As for the Mermaid tribe.

With the recovery of the Ocean King's power, the Black Wing Guards and White Wing Guards no longer dared to act recklessly. The two Black Wing Kings, ever since being brutally humiliated by Qin Feiyang in the holy land that day, had not shown their faces in public again. They were said to be in closed-door cultivation, but the actual situation remained unknown. Their attempt to force the abdication had become a farce.

Time flew by, and a month passed.

BOOM!

The first stroke of the War Technique was finally successfully inscribed. Brilliant light flared, and Battle Intent soared to the heavens! Furthermore, Qin Feiyang's cultivation also broke through, reaching the rank of a Two-star War King!

This can enhance my cultivation! he thought, extremely excited. At this rate, by the time I master the War Technique, I'll be able to break through to the War Emperor realm! This way, he wouldn't need to spend time on other cultivation methods; he could focus solely on inscribing the War Technique.

However, the number of Battle Qi Pills consumed made him wince. Over the past month, he had consumed a staggering 30,000 Battle Qi Pills! He originally had only 130,000 Battle Qi Pills. After giving half to the Wolf King, he was left with a little over 60,000. Now, having consumed another 30,000, only slightly more than 30,000 remained. He feared this wouldn't be enough for him to inscribe the second stroke.

Indeed, by the end of the second month, he was still a little short of successfully inscribing the second stroke. Helpless, Qin Feiyang could only close the iron-bound book. Finding a Pill Furnace was now a matter of utmost urgency!

He turned to look at Fatty and Lu Hong. In these two months, the two of them had been working tirelessly without any rest. This level of dedication paid off handsomely. Almost every month, they could break through a new minor realm. Now, Lu Hong was an Eight-star Martial Ancestor, and Fatty was a Seven-star Martial Ancestor. If word of their cultivation speed got out, it would undoubtedly infuriate countless martial arts prodigies. But compared to Qin Feiyang, their progress was slightly inferior. This was because when he was in the Martial Ancestor realm, he could typically break through a minor realm every ten days to half a month.

It seems that in less than a year, they'll both be able to step into the War King realm, Qin Feiyang muttered to himself, a smile playing on his lips. The stronger the two of them became, the greater the help they would be to him.

WHOOSH!

With a thought, he appeared inside the palace.

"Greetings to Master Qin."

The two Black Wing Guards stationed outside the door immediately ran in and bowed respectfully. After the events of two months ago, whether it was the Black Wing Guards or the White Wing Guards, they now held Qin Feiyang in great awe.

"Where is the Princess?" Qin Feiyang asked with a smile.

"The Princess is taking a walk in the garden outside," one guard replied. "Would you like us to take you there?" the other asked.

"A walk?" Qin Feiyang was slightly stunned. He walked out of the palace, stood on the steps at the entrance, and looked ahead.

A few tens of meters away, there was a garden hundreds of zhang across. In the garden, coral formations stood densely, and various marine plants created a beautiful landscape.

On a small path, a golden-haired woman was walking slowly, her head lowered as if pondering some worry.

That's right! Princess Mermaid was walking! Her golden fishtail and wings had vanished. In their place were two long, slender, and shapely legs. Dressed in a pale gold, gauzy long skirt, she looked incredibly noble and luxurious.

Qin Feiyang sighed deeply and walked towards Princess Mermaid. After spending this time together, he had realized that Princess Mermaid had indeed developed feelings for him. Those two long legs were undoubtedly the best proof.

Qin Feiyang walked up quietly and gently tapped her shoulder.

"Ah!" Princess Mermaid was startled. She turned around, and upon seeing Qin Feiyang, she said with a pout of annoyance, "Why do you walk so silently? You'll scare someone to death!"

Qin Feiyang shook his head and smiled. "It's because you were too lost in thought. Tell me, what were you thinking about?"

Princess Mermaid immediately averted her gaze, flustered.

Qin Feiyang sighed softly. With the Heart Knot connecting them, he and Princess Mermaid shared a telepathic link. How could he possibly not know what she was thinking? However, some things, even if mutually understood, were best left unsaid.

Steadying himself, Qin Feiyang asked, "Princess, do you know where I can find a Pill Furnace?"

"A Pill Furnace?" Princess Mermaid was taken aback, then asked suspiciously, "Shouldn't an Alchemist always carry one?"

"I did have one, but it exploded while I was refining the Lifespan Extension Pill," Qin Feiyang said with a bitter smile. Having a furnace explode is quite embarrassing to admit.

"Oh, I see." Princess Mermaid said. "Over the years, many people have died in the Sea of Despair, and we've collected quite a few Qiankun Bags. Come, I'll take you to see my father, the Ocean King. There might be a Pill Furnace in the treasury."

Princess Mermaid naturally grabbed his hand and walked towards a magnificent palace.

Qin Feiyang looked down at Princess Mermaid's hand holding his and couldn't help but sigh inwardly again.

「A short while later.」

The two of them entered the palace. The Ocean King was cultivating. Sensing someone's presence, he opened his eyes. When he saw Qin Feiyang and Princess Mermaid walking in hand-in-hand, a broad smile immediately spread across his face. This indicated that the bond between the two had deepened. He guessed it wouldn't be long before he had a son-in-law. Although Qin Feiyang was still young, he was handsome, possessed an imposing manner, and most importantly, he was mature and steadfast. His daughter was also well-read and reasonable, possessing a devastating beauty. The two of them together were simply a match made in heaven. The more the Ocean King looked, the more satisfied he became.

