Upon returning to St. Yegana, Fan Li went to the university to collect her transcript. At noon, she treated her three Oceanid friends to a meal in the cafeteria.
"Feisi, Lansi, when do you two plan on getting married?" You Can asked casually.
The couple looked up at him, appearing somewhat confused. He added, "I mean, if you’re planning to tie the knot, remember to call me so I can attend the wedding! Fan Li, Xinghai, and I can come meet your parents together!"
"Parents?" Feisi said awkwardly. "My parents passed away a long time ago. They won't be coming to our wedding."
"What about Lansi’s parents?"
"His parents passed away long ago as well."
"So... you’re both orphans?" You Can scratched his head.
"Yes. So, growing up, he and I only ever had each other."
Fan Li knew that the couple's situation was unique, but she couldn't help but think of herself and Xinghai. She felt a pang of emotion. "I understand. Because you are both alone in this world, you need each other even more, don't you?"
"Yes... Lansi is my future, my everything. No matter what happens, we won't be parted. Li-zi, I hope you can be just as steadfast. Stay with the person you love most."
Fan Li truly couldn't bring herself to say "okay." She simply changed the subject. "After this semester ends, I have something very important to do. I’ll be leaving for a while, so I’m saying my goodbyes now."
Hearing this, Feisi, Lansi, and You Can looked at each other in surprise.
"Ah, where are you going?" Feisi gripped her hand. "Is it because Professor Wennan is forcing you to withdraw? She’s not actually that bad. If you just soften your stance and apologize, you won't have to leave."
"Yeah, yeah, Goddess! It’s just an apology. Don't lose your degree over this," You Can added, his tail fin flapping anxiously.
"No, actually, there’s something I haven't told you... I graduated from St. Yegana University a long time ago. This time, I’m leaving because I truly have important business..."
Before Fan Li could finish, Liuxiang’s acerbic voice rang out from behind her. "I’ve never seen someone so obsessed with saving face. You’d rather be expelled than apologize for your own 'cleverness.'"
Fan Li turned around and looked at her calmly. "Liuxiang, this has nothing to do with you. Could you please mind your own business?"
"Did I name names? How hilarious." Liuxiang sneered. "Besides, the reason things have reached this point is because you all pushed us. You’d better remember that."
"Who pushed you?"
"All of you."
Fan Li was almost amused by this antisocial response. "Then have you ever considered that if everyone thinks you’re the problem, perhaps you really are doing something inappropriate?"
"You’re joking, Fan Li! By your logic, if a woman is gang-raped by a group of men, she should reflect on her own problems?"
"Is that even the same thing? In your eyes, are we all people trying to 'rape' you?"
"Mentally, it’s no different." Liuxiang crossed her arms, looking at her as if she were a thief. "Feisi and Lansi think Salmonid culture is so great, that their struggle to rise up is so noble, so they look down on me. You Can is everyone’s lapdog; now that we’ve broken up, I find it embarrassing that I ever dated him. I wish it never happened. Dangdang is just your bag-carrying maid; she does whatever you say. Xinghai is your most loyal dog; he sees nothing but you. So tell me, what’s the point of me staying in this circle? Or do you expect me to be like them—propping you up as a goddess, coddling you, and completely abandoning myself?"
"You’ve been brainwashed by Lina and Quinti. Except for Xinghai, we are all Oceanids. There are no goddesses or queens here. We have no leader; we are all friends."
"Friends?" Liuxiang laughed out loud. "You’re mentioning 'friends' to me? You never once saw me as a friend!"
She shouted that last sentence so loudly that it drew stares from bystanders. Fan Li was stunned by the sheer intensity of her resentment. After a long pause, she asked, "How did I not treat you as a friend before?"
"You helped Feisi with everything. You helped Dangdang move and protected her with all your heart. Even when You Can, a guy, got hit, you stepped in to stop it... But look at me. What did you ever do for me?"
This was a question Fan Li had never considered. It was true that she had intentionally helped Dangdang and You Can more, but that was because they were weaker. Feisi and Lansi had been in a relationship for so long they radiated the aura of an older married couple, so she naturally respected Feisi’s opinions...
"That’s enough," Feisi said displeasedly. "Liuxiang, that’s enough."
"Oh? Now the two of you are ganging up on me?"
"Shifting the blame to Fan Li is pointless. We all know the reason you distanced yourself from us is primarily because you’ve always yearned to be like Lina."
Liuxiang pointed at her own nose, her eyes widening in disbelief. "I yearned for Lina? That’s the joke of the century!"
"You wanted to become someone like her, but we all just wanted to be equals. No one was willing to worship you, so you left us. That’s the obvious answer, isn't it?"
