"What's wrong, Ethan? Sitting here alone—how can the guest of honor be missing from the banquet?"
I looked up in confusion, realizing Jade May was calling me. I returned her smile. We’ve been back for several hours now, and the Merfolk in the village have all heard about what I did. They’re completely relaxed, their nerves finally at ease. After I got back, I ate a little, and my body—once a phantom—began to take on substance again, a feeling of fullness returning within me.
Jade May grabbed my hand and dragged me outside. I saw the villagers celebrating. The phrase I heard most today was simply: thank you.
My mood was good, but I couldn’t quite understand the changes I’d just experienced. The only thing I knew for certain was that the Yin-Yang Symbol stood for Tao, and the Cycle Sigil represented Buddha.
As for Tao and Buddha, it’s strange—I still remember what they are, but I don’t know why I possess such overwhelming power, or exactly what happened before.
I found a corner and watched the Merfolk celebrate. The whole village was filled with a festive air.
Casually, I picked up some meatballs and a jug of wine brewed from the depths of the sea. The taste was mild, and the surrounding water seemed to have no effect on anything in my hands.
Just then, Elder Merman walked over, took my hand, and led me straight to his hall. I looked at him, puzzled.
"Do you know why that Frost Serpent keeps trying to attack us?"
I shook my head, and Elder Merman sighed before he began to speak.
"Every Chimera Beast born in our Illusory Realm—the very first ones—carried a certain power within their bodies, as did my late wife and I."
I looked at Elder Merman, puzzled.
"Why are you telling me all this?"
I smiled, but Elder Merman just shook his head.
Although all kinds of Chimera Beasts survive in this Illusory Realm through a brutal, predatory existence, the ultimate goal is to kill and consume the very first Chimera Beast.
I let out a surprised sound, and Elder Merman continued.
There’s a rumor in the Illusory Realm: if a Chimera Beast manages to eat one hundred of the original beasts, it can gain a physical form and travel to any space it desires.
I was startled, and the Merfolk chief sighed.
This rumor existed long before we were born, but only the Chimera Beast chiefs and the most powerful solitary beasts knew of it. I accidentally let it slip to the Frost Serpent, and it began plotting to use our tribe’s strengths to help it, eating the chiefs of nearby tribes. When I refused, it tried to eat me instead, and has been hunting us ever since. It’s been so many years now.
Maybe it’s just a meaningless lie.
I smiled and spoke, and Elder Merman nodded.
"Ethan, maybe it really is just a lie, as you said. I’ve never seen anyone leave the Illusory Realm. The upper layers are dominated by incredibly powerful Chimera Beasts. They can devour the sky and earth, but no matter what, they can’t escape the Illusory Realm."
I looked at the Merfolk chief, confused, as he stood up as if preparing to leave.
"Why are you telling me this?"
Elder Merman smiled and shook his head.
"Ethan, I think you have a good heart, so I’m telling you. For now, just live here slowly and get used to things. When you’ve settled in, I’ll take you to visit other tribes—maybe you’ll find something that helps you recover your lost memories."
I nodded and thanked him.
I still couldn’t remember who I was, or why I was here.
Soon, the Merfolk village returned to its usual calm. At night, the Merfolk went to sleep. I still stayed at Jade May’s house. She seemed to have drunk a lot today and slept deeply. I quietly held the slip of paper in my hand, reading it over and over. Beside the four large words 'Rectify the Source,' the small golden letters continued to shimmer, like a rope swaying gently in the breeze.
Gradually, I decided to head out again and walk the streets. For now, I didn’t plan to leave the Merfolk village. I hoped I could help them find stability.
There were fewer sentries at the edge of the village now—only two or three Merfolk at each post. I’d already told them not to worry; if the Frost Serpent came, I would drive it away.
What puzzled me most now was my own consciousness. Whether intentionally or not, I could see things ordinary people couldn’t. When I came back, I interacted with many Merfolk and glimpsed parts of their memories.
Jade May was among them. She was separated from her parents at a very young age—they died fighting off Chimera Beasts that attacked the village. Many villagers helped raise her, but her memories were filled with joy. Death seemed to be a familiar part of life for her.