Qin Feiyang smoothly withdrew his arm and cupped his hands. "Greetings, Senior."

The Ocean King laughed. "Don't call me Senior; it sounds too formal. Call me Uncle."

Qin Feiyang was startled but nodded. "Yes, Uncle."

"That's more like it," the Ocean King chuckled. "Are you here for something?"

Princess Mermaid smiled. "Royal Father, Qin Feiyang needs a Pill Furnace. Do we have one in our treasury?"

"A Pill Furnace..." The Ocean King mused for a moment, then shook his head. "I can tell you with certainty, we do not."

"Then what should we do?" Princess Mermaid looked worriedly at Qin Feiyang.

"No need to rush," Qin Feiyang reassured her with a smile.

The Ocean King said, "Indeed, there's no rush. And look at you! Ever since that business concluded, you've done nothing but cultivate all day. You haven't properly spent time with my daughter."

"Erh!" Qin Feiyang was taken aback. Is he chiding me for neglecting Princess Mermaid?

Princess Mermaid protested good-naturedly, "Father, what are you saying? Don't talk nonsense."

"Am I talking nonsense?" the Ocean King retorted. "You two should spend more time together, talk more. How about this! There aren't many entertaining places underwater. Why don't you two go out for a stroll on the surface?"

"Really?" Princess Mermaid's eyes lit up.

"Of course," the Ocean King nodded, then added, "However, you cannot leave the Sea of Despair."

"Alright!" Overjoyed, Princess Mermaid grabbed Qin Feiyang's hand and dashed outside.

Letting them go out for a stroll will definitely make their feelings for each other heat up rapidly! How could I be so clever? A self-satisfied smile crept onto the Ocean King's weathered face.

Leaving the palace, Princess Mermaid pulled Qin Feiyang along as they swam towards the sea surface.

"Princess, can you slow down a bit?" Qin Feiyang asked helplessly.

"You don't understand. Ever since I was born, my father has never allowed me out," Princess Mermaid said. "Every time I sneaked out, I would get scolded when I returned. I especially love the sunlight; it feels so warm."

She was like a canary that had just escaped its cage, chirping and laughing with delight.

She especially loves sunlight... Qin Feiyang murmured. For Princess Mermaid, who had lived her entire life underwater, seeing the sun was indeed an unattainable luxury.

Not only was Princess Mermaid beautiful, but her laughter was also infectious. Qin Feiyang's mood gradually lightened. He might as well let go of everything for now, accompany her on this outing, and also clear his own mind.

Ever since being driven from the Imperial Capital, he had lived under immense pressure daily. Every step felt like treading on thin ice, terrified that a single misstep would lead to a point of no return. This would be especially true when he later entered the State Office; the pressure he would face there was bound to be even greater. Therefore, before heading to the State Office, it was indeed necessary to properly relax and rejuvenate, to face all that was unknown with a completely refreshed mindset.

High in the sky, the sun blazed. Sunlight spilled down, coating the calm surface of the Sea of Despair as if with a thin layer of gold leaf.

BOOM!!!

A group of Sea Beasts suddenly burst from the water. There were colossal Ocean King Crocodiles, sea pythons tens of meters long, enormous Sawtooth Turtles, Tiger King Sharks, and Ocean King Lions. Even more impressively, there were seahorses, pure white and extraordinarily majestic.

If anyone were here at this moment, their jaw would surely drop. Why had so many Sea Beasts appeared all at once? And if one looked closely, they would be horrified to discover a young man and woman seated atop two of the seahorses, with all the other Sea Beasts seemingly led by them!

The young man and woman were none other than Qin Feiyang and Princess Mermaid. Although the Sea Beasts of the Sea of Despair were ferocious, they were very docile in front of Princess Mermaid.

"Such warm sunlight!"

The seahorses stood upon the surface of the water. Around them, other Sea Beasts leaped and dived joyfully.

Princess Mermaid sat on a seahorse's back, gazing up at the sun, her beautiful eyes slightly narrowed. Her golden, wavy hair shimmered with a dazzling brilliance under the sunlight. Her face was filled with enjoyment and bliss. Her pale gold, gauzy long dress fluttered gently in the wind, and beneath it, her jade-white skin was faintly, alluringly visible.

At this moment, bathed in sunlight, she looked like a fairy from a painting, captivating beyond words.

Unconsciously, Qin Feiyang found himself staring, captivated. An inexplicable stirring even arose deep within his heart.

"Do you find me beautiful?" Princess Mermaid noticed his unusual gaze, her red lips curving slightly, a hint of smugness in her heart.

"AHEM, AHEM!" Qin Feiyang coughed a few times, then nodded. "You are indeed very beautiful," he admitted, then teased, "But if you were like last time, wearing nothing at all, you'd be even more beautiful."

"Qin Feiyang, I didn't realize you were such a lecher! Take that!" Princess Mermaid, blushing with anger and embarrassment, slapped the seahorse's back, and it immediately charged towards Qin Feiyang.

"Come on, there are no strangers here, and we're bound to get married sooner or later. Why not let me feast my eyes now?"

"HAHAHA... Let's go!" Qin Feiyang laughed heartily, also slapping his seahorse's back vigorously, and the creature beneath him instantly galloped wildly across the sea surface.

"You degenerate! You shameless rogue! Stop right there!"

"Catch me if you can!"

One in front and one behind, they chased each other. Surrounded by countless Sea Beasts, like stars escorting the moon, the two of them gradually disappeared over the horizon. Only their laughter remained, echoing over the sea, lingering long after they were gone.

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