“Wow, this news is absolutely explosive... Are we actually witnessing history right now?!”
It wasn’t the arrival announcement of the school ship that jolted Fanli from her slumber, but the clamor of the students around her. Rubbing her eyes, she lifted her head from Xinghai’s chest and saw a crowd of students gathered around the screen, gasping in amazement.
“What happened?” Fanli asked Xinghai, her voice thick with sleep.
“The Holy City just passed a new marriage law. The Sea God Race is now allowed to intermarry with other races.”
“Holy crap, that really is explosive.”
Fanli hopped out of her seat and squeezed toward the television. The logo in the top right corner had changed from the gorgonian crown of the Red Moon Sea station to the deep blue line art of the Saint Yegana station. The news footage showed a marriage registry office where a Sea God man was registering his marriage to a woman from the Hunter Race. The two held up their marriage certificates together, sharing their thoughts with the camera.
The news anchor reported: “...After 142 years, the legal code has undergone revisions and improvements to the current marriage laws, providing more targeted regulations for the marital lives of the Sea Race. Provided the following conditions are met, members of the Sea God Race may go to marriage registration authorities to enter into polygamous unions of three or more people with other races: First, they must guarantee they will not produce offspring with the other race; second, they must already have a Sea God spouse and children; third, the primary heir to their estate must be of the Sea God Race. Regarding this, Sephi Kundi, Chief Civil Attorney of the Saint Yegana Bar Association, believes that lowering the ‘threshold’ for intermarriage between the Sea God Race and other races is a provision that promotes freedom of marriage in the Light Sea and protects the free will of all ethnic groups. The introduction of this regulation also signifies that the Light Sea has officially entered an era of advancing egalitarianism. This code will first be implemented in Saint Yegana and its surrounding secondary waters, with the government conducting a three-year assessment period. Reported by Saint Yegana Television.”
After listening carefully to the news, Fanli was once again floored by the bizarre values of this magical underwater world. To translate: regardless of gender, a member of the Sea God Race could take concubines from other races, but the primary spouse had to be of their own race. As long as they guaranteed their reproductive mission was complete, they could pursue "free love," taking a second, third, fourth... an infinite number of partners, allowing their relationships with lovers from other races to be publicized and legalized.
To save the declining birth rate of the Sea God Race, the Holy City government was certainly going all out...
Moreover, Miss Bubble’s case had only just concluded when this marriage law was passed. There was bound to be a subtle connection between the two. Or perhaps the Saint Capital Party had wanted to push this policy for a long time, and the social outcry following Miss Bubble’s death simply provided the perfect opportunity to push the code through.
Because everyone was heatedly discussing the new law, no one in the cabin noticed the scenery outside as they drew closer to the Holy City.
Just as they were about to arrive, a mechanical whirring sounded, and all the sunshades lowered in unison. Sunlight poured through the glass windows that occupied eighty percent of the wall, bathing everything inside the school ship in a brilliant, shimmering gold.
“Whoa...”
Only then did the students see where they were.
Kaimo’s gang, the Black Coral Goddesses, and the students who had been to Saint Yegana before all wore expressions that said, *“You guys are making such a fuss over nothing.”*
This was a golden, sacred city of the sea, built upon an undersea mountain range—the Emerald Mountains.
Because the Lord of the Endless Oceans had settled here four billion years ago, the arcane power of the entire ocean had condensed in this spot. This was the source of the entire ocean’s motive force; even the seawater was saturated with arcane energy. Consequently, when sunlight entered the waters of Saint Yegana, the longer wavelengths of light—red, orange, yellow, and green—were not absorbed, allowing the world to appear in its original colors.
Once a member of the Sea Race with a high arcane threshold lived in Saint Yegana, they often found it difficult to adapt to ordinary waters again.
Because the terrain of the Emerald Mountains was steep and many buildings floated in the middle of the water, Saint Yegana was not a 2D city when viewed from above, but a 3D one. It was more dizzying than an 8D interchange that could baffle any navigation system. Submersibles sped by at high speeds, leaving countless trails of white foam in their wake, but because the ocean was so vast, these trails looked like thin white lines from a distance—the further ones were even invisible to the naked eye.
Although Fanli had seen pictures in books, being here in person made her realize that Saint Yegana was far, far larger than she had imagined.
