Professor Wennan was too close to the blast zone. She instinctively cast an Ice Wall defense spell and shielded her head. Only when she heard Fan Li’s voice did she slowly lower her hands from her ears, looking at Fan Li with a hint of trepidation.
After class, the students who were close to Fan Li swarmed around her, exceptionally excited.
Mise Hege cried out, "My Mise Clan God!! You’re actually one of us, yet you’re so much stronger than everyone else. I knew I didn't pick the wrong person—my eye for people is top-tier! Let that Kundi be as self-righteous as she wants. Serves her right!"
Buke Shasha added, "My Buke Clan God, I was scared to death..."
Feisi said, "Li-zi, you’re actually a Poseidonian! You rascal, keeping it from us for so long!"
Lansi noted, "The pressure is really on Xinghai now. I wonder when he’ll return to school."
Youcan simply wailed, "Goddess, goddess, waaaaah..."
Hearing Xinghai’s name, Fan Li frowned slightly. Now, Su Yi’s complete memories had given the name "Xinghai" a much deeper meaning. Remembering how Xinghai had transformed into Su Shiye step by step, how he had obtained the Etheric Body, how he had ascended to the position of Dictator, and how he had walked an irreversible path of sin—this person had formed a complete individual in her mind. She no longer felt despair over losing the mimicry that was Xinghai; she only felt a sense of melancholy.
At this moment, no one else cared whether Xinghai would return.
The students could only see Fan Li’s beauty. Her lustrous, long curly hair slightly obscured her profile; even her frown was so beautiful it moved the heart, looking as if she were on the verge of tears. Who would still care about the deep affection and sacrifices of that mixed-blood boy? Even the boy himself despised that cowardly past.
As for the matter of blowing up the tester, Fan Li naturally didn't have to pay for it, but the incident of her arcane potential breaking the scale was reported to the higher-ups.
After that day, headlines like *Top-Tier Arcane Potential Poseidonian Student Appears at St. Yegana University*, *Etheric Power Rivaling the Lord Dictator?*, and *The Only Sea-Blue Tailed Poseidonian in the Light Sea Appears at the St. Yegana Academy of Arcane Arts* could be seen everywhere.
Many reporters were staked out outside the dormitory. Fan Li hid behind her curtains, not daring to show her face. Looking at her long blue tail shimmering with brilliant light in the full-length mirror, she gave it a flick. The Holy Spirit light fell into the seawater like fine stardust. Her tail fin was now so large it was hard to get used to, and her swimming speed was two or three times faster than before. With just a gentle quiver of her tail, she could surge a great distance.
She could hardly believe this was real.
For so many years, Su Shiye had never told Su Yi what her bloodline actually was. Whenever she asked, he would give perfunctory answers like "a bloodline that affects the future of the Light Sea." At the end of her memories, she knew she was a Poseidonian, but because she was busy fleeing at the time, she hadn't had the chance to activate her true form. She hadn't expected that simply casting an arcane spell in class would accidentally trigger it.
But she still didn't understand why her arcane potential was so freakishly high. Even descendants of the Sea God didn't possess such power...
***
**Remembrance Fragment VII**
During the stage where my brothers were forcing the Dictator’s hand, I realized something: since the establishment of the Dictator position in St. Yegana over thirty million years ago, every Dictator of the Light Sea had been a Poseidonian. Half of them were direct descendants of the Sea God, and not a single one was from a Hunter Race.
I privately asked Arnold if my brother’s ascent to the Dictatorship would involve a racial issue.
"You’ve hit the nail on the head. Running for Dictator as a member of a Hunter Race would result in a near-unanimous veto from both the St. Yegana government and the Temple of the Light Sea. Actually, your brother and I have discussed this many times. Our consensus is that we need two things: the 'Etheric Body' and the 'Eye of Flame.'"
"Clever," I remarked. "If he can obtain the Etheric Body and possess the power of the ancient gods, others shouldn't be able to object. But isn't the success rate of entering the Etheric Body extremely low?"
"Yes. How many have died? If not ten thousand, then at least five thousand. Not a single one has succeeded; they were all sucked dry by the Etheric power until only white bones remained. That thing is truly sinister; it requires both mental and physical willpower to reach an ultimate state before success is even possible. Su Shiye has this mysterious confidence that he is that person." Arnold sighed. "I don't understand why he’s so obsessed with personally completing the great task of unifying the Light Sea, but since he has such a grand goal, as his brother, I can only give it my all."
Hearing Arnold mention the Eye of Flame, I knew my brother was truly planning this seriously.
