"Su Shiye has a daughter?"
"Yes, I heard he dotes on her quite a bit."
It felt as if a heavy stone had struck Fanli’s head, leaving her dizzy and disoriented. She instinctively covered her stomach, thinking of the child she remembered every day but never had the courage to bring into the world. She tried her best to remain calm. "Who is the mother?"
"That, I don't know. I haven't heard any mention of a Queen in the Abyss Empire, so it’s possible she’s the daughter of a girlfriend." At this point, Yujin rubbed his chin. "Sister Fanli, I just realized something. Su Shiye’s name and Brother Xinghai’s name actually mean the same thing. What a coincidence."
Fanli remained silent.
"Um... did I say something wrong? You and Brother Xinghai broke up so many years ago..."
"Are you trying to twist the knife?"
"I really didn't mean it this time!"
At that moment, the seawater inside the cabin was pumped out, and a massive air bladder expanded within the space. Everyone shifted into their terrestrial forms. Hage’s legs were long and straight; Shasha’s were slender and pale; Yujin’s were long and fair. However, feeling that a "skirt" looked too effeminate on a man, Yujin quickly ducked into the lounge to change into trousers. When he emerged, he had transformed into a long-legged heartthrob.
The hatch hadn't closed yet, but the water couldn't enter; it simply flowed downward like a water curtain. A member of the Abyss race walked over, reached outside to confirm the air bladder was functioning correctly, and then sealed the hatch before heading back to the cockpit.
"Excuse me, how do we handle the water pressure once we submerge? If we rely solely on Arcane Arts, our mental strength might not hold out under that kind of pressure," Fanli asked.
Liquids cannot be compressed. The bodies of the Abyss race were filled with water, allowing them to withstand the crushing weight of the deep sea.
The swim bladder functioned similarly to a fish's, serving as an organ to adjust buoyancy—sea races could expand or contract the air pressure within the bladder based on external pressure. However, the bladders of many Abyss dwellers had long since vestigialized.
When the Light Sea race dove to a depth of a thousand meters, the pressure was a hundred times greater than at the surface. Possessing both lungs and swim bladders, their lungs would be compressed to just 2% of their surface volume. If they dove to ten thousand meters, the pressure would be ten thousand times that of the surface; any member of the Light Sea race would be crushed flat at such depths.
The Abyss dweller took several folded garments and helmets from a nearby rack and handed them to Fanli and the others. "Once we reach Bamanboya, please change into these."
"Are these... pressure suits that automatically regulate water pressure?" Hage flipped through the clothes. "Do we have to wear these the whole time in Bamanboya? And helmets too? Isn't that a bit miserable?"
"Not at all. The capital has many air-bladder chambers. We have already prepared a suitable residence for you. You only need to wear these suits when you go outside."
"Why do you need so many air-bladder chambers?"
"To develop technology."
Everyone was left utterly confused.
Once the Abyss dweller returned to the cockpit, the vessel began its slow descent.
Fanli studied the interior of the ship and found production information stamped into the corner of the bulkhead. One line read:
*Air Bladder Device: Bamanboya Air Energy Technology Group - Vessel Air Bladder Technology Co., Ltd.*
It was truly bizarre. The Abyss Empire had actually created an entire industry dedicated to air energy. Why would a bunch of deep-sea creatures be so obsessed with filling their world with air? Furthermore, photosynthesis only occurs in waters less than a hundred and fifty meters deep. Animals in the deep survive on marine snow, consuming what is essentially second-hand solar energy. The amount of energy required to pump air into water seven thousand meters deep was unimaginable. Did they not think their resources were scarce enough?
With this question in mind, Fanli turned on the television. The very first advertisement she saw left her speechless.
"Dragon City Frost-Moon Bread: The most delicious brine-pond fragrant salted natural bread you will ever taste"—on the screen, an oval, silver-white loaf of bread rotated inside an air dome.
Fanli quickly checked the station logo in the top right corner. It was indeed the Red Moon symbol of the Abyss Empire, not the human world. She watched the rest of the commercial, dumbfounded.
"The purest, most authentic brine-pond salt!"—As the bread rotated, salt was sprinkled over it, and the scene shifted to a deep-sea "lake." The water gently lapped against a "golden sand" shore, where an Abyss race couple held their child’s hand, jumping playfully on the "lake."
