For the past few hundred years, the name "Bamanboya" had been foreign to the people of the Light Sea. But once the Abyss Empire was formally exposed to the eyes of the entire ocean, the reaction it provoked was more intense than anything the Abyss dwellers had felt hearing the name "St. Yegana" over the past hundreds of millions of years.
The Light Sea races had grown accustomed to their position as the overlords of the ocean. In their hearts, they believed their greatest difficulties were merely internal conflicts of class, race, and clan. For 430 million years, the "Abyssals" had been nothing more to them than savage beasts—no threat at all in terms of culture, economy, or politics.
The first signs of change appeared in the Well of Storms.
After seeing Su Shiye, Fanli had been utterly demoralized. No matter what jokes her friends told her, no matter how hard she pushed herself at the research institute, she couldn't drive Su Shiye from her mind. Feng Jin teased her, saying she was like a bloated pufferfish that had been pricked with a needle, left to collapse limply on the ground. Appalled by the description, Fanli decided to let go of the past and face life anew. She set aside her work and took her girlfriends on a month-long tour of the entire ocean. However, they were only halfway through the journey when a news report sent her scurrying back to St. Yegana:
"...Following border friction at the Well of Storms, the Light Sea and the Abyss Shadow Tribe have communicated and coordinated through military and diplomatic channels. Both sides have agreed to a fair handling of the serious situation arising from the Meteor Trench conflict..."
Before she left, even a workaholic like Hege couldn't help but advise her: "The troubles of the Light Sea are endless, especially in diplomacy and military affairs. You are the High Priestess, not the Autocrat. Don't worry yourself so much. Just enjoy the trip."
But her sixth sense proved correct.
Because in all that time, the Abyssals had never once "communicated or coordinated" with the Light Sea.
The Shadow Tribe had a history of over thirty million years. Located at a depth of six hundred meters, it was considered the tribe closest to the Light Sea civilization within the Abyss, yet it remained in a primitive state. Its level of civilization was inferior even to that of Hot Sand Island—in the deep sea, where resources and sunlight were scarce, civilization simply could not take root.
So what was happening now? The Shadow Tribe had actually sent representatives to meet and negotiate with the Light Sea?
Combined with the previous mysterious disappearances of vessels in the Hadal zone, she felt this was highly abnormal and that the events were interconnected.
Fanli submitted an application to the Council and dispatched a unit of the Hunter race to the vicinity of the Shadow Tribe for a comprehensive search. The investigation revealed that the Shadow Tribe was much the same as before—crude dwellings built on deep-sea cliffs, with Abyssals living a repetitive life of lethargy and hunting, having little interaction beyond mating needs. However, a flag now hung above the tribe's landmark stone building. Outside the tribe, they saw a newly constructed site piled with large quantities of metal materials.
Through descriptions over the communication device, Fanli learned that the flag depicted a red moon wedged within a trench. She had a faint, bad premonition and asked for a photograph of the flag.
She discovered that the pattern on the flag was exactly the same as the emblem on Su Shiye’s armlet. Furthermore, a line of text was written below it in Ancient Sea Language:
*The Abyss Empire · Red Moon Era*
She also studied a piece of cold iron material they had smuggled back.
In the Abyss, cold iron was a common mineral. When the Earth was forming 4.6 billion years ago, it attracted many metal-bearing meteorites. These meteorites melted during impact, accumulating heat and fusing with the metals. Heavy metals like iron sank toward the Earth's center, surrounded by the stony mantle, cooling with the crust to form cold iron. In the depths of the ocean, where the crust frequently cracked and shifted, large amounts of rock-encased metal were exposed. In principle, the Abyssals could obtain large quantities of cold iron without a highly developed mining industry.
However, the cutting of this cold iron was incredibly precise, likely produced by a high-tech factory. This overturned the long-held theory that "the deeper the ocean, the more desolate and backward the civilization."
It was normal and unsurprising that Su Shiye, having fled to the deep sea with so many people, would establish cities over several centuries. But after examining the cold iron under a thousand-fold magnification, she realized the gravity of the situation.
When Light Sea metal materials were magnified a thousand times, they looked like the surface of the moon—pitted and uneven, completely unrefined. But this piece of cold iron only began to look slightly less smooth, showing a few flaws, when magnified over six thousand times.
According to the photographs, this was just a small piece of the material the Shadow Tribe was using for suspected construction.
Fanli immediately ordered her subordinates to conduct a deep investigation into this iron.
The surface of the cold iron had no anti-corrosive coating. Moreover, it wasn't iron exposed from natural rock; it was recycled iron.