For some reason, things began to surface in my mind. I’d met people before who’d grown numb to life and death—maybe even worse than the Merfolk. The whole tribe held a deep reverence for death, something heartfelt. Those who died for the village were remembered by everyone—Jade May and the rest of the Merfolk never forgot a single one.
It amazed me. Outwardly, they didn’t seem to care much, but inside, their hearts were as pure and clear as pearls. The Merfolk’s souls were transparent and untainted.
Suddenly, I felt a disturbance and stood up at once. In the distant, dark seawater, I saw the Frost Serpent—capable of breathing ice—rushing toward us. Its scales had healed, and it moved slowly, as if planning a stealthy attack.
There was still quite a distance between us, but I could already sense it. I stared at my hands in disbelief as power surged within me again. I planned to deal with it directly—the Merfolk were exhausted, and there was no need to alarm the whole village. I crouched, ready to fly over in an instant, but held myself back.
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Such immense power could destroy the Merfolk village in an instant. After standing up, I slowly moved toward the outskirts.
A few Merfolk guards approached, looking at me in confusion.
"The Frost Serpent is coming."
As soon as I spoke, one of the Merfolk moved to ring the bell, but I stopped him.
"It’s fine—I’ll deal with it quietly. Everyone’s exhausted. Just rest easy."
I moved slowly through the water, once again feeling my left eye transform into the Cycle Sigil and my right into the Yin-Yang Symbol.
The Frost Serpent was getting closer. I could sense its plan—to reach a certain distance from the village, then suddenly accelerate and freeze everything in an instant.
I looked ahead and gradually came to a stop. Sure enough, the Frost Serpent suddenly sped up, and in just a few seconds, it was in my line of sight.
The Frost Serpent had spotted us, and the Merfolk guards around me were clearly nervous.
"Step back."
I spoke, raising a hand. Just as I expected, the moment it saw us, the Frost Serpent darted over, streaking through the seawater like lightning.
With a bang, I pressed a hand to the Frost Serpent’s snout. My body didn’t budge, even under the tremendous force. Normally, I’d feel its power, but this time, I sensed nothing from the Frost Serpent at all.
"What are you, exactly?"
The Frost Serpent stared at me in disbelief, then suddenly swam away. I looked at it in surprise, then glanced back at the Merfolk village behind me.
"Give up. I won’t let you in. Get lost."
I spoke, fixing the Frost Serpent with a cold stare. Just then, an image flashed through my mind—I didn’t know why, but in the Frost Serpent’s memories, there was a Chimera Beast I recognized, almost as if it was something recent. It felt like I’d seen it myself.
In an instant, the Frost Serpent darted toward me again and spat out a blast, freezing the seawater around me. Soon, even I was encased in ice, but with a gentle movement of my hand, the ice shattered instantly. As the Frost Serpent tried to slip past me, I grabbed its neck with one hand, holding it completely still.
"Don’t kill me, don’t kill me, I’ll go..."
I glared coldly at the Frost Serpent beside me.
"Have you ever seen a Chimera Beast that looks like nothing else?"
I asked, but the Frost Serpent, panicked, still tried to escape. I tightened my grip on its neck, and a violent ripple swept out. With a cracking sound, the ripple ran along the Frost Serpent’s body, shattering all its scales.
With a thunderous crash, I slammed the Frost Serpent to the bottom of the sea. It lay motionless, whimpering, as cheers erupted from the Merfolk guards nearby. Soon, some of them rushed back to the village to spread the news.
The Frost Serpent relied on its scales to move so quickly, but now that I've destroyed them, there's no way it can escape.
"Don't move. Stay still. If you try to run, I won't hesitate to kill you."
The Frost Serpent nodded slightly, coiling itself into a circle and trembling as it stared at me. Soon, a crowd of Merfolk arrived, including the elder and Jade May, who looked half-asleep. But the moment every Merfolk laid eyes on the Frost Serpent, their faces twisted with fury.
"Tell me, where exactly did you see that Chimera Beast?"
I pressed further. The Frost Serpent immediately shook its head.
"I don't remember. That beast is so powerful, I wouldn't dare go near it even if I had a hundred lives. I really don't remember! Please spare me—I swear I'll never attack the village again."