Xu Ziyan’s jaw dropped. He had already begun doubting the reliability of the original owner’s memories, but surely they could not be this far off?
How had a narrow mountain path suddenly become a broad clearing? Original Xu Ziyan, what happened to your memories? Did someone tamper with them?
Xu Ziyan had no idea that the so-called mountain path was far more complicated than he imagined.
After all, this area was part of the Flowing Light Sect’s mountain-protecting grand formation. If a great sect had no defenses here, would it not be inferior to even a small cultivation family?
The Xu family itself maintained numerous defensive formations in its residence to guard against intruders. A major sect could hardly afford to be less cautious.
As one of the pillars of the Xuanyu Domain, the Flowing Light Sect had its own impressive resources. Countless restrictions lay densely layered throughout the grand formation. Most remained dormant, but the sect’s leaders considered activating a few for the assessment of their next generation of core disciples a worthwhile expense.
The hot spring in front of the Xu brothers had actually been moved out of the mountain’s interior by a Displacement and Shadow-Shifting Formation. Several elders had already taken an interest in a promising candidate like Xu Ziyan.
Being noticed by those elders brought benefits, but also meant facing more demanding tests.
After all, elites needed achievements that distinguished them from everyone else. ╮(╯▽╰)╭ Xu Ziyan had no idea several elders were watching him. He merely stared at the steaming pool, completely bewildered.
He certainly did not imagine the Flowing Light Sect had provided a hot spring to reward them for running through the forest. One look at the path ending directly ahead told him that finding a way around the pool was out of the question.
Splash!
Xu Ziyan’s gaze sharpened. Something had surfaced in the spring a moment earlier, then dived back beneath the water, throwing up a sizable splash.
He and Zirong exchanged glances and cautiously approached. Purple lightning danced between Xu Ziyan’s fingers, while Zirong held three green seeds in his palm.
Wood-element techniques excelled at healing, but their offensive options were limited. Aside from the huge blood-red vines he could produce at will through his own blood, Zirong normally needed plants nearby to perform any powerful wood-element attack.
Not a blade of grass grew around the spring. He would have to force a few plants to sprout from seeds to make his techniques useful.
Splash!
The creature surfaced again. Xu Ziyan stared, stunned, at… a mermaid!
Yes! Frolicking in the steaming spring was a blue mermaid!
She was exceedingly beautiful, with long red hair lying smoothly against her skin. She wore a white seashell top, and below her waist stretched a sleek fish tail.
She seemed to have been playing in the spring. The sight of the Xu brothers startled her too.
The mermaid apparently could not speak. She merely widened her eyes in fright and stared helplessly at them.
“Don’t be afraid. We’re not bad people,” Xu Ziyan hurriedly assured her with gestures.
She seemed to understand human speech. Though still frightened, she no longer looked quite so panicked.
“Sorry to interrupt your…” Xu Ziyan stopped before the word bath could escape. He offered an apologetic smile instead, hoping she would understand.
The mermaid laughed at his awkwardness. The fear vanished from her eyes, and she even waved to him in a friendly fashion.
Xu Ziyan relaxed. “This is my little brother, Xu Zirong. We’re just passing through.” He drew Zirong closer by the hand to introduce him.
Zirong’s face was as cold as ever, without the slightest change. His gaze was as lifeless as a corpse’s.
From where he stood, Xu Ziyan could not see those eyes. Assuming Zirong was shy, he simply rubbed his head.
Now that the mermaid had recovered from her surprise, she watched the brothers with interest, happily swishing her tail and splashing the water.
Xu Ziyan edged closer and, when she showed no intention of retreating, stepped to the spring’s edge. “I’m sorry to trouble you, but could you tell us how to get out of here?”
He had discreetly surveyed the surroundings already. Apart from the path by which they had arrived, the clearing seemed to have materialized out of nowhere and blocked their way.
With no apparent exit, Xu Ziyan had no choice but to hope the seemingly innocent mermaid could help.
