Eastern Sea, the Merfolk Royal Court.
Music drifted through the air, and fine wine and delicacies filled the tables.
At the grand banquet, the three ruling female immortals of the Merfolk Royal Court all occupied the seats of honor, jointly hosting an unexpected distinguished guest.
"Excellent wine, excellent song, and even better dance!" The guest drained the cup of fine wine in a single gulp, then set it down with a loud clack, and laughed heartily.
He had a square face, a tall and powerful build, snow-white skin, and both his eyes and hair were an icy blue.
An Eighth Transformation aura swirled around his entire body.
He was none other than the Snow Folk Gu Immortal — the current Ice Crystal Immortal King of the Ice Crystal Blessed Land, hailing from Black Heaven.
Since the last major gathering of Black Heaven's great powers, the Night Sky Wolf Lord had secretly made contact with the Heavenly Court of the Central Continent, while the Cold Ash Fairy had reached out to the Skeleton Granny and other great human powers. The Ice Crystal Immortal King had naturally not sat idle either, but his sights were set not merely on Black Heaven and White Heaven — he had taken direct aim at the Five Regions. This time, he had personally come to the Eastern Sea, seeking out the merfolk powers here.
The Eastern Sea's merfolk forces were led by three individuals, all female merfolk immortals: Lian Kexin, Yu Zi, and Xie Ningsi.
Though the three immortals had never met the Ice Crystal Immortal King before, seeing that he was an Eighth Transformation Gu Immortal and a fellow non-human, they had hosted this banquet in his honor.
Hearing the Ice Crystal Immortal King's praise, Lian Kexin among the three smiled and replied: "We thank the Immortal King for his kind words. These dancing Gu Masters are all the future hope of our merfolk race — seeds of future Gu Immortals. That they can catch the Immortal King's eye is their honor."
The Ice Crystal Immortal King laughed heartily once more: "Forgive my bluntness, but if these merfolk are truly your race's hope, then I fear your people face the threat of annihilation in the future."
This remark immediately caused the expressions of many merfolk present to change.
The dancing merfolk faltered slightly in their movements.
Lian Kexin, however, maintained her smile: "We have long been aware of the Immortal King's intentions. This goading — we will not take the bait. For countless years, our merfolk race has lived in this region of the Eastern Sea in great peace, tranquility, and beauty. We have always held to neutrality and never involved ourselves in any wars."
The Ice Crystal Immortal King shook his head: "That is mistaken! Who wouldn't long for a peaceful and beautiful life? But throughout history, only war has ever won such peace. Your merfolk race once received the benevolence of Reverend Le Tu, which is how you came to enjoy your current extraordinary status. Across the vast Five Regions, you are the only non-human race to have become a supreme power."
"But we all witnessed the Battle of Fate with our own eyes. Fate has been destroyed, the Five Regions have merged into one, and the upheaval of the world is imminent. Natural disasters and human calamities will follow, with endless warfare."
"You, the Merfolk Royal Court, wish to remain above it all? Heh heh — how long has Reverend Le Tu been gone? How much of his influence remains to protect your people?"
Lian Kexin's expression turned grim, and for a moment she could not mount a rebuttal.
Yu Zi beside her gave a cold snort: "Our race has over a dozen Gu Immortals, and the Immortal Gu House Liu Fang Fang. Surely our current standing is not maintained solely by Reverend Le Tu's influence!"
The Ice Crystal Immortal King nodded: "Your Liu Fang Fang — I have naturally heard of it for a long time. But what of it? It is merely a Seventh Transformation Immortal Gu House. Your Gu Immortals may be numerous, but how many are at the Eighth Transformation? Not a single one! Heh heh — setting everything else aside, if I were to make my move right here and now, which of you could possibly stop me?"
The three merfolk immortals' faces went cold. Xie Ningsi spoke in a deep voice: "If the Immortal King wishes to start a war, by all means strike — and let the Immortal King see just what caliber our merfolk race possesses!"
The Ice Crystal Immortal King waved his hand: "There is no need for misunderstanding. I have never intended to be your enemy. We are both non-human races, and in the current state of the world, humans reign supreme. I would far rather we join forces. Non-humans should be friends, not foes. I came seeking an alliance — how could I want to make enemies?"
"If you do not wish to ally, I completely understand. But consider this: if, after I leave, I let slip even the slightest rumor that the three of you entertained me with great hospitality and harbored intentions to join forces with Black Heaven's various non-human powers to move against the human forces of the Five Regions — just imagine what would happen. Heh heh."
The three merfolk immortals exchanged glances, each seeing the gravity reflected on the others' faces.
The Ice Crystal Immortal King's words were soft on the surface but hard beneath — a clear demand for a forced alliance. If the three merfolk immortals refused, he would simply spread the rumor claiming that the merfolk had shown willingness to ally.
Everyone knew of the Battle of Fate.
Lord Dragon's final rebuke of Fang Yuan had already revealed to the whole world the great secret that non-human races were on the rise!
Once word spread that the Merfolk Royal Court was allying with the major non-human powers, it would strike at the sensitive nerves of the human race, and the merfolk would become a target for all.
At that point, given the human race's track record, they would most likely form a coalition army and wipe out the Merfolk Royal Court first!
The human powers had long coveted the Merfolk Royal Court, held back only by Reverend Le Tu's lingering influence. If the merfolk were perceived as acting against humanity's interests — regardless of whether the humans believed the lie — they would seize on that pretext to move against the Merfolk Royal Court.
And the Merfolk Royal Court, forced to resist, would have no hope of survival except by joining forces with the Ice Crystal Immortal King and his allies.