I'm not a heartless person; I usually don't refuse anyone who asks for my help, but this is the first time I’ve encountered a situation like this. I was truly torn about who to assist first. Little Fish-Girl seemed to realize she was putting me in a difficult position, saying, "All right, I'll go back with you first, but I truly can't stop worrying about Father."

"It won't take more than a few minutes, right? I still need to say goodbye to everyone," I replied.

Little Fish-Girl apologized with a contrite look, "Sorry, Zhao, I was too anxious."

Bringing Little Fish-Girl back to the Swim Bladder Chariot, the oblong amphibious vehicle was already packed with several people, yet not a single one inside could help me solve my current predicament. Ximen Yan looked anxious, and Little Fish-Girl was frightened, while Ouyang Qian was even more unnerved upon learning the women of Twin Cities were in danger.

Finally, Ouyang Qing declared, "I can't believe everything is piling up at once. However, Little Fish-Girl's feeling is only a premonition; let's deal with Ximen Yan's issue first."

Drip, drip, drip—a signal sound emanated from the cockpit, startling everyone. Little Fish-Girl exclaimed, "Someone is sending a signal to contact this chariot. Hurry and answer it; maybe it will confirm what I’ve been feeling!"

I really didn't want it to be true, but fate was contrary to my wishes. We received a message sent over the universal public channel: the fish people of the Fish-Man Kingdom were under attack by unidentified flying objects, and the Fish-Man Emperor was summoning fish people from all bases to return and protect him.

Little Fish-Girl’s face turned ashen, "Zhao, I had that stabbing pain in my heart just now, feeling my father was in trouble. I never expected it to be confirmed just a few minutes later. I really have to go now. If you can help me, that’s best, but even if you can't, I won't blame you, as I owe you too much."

Ouyang Qian interjected, "This isn't about who owes whom; we are all friends. Sister Ximen Yan, let's divide the tasks into three parts. Twin Cities can wait a day; after all, Pang Hu hasn't launched his coup yet, so that can be postponed. Sister Yan, what about your situation?"

Ximen Yan said, "It’s urgent. I heard the person on the transmission say that if my father and brother don't reveal the secret code tonight, they will be executed. But thank goodness, we at least have one full day. But is one day enough time for Little Fish-Girl? Besides, we still need to figure out how to infiltrate the underground city, which also takes time."

I said, "It’s fortunate things aren't all crammed together. Little Fish-Girl and I will head back to Fish Capital to reinforce, and you all go to Twin Cities and wait for me. Didn't Ximen Yan say the underground city is near Twin Cities?"

Ximen Yan replied, "The underground city is vast. There should be an exit here, otherwise, how did that person escape? It’s just that I don’t know about this specific exit. But we can ask him; that would save a lot of time."

"All right then, you go look for the route, and Little Fish-Girl and I will leave immediately. No matter what happens, we will meet back here before evening."

Ouyang Qing nodded, "You two be careful on your journey. The strength of the Fish-Man Kingdom is not insignificant; for them to issue a nationwide troop mobilization order now shows the situation is highly unusual. If… if you can’t handle it, rescue Little Fish-Girl’s father and come back quickly."

Ximen Yan looked at me with hopeful eyes too, "Zhao Qian, I’ll wait for your return. Without you, I can’t save my father and brother; they are as important to me as you are."

I nodded, pulling Little Fish-Girl along, "Let's go; time waits for no one."

Even under these circumstances, I still chose to help Little Fish-Girl, which moved her greatly. She opened her mouth several times, but the word 'thank you' never left her lips. My heart was racing, so naturally, I moved at the fastest pace possible. Fortunately, my superhuman powers had recovered well; otherwise, it would have been difficult to return to the underwater Fish Capital in such a short time.

We hid in a submarine forest, gazing toward the direction of Fish Capital. The water was murky, making it hard to discern the situation, but it was certain that Fish Capital was in trouble. Stirring up such a large mass of water was no easy feat, and with numerous Swim Bladder Chariots and octopuses pouring into Fish Capital, the battle there was likely fierce.

When we arrived and saw definitive proof that Fish Capital was in distress, Little Fish-Girl surprisingly calmed down. She asked me, "Who do you think is attacking Fish Capital? The Dwarves shouldn't possess this kind of power."

I replied, "Who knows? Maybe it’s the prophecy you mentioned, about the 'End of Days' arriving."

Little Fish-Girl said, "Yes, I had forgotten about it until you mentioned it. The war between the fish people and the dwarves, the interactions between the fish people and surface humans—these are all signs of the prophecy! I never thought retribution would come so quickly. The Creator has come to punish us."

I rushed into the great murky cloud of water enveloping Fish Capital with Little Fish-Girl, shouting back, "My fate is mine to decide, not Heaven's! Don't fully believe those prophecies; they are just projections. Destiny is shaped by human endeavor; man can conquer heaven!"

As we got closer, visibility improved slightly, especially once I started projecting my consciousness to scan the surroundings. It turned out that numerous unidentified flying objects, shaped like jars, were hovering above Fish Capital. They were continuously launching waves of attacks, causing Fish Capital's structures to collapse one after another. The nature of their weapons seemed similar to the fish people's energy cannons, but the explosive power appeared somewhat greater.

