Chapter 536: An Astute Merchild

The merpeople screamed as they ran away from him.

Zhang Lie was very pleased with the merpeople's reactions; it would have been very strange if they had revered him like the Baimei. The merpeople were, as expected, scared.

What Zhang Lie didn't notice, however, was that there was one exception among the merpeople—the little girl in his hands. Her eyes glowed with bright light as she turned to Zhang Lie, who had vanquished an impossible foe.

The sea god which had been strangling the village of life and resources—Zhang Lie had killed it in two or three blows. He was clearly stronger than the sea god, and if she could learn something from him, she would be secure for the rest of her life.

As though he were used to failing to find disaster-grade lifeforms by now, Zhang Lie didn't feel perturbed by his failure. Indeed, he was starting to distrust the efficacy of the monarch of stars' information, given how many failures there had been.

Zhang Lie hovered above the surface of the sea, let the child in his hands go, and turned to leave.

"Wait!" the merchild yelled out. "Please, take me with you!"

For a child, she was particularly perceptive, and she knew that she wouldn't be able to stay in the village any longer. She would be lucky if the incensed villagers didn't burn her at the stake.

Neither did she want to remain in the village any longer—why would she want to live with people who tried to sacrifice her?

The only one who could save her was Zhang Lie.

Zhang Lie continued walking away, pretending to not have heard her words.

"I know where many strong lifeforms live!"

Zhang Lie stopped short.

The child continued, "There are many strong lifeforms nearby, and I can promise they're no weaker than this sea god— no, they're even stronger!"

When she saw Zhang Lie stop, she knew that she had grasped a lifeline.

Although she didn't know why Zhang Lie was searching for them, she had guessed that those were his targets. If she revealed her knowledge, he would surely bring her with him.

Zhang Lie whirled around and asked, "How do you know what I'm searching for?"

"You expressed your displeasure at the sea god being so weak twice over."

Once was at the start of the battle, and the other was at the end. From her perspective, Zhang Lie seemed to be searching for an opponent strong enough for him to battle. Her deceased father had told her tales of strong heroes and strong fighters doing the same, in hopes of ascending to a higher realm.

Given how strong Zhang Lie was, she didn't know what heights he was aspiring to, but that didn't matter. She was certain she could make use of the fact that Zhang Lie was trying to hunt down strong lifeforms.

If she were wrong, that didn't matter; it wasn't as if her situation could get any worse. On the other hand, if she were right, her circumstances would immediately improve for the better.

Zhang Lie glanced at her skeptically. "Why should I trust you, little girl?"

To be honest, he was rather tempted by her offer. He hadn't been very successful with the monarch of stars' information, and he didn't know just how long it would take him to find a second disaster-grade lifeform.

The merchild might be another opportunity for him.

Zhang Lie didn't know how large the landmass of the second realm was compared to the oceans and seas, but he was certain that there were many strong deep-sea lifeforms. In general, oceanic lifeforms were stronger than terrestrial ones.

In the deep sea, the water was icy cold, and such lifeforms would have to bear the brunt of immense pressure every time they moved. The deeper they went, the stronger the lifeforms would get.

If he couldn't find any disaster-grade lifeforms on land, doing so at sea wasn't a bad idea.

"I know that there's a demonic lifeform at the center of a gigantic whirlpool nearby, that there's a hulking beast of steel in a nearby ocean, why the sea of storms is always stormy..."

The merchild revealed the existence of quite a few seemingly strong lifeforms in the region. "You see, we merpeople know quite a few legends about the seas, and behind each legend is a genetic lifeform. My father was responsible for surveying the nearby seas in order to see if there were another place where we might be able to make a village. He left the domain of the sea god and traveled to many places. All my knowledge came from my father."

The merchild looked pleadingly at Zhang Lie.

"Very well. I'll recruit you as a guide."

The merchild's eyes widened, and she smiled radiantly— but the very next moment, Zhang Lie released his aura and kept it hanging around him until she was gasping for breath.

"But if you lie to me, if I can't find a trace of these lifeforms you describe, I'll toss you into the mouth of a peak-grade lifeform myself."

The merchild gulped and nodded.

Zhang Lie handed her a vial from his potbellied-toad pouch.

"Drink this."

The merchild drank it without asking a single question. Her stomach suddenly seemed to warm up, and she could see her wounds healing with her naked eye. What Zhang Lie had given her was a healing potion concocted by the Yeluo.

She felt as though she were immersed in a hot water bath, comfortable and content. She had never even heard of such potions before! Despite all she knew of the seas, the world was so much larger than that.

Zhang Lie carried the girl in his hands as he flew off. She called out, "My name's Zhu. What's yours?"

.

Zhang Lie seemed unwilling to reveal his name, so Zhu didn't press him. "Mister, why are you searching for these genetic lifeforms? Are you trying to find stronger opponents to defeat?"

Zhang Lie countered, "Won't your family be worried that I'm kidnapping you?"

She smiled sadly. "If I had an ordinary family, I wouldn't have become a sacrifice for the sea god. My father used to be the head of the village, and he believed that sacrificing members of the clan to appease the sea god was inexcusable. He's always wanted to escape the sea god and to find somewhere better for us all to live."

The rest of the tribe, however, didn't agree with his actions. They viewed the sacrifice as a necessity, as part of the status quo; that was how they had always lived, after all.