The Player smiled without a word.
She stroked his scales, her fingertips trailing lightly, causing faint tremors that weren’t too obvious.
Finally, her fingers paused a bit higher up, near the merfolk’s upper body.
With one lift of her hand, she could touch his pale, smooth skin and the distinct jut of his hip bones.
The lines of his lower abdomen sloped downward, where a male organ should be, but it was hidden amid the brilliant scales, replaced by his fish tail.
As her fingertip moved slowly, the merfolk’s starry-night tail quivered gently.
This strikingly handsome merfolk visibly tensed, clutching at her collar.
Starlight filled her embrace, but the Player didn’t stop him. She let him lean against her.
One hand lightly circled his body, half-pushing and half-holding this beautiful little fish in her arms.
She lowered her gaze, her fingertip still, and began forming the mark.
This time, she didn’t use any cheat props. She clearly watched as the flower seal gradually condensed, emerging and blooming on his fish tail.
As the mark first appeared, silently, strands of spiritual energy from the merfolk’s body were drawn out bit by bit by the mark, offered to its owner, quietly aiding her advancement and breakthrough.
In just a few breaths, the merfolk gradually sensed something was wrong.
In a daze, this little fish was swept into a storm of surging waves.
Unable to help himself, his silver-blue fish tail pressed forward forcefully, the scales rubbing against the girl’s palm, as if discontentedly demanding more.
The Player paused for a moment, but her palm had already fully pressed against his scales.
This little fish took the initiative, completely offering himself into her hands.
The atmosphere fell quiet for an instant. Realizing what he’d done, the merfolk’s face instantly flushed red.
He bit down hard on his lower lip, making it even more vivid, as if smeared with rouge.
That strange sensation was too unfamiliar, too odd.
An inexplicable premonition told him it would be better to stop.
But he had promised to let her place the mark on him…
Her snow-white fingertips tightened, gripping her collar.
The merfolk leaned closer into the human girl’s embrace. Far from leaving, he burrowed fully into her arms.
Yet it was easy to see he was enduring it forcefully—his brows slightly furrowed, cheeks flushed crimson, lips occasionally pursing as he let out a few soft whimpers.
“Does it hurt that much? My contract seal is like this. Maybe we should forget it.” Though she said that, the Player didn’t stop her hand.
“No… You, mm—do what you need to…” The merfolk squeezed out fragmented words between his lips and teeth.
Before he finished speaking, he couldn’t take it anymore and buried his face in the crook of her neck.
The supplementation continued, and the merfolk’s body trembled even more intensely. His teeth quietly bit into her clothes, not daring to make a sound.
Suddenly, Li Yin noticed one scale that was odd—it was slightly raised, the protruding gemstone scale glittering brilliantly.
Out of curiosity, she lightly pressed her finger on it—
In an instant, the little fish in her arms tensed up rigidly.
Li Yin heard it clearly—the breathing by her ear suddenly hitched, stifled in his throat.
It was just a touch, but his mind went blank for a moment. Only after a long while did he recover, not daring to look at her anymore, keeping his face buried in her neck.
“No, don’t…” His seductive voice trembled. Though he said don’t, his fingers clutched her collar tightly, refusing to let go.
The Player paused for a moment, not because she didn’t want to continue.
Something had changed.
The silver-blue fish tail was gone, replaced by a pair of long, fair legs.
His legs were perfectly proportioned and graceful, the inner sides of the smooth, white flesh now bearing a half-formed flower seal.
Vivid, eye-catching deep pink adorned the snowy skin, like an erotic tattoo belonging only to his owner.
His thighs clamped tightly together at the root, where his center had properly differentiated.
Too panicked to feel joy at entering adulthood, the young merfolk grew even more flustered upon realizing he’d transformed.
His body felt even stranger now, and he didn’t understand what was happening to him.
Merfolk inherited knowledge through their bloodline. Though they knew it innately, such matters still required personal exploration.
If he calmed down and thought about it, he’d realize there was no big issue—he was just in heat.
But at this moment, his mind was consumed by a single thought—
He wanted more of her touch, or perhaps something else.
Yet the human girl was unexpectedly gentle, deliberately pausing to ask him, “It’s okay. If you can’t take it, we can stop.”
She seemed convinced that this spoiled, beautiful merfolk couldn’t endure it, so it was better to halt.
Hearing this, the merfolk instead wrapped his arms around her neck, unwilling to admit defeat. “I can take it.”
His face was flushed beyond reason, even sweating a bit on his forehead, dampening his ink-black hair.
Only his silver eyes remained stubbornly defiant, glaring at her in a huff, though they were already misted with moisture, utterly lacking intimidation.
Naturally, the Player had no intention of letting this beautiful little fish go.
Since the cauldron said he could endure it, the supplementation would continue, of course.
Her movements were light yet firm. Her fingertips slipped between his legs, parting the tightly clenched roots.
The young man’s snowy, straight legs refused to spread, instead clamping down and trapping her fingers.
The disobedient legs received a light pat, reddening instantly. He let out a muffled grunt and buried his face in her neck again.
The merfolk’s ear fins flushed red. He struggled to control his newly transformed body, his legs parting slightly to let her proceed.
The supplementation mark had to be placed, and this little fish needed to be thoroughly played with.