In the underdeveloped regions of the Light Sea, such as the Sea of Resurrection or the Winter Sea, the law regarding vessel recycling only required them to be crushed and buried beneath the abyssal plains.
In developed regions like St. Yegana or the Red Moon Sea, iron recycling was a mature process. Eighty-five percent of a decommissioned vessel could be recycled: 1. Fuel or antifreeze was extracted for factory use. 2. Components like propellers and chassis were melted into metal. 3. Relatively intact parts and batteries were processed for reuse.
This cold iron from the Shadow Tribe had been recreated after being melted down.
From a small sign, one could see the whole picture. The observations indicated two things: First, the Abyss had vessels. Second, if a Light Sea vessel collided with an Abyssal one, the former would be as fragile as an eggshell.
Looking at the words "Abyss Empire" on the flag in the photo, Fanli couldn't help but shudder.
Four hundred years ago, in a moment of soft-heartedness, she had released the Aether Body back into a place where Fel energy gathered. She had released a tiger back to the mountains.
To avoid causing panic across the entire ocean, Fanli only reported this to the Autocrat’s government and the Gass Clan. Upon hearing the news, the Patriarch of the Gass Clan remained relatively calm, feeling Fanli was making a mountain out of a molehill. However, Gass Hitian repeatedly cast tense glances at Fanli, just as he had years ago when he heard Su Shiye wasn't dead.
But concealment was useless now.
The fact that this civilization dared to expose its representatives in the Shadow Tribe proved they had enough confidence and were willing to show their full face to the Light Sea.
Over the next year or so, the entire Light Sea learned one thing: the Abyssals were no longer an exiled, barbaric race. Three hundred years ago, a force composed of the Flame Demon, Sea Demon, Hunter, and Shadow races had set out from a deep-sea city. They campaigned in all directions, expanding their territory within the endless deep, uniting fragmented tribes like stars in the cosmos to form a powerful empire. The Abyssal capital was that very deep-sea city, named Bamanboya.
The Red Moon Emperor, ruler of the Abyss Empire who established his capital at Bamanboya, bore a name known to every soul in the Light Sea—Su Shiye.
Su Shiye was not dead!
This explosive news spread throughout the Light Sea, awakening the nightmares of countless Storm Party members and stirring a massive wave of public opinion.
However, Bamanboya sent diplomatic envoys to meet with Light Sea representatives at the Watcher’s Altar in the Well of Storms. Their demands were surprisingly harmonious: the Abyss Empire wanted to cooperate with the Light Sea Federation to jointly develop pan-oceanic trade and markets.
Consequently, the Gass Patriarch felt even more that Fanli was overthinking. Others thought the same: Su Shiye was nothing special after all. No matter how capable he once was, he was a defeated foe of their Goddess Sui and the Gass Clan. An individual's strength might be great, but could he contend with a sea civilization spanning 430 million years?
Thus, the entire Light Sea remained in a relatively relaxed state.
Because the two nations used different currencies and negotiations were in the early stages, the Abyss Empire representatives proposed that both sides first trade using primitive commodity exchange: they would no longer engage in resource plundering, but would instead use their most advanced vessels and communication equipment to exchange for meat and algae resources provided by the Light Sea.
Their request made the Light Sea representatives laugh. Weren't these things the Abyss Empire mentioned all learned from the Light Sea? How did they have the face, the audacity, to call this a trade?
The Light Sea government thought that since the Abyss had developed some technology but couldn't even afford to eat, they might as well gift them the meat to demonstrate the Light Sea's grace.
Hearing that the Light Sea intended to give it as a gift, the Empire's representatives were delighted and immediately agreed—but they quoted an astronomical figure.
"40 million tons of fish?!" The Autocrat laughed in anger. "Why don't they just ask us to give them the entire Light Sea while they're at it! Do they even have that many people to feed? Did Su Shiye's brain get crushed by the water pressure down there?"
The result of the negotiation was, naturally, a rejection from the Light Sea, without a moment's hesitation.
"Are you sure you won't reconsider?" the opposing representative asked calmly, showing no anger.
"You know in your hearts that your most valuable assets are deep-sea coral, rare metals, and deep-sea fish oil. If you don't offer those in exchange and instead use technology that we aren't lacking, it shows a lack of sincerity."
"We must develop our own empire and cannot provide non-renewable resources. Our apologies."
"Then we cannot give you the fish you want."
The unpleasant conversation ended. The Light Sea government treated the matter as if they had been bitten by a stray dog and quickly put it out of their minds.
A week later, around four in the afternoon, a massive explosion occurred in St. Yegana.
