Zanxing

Chapter 102 - Demonic Formation (2)

The youth had a pair of azure-blue eyes, like the sea, and his features were so beautiful they seemed to have been painted, exuding both allure and an indescribable fragility. 

Beneath his eyes and down to his cheeks, a layer of fine silver scales had formed. These silver scales were enigmatic; however, as merfolk were naturally beautiful, they didn't invoke fear but instead added an enchanting quality to him. 

He didn't have a beautiful silver fishtail, but with this appearance, no one would doubt his identity.

Rong Yu looked down at the crowd on the XingxiuPlatform and laughed heartily, "Who am I? Didn't you all know already?"

"Merfolk..." the guards of Li'Er Country exclaimed in shock. "It's a merfolk! Protect the emperor, quickly!"

The guards shielded the emperor as they retreated behind the White Jade Palace, while the cultivators on the Xingxiu Platform were caught off guard and hastily summoned their magical artifacts. However, the merman seemed unfazed; he merely turned to look at the merit stone tablet next to the white jade steps, a mocking expression surfacing on his face.

"The merit stone tablet... they really have the gall to erect it..."

"What do you want?" Princess Li Zhu disregarded her safety and stepped forward to admonish, "Do not disrespect the late emperor!"

The merman turned his head to her and suddenly laughed. He said, "Immortal Gu, Immortal Yang, you've investigated for so long in Tianlu Pavilion, why haven't you told the royal family the truth about the Prolonging Yang's Secret Art? To cover up the disgrace, the royal family is willing to use merfolk as scapegoats. It seems that the prominent sects in your immortal cultivation world are no different; you kill merfolk at will and speak with righteous indignation. Why is it that when it comes to the royal family, you refuse to say anything?"

"Monster, stop spreading your lies!" a cultivator shouted. "What Prologing Yang's Secret Art? That's merely a fallacious argument!"

"No... I've heard of it," Nie Xinghong tightly gripped his folding fan, a hint of shock flashing in his eyes. "I heard that if the blood of a girl born on a Yin month, on a Yin day, and at a Yin hour is used in a ritual, it can extend life and grant immortality. Could it be..." He raised his head to look at Gu Baiying.

"What does he mean?" Princess Li Zhu also asked.

Tian Fangfang coughed lightly, "We investigated the girls who were killed forty years ago; they were all pure Yin bodies, born on Yin months, Yin days, and Yin hours. Rather than being harmed by the merfolk, they seem to have become sacrifices for the Prolonging Yang's Secret Art."

"But merfolk are known for their longevity," Pu Tao frowned. "There's no reason to do such a thing."

"Merfolks are long-lived," the merman laughed mockingly, "but the last emperor of Li'Er Country, King Sheng Ning, was a short-lived sickly wretch."

The people present were not fools; they instantly understood the implication of this statement.

"Nonsense!" The king of Li'Er Country changed from his usual gentle demeanor, his face turning red with anger. "You, a demonic merman, actually dare to push the blame onto my father!"

The merman sneered, "Whether it's true or not, why don't you ask Immortal Gu?"

The emperor looked at Gu Baiying, who remained silent.

"No, no..." Princess Li Zhu swayed, needing to hold onto the railing to steady herself.

Years ago, King Sheng Ning harmed the innocent girls of Li'Er Country to prolong his life, only to frame the merfolk at the end. The truth was so different from what everyone knew; for so many years, the statue of gold by the sea seemed like a joke.

"Your Highness," the merman once again looked down at her, as if he found her current state of suffering insufficient. 

He continued, "Do you know why this Immortal Gu asked for your birthdate? Why not think about your own birthdate? You were also born on a Yin month, a Yin day, and at a Yin hour." He smiled maliciously, "You are also the sacrificial offering chosen by your husband!"

Princess Li Zhu's face turned pale.

In a daze, many past scenes floated before her eyes: the inexplicable marriage proposal, the rushed wedding, the overly considerate emperor; all those meticulously thoughtful cares now seemed like the indulgence of a pet, knowing it would die sooner or later, so they let it be, granting every wish.

Zanxing once said, "As long as you are human, there will be flaws. Even if a lover sees their partner as a beauty, those inconsequential little flaws can be endearing in their eyes, but there will always be some flaws. The princess and the late king were married; was the late king flawless, even in the slightest?"

Even the most loving couples will have friction; the late emperor treated her so well, yet there were no conflicts between them. That was inherently unreasonable.

Because in his eyes, she was never a wife but merely a "sacrifice."

So that was it.

Seeing Princess Li Zhu's suddenly distraught face, the merman laughed even more joyfully. He suddenly stretched out his hand, and a surge of demonic energy rushed toward the merit stone tablet at the edge of the white jade steps.

With a loud "bang!"

Countless tiny fragments of stone flew through the air. Those finely engraved "meritorious achievements" instantly turned to dust, as ephemeral as tofu.

A fierce aura suddenly flared in the merman's eyes. He tilted his head and smiled, "Now, it looks much better."

The crowd regained their senses. Princess Li Zhu looked at the merman, her shock and pain evident, but within moments, she regained her composure. The princess coldly asked, "Are you here to take revenge for what happened back then?"

"Revenge?" The merman was taken aback, the silver scales beneath his eyes shimmering even more brightly. He spoke lightly, "It's more than just revenge; I intend to kill everyone here. I want to destroy Li'Er Country so that no trace of this place remains on the map of Duzhou!"

"You little monster, dare you speak so arrogantly?" Tan Tianxin pointed his long sword at the merman, leaping forward. "Today is your death day!"

The swordsmanship of the Chi Hua Sect was always exceptional, yet the merman merely smiled slightly. His robes fluttered in the wind, and before the onlookers could even see how he made his move, they heard a muffled sound. Tan Tianxin was sent flying, crashing into the star column on the high platform, staggering back several steps before steadying himself. When he looked up at Rong Yu, his eyes were filled with horror.

Tan Tianxin's cultivation was definitely not weak among the cultivators present; however, this move not only failed to gain an advantage but was also defeated by the merfolk.

"Cultivators of the sect dare to come and show off?" The merman laughed arrogantly. "Don't think it's just you; even if the Demon Extermination Array comes, I would kill without hesitation!" With that, he soared towards the Xingxiu Platform.

That last step posed no obstacle to him; he easily passed through.

"This isn't the Demon Revealing Array?" The merman was taken aback.

"Of course not," the white-robed youth shrugged. "Even the easiest magical array takes at least a month from layout to completion. This is merely an ordinary firm step technique," he laughed mischievously. "I just wanted to trick you a little, but you spilled everything. It seems this merman isn't very bright."