"Feisi, anyone has the right to say that, but you have the least!" Liuxiang trembled with rage, her swallowtail fins shaking. "You were the one who always targeted me, excluded me, and envied me! Thank you very much!"
"Haha, what a cute baby. What do you have that’s worth targeting? Are your grades better than mine? Do you have a boyfriend willing to take responsibility for your future? Just because of your family background? Puh-lease. Let’s see who’s doing better in thirty years before you try to show off..."
Hearing them argue like this, Fan Li actually felt a sense of relief. Student life was so simple; people could get red in the face over such trivial matters. She finished her meal, set down her chopsticks, and went to collect her transcript.
Transcripts at St. Yegana University were confidential; students had to line up one by one at the professor's office to receive them.
The one distributing grades to Fan Li was Professor Wennan.
When she entered the office, Lina and Liuxiang had just received theirs. Seeing Fan Li enter, Liuxiang intentionally tugged on Lina to stay, waiting with interest to see her humiliation.
But standing behind Fan Li, Lina looked at the long hair cascading down her back and felt the silhouette was hauntingly familiar.
She remembered a scene she had witnessed as a child in St. Yegana.
"Slavery must be overthrown. The Oceanids must stand on equal footing with the Predators and the Sea Deities," a woman had said dispassionately to the assembled Suzerains and Sea Governors. "You believe I have no right to challenge a system that has lasted four hundred and thirty million years, but the cries for help from two hundred million slaves and 1.8 billion Oceanids will give you your answer. The fact that I control more than half of the slave owners in the entire Light Sea will give you your answer. Time will give you your answer. A wrong should not be allowed to repeat itself. The wheels of history are turning; someone will eventually do this. If not me, then someone else. So, let us wait and see."
Sui had been breathtakingly beautiful, with eyes as cold and stunning as the deep sea, wavy hair like surging red algae, and a perfect waist and tail line. She was the very image of the perfect woman Lina dreamed of becoming. However, the part of her that had truly shocked Lina had nothing to do with her beauty; it was that aura—a mixture of a sage and a sovereign.
Although Lina did not agree with Sui’s political views, having met her in person was one of the proudest moments of her life. It was because of her that Lina kept her hair in long red curls and pursued a degree in the Arcane. Even as a severe racialist, Lina was exceptionally tolerant of high-achieving Oceanids because of her.
Lina realized that, at some point, Fan Li’s hairstyle, figure, and temperament had become highly synchronized with Sui’s.
"Fan Li, your grade this semester is first in the year," Professor Wennan said, handing her the transcript. "You are indeed an excellent student, but your combat grade last semester was insufficient. Over the entire academic year, you still failed to meet the standard we agreed upon. Now, it is time to fulfill our promise."
"Withdrawal, right?" Fan Li took the transcript and glanced at it nonchalantly. "Fine. I’ll withdraw."
Professor Wennan had expected her to admit her mistake and apologize. She hadn't expected her to be so stubborn. The professor was surprised, but she couldn't back down now. "With your Arcane strength, even if you aren't in our college, you can find a very good job after leaving the university, but... what are you drinking?"
Fan Li downed a small vial of potion, tossed the tube into the trash, and turned around. Then, her face began to change at a speed visible to the naked eye. By the time it fully settled, Professor Wennan’s tail went limp with shock, and she had to lean against the desk to stay upright. "My... God of Mises..."
Who was she looking at?! It was her idol!!!
Academician Sui!!!
Professor Wennan had only ever had the chance to see Academician Sui once at the Amaterasu Pavilion and had the honor of chatting with her briefly. Later, out of admiration, she had applied to work at St. Yegana University. The moment she received her appointment letter, Professor Wennan had been so giddy she felt like a child of seventy or eighty again. Regretfully, after she arrived at St. Yegana, Sui only held a nominal position at the Arcane Institute and rarely appeared.
Not just Professor Wennan—Lina and Liuxiang, who were standing behind, also circled to the front to steal a glance. They were both dumbstruck.
"My apologies, Professor Wennan. I’ve caused you quite a bit of trouble lately. I just wanted to tell you that from my observations this past year, I believe you are the scholar best suited to take over the Arcane Institute. Therefore, I’ll have to trouble you with the research going forward. The relevant procedures have already been arranged. You can contact my teaching assistants directly when the time comes; they will receive you."
Liuxiang and Lina’s mouths hung open in unison. Lina was especially astonished.
At that moment, Kaimo, Alan, and the others outside had grown impatient and burst in. They were about to mock the scene, but when Fan Li turned around, they all wore the same expression.
