A Mermaid’s Plight and an Unexpected Savior

‘Su Xiaoxiao could barely imagine it…’They say the Mermaid race, blessed and favored by the Heavenly Dao, are spared the ordeal of heavenly tribulations from birth. With but a little diligence, they can achieve great things. Yet, Su Xiaoxiao had often heard the elders speak of it in the South Sea. The lightning tribulations that accompany heavenly trials are excruciatingly painful, especially for aquatic species like them. Aside from the mermaids, who are divinely blessed, and ancient beasts with primeval bloodlines, how many others have managed to overcome these tribulations purely through their own strength, rising to become preeminent demon lords and mighty cultivators?The little mermaid in the water cage cried out in agony as the lightning whip struck her, tears at the corners of her eyes crystallizing into pearls. The vendor, who had been whipping her, excitedly declared to the crowd below: “Everyone saw that, didn’t you?!””The pearls this mermaid weeps are no ordinary treasures. When brought to the Ghost City, they’ll be fought over, whether exchanged for money, spirit stones, cultivation, or even rare spirit herbs and immortal grass.””Distinguished guests, there’s no need to worry once you take her home. I offer a guarantee: this treasure in my hand, passed down for thousands of years, only requires a drop of mermaid blood, fused with your own, to be absorbed by this ankle bracelet. After that, this mermaid will pledge loyalty to you, obeying your every command. She will be more obedient and docile than a dog raised from a pup.””This treasure is a complimentary gift.”As the gong beside him rang out, he grinned, announcing, “Esteemed guests, the final round of bidding has begun!””This is a mermaid, after all! Once you take her home, besides dual cultivation, you can keep her as a blood s*ave. Periodically, you can draw her blood or cut her flesh. And as long as you keep her, the pearls she sheds can be sold. It’s a profitable venture no matter how you look at it! I bid 50,000 spirit stones!!!””55,000 spirit stones!!!””60,000!!!””100,000!!!”Instead of decreasing, the number of bidders surged. Su Xiaoxiao watched as the little mermaid curled into a tiny, pained ball, frail and weak. It was impossible to tell how much abuse she had endured in recent days.Suddenly, Su Xiaoxiao spun around, intending to rush out. She had to go down, to save the little mermaid. But just as she lunged two steps forward, Xiyue seized her arm.”What are you running for?!” Xiyue instantly saw through her intentions.”I have to go down and save her…” Su Xiaoxiao’s eyes were rimmed with red. She had been terrified when the lightning whip struck the little mermaid moments ago.”You’re not going. What makes you think you can save her?!” Xiyue held her back, preventing her from moving, wondering why Su Xiaoxiao could be so foolish.Even back when they first met in Upper Heaven, when Su Xiaoxiao still possessed some cultivation and spiritual power, she wouldn’t have been a match for the demons and monsters below.Now, she was pregnant, her body weaker than even a mortal’s. Going down alone would only incite the already frenzied demons and monsters to even greater madness. One mermaid wouldn’t be enough; another would simply appear…Xiyue would never allow her to go. Su Xiaoxiao struggled desperately, but Xiyue refused to let go. “You sit down!”Then, she turned to the Ghost King beside them. “You’re still so composed. What good will it do when your subordinates find something? I see that mermaid is about to be flayed alive and turned into fish fillets! What will happen when the Mermaid clan leader finds out?”The Ghost King no longer possessed her earlier solemn composure. Standing there, a look of irritation crossed her face. “I told you, it wasn’t me. The one in charge has committed a grave offense against me, and he won’t leave this Ghost City alive today. But I cannot step forward right now. I cannot personally break the rule I established long ago: no fighting or seeking revenge within the Ghost City…”The Ghost King then addressed Su Xiaoxiao. “Su Xiaoxiao, calm yourself. I promise you, that little mermaid will be fine. I will have my trusted aides follow them, and once the auction concludes, they will bring the little mermaid to you.”Su Xiaoxiao’s emotions were a tumultuous storm. She opened her mouth to speak, but a burning pain flared in her chest, causing her to cough uncontrollably.The sudden, harsh coughing brought pain to her chest, and even her stomach began to feel uncomfortable.Xiyue clasped her hand, pulling the frightened Su Xiaoxiao into an embrace. “Alright, even if the Ghost King doesn’t keep her word, aren’t I still here? Do you think I’m dead? What are you so anxious about? You only needed to tell me what you wanted.””I…” Su Xiaoxiao coughed so violently that she couldn’t utter a complete sentence.Xiyue gently rubbed her back with one hand, helping her regulate her breathing.Meanwhile, Xiyue couldn’t help but speak harshly, her tone fierce. “You rush to run out without understanding the situation. Don’t you usually protect that unborn little mong—… fish cub? Are you suddenly indifferent just because it’s another mermaid?””You only grew a face and the flesh on your chest, but no brain. If you run down there like this, you’ll probably be captured and sold alongside her.”The Ghost King also solemnly reiterated her promise to Su Xiaoxiao. “I know your clan leader, Yun Xiao. I owe him a favor. You grew up