Chapter 165: Just to See You Once

Centered around Yujiao’s body, four massive screens of light emerged. These light screens were entirely condensed from the Dao within the seawater, tracing a peculiar trajectory.

Within the light screens, faint ripples flowed and then churned violently. The seawater roared madly, seemingly containing Yujiao’s fury, and blasted out in four directions!

"The combination of demon and fish creates the demon fish. Once fallen into the demon path, it is the attainment of the demon way, the demon way of the sea!" The leader of the black-tailed merfolk hummed softly, his expression filled with piety.

He traced a circle in the air with both hands by his sides, then suddenly thrust them forward. An overwhelming wave surged out from his palms, rapidly turning the surrounding seawater pitch black.

"Boom—" The lights shattered. Although Yujiao’s cultivation was sufficient to neutralize these attacks, she was currently injured, and her strength could not be fully unleashed.

Seeing the danger approaching, her pearl transformed into a streak of light that sped around her body, barely protecting her from being affected by the aftermath of the genuine qi explosion.

After a series of thunderous explosions, the protective genuine qi within Yujiao’s body weakened slightly, and the pearl automatically hovered above her head, its radiance dimming a fraction.

The black-tailed merfolk leader sneered and said, "She is at the end of her tether. Let us continue to besiege her and exhaust her genuine qi before capturing her. Mind your restraint and do not harm her, or the King will not spare you!"

In an instant, figures shifted. Over a dozen elite demon fish warriors transformed into a dozen black streaks shuttled through the sea area, swarming toward Yujiao as the seawater began to boil.

Yujiao let out a sharp cry, her pearl spinning rapidly. Visible to the naked eye, a huge pale-blue fish-tail phantom projected from the pearl and swept fiercely across the surroundings!

The two closest demon fish elites met the attack head-on. With a deafening roar, the ripples of genuine qi rolled outward. The two elites struck by the fish tail vomited blood and were sent flying backward.

Yujiao did not pause. Taking advantage of the gap left by their retreat, she twisted her lithe body and darted straight through the breach. At the same time, she flicked her delicate hands, striking both demon fish elites on the chest.

The sound of shattering bones echoed. Yujiao knew the situation was dire; if she did not resort to lethal force, her hope of escaping was exceedingly slim.

"Want to leave? It won't be that easy!" The black-tailed merfolk leader had anticipated Yujiao's intention the moment the fish-tail phantom appeared, and his figure moved first to block her escape route.

Yujiao bit her lower lip, her pearl shooting out of her hand. It traced a bizarre arc, entirely unhindered by the seawater, and smashed toward the black-tailed merfolk leader.

The black-tailed merfolk leader grabbed out with both hands, ten streams of qi transforming into intertwining black threads that wove into a dense black net in mid-air. It descended directly over Yujiao's pearl, intending to capture it in one fell swoop.

The pearl embodied a merfolk's lifelong cultivation. Once Yujiao lost it, she would become an ordinary mortal devoid of even a shred of power. The black-tailed merfolk leader's move was undeniably audacious.

"Fish-Dragon Sword!" Yujiao’s gaze flickered. Opening her pink lips, a golden little sword the size of a pinky shot out, instantly expanding dozens of times against the seawater into a massive golden sword ten zhang in length.

Carved upon this golden sword was a coiling giant dragon. Perched upon the dragon's massive body was a merfolk so breathtakingly beautiful she left one breathless. The dragon turned its head, gazing at the merfolk on its back with a look filled with tenderness and doting affection!

As those tender eyes fell upon the golden sword, a trace of blissful a smile flashed across Yujiao's expression, as if her soul had found liberation at that very moment!

Seeing the golden sword strike down and shatter his light net in an instant, the black-tailed merfolk leader's face turned instantly pale. He retreated rapidly, not daring to touch the sword's razor-sharp edge.

"The Sword of Voidness!" The black-tailed merfolk leader was shaken with unspeakable horror. This was the founding treasure of the sea fish clan. Legend had it that the most mysterious genius matriarch of the merfolk clan in ancient times had refined Myriad-Year Profound Ice Iron with Sea-Heart Cold Fire for over a century to forge this sword. It was said that upon its initial completion, it triggered celestial anomalies, making it the most vital supreme treasure of the sea fish clan.