Those jar-shaped craft looked familiar; I seemed to have glimpsed them once during the torrential rainstorm at sea. Back then, I only caught a fleeting look in the split second of lightning, so I paid them little mind. Now, I realized they were products of intelligent life. This meant that besides the three known groups, other intelligent beings existed on the Twin Stars, making matters far more complicated.

Swim Bladder Chariots and octopuses charged desperately toward the jars, but the large jars were covered in weapons, firing quickly and accurately. The Fish-Man Kingdom warriors were sacrificed one after another under their muzzles. Little Fish-Girl watched, heartbroken, and despite having no weapons, she was ready to rush in and fight to the death.

I grabbed Little Fish-Girl, "You can’t beat them. Hide behind me, and let me handle them."

Saying that, I gathered all my energy and charged toward the nearest jar-shaped unknown object. If there was a weapon I was most adept with, it would be the laser sword the Dragon Girl gave me six thousand years ago, but unfortunately, I didn't have it on hand. Now, I could only rely on the energy surrounding me to fight them. I hoped those jars weren't too hard; otherwise, crashing into them and getting a bloody head would be quite bad.

Thankfully, the situation was somewhat optimistic. Similar to the battle with the fish people last night, a sphere of rapidly moving energy dissolved the outer shell of the opposing flying craft, penetrated its interior, and shot out from the other end. Seawater flooded into the vessel, and one was quickly neutralized. While slicing through its interior, I noticed it was fully equipped with various mechanisms. Because of my speed, I only encountered two robots. It seemed their technology was far more advanced than that of both the fish people and the dwarves; perhaps these truly qualified as 'aliens' in the eyes of Earthlings.

Little Fish-Girl wrapped her arms around my neck, clinging to my back, pointing ahead, "Zhao, there’s another one over there, pierce it! And over there, quickly! That one is attacking the Royal Palace…"

As Little Fish-Girl directed my attacks, our sudden appearance instantly reversed the tide of battle. Initially, the fish people were sacrificing themselves in suicide runs. Now, the jar-shaped flying objects were being pierced and sent plunging into the water one after another. Their attacks were immediately hampered, and slowly, they redirected all their fire toward me, significantly easing the pressure on the fish people.

The longer I fought, the faster my speed became, and the higher the energy within me mobilized. In a trance, I felt like I had lost myself, just like in the battle with the fish people last night; at this moment, only slaughter remained in my consciousness. Could this consciousness be granted by the Energy Stone? The original me was kind and peaceful; now, I was completely a warmonger, a destroyer.

When this consciousness emerged, my combat power increased exponentially. It seemed this evolution was truly extraordinary. But none of that mattered now. Whether I was the former raw material procurement officer or the current superhero, they were all still me. People always have multiple facets, don't they?

There were more than a hundred jar-shaped flying objects, and they were massive, at least fifty times the size of a Whale-Bladder Chariot. In moments of my assault, they lost over a dozen units, sinking to the seabed like shattered clay pots. Those still capable of fighting immediately focused all their firepower on me. However, the energy blasts, similar to those of the fish people, were all blocked outside my energy shield. The scene became a dazzling flurry of explosions, causing Little Fish-Girl to scream intermittently in fright.

I completely ignored their attacks. In a flash, I used energy spheres to puncture five more jar-shaped craft. The remaining craft seemed to sense danger and began turning to flee outwards. Their speed was impressive, far surpassing the Whale-Bladder Chariots, but still a bit slower than my current pace. Little Fish-Girl and I, along with the fish-man warriors, chased after them and shot down another dozen before they finally ceased the pursuit.

This battle left Little Fish-Girl stunned. She held my arm so tightly, afraid I might suddenly leave her, "Zhao, you are so amazing; no wonder your genes are so excellent. I truly admire you."

I smiled, "Save the compliments for later. Let’s go check on your father. After all, our goal is to rescue people, not just fight. If we fail to save them, everything we did was in vain."

Little Fish-Girl nodded on my back, pressing her face against the back of my neck. It was then I realized Little Fish-Girl wasn't wearing any clothes. She must have been bathing when I went to fetch her after hearing her premonition, and in my panic, I completely forgot about it. Damn it, I wonder if that short dwarf in the chariot saw her body. Honestly, right now, I didn't want any other male to see Little Fish-Girl's body; it felt like it belonged to me.

"Zhao, being by your side is such a blessing. I envy Sister Ouyang so much. Head that way; the Royal Palace is there."

Relieved after solving one problem, I was in good spirits and chuckled, "Actually, I have many virtues you’ll discover over time."

Little Fish-Girl asked, "Will I have time to discover them? Will you let me stay by your side?"

"Didn't we agree? Do you think I'm someone who breaks promises?"

Little Fish-Girl replied, "Of course, you aren't. The untrustworthy, bad woman is me. You hate me, don't you?"

I shook my head, "Little Fish-Girl, I don't blame you. You should put on my clothes; I think you’ll look even more beautiful in them."

