Volume 3: Deep Blue Sea
“Even you don’t know what happened in this world?” Meng Muyu asked with a hint of surprise.
Ling Yang fell silent for a moment, hugging his tail. “After I was born, the world was already like this. I grew up inside a shell for two hundred years, and after breaking out of the shell, I roamed the oceans. But wherever I went, there was only me.”
The three of them looked at each other, clearly not expecting that Ling Yang’s stated age of two hundred and three years was attributed to the lengthy hatching period of the merfolk. “What about your people?”Shu Xun asked.
“I don’t know. From birth until now, it’s just been me. I haven’t found any of my kind in the ocean, so I wanted to explore the land.” The little mermaid shrugged, indicating his confusion.
Meng Muyu lowered his head in thought, then seemed to suddenly realize something. “Are you lying again? You obviously have some knowledge of this world and possess strong learning and logical abilities. Moreover, without anyone to teach you, how did you learn the language?”
Ling Yang pointed to his head. “I can’t explain it. Some common knowledge and information just appear in my mind. Generally, whenever I’m puzzled, the answers come to me as if there’s a wise, all-knowing person guiding me.”
Meng Muyu didn’t know how to judge. The environment of this planet was too peculiar, and Ling Yang’s situation could also be possible. Shu Xun looked at the little mermaid at his feet, contemplating the possibility of truth in his words.
Ling Yang looked around while hugging his tail, then turned her gaze to Shu Xun. “Others may not understand, but aren’t you the same as me? I can feel it; we share similarities. That’s why I noticed the uniqueness of the fishing rod and deduced that you are someone who uses the fishing rod.”
Ling Yang’s words instantly left everyone astonished. Shu Xun’s intelligence was evident to all, but regarding his identity, they knew very little. They only knew that Shu Xun awakened a relatively rare bloodline. With Ling Yang’s revelation, everyone was amazed to discover numerous striking similarities between Ling Yang and Shu Xun, such as exceptionally high logical thinking and reasoning abilities in their infant states, remarkable learning talents, and the experience of living alone for an extended period.
Shu Xun’s smile remained on his face as he lowered his head, looking at the little mermaid by his feet who seemed a bit wronged. “Ling Yang, you’re very clever. But some things can’t be achieved solely through intelligence. Schemes of sowing discord don’t work. However, you’re right; we share a heritage, and there are indeed similarities between us. Yet, we are different. Whether what you said is true or false, it indicates one thing: you are aware that invaders exist in this world and even have your own set of judgment methods. However, sometimes, letting go of defenses is more likely to achieve the results you desire than being cunning.”
The little mermaid hugged his tail, stubbornly remaining silent. It was unclear whether it was a characteristic of the merfolk as a species or just specific to Ling Yang, but there seemed to be a deep-rooted stubbornness and tenacity, unwilling to easily change or give up.
The atmosphere on the bamboo raft became subtly tense once again. Everyone realized that this seemingly harmless little mermaid was far more complex than they had imagined. However, looking at Ling Yang standing on the raft with his tail in a stubborn manner, it was difficult for them to maliciously speculate about such a little creature. Moreover, not long ago, Ling Yang’s song had almost stunned everyone. The ethereal and infectious voice, seemingly from the source of the world, made all beings let go of their guards and listen attentively. Someone who could sing such a song must possess a softness and gentleness far beyond ordinary people in the depths of their hearts.
Silence persisted on the bamboo raft for a long time. The creatures that had gathered around due to the song slowly dispersed, and the beautiful and magical scene seemed like a dream. It disappeared without a trace once the dream ended. Time quietly passed, and the slightly cool evening sun tinted the horizon. The blood-red remnants of the sun resembled the world’s heaviest wound, impossible to erase, only to be concealed by the inky darkness of the approaching night.
Before the sunset submerged into the horizon, sunlight had already been blocked by the dense towering jungle, gradually dimming the view above the water’s surface. The little mermaid, still stubbornly clutching his tail, sat alone on one side of the bamboo raft, gazing at the darkening water, lost in thought.