They bypassed the Well of Storms, passed through the Creation Gate of the Holy City carved with sea deities, and looked up at the Temple of the Glazed Legion towering on the mountain peaks... Even though she had never been here, she felt the breath of over four hundred and thirty million years of civilization rushing toward her. The stories recorded in history books and the wars that had erupted because of them had all become the glorious scars of this sacred city.
How could a city be this beautiful?
Surely, when the Creator made the world, He must have accidentally bumped it from the center of the universe, causing it to fall into the depths of the ocean.
Yet, the advanced submersibles darting through the water, the White Eagle Palace gates with eight flags fluttering in the city center, the silver-glinting "Hunter" sonar signal towers, the surging crowds in Eternal Square, and the West District—the most expensive residential area in the Light Sea—reminded every admiring passerby that the mythical impression it gave was indeed a thing of the past. Now, it was a modern metropolis of the Sea Race, changing day by day under the guidance of the Dictator’s government and the Saint Capital Party.
Fanli looked up, down, left, and right. Her curiosity was so piqued that she didn't know where to rest her gaze. Even when the school ship came to a halt, she felt unsatisfied, wanting to buy a one-day city tour.
The average distance from Saint Yegana to the surface was about 312 meters, nearly two hundred meters deeper than Loya.
After exiting the cabin, the dark undercurrents of the seawater swirled, and the water pressure was much higher than inside. Fanli couldn't adapt for a moment. She adjusted her hearing to reduce the impact of the water noise, and the various sounds of the city took its place.
Today, everyone was talking about the craziest marriage law in over four hundred million years. It was almost more inconceivable than the legalization of prostitution or drug trafficking. But upon closer thought, there didn't seem to be anything irrational about it.
Saint Yegana University was built in the center of the city, covering an area of 117,000 square meters, yet it had no campus walls. The Arcane Academy, however, was enclosed, with a massive school crest and name on the gates. Across the street, diagonally opposite, was the White Eagle Palace.
Although people in Loya discussed Su Shiye frequently, his presence was nowhere near as overwhelming as it was in Saint Yegana. The White Eagle Palace was his administrative seat; that man, who had seemed as distant as the horizon, suddenly felt like he was within reach... Of course, that was entirely an illusion.
Fanli shook her head, telling herself not to let her thoughts wander. Even thinking about that man felt like a desecration of Xinghai.
“We... we’ve entered Saint Yegana University...” Seeing the emblem of the Arcane Academy, You Can started jumping up and down like he’d been injected with adrenaline. “I’m a student of Saint Yegana University!! Brother Xinghai, we’re in Saint Yegana!! Whoo-hoo-hoo!!!”
“Yeah, let’s work hard together,” Xinghai said with a smile.
“Don’t get so excited just looking at the gate. Getting in just means you’ll be vomiting over exams and papers every month from now on, okay?” Feisi said as she moved her luggage.
“When I was looking out from the school ship earlier, I saw a bunch of summer library grinds in our campus. Guess what?” Lansi added. “A sea of black-haired Sea God Race members. I bet the Ocean Race students have all died from overworking.”
“Besides, I heard that in our year’s secondary Arcane Department, there are a lot of Sea God descendants and top scholars. The top scorer from the Rift Sea and the third-place finisher from the Resurrection Sea, for instance—they both came straight to Saint Yegana after finishing high school. Aside from them, the son of the Starry Sea’s Clan Lord is also in our department. But he’s a chronic flunker, so he’s nothing to fear.” At this point, Feisi patted Fanli’s shoulder solemnly. “Li-zi, the pressure is on you. The Rift Sea’s top scorer is also a Double-S, and his surname is Jante.”
“Right, right, I know him—Jante Yujin,” You Can chimed in. “He’s not quite like our Goddess here; he’s not the balanced type of academic god. He’s an arcane prodigy. He’s a Double-S in this one subject, but everything else is just an S or an A.”
Jante was the clan surname of the Rift Sea. Furthermore, the Rift Sea had always been famous for its rigorous education.
Fanli froze for a moment and shivered. “He’s a Sea God descendant, and I’m just a frail Ocean Race girl... People won’t actually compare me to him, will they?”
“They will,” You Can, Feisi, and Lansi said in unison.
