Chapter 1134: Chapter 1132: Keeping Promises
Miracle?
It turned out that Li Min indeed knew a lot about the Sea of Ashes; it was unclear whether this was from her deceased teacher.
And the term she brought up had instantly sparked numerous associations in Fu Qian’s mind.
The thoughts of Professor Ah Kai from the Academy, and the operations once conducted by Divine Envoy Nepheli, successively appeared in his head.
Could it be some kind of mysterious form of power?
Such occurrences in a place like the Sea of Ashes didn’t seem too out of place.
"Are you suggesting that mermaids are lured not by some ephemeral, powerful entities, but by a particular kind of miracle?"
"Yes, at least that’s what my teacher believed."
Li Min confirmed her prestigious academic lineage.
"One piece of evidence is that these alluringly grotesque aberrations have been sporadically appearing over the years, with remarkably consistent appearances."
"Given that creatures born amidst the fluctuations of the Sea of Ashes are nearly synonymous with chaos, it’s hard to imagine they could maintain such consistency over time."
"But miracles are different. They come in many forms, yet as the ultimate manifestation of certain kinds of power, they possess a high status, and their forms are pure."
"Like the dark void that devours everything, or the sea springs that burst forth for days on end, purifying everything around, they have all appeared more than once."
High status, ultimate manifestation of power, it sounded more and more plausible.
Fu Qian remembered the scenes he had witnessed with the help of the Blasphemous King—noble falls, burned to ash.
Could it really be the cremains of Divine Beings within this Sea of Ashes?
So could a mere fluctuation of the remaining power still be capable of bringing down miracles?
"So, are mermaids affected due to their unique physique, by specific miracles?"
For a moment, Fu Qian nodded thoughtfully.
"And you suppose that the guy used us as bait, not to lure out creatures from the Sea of Ashes, but to trigger a certain miracle?"
"Something that benefits Him, and a benefit that can be taken away."
"Yes."
Li Min seemed somewhat surprised by Fu Qian’s quick acceptance.
"I never knew miracles could be induced, but apart from that, I can’t think of any other reason."
...
To think one could actually come up with reasons!
While Li Min confessed to her own inadequacies, Fu Qian also sighed inwardly.
She truly had a deep understanding of the Sea of Ashes, even capable of explaining false issues.
Unfortunately for him, although this broadened his knowledge, it was not what he most hoped to see.
On this journey, not only had Rachel’s plan to visit her friend gone smoothly, but even under such intense pressure, Li Min had not noticed anything amiss with the Sea of Ashes.
However one looked at it, his arrival did not seem to have stirred any particular ripples in the Sea of Ashes.
So was the opportunity really just an illusion?
...
"So, Mr. Fang, have you finished your questions?"
Just then, Rachel, who had been holding back, couldn’t help but ask.
"For now, I have no more questions, thank you for the answers."
Fu Qian didn’t mind her somewhat impolite attitude.
"So, what is your wish?"
...Really granting wishes?
Rachel had initially intended to remind the unwelcome visitor that it was time to leave, but to her surprise, the other party seriously asked what her wish was, leaving her a bit dumbfounded.
Wishes, there were far too many... but could it be that just by saying it, you could make it happen?
She glanced at Li Min subconsciously, who also seemed somewhat stunned.
"Alright then, make that thing outside disappear."
Rachel steeled her heart and went for an impossible task.
Let him be angry, she thought, since he didn’t seem like he would easily let the two of them off the hook anyway.
"Are you sure?"
Unexpectedly, faced with such an excessive wish, there was no sign of anger on his face; he even asked with a smile.
"Once it’s confirmed, it can’t be changed."
...
The tone and expression of the other party could indeed be considered quite infuriating, yet facing this probing question, Rachel suddenly found herself hesitating.
In the face of the concept of a wish, few are without their hesitations and fears.
"Can you heal the issues with Li Min’s body?"
After a moment’s contemplation, she asked somewhat uncertainly.
"What a heartfelt wish. It’s evident that the condition of your friend is indeed grim."
Fu Qian complimented before repeating his ploy.
"So, are you certain?"
"I’m certain."
Unexpectedly, the one who spoke this time was Li Min.
"Oh?"
Fu Qian glanced at her, somewhat surprised.
"I thought your wish would be to have me help your friend escape from here."
"For me, that is indeed what I most want to achieve, and I even believe that you have the ability to do so," said Li Min with frank honesty.
"But you mentioned before that you have the final say on how a wish is fulfilled. I’m afraid it might end up being twisted in its realization."
"I see. So you want to take on this risk yourself? If I can truly heal you, then you’re planning to take her and escape? Thus, the likelihood of your friend’s survival would be even greater? That’s a very meticulous thought."
In the face of these two close friends, Fu Qian quite fittingly let out a burst of snide laughter.
"Li Min..."
At this point, Rachel, having caught up to the conversation, wanted to say something, but she was directly stopped.
"Very well, I accept the wish."
In the next moment, Fu Qian curbed his laughter, looking at Li Min as she took a step forward.
Compared to after she had drunk the Blood Dew, her life force was not so vigorous now.
Though there were many more scales on her body.
Her deteriorated body was now akin to a sieve, no longer capable of maintaining a stable state.
The Blood Dew Rachel had desperately gathered, indeed, no longer held much significance for Li Min.
"Go wait outside."
Fu Qian gestured to Rachel.
"Go. Remember, unless I call for you, do not enter under any circumstances."
Rachel clearly didn’t want to leave, but eventually complied with Li Min’s insistence.
Perhaps because she felt utterly helpless, she even stood in the rain curtain with her back towards the scene.
"Very good, look here."
Without any further ado, Fu Qian snapped his fingers, and the Return Edict was activated.
Ha...
Not even ten seconds had passed, and even someone as willful as Li Min began to falter, having to crouch down.
At the same time, the traces of contamination that covered her body were also undergoing changes.
Iridescent scales fell off in pieces, and the fierce spikes retracted into her body; even her mucous-covered skin was gradually becoming dry.
But immediately after, blisters began to appear on the slightly improved epidermis, as if they contained magma ready to burst at any moment.
Indeed, the fire she had swallowed was still there.
Severe contamination, yet she had to rely on this very contamination to fight against the imbalance within her body.
Let alone whether she could withstand the violent expulsion, even if all the contamination was cleared away, without solving the underlying issue, she would likely die even quicker.
An unconventional method, then?
Fu Qian shook his head, canceling the Return Edict.
He could clearly feel Li Min looking up at him with an expression of expected disappointment.
Unfortunately, this emotion shattered in the next moment.
A fierce roar exploded in her mind, and she collapsed to the ground, curling up into a ball.