Bai Lingâs unexpected proposition left Li Su in astonishment. Her request for him to have a child with her was alluring, given her exceptional beauty, perfect features, and divine transformation. He was more than willing to accept, but the challenge lay in their differing races, Bai Ling was a Mermaid, and Li Su was a human.
Mermaids were a sea-dwelling race, and while Bai Ling had human-like qualities, there were still significant racial disparities. Even if they could have a child, it raised questions about the childâs nature, whether Mermaid or human.
Bai Ling clarified that the bloodlines of sea-dwellers and humans were distinct, with royal bloodlines of utmost importance among Mermaids. She explained how Mermaid bloodlines were analogous to the concept of bloodlines among mythical beasts, determining their cultivation potential and strength.
As a Mermaid princess, Bai Ling had the most concentrated royal bloodline among those born to her parents. This explains her rapid cultivation of the Nascent Soul stage at a young age. Unfortunately, a past war had caused the decline of the Northern Sea Clan and the devastation of the Northern Region, leading to a prolonged recovery period.
Li Su noted the Northern Regionâs diminished vitality compared to an ancient sect where cultivators were mostly at or above the Nascent Soul stage. The Bixia Sect was the most potent in the Northern Region, with Nascent Soul cultivators as their pinnacle members.
The Northern Region appeared much more prosperous than the remote and isolated Wishing Immortal Peak. However, there were only approximately twenty Nascent Soul cultivators in this vast Northern Region.
In contrast, more than ten Nascent Soul cultivators were recorded as leaving behind legacies in the ruins of the ancient sect. It was crucial to note that many of the cultivators from that ancient sect perished while confronting the Sea Clan and couldnât escape. In summary, the current state of the Northern Region was closely linked to that war.
According to what Li Su learned from the Seven Great Immortal Sects, the war wasnât initiated by the Mermaid tribe. The Mermaid tribe lacked the capability to launch such a massive conflict. Furthermore, as a time traveler, Li Su remained emotionally detached and didnât hold any grudges against the Mermaid. If the Mermaidâs claims were accurate, then humanity itself provoked the war.
âWhy didnât you seek out other Mermaids?â Li Su inquired after Bai Ling finished explaining.
âI donât prefer them. Compared to them, I would rather be with you. If it werenât for the thought of you, I would prefer not to exist than accept their conditions,â Bai Ling replied directly.
Li Su accepted this reason. Even Mermaids in the Nascent Soul stage couldnât resist his charm, giving him a sense of accomplishment.
Bai Ling added, âBesides, thereâs another critical reason. Among the Northern Sea Mermaids, only a few possess lower-ranking bloodlines. If I were to have offspring with them, it would only dilute the royal bloodline.â This was the most crucial reason, as Bai Lingâs acceptance of Li Su was also significant. Otherwise, she might not have chosen to have children at all. Despite their short acquaintance, Li Su had left a very positive impression on her. He was the first trustworthy person Bai Ling had encountered after being frozen for thousands of years, which held a special place in her heart.
Li Su couldnât help but express his concern, âBut Iâm a human. Wonât having offspring with you lead to impure bloodlines?â
Bai Ling shook her head, âMermaid bloodlines already contain some human bloodline components. When used to have children with you, I have a secret technique that can ensure the purity of the bloodline.â Li Su contemplated this, thinking about Bai Lingâs original form, which was half-human and half-fish. This led him to ponder if snake people also had human bloodline components.
Suddenly, the thought of the origin of Mermaids and snake people crossed Li Suâs mind. Could there be a âXu Xianâ in this world as well? Li Su considered that, apart from the Mermaids, it was indeed possible that the original snake people were the result of someone not acting like a human anymore. Xu Xian is a recurring theme in various places.
Li Su thought for a moment. Setting aside the Mermaid, it was possible that Xu Xian also influenced the original snake people.
Beastly, Li Su couldnât help but think, looking at Bai Ling in front of him. He could accept her, especially since she now appeared entirely human, revealing the human side of her bloodline. The current Bai Ling resembled a young woman in her early twenties, exuding exceptional beauty and holding the power of the Nascent Soul stage. What was there not to accept?
Li Su asked, âWill the child born from this union have legs or a fishtail from the beginning?â
âLegs,â Bai Ling replied.
âLegs are acceptable, then,â Li Su said with relief.
âI will combine with you in my current form, and the offspring will inherit your bloodline, which will initially be dominant, resulting in legs. This way, I can use my secret technique to enhance their royal bloodline,â Bai Ling explained.
Li Su understood. âHow can you be certain it will be a daughter?â
He asked once more.
âI want to have a daughter, and I will have a daughter. I plan to have only one in this lifetime,â Bai Ling stated.
One⦠might not be enough.
Li Su refrained from voicing the final sentence since it was still uncertain whether they could have a child. All doubts were dispelled, leaving just one questionâ¦
âHow soon can we begin?â
â¦
The sun shone brilliantly, casting warm rays on the immaculate beach. This small island, under the sunlight, looked exceptionally beautiful. One day passed swiftly. Li Su opened his eyes, and he beheld the exquisite beauty of Bai Ling. Bai Ling, who had initially been very forward, now seemed somewhat bashful.
âAre there no Nascent Transformation stage cultivators among the Mermaids now?â Li Su inquired with curiosity. The blush on Bai Lingâs lovely face hadnât faded.
âNo,â she replied. âItâs said that powerful beings can manipulate the sea with Dao artifacts after that great battle. The sea tribes in the North Sea have greatly declined, and the North Sea Mermaid clan is at its lowest point.â
They sure knew how to manipulate the sea with their Dao artifacts! That colossal battle tens of thousands of years ago was truly devastating. The sea clans took a piece of the North Sea. Humans werenât willing to yield either. They manipulated the entire ocean.
The ability to manipulate the sea this way was formidable, and its origin remained unknown. Given the vastness of the North Sea, such sea manipulation might not pose an immediate threat to the strong sea clans. But it would undermine their foundation in the North Sea, just as the sea clansâ colossal waves decimated the Northern Territory, making it largely uninhabited today.