Shu Xun and the others also sat on the bamboo raft, each lost in their own contemplation. If Ling Yang wanted to accompany them, he had to let go of many calculations. He could have his secrets and the right to preserve them until the end, but he couldn’t harm others’ interests or safety.
After the sky completely darkened, a vast circular night sky formed above, adorned with countless stars, shining brightly or dimly. The Water-Blue Starfield, where “Deep Blue Sea” was located, contained a large amount of liquid water. Almost every planet had water, so the night sky wasn’t purely black. On a clear night, looking up, the night sky seemed to be shrouded in a deep blue color, appearing exceptionally vast and distant.
On the bamboo raft, Big Bliss had already taken out a kitchen knife, skillfully chopping vegetables. Little Bliss chased after a sea-blue pearl, the tears formed by Ling Yang earlier. He ran around, collecting the pearls and bringing them to Ling Yang. However, Ling Yang showed little interest, giving them just a glance. Seeing his lack of enthusiasm, Little Bliss happily stored the sea-blue pearls in its small pouch.
Suddenly, the sea-blue pearl emitted a faint light, startling Little Bliss. He quickly retreated, and the sea-blue pearl, following its previous momentum, rolled off the bamboo raft into the water. As the pearl fell into the water, it created a shallow splash, and surprisingly, the water splashes were azure!
Curious, Little Bliss moved to the edge of the raft where the pearl had rolled, sticking his head out to look underwater.
In the instant the sky-blue pearl submerged into the water, it emitted a brilliant azure glow, rapidly tinting the surrounding water with the same color. The gentle azure light descended like tears, leaving a long trail wherever it passed. The soft azure glow continued to fall to the bottom of the river, illuminating the swaying grass area.
Shu Xun and the others naturally noticed the anomaly, witnessing the entire process. Shu Xun looked at the bright area under the river and asked, “Is this world’s ocean illuminated in azure color by an unidentified light source at night? Is it this color?”
Before Ye Qian could speak, Meng Muyu excitedly nodded. “Exactly this color, but it doesn’t seem logical. This planet is almost entirely made up of oceans. If this is the source of light, how many mermaids’ tears would it take?”
After Meng Muyu finished speaking, he realized that a stubborn little mermaid was sitting on the bamboo raft. Turning his head, he found that Ling Yang was still sitting on the edge of the raft, clutching his tail, looking down at the underwater world. Sensing the gaze of others, Ling Yang muttered, “Our tears turn sea-blue only when there is intense emotional fluctuation. Tears form pearls, which turn into azure when they meet water. They remain immortal, undispersed, unconsumed, and undying. I haven’t seen any of my kind, but I have seen the ocean floor covered in azure tears. These azure tears carry our faint vitality. Our clan’s lives are long, and we don’t mind, but there seem to be many tears shed until the end of life, depleting their vitality.”
A silence fell upon the bamboo raft. If the unidentified light source truly came from the tears of mermaids, then whether the depths of the Deep Blue Sea were covered with pearls, gently illuminating this planet with accumulated tears, raised questions. If this were true, what would be the significance? What about the mermaid clan? Was Ling Yang truly the last one left? Watching Ling Yang, who remained stubbornly seated at the edge of the bamboo raft, the emotions of the group became inevitably complex.
However, Ling Yang seemed to have finally found a point to continue and continued speaking in a low voice, “After my birth, I spent two years staying at the bottom of the sea. Initially, I wanted to find a place without azure pearls to sleep, but I never found one. I traveled to many places and saw many ruins, but only felt the joy of novelty and exploration. It wasn’t until the inherited memories gradually filled my mind that I learned what those azure pearls were and that those ruins were traces left by my people. I began to panic and feel lost and lonely. In fact, I once thought, why not remain ignorant and, in this way, die unknowingly along with the end of the world, so I wouldn’t shed the same azure tears.”