“Even though you tested out of the Storm Sea, you are the pride of our Red Moon Sea.” Feisi patted her shoulder again. “You represent the Red Moon Sea and our Ocean Race, you know?”
Lansi looked fired up. “That’s right! Don’t lose to those fighter jets! Charge, hope of the Red Moon Sea’s Ocean Race! Crush them!”
Fanli was already wilting...
This time, Fanli finally had enough money to apply for a university dormitory. Because the school was located in a bustling downtown area where land was at a premium, the living space in the dorms wasn't large. However, the dorms were renovated every year, and the seawater was so clean you couldn't find a single shred of seaweed. There was even a noise protection net surrounding them, making it perfect for studying.
Unfortunately, Fanli and Xinghai weren't assigned to the same building. Fortunately, they could see into each other's rooms through the windows, which was a romantic consolation.
Upon arriving at her dorm, she received an email from the "Loya Center for Disease Control." Thinking it was an advertisement, she tossed it onto her bedside table and fell fast asleep.
After resting for the afternoon, as evening approached, Fanli drew the curtains, took a bath in her bedroom, tidied her hair, and prepared to attend the freshman party that night. While washing her tail fin, she touched her marriage ring and found it was a bit loose. Delighted, she took it off without hesitation and tucked it away with that exaggeratedly large diamond.
Looking through the window frame, she saw Xinghai sitting on a coral reef below the dorm, waiting for her. She locked the door, took her keys, and was about to rush downstairs when she caught a casual glimpse of the nameplate on the neighboring student's door. It read: *Jante Yujin.*
No way. Her future arch-rival lived right next door?
No, maybe not even a rival—the other person might just be someone who could crush her instantly... Although Su Yi’s mind was brilliant, comparing arcane thresholds with a descendant of a Clan God was like throwing an egg against a stone.
Forget it, relax. People don't live just for the sake of pride. There’s nothing wrong with admitting someone else is more skilled. Just do your best.
Fanli swam downstairs happily and took Xinghai’s hand. “Hehe, notice anything different about me?”
Xinghai looked her up and down for a moment, quickly spotted her tail fin, and a look of joy crossed his face.
“I see.” He kissed her forehead. “I’ll work hard on the preparations.”
“Ah, no, that’s not what I meant.” Fanli waved her hands. “No need to rush, I’m not in that much of a hurry...”
“I am.”
Xinghai’s voice was as gentle as a breeze, not sounding rushed at all, yet it carried an unfathomable depth of affection.
The sea moon was hazy, and the galaxy was magnificent. The most beautiful parts of the Holy City’s night were reflected in the eyes of the girl before him. He watched her quietly for a long time, then pulled her along as they swam toward the student club. “Lili, spending the rest of my life holding your hand like this is the most beautiful life I can imagine. This is enough; I don’t want anything more.”
“Mhm, me too!” Fanli leaned against his shoulder, swimming toward the club entrance in a sweet, lingering daze.
From a distance, they could hear fast-paced music coming from the club, with colorful, cool lights flashing like fireworks trapped in a giant box. As Fanli approached, a crowd of people suddenly let out a synchronized “Whoa!” and the doors were burst open from the inside! A large group of people rushed out, grabbing Fanli and pulling her inside, instantly breaking her hold on Xinghai’s hand.
Fanli was scared half to death. She was just about to reach out and use a defensive arcane spell when she heard them all shouting with raised arms:
“Look who’s here!”
“Fanli! The academic god of the Red Moon Sea, the top scorer of the Storm Sea is here!”
“Yo, yo, yo, take her to see Kundi!”
Realizing they meant no harm, Fanli struggled with all her might to break free from their grasp. Looking around, she saw that the surrounding students were either Sea God Race or Hunter Race, and everyone had engraved gold armbands—in the Light Sea, only honorable families would engrave their surnames on their armbands. The armbands of the Ocean Race were usually just decorations.
“Wait...” Fanli looked back, but Xinghai had long since been squeezed out of sight. She shrank back slightly. “Excuse me, what is going on...”