This beautiful little fish, reduced to a cauldron, offered his master two plump, round pearls. They fell into her hands, where she gently held and toyed with them.
But his master soon tired of the pearls and eyed something else.
The little fish had nowhere to escape, caught by his master’s hand for teasing and torment.
Her fingers stroked back and forth over the little fish’s body, deliberately grinding and rubbing its opening and closing mouth. The supplementation mark continued relentlessly, tormenting and squeezing this pitiful little fish.
Before long, the little fish obediently released a pool of milky essence.
Lowering her gaze to the essence in her palm, the human girl suddenly chuckled lightly and asked, “Right, what’s your name?”
The newly transformed merfolk was like a handful of burning snow, nearly melting in her arms—like a freshly ripened fruit, green yet flushed, plucked by her hand.
Amid her casual toying, his pupils lost focus, eyes spasming uncontrollably and rolling back slightly. The corners glistened with moisture, his body trembling lightly.
As the little fish released, a few drops of liquid overflowed from his flushed eye corners, condensing into merpearls that slid down.
After a long while, he found his voice again. His wet, red lips breathed out, “Xing…lin.”
The Jade Ecstasy Seal fully formed. The Player supported his body without moving, letting the cauldron recover a bit.
【Unlocked New Cauldron: Xinglin】
【Achievement Reward: Directed Random (1)】
【Cultivation Progress: 100%】
【Breakthrough Success Rate to Next Stage: At Least 20%】
【Use Directed Random?】
【Countdown: 10】
【9, 8, 7…】
The odds were decent, so the Player decided to uphold her fine tradition—gamble it and save the cheat props.
The Player selected “No.”
【Random Points: 43】
The Player breathed a sigh of relief.
【Congratulations, Player. Successfully Advanced】
【Current Cultivation: Golden Core Realm】
【Next Stage: Nascent Soul Stage】
Thunderclouds gathered high in the sky—it was the tribulation lightning. With her low cultivation, the lightning struck symbolically twice.
Amid the rumbling thunder, the exhausted little fish noticed nothing amiss.
In the dazzling heavenly light, Xinglin only saw her smiling gaze, gentle enough to drown a dazed little fish.
She was in a great mood, clearly very satisfied with him. She leaned down, seemingly pecking his lips lightly.
Li Yin noticed this little fish had spaced out again.
Suddenly, his legs reverted to their original form—a brilliant fish tail, now adorned with a deep pink flower seal that looked just as stunning.
With a splash, Xinglin fled back into the Celestial Pool.
Li Yin slowly processed it, in no rush and far from disappointed.
She wiped the hand that had toyed with the little fish.
The merfolk in the water bobbed up and down, glancing at her repeatedly.
He had dirtied her hand.
Moments later, after wiping clean, the merfolk vanished from the surface, sinking somewhere unseen.
Having played enough, Li Yin turned as if to leave.
This time, she clearly heard a call—not loud, but a huge improvement.
“Come back.”
The merfolk’s tone held a hint of annoyance, but Li Yin just curved her lips and turned to him.
Xinglin hid behind a reef, cheeks still flushed. “I… I’m your companion now.”
His clear silver eyes blinked, and he nodded slightly, as if hinting at the human cultivator on shore.
But the girl acted like she didn’t understand, looking utterly confused.
Xinglin grew annoyed again. “Aren’t you supposed to take me with you?”
“Idiot,” he muttered softly, a harmless jab.
The Player obediently scratched her head. “I’ll go back and ask Master if there’s a place in the mountains to settle you.”
Xinglin shot her a glare, then bit his lip again. “Then hurry up. Maybe if I’m in a good mood, I’ll agree to help you with something.”
This time, she really was leaving—but only temporarily.
Before departing, the Player suddenly remembered the merpearls scattered on the ground. She bent to pick them up clean before leaving, earning the continued honorific of “idiot” from the merfolk.
Li Yin pocketed the items and went to find her master.
Illuminating Water Peak had many lakes and waters. She needed to find a clean, clear spot for this finicky guy.
Back at the small building, the master’s meditation room was open, but empty.
Li Yin’s heart skipped. Her master was injured and blind now.
Worried, she searched the building but found no sign of him. The Player grew even more concerned, calling “Master” as she headed up the mountain path.
Near the hot springs in the back mountains, misty vapors rose, white and humid.
Li Yin paused her steps, hesitated briefly, then decided to check.
The thin, cloying mist blurred shadows poetically, like painted gauze diffusing strokes that outlined a beauty, warm and soft.
Black hair like silk floated on the water’s surface. The man stood in the water, robes half-shed. Hearing footsteps, he turned his head.
His sightless eyes had no focus, dark pupils sweeping ahead blankly—as if seeing neither the visitor nor his own disheveled state.
His front robes gaped open, baring a jade-carved chest. Water droplets trailed down. The soaked fabric clung tightly, outlining every line without exception.
Unable to see the arrival, he lowered his gaze, no longer looking, and asked softly, “Li Yin? Back already?”
Bathing in the hot spring, robes half-discarded, posture gracefully alluring.
The blind beauty docilely lowered his eyes, voice gentle and tame beyond measure.
As if anything done to him would be acceptable.
Even disciple overstepping, sins against the master— all would be forgiven.
The Player held her breath for a moment.