However, ever since that senior passed away, the Sword of Voidness had remained sealed within the forbidden grounds of the sea fish clan. Rumor had it that the Sword of Voidness required a specific catalyst before it could be wielded.

For countless years, every successor to the patriarch of the sea fish clan had journeyed to the forbidden grounds, attempting to lift the seal on the Sword of Voidness, yet none had ever managed to win the divine sword's acknowledgment.

Some said the reason this sword was called the Sword of Voidness was because it possessed no fixed form of its own. Like a wisp of air or a stream of water, it could change its shape at will.

Only by gaining the sword's recognition as its master could it manifest various forms of longswords according to its master's intent. Yujiao had sat quietly before the Sword of Voidness for an entire month back then.

Just as she was about to give up, she thought of the figure that had never faded from her heart. A single thread of infatuation was captured by the Sword of Voidness, and it thus acknowledged her, granting her the opportunity to bind it.

The giant sword before them was the manifestation of what Yujiao yearned for in her heart, as well as her lifelong obsession. Carrying an aura capable of sweeping away everything, the Sword of Voidness slashed wildly outward!

Before the black-tailed merfolk leader could make the slightest move, his entire body was sliced into fragments by the sword. Along with the dozen surrounding elites, they were all obliterated beneath this single sword strike.

Everything happened too abruptly. No one had expected Yujiao to possess such a trump card. For the Sword of Voidness to recognize a master was a secret belonging to the entire sea fish clan.

Within the entire sea fish clan, only the patriarch and core elders knew of this; the demon fish clan naturally had no way of obtaining such intelligence.

"Hum—" The Sword of Voidness vibrated, transforming into a beam of light that merged back into Yujiao’s body. Yujiao collapsed to the ground, her face as pale as paper, looking indescribably wretched.

The reason she hadn't deployed the Sword of Voidness earlier wasn't merely because casting it once would completely drain her genuine qi.

More importantly, every time it was wielded, the obsession carved into the blade would diminish by a fraction. Just like this time, after sweeping through the demon fish elites, the pattern manifested on the sword body had visibly faded significantly.

Yujiao shuddered to think what she would lose once these patterns vanished. She was unwilling to dwell on it either; if she were truly forced to forget that person, it would be tantamount to losing her life.

Therefore, even when facing mortal danger, she had never considered unleashing the Sword of Voidness. It wasn't until this moment, driven to extremes by the black-tailed merfolk leader, that the Sword of Voidness automatically seized control of her consciousness and burst forth.

A streak of blood trickled from the corner of Yujiao's mouth. Even though her body felt hollow without a trace of genuine qi, she stubbornly refused to get up, her tears blurring her beautiful eyes like a babbling brook.

"Where on earth are you? I have waited for so many years, yearning only to see you once, yet why do you continue to hide from me? Do I truly make you loathe me this much?" Yujiao murmured to herself.

"Princess, the man who walked away from you back then was merely short-sighted. He is fundamentally unworthy of the Princess's love. Lord Demon Fish King fell in love with the Princess at first sight and has never stopped yearning for her. Moreover, he is young and promising, hailed as the number one genius of the demon fish clan for centuries. With the Princess's wisdom, you ought to choose such a worthy husband!" The grey-tailed merfolk from earlier stepped out from behind a reef, looking down slightly at Yujiao as she collapsed on the ground.

Yujiao’s expression shifted. Staring at the grey-tailed merfolk, her pretty face flushed with anger as she snapped coldly, "Shut your traitorous mouth! His merits and flaws are not for you to judge and gossip about!"

"Princess, that strike just now exhausted all your genuine qi. This is the opportunity bestowed upon me by the heavens! Lord Demon Fish King has promised me that if I can bring you back, he will permit me into the Ink Pool to refine my bloodline and become a full member of the demon fish clan. By then, I will no longer be the lowest of slaves!" Excitement flashed in the grey-tailed merfolk's eyes.

Fury flickered in Yujiao's gaze, yet with all her genuine qi completely dissipated, she was utterly helpless.

"Princess, offense is taken!" The grey-tailed merfolk smiled and walked toward Yujiao.

"To betray a master you followed for years and sell her out merely for some benefits—you are unworthy of being a member of the demon fish clan!" A cold voice suddenly echoed.

Simultaneously, the grey-tailed merfolk felt a chill in his chest. A gleaming sword tip had pierced straight through his heart from behind, reflecting his own face upon the blade—how ironic!