Little Fish-Girl chuckled behind me, "Really? No matter how beautiful, I'm still a half-human, half-fish monster. Even if you don't hate me, you won't love me."

I smiled without answering. Has the little girl developed feelings? It seems I, Zhao Qian, really do have the charm to attract girls. I quietly took off my clothes and handed them to Little Fish-Girl, who quickly covered herself. Only then did I dare to take her hand and proceed. I would soon meet the Fish-Man Emperor again, and I didn't want him to see me being overly intimate with Little Fish-Girl. If he became angry and decided to fight me, I wouldn't know whether to fight back or not, which would make things awkward for both Little Fish-Girl and me.

Many fish people witnessed our heroic feat of 'crashing' the unidentified flying objects. More importantly, some of those people had been hostile to us only that morning, and now they were suddenly comrades. I wondered what they were thinking. The news quickly reached the Royal Palace, which was now in ruins. However, a large area of wartime shelters deep underground was still operational. The Fish-Man Emperor and his ministers had hidden inside when the alarm sounded, thus narrowly escaping disaster.

With Little Fish-Girl leading the way, we quickly entered the wartime shelter. The Fish-Man Emperor and his ministers looked utterly disheveled. Upon seeing me, their faces no longer showed hostility; instead, they greeted me with smiles. I couldn't understand a single word they said, only feeling the sound waves vibrating uncomfortably against my eardrums.

Little Fish-Girl translated for me, "You didn't hold a grudge and rushed back to help. My father says thank you for saving our lives. Now, both my father's and my life were saved by you. Make any request you have to my father; he will agree to anything."

I glanced at Little Fish-Girl and said, "I have no requests, as long as your father stops chasing you away and severing ties with you."

Little Fish-Girl didn't translate my words. Instead, she stared at me and asked, "If my father forgives me, you won't need to keep this burden, me, with you anymore? Then I’d rather he not forgive me."

I laughed, "I'd be delighted if you stayed with me, and even better if you could return to Earth. I want to show others what a real mermaid looks like."

Little Fish-Girl smiled with relief and turned to say a few words to her father. It seemed their father-daughter relationship had been reconciled, as Little Fish-Girl rushed out of my energy shield and embraced the Fish-Man Emperor. They whispered many things, likely related to me, as Little Fish-Girl kept glancing in my direction, her face flushed. The Dean of the Academy seemed to be persuading Little Fish-Girl to agree to something, and she looked hesitant, her eyes giving me a strange look.

While they were engrossed in their intense conversation, I was growing impatient. After all, I still had many tasks waiting. Before coming here, I wasn't this confident, but now that those flying objects were no match for me, my self-confidence swelled. Perhaps solving the underground city problem would be even simpler.

"Little Fish-Girl," I called out, "I have to leave. You know I still need to help Ximen Yan. If you and your father have reconciled, does that mean you don't need to leave the Fish-Man Kingdom anymore? Of course, I welcome you to come with me to Twin Cities."

Little Fish-Girl couldn't hear clearly in the water, so she entered my energy shield and asked again. She shook her head, "No, Zhao, you promised me several times. I want to go out with you to see the outside world. Besides, this time my father suggested it; he wants me to… to learn from you."

Learning requires such a blush? Is she suggesting I teach her my techniques for wooing women? I said, "Those unidentified flying objects might come back, so your father needs to strengthen his defenses. Also, I find things suspicious. Where did they come from? And what is their objective? I hope your father can investigate and notify me of the results if possible."

Little Fish-Girl replied, "I just asked. Father says this is likely the impending disaster prophesied. To uncover the secret, we must go to the Dwarf Kingdom and find that Secret Box, then open it to find the reason. The attack by those unidentified flying objects might just be the beginning. Father said they probably have more powerful weapons they haven't deployed yet."

My soaring self-confidence suddenly dropped a bit. "No way. How much more powerful could they be? Nuclear bombs? Those aren't actually more powerful than energy cannons, and they cause radiation contamination."

Little Fish-Girl shook her head, "I don't know either. Father says they might be the people of the Creator. Based on the legend of the Creator, they shouldn't have only this capability. Perhaps this is just the advance force."

I argued, "If they are the Creator's people, why destroy the world? That doesn't make sense. Perhaps it’s just another civilization invading."

Little Fish-Girl explained, "Zhao, you don't understand. The world was created by the Creator and must develop according to their vision. If the direction deviates from their predetermined path, they will only destroy it. Father says they won't give up easily. Not just us fish people, but likely the dwarves and surface humans will also be implicated. Zhao, the only one who can help us now is you. Will you stand idly by?"

I shook my head, "Precisely because I won't stand idly by that we must set off to help Ximen Yan. Are you willing to come with me?"

Little Fish-Girl made a gesture for me to wait. She conversed with the Fish-Man Emperor for a moment longer before turning to me, "Zhao, my father says he will cooperate with us fully. Actually, we misunderstood him before. He wanted me to… with you… Ah, I won't say it. In short, Father loves me. He doesn't want me to be hurt, but for the future of the fish-man race, he had to act that way. Please don't hate him, okay?"