“After receiving the inheritance, I began to search for reasons. I examined a lot of information left in the ruins and learned some things. The inheritance was no longer just knowledge and common sense; it also included emotions and abilities. I realized that something must be happening, so I came to the surface of the sea, exploring the submerged land after the violent storms, hoping to find clues. But even with the assistance of inherited memories, I am still unfamiliar with everything on land, my actions are restricted, and the gains are meager. Then I encountered all of you.”
When Ling Yang reached this point in his story, he turned his head to look at Shu Xun and the others before continuing, “To be precise, the name of my clan is not the Mermaid Clan, but the Spirit Tides Clan. My name is Ling Xi. The Spirit Tides Clan governs the vast oceans, and wherever water reaches, we can go. The records in the Spirit Tides Ruins tell of such a legend. Initially, the land and sea were divided equally, and the Spirit Tides were the spirits of the ocean, while the Earth Mother was the guardian of the land. The two races did not interfere with each other, and all was peaceful. However, one day, the ocean became turbulent beyond the control of the Spirit Tides. Under the raging sea, numerous continents were submerged, causing countless casualties. The two races, with little interaction, joined forces to investigate the cause, but progress was not smooth. Continents continued to be engulfed by seawater until today, and the last continent is about to be submerged.”
The information Ling Yang had investigated clearly couldn’t be explained in just a few sentences, but even this segment was enough for everyone to ponder for a long time. Ling Yang’s proclaimed identity also gained the acceptance of the group. The reason was simple – Ling Yang’s pride and indomitable conviction when mentioning Ling Xi were like a small entity possessing the towering spirit of never yielding.
“What about the Earth Clan? If the sea continues to engulf the continents, did the Earth Clan never suspect the Spirit Tides? Now, it seems that both major races have disappeared from the planet. Could there be a war erupting? After all, to a certain extent, a war between two advanced evolutionary races is also capable of destroying the world.” Meng Muyu rapidly churned his mind, searching for reasonable speculations. He thought and thought, feeling that the possibility of a war breaking out between the two races when their survival spaces conflicted was still high.
Ling Yang furrowed his small eyebrows, evidently not agreeing with Meng Muyu’s speculations, but he didn’t directly refute them either. “I haven’t found specific information about what happened later. It seems that something happened that the Spirit Tides didn’t want to record, or couldn’t record, or something happened that affected the Spirit Tides, preventing them from having the time to record more content. In any case, I visited many ruins and found no further records. The Earth and the Spirit Tides seem to have disappeared. I’ve been searching for three years and haven’t found a single clan member or any traces of the Earth Clan. Sometimes, I even doubt whether the records about the Earth Clan are just a legend. As for whether a war occurred, I don’t know.”
Listening to this, Meng Muyu once again fell into deep thought but felt that the clues Ling Yang provided were numerous yet seemingly inconclusive. If he wanted to deduce, he needed to find more clues; otherwise, there was no way to obtain concrete information. Inadvertently raising his head, Meng Muyu happened to see Shu Xun deep in thought. Shu Xun had a habit of making small movements with his hands when contemplating, a trait familiar to those who had watched “Winter’s End,” especially the wolf ears that were once the hot topic, wrapped up like a little blanket.
Meanwhile, Shu Xun, engrossed in thought, unconsciously tied Little Bliss’s antennae into two knots. Little Bliss obediently nestled in Shu Xun’s hands, and after his antennae were neatly groomed, he willingly placed them back into Shu Xun’s hands. Shu Xun continued tying knots. On the side, Ye Qian stood stiffly, occasionally lifting his fingers ever so slightly, seemingly wanting to touch his forehead, but he restrained himself, standing expressionless in place.
Meng Muyu: “…”
He showed a slight disdain towards Ye Qian, and redirected his gaze to Shu Xun, patiently waiting. As expected, soon after, Shu Xun paused in his movements and asked, “Does the recorded Earth Clan seem similar to us?”