"Aca-aca-aca-academician Sui?!" Kaimo was terrified, but even more so, he was struck by her beauty. "I... I’m seeing the real Academician Sui?!"
Alan, in a flamboyant gesture, cupped his face. He tried to coolly pat Kaimo on the shoulder but accidentally hit the doorframe, hissing in pain.
"Academician Sui, what on earth is going on?" Professor Wennan still couldn't believe her eyes.
"I can't explain everything clearly right now, but you will know soon enough." Fan Li looked at the clock on the wall and squeezed the back of the professor's hand. "I have to go. I’ll leave the rest to you."
Fan Li swam to the office door, only to run straight into Ye Jia. She stepped forward and gave him a hug, whispering, "See you after the war. Thank you."
Ye Jia was stunned at first, then he laughed and patted her back. "I’ll wait for you to come back."
Fan Li swam out of St. Yegana University at top speed. For three hours after her departure, the students were in a feverish frenzy, discussing the fact that they had "seen the real Academician Sui."
The date was July 1st, Year 24731 of the Burning Era. Fan Li embarked on her journey back to the Storm Sea. On the same day, the Temple of Memories was completed.
Upon hearing this news, the Dictator was in an excellent mood. He immediately had his press secretary schedule the media, intending to announce his marriage to Fan Li in the coming days and hold the wedding at the Temple of Memories. But halfway through the scheduling, Pesha suddenly walked in with a communicator. Even her professional poise couldn't hide the panic in her expression. "Lord Dictator, the general manager of the hotel in Phili Town just called. They found a precision-crafted knife in the bathroom of the room you and Miss Fan Li shared. They’re asking if it belongs to you."
"A knife?" Su Shiye turned around sharply.
"I told them we shouldn't have brought a knife on the trip, but then they said they made a mistake—it was a knife Miss Fan Li borrowed from the front desk. She borrowed it around 2:40 AM, the night before you checked out."
For a long time, Su Shiye gave no reaction. The press assistant didn't dare speak, their eyes darting back and forth between him and Pesha. Su Shiye touched his ear, his face growing paler and paler. Then, holding the communicator, he vanished in the blink of an eye, leaving behind a room full of bubbles.
By now, Fan Li’s private vessel was already far from St. Yegana. At the border of the sea territories, she emerged from the cabin. Not far away, in front of a Storm Sea warship emblazoned with the Sun Lion crest, a lieutenant colonel and four Predator guards were waiting.
"Academician Sui," the general gave her a left-handed salute and gestured toward the warship’s hatch. "His Highness Xitian ordered us to escort you back to Veda. Please, enter the cabin."
Fan Li’s communicator rang. The name "Su Shiye" flashed in blue light.
A cloud of ice mist rose from her palm, surrounding the device. The temperature of the mist dropped lower and lower until the sound of metal snapping echoed from the frozen communicator. The signal weakened until the light vanished completely, and the device was rendered useless. She handed it to the lieutenant colonel. "Please dispose of this. Thank you."
She entered the cabin and saw a white-haired man sitting upright. He was as he always was—possessing a military officer's handsomeness and a military officer's stoicism.
"Xitian?" She looked at the general outside. "He said you ordered them to fetch me..."
"And then he came along himself." The lieutenant colonel shrugged with a smile.
Xitian stood up and swam over, pulling Fan Li into a hug. His embrace was as cold and hard as the man himself, his grip so strong she could barely breathe. But unlike Su Shiye, he didn't say a single word from beginning to end.
"Still so bad at expressing your feelings," Fan Li said with a smile, patting his back. "Is it that hard to say 'welcome back'?"
"Did you get the items?"
"No."
"Then things will be a bit tricky." Xitian furrowed his sharp, long brows. "It’s fine. We’ll find another way."
"Just teasing. How could I forget such an important step?" At this, Fan Li held up two golden earrings. "Without these, this battle would be a very difficult one, wouldn't it?"
"Good. Su Shiye is finished." Xitian smiled.
***
*Memory Fragment Twelve*
In the year 24684, after countless bones had withered and blood had flowed like rivers, the Holy Capital Party successfully reclaimed the Sea of Resurrection.
After this campaign, it seemed my brother had become numb to killing. Afterward, whenever anyone attempted to rebel, they were met with his forced military suppression, and he was always ruthless.
During this time, I kept observing his strategic policies.
In a civilization like the Sea of Resurrection, with its heavy religious atmosphere and infinite spiritual territory, there were always exceptionally tragic martyrs. Even after the war was over and their home had surrendered, they would still pit their flesh and blood against the warships and weapons of St. Yegana. Later, they figured out a very cunning guerrilla tactic: when the Holy Capital army approached, they ran; when the army left, they returned. They lingered at the borders of St. Yegana, killing here and there, still managing to take down several hundred people.