The Eye of Flame was a divine artifact left behind by the Lord of Flame. It allowed the wearer to freely convert between arcane and fel energy. The Etheric Body was a vessel created based on fel energy; without the mediation of the Eye of Flame, it would be eroded by the opposing arcane energy of the Light Sea until death. The failure of so many previous attempts to obtain the Etheric Body was largely due to the lack of the Eye of Flame. Furthermore, with the Eye of Flame, the master of the Etheric Body would not only possess the top-tier physical combat strength of the food chain but also the strongest arcane power in the entire Light Sea, making it easier to gain the recognition of the Elders.
Arnold told me they had conducted an investigation. The Eye of Flame was currently hidden deep within the homeland of the Pyrians—the Flame Clan. The Pyrians were the earliest life forms created by the Lord of Flame, with a history of nearly four billion years. They had survived nearly ten times longer than the Light Sea races or the Balrogs of the deep sea, scattered across countless volcanic islands on the ocean surface. They had little ambition and could not leave their volcanoes, living forever within the volcanoes and the magma deep inside. On land, any member of the Sea Race attacked by them would turn into steam in a matter of minutes. Thus, even after four billion years of history, with only a small handful of Pyrians remaining, successfully entering and seizing the treasure from their heavy defenses remained an almost impossible task.
Setting aside how to obtain the Etheric Body for now, I found this Eye of Flame quite interesting. Thus, I spent three months making thorough preparations and headed to the central tribe of the Pyrians—Hot Sand Island, located above the Sea of Storms.
When I arrived near the island, lightning flashed and thunder rumbled. Torrential rain poured down, and clouds pressed against the low sky like slabs of lead, as if they would fall with a single stomp. The heavy rain nourished the lush islands near the volcanic isle, but it made the volcano of Hot Sand Island look like a giant tombstone.
After going ashore and using arcane arts to control my land-walking for a while, I was scared witless and almost dove back into the sea, never to return. Beneath my feet was a vast field of skeletons, stretching densely to the foot of the volcano. Every skeleton was complete, washed snow-white and shiny by the rain. They lay on the ground in various poses, looking as if they had all died quite recently.
After a while, the rain stopped.
A young man walked out from the foot of the volcano, occasionally crouching down to inspect the remains.
The youth was about 197 to 200 centimeters tall, dressed like an islander. His bare upper body was wheat-colored with eight-pack abs, and there were red patterns on his arms and shoulder blades. His long, dark red hair was swept back, and two metal necklaces hung over his pectoral muscles.
"Hey! Who’s there!" the youth suddenly shouted at me.
I was so startled I turned to run, but my weak Sea Race speed was overtaken in a few steps by his cheetah-like stride. He grabbed my wrist and forced me back. "Sea Race?! Why is there a member of the Sea Race here?"
This man had rugged facial features, thick brows, deep eyes, and a nose bridge as high as the volcanic peaks behind him. He was actually quite handsome. I tried to pull my hand away but failed to break free, so I could only lie: "I’m... I’m here for tourism..."
"A member of the Sea Race touring an active volcanic island? How old are you? Do you know that magma is seven to twelve times hotter than boiling water? Do you want to be scalded to see what it’s like?"
"No, no. But I’m curious, why are there so many corpses here?"
In fact, I had already done my research. The Pyrians were also known as the Immortal Volcano Race. Their bones were exceptionally hard, but their skin was fragile; they could only survive in dry environments. If they touched water, they would be corroded until only bones remained. When the volcano erupted and magma flowed out, they would return to their original forms. Their lifespan was about 350 to 700 years, not counting the periods spent as bone, and each skeletal resurrection was like a phoenix rebirth, extending their lives. If a volcano didn't erupt for a long time, they could potentially live longer than the Poseidonians.
The youth explained their lore to me. It matched the information I had gathered.
"How miraculous... then why aren't you like them?"
I had already guessed eighty or ninety percent of the answer. Sure enough, the youth smiled. "I am their chief, Qiusha. I have to stay out to protect them and ensure their safety. Lest a body thief like you tries to steal them away into the sea."
"The chief has a bit of a sense of humor."
"Well? Aren't we Pyrians cool? The sea must be boring. Stay here for a few more days, and you can see them be reborn."
"Alright, I’d love to see that!"
I stayed in the shallows of Hot Sand Island. Seeing Chief Qiusha working hard to care for his tribesmen's bones, I felt it really wasn't easy for him. When he said he was going hunting, I shared the fish I had caught with him. He took two bites and swallowed it raw, even complaining that it tasted fishy, leaving me dumbfounded.
"What’s your name?" As I went into the sea to help him fish again, he sat on the scorching sand, watching me from a distance.
"Su Yi."