among the Mermaid clan; have you ever heard them speak of grievances with the Ghost Realm?””Rest assured, I will retrieve that little mermaid and return her to the Mermaid clan unharmed. At that time, I will personally apologize to your South Sea Mermaid clan. I hope, Su Xiaoxiao, you will clarify that this matter was an oversight on my part. I will thoroughly investigate and deal with this. Items from the Mermaid clan have never appeared in the Ghost City before; today was truly an accident.”Su Xiaoxiao was still softly coughing, but Xiyue’s words, combined with the Ghost King’s assurances, finally began to sink in.Meanwhile, below, after repeated rounds of fierce bidding, a young girl wearing a fox mask calmly called out, “One million spirit stones. I’ll take this mermaid.”Her voice carried loudly, heard by all, even causing the vendor on stage to gasp sharply.A million spirit stones…He was so startled that his words stumbled. “Young esteemed guest, this is no laughing matter.”The girl with the fox mask, clearly impatient, unclipped a jade pendant of vibrant cyan from her waist and tossed it to him. “This is the deposit.”The vendor picked it up, examining it closely. It was an artifact of the Immortal Clan, a rare and precious item even among them. Holding this token could even grant entry to Upper Heaven. She must be the daughter of some immortal…His expression shifted dramatically. Clasping the jade pendant, he announced to the crowd, “Sold! One million spirit stones! Congratulations to this young esteemed guest!”The clamor below intensified to an unprecedented degree. Su Xiaoxiao wanted to see what was happening, but Xiyue pressed down on her shoulder, her expression one of extreme impatience, clearly indicating she didn’t want Su Xiaoxiao to stand.Su Xiaoxiao’s heart burned with anxiety as she waited impatiently.’Seeing her anxious demeanor, Xiyue felt a pang of discomfort. An unknown mermaid could evoke such concern from this little fish, yet it seemed she only wished to avoid me.’Anyone capable of casually spending a million spirit stones in the Ghost City surely possessed an extraordinary background. Even with the mask, the girl’s exceptional figure and remarkable aura were evident.Without knowing her origins, the watchful subordinates dared not approach rashly.However, the girl was no fool; she was shrewd and intelligent. Her gaze never left the mermaid, wary of any sudden change of mind or substitution.She was quite decisive. The vendor, in an attempt to curry favor, presented the ankle bracelet, telling the girl she could form a contract with the mermaid. “This mermaid will undoubtedly prioritize your every wish, obedient and docile. I guarantee that if you command her to move, she wouldn’t dare head west, and she’ll be devoted to you every single day.””It’s merely a Heart-Ensnaring Curse. Do you truly think I’m a fool who doesn’t understand just because you’ve changed the trick?” the girl retorted sarcastically. “I have no use for this. Give me the mermaid.””What about the remaining spirit stones…”The girl scoffed, speaking with an air of haughty arrogance. “It was called a deposit, but you know what it truly is. What you can accomplish with it is your own capability.””There were many people just now, so I didn’t want to embarrass you. If you’re too greedy and feel it’s not enough, you’re welcome to back out. But you just saw for yourself, on that auction floor, who bid higher than me, or offered anything better than what I gave?”The girl stared at the trembling little mermaid in the water cage, her voice light and airy. “Touch the conscience you don’t possess and ask yourself, how much is that jade pendant token truly worth? I’d say it’s far more than a million spirit stones, wouldn’t you?”The vendor gritted his teeth, pondered for a moment, then plastered a smile back on his face. “Young esteemed guest, please don’t be angry. How could I possibly offend you? If I don’t do this business with you, who else would I do it with?””Release this mermaid.” The girl was too lazy to waste any more words on him.As the many spiritual talismans were undone, the water from the cage instantly spilled across the floor. The little mermaid tumbled to the ground, still timidly burying her head, afraid to look up.”Does the esteemed guest require me to fetch chains? Although this mermaid is young, there’s no guarantee she won’t suddenly go mad and injure you, which would be undesirable.””No need.” The girl remained unperturbed. She stepped into the puddle, looking down at the little mermaid, and spoke, “She will willingly leave with me, after all, I won’t strike her with a lightning whip.”Her words seemed directed at the vendor, but in truth, they were meant more for the little mermaid.The little mermaid remained silent. Having been confined to the narrow water cage for too long, her cultivation was low, her strength depleted. She didn’t even have the energy to transform her tail into legs, let alone walk.She looked up, her bright, glistening eyes still holding unshed tears from before. Gazing at the fox mask, she finally reached out, attempting to grasp the sleeve of the girl standing before her.As she reached out, the girl with the fox mask let out a soft laugh and gently but firmly took her hand.She lifted the little mermaid into her arms, then turned to the vendor. “I’m a bit tired. Is there somewhere we can rest for a while?”The vendor, naturally, assented, dispatching a subordinate to lead the girl and the little mermaid she held away.