Little Fish-Girl stammered, who knew what she intended to say? I replied, "I never hated him in the first place. If that so-called Creator comes again, your father needs to focus his strength on defense even more. I will handle Ximen Yan's matter myself."

Little Fish-Girl gave a wry smile, "Can we defend ourselves without you? That's why we have to go all out to help you solve those side issues so you can be completely free to help us. Wait a moment. Father says the Creator's prisoners will soon be brought in so we can see what they look like. God is a very mysterious concept."

Right, there must be intelligent beings inside those large jar-shaped flying objects. Since we destroyed so many, some must have survived. It wouldn't be too late to take a look before leaving. What would they be this time? Definitely not dwarves or fish people. Rats? Cockroaches? Someone once prophesied that after the destruction of Earth, the next species to rule would be rats, which speaks to their significance.

But when everyone finally saw the intelligent creature, they were all greatly disappointed. Little Fish-Girl even leaned on my arm with disdain, "So ugly! What are they? What are they?"

It was a pile of flesh. There should have been an outer armor, but the Fish-Man Kingdom soldiers had dismantled it. By now, the intelligent creature was lifeless, just a rotten heap on the ground. They weren't killed by me but drowned by the seawater, indicating they couldn't breathe underwater. They looked strange, with faces resembling an ugly dog—though, come to think of it, they had a slight resemblance to aliens from Earth sci-fi movies. However, their bodies weren't the miniature figures seen in films; they were quite tall, more than twice the height of a normal Earthling. No wonder the flying objects were so large; they needed space to carry more occupants. They appeared to have four limbs, but they also had several long whiskers around their waists—perhaps more arms, more legs, or maybe even reproductive organs. In any case, it was dead now, so who knew?

I said to Little Fish-Girl, "Who cares what it is? What's certain is that it isn't a god. If a god were this ugly, wouldn't it be disgusting?"

Little Fish-Girl laughed, "Beauty and ugliness are relative. Perhaps among its own kind, this one was a handsome fellow."

I teased with a smile, "Then do you like him?"

Little Fish-Girl gave me a sidelong glance, "I'm not one of its kind, but I prefer humans more. I'll tell my father we should go. We shouldn't delay Sister Ximen Yan's important business; otherwise, I’ll become the sinner."

I hadn't expected the Fish-Man Emperor to be so enthusiastic; he actually dispatched five hundred Swim Bladder Chariots for us. No matter how much I refused, it was impossible. When I argued that the fish people needed protection, he countered that five thousand chariots wouldn't be enough to stop the Creator’s attack, so our only hope was for me to resolve the trivial matters quickly and return to help them.

Little Fish-Girl was extremely happy, and the way she looked at me had changed; she would inexplicably blush. Perhaps it was because the morning's rift between father and daughter had passed. When the two of them led the grand army back to the seashore, they couldn't find Ouyang Qing and the others.

The five hundred Swim Bladder Chariots were hidden in the seawater, while Little Fish-Girl and I sat on the shore waiting for Ouyang Qian. I had tried contacting Ouyang Qian’s Whale-Bladder Chariot earlier, but there was no signal, probably because they had gone ashore. Given how quickly things were resolved in Fish Capital, it was only noon, and there was no way they could return by now.

Little Fish-Girl took off her clothes and soaked in the seawater, while I lay on the sand watching her swim. Honestly, it was a pleasure. If the matter of the Twin Stars were resolved, I hoped to often come here for vacation when I returned to Earth; the freshness of the air here simply couldn't compare to Earth's.

Little Fish-Girl probably got tired. She hugged her clothes and entered my energy shield. From a distance, I could look at her however I pleased, but up close, I had to pretend to be unconcerned, as I didn't want her to call me a pervert.

"Why haven't they come back yet? They're really not in a hurry," Little Fish-Girl said as she put her clothes back on.

"It’s because we are moving too fast," I said. "Who would expect anyone to wrap things up and return this quickly? Oh, tell the Mermen in the war chariots to try contacting us again."

Little Fish shook her head. "They know what to do. If there’s news, they’ll notify me. Just as you said, we don't have a satellite system. Once the chariots move beyond a certain distance from each other, or if there are thick obstructions, communication fails. If we had, we might have had earlier warning of the Creator God's arrival, and perhaps the entire Fish Metropolis wouldn't have been destroyed."

"Bread will come, and milk will too," I replied. "No one gets fat in one bite. Say, are you hungry? I’ll go find something to eat."

Little Fish sat beside me and shook her head. "I’m not hungry. Besides, I can’t get used to your food."

"Then what should we do? What do you Mermen eat, anyway? Seaweed?"

"Mostly underwater vegetation. There are carnivorous Mermen too, but plants are the mainstay. There’s so much edible stuff under the sea. I’ll let you try some sometime if you get the chance."

A piercing sonic wave struck our ears. Little Fish helped me up. "Sister Ouyang and the others are back."

Sure enough, a war chariot burst out of the forest. It skimmed the ground as it flew before us, the hatch opening swiftly. Ouyang Qian and Ximen Yan jumped out. "Zhao Qian, you’re back so fast? Is the news false?"

