First Meeting, First Proposal

"Hurry up a bit! Don't you want to go home?"

The Jiao-person saw her lingering on the shore for a long time without jumping in, so he urged her.

Zhu Yao grew even more panicked upon hearing this. It's over! It's finished! I'm definitely dead this time. I wonder if it's okay if I tell him I don't know how to swim?

Pfft~ A Jiao-person who can't swim or dive. He wouldn't believe me if I told him.

"Water Repelling Spell!"

Suddenly, a cold, clear voice echoed in her ear. It was Master!

Instantly, her panicked mood calmed. Right! She could use the "Water Repelling Spell." In the water, she would be no different from being on land. Immediately, Zhu Yao cast a "Water Repelling Spell" on herself. Suddenly, a transparent bubble appeared around her.

She stepped into the water. The water automatically flowed around her body.

The Jiao-person looked at her for a long time, then said disdainfully,

"Why do you like this ugly human form so much? You're in the water, and you still haven't changed back to your original form?"

Jiao-people are born with the ability to transform into human form. But due to their daily life in the water, they despise transforming into human form.

"Haha, my preferences are quite special!"

Zhu Yao could only laugh and say upon hearing this.

"I don't care about you!"

Yu Li ignored her, waved his hand, and swayed his fish tail, swimming towards the deep water. Zhu Yao quickly followed.

They traveled for a while, until they could no longer see any of the Jiao-person's coastline. Only then did Yu Li let out a breath, stretched, and began to complain,

"Finally, I can take a breath. This old man has been guarding the shore for days. I'm about to turn into dried fish."

So, it was because he was lazy. No wonder he was so enthusiastic about taking her "home."

"May I know, Big Brother Yu Li, where are you going, and what are you doing?"

Yu Li saw her interest and enthusiastically said,

"I don't know where those people got the news that a group of cultivators passed through this area a few days ago. I originally intended to catch one or two ordinary cultivating immortals. Unfortunately, I haven't encountered anyone these past few days."

He seemed to recall something, drooling.

"I heard they taste very good."

Immortals taste good…

"…………"

Luckily, he was blind, which was why he mistook her for one of his kind.

Yu Li turned to look at her. A hint of sympathy appeared on his face.

"You, you're also somewhat similar to them. I guess you saw those cultivators and ran away to save your life, right? If you weren't carrying Xiao Sha, I wouldn't have recognized you as one of my kind."

Xiao Sha! Zhu Yao was startled for a moment. She didn't seem to have this item on her. She only had a few sets of clothes and…

Suddenly, she remembered the menstrual sashes in her storage bag.

Oh my god! Big Brother! Your taste is truly heavy! "Don't be so disheartened."

Yu Li saw her mood seemed low and spoke to comfort her.

"Although you had a bit of bad luck and weren't reincarnated as a good fish, if you just work hard, you still have a chance to level up."

So, he was comparing her to those inferior Rank 6 Jiao-people. Most Jiao-people were born at Rank 8. Thinking this way, she truly was unlucky.

"But your special preference needs to change."

Yu Li looked her up and down, saying with a disgusted expression,

"The Jiao-person tribe loves beautiful and strong fish tails. But you like to transform into this ugly form. If you're like this, you won't find a wife."

"I am female. I don't need to find a wife."

Mistaking her species, she had already let it slide. Why did he also mistake her gender?!

Yu Li was startled. It was as if he had just heard shocking news… In an instant, he opened his eyes wide and stared at her chest.

"………"

Damn! Steamed buns are still buns! Can't you see them?

"You… You… You you…"

As if confirming she was female, Yu Li pointed at her in surprise. In an instant, he didn't know what to say. And his brown fish tail rapidly and strangely turned pink.

In just a moment, what was a fish turned into braised pork.

"You… Why didn't you say so earlier?"

Yu Li retreated a step. Just now, he had been pulling her along as if they were intimate friends. In an instant, he turned into a scorned little wife. He lowered his head, secretly glancing at her nervously.

What was so strange about her being female? Why were you acting so embarrassed? A domineering CEO turned into a delicate wife? Did it need to be so shocking???

————————-

Rumor has it that females are extremely scarce in the Jiao-person tribe. In a tribe, there are no more than 10 females. Therefore, from birth, they are protected by the entire tribe. And females in the Jiao-person tribe also have absolute leadership. Some Jiao-people have never even seen a female in their entire lives. This shows that Yu Li encountering a female was an unbelievable event. Although Zhu Yao was only pretending.

Ever since Zhu Yao told Yu Li her gender, Yu Li felt uncomfortable and unnatural. He no longer dared to speak loudly. He only dared to secretly glance at her a few times. And his fish tail still maintained its braised pork state. Occasionally, it would twitch towards her with a look of embarrassment.

But that expression also showed terror. An inexpressible horror.

"Cough, is it still far?"

Zhu Yao had to change the subject. At this point, she was getting goosebumps. Don't kill her with that look anymore. If she had known things would be like this, she would rather be a fish man without breasts.

Yu Li pointed forward. He held his breath and replied. As if afraid she would be startled by his voice.

"Ahead… It's just ahead!"

Zhu Yao looked up. Not far ahead, a dazzling light appeared. It stood out particularly clearly in the gray seabed. She could vaguely see that behind the light was an ancient wall.

"Thank you. I can go there myself."

