At sunset, all the merfolk, regardless of time or place, received a summons from their chieftain.

—Return within one hour, without error, or you will be permanently disqualified.

Just by reading these words, one can feel the clan chief's expression at the time.

Their current clan leader appears gentle and good-tempered, but in reality, his methods are no less cunning than those of human schemers.

The merman, who was away on business, put away his communication devices and decisively declined his business partner's dinner invitation: "There's an urgent matter at home, and I have to take the fastest ship back."

The other party expressed understanding and wanted to ask a few more questions, but then saw the person, who usually keeps to a steady pace, rushing out in a panic, as if there was something extremely urgent to deal with.

Could it be that the old house in my family caught fire?

......

An hour later, all the merfolk gathered outside the palace, whispering among themselves about what was to be said.

When was the last time the clan leader acted like this?

"Are you getting senile? This is the first time, and I don't even know what's going on. I had the fish almost hooked when you told me to come back."

Fifty thousand leagues under the sea, the natural light of the sun is no longer visible. The surrounding aquatic bioluminescent plants will also go into dormancy after half an hour, and the glowing fluorite will gradually dim after the surrounding light is lost.

Changji led eight of his compatriots out and stood outside the palace, on the stone steps.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I have something important to announce."

Even in the height of summer, the seabed still felt warm, and the merfolk demanded an explanation.

Even as the light of day fades, the mermaids' azure eyes shine in the darkness; though the sun, moon, and stars may vanish, the souls of the mermaids will never be extinguished.

Changji waved his hand, instructing his compatriots to set up the secret technique. After the formation was successfully completed, the people learned the truth from him.

"We should go now. The sea god has granted us a blessed land where a brighter future awaits."

Many of the merfolk inside had rushed over from outside, and they immediately became anxious: "The person I love is still here, I don't want to leave, can we not leave?"

"I've just earned enough money to live a life of leisure, and you're telling me to leave? What gives you the right?"

These people were about to leave when the rapidly growing thorns all around them formed a net overhead, making it impossible for anyone to escape.

"What are you doing? Does the clan leader have the right to disregard our wishes? Does the clan leader have the right to forcibly take us away?"

Changji gave a cruel smile. "My good clansmen."

Still so naive and foolish. If you don't leave now, it will be too late to leave in the future. Let the bad guys bear the burden. As long as the outcome is good, let future generations talk about your reputation before and after your death.

Xiang Xie returned after setting up the formation: "I saw that some of them were already crying, I guess it was mermaid tears?"

Changji nodded to her: "Yes, thank you, Sister."

Xiang Xie pouted; she didn't care about that thank you at all.

Hehua brought over a pile of purchased sharkskin yarn, which ignited with a faint blue flame in the noisy darkness, causing the tribespeople to exclaim in surprise.

How could there be a fire?

"This is a secret technique! So what exactly is it for?"

The ghostly fire burned for a long time before a corner of the mermaid's gauze melted away, and a wisp of bright blue, like smoke and light, rose from the gauze and floated gently towards the sea.

All was quiet.

With a breath stuck in their chest, Changji and the others looked up at the sky, their hearts filled with unease.

Why is there still no response?

Are we supposed to wait for the fragrance to drift to the sea 50,000 miles away?

Wouldn't that mean we have to wait until dawn?

"Is it because you're missing hair and moisture?"

Zi Xin resolutely cut off his knee-length hair, and the smoke rising from the silk gauze curved slightly, as if approving of his action.

The others murmured involuntarily, "What about love?"

"Awen, why are you crying?" Lin rushed over anxiously and helped the silver-haired merman to ask.

Before Changji could even look over, Baoping excitedly exclaimed, "It's changed again!"

The smoke arced larger, becoming unusually convoluted. Changji suddenly heard a "drip" sound beside his ear, and the darkness before his eyes was soaked with blue blood. The pervasive stench of blood filled the air, and the smoke gradually thickened, appearing even more powerful as it shot swiftly into the sky.

......

......

Buzz~

Buzz~

......

The sound resounded from the minds of the merfolk, gradually growing stronger and continuous.

Gradually, he became oblivious to all external sounds, only vaguely sensing the call of some powerful system.

Those merfolk with stronger abilities will have a deeper understanding of this.

For example, Hehua sensed that the boundless, enormous black shadow was whispering to them, as if giving them some instructions.

But she couldn't understand and couldn't respond.

She could only nod urgently, strongly expressing her desire to him.

The other party seemed to understand something and made a move.

The same applies to Changji and others.

The paper with the secret technique written on it suddenly disappeared, the fragrance of the silk fabric dissipated, and the person in the darkness was plunged into even deeper darkness.

The next second, everything went black before the eyes of all the merfolk...

When I regained consciousness and opened my eyes, I found myself crammed into a small boat with everyone else.

Sailing against the current in a raging storm, the small boat was in danger of capsizing at any moment.

The rapids below were grayish-black, and within visibility range, countless long, serpentine shadows could be seen darting back and forth. Without a doubt, if a merman fell in, these things would devour him until not even bones remained.

Faced with life and death, no one cared about the hatred they had just harbored; they all gritted their teeth and waited for the ordeal to end.

Time passed by, seemingly without end.

In this river flowing against the current, they seemed to see the dead Moon Goddess, who had come back to life?

She spotted them, and the look in her eyes seemed to be filled with hatred.

There are also unspeakable Great Old Ones, who are in a periodic slumber, silently being pushed downstream by the river, indifferently brushing past them.

The merfolk's backs were drenched in cold sweat.

The new world was really far away for them. The merfolk spent countless sleepless nights on the ship, exhausting their spirits and wasting their lives in their physical bodies.

"Boom—"

Suddenly, a loud bang came from nowhere, and the small boat was suddenly pulled by a huge force, rushing forward.

The bow of the small boat crashed into a deep black hole, and the merfolk could not see what was inside. Their hearts were filled with fear and confusion about the unknown.

As soon as you enter, you can hear ethereal chanting.

After an unknown amount of time, all the merfolk suddenly felt their bodies being crushed by a heavy object, as if it were trying to flatten them into a uniform pancake.

At this moment, only his bloodshot eyes could still move slightly.