From the point of explosion to several kilometers around, the seawater was filled with thick smoke and towering waves, creating a grand spectacle of fire and water light. According to statistics from the Light Sea Television Ministry of Health, the explosion caused at least 124 deaths and three thousand injuries. Another five thousand people suffered severe Fel radiation. The shockwave was equivalent to a magnitude 4.2 earthquake. Two hours after the blast, the smoke had still not dissipated. Ambulance vessels, engineering ships, and teams of crowd-control Arcanists rushed to the scene for rescue and cleanup, after which the police cordoned off the area. All hospitals in St. Yegana were filled to capacity, and excess patients were transferred to hospitals in the secondary zones of the Holy Capital.
The Autocrat of the Light Sea and the Municipal Officer of St. Yegana simultaneously issued statements: St. Yegana would enter a week-long state of emergency.
While St. Yegana was in the throes of crisis, the Abyss sent a different representative to negotiate.
Seeing Lina’s face again in the recorded Arcane phantom gave Fanli a sense of displacement. The other party explicitly stated that if they did not want war, the Light Sea should seriously consider accepting their trade request. They would wait at the Well of Storms for the Light Sea's decision within three months.
At that moment, everyone knew the explosion had been the work of the Abyss Empire. However, despite knowing that a large amount of Fel energy had been released, not a single department could determine the cause of the explosion.
And while Lina called it a "request," it was indistinguishable from a threat.
The Light Sea dared not be careless any longer and sent deep-dive teams to investigate again. This time, the vessels did not mysteriously disappear. The Abyss Empire openly allowed them to probe, but for some reason, the photos and videos taken were entirely pitch black, as if they had been censored.
The deep-dive team could only provide oral reports.
During the meeting, when they heard that Bamanboya was located in the Hadal zone directly beneath the Sea of Split Skies and covered an area of 462,470 square kilometers, the Autocrat’s first reaction was disbelief.
"How is that possible? Impossible!" He jumped from his chair. "Seven thousand meters? Don't make me laugh. Even if Su Shiye himself went there, let alone his foolish followers, he’d be crushed flat by the pressure in an instant! Blood would spray all over your face! And he built a city of 460,000 square kilometers there? Even 46 square kilometers is impossible! Do you know how big 460,000 square kilometers is? St. Yegana is only 340,000, and it's already the largest city in the Light Sea! The largest! Bar none!"
Hitian, however, was stunned, just like Fanli.
"The reason we couldn't get close before was that they weren't ready," the deep-dive team leader said helplessly. "The first wave of people underwent swim bladder modification surgery to find places in the deep sea that are difficult for Light Sea races to locate, then set up seamount illusions nearby. That way, even if our divers went down, they couldn't see their camp. Later, they gradually used Fel energy to improve their constitutions. Now, all the exiled Light Sea people can live on the seabed at ten thousand meters. Of course, many died because they couldn't adapt, or went insane from deep-sea hallucinations, but the vast majority survived."
"Swim bladder modification? Every single one of them?!"
"Yes, every single one... terrifying, isn't it? There were over two thousand in the first wave, and every one of them did it. And no one opposed it; they all raised their hands eagerly to participate."
"Once the surgery fails, it's impossible for them to return to the Light Sea!"
"Actually, I think... since they dared to follow Su Shiye, they were already prepared never to return..."
In the end, the Autocrat was unwilling to accept reality. Fanli, however, had accepted it long ago.
During those three months, following Qusha, Gass Hitian, and Moer Heqiao, Fanli met her fourth husband: Shao’an, the great warlord of the Red Moon Sea and founder of the Fudi Arms enterprise.
The Red Moon Sea’s attitude toward the Holy Capital had always been ambiguous. If they weren't so wealthy, they might have declared independence from the Light Sea Federation long ago.
Since the unification of the Light Sea, Gass Hitian had demanded that all regions surrender their military power to the command of the Glazed Legion. Consequently, rebellious regions like the Red Moon Sea came up with some shady maneuvers—for instance, allowing the cultivation of private warlords. After four hundred years of development, the great financial magnates had become great warlords. Fudi, which was already an arms-trading powerhouse, became the largest warlord faction in the Light Sea.
Since the St. Yegana explosion, Shao’an had maintained a poor attitude toward the Light Sea government. He felt the government was stupid, unable to handle basic security, and that allowing St. Yegana to be bombed brought shame to the entire Light Sea. He claimed that if something similar happened again, he would consider removing his enterprise from federal control.
*He's just using this as an excuse for independence,* Fanli saw through his goal instantly. Thus, she took Feng Jin and two girls from the clans to the Red Moon Sea, hoping to arrange a political marriage to bring this long-wild wolf into the fold.
