TRWSB – Chapter 168 The Awakening of the Golden Mermaid

Zhuang Hao and Qi Shaorong had just left the site where the three-headed dragon had perished when they ran into Seler.

The last time Qi Shaorong and Zhuang Hao met Seler, he was being chased by a giant lobster. This time, it was a ferocious crab that had him fleeing in panic.

Watching the flustered Seler, Qi Shaorong couldn’t help but smirk.

“You two, hurry up and help!” At the brink of death, Seler no longer cared about saving face.

Zhuang Hao stepped in and repelled the massive crab, giving Seler a chance to catch his breath.

“Are you alright?” Qi Shaorong asked, noticing Seler’s body was covered in wounds—he clearly hadn’t had an easy time lately.

“I’ll live,” Seler panted.

Arms crossed, Qi Shaorong teased, “Senior, every time we see you, you’re battling some sea beast. I know the sea clans honor combat, but you don’t need to be this devoted.”

Seler’s expression twitched. It wasn’t like he went looking for trouble—those beasts just wouldn’t leave him alone.

“The pressure in this place suddenly disappeared, and then a flood of sea beasts started appearing,” Seler said sullenly.

Qi Shaorong knew exactly why. After he removed the two energy crystals from the three-headed dragon, the barrier the dragon had formed collapsed, and so did the oppressive aura that had kept other creatures at bay.

“Nothing happened to you two?” Seler asked, glancing between them.

Qi Shaorong shook his head. “Not really.”

Though Seler suspected their involvement in the sudden shift, he didn’t press—these seemed to be private matters, and they weren’t keen to elaborate.

“You’ve been here the whole time?” Qi Shaorong asked.

Seler nodded. “Yes. Earlier, there was a surge of immense power from the west. It felt similar to the aura of a golden mermaid. Your lord might be interested.”

Qi Shaorong’s eyes lit up, and he turned to Zhuang Hao. “Let’s go check it out.”

Zhuang Hao immediately agreed. “Alright.”

“Senior Seler, could you point the way?”

“I’ll go with you,” Seler offered readily.

Zhuang Hao summoned the Primordial Giant Scorpion. Seeing it, Seler’s face twitched again.

“What’s wrong, senior?” Zhuang Hao asked.

Seler grunted and looked away. “Nothing. Just that after you two left, I ran into that guy—and he didn’t recognize me at all.”

Seler clenched his fists, feeling humiliated. He had barely escaped the scorpion, which Zhuang Hao had tamed effortlessly.

Under Zhuang Hao’s command, the giant scorpion carried them westward.

“There are signs of battle here,” Zhuang Hao noted.

“I can sense Liu Yun’s aura too.”

“Let’s look around. They should be close,” Seler said.

In a coral cave beneath the sea, they found Hailing holding a fainted Bi Liu Yun.

Relieved, Hailing greeted them. “You’re here.”

Qi Shaorong looked at Liu Yun with concern. “What happened to him?”

“He’s exhausted and too weak, so he fell into a state of hibernation,” Hailing explained.

Qi Shaorong frowned at Liu Yun’s gleaming golden fishtail.

Seler was astonished. “A pure-blooded golden mermaid? I thought they’d gone extinct. The elders of the merfolk clan will go mad when they hear this!”

Liu Yun: “…”

Qi Shaorong sighed inwardly: Looks like Liu Yun won’t be able to deny being seafood anymore.

Remembering the field of slain shrimp he had seen earlier, Seler exclaimed in admiration, “You must’ve faced a shrimp swarm earlier. Amazing that you killed them all!”

“It wasn’t me,” Hailing replied.

Seler blinked. “It wasn’t?”

“They were mostly killed by the Sea King’s Trident.”

Hailing explained that Liu Yun, guided by his golden mermaid bloodline, had found the legendary weapon. Though they were soon besieged by a shrimp horde, Liu Yun, empowered by the Heart of the Mermaid, awakened the trident and drove them off. Unfortunately, wielding it drained his spiritual energy and knocked him unconscious.