"No, it's true. The surface buildings in the Fish Metropolis are almost completely ruined. Do you remember that jar-shaped flying object we saw on the sea surface during the storm?"

Ouyang Qian nodded. "They did this? What kind of power is that?"

"I’m not entirely clear, but Little Fish said they are some sort of Creator Gods—the very architects of this world. Now they’ve sensed the chaos here and might initiate a purge of the intelligent life on the Twin Stars. It might even affect the Dwarves and the surface humans. They’ve been repelled for now, but we can’t be sure they won't return. So, our actions must be swift. If the internal strife on the Twin Stars isn't settled, how can we unite to face external enemies?"

Ouyang Qian frowned. "So things here are quite complicated. Doesn't it make the fighting among the surface humans seem like child's play?"

"It does. Perhaps our arrival is what has disrupted this world. We might bear some responsibility. Come on, have you found the passage to the underground city?"

Jin Meili had appeared behind me at some point. "Not only have we found it, but we’ve also discovered that long underground corridor. It turns out the Dwarf who escaped fled through that route."

I rejoiced. "That’s great news! Let’s press the advantage and resolve the underground city situation as quickly as possible, then march on the Two Cities!"

Ximen Yan said, "We scouted the route just now. The passage is very wide—several war chariots can fly abreast. However, we’ll need to blast through a stone wall about ten meters thick when entering the underground city. I imagine the weaponry on this chariot should handle it easily."

I looked at Ximen Yan. "Don't worry, we have plenty of reserves. Little Fish, bring them out. We'll depart following this war chariot."

Little Fish emitted a series of sonic waves. Ximen Yan, Ouyang Qian, and Jin Meili were puzzled, but then they were startled. The previously calm sea surface broke as war chariots emerged one after another. Their sheer number shrouded half the sky. Little Cui scurried out, crying to me, "Princess, are the Mermen catching up? Let’s run!"

Little Fish said, "Don't be afraid. This is the force my father sent to help us. Zhao’s strength alone shouldn't require assistance, but there are times when he can’t be everywhere at once. With these chariots entering the underground city with us, even that Nangong Quan will have to think twice."

Ximen Yan looked gratefully at Little Fish. "Thank you, Little Fish. Has your relationship with your father mended?"

"Why thank me? Just don't hate me. Besides, our Merman clan relies on Zhao for salvation. Resolving the matters of the underground city and the Two Cities sooner will allow him to better face the Creator Gods. My father had his own difficulties; I no longer blame him."

Ouyang Qian interjected, "Since time is short, let’s stop talking. Hopefully, we can rescue Ximen Yan’s father and brother before nightfall. Ideally, we should head to the Two Cities tonight. I really miss those sisters. They must be worried sick, not knowing if Zhao Qian is safe."

Everyone boarded the war chariots, leading the way. Deep in the jungle, there was a natural, vast cavern. Over ages of collapse and shifting earth, this cave had connected with the long underground corridor. Similarly, due to natural causes, a highly secret corner of the underground city linked up with the corridor, which is how that escaping Dwarf managed to get out.

The sheer scale of this underground corridor, as described by the Crown Prince of the Jin Kingdom, surpassed my imagination. It was several times larger than the underground Great Wall we excavated in the western part of the Great Dragon Kingdom. Judging by the mottled walls of the corridor, they were definitely not naturally formed. Moreover, the Jin Crown Prince mentioned it spanned the entire continent, confirming it was artificial. We flew along the corridor for about twenty kilometers before turning into a side passage.

This side passage didn't extend far before meeting a stone wall blocking the way, though there was a low, small opening in one corner—likely how the Dwarf escaped. After conferring with Little Fish, Ouyang Qian, and Ximen Yan, they decided to use the highly corrosive weapons on the war chariot against the wall.

While the war chariot was melting the stone wall, the others held a brief impromptu meeting, mainly discussing what pretext to use for the attack. After all, the fish-whale-shaped chariots were Merman aircraft; using them to invade the underground city was tantamount to the Mermen declaring war on the Dwarves.

Little Fish declared, "Don't worry! My father authorized me to handle this entirely. If they want war, let it be war! We’ve suffered enough bullying from them..."

Noticing Ximen Yan’s momentary shift in expression, Little Fish quickly corrected herself. "Sister Yan, I wasn't talking about you. I meant that faction led by Ximen Ding. But Nangong Quan is no better than Ximen Ding; he stole your country and captured your relatives. We must not only rescue your father and brother but also help restore your kingdom! That’s why I agree to attack with five hundred chariots. We’ll send them packing!"

Ximen Yan countered, "However, from what I know, Nangong Quan possesses considerable defensive capability. He took over my father's troops. Although the underground city army is small in number, we cannot afford to ignore them. Furthermore, a large-scale assault might not be conducive to a safe rescue. Wouldn't a more covert operation be more prudent?"

"How about this," I proposed. "You clear the path first. Ximen Yan and I will go ahead to perform the rescue. Once her father and brother are safe, you launch the main attack to help them restore their kingdom in one fell swoop."

Everyone agreed. "That’s a good idea. It avoids the risk of Nangong Quan panicking and lashing out wildly."