Fanli understood this part. The deep sea contained many brine pools rich in salt, which seeped out from the rocks on the abyssal plains. Because the liquid density in these pools was higher than the surrounding water, the sea races could not pass through them and could even use them like trampolines. Those "golden sands" were actually deep-sea mussels growing near the brine pools. Since methane or hydrogen sulfide also seeped from the rocks, these mussels contained many chemosynthetic bacteria.
Sure enough, the television began to introduce the product:
"The freshest, most delicious mussels! Methane and hydrogen sulfide flavors—all fresh, natural yields with zero artificial additives. Take your pick!"—The camera zoomed in on the "golden sands," showing dense clusters of mussels opening and closing to reveal translucent white meat. In the blink of an eye, they transformed into golden, cooked seafood, steaming with aroma.
The visuals alone were mouth-watering, but hearing the description, Fanli felt like she was about to be poisoned...
"Red Moon Princess’s 70th Birthday Month—only 99 Red Credits per bag!"—The advertisement returned to the initial scene. The bread stopped mid-rotation and began to glow. Then, the clinking sound of coins rang out, and a giant "99" appeared on the screen.
It was common knowledge that bread required wheat, yeast, oil, and eggs. Eggs could be replaced by fish roe, but where did the wheat come from?
Driven by intense curiosity, Fanli continued watching television for over four hours, gathering a general overview of the situation.
The primary energy sources of the Light Sea were Arcane Arts, hydropower, wind, ocean currents, and minerals. In the Abyss, the primary sources were Fel energy, geothermal power, mineral resources, thermal energy, and hydropower.
Originally, the capital of the Abyss was not Bamanboya, but Dragon City. Dragon City was close to the Twilight Zone, at a depth of about eight hundred meters. It was once the ancient capital of a relatively advanced deep-sea civilization, ruled by a rotation of various lords. Its army had once reached seventy thousand soldiers. The attack on the Light Sea that broke out during Fanli’s elementary school years had been launched from there. After Su Shiye occupied the area, he recruited 475,000 soldiers overnight, beginning a centuries-long history of territorial expansion.
Later, to facilitate imperial rule and better harvest energy, he moved the capital down to a depth of over seven thousand meters in one fell swoop, specifically to be closer to the seabed where massive amounts of Fel energy were produced. Consequently, Bamanboya and its surrounding areas became the most developed hub for the air energy industry.
This was terrifying.
The average depth of the ocean was four times that of the Light Sea. Thus, most of the ocean's water received no sunlight at all. In other words, the vast majority of the ocean was the territory of the Abyss race.
It was only because the environment was so harsh that the Abyss race’s wilderness survival skills far exceeded those of the Light Sea race. In terms of civilization, the deep-sea tribes were like countless planets in the universe—desolate, vast, and impoverished.
Compared to the comfort-seeking Light Sea race, the Abyss race had struggled in a purgatory-like environment for ages. Every one of them was a warrior, like demons walking out of hell. The question now was: if the Abyss race acquired the technology and military might of the Light Sea race, how much would the entire ocean's landscape shift?
During the descent, Fanli saw countless Abyss cities along the way. Though they were relatively scattered and many were half-finished, every city was laid out with meticulous order and possessed infinite potential.
Fanli felt a headache coming on. She had underestimated Su Shiye’s will to survive and his bellicose nature.
Su Shiye had been a warmonger since childhood; how could he ever give up?
The bizarre phenomena in the mysterious Death Continent were now easy to explain: Su Shiye’s faction had not yet fully fledged. They shot down the submersibles from the Light Sea to buy time to build their strength for a comeback.
During the journey, an Abyss race chef brought them freshly baked bread. Seeing Fanli repeatedly checking the ingredients, he smiled and said, "Rest assured, there is no hydrogen sulfide. The flavors have been adjusted to suit your dietary habits."
Yujin, Hage, and Shasha had never eaten bread before. As soon as they tasted it, they were moved by the fresh and delicious food.
After four days and three nights, the vessel finally arrived at the Abyssal Capital, Bamanboya.
I
A fortress at the source of life’s beginning,
Shimmering waves press upon the blackened sea.
Shadows survive in bacterial volcanic realms,
Spitting Fel energy, the red-hued progeny of fire.
Silver dragons and hagfish wind through carrion,
No one bows in worship to the God of Deep Blue.