"It sounds nice." He laughed, his gaze burning, his entire being like a flame. "Su Yi, are all Sea Race girls as beautiful as you? Big eyes, rounded breasts, a perky butt, and long, straight white legs that make it very easy for a man to get hard."
I was dumbfounded once again for a long time before slowly saying, "Let me tell you, if you spoke to a girl like that in the Light Sea, it would be sexual harassment. You’d be arrested by the police."
"Is it sexual harassment to talk to my wife like that?"
"Well, no."
"Then you should be my wife."
"Crazy." I threw a pile of fish at him.
Four days later, the volcano erupted. Rocks and magma tumbled and churned as they surged from the summit. For the first time, I learned that magma could flow in cones, tubes, or even fine lines. The volcano was like a missile launch base, spewing a vast amount of volcanic ash into the atmosphere. The debris blocked the sun, making the weather turn cold. Simultaneously, thousands of tons of toxic gases erupted, causing nearby birds and beasts to suffocate. These gases also seeped into the island's lakes, turning them into acidic water comparable to sulfuric acid.
However, as the magma flowed over the skeletons at the foot of the volcano, blood vessels, nerves, muscles, and skin rapidly grew back onto the bones, turning them into living Pyrians. One by one, the Pyrians stood up, running through the magma toward their families and friends, embracing each other passionately and cheering loudly: "Praise the Crimson Lord!!"
During this process, every time Qiusha helped a tribesman, he would glance at me. But I didn't dare get close; I could only lie on a reef in the middle of the sea, splashing my tail and watching this miraculous scene.
When the eruption finally ended, the sky had darkened. The Pyrians held a bonfire party on the beach, singing, dancing, and tasting roasted food, carrying large amounts of coconuts, jackfruit, and durian near the fire.
Qiusha waved at me, signaling for me to come over. I jumped into the sea and swam to the edge of the beach, but before I could get out of the water, he had already run into the shallows to meet me.
"Don't...!" I looked at his feet soaking in the water and said anxiously.
"A little water is fine! As long as I don't get completely wet, it’s okay. Don't worry!" As if to reassure me, Qiusha took a few steps back and sat on the sand at the edge of the waves, waiting for me to come over.
But as soon as I crawled over, before I even touched dry ground, he grabbed me. He flipped over and used his boulder-like body weight to pin me beneath him. He pressed down so hard I could barely breathe, and speaking was a struggle: "What are you doing..."
Then, he pinned my wrists with his hands. His deep red eyes drew closer and closer, and his soft lips pressed against mine, their temperature so high they almost scorched my skin.
"Ah!" I turned my head away in a panic. "What are you doing?! Ahhh!!"
"Su Yi, will you be the Chief’s wife?" Qiusha asked softly.
"You’re crazy. We can't have children; we’re different species..."
"I don't care. It’s you I want, not your children."
Ignoring my attempts to dodge, he kissed my lips heavily several more times and shouted loudly, "Listen up, everyone! I’ve fallen in love with this girl from the deep ocean—Su Yi! She will be the Chief’s wife of our Hot Sand Island! What do you say?!"
Before I could speak, the Pyrians on the island clapped vigorously and cheered: "Yes! Yes! Yes!"
To be honest, the culture of the Pyrians overturned my stereotypes of them.
Previously, I had always thought they were violent, destructive, and aggressive. I hadn't expected them to also be passionate, straightforward, and egalitarian. If the Chief wanted to marry a woman from another race, he didn't need anyone's permission; everyone would collectively offer flowers and blessings. This was an absolute impossibility in the ocean.
Because the atmosphere here was so pure and beautiful, I almost forgot my troubles in the Light Sea.
Until I remembered the conversation between my brother and me.
—"Brother, what if the person I like is a mixed-blood Poseidonian like you?"
—"If you fall in love with a man like that, I will kill him."
Water and fire were truly different. The sea appeared calm and inclusive, yet it always hid its saddest stories in its deepest depths.
In the world of the high-tier Sea Race, love was shameful and a luxury. Interests and power always stood above emotion. It was impossible for a leader of the Sea Race with Qiusha’s status to so easily announce to the world: "I’ve fallen in love with this girl."
I had come with the purpose of finding the Eye of Flame, but after returning to St. Yegana empty-handed, I felt I had gained far more than the artifact.
Suddenly, I had a wild idea.
I wanted to flee the Light Sea, flee my brother, flee the descendants of the Clan Gods who didn't even understand what love was, and flee a future where I was always expected to breed for the Poseidonians.
Qiusha knew he and I couldn't reproduce, but he didn't care. Yet my brother said that if I loved a man who couldn't get me pregnant, he would kill him. The contrast was simply too great.
