697: Chapter 697 The Great Sage of Emptiness

"Your Majesty, are you asking these things because you want to see my master?" The Three-Headed Demon Python's left and right heads had fallen into a slumber, leaving only the black central head to ask curiously.

Seeing the Three-Headed Demon Python's foolish appearance, Queen of Merfolk suddenly decided to bluff it, nodding and saying:

"That's right! I heard that Liu Xuan killed Old Ancestor Hehuan, and I also heard that he is a Clone of the Lord of the Dao Court, but he looks so unremarkable, not like one at all."

"Of course he doesn't look like one!" the Three-Headed Demon Python said excitedly. "What Lord of the Dao Court? Is he even worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as my master?"

"Then what exactly is your master Liu Xuan's identity? What level is his true Realm?" Queen of Merfolk hurriedly pressed.

"My master..." The Three-Headed Demon Python paused for a moment, its snake face grinning as it looked at Queen of Merfolk, and it laughed, "Your Majesty, there is no need to inquire so carefully. My master treats others with kindness and is happy to help, especially beauties like you."

"If you want to know anything, just ask him in person. I will help you send him a message."

Queen of Merfolk fell silent, staring at the Three-Headed Demon Python for a good while before nodding. "Very well! Ask him if he has time. If not, I can send a Dharma Clone to visit the Joyous Union Sect."

"I'll ask for you!"

The Three-Headed Demon Python's Divine Sense sank into the mark deep within its Divine Soul, and for a long time, there was no movement.

...

Yin-Yang Great Island.

"The Queen of Merfolk wants to see me?"

A trace of a smile appeared on Liu Xuan's face. He hadn't expected that the dark chess piece he had casually left behind would come into play so quickly.

"Father, has something happened?" Ling Hui, who was currently asking Liu Xuan for guidance on the Supreme Good Myriad Transformation Scripture, asked curiously.

Ling Hui had successfully advanced to the Golden Core Realm, and her cultivation base had just stabilized. To make her path of cultivation smoother, Liu Xuan had specifically set aside time to explain the Dao of Water to her.

"It is nothing, just a small matter. I will finish teaching you before I go to handle it."

Liu Xuan waved his hand and continued to explain the mysteries of the Cultivation Technique to his daughter, Ling Hui. Whenever Ling Hui raised a question, he would answer it patiently.

The insights gained by his children in their cultivation could be fed back and stacked; teaching Ling Hui was actually a form of cultivation for Liu Xuan as well.

The higher Ling Hui's understanding of the Cultivation Technique, the more insights were fed back to Liu Xuan. Liu Xuan would then use his own superior perspective, which fused the achievements of countless children, to teach Ling Hui—stepping on his left foot with his right to spiral into the sky.

Setting aside utilitarian motives, he always had a bit more patience for the first batch of children, such as Ling Hui.

Although the earlier-born children had less ideal Spiritual Root talent, there weren't many children back then. Liu Xuan had a deep impression of each one and often accompanied them in play, so the emotional bond was naturally deeper.

The later children were different. Even though they generally had better Spiritual Roots, there were simply too many siblings, and Liu Xuan was too busy to provide much companionship. Some children, if they didn't see him for a while, would feel a bit like strangers when they met again.

It was fine for outstanding individuals with talent of the third grade or higher, such as Dao Long, Spirit Phoenix, De Ming, De Yun, and Yuan Jian. However, for the children with seventh or eighth-grade or fifth or sixth-grade Spiritual Roots who had no other outstanding points, Liu Xuan truly could not squeeze out the time to care for them.

Seeing that the teaching was about enough, Liu Xuan said, "Let's stop here for today. If you have any questions, I will answer them all next time."

"Yes!"

Ling Hui stood up and saluted. After pondering for a moment, she asked, "Is Father planning to shift the Family's development focus toward the East Sea? Can Daughter stay at the Joyous Union Sect to work with Aunt You Ruo?"

Liu Xuan smiled. "I originally intended to have you stay at the Joyous Union Sect to work. I had planned to tell you after your cultivation completely stabilized, but I didn't expect you to bring it up first."