Little Fish then added, "Sister Yan, there is something vital I must tell you. The secret box passed down through your Dwarf Kingdom generations contains the secret of the Creator Gods. That box must not be lost or damaged. Although the Creator Gods haven't attacked the Dwarves yet, I believe it's only a matter of time. We must all unite and fight this evil Creator God to the end. Only by knowing the enemy can we defeat a civilization more advanced than ours. Therefore, the secret box is crucial; you must retrieve it safely."

Ximen Yan looked to me. She knew this wasn't her decision alone. I said, "We will do our best. If we succeed, great; if not, we'll set it aside. Saving lives is the priority. Ximen Yan, let’s go first."

Little Cui chirped, "I’m coming too!"

Ximen Yan told her, "You stay behind. You are familiar with the underground city environment. If we signal the attack, you can lead the others to gradually secure key areas."

Little Cui reluctantly agreed. "Alright, Princess. You both be extremely careful."

Using the energy mass formed by my own bio-energy to counteract water buoyancy required an enormous drain to maintain flight above the surface. While this method achieved supersonic travel, the cost was too high—especially since the greater the weight carried, the energy expenditure increased tenfold. Consequently, I abandoned this method of infiltrating the underground city, opting instead to carry Ximen Yan and proceed on foot. If necessary, activating the energy shield later would suffice.

In reality, even on foot, my current strength allowed me to move far faster than any ordinary person. Guided by Ximen Yan’s directions, we quickly traversed the tunnel formed by the natural collapse, then passed through a dark stone forest and a field of rubble. A faint light gradually appeared ahead, growing stronger the further we progressed. Finally, I found myself standing halfway up the side of a cavern whose area was beyond description.

Ximen Yan whispered from behind me, "We only made it this far before. Descending to the underground city is arduous. The escapee said he used the momentum from his drilling tool to ascend. He mentioned there were no guards at this position, so we can safely climb down."

I corrected her. "Not climb. Jump." I hadn't explained my ability to fly out of water to Ximen Yan earlier, so she was unaware I could manage that.

It had been a while since I tested the sensation of flight without external aid. Supersonic speed—when would that return to me? Logically, my current energy levels were no less than before, yet certain abilities remained dormant, useless no matter how frustrated I became.

Ximen Yan hadn't expected me to actually dive headfirst. Terrified, she shrieked and squeezed her eyes shut, clutching my neck as if trying to strangle me. Luckily, there were no guards nearby; otherwise, they would have certainly heard her scream.

Slowly, Ximen Yan opened her eyes. She had flown before using her advanced dual-purpose drilling tool, but that flight felt nothing like this—being unencumbered, especially while holding the neck of the man she loved. A cool, rising breeze from below stirred Ximen Yan’s hair, exciting her deeply.

"Zhao Qian, I think I’m about to transform," she murmured, biting my earlobe.

I jumped in alarm. "You can’t be serious! Not now, not here."

Clinging to my neck, she spoke softly and sweetly, "But I feel so happy right now. It’s wonderful having you. Why didn’t I meet you sooner? I regret wasting all my past life. From now on, I don’t want to be separated from you for even a second!"

Naturally, my heart swelled with joy. This was how my wife should be. But it seemed we couldn't not be separated right now. "Ximen Yan, do you have a plan to rescue your father and brother? For instance, where are they being held? Who is guarding them?"

Ximen Yan shook her head. "I don't know. With you here, I don't worry about anything."

Sigh. She relied on me too much. I didn't exactly fear the Nangong family, but the key was rescuing them before they realized our true objective, otherwise, a cornered dog might fight viciously, leading to mutual destruction.

"I have a plan, not sure if it will work. It requires you to leave my side for a while. If you disagree, we'll think of something else. Here's my thought: you take the open route, and I take the covert one. You intentionally let Nangong Quan discover your presence, then somehow manage to have him imprison you with your father. That way, I’ll know their location and can force a rescue."

Ximen Yan was clearly reluctant. "It’s a good plan. Otherwise, given the size of the underground city, we’d never find where my father and brother are held in time. But you must come find me quickly. It’s not that I’m scared, I just don't want to be away from you for too long."

I gently pinched Ximen Yan’s little nose. "Of course, I will. Do you think I wouldn't care about my own wife? But first, a warning: no transformations."

Ximen Yan playfully wrinkled her delicate nose and pouted at me. "I only feel desire for you, my man. I despise everyone from the Nangong family so much, I couldn't transform even if I wanted to."

As the city lights grew closer, I remarked to Ximen Yan, "This underground city is enormous, far surpassing the scale of the Sea City."

"That's right," she confirmed. "That's why Ximen Ding was constantly invading. He must have been furious that my father occupied such a vast underground city and wanted to expand the Sea City into a second underground city, perhaps even surpassing my father’s. But ultimately, his own greed destroyed him."

"His initial motive for expanding the Sea City was good, but he used the wrong method. Invasion isn't the solution; mutual development is what the Twin Stars need right now. Unless one side is overwhelmingly superior, launching a war risks self-immolation. Let's not dwell on it; the Ximen Ding father and son are deceased. It’s probably time for the Nangong family now."

