The Merfolk was startled by Song Wanning’s sharp gaze and took a few steps back. It stammered, "This... this place... it’s exactly like... my lair!"

"I think... I think this *is* my lair!!!"

The more it spoke, the more confident the Merfolk became.

It didn’t know what was happening, but this place was undeniably identical to its lair—even the seashell it had picked up years ago was exactly the same.

A dark light flashed in Song Wanning’s eyes. She put down the Array Plate and stood, finally taking the time to carefully survey the room.

The decorations were simple: a stone bed, a curtain woven from seaweed... and a glass bottle that once held small fish.

The room’s extreme simplicity was a stark contrast to the previous chambers.

She had been so anxious just moments ago that she had overlooked all these details.

A theory formed in her mind. Song Wanning’s expression grew serious. "Look around... is anything missing from the room?"

"Missing something?"

The Merfolk paused, a confused look on its face, and began to wander around the room again.

’Something... what could be missing...’

It mumbled to itself, frantically feeling around, a sense of urgency growing within it.

Suddenly, it gasped, "AH!"

"I remember! The pearl! My pearl is missing!"

"I’ve had that pearl since birth! I carried it with me as I grew up, and after building this lair with Jiao Jiao, I put it here! And now it’s gone!"

"Could Jiao Jiao have taken it?!"

The Merfolk grew more confused. The pearl had been with it for centuries, but it had never seemed special in any way.

’Is this the pearl my master was asking about?’

It looked toward Song Wanning, only to see the corners of her mouth curl into a cryptic, humorless smile.

’So that’s how it is...’

’This Merfolk served as the Guardian Beast for hundreds of years, completely oblivious. In the end, the pearl was supposed to fall into Ye Chuxue’s hands, which would then activate the Immortal Mansion.’

’All of us cannon fodder were destined to be nothing more than stepping stones.’

Song Wanning narrowed her eyes, masking the intense malice within as she paced around the room.

"Is there anything special about this cave? Think hard..."

She searched as she questioned it.

’A Guardian Beast should know of secret passages hidden from outsiders.’

’It might have even been to the Immortal Mansion without realizing it.’

The Eighth-grade Array was far too difficult for her. Deciphering it would take at least six months, with no guarantee of success.

She didn’t have that much time.

"Let me think, let me think!"

The Merfolk sensed its master’s impatience and began to panic as well.

Besides, it still had to find Jiao Jiao; it couldn’t stay trapped here forever.

It repeatedly tapped its head, its mind racing with memories of its life here.

Suddenly, a long-forgotten memory resurfaced. It grabbed Song Wanning’s arm and exclaimed in delight, "I once entered a magnificent palace in a dream!"

"When I woke up, I just assumed it was a dream and didn’t think about it again. But now that I think about it, the palace I dreamed of was this one!"

No wonder all the rooms felt vaguely familiar! But since it had only ever lived in its lair, it had assumed it was just mistaken.

As the Merfolk chattered excitedly, on the seventh level, Feng Jiuxiao raised a hand to her forehead, a helpless expression on her face.

’This little fellow. Already been captured once, and still so naive.’

’Back then, I saw that this Merfolk was a natural Mutant Beast, so I chose it to be my Guardian Beast.’

’I originally thought a Mutant Beast would be incredibly powerful and shrewd, but this one has been a fool since it was young. It hasn’t gotten any smarter in centuries.’

’A while back, this fellow went out and didn’t return for a long time. Then, only Jiao Jiao came back, crying her eyes out.’

’That’s when I learned the little one had been captured by a human.’

’And now, not only has it brought that human back, but it’s also spilling all my secrets. Utterly hopeless!’

She watched the little Merfolk, speechless, then glanced at the clearly formidable Song Wanning, a flicker of displeasure in her eyes.

’This woman is quite cunning, playing the little Merfolk for a fool.’

’And someone like her dares to dream of receiving my legacy?’

’Hmph.’

The little Merfolk, completely oblivious to being scorned, simply stared at Song Wanning with wide, beautiful, innocent eyes, blinking owlishly.

"Come here."

Song Wanning beckoned to it.

The little Merfolk immediately trotted over, its face completely unguarded.

Seeing the smile on its face, Song Wanning felt a flicker of conflict before her expression quickly reverted to cold indifference.

"Don’t move. I won’t hurt you."

At her low murmur, the Merfolk instantly tensed, not daring to move a muscle.

Seeing this, Song Wanning closed her eyes and raised her hand toward the crown of the Merfolk’s head.

’The Merfolk’s memories are too vague. Questioning it won’t yield a clear answer. I’ll have to see that memory for myself.’

So she used the Soul Searching Skill.

The Soul Searching Skill had enormous side effects, leaving its victim either dead or insane. It was not a technique to be used lightly.

But since the Merfolk was her contracted beast, those side effects wouldn’t apply.

With a slight movement of her hand, a stream of power flowed into the Merfolk’s Sea of Consciousness.

"How dare you!"

On the seventh level, Feng Jiuxiao shot to her feet, so enraged that she shattered the chaise lounge beneath her with a single strike.

"She dares to perform a Soul Search?!"

Her expression turned grim in an instant, and a murderous intent directed at Song Wanning flared to life.

A Mutant Beast’s Sea of Consciousness was unique; she hadn’t detected the contractual bond between the two. All she saw was Song Wanning using the Soul Searching Technique on such an innocent Merfolk.

’Someone this malicious deserves to die!’

Feng Jiuxiao might have complained about the little Merfolk’s foolishness, but it had been her Guardian Beast for centuries. She had long considered it one of her own. How could she tolerate an outsider humiliating it like this?

’She wants to reach the seventh level, does she?’

’Then I’ll let her come up and get a taste of what happens when you harm my little Merfolk!’

Fury flashed in Feng Jiuxiao’s eyes. With a single wave of her hand, the human and the Merfolk on the sixth level were instantly transported to the great hall of the seventh.

Song Wanning was still in the middle of the Soul Search when the sudden spatial shift forced her to retract her hand. An instant later, her longsword was in her grasp.

She pointed her sword toward the head of the hall, and in the next second, Feng Jiuxiao entered her line of sight.

The two stared at each other in silence. Killing intent surged between them, invisible sparks flying.

Feng Jiuxiao saw not a trace of fear in Song Wanning’s eyes, let alone the reverence due to a senior.

Instead, a thick, murderous aura washed over her.

’It seems she still doesn’t realize that I am the master of this legacy.’

Feng Jiuxiao sneered. ’With an attitude like that, her death would be no loss. Daring to challenge me comes with a price.’

She suddenly raised her hand, and a bolt of purple lightning crackled at her fingertips.