Those with nothing to lose fear no one; that is a law in any system. But my brother’s title of "God of War" wasn't just for show. He split his forces into three routes and quickly wiped out the guerrilla units.
That campaign was exceptionally bloody, but the cleanup was executed beautifully. Most lovers of "violent aesthetics" would likely have become his fans.
Furthermore, before the war had even fully concluded, my brother threw himself into economics as if he’d been injected with adrenaline. It made me wonder if he had octopus ancestry, with a brain in every tentacle. He was a god at deploying troops, and a god at deploying people. He even personally oversaw projects at the Arcane Research Institute. Sometimes, he would assign my tasks directly, his attention to detail so extreme it made me suspect he had installed surveillance cameras in our institute and was monitoring us 24 hours a day. Consequently, the economy within the Holy Capital Party’s territories recovered at lightning speed, returning to a state of prosperity within two years.
The Elders of the Holy Capital were initially critical of him, but they all eventually changed their tune. Some even believed that if Su Shiye were to one day unify the entire Light Sea, it would not be by a stroke of luck.
Most of the Elders believed in the theory that "the times create the hero," and this was the highest praise they could offer.
But the more praise they gave him, the greater my pressure became. Because I no longer intended to work with him. From a military and political perspective, my brother was impeccable. But from the perspective of values... sorry, I’m overthinking it. He didn't have any.
After the Winter Sea defected, the situation in the Sea of Resurrection became unstable, and the Storm Party gradually gained the upper hand. The Storm Sea already had the bearing of an old-school empire; as their strength grew slightly, military morale soared. They clashed with the Holy Capital Party multiple times, but both sides were merely testing each other, likely waiting for that one true decisive battle.
Afterward, I focused entirely on military Arcane research, having no heart for politics. I told my brother I would work hard for him to reduce casualties in the next war.
"A war cannot be without casualties. Don't put too much pressure on yourself."
My brother said this, but he was exceptionally supportive of my actions. He assigned me to the Light Sea Military Research Department as the Chief Potioneer. However, Chief Potioneer was still an academic position; I had little opportunity to access core military secrets. But I didn't rush anyone, especially not my brother. I pursued my potions with a Zen-like detachment.
After the Sea of Resurrection was conquered, it lost its strategic and economic goals and its needs. Taking advantage of this, I used only 34,000 Fu to buy fifteen sets of biochemical weapon data and Arcane equipment blueprints from them, but I did not hand them over to the Research Department. My brother’s battles were fought beautifully, and his military advisors grew arrogant, never suggesting he learn about the various military information of the Sea of Resurrection.
In 24696, the Holy Capital army pretended to pursue the Storm army but suddenly turned around and dropped a No. 9 Deep-Dive Biochemical Uranium Bomb on the Red Moon Sea. A massive crater was blasted into Luoya.
After dropping the uranium bomb, my brother didn't continue to use force to conquer the Red Moon Sea. Instead, he quickly shelled out 1.2 billion Fu to build them the most luxurious hotel in the entire Light Sea. For several years after that, he made no further moves.
Many people didn't understand this maneuver at the time, thinking the Holy Capital army had truly dropped the bomb by mistake and wanted to repair relations with the Red Moon Sea. But I knew. My brother’s next target was the Red Moon Sea, and he intended to use a circuitous tactic.
The Red Moon Sea was, after all, the wealthiest of the Seven Seas. Its economic strength was about two-thirds that of St. Yegana, its education level was roughly equal, and its military strength was second only to the Storm Sea. If he tried to use the "bulldozer" method he used on the Sea of Resurrection, the Storm Sea would likely swoop in like a mantis stalking a cicada and swallow St. Yegana whole. Moreover, the Red Moon Sea was like a soft, delicious cake; if you broke it by force, it wouldn't be edible. It was better to find a way to wear it down until it was in his hands.
However, the Red Moon Sea was capital-driven and lacked heroic sentiment. It was impossible for them to be wholeheartedly devoted. Only by giving them benefits would they temporarily cooperate with the Holy Capital Party in a submissive manner. My brother had thought through these principles long ago. So, to win over the Red Moon Sea, he orchestrated one set after another of "carrot and stick" diplomacy, military exercises, negotiation techniques, and mutually beneficial agreements. It made me deeply feel that "the most superior politician must be a natural-born actor." Honestly, I think after his term as Dictator ends, if he wrote a book called *My Past with the Red Moon Sea*, it would surely be a bestseller in the Light Sea, and he’d never have to worry about income again.