Amidst the noisy music and jumping lights, a boy pulled out a newspaper and pointed to the headline of the Science and Medical section: *“Freshman from Loya Develops Anti-Forbidden Drug Component; Experts Say Integration into Infectious Disease Vaccines Can Be Promoted Throughout the Light Sea.”*
Fanli took it and scanned a few lines, only then realizing that Dean Mev had taken the anti-forbidden drug potion she had submitted and applied for a patent. Because previous forbidden drug vaccines had significant side effects and couldn't be mixed with other vaccines, they had never been popularized. But the potion she had researched on a whim had accidentally made the practical application of forbidden drug vaccines possible. Now, the Loya CDC was using her formula for clinical trials, and the news naturally highlighted the researcher’s name, "Fanli," for praise.
Before Fanli could figure out how she had ended up in the papers so inexplicably, a white-haired Sea God boy swam over and snatched the newspaper from her hand. “Student Fanli, Saint Yegana University is very fast at gathering information, isn't it?”
“I suppose so, even I didn't know...”
“Double-S scores, defeating the Hunter Race employed by the Auda Clan, scoring exactly 270 points, brilliant research... We’ve all heard the legends about you. Well done.” The boy had broad shoulders and a long tail; his radiant tail emitted a golden light, and his smile was confident to the point of being wicked. He was so handsome it was intimidating, or perhaps he just carried the natural pressure of someone in a high position. He leaned down slightly, his large, beautiful pupils fixed on Fanli, and he raised an eyebrow with a grin. “So, did you see today’s news? The Sea God Race and other races can now intermarry. Would Miss Fanli like to date me first?”
A boy next to him gave him a hard shove. “Allen, stop it! Kundi will kill you!”
“Kundi is just my fiancée, not my lover,” Allen laughed. “I’m a proponent of populism, just like Lord Su Shiye. So, according to his wishes, I intend to be among the first wave of Sea God citizens to marry an outsider woman. I think Miss Fanli is quite nice—sweet and cute. We could have a passionate romance first...”
“Um, excuse me, classmate,” Fanli scratched her head. “I have a boyfriend.”
“No way,” the Sea God boy’s eyes widened slightly. “A girl as smart as you, actually willing to be off the market so early... Who’s the lucky guy? It’s not that idiot Kaimo, is it? Among the students in your year, he’s the only one who’s even remotely worthy of you.”
“It’s not me,” Kaimo said grumpily from the crowd. “I don’t like women whose arcane power is too strong. She’s Xinghai’s girlfriend.”
“Who’s Xinghai?”
“He was squeezed out the door by you guys,” Fanli said.
The crowd naturally parted, and Xinghai rushed over, shielding Fanli in his arms. “Lili, are you okay?”
“I’m fine, I’m fine. Let’s go find Feisi and the others.”
At that moment, not just the Sea God boy, but all the students who weren't from Loya University were stunned. Seeing the two of them about to leave, a girl came over to block them. She looked at Xinghai and didn't hide her astonishment. “Academic God, this is your boyfriend?”
“Yes.” Fanli held onto Xinghai tightly, fearing they might try to separate them again on a whim.
“Oh, okay...” The girl backed away of her own accord.
“Fanli, is this really your boyfriend? You’re not joking?” Allen asked again.
“Yes, Xinghai is my boyfriend.”
Allen laughed and gave Xinghai a subtle look. “Brother, you’ve really got something. Impressive.”
Xinghai, however, didn't feel happy about this. He frowned, ignored Allen, and swam to a corner with Fanli to find their friends.
Fanli felt it was strange. Ever since her arcane abilities had improved, it seemed like everyone in the world thought Xinghai wasn't good enough for her. But did no one notice she was Ocean Race, while Xinghai at least had half Hunter Race blood? After chatting with Feisi and the others for a while, she finally got her answer.
“To the Sea God Race, the Hunter Race, Ocean Race, and mixed-bloods are all lower-class Sea Races; there’s no difference. Think about it—their ancestors were originally created by the Deep Blue using arcane divine power. That’s the reason they’ve stood tall in the ocean for over four hundred million years, and it’s their absolute advantage. So, their pursuit of arcane power is just like Miss Bubble’s father’s lust for money. Since your arcane power is so strong, your status in their hearts is naturally high. But for students like us who have no arcane ability, no matter what species we are, we’re just like ordinary marine life.” At this point, Feisi shrugged. “That’s why Lansi and I were never that excited about Saint Yegana. In Loya, we’re at least considered part of the Sea Race. Here, we’re just fish.”