Qi Shaorong glanced at the weapon in Liu Yun’s hand—a rusty, child-sized trident that looked more like a toy than a legendary artifact. This is the Sea King’s Trident? Seriously?

Seler frowned. The merfolk possessed two sacred treasures: the Heart of the Mermaid, symbolizing legacy, and the Sea King’s Trident, wielded by ancient merfolk kings. The trident hadn’t been seen since the 72nd king vanished. It was said that without a compatible master, it would appear as mere scrap metal. The fact that Liu Yun activated it meant something extraordinary.

Qi Shaorong grasped Liu Yun’s hand and released waves of healing holy light, surrounding him with a sacred glow. Liu Yun’s complexion visibly improved.

“Thank you,” Hailing said.

Qi Shaorong smiled. “No, I should thank you—for taking care of Liu Yun.”

After resting, they boarded the giant scorpion and resumed their search for an exit.

While exploring, Qi Shaorong discovered a large, rusted blade made from enchanted sea-silver—likely a relic from a fallen warrior. Though corroded, it still contained valuable material for refining.

Whenever they paused, Qi Shaorong would use light magic to continue healing Liu Yun. Eventually, Liu Yun awoke.

Annoyed, Liu Yun flicked his fishtail. “I can’t turn it back into legs.”

Hailing tried to reassure him. “You’re just too weak right now. Once your strength returns, you’ll be able to transform again.”

“I’m not weak,” Liu Yun grumbled. “I was amazing! Like a god reborn! Hahaha!”

“Yes, yes, you were the strongest,” Hailing agreed with a smile.

Liu Yun pouted. Too bad my god mode only lasted three minutes…

Lying on Hailing’s back, Liu Yun looked toward Qi Shaorong. “Young master, where are we going now?”

“Looking for an exit,” Qi Shaorong replied.

“Will we find one?”

Qi Shaorong shrugged. “We’ll have to keep looking.”

They wandered through the land of fallen gods for over ten days. Though they didn’t find an exit, they fought off numerous beasts. Fortunately, with the power of the light and dark crystals, Qi Shaorong had grown significantly stronger, and Liu Yun had recovered.

While not powerful himself, Liu Yun could channel the Sea King’s Trident with overwhelming force—though he would always be left drained afterward.

Eventually, they encountered Yoda.

“Thank goodness you’re safe, Lord!” Yoda breathed a sigh of relief. The unexpected spatial storm had separated them.

Yoda had intended to repay Qi Shaorong for a past favor but was separated almost immediately upon entry.

By now, Yoda had gathered two sea clan members, who were staring wide-eyed at Liu Yun’s golden tail.

Irritated, Liu Yun swished his tail, clearly annoyed.

Qi Shaorong smiled. “Thanks for your concern. Any idea how to get out of here?”

Yoda shook his head. “Not yet, but if we keep looking, we’ll find something.”

Looking at Liu Yun, Yoda smiled. “You found the Sea King’s Trident. Perhaps the future of the merfolk rests with you.”

Liu Yun forced a smile. “I’m not interested in reviving the merfolk.”

“Then what are you interested in?” asked the sea serpent Meili.

“I’m interested in sleeping. Beauty sleep, to be precise,” Liu Yun said, closing his eyes dreamily.

“Such laziness! The merfolk clan actually produced someone like you?” Meili sneered.

Liu Yun twirled a lock of hair and stretched. “I was born lazy—what can I do?”

Qi Shaorong, aware of Meili’s reputation, couldn’t help but worry for Liu Yun’s loose tongue. Truly, ignorance is fearlessness.

“If the merfolk expect you to bring back their glory, they’re dreaming,” Meili scoffed.

Liu Yun: “…”

Qi Shaorong rubbed his nose. Now that Liu Yun’s identity was exposed, even if no one believed he could lead the merfolk’s revival, the elders of the clan certainly wouldn’t stay idle once word got out.