After I returned, Arnold didn't notice my mood. He only knew that I had established a good relationship with Qiusha, and he was so excited his little mustache almost took flight. "Excellent, excellent! The Pyrians might sound terrifying, but they’re actually quite simple. As long as they let their guard down around you... Su Yi, you’ve really got something! At first, I thought your brother’s plan to unify the Light Sea was too far-fetched, but I didn't expect the Eye of Flame to be within our reach so soon."
"Having the Etheric Body and the Eye of Flame doesn't mean he can unify the Light Sea," I said, uncharacteristically pessimistic.
"True, it’s still very difficult, but not impossible. Political marriage is a great method. If Su Shiye can successfully merge with the Etheric Body, he can marry a High Princess."
"A High Princess?" I felt as if I’d been struck over the head. "Can my brother accept that?"
"Why wouldn't he? He doesn't have a wife. If he becomes the Dictator, marrying a High Princess is only natural. He should be more than happy to do it. It’s a direct path to the peak of his life."
It took me a long time to snap out of it.
Yes, my brother had always refused to date because he knew his physical condition and felt there was no need to burden another girl. But if he obtained the Etheric Body, he would no longer have reproductive isolation with any race. He could do as I had hoped when I was little: marry a wife, build a happy family, and have a group of cute children...
That night, my brother came home very late. I looked up at him. "Brother, I heard from Arnold that if you can merge with the Etheric Body, you’d be open to a political marriage with a High Princess?"
"Why was he talking to you about that?" My brother seemed uninterested. "Let’s succeed first. If I don't succeed, I’ll be dead. What’s the point of talking about marriage?"
"And if you do succeed?"
"I don't want a political marriage. But if it reaches a point where it’s necessary, I can accept it."
Now, I could no longer say something as naive as "How can you separate marriage from love?" We worked so hard not for love, but for responsibility and mission. But looking at my brother standing right before me, I only felt that the distance between us had been stretched very, very far.
From the next day onward, I spent long periods on Hot Sand Island, building my relationship with Qiusha. He truly liked me; whenever I went there, he accompanied me the entire time, taking me on boat rides between the islands, personally peeling the freshest tropical fruits for me, and lifting me high in his arms on the beach whenever he was in a good mood. With him, I could feel the hundred-percent passion of a man offering true love. It felt exceptionally relaxing and gave me a great sense of security.
Later, even the elders of the tribe began to warn him: "Chief, you’re going a bit too far. Do not be so unreserved with that girl; she is of the Light Sea Race."
"Whoever protests again, I will strike their name from the Pyrian records," Qiusha’s answer was unusually firm.
In this way, I quickly teased out the secrets of Hot Sand Island and the Eye of Flame. I was surprised that it was actually so simple; I only needed to wait for one more heavy rain, use a few tricks, and I could easily take it away.
"My love, the Eye of Flame is our greatest treasure. I’ve only told this secret to you, an outsider. Because you are the future Chief’s wife, you have the right to know. If the Eye of Flame encounters a crisis in the future, you must protect it on behalf of your husband."
Qiusha’s complete trust was, naturally, because I had ambiguously given him hope.
If I stole their treasure but didn't marry him, I would probably feel a guilty conscience for the rest of my life. However, to help my brother sit on the throne of the true Dictator, this was a path that had to be taken.
I repeatedly asked myself: Is it really necessary for me to go this far?
No matter how many times I asked, the answer was contradictory. Thus, after I returned, I tentatively said to my brother, "Brother, I want to get married."
My brother froze for a moment and quickly turned to look at me. "You want to marry Xitian?"
"No, it’s another boy. He loves me very much, and I quite like him too."
"Who?"
So, I told my brother about Qiusha. I started talking with great enthusiasm, but as I went on, facing his increasingly deepening frown, my spirit withered, and my voice gradually grew faint. After hearing everything, my brother said only one thing: "Have you forgotten what I said? No!"
"Qiusha isn't a mixed-blood Poseidonian."
"He’s worse than a mixed-blood Poseidonian. Not only can you not reproduce, but the racial customs, cultural education, childhood experiences, and living environments are completely different. What is there for you to love about him?"
Clutching the hem of my clothes, I plucked up my courage and looked up at my brother’s profile. I could only hear my heart racing wildly, and my voice was trembling. "If those things were the same, then I could love?"
"It would certainly be better than if they were different."
"Brother, besides Xitian, what kind of boy do you think is suitable for me?" I didn't even know what I was saying; I only knew that my scalp and fingers were numb with tension. "Someone around my age, someone I have a lot in common with..."