"I am well aware of your abilities. Do whatever you want to do. For small matters, go to You Ruo or Lizhi; for major matters, go directly to your Aunt Xingwan. They will all help you."

"Thank you, Father!" Ling Hui's eyes lit up, and she said happily.

Seeing his daughter happy, Liu Xuan was also quite pleased. Before leaving, Liu Xuan said solemnly, "Cultivation is the foundation; Family affairs are merely an aid. Remember not to let worldly affairs delay your cultivation."

"Daughter will keep Father's teachings in mind!"

Liu Xuan said no more. With a flash of light, he disappeared.

...

The deep sea.

Crystal Palace of the Merfolk Tribe.

Just as Queen of Merfolk was showing impatience, thinking the Three-Headed Demon Python was trying to deceive her, space outside the hall rippled slightly, and Liu Xuan stepped out from a spatial mirror.

Liu Xuan hovered in the water. Since there was no fourth child for him to save this time, he had enough leisure to admire this crystal palace beneath the deep sea.

With a sweep of his Divine Sense, Liu Xuan discovered that this crystal palace was massive, built upon a fifth-grade Low Grade water vein, surrounded by colorful coral; it was breathtaking at a glance.

The scenery was beautiful, but the Merfolk Tribe living inside the palace was different; they could only be described as extremely ugly.

Most of the merfolk had fish tails for their lower bodies, and their upper bodies were covered in black hair, just like chimpanzees—so ugly that one couldn't bear to look directly at them.

What kind of merfolk was this? They were practically Mer-chimpanzees!

However, Liu Xuan soon discovered something amiss. It seemed that only the male merfolk looked like chimpanzees, born ugly, while the female merfolk were different. Although they also had fish tails, their upper bodies were no different from normal human women, and overall, they were even a bit more beautiful than human women.

"Beauty and the Beast?"

"What a waste of natural gifts!!"

"Sect Master Liu, since you have arrived, why not come in?"

While Liu Xuan was looking around, Queen of Merfolk's pleasant voice came from inside the hall.

Liu Xuan smiled faintly, took a step forward, and instantly arrived below the great hall.

"It has been many days, Your Majesty, you are still as radiant as ever!"

Without the hostage that was the fourth child, it seemed the Merfolk Queen had something to ask of him again; Liu Xuan's unreliable nature was revealed, and he started by complimenting her.

Queen of Merfolk did not share Liu Xuan's mindset. She frowned and looked at Liu Xuan for a moment before suddenly asking, "Did Sect Master Liu kill Old Ancestor Hehuan?"

Liu Xuan was startled! "Your Majesty, why do you say that?"

Queen of Merfolk locked eyes with Liu Xuan, as if trying to see some truth in his eyes, but unfortunately, she gained nothing.

"The Long Whale Clan Chief told me personally," she said, appearing casual.

"Heh~" Liu Xuan chuckled. Regardless of whether what she said was true or false, he nodded slightly and admitted it. "That's right, Old Ancestor Hehuan, also known as Great Sage Huateng of the Long Whale Palace, was indeed killed by me."

As soon as these words were spoken, Liu Xuan suddenly felt the space in the great hall tremble slightly, and an ethereal aura appeared and then quickly vanished.

"Great Saint Xumiao, hiding and skulking around is perhaps a bit embarrassing for a big shot of your status!"

Great Saint Xumiao was one of the two Great Saints in Long Whale Palace who were not of the Long Whale Clan, and she had a close relationship with the Queen of Merfolk, Yuan Hua. Liu Xuan had guessed she was present last time.

After Liu Xuan finished speaking, the hall was silent for a while. Then, a transparent figure slowly condensed in the Void Realm, finally turning into a gentle woman dressed in white.

At first glance, this woman was not stunning, but she gave people a very comfortable and gentle feeling, with extremely strong affinity; she belonged to the type that became more beautiful the more you looked at her.

"I am Xumiao. Sect Master Liu's perception is sharp; I admire it!"

Great Saint Xumiao did not feel embarrassed about being discovered while hiding in the dark to watch; she generously bowed to Liu Xuan.