Take one example that left me speechless.
Since his days in the army, my brother had maintained the habit of swimming fifty kilometers every morning. He kept it up even after entering politics. After integrating into an Ethereal Body, this figure increased a hundredfold. Even for his current constitution, this was no small amount of exercise. After finishing his workout each morning, he would rest in the St. Yegana Sea Race Park. This was also the time when many reporters would stake him out for interviews.
When consuming large amounts of energy, a creature's spirit is in a very relaxed state. Predators choose to attack prey after a long run; reporters choose to ask questions after the Dictator’s long swim. Because at that time, they often get the most honest answers. Previously, my brother’s rest time was short and he didn't accept interviews, but since he started targeting the Red Moon Sea, he would relax and chat with reporters for twenty or thirty minutes.
As everyone knows, my brother is a very handsome man. When a relaxed, natural smile appears on that face, and the seawater gently brushes his pure white hair, the reporters believe that whatever he says can be trusted.
No one knew that he actually memorized his speeches every night before bed—speeches specifically meant for the Red Moon Sea media to hear.
In 24726, I became the Deputy Inspector of the Light Sea Military Research Department, gaining the authority to view the Light Sea’s top-secret weapon vaults.
After waiting for more than two years, I finally obtained the performance data and blueprints for the No. 9 Uranium Bomb and all the core warships of the Holy Capital Party. Then, I sought out my brother for a final conversation.
It was 8:30 PM, the night before he was prepared to visit the Bodhi Sea. I returned to the White Eagle Palace and went to his study.
"Lili, you’re back?" He had been reading documents, but when he saw me, he immediately set them down and looked at me with a hint of surprise.
"There is something I’ve been curious about for a long time... but you never give me an answer." I paused. "Am I a member of the Sea Deity Race?"
"Yes."
I hadn't expected him to admit it so quickly, which actually left me momentarily speechless. Considering my brother was very good at reading people, I didn't plan on hiding it any longer. "Then, with that Creation Furnace you’re building... do you plan to kill me too?"
Actually, given the precedent of the Carnation, asking such a question was already dangerous. But I always felt my brother wouldn't be that insane. I wanted to communicate with him one last time to see if there was a way to resolve things peacefully. If it failed, I would try my best to escape.
My brother froze in shock for two seconds. "...You know? Since when?"
"I was only guessing."
After Deep Blue split into seven parts, they became the seven Progenitor Gods. Each Progenitor God possessed a Deep Blue soul fragment. After the Progenitor Gods died, each soul fragment remained in the most secret vault of their respective clans.
Feng Jin had said in her letter to me that Su Shiye had once asked her about the whereabouts of the Saint Ti clan’s soul fragment. Not long after, he built the Creation Furnace. The purpose of the Creation Furnace was to condense the originally split fragments together to activate primordial Arcane power. This could have been used in many ways. But connecting Su Shiye’s vision of unifying the Light Sea, his motive for finding the soul fragments, and the act of building a massive furnace itself, Feng Jin quickly deduced that the primordial Arcane power he wanted to activate was the power of Deep Blue.
If her guess was correct, then all Sea Deities would be cast into the furnace and reduced to ashes. She didn't know what my brother’s purpose was; she only told me that after confirming it with him, I must stop him.
"Feng Jin told you all this, didn't she?" Su Shiye smiled. "She probably didn't expect you to have such a direct personality and come ask me, so she fabricated this 'fact' to trick you into opposing me."
"Ah? She fabricated it?"
"Lili, how could I ever want to harm you?" Just as I breathed a sigh of relief, he uttered his next horrifying statement. "The Creation Furnace will only cause the seven great clans to disappear. You are not a descendant of a Progenitor God; you won't disappear."
I didn't know how my brother could say these things in such a calm tone. I opened my mouth slightly, wanting to say something, but I felt a severe lack of oxygen in my brain, losing the ability to think.
"There are three things I plan to do," my brother said flatly. "First, throw all Sea Deity descendants into the furnace, activate the Deep Blue power, and recreate a new Sea Race. Second, all Oceanids will be free to choose to ascend to the Predator Race. Third, regulate the Sea Deities; if they don't listen, they go into the furnace for recreation as well. So, you always say I haven't done anything for equal rights—actually, I just wanted to give you a surprise."
I was completely horrified.
Three massacres involving the blood sacrifice of billions, spoken of by him with such casual indifference.
***4.3 Theater***
Ye Jia: *Shivering...*
Xitian: "When it comes to ruthlessness, you’re still the winner."
Feng Jin: "Anyway, I’ve already washed my hands of it." *Looking into the distance.*
***