“The Sea God Race is truly bizarre!” You Can looked toward the ceiling in despair. “I miss my dear little baby so much. I wonder when she’ll pass her advancement exam... If she doesn't come, I won't even be able to find a girlfriend here, wahhh...”
“I’m a bit surprised they did so much research on Lili,” Xinghai remarked. “The students at Saint Yegana University really are different; their information gathering is fast.”
“Don’t mind them, we’re not the same kind of people as—”
Before Fanli could finish, their soundproofing spell was suddenly dispelled. Fanli looked up and saw a white-haired Sea God girl retracting her hand from the shielding arcane. She wore a smile that was confident yet carried a hint of spoiled charm. “Good evening, Fanli. I am Kundi. Sephi Kundi.”
Sephi Kundi’s voice was high-pitched and delicate, matching her appearance perfectly. She was quite young for a Sea God, and not very tall—maybe 1.8 meters at most—but her presence felt like it was 3.8 meters tall. If Lina was like a queen, Kundi was like a princess. And now, with the "Queen" standing not far behind her, Lina almost looked like a female bodyguard.
Hearing the surname "Sephi," both Feisi and Lansi looked surprised, and Xinghai looked at her with some confusion. You Can froze for two seconds before letting out a belated “Whoa!”: “A big shot from the Resurrection Sea!!”
“Hello,” Fanli nodded in greeting.
Kundi flicked her eyelids as if she were long accustomed to flattery, though she didn't dislike it. “The rude fellow who spoke to you earlier is my fiancé, Auda Allen. This is my sister.” Kundi pointed to the girl beside her.
Because Kundi exuded an aura of "I'm the cutest, you can only look at me," it took a while for Fanli to notice another female descendant of a Clan God behind her. This girl wore glasses, her long hair tied in a low ponytail with stray strands covering part of her cheeks. She looked quite introverted. Even when her eyes met Fanli’s, she uncomfortably looked away. If one didn't look closely, it was hard to see the resemblance between her and Kundi. And when Kundi introduced her, she didn't even give a name, treating her like an invisible person.
“Fanli, do you have a moment to come out and chat? I have something to say to you.” Seeing Fanli’s guarded expression, Kundi smiled. “Don’t worry, Allen was just joking. No matter how stupid or clumsy he is, he’s still a descendant of a Clan God. How could he actually harass you? I’m his fiancée, after all. Knowing him, he’s probably made that joke to at least ten Ocean Race girls today. You didn't take it seriously, did you?”
Feisi was so repulsed by her way of speaking that she almost reached down her throat to gag. But Fanli remained calm. “Of course not.”
“Then hurry up and come with me.”
Fanli exchanged several looks with Xinghai before deciding to go out and hear what she had to say.
The four girls accompanying Kundi were all Sea God Race. Although they didn't look as fierce as the Black Coral Goddesses, their sense of pressure was even greater than Lina’s gang.
“Although we’ve heard many of your deeds, your political stance has always been unclear.” Kundi turned around, her snow-white eyebrows curving. “Now, can you state your position first?”
“Political stance?” Fanli was somewhat bewildered.
“Oh, stop pretending. You know very well that both I and the ‘Widow Gang’ want you. Even though you’re just Ocean Race, you have your value, don't you?”
“Widow Gang?” Fanli was confused.
“The Mither-somethings and the Buco-somethings. They’re all Sea God descendants, but no male Sea God descendants are willing to date them. Their standards are incredibly high, so they’ve reached this age and are still unwanted. Alright, Fanli, let’s not beat around the bush—I never personally invite people, but I heard you’re the spiritual leader of the Ocean Race at Loya University. So, I assume you’re also on the Dictator’s side, right?”
Fanli briefly considered those words and understood her meaning. Being the spiritual leader of the Ocean Race meant promoting equality and eliminating racism, which was the political stance of the Saint Capital Party. But the Storm Party and the Saint Capital Party were already at each other's throats; there shouldn't be any Storm Party students here. Therefore, the "Widow Gang" who were "not on the Dictator’s side" probably weren't Storm Party students either.
