“The Spring of Undying?”
The regenerative ability of a mermaid's heart was indeed astounding, so Chen Ning did not interrupt her and listened intently.
Next, the woman recounted a legend that had been passed down through generations within the mermaid race.
...
The story began with the Ding family in a small town.
The Ding family was a well-known squire household in town, yet the couple had been childless for years. It was not until Master Ding turned fifty that a daughter was finally born into the family.
Having a daughter in his late years, Master Ding cherished her as the apple of his eye.
Just as they had hoped, the girl grew up naturally gorgeous, possessing a beauty that could sink fish and drop geese, and her fame for beauty spread far and wide throughout the town.
However, the girl possessed a strange physique.
Whenever she cried, the tears slipping from her eyes would turn into pearls.
Master Ding and his wife doted on their daughter, so even though the pearls were worth a fortune, they would never make her cry for wealth.
Under their protection, the girl gradually grew into a lovely young maiden.
Like most young women in the prime of their youth, she, too, fell in love.
The object of her affection was a penniless young fisherman who roamed far away for long stretches of time.
Every time he returned from the sea, the young fisherman brought back beautiful ocean treasures like shells and conchs, telling her fresh stories from his voyages.
To the maiden, the sea was an immensely mysterious and enchanting place. After hearing those fascinating tales again and again, she fell deeply in love with the young, handsome fisherman.
Swept into a sweet romance, she spent many unforgettable days and nights with him.
Until one day, the young fisherman suddenly proposed taking her secretly out to sea.
The maiden trusted him, because she loved him deeply and firmly believed he would never deceive her.
However, the fisherman had lied to her.
From beginning to end, the fisherman had never truly loved her. His sole objective was the long-standing rumor circulating in town.
To him, the pearls formed from her tears were an endless treasure trove.
Once he had money, what kind of woman couldn't he get?
After tricking her onto his boat, the fisherman completely exposed his true colors, beating and abusing her to snatch away the pearls born of her tears.
The fisherman's greed was a bottomless pit. Caring nothing for her survival, he tortured her by every means imaginable, solely to force her to shed more tears.
At last, unable to bear it any longer, the maiden broke free from her ropes and leaped into the ocean.
Worldly wealth is not brought in birth, nor carried away in death.
Yet before the Ghost Gate, the maiden used the pearls born of her tears to pawn a bowl of Yellow Spring water from the spirits.
Drinking the Yellow Spring water, she was brought back to life, miraculously awakening in the ocean.
Yet perhaps because she had completely lost all trust in humanity, her legs had turned into a fish tail at some point, leaving her unable to ever return to the shore.
Thus, she lived in the water forever as a half-human, half-fish.
She passed down that bowl of Yellow Spring water to her descendants, but she placed a curse upon it.
If a mermaid drank the Yellow Spring water, their fish tail could transform into human legs.
However, from then on, the mermaid would possess an immortal heart, condemned through long, endless years to watch helplessly as her loved ones and those she cherished withered and died, until she was left entirely alone.
Therefore, for the mermaid race, unless it was a matter of true love, they would never lightly touch this cursed spring water.
...
After finishing her story, the mermaid woman smiled with a hint of embarrassment.
“These stories are merely legends passed down within our mermaid race. Whether they are true or false, I do not actually know, either.
“And...
“In truth, the bowl of Spring of Undying water in our tribe does not possess the formidable power described in the legends.
“The heart is our lifeline. Even if one drinks the spring water, as long as the heart is shattered, we will still die just the same.”
Hearing this, Chen Ning nodded.
It seemed those demonic monks likely knew some secrets regarding the mermaid race's Spring of Undying, which was why they had resorted to every means to acquire multiple mermaid hearts.
A mermaid with only a single heart possessed a regenerative ability far below the level of regrowing severed limbs or regenerating a head.
However...
Chen Ning could not help but think of the Divine Phoenix Bloodline within his own body.
Although the power of the Spring of Undying was not as astounding as imagined, what if it was stacked with the Divine Phoenix Bloodline inside him?
What if the Spring of Undying could be upgraded just like the Divine Phoenix Bloodline...?
“Is Young Master interested in the Spring of Undying?
“If you are interested, I am willing to guide Young Master to the mermaid tribe.”
At that moment, the mermaid woman spoke respectfully.
The bamboo-hatted Water Ghost also hastily added:
“Young Master, please do not stand on ceremony. After all, both of our lives were saved by your hands.
“The two of us were able to reunite because of you. Whatever we must do to repay Young Master, no amount of gratitude could ever be too much.”
Hearing this, Chen Ning finally agreed.
He was indeed somewhat curious: if the Spring of Undying collided with the Divine Phoenix Bloodline, what kind of spark would be born?
...
Before long, Chen Ning walked down the mountain.
Xiangqin and Murong Yu were waiting at the foot of the mountain.
Just now, around ten remaining half-demons had attempted to escape down the mountain through a secret passage, but all of them had been slain by the two.
Half of them had been killed personally by Xiangqin.
【Slain half-demon monk 5, obtained Noble Qi 60】
Opening the system panel, the monks killed by Xiangqin had indeed provided him with Noble Qi as well.
Chen Ning informed Murong Yu that he intended to make a trip to the mermaid tribe.
Murong Yu was taken aback.
“But the mermaid tribe lives thousands of meters deep under the sea!”
“I have a water-parting Divine Ability, so going underwater won't be a problem.”
With Purple Qi Protection guarding him, underwater was no different from dry land to Chen Ning.
Chen Ning looked at Murong Yu and said:
“Besides, you don't need to accompany me to the mermaid tribe this time. I have an important matter to entrust to you.”
“An important matter?”
“Help me look for a house. Once we return to the Imperial Capital, I plan to move in with Qing Yan.”
Chen Ning smiled.
Now that he had money, there was no need to squeeze into an inn every day.
It was time to bring Qing Yan along to enjoy the prosperity of the Imperial Capital.
“So that's how it is.”
Murong Yu instantly felt a heavy responsibility on his shoulders. Patting his chest, he said earnestly:
“Brother Chen, rest assured! Leave this to me. I guarantee I'll find a fine house for you!”
“Great, then we'll be taking our leave first.”
Chen Ning climbed onto Xiangqin along with the bamboo-hatted Water Ghost and his wife.
Xiangqin spread her wings and took off, quickly flying toward the seaside.
“Brother Chen's relationship with Miss Qing Yan is indeed extraordinary.”
Watching their departing figures, Murong Yu let out a gratified smile.
But when he snapped back to reality and looked around...
Gazing at the desolate, uninhabited mountain range surrounding him, Murong Yu suddenly froze.
Wait a minute... Even if you asked me to go back first, in a desolate wilderness like this, at least leave me a mount!
Rate on N.U.