At a Buco Clan gathering, she chatted with Shao’an, and he told her the truth:
"Your standards are quite high," Fanli laughed. "Then what kind of woman do you like? Just say the word, and I can find her for you."
"No need to look." Shao’an looked away nervously, not daring to meet her eyes. "She's right in front of me."
"You've taken a liking to me? Don't joke, I've been married three times."
"Even if you marry a hundred times, Sui is still Sui. There is only one in the entire Light Sea."
"Isn't everyone the only one in the Light Sea?" Fanli thought for a moment and decided not to argue. "If you want to marry, I can consider it. But let's be clear: I'm not the kind of woman who does romance. My head is full of work, and I can't say mushy things like 'I miss you' or 'I love you.' Think it over before you decide."
"That's exactly the kind of woman I like." Shao’an seemed excited. "No need to think. You're the one who should consider it."
This time, Fanli’s marriage was even faster than the last. Receiving the diamond ring from Shao’an and getting the license was done in one smooth motion.
With this, she breathed a sigh of relief: she had prevented the Red Moon warlords and their allies from defecting. Although the Abyss's potential was still terrifying, the Light Sea's defensive strength had been greatly bolstered.
But the divorce this time was also faster than ever before. The day after they got their license, before they could even arrange a wedding or announce the news—before the newlyweds had even shared a kiss—Fanli was suddenly divorced.
Fanli: ???
"Don't ask, it's pathetic." Shao’an held her in agony. "Sui, I love you. I really do. If I could, I’d stay with you for a lifetime. But I have so many people under me to feed. When their lives are threatened, I have to protect them."
No matter how Fanli asked, he refused to reveal the reason.
After negotiating for so long, all her efforts were wasted, and it had been a huge drain on her time. She was furious with Shao’an, but she didn't even have time to vent before rushing back to St. Yegana to hold several secret meetings with the Autocrat, the clans, and the Council. They all felt that something strange was afoot—if the Abyss Empire was so capable, why were they satisfied with such a simple trade? Why didn't they just come up and plunder like before? And then, a more shocking question hit her: Had she really just become a four-time divorcee?
To show his guilt and sincerity, Shao’an did not take back the diamond he gave her.
Fanli went home and lined up the four diamonds. She remembered how she used to look down on that Buco Ni woman for being divorced three times. Now she had been divorced four times herself; the feeling was hard to describe.
She called Feng Jin to talk about her latest divorce and recalled the anecdote about "stamp-collecting men"—men who sleep with as many women as possible, like collecting stamps.
"So, am I a diamond-collecting woman now?"
"Yes, and you've taken the first marriages of top-tier men. You could go down in history." Feng Jin let out a long, mournful sigh. "I'm so jealous."
Fanli slowly typed out a question mark.
Finally, the three-month period expired, and Fanli learned what the Abyss Empire was up to.
In the second negotiation, the Abyss Empire emphasized that because the Light Sea had missed the first opportunity, they were adding a new condition: the trade model remained the same as before, but the Light Sea had to export research talent to them.
That research talent was the High Priestess Sui.
The deadline for consideration was three days.
"In three days, the Abyss Empire's warships will come to collect the High Priestess. If she does not appear by then..." Lina finished the sentence with only a smile. She had matured much, becoming more reserved, yet she still carried an invisible sense of pressure.
There was no doubt this was a trick played by Su Shiye. Recalling what he had said to her in the Temple of Memories, Fanli was absolutely certain he wanted revenge. She asked the Light Sea representative to tell Lina that she wanted to speak with Su Shiye directly, but he was so arrogant he didn't even grant her a sound.
Fanli had her answer on the first day.
The Light Sea lacked the military technology to fight at seven thousand meters; their current position was passive. If putting herself in danger could buy a short period of peace for the Light Sea—giving the government enough time to prepare and allowing her to gather more intelligence on the Abyss Empire—she was willing.
Besides, she didn't think Su Shiye would actually kill her.
Although exchanging a famous Grand Arcanist was a losing bargain, to the Autocrat’s government, Fanli held the title of High Priestess. Past High Priestesses never held the power Fanli did. If she could return, it would certainly benefit the Light Sea; if she couldn't, then fine—they could cultivate a new High Priestess, one who would be much more obedient than Fanli. Thus, the Autocrat’s attitude was quite casual.
But Fanli and Hitian had several arguments over this. Hitian insisted this was a humiliating act of national surrender and felt that fighting Su Shiye again wouldn't be so bad; the Glazed Legion wasn't just for show. Fanli’s view was that if Su Shiye didn't have a hundred percent certainty, he wouldn't have let the Abyss Empire appear so high-profile.