Come, here lies the sacred altar of death,
A paradise that corrodes the vitals of the Light Sea;
Come, this is the Abyssal Sea.
II
In the great trenches, torrents burn through consciousness,
Between the mountains, flashes steal the breath away.
The Arcane Arts of the Seven Sons stir thunder and rain,
Basalt from afar shatters into fragments.
Slaves flee in terror beneath the halls and bastions,
Volcanic lava flows across the plains in search of truth.
Three point seven billion years vanish with the red flames,
Death records the quiet, lonely beauty of the ages.
III
Grand structures are toppled and abandoned by the flood,
The carcass of a blue whale falls seven thousand eight hundred meters.
Incessant waters and thunder,
Leave eternal ruins for the generations to come.
The resurrected ancient god,
The son of a dictator betrayed by his lover,
Sorrow saturates every breath.
The mist before the storm,
An love that can never be repaired,
And all memories vanished without a trace,
Farewell to the sweetness of the past,
Crossing the threshold of life and death.
Tongues of fire lick away the body of the Holy Spirit,
Dragging a desperate gaze into the abyss,
He breathes methane and hydrogen sulfide,
Awakening as a machine of slaughter.
IV
The surging power of Aether,
Governs the thoughts of the deep sea;
His authority is the law,
Transcending all rebellion.
The Emperor who wears the abyss upon his shoulders,
Carrying his blackened ideals,
Shakes the earth, the stars,
And the endless, sovereign ocean.
With a gentle shrug of his shoulders,
He makes the Holy City tremble in the red mist.
V
The sea race falls into a silent, grey slumber,
The currents of time pass between the seamounts.
The statue of the Goddess of Wisdom trembles in the square,
Clear clouds stretch for miles as birds drift lazily above;
Everything is as it was at the dawn of creation,
By day, the stems and leaves of seagrass unfurl,
By night, the stars shine bright.
VI
The shadow of Bamanboya is a shroud,
Lightly draped over the pale face of St. Yejiana.
Before even entering the city, they passed through several Fel energy halos, upon which floated solemn and magnificent script: "The Endless City Welcomes You."
In the ancient sea tongue, Bamanboya meant "Endless," hence its alias, "The Endless City."
The date was October 21, Year 421 of the Red Moon Era.
This was the political and economic heart of the Abyss Empire, the largest financial center in the deep, a melting pot of races, cultures, religions, and classes—the City of Eternal Night, shrouded in black.
Looking down at the city from above, its brilliance was enough to shatter the worldview of any Light Sea dweller. At first glance, the entire city seemed to consist only of two colors: black and gold. It was built vertically, with some buildings constructed directly onto the rock faces. Looking closely at the bustling streets below, one would see that the glowing objects were streamlined vessels with the highest pressure resistance and perfect forms. A long deep-sea trench, like a bolt of lightning, spanned the seabed, splitting Bamanboya in two. The left hand to the west controlled commerce and finance, hosting the Imperial Center Tower, the Midnight Colosseum, the headquarters of the Bamanboya Air Energy Group, the trendy Spark Night Market, and the "Eye of the Abyss"—a rotating, circular high-platform artificial algae garden. The right hand to the east managed politics and culture, featuring the Imperial Museum, the thirty-six Demon God Steles of Soul-Devouring Valley, the largest Eternal Night Clock Tower in the sea, and the artistic Golden Brick Street... Massive amounts of red-black Fel light rose from the seabed, seeping from the trench and the surrounding cliff fissures like burning rose petals, bleeding dark wounds, or a reverse red meteor shower, luring every passing traveler into a shared descent.
The Endless Palace—Su Shiye’s palace—sat beside the trench in eastern Bamanboya, built atop the Fel energy.
In truth, surrounding the capital were hydrothermal vents that heated the water to 400 degrees Celsius, ancient deep-sea ruins where red Fel orbs drifted, cold-seep methane cities, and volcanic towns... but from above Bamanboya, their existence was invisible. This city was too vast; its prosperity was like a fire on an autumn prairie, burning boundlessly to the horizon, showing no sign of weakening—much like the ambition of the Red Moon Emperor.
The vessel came to a halt outside the Endless Palace.
When the hatch opened, Fanli hooked her fingers through the opening to test the water pressure. Only after confirming it was safe did she dare to swim out.
