Chapter 2417: Feeling Starts Without Knowing Why

Zu'an was originally sighing, wondering how powerful the being at the end of the Extinction Path must be, given that the Doomsday Beast, which had single-handedly destroyed the powerful demon world, was merely a small soldier.

However, he immediately heard Mi Li's next sentence.

Zu'an was stunned.

Such a being could probably kill me with just a glance.

How could I possibly be destined to become enemies with someone like that?

He asked with a long face, "Ah, why would I incur the wrath of such a powerful enemy?"

Mi Li's expression was complex as she said, "Everything is fate's arrangement."

"Is fate not also a path?" Zu'an retorted, annoyed.

Mi Li's expression shifted slightly. "This is not something you should know about right now."

Zu'an was speechless.

Great, I just praised you for not speaking in riddles, and here you go again.

However, he probably guessed Mi Li's criteria for what she could reveal: either he was powerful enough to handle anything, or he could learn certain things through other channels. In either case, her words wouldn't trigger some hidden rules.

"Appropriate pressure can also help you progress faster. Otherwise, you'd just spend your days showing off and chasing women," Mi Li said indifferently.

Zu'an was confused.

"I'm wronged!" he protested. "Lately, I've been terrified in the demon world every day. I finally returned to the cultivation world and haven't even had time to go home. How could I have done any of what you're saying?"

Mi Li sneered without speaking, clearly disdaining to argue with him.

Zu'an was also depressed, but he conceded that she had a point: appropriate pressure could indeed push one to improve faster.

But he wondered if this despair-inducing pressure wouldn't just crush him instead.

Knowing it was useless to complain to Mi Li, he continued, "Then, was the Great Emperor of Fengdu, whom I encountered before, a god in the broad sense of this 'path of destiny,' or in the narrow sense?"

"Narrow sense," Mi Li replied directly.

Zu'an fell silent. He had already had a guess when he asked the question.

After all, various civilizations on Earth have their own gods of death: Thanatos in ancient Greece, Mors in ancient Rome, Hel in Norse mythology, the Anunnaki in Mesopotamia, Anubis in ancient Egypt, Ah Puch in Mayan culture, Izanami in Japan...

Even in China, the Great Emperor of Fengdu is not the only deity in charge of death in mythology.

Considering the countless forms of death gods across the entire universe and all realms, how could they possibly be that "endpoint" in the broad sense?

However, the thought that even a being as powerful as the Great Emperor of Fengdu wasn't considered a true god in that sense made him suddenly feel incredibly insignificant.

"Alright, that's all for today's answers. I need to go back and rest properly. You won't be seeing me for quite a while," Mi Li said with a yawn, no longer appearing as energetic as before.

"Ah, why?" Zu'an felt a surge of unease. Mi Li had uncharacteristically told him so much this time; she wasn't actually saying her goodbyes, was she?

Mi Li rolled her eyes. "You don't think telling you all these secrets doesn't take effort to shield and sever certain karmic ties, do you?"

Zu'an was puzzled.

He wasn't foolish and quickly realized that Mi Li's revealing these secrets wasn't without cost. To ensure his safety, she had likely paid a heavy price in secret.

Feeling a touch of emotion, he couldn't help but ask, "So, all those times you went into slumber before, was it because I kept pestering you with questions...?"

Mi Li waved her hand dismissively. "You don't need to dwell on it. It wasn't solely because of you; there were other exertions too. Of course, if you want to thank me, then get stronger quickly."

With a string of charming soft laughter, she vanished.

Zu'an remained silent, then quickly sat down on the bed to meditate and cultivate.

Although she hadn't explicitly stated it, anyone who learned they were considered an enemy by such a being wouldn't dare to show the slightest complacency.

The next day, the Mermaid Queen came to see Zu'an. Seeing him still in his room, she visibly relaxed. "Cherry told me you refused your meals earlier, and I was worried something might have happened to you."

"I was just cultivating. For someone at my cultivation level, not eating for a short period has no effect," Zu'an said with a slight smile. "Does Your Majesty need something from me?"

"Can't I come to see you if there's nothing wrong?" the Mermaid Queen asked, casting him a resentful glance. She sighed inwardly, thinking that the boomerang would eventually come back to hit her.

For years, she had treated men with superficial warmth but actual aloofness, and now she was being treated the same way. The feeling was indeed unpleasant.

However, she quickly composed herself and said softly:

"I just received news that a large-scale bloody conflict has broken out near the border between the Merfolk and Demon clans. Many shrimp soldiers and crab generals were killed or wounded there, and the Demon clan also seems to have suffered significant casualties."

"Oh? What's the reason?" Zu'an's heart stirred, already having a suspicion.

"The reason we've gathered so far is that the Demon clan, facing repeated defeats and resource shortages, has been extensively fishing for aquatic creatures along the coast. This angered the local shrimp soldiers and crab generals, leading to an argument that escalated into a full-blown conflict."

The Mermaid Queen pondered as she replied, "Such incidents have happened annually, but they were usually minor skirmishes, never on this scale. Someone must be fanning the flames."

Zu'an said grimly, "If demons are behind this, I doubt it will stop here."

The Mermaid Queen hummed in acknowledgment, then realized she didn't know what else to say.

Such a situation was unimaginable for her. As the foremost beauty of the Merfolk, she was constantly surrounded by various people and frequently attended important events. Interpersonal communication was one of her greatest strengths; otherwise, she wouldn't have achieved her current reputation and prestige.

She knew exactly what to say to different people, always subtly guiding conversations to make everyone feel pleased without ever putting herself at a disadvantage. Maintaining such a balance was usually difficult for most.

However, whether due to her lifelong beauty or an innate talent, she had never found this challenging.

Yet, facing this man now, she found herself seemingly stripped of that ability.

She didn't know his name, his appearance, or even where he came from.

Despite this, she couldn't bring herself to be angry; in fact, she had even imagined many plausible reasons for his mysteriousness. (Of course, Cherry had a guess too, for which she got a good spanking on the bottom from the queen.)

Feeling her heart waver with conflicting emotions, she suddenly felt a sense of bewilderment.

Could she truly have fallen in love with this enigmatic man?

The thought startled her as soon as it emerged, and she instinctively dismissed it as impossible.

She had only known him for less than a day, everything she knew about him was false, and she didn't even know his true appearance. How could she possibly be in love with him?

She searched for many reasons to convince herself that she wasn't in love with him, that it was merely for other reasons...

But then she suddenly recalled a poignant, self-deprecating remark once made by a man who admired her: "Love begins without knowing why, and deepens without knowing where it goes."

Love was just like that; it never came with a reason.

Just as an awkward silence settled in the room, Cherry's boisterous voice suddenly echoed from outside: "Oh no, oh no! Queen, Queen's husband! The Eldest Prince of the North Sea Dragon King has been killed by Princess Peacock!"