"There is no one for now. If you aren't satisfied with Xitian, I’ll keep an eye out for others."
I felt very strongly that something deep inside me was collapsing. Like a skyscraper crashing to the ground, the impact shook the entire earth, filling it with suffocating dust and toxic fumes.
"Do you know, Su Shiye—sorry, I don't want to call you brother right now because you’ve disappointed me too much!" I said, suppressing my tears and feeling wronged. "Qiusha knows that he and I have reproductive isolation. He said he wants me, not my children! But you? You’re my brother, the person I love most in this world, yet you only see me as a breeding tool! You don't understand love at all!"
"I don't. Yes, I don't." My brother sneered. "You believe Qiusha’s words, thinking he loves you and wants only you regardless of everything. But once you’ve been possessed by him, once you’re completely severed from life in the Light Sea, and he grows tired of you and wants to find a Pyrian woman to carry on his line, how will you protect yourself? Pyrian law? They don't even know how to write the word 'law'; it’s a miracle if they even have tribal guidelines."
"Don't try to brainwash me." I looked at him defiantly. "Do you think the life you’ve arranged for me is what I want? I only want a husband who loves me, not a husband who wants to have children with me and provide me with an ample material life!"
"A man can love you, have children with you, and provide you with an ample material life. These three things are not in conflict. And you, right now, you’re excessively pursuing so-called freedom and defining irresponsible passion as love. How naive! Qiusha doesn't consider your future, doesn't consider that when you’re older you might want a stable life, to enjoy the happiness of children and grandchildren. He just says he wants to marry you and doesn't want kids, and you’re moved to tears? Is it because your parents and I didn't give you enough emotional security or what? How did you become like this?"
"No, after meeting Qiusha, I realized that love can ignore reproduction. Just like our parents—even if their genes couldn't continue, they still wanted to be together. Unfortunately, you don't understand that kind of emotion!"
"Right, I don't." My brother laughed again, a very sorrowful sound. "If I were Qiusha, no matter how much I loved you, I would let you go."
That phrase "let you go" was like a sharp knife, stabbing my heart until it was riddled with holes. But as for why it hurt so much, I didn't want to think about it. If I thought too much, I would surely break down again.
"I’m sorry, I don't care for your kind of love at all. If Qiusha were like you, I wouldn't want to marry him." I looked at him angrily. "Brother, I will help you retrieve the Eye of Flame and help you on your path to becoming the Dictator. Consider it repayment for your years of kindness to me. But I’m tired. I don't want to participate in your power struggles anymore. As long as Qiusha forgives me for stealing their treasure, I will marry him."
"Try marrying him and see. If you dare to marry him, I’ll dare to..." At this point, my brother suddenly stopped speaking. After a moment, he revealed a cold smile. "Fine. Get the Eye of Flame first, then we’ll talk."
"Brother, do you really intend to try merging with the Etheric Body?"
"I can't think of a second way to become the Dictator for now."
"Brother, if we want to realize our ideals, there are many other ways. Why must you do something so extreme? For over three million years, the Light Sea has never been unified. It’s almost impossible to achieve, isn't it? And do you really know what you’re planning? You’re very likely to become just another set of bones beneath the Etheric Altar!"
"I told you, I must unify the Light Sea so that all seven Great Clans will obey my orders. This is very important. Even if I have to risk death, I don't mind."
I looked at the Governor of the Sea of Stars before me and only felt that he looked very strange. "Don't you think you’re chasing power a bit too much now? Brother, you weren't like this before."
"Lili, you know I don't like explaining, and I don't like being at odds with you."
"I know. Let’s not talk about this anymore. I trust your choice, and I will always support you."
Even so, I didn't go to retrieve the Eye of Flame immediately. I felt that I should delay it as long as possible. Moreover, if the day ever came when my brother truly went to the Etheric Altar, I felt I would probably go mad trying to stop him. Perhaps then, I wouldn't have to betray Qiusha.
But in June of the year 24621, something sudden happened that caused my mental state to completely collapse and changed my mind.
***
**4.3 Theater**
Qiusha: "A man who could be a male lead on Popo, yet can only be a bit player on Jinjiang. How tragic."
Su Shiye: "A man who could be a stallion in the male-frequency genre with countless beauties to love, yet can only love one woman on Jinjiang. How tragic."
Xitian: "A man who could be the male lead in *The CEO Falls for Me*, yet can only be a guest in the 4.3 Theater. How tragic."
Fan Li: "A man who could be a 'shou' in the BL genre and be endlessly pampered by men, yet in the romance genre can only..."
Yejia: "Why are you looking at me while saying that?!"
***
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