Because water is densest at 4 degrees Celsius, it circulates to the deep sea via convection, making the deep-sea temperature slightly higher than that of the Light Sea. A body in its marine form is extremely sensitive to temperature; shortly after exiting, despite wearing the pressure suit, Fanli felt herself beginning to sweat.
At the thought of seeing Su Shiye again, Fanli felt a chill run through her entire body, her teeth chattering uncontrollably.
An officer in a commander’s uniform led a squad of soldiers over, escorting Fanli and her companions into the palace interior.
The main hall of the Endless Palace was a five-story, cuboid, dark-gold structure, flanked by rows of side halls surrounding a central square. In the middle of the square were vast artificial algae and coral gardens. Red Fel orbs drifted through the water, and red Fel light seeped from two deliberately carved long trenches, looking like a reverse red meteor shower that cast a bright glow on the faces of those swimming above.
Here, to conserve energy, the metabolic rates of all fish were automatically lowered, making their movements exceptionally slow. Many deep-sea fish emitted bioluminescence, which, when gathered in large numbers, created a beauty akin to a slow-motion film.
Directly above the Endless Palace was a flagpole. If the Red Moon flag was flying, it meant the Red Moon Emperor was in the palace; if the flag was lowered, it meant he was away.
At this moment, the Red Moon flag was raised high.
Knowing that Fanli would arrive today, the water pressure inside the palace had been adjusted. As they swam inside, they were finally able to shed their pressure suits.
Finally, they stopped before the Ceremonial Hall.
"His Majesty is currently receiving the Lord of the Twisted Void Ocean and the Chief of the Everfrost Tribe. We ask the High Priestess to wait a moment."
Five minutes later, Su Shiye gave the order to open the doors.
A coral carpet stretched all the way to the end of the vast, elegant hall. On either side stood leaders from various Abyssal nations and their retinues, and beyond them were heavily armed Imperial soldiers. They had been bowing and presenting gifts to Su Shiye with great reverence, but upon hearing the name "High Priestess Sui," they all instinctively turned their heads.
At the end of the carpet, upon the Eclipse Throne, sat the Master of Bamanboya who dominated the deep sea, the Head of the Abyss Empire, the Red Moon Emperor. He wore a black military uniform, his index finger resting lightly against his chin. His silver military insignia sparkled, echoing the snow-white of his hair.
Inside the hall, miniature jellyfish emitted a faint blue light, following Fanli’s pace as she slowly swam inward.
Throughout the process, Su Shiye acted as if he were welcoming any other distinguished guest—polite, but without a ripple of emotion.
To celebrate the Princess’s seventieth birthday, Fel fireworks and illusions bloomed in the waters above Bamanboya outside the floor-to-ceiling windows framed by Roman columns, making pleasant watery sounds. The perpetual clamor of the City of Eternal Night felt as distant yet real as the sperm whales in the Twilight Zone. Shifting colors spilled over them through the glass, frame by frame, like silhouettes etched with memories from six hundred years ago.
Who here would know that the current Feili Town was nothing but ruins, yet it held the memories of them swimming through the forest hand-in-hand as children?
Who would know that before the gates of Luoya University, which had stood unmoved for eons, they had once shared a fleeting, startling reunion?
Who would know that they had once slept in each other's arms in the White Eagle Palace, their necks entwined in intimacy?
And now, everything was in the past tense. There was only his composure and her internal cataclysm.
Fanli had always thought she was strong. She had already seen him once at the Well of Storms; seeing him again, she should surely be able to remain emotionally stable. But she hadn't expected that even the act of performing would be so grueling. Her eyes welled with tears, and she pinched her arm and palm, trying to distract herself, to think of anything else.
But it was useless. He was right here.
Su Shiye, the man who always made her wake up crying in the middle of the night, was right here.
The suffocating feeling she felt every time she woke from those dreams returned, deeper than the pressure of seven thousand meters of seawater.
By the time she stopped at the base of the stone steps before him, she felt as if she couldn't stay for another second. She wanted to flee, to find a bed, to hide herself away and vent her emotions. But her facial control had always been excellent; from beginning to end, she didn't even knit her brows, though tears rolled in her eyes.
This melancholic beauty from the Light Sea, dressed in a Red Moon Sea-Wrap skirt made of pen-shell silk, danced lightly through the water, successfully awakening the adrenaline of the lords and chiefs. Their gazes were fixed on Fanli, their expressions filled with pleasant surprise.
