These beautiful women with large shells on their backs are called蚌精 (bàng jīng), or conch spirits. They are mollusks from the water, transformed into spirits after absorbing the essence of the sun and moon for thousands of years.
The master of this underwater palace is named Jiu Yuan Yu Shou. She is a beautiful woman. Some netizens categorize women's beauty on a scale of ten, and many of these so-called goddess-level movie stars only score nine or eight.
If this woman's beauty were rated on a scale of ten, it would not be an exaggeration. She is not an ordinary woman; she is not even human!
Jiu Yuan Yu Shou is the empress of Jiuyuan, and the surname Jiuyuan is the royal surname of the Jiuyuan merfolk!
Although Jiu Yuan Yu Shou appears to be only in her early twenties, she has lived for tens of thousands of years. The spells she unleashes can even trigger devastating tsunamis!
When Jiuyuan migrated from Earth to this plane, Jiu Yuan Yu Shou already held a high position among the royal family. Later, with her own formidable strength, as well as various schemes and power plays, she eventually ascended to the position of merfolk empress!
Jiu Yuan Yu Shou is a monarch of great vision. She personally formulated the plan for the merfolk to return to Earth, having foreseen the problems that would arise from the merfolk's population explosion.
Now, she is awaiting the results, and also the recovery of the teleportation array's energy.
For merfolk whose lifespans often span hundreds or even thousands of years, half a year is truly not a long time.
Jiu Yuan Yu Shou picked up a crystal wine goblet filled with a liquid extracted from various rare treasures of the sea. Drinking this juice could extend one's life and enhance cultivation.
Before she could even bring the goblet to her lips, a conch spirit servant came to announce that the Grand Marshal of the merfolk army, Nu Lin Jing Luo, had an urgent matter to report.
Jiu Yuan Yu Shou frowned. Nu Lin Jing Luo was no ordinary person. The patriarch of the Nu Lin family was the foremost military leader in the merfolk army!
Furthermore, the two generals sent ahead to Earth for this mission, Nu Lin Jing Tao and Nu Lin Luo Yun, were his son and daughter.
Anything that could make such a militarily capable and steadfast general so anxious was certainly not a minor issue, and it might even be closely related to their current operation!
"Announce his arrival!"
A few minutes later, a tall merfolk, over two meters in height, appeared before Jiu Yuan Yu Shou and knelt on one knee, bowing deeply.
"Your Majesty, Nu Lin Jing Luo has an urgent matter to report...
Not long ago, the life pearls of my son, Jing Tao, and my daughter, Luo Yun, shattered. The two of them have met with misfortune..."
Upon hearing this, Jiu Yuan Yu Shou's pupils contracted sharply. This was no small matter. Nu Lin Jing Tao and Nu Lin Luo Yun were the vanguards of their operation to return to their homeland.
The demise of these two meant their mission had suffered a significant setback.
The reason for determining that these two were dead was due to their life pearls.
Life pearls are pearls nurtured by extremely rare shellfish found in the deep sea. These shellfish initially are only the size of mung beans.
Due to the vastness of the seabed, establishing contact between merfolk is very difficult. Therefore, some high-ranking merfolk nobles, shortly after the birth of their young merfolk, use secret techniques to implant these special shellfish within the bodies of the young merfolk.
These shellfish absorb the vital essence and blood of the merfolk, nurturing a very rare pearl – the life pearl.
As the merfolk grow, these pearls also grow. When a merfolk's cultivation reaches a certain level, they can expel this pearl from their body. Since it is nurtured by the merfolk's vital essence and blood, the life pearl is soul-bound to the merfolk.
When these merfolk travel far from home, they can entrust their life pearls to their relatives. In this way, their relatives can ascertain the condition of the traveling merfolk by observing the state of the life pearl.
If the pearl's luster becomes rough and dim, it indicates that the merfolk are not in good health, perhaps injured or seriously ill.
If the pearl is radiant and dazzling, it signifies that the merfolk are in excellent health.
Most importantly, when merfolk die, the life pearl senses it and shatters, allowing their families to know of their demise immediately.
Even across different planes, the life pearl can still reflect the merfolk's condition, albeit with a slight delay.
In fact, Nu Lin Luo Yun and Nu Lin Jing Tao had died two days prior, but due to being in different planes, their life pearls only reacted now!
Upon hearing this news, Nu Lin Jing Luo was enraged, his eyes nearly bursting with fury. Nu Lin Jing Tao was his designated successor, and Nu Lin Luo Yun was also an outstanding child. He had even arranged a marriage for his daughter, which would have elevated the Nu Lin family's influence through this alliance. But now, all of it had turned to dust!
Unable to contain himself, Nu Lin Jing Luo personally came to the palace to seek out Jiu Yuan Yu Shou and report the matter to the empress!
"Your Majesty, it is evident that our expeditionary force has suffered heavy losses, and may even have been annihilated!
Your humble servant implores Your Majesty to act swiftly to repair the teleportation array. I am prepared to personally lead a large army back to our homeland to ascertain what has transpired!"
Jiu Yuan Yu Shou fell into deep thought. She was a very wise ruler and understood perfectly what he was thinking.
Nu Lin Jing Luo was a fiercely protective individual. It was only natural that he would not be able to swallow his pride after his two most cherished children were eliminated.
Clearly, the old man wanted to rush to Earth, or the homeland as the merfolk called it, to avenge his children.
Although theoretically, it would take at least half a year for the teleportation array to recover its energy, if the merfolk were willing to pay a certain price and use some of the heavenly treasures stored in their treasury as energy, the teleportation array could be activated much sooner.
Nu Lin Jing Luo could wait half a year, but if they waited until then, who would they find to avenge his children's deaths? Without finding the culprit, how could vengeance be sought!
Therefore, the old man, swallowing his pride, pleaded with Jiu Yuan Yu Shou to pay the price and activate the teleportation array early so he could avenge his children.
Jiu Yuan Yu Shou hesitated for a long time. The cost of activating the teleportation array was not ordinary; it would likely consume centuries of the merfolk's accumulated treasury.
However, in the end, Jiu Yuan Yu Shou made her decision. On one hand, she needed to win over hearts and minds. The Nu Lin family was her loyal supporter and trump card.
On the other hand, Jiu Yuan Yu Shou also wanted to know what had happened in their homeland!
"Lord Jing Luo, I agree. You may begin your preparations. I intend to dispatch an army of ten thousand.
I will require seven days to activate the teleportation array!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"