The Auda Clan of the Starry Sea was most loyal to Su Shiye and fought the hardest against the Storm Party. The marriage between Auda Allen and Sephi Kundi meant they wanted to present a united front against outsiders. Meanwhile, the remaining Bodhi Sea and Red Moon Sea were more neutral in their opposition to the Storm Sea. Rather than revolution, they advocated for building the local economy, so they weren't particularly supportive of egalitarianism. If they did support it, it was under duress—Miss Bubble’s death illustrated that point well.
Among the students at Saint Yegana University, one group was the Populists, represented by Sephi Kundi and Auda Allen; another was the Neutrals, represented by the two female students from the Mither and Buco clans. Fanli thought for a moment and said, “I think both sides are about the same. Can I just not take a side?”
“Not taking a side? So you’re staying neutral?”
“Not exactly. It’s just that my abilities are limited, and I don't want to bring trouble upon myself...”
Kundi laughed. “Then you’re overthinking it. With us, no one would dare bully you. The Saint Capital Party is bound to win. Once the Light Sea is unified, the treatment the Mither and Buco clans receive won't be much better than that of the Storm Party.”
“I’m curious, hasn't the Resurrection Sea always been quite opposed to Lord Su Shiye?”
“Haven't you heard the saying? The more you love, the more you hate. Contrary to what many think, Lord Su Shiye actually has a very high approval rating in the Resurrection Sea.” Kundi looked at the clock in the club. “Alright, don't waste time hesitating. Join us. We only have one requirement, and it’s very easy to fulfill.”
“What requirement?”
“Change your boyfriend. Get a Sea God one. With me, you can rest assured you won't end up as miserable as the ‘Widow Gang.’ There’s no shortage of high-quality men; they’ll be lining up for you.”
“Why do I have to change to a Sea God?” Fanli was completely baffled. “Aren't you guys Populists?”
“Precisely because we are Populists, we need you to not be confined to dating boys who are also Ocean Race. You are someone we value now and intend to use in the future; the man by your side must be a Sea God.”
“What kind of twisted logic is that? Besides, Xinghai isn't Ocean Race; he’s mixed-blood.”
“A half-breed is even worse—too lowly. Among the people I, Sephi Kundi, use, how can there be a half-breed?”
Fanli was so angry she almost slapped her. She didn't mind being insulted herself, but she couldn't stand someone insulting Xinghai like that. She took a breath and smiled slightly. “Respected Princess Sephi, I suddenly remembered a very famous saying from my hometown that is perfectly suited for a cute girl like you.”
“What saying?” Kundi asked proudly, her voice becoming even higher and thinner.
“A brain is a good thing; I really wish you had one.” Fanli held her hands to her heart, looking like a pitifully "innocent" brat, but in reality, she was already fuming.
Kundi’s eyes suddenly widened. Kundi’s sister lowered her head, suppressing a laugh.
“Xinghai is the person I love most, and the one I absolutely must marry in the future.” Fanli continued to smile. “Asking me to break up with him—I’m telling you clearly, it’s impossible. I really don't understand why I’m wasting time communicating with a different species, letting you insult my taste and my boyfriend, and then having to insult you back. Wouldn't it be better if we just minded our own business?”
With that, Fanli swam back into the club without looking back, leaving Kundi standing there, her face pale and frozen.
Seeing Xinghai still sitting in the same spot, Fanli swam straight over, sat on him, and leaned into his arms petulantly. “Xinghai, I want to mate with you.”
Meeting Xinghai’s stunned gaze, Fanli immediately lost her nerve. “Ah, no, I’m joking...”
But in just a second, something quickly pressed against her, reacting much faster than its owner’s brain. This time, even Fanli became stunned. Before she could move away, Xinghai pushed her back as if he’d touched a hot potato, a flush spreading across his handsome face.
“Don’t make jokes like that in the future.” He deliberately picked up a glass from the table, hiding half his face behind his hand and the cup.
Fanli was terrified, unable to say a word for a long time. She had read about shark claspers in books long ago—ranging from 25 to 40 centimeters, with a diameter of 5 to 9 centimeters when the two claspers were joined, and they had barbs. At the time, she had just laughed it off, thinking they really were wild animals, so savage and impressive, hahahaha...
Now, the realization finally hit her.
Her boyfriend’s lower body anatomy was also that of a male shark.
“Lili? What’s wrong? You look so pale...”
Fanli shook her head blankly.
Platonic love is great. Long live Platonic love. *Sob.*
***
