleported back to the Merfolk Palace main hall, returning to the Merfolk Emperor’s throne. The plump old merfolk and the others, who had also chosen to teleport back, found themselves unable to enter the hall.

Wenren Li gently cupped Chen Yixin’s face, his fingertip resting at the corner of his eye. He was still troubled—why would the blue-feathered phoenix in the well be crying? Whether past or present, the only one who could make Chen Yixin show such sorrow was him—but how could he ever allow that?

“A-Li, what’s wrong?” Chen Yixin obediently let himself be held, his face cradled. He blinked lightly, then asked, “Did you see something I didn’t?” Could it be that the well only shows one’s own reflection?

Wenren Li released him and let out a soft breath. “Concern clouds judgment—I was affected.”

He saw no need to hide it and explained what he had seen. Chen Yixin fell silent for a moment, then took Wenren Li’s hand again and pressed it to his cheek, blinking as he said, “A-Li, haven’t you made me cry plenty of times already?”

The slightly heavy atmosphere shattered instantly, disappearing without a trace. When put that way, it was indeed not a small number of times.

“A-Li, don’t worry. I’ll cultivate properly—until even you can’t defeat me.” Of course, there was another possibility: that he might willingly accept defeat, even willingly accept death. But it was too early to draw conclusions from a single image.

“Alright,” Wenren Li nodded, agreeing with him. He would cultivate until no one could harm him—and that included himself.

His previously unsettled aura gradually calmed. The merfolk and Ze Fang, who had been blocked outside, were finally able to enter. Because of the phenomenon at the divine well, the entire Merfolk Clan had submitted in awe. They arranged residences, hoping to properly host Chen Yixin and Wenren Li, and to improve their impression in their eyes.

Chen Yixin and Wenren Li agreed, deciding to head to the place where the immortal light appeared in three days.

On the evening of the next day, Chen Yixin took Yinzi for a walk. Before he knew it, he had wandered near the forbidden grounds of the Merfolk Clan again. He gently tapped Yinzi, and its whiskers swept outward, pulling the plump old merfolk over as well.

“Quiet. I have something to ask you alone.”

Chen Yixin thought the old man was fine in every way except for being too noisy. Before he could start shouting in shock, a trace of phoenix pressure leaked out from Chen Yixin, silencing him instantly.

After letting him recover, Chen Yixin continued, “Under what circumstances would the Three Lives Well show nothing at all?”

“There is nothing within the Five Elements that the Three Lives Well cannot reveal,” the old man replied stubbornly, shaking his head. But the implication was clear—Wenren Li existed outside the Five Elements, which was why the well could not reflect him.

“What kinds of phenomena does it usually show? And what does ‘changing of heaven’ mean?”

After witnessing the phenomenon, Ze Fang had already told them everything he knew about the Merfolk prophecy, so Chen Yixin was familiar with the term “changing of heaven.”

The Heaven’s Secret Sect spoke of restoring the immortal path, while the Merfolk spoke of changing the heavens—did they truly mean the same thing?

“On the days of our grand rituals, it manifests strange phenomena. The phrase ‘changing of heaven’ was concluded by a former clan leader after nearly ten thousand years of observation. Whether it holds deeper meaning, this old one dares not speculate,” the old man said.

Under Chen Yixin’s gaze, the old man’s legs weakened again, almost kneeling. But Chen Yixin had already turned away. Compared to Wenren Li, he was even more puzzled as to why he himself would be seen crying blood.

Yet he did not leave. Instead, he stepped forward to the Three Lives Well again. He first let Yinzi take a look—only Yinzi’s own reflection appeared, a round silver mass, nothing more. No past, no future.

He set Yinzi down and stepped forward himself, eyes wide, not missing a single detail. First, he saw his current half-demon form, then the small chick, and finally the fully matured phoenix divine bird he had once seen in the palace spirit’s memories—majestic, fierce, filled with killing intent.

“Hey, what did you show A-Li? Show it to me too. Otherwise, I’ll have Yinzi swallow you.”

Even after the threat, the well showed no reaction. Chen Yixin smiled lightly and called, “Yinzi…”

“Mother, I’m here!” Yinzi floated up, its round eyes fixed on the well with obvious greed.

Almost immediately, the well reacted. The phenomenon appeared again—as if even it feared being devoured.

The image Wenren Li had seen appeared clearly before Chen Yixin, even clearer than before. Chen Yixin watched calmly, still unsatisfied, and kicked the well lightly. A flicker of spiritual light rippled, as if begging for mercy.

He continued staring. Suddenly, a fleeting image flashed by—Wenren Li. His A-Li. There was no mistake. He lay asleep in a lake, his body entangled by countless black threads, as if something was draining his life force.

“Always showing only half… show me more!”

Chen Yixin kicked the well again, but this time there was no response. His eyes narrowed, anger rising—when suddenly, the plump old merfolk collapsed to his knees beside him.

“Divine Lord, please calm your anger! Direct it at this old one if you must, but the divine well must not be destroyed!”

The merfolk were utterly stunned. Who in history had dared threaten the Three Lives Well? Who had dared treat it so roughly? It was a natural treasure, no less than an immortal artifact from the Upper Realm.

“Hmph.” Chen Yixin snorted and turned away, carrying Yinzi with him. The old man wiped sweat from his forehead—truly, this was someone who feared nothing.

But letting it go like this was not Chen Yixin’s style. Over the next two days, even until the day before departure, he returned repeatedly to threaten the well.

“I’ll give you time to think. Next time I come, if you still don’t give me something useful, I’ll really have Yinzi eat you to nourish himself.”

After saying that, and under the old man’s horrified gaze, he bent down and patted the edge of the well.

Once Chen Yixin left, the old merfolk rushed to the well, carefully inspecting it. Only after confirming it was undamaged did he collapse to the ground—both he and the well seeming equally on the verge of tears.

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