I pushed my energy reserves to the limit, carrying Ximen Yan all the way to the roof of the underground palace. Due to my size, sneaking in along the ground routes would take too long and might alert the Dwarves, causing an unnecessary panic that would alert Nangong Quan.

Ximen Yan kissed my cheek. "Zhao Qian, I’m going down now. Remember to watch over me. Nangong Quan’s son, Nangong Ao, has always harbored ill intentions towards me. I think I can exploit his weakness, but you cannot blink an eye, or I won’t forgive myself if he hurts me again."

I raised my hand. "Don't worry. I swear on this light—he won't harm you in the slightest. The moment you extract the location of their confinement, I will eliminate him immediately, or you can lure him out, and I’ll capture him for questioning."

Ximen Yan thought it over. "I think luring him out is unlikely, because if he sees me, he won’t listen to reason. I’ll have to play it by ear then."

Ximen Yan crept down the rooftop passage. Now, she felt no tension; instead, she was filled with happiness and joy, even hoping the guards would discover her soon so her father and brother could be saved.

Clang! A loud noise erupted, and the guards below stirred. "Who's there! Stop, or we’ll fire!"

Ximen Yan startled. She thought the underground city had no firearms, as the City Lord, Ximen Tian, was a pacifist; they only used their drilling tools for both offense and aerial navigation. She hadn’t realized that in the few days she’d been away, Nangong Quan had managed to manufacture guns. Were they laser guns or energy guns? Given the underground city's mastery of energy crystal application, manufacturing energy guns should be effortless, perhaps not even requiring a separate production line.

Ximen Yan slowly emerged from the dark corner, hands raised. To her surprise, the guard recognized her. "It’s Your Highness, the Princess!"

Ximen Yan sneered. "You should say 'former Princess.' Isn't it Nangong Quan's domain now? If you have any conscience left, follow me and help rescue my father. Stop colluding with Nangong Quan and his son; they won't meet a good end!"

The guard wasn't swayed. He burst into laughter. "Princess, you joke too much! You snuck back to save your father, didn't you? Too bad, you've handed me a great victory. Stay still, don't move, or my gun might accidentally discharge."

As he spoke, the guard triggered an alarm. A sharp whistle pierced the air, soon followed by a screeching siren throughout the entire underground city. The formerly quiet city erupted into noise, and powerful searchlights began sweeping the area as a large contingent of soldiers rushed toward them.

Ximen Yan watched the chaos with cold eyes. The news of the captured Princess flew instantly to Nangong Ao. Nangong Ao had been nursing a grudge ever since failing to possess Ximen Yan at the hunting grounds outside the Royal Stables. Hearing that Ximen Yan had secretly infiltrated the underground city attempting a rescue and was apprehended, his eyes instantly ignited with a fierce fire.

Nangong Ao couldn't wait for Ximen Yan to be escorted to the palace; he rushed out himself to see the situation. When he saw Ximen Yan’s beautiful little face in the flesh, he grinned as if a flower had blossomed on his face. "Your Highness, what is it? Do you miss me? Very well, tonight I shall spare no effort to comfort you. You’ve arrived just in time to bid farewell to your father and brother."

As he spoke, Nangong Ao reached out to stroke Ximen Yan's chin, but she twisted her head away. She glared fiercely. "Nangong Ao, don’t say I didn’t warn you. If you release my father and brother now and return the rule of the underground city, I might spare your life. But if you persist in your folly, I guarantee you won't live past tonight!"

Nangong Ao grabbed a handful of Ximen Yan’s hair, but she slapped his hand away. Nangong Ao presumed Ximen Yan was already meat on the chopping block and didn’t take much offense; a rose with thorns was more appealing than a dead piece of meat on the bed, which offered no pleasure.

"Sister Yan, you have quite the arrogant tone. I suspect you’ve lost your mind from the shock. You say I won't live past tonight? Heh heh... unless your pillow skills are so good you kill me tonight, the ones who won't survive are probably your entire Ximen family."

"We’ll see," Ximen Yan retorted. "Where are my father and brother? I want to see them."

Nangong Ao’s eyes darted around. "Sister Yan, did you go through all this trouble to sneak in just for a final glimpse of your father?"

Ximen Yan feigned confusion. "Final glimpse? What have you beasts done to my father and brother?"

Nangong Ao chuckled sinisterly. "What else? We gave them a chance, and they threw it away. If they don't reveal the passcode to open the secret box by the appointed time tonight, it’s a death sentence."

Ximen Yan asked, "Since you’ve already seized the underground city, why do you need the code? That box can’t be eaten or used for anything. Is it more attractive than the position of City Lord?"

"What do you know?" Nangong Ao sneered. "That secret box contains the secret to dominating the world—it might be an invincible weapon! Then, who cares about Mermen or bird-men, everyone will have to bow down to us!"

"You will face retribution," Ximen Yan warned. "As far as I know, that box only contains a story. You will regret this."

Nangong Ao scoffed. "The victor never regrets; only the defeated look back with regret. I’ve been patient enough with you today, Ximen Yan. Now that you're in my hands, do you have any last words? Don't say I didn't give you a chance: if you obediently serve me, I might allow you to keep your Princess title. Otherwise, you’ll truly be reduced to the status of a sex slave!"