Ling Yang glanced at Shu Xun with slight surprise, then nodded his little head. “Yes and no. The images look extremely similar, but the Earth Clan also has another form, which is immensely large. The other form can reach up to a hundred meters, with a rocky appearance, and possesses astonishing attack and defense capabilities. However, according to records, the Earth Clan has a gentle temperament, disliking combat and slaughter. This is one of the reasons I don’t believe there would be a war between the two major races.”
“So, when you first saw us, did you mistake us for the Earth Clan? That’s why you quietly followed us, then noticed inconsistencies and decided to further investigate?” Shu Xun initially found Ling Yang’s sudden appearance abrupt, and facing strangers like them, he showed no curiosity or fear but acted as if everything was normal, leveraging the language barrier. Now, in retrospect, Shu Xun guessed that Ling Yang intentionally tested their reactions to further determine their identities.
“Yes, besides that, there’s another reason I mentioned. I felt a strange similarity between you and me, so I was very curious.” Ling Yang once again demonstrated his persistence, clearly having a strong curiosity about Shu Xun’s identity.
Shu Xun smiled indifferently. “I’m curious too.” The expression of energy in this world is not through spiritual power, but converting energy into spiritual power seems relatively easier, allowing Ling Yang to quickly grasp the use of the fishing rod in a short time. Otherwise, even with Ling Yang’s high mental power, it would be useless. But, can these aspects alone create so many similarities between Ling Yang and himself? Inheritance memories, spiritual power usage, clear logical thinking, and thinking styles – these peculiar similarities yet exist in different circumstances. Is it too coincidental?
Shu Xun and Ling Yang exchanged glances, both noticing the evident perplexity in each other’s eyes. Shu Xun continued to inquire, “Apart from these, did you also find information about the invaders? Otherwise, you wouldn’t be so vigilant.”
Ling Yang hesitated for a moment, feeling a bit uneasy. How did he suddenly sense this? He hadn’t revealed any information in that regard. “I haven’t found any information. It’s just that, after realizing you’re not from the Earth Clan, I naturally became cautious.”
Shu Xun gently patted Little Bliss’s head, maintaining a calm tone. “If that’s the case, why specifically be cautious of Meng Muyu? In your eyes, we should be the same, right?”
Shu Xun’s words left Meng Muyu momentarily stunned, but he quickly reacted. Shu Xun was likely referring to the time when he was pulled out of the water. Initially, he thought Ling Yang was avoiding water droplets, and now it seemed indeed strange. But did he have anything special about him?
Upon hearing this, Ling Yang promptly climbed up from the edge of the raft, trying to straighten his small body to appear more imposing. However, upon seeing Shu Xun’s calm and expressionless eyes, he couldn’t help but raise his head again. “During the investigation, I did discover some scattered information about the invaders. However, it’s too fragmented. As for being especially cautious of him, it’s because, before this, I once sensed a presence that was very similar to his. It indicates that before this, he or someone similar to him had been here.”
Meng Muyu rubbed his head with a helpless expression. “When developing games, I and members of StarPlay Entertainment did indeed come here. Could that be the reason?” Looking at Ling Yang, who still had a hint of wariness in his eyes, Meng Muyu thought for a moment and eventually briefly explained the operation process of the real survival game. In the end, the guarded look in Ling Yang’s eyes gradually transformed into astonishment and curiosity. After explaining everything, Meng Muyu finally asked, “Can you now tell us about the invaders? Honestly, I feel quite powerless at the moment, and it’s not good.”
“Well, I haven’t found any concrete clues. I can only deduce that the invaders’ mental power is definitely not weaker than our Spirit Tides Clan, and it’s likely not a single faction.” Ling Yang awkwardly grabbed the tip of his tail, seemingly embarrassed about not finding any clues about the invaders.
As Ling Yang finished speaking, almost instinctively, Shu Xun and the others had the same reaction: the Phantom Clan! Until now, an existence with unparalleled mental power in the cosmic era! Almost everyone furrowed their brows. This was true in both “Winter’s End” and “Deep Blue Sea.” Was the invader really related to the Phantom Clan? Moreover, just like in “Winter’s End,” there were two invading forces. What was going on?