As Xu Ziyan crouched beside the spring talking to her, Zirong, standing a short distance behind him, began to change.
Bloodshot traces appeared in his eyes, and his expression twisted.
He stared anxiously at his brother’s back. Some invisible power had pinned him in place. He could not move, or even call out to warn Xu Ziyan. He could only watch as the mermaid slowly approached, seemingly won over by Xu Ziyan’s kindness. Only Zirong recognized that this beautiful creature was a very dangerous demonic beast.
Mermaids lived in the seas and preyed upon humans. Female mermaids were born hideous; it was only after consuming human flesh that they developed such beautiful appearances.
These beasts often lured fishermen with their beauty. Their sharp claws could tear a human body apart, and the more people they devoured, the more beautiful and powerful they became.
In his previous life, Zirong had encountered one so powerful she rivaled a Soul Transformation cultivator. Had he not escaped immediately with a blood-escape technique, he would probably have become her meal.
Zirong was frantic. Mermaids were virtually unknown away from the seas, so many cultivators failed to recognize them. Xu Ziyan was treating this demonic beast as though it were a person, but unless such creatures reached a sufficiently high cultivation level, they possessed no true intelligence, only hunting instincts.
So the mermaid’s apparent willingness to accept Xu Ziyan’s goodwill was nothing more than a performance designed to turn him into prey.
Xu Ziyan was gently asking the mermaid for directions, unaware that her hands beneath the water had begun to transform.
A layer of blue-green scales spread across her pale fingers, and her sharp nails lengthened by half an inch.
The mermaid maintained her innocent expression, gazing at Xu Ziyan with curiosity as though fascinated by his hair ornament.
Xu Ziyan was at a loss. She seemed as curious as a child. Whatever he said, she ignored it, staring stubbornly at the ornament as though she would never rest until she examined it.
With a wry smile, he removed the ornament. His long dark hair fell over his shoulders, a few strands drifting beside his cheeks.
The mermaid did not take the ornament from his hand. Instead, she moved steadily closer to his face.
As the beautiful face approached, Xu Ziyan grew embarrassed. The mermaid might be pretty, but he had no desire for any relationship with a nonhuman creature beyond friendship.
Besides…
His precious little brother was watching! He had to set a good example.
Uh… strange. Why hasn’t Zirong said anything for so long?
Suddenly sensing that something was wrong, Xu Ziyan instinctively started to look back.
At that very instant, a flash of metal-bright light swept toward his throat. He threw himself backward, barely evading two razor-sharp claws.
Cold sweat broke out across his forehead. If he still failed to realize the mermaid meant him harm, his two lifetimes would have taught him nothing.
He flicked a finger and launched a purple ball of lightning at her.
Seemingly wary of the attack, the mermaid threw up a wave to block it.
Yet she looked confused. She had stopped the lightning ball, so why did her body still feel faintly numb?
Using the lightning ball to gain distance, Xu Ziyan hurriedly shot several lightning arrows. They were far more powerful than the hastily formed ball, and the mermaid needed multiple curtains of water to block them.
“Zirong!” Having delayed the mermaid, Xu Ziyan immediately turned back to find his brother.
Regret overwhelmed him. Zirong had been right beside him, yet Xu Ziyan had failed to notice how strangely he was acting. What a negligent big brother!
He lunged toward Zirong and pulled him out of the line of attack, using his own body as cover as they rolled aside.
Still frozen and unable to move, Zirong could only curse whoever had restrained him. Once I regain my power, I’ll kill that bastard! Endangering Big Brother is unforgivable!
(“Achoo!” A red-haired man sitting before a water mirror sneezed. Glancing at the black leopard gnawing on a bone beside him, he muttered, “Which brat is cursing me behind my back?” The leopard looked up, then quietly turned away. What’s so unusual about people cursing you behind your back? Doing it to your face would be the real accomplishment!)
“Are you all right?” Hiding behind a large rock, Xu Ziyan carefully checked Zirong over.