"I want to see my father and brother," Ximen Yan said calmly.

Nangong Ao immediately refused. "Impossible! My father has given the order: no one is allowed to see them until they disclose the code."

"I won't let my father and brother die over some meaningless box," Ximen Yan insisted. "Let me see them, and I will persuade them to tell you the code."

Nangong Ao’s face lit up. "Really? You’re not tricking me, are you?"

"I’m in your hands. What use would tricking you be? Wouldn’t that only lead to even more severe retaliation from you? I am alone and helpless now—are you afraid I might rescue them?"

Nangong Ao checked a micro-computer on his wrist. Reports from all entrances and surveillance posts in the underground city indicated no unusual activity. It seemed this one infiltrator was all there was tonight. He smirked. "Don't you have that powerful surface human helper? Did you fail to satisfy his sexual needs and he dumped you? To be honest, while I don't mind if you’ve been promiscuous, it’s still a regret that I wasn’t the first one to have you."

Ximen Yan’s face turned cold. “Nangong Ao, I will ask you one more time. Will you let me see my father or not? Given my father’s temperament, killing him might not even make him reveal the secret code. If I go, there might still be a glimmer of hope.”

Nangong Ao pondered for a moment, then quietly slipped away to make a call, presumably to his father, Nangong Quan. Soon, he returned, smiling, to Ximen Yan’s side. “Little sister Yan, I’ll help you out this once. But after seeing your father, you owe me an explanation. If this time disappoints me again, I might not have the patience to keep playing along with you. You know the consequences!”

Ximen Yan snorted and ignored Nangong Ao. “Lead the way.”

Nangong Ao chuckled and pulled a handkerchief from his bosom. “Please forgive me for this secret location, little sister Yan.”

Without hesitation, Ximen Yan took the cloth and tied it over her eyes. Nangong Ao gestured, and a light carriage stopped beside them. The carriage quickly carried the two away from the Imperial Palace toward the rear. All along the route, sentries stood in dense ranks, and the lights were blazing; this looked clearly like a restricted area.

The carriage slipped into a tunnel and stopped before an elevator. Then, Nangong Ao led Ximen Yan into the lift to descend deeper underground. After passing through an unknown number of doors, they finally stopped. Before Ximen Yan could regain her sight, she heard a shout: “Yanyan, why have you been captured by them too!”

Ximen Yan ripped the handkerchief from her eyes. “Father!”

A benevolent old man clung tightly to the iron bars of the prison cell. “Yanyan, why did you come back? Since you escaped, you shouldn't have returned!”

Ximen Yan disregarded her father’s rebuke and asked, “What about big brother? Isn’t he with you?”

Ximen Tian, the City Lord of the Dwarf Underground City, said, “He is in another cell. Nangong Quan feared we might conspire, so he kept us separated. I never expected to see your face again before I die; perhaps heaven has smiled upon us.”

Ximen Yan declared, “Father, don’t worry. I will get you out soon.”

Nangong Ao stood to the side, sneering coldly. Ximen Tian certainly knew why he was smiling; after all, the man had good reason. It was undoubtedly like a moth flying into a flame and courting death for a frail woman to attempt a rescue in such a heavily fortified, deep underground prison. “Yanyan, never mind me. If you can escape, hurry and leave. But it seems you won’t be able to run easily either. Poor child, you shouldn't have come here; you should have stayed outside and lived your own life.”

Ximen Yan replied proudly, “Father, rest assured. Tonight, I will definitely rescue you, and I will restore the Underground City! Nangong Quan is finished!”

Nangong Ao finally couldn't hold back. “Ximen Yan, I hope you speak facts. Do you truly believe you have the capability? As far as I know, the Underwater City is ruined, and you have no reinforcements to call upon. What can you do to me now?”

Ximen Tian also looked doubtful, wondering if his daughter’s mind had been affected, causing her to speak nonsense. Not only rescuing someone but also restoring the Underground City—was this even possible?

Ximen Yan asked, “Father, will you blame me if I tell you I’ve found a boyfriend?”

Ximen Tian didn't understand why his daughter would ask such a question at this moment. Seeing that she wasn't joking, he replied, “You are grown up now; there are some things I don’t wish to stop you from doing. But do you think there is any future for you two? Unless you can get out.”

Ximen Yan said, “Father, he will be here shortly. Could you give your blessing?”

Nangong Ao’s face turned ashen. Ximen Yan saying such things in front of him was undoubtedly a massive slap to his face. He roared, “Ximen Yan! Don’t think this is your backyard garden! In the Underground City, I make the rules!”

Bang! Nangong Ao’s body flew backward like a kite whose string had snapped, slamming against the wall. With a cry of pain, he spat out a mouthful of blood that scattered like tiny specks across the floor. Standing before them, unseen until that moment, was a towering human figure. The high ceiling of the underground prison now seemed somewhat diminished in height.

“It’s… it’s you!” Nangong Ao finally recognized the person.

I replied, “Indeed, it is me. Why aren’t you burrowing into the earth this time?”