"You just want to see Su Shiye!" Finally, Hitian lost his composure. "Su Shiye's seed is still in your belly, isn't it? Why aren't you talking? I guessed it, didn't I? To put it bluntly, you just want to rekindle your old flame! I thought you only felt sibling affection for him, and I mistook your private desires for loyalty. I really misjudged you!"
"My feelings have nothing to do with you. Are you finished? If so, the meeting is over."
"Sui, don't forget your status! I was the one who supported your ascent to High Priestess. You have no right to be so reckless!"
"Then you are more than welcome to revoke my position. If the Abyss Empire doesn't want me then, I won't have to go."
Faced with her lack of desire or demand, Hitian suddenly felt afraid. He grabbed Fanli’s wrist, almost pleading with her: "Don't go. Sui, really, don't go. You rejected his proposal and married me and Moer Heqiao. He must want to kill you now. Su Shiye just wants to play with you and then use you to insult the Light Sea. I'm a man; I know what he's thinking."
Fanli gave a tired smile but felt comforted by his rare frankness. She stepped forward and gently hugged him. "Thank you, Hitian. But you know Su Shiye’s personality. When he isn't waging war, he's an absolute pacifist and very easy to talk to. But once he starts a war, he will fight to the death. The Light Sea's economy has only seen significant improvement in the last fifty years; we really cannot afford another major war. And as for the research results he wants—not to mention whether I can even produce them—even if I do, I don't have to contribute them to them. Trust in my ability to protect myself."
Hitian hugged her back tightly, squeezing her until her bones ached. "Why did I meet you so late? If I had met you before Su Shiye, would everything have been different..." By the end, this strong, tall man was crying like an elementary schooler.
Early on the third day, Fanli rose to prepare for departure. The government dispatched a secretary and a guard unit to accompany her.
Many old friends came to the Well of Storms to see her off. The black vessel from the Empire hovered before them, having waited for a long time. A striking but small national emblem of the Red Moon Empire was printed on the hull. For all of them, it was the first time they had seen such a smooth vessel—even the windows and hatches were integrated seamlessly with the hull, presenting a perfect streamlined shape in the water light, without a single visible gap.
Fanli was once again certain that not refusing Su Shiye’s request had been the right choice.
She said to Yejia and Hitian, "Take good care of Hege and Feng Jin-jin for me."
Hitian nodded firmly, his lips pressed into a thin line.
Hege laughed. "Me? I don't need it. Better help them take care of Princess Feng Jin."
Feng Jin hugged Fanli, looking pitiful, but the words she spoke within the soundproof space were fierce: "Stay safe. If all else fails, use your trump card! The pregnancy warning! A woman should be a bit shameless when she needs to be."
"I say, Feng Jin, why are you still so catty?" Yejia sighed. "Truly the number one 'Green Tea' of St. Yegana."
"Still better than you reading my lips. No one can beat Professor Buco when it comes to being a bitch." Feng Jin smiled.
Waving to them as she entered the cabin, Fanli was startled to see the people inside. "Why is it you guys?"
The captain of the guard dispatched by the government was Jian Te Yujin, and the secretaries were Mise Hege and Buco Shasha.
"Shasha’s brother and Prince Gass arranged it. We can move together again!" Hege chirped.
Shasha hadn't changed at all over the years, still looking lost with empty eyes. "Going along to see what the Red Moon Princess looks like."
"Red Moon Princess?" Fanli frowned.
"The Red Moon Princess is Su Shiye’s daughter," Yujin added. "I just heard the Abyss soldiers in the next cabin say she’s about to have her seventieth birthday, and the entire Abyss Empire is celebrating for her."
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
--- | --- | ---
巴曼薄亚 | Bamanboya | The capital city of the Abyss Empire.
赤月纪年 | Red Moon Era | The calendar/era established by Su Shiye's empire.
寒铁 | Cold Iron | A high-density metal common in the deep sea.
阴影部落 | Shadow Tribe | An Abyssal tribe located at a depth of 600m.
陨星海沟 | Meteor Trench | A location of conflict between the Light Sea and Abyss.
赤月帝国 | Red Moon Empire | The formal name of the Abyss Empire.
韶安 | Shao'an | Fanli's fourth husband, a warlord from the Red Moon Sea.
福地 | Fudi | An arms-dealing enterprise/territory in the Red Moon Sea.
守望神坛 | Watcher’s Altar | A diplomatic meeting site in the Well of Storms.
赤月公主 | Red Moon Princess | Su Shiye's daughter.
兼特羽烬 | Jian Te Yujin | A member of Fanli's guard (returning character).
布可纱纱 | Buco Shasha | A member of Fanli's team (returning character).