The Lord of the Twisted Void Ocean remarked, "The High Priestess of the Light Sea truly lives up to her reputation. She is stunning."
The Chief of the Everfrost Tribe added, "No wonder she is called the 'Saint of the Light Sea.' I think I'm in love."
Su Shiye gave a faint smile, though it was far more indifferent. "Welcome, four friends from the Light Sea, to Bamanboya."
Standing beside Su Shiye was the Imperial Prime Minister. The Prime Minister was a grey-haired youth of the Umbra race, wearing a monocle and looking at Fanli with an air of world-weariness. "Rather than calling her the 'Saint of the Light Sea,' it would be better to call her Mrs. More. Oh, no—Mrs. Joe Gas More. Our old neighbor certainly chose an extraordinary woman to be the High Priestess."
They actually knew about her and her ex-husband. Fanli was initially surprised, but then she realized that since her marriage to More had lasted over three hundred years, any Abyss dweller who went near the Light Sea would have heard the news. It wasn't that strange.
To the citizens of the Abyss Empire, who generally disliked marriage, favored free love, and promoted monogamy, Fanli’s marital history was quite explosive. The lords and chiefs, as leaders of vassal states, were also influenced by this culture and had begun to promote similar views on love and marriage. Thus, hearing this remark, they were somewhat shocked.
"The High Priestess has been married three times?"
"I can't believe it, she is still so young..."
"The Light Sea is different from us," the Prime Minister smiled. "The upper-class Light Sea race doesn't marry for love, especially the Sea God race like Mrs. More. They marry only for profit and clan status."
So, the High Priestess’s three marriages were all for profit?
The two leaders didn't dare ask further, but they couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment.
Su Shiye had intended to stop the Prime Minister, but after glancing at Fanli, he chose to remain silent.
"The High Priestess’s marriage to Mr. More was indeed for political reasons." At that moment, Yujin swam forward a bit, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Fanli. He smiled and said, "However, because of their union, the Light Sea’s economy soared for over three hundred years. The growth in the employed population during the last two hundred years was 300% of that in the first hundred years, completing the most ideal post-war economic recovery in history. How many Light Sea citizens were given a new life because of them? How many children who couldn't afford an education fulfilled their dreams because of them? Is this not just as noble as a union for love? Although there was no lightning-strike passion between Academician Sui and Mr. More, they treated each other with mutual respect for over three hundred years, serving as the finest example of a political marriage."
At this point, he looked back at Fanli. "Sister Sui has been my idol since I was a child."
"So that’s how it is..." The Lord of the Twisted Void Ocean sighed. "Then the High Priestess and her husband are truly admirable figures."
This was an obvious exaggeration on Yujin’s part; if he said this in the Light Sea, it would spark a war of words. But here in the Dark Sea, fooling two minor leaders wasn't much of a problem.
"Tch." The Prime Minister glared at Yujin but said nothing more.
Su Shiye tightened his grip on the armrest slightly, stood up, and said, "Enough. Let us move on from this topic."
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 巴曼薄亚 | Bamanboya | The capital of the Abyss Empire, meaning "Endless." |
| 无尽城 | The Endless City | An alias for Bamanboya. |
| 鳔脏 | Swim bladder | An organ used by sea races for buoyancy. |
| 卤水塘 | Brine pool | High-salinity pools on the ocean floor. |
| 龙城 | Dragon City | The former capital of the Abyss. |
| 邪能 | Fel energy | A dark, powerful energy source used in the Abyss. |
| 无尽宫 | Endless Palace | Su Shiye's palace in Bamanboya. |
| 日蚀王座 | Eclipse Throne | The throne of the Red Moon Emperor. |
| 扭曲虚洋 | Twisted Void Ocean | A region/vassal state in the Abyss. |
| 永冻部落 | Everfrost Tribe | A tribe/vassal state in the Abyss. |
| 幽影族 | Umbra race | A race within the Abyss (literally "Hidden Shadow"). |
| 兼特羽烬 | Jante Yujin | Yujin's full name. |
| 米瑟和歌 | Mise Hage | Hage's full name. |
| 布可纱纱 | Book Shasha | Shasha's full name. |
| 裘·加斯·莫尔 | Joe Gas More | Fanli's ex-husband's full name (Black Joe). |
| 赤月纪年 | Red Moon Era | The calendar system of the Abyss Empire. |