Zhu Yao quickly took her leave.

"Are you alright going there alone?"

The Jiao-person Yu Li asked with some worry.

"There's a very large barrier over there. Inside, there isn't even any water. It's very dangerous."

Zhu Yao shook her head.

"It's nothing. Once I get there, I'll know the way. I can go home by myself."

She truly couldn't bring a fish with her to that place.

"Mm!"

Yu Li nodded with a hint of disappointment. He looked at her worriedly a few times, then said a few polite words,

"Next time, don't run around carelessly again! Otherwise, getting lost again would be troublesome. If you… if you get lost again, you can come to me, and I'll take you back."

"Mm!"

If she got lost, how would she find him?

"Be careful on your way."

"Mm."

Only then did Yu Li hesitate, turn around, and swim away. Suddenly, as if remembering something, he turned back. His eyes, cold as snow, looked at her.

"That… I want to ask you something. Have you found a companion yet? If not… what do you think of me?"

"Ah~!"

What kind of divine skill was this unfolding?

Yu Li spread his braised pork fish tail and said,

"I am very strong. I can protect you with absolute safety."

"Uh…"

Why was her first miraculous marriage proposal stolen by a fish?

"I will hunt. In our tribe, no one is better than me at this."

"………."

But she couldn't eat anymore. She was practicing Inedia.

"Among all Jiao-people, I am the best at weaving Xiao Sha."

"………."

Weaving it to make menstrual sashes?

"My abilities are also very strong. I can definitely match 7-8 Jiao-people combined."

"………."

Why did he switch from weaving to fighting?

"I can also…"

Before he could finish speaking, the necklace on Zhu Yao's chest suddenly emitted a dazzling white light. It struck directly at the chattering Yu Li. In an instant, Yu Li's figure was sent flying. He didn't even have time to scream.

Master… so violent!

Little Yu Yan gently stepped out from the necklace. He sat on Zhu Yao's shoulder. Normally, he had an indifferent expression. But at this moment, his face was covered in a layer of frost. His entire body exuded a rapidly surging chilling aura.

Just a Rank 8 demonic beast, and he dared to dream of his disciple!

"Go!"

He spoke an abrupt, single word. But this word was as cold as falling into an ice cellar.

Zhu Yao felt her Master was angry at this moment. And very angry. But what was he angry about? She rubbed her frozen arm, then silently walked towards the ruins. Ah!~Ah!~Ah!~Ah!~… Master is so scary.

——————–

This ancient ruin was very strange. It was at the bottom of the sea and covered by a gigantic formation. Inside the formation, it was no different from an ordinary piece of land. Within this continent, there was also a forest full of trees. And in its center was an ancient palace. It was no different from the palace she had dreamed of.

Regarding the "Wood Spirit," Zhu Yao hadn't told her Master about it, because… this matter involved many things. But Yu Yan had never asked her about it. Nor did he ask why she came to this ancient ruin. But why did he know there was such a place here? He came here on a whim. At the appropriate time, he might step in to help her resolve some troubles.

Her Master being like this made Zhu Yao feel very at ease and a little guilty towards him. It was just that she couldn't confirm whether the things in her dream were true. She didn't know if they would happen exactly as she dreamed. Therefore, a large part of the reason she came here to find the "Wood Spirit" was to prove whether her suspicions were true.

"Master! What does 'Duan Jue Land' mean?"

That Jiao-person had said on the way that the "Duan Jue Land" was a very perilous place. Zhu Yao's heart felt anxious upon hearing this.

Yu Yan thought for a moment before replying,

"I think this place is the final area of the Secret Realm. Those demonic beasts grew up here; unless they ascend, they cannot leave this Secret Realm. Therefore, these demonic beasts dare not casually come here."

"Then what if we go in there?"

"This, I don't know either. I've never heard of any cultivator entering this place. I think if a cultivator enters this place… they might not be able to return to the Cultivation World. Instead, their soul would be scattered and spirit dissipated."

He couldn't even confirm this? It seemed this place was very dangerous. If possible, she wouldn't like to enter this place. But the surroundings of these ruins were very safe. She had also probed it before. There was no demonic beast aura at all.

As soon as she entered the palace, she suddenly heard an incredibly familiar sound.

"Martial Uncle Xiao. Where exactly is this place?"

This voice was Lu Sha's!

Zhu Yao looked to the side and saw two people walking towards them. It had been a long time since she last saw Lu Sha and Xiao Yi. And their bodies weren't wet at all. Nor did they look like they had fought fiercely to get here. It was as if they had suddenly appeared in this place. She looked closely and saw a faint light under their feet that hadn't yet receded.

Ugh! So there was a Teleportation Formation here. Why did she have to travel so hard for so many days?

She hated the protagonist's halo!

"This is an ancient ruin."

Xiao Yi replied, then pointed to the surrounding architecture.

"Looking at the architecture here, it could only be from the ancient era."

"Then will there be a Great Fortuitous Encounter here?"

Lu Sha's eyes immediately lit up. The ancient era was a time when Gods and Demons coexisted. The current Cultivation World couldn't possibly have such things.

Xiao Yi was also excited, nodding and saying,

"This place is so mysterious. If we hadn't been surrounded by villains and coincidentally stumbled upon a Teleportation Formation, falling into this place, we might not have been able to enter. It seems the one who arranged this place was probably a very…"