Chapter 1194: Fate Is Inescapable

Hearing Yi Feng's anxious inquiry, Lu Xinlan's eyes showed a flicker of emotion.

This gentleman had never revealed much emotion before, always as distant and unfathomable as the bright moon.

But now, Mr. Yi was expressing concern, which was an extremely rare occurrence. It was enough to show how much he cared for her. To receive such genuine concern from him, she felt that her life was not in vain.

Lu Xinlan nodded with a forced smile and responded, "Thank you for your concern, Mr. Yi. I am deeply grateful."

"The results of the East Sea Heavenly Sacrifice will only be known tomorrow. I don't know what will happen. It might be me, or it might be someone else."

"In any case, the East Sea Heavenly Sacrifice is like a sharp blade hanging over our heads, ready to fall at any moment. Once you are chosen, there is no escape or resistance in the face of absolute power. This is a calamity that all female cultivators of our East Island cannot avoid."

As she spoke, Lu Xinlan's clear eyes turned slightly red, and her restrained expression could not hide her grief and indignation.

Yi Feng could empathize with her feelings.

It was no wonder that the prodigies of the East Sea harbored hidden fears, facing such a calamity every hundred years. In the face of such a disaster, no one could remain calm.

To lord over the islands and demand the sacrifice of prodigies every hundred years—this was truly excessive!

Seeing Lu Xinlan's silent restraint, Yi Feng couldn't hold back any longer.

"It's true that we are temporarily staying in the East Sea, but you can negotiate with them and decide on the price. What exactly is so formidable about this Merfolk Clan that they can act so arrogantly?"

As if touching a sore spot, the anger in Lu Xinlan's eyes grew more intense.

But after a few moments, this usually composed beauty still couldn't hide her fear.

"Mr. Yi, you don't understand."

"The Heavenly Dragon Merfolk Clan are merfolk with bloodline powers, said to be descended from the true dragon lineage, hence they call themselves the Heavenly Dragon Clan. They have lived in the deep sea for countless years, and their bloodline power is especially strong in the ocean. Even many of the mainland's heavenly domains fear them greatly."

"For tens of thousands of years, whenever the Heavenly Dragon Merfolk Clan has appeared on the surface, we human cultivators have had no choice but to retreat. Even if there were blood enemies hiding in the East Sea, no one dared to come seeking revenge. It was only recently, when many heavenly sects united, that they dared to take advantage of the fact that the hundred-year period had not yet arrived to launch a sneak attack on an outer island for revenge."

"This single instance of a sneak attack was already a rare miracle achieved through united efforts, something that hadn't happened in tens of thousands of years."

"Over time, the Heavenly Dragon Merfolk Clan has become like the emperor of the East Sea. We live here in submission, utterly powerless to resist..."

So powerful?

A mere merfolk clan could intimidate everyone to such an extent?

Yi Feng was greatly shocked, finding it hard to believe.

"So formidable?"

"I heard that the island master of Black Island is a formidable figure, and the island is filled with hidden talents. Has no one ever resisted? Have they just allowed these merfolk to act so arrogantly?"

As soon as he asked, Lu Xinlan's expression turned more somber.

"Tens of thousands of years ago, the 34th generation island master of Black Island once spoke out against this. That island master was a peerless genius, a dazzling talent of his time."

"Unfortunately, in front of the third prince of the Heavenly Dragon Merfolk Clan, he was no match at all. The gap between them was like heaven and earth, and it has intimidated the islands for tens of thousands of years."

"After this incident, the islands were already terrified to the core. It's a pity that our cultivation is too shallow, and we can only bow to the third prince to secure a hundred years of peace for the East Island."

"Mr. Yi, you must find this amusing..."

The cruel reality was lamentable.

Looking at Lu Xinlan's eyes filled with unwillingness and self-mockery, Yi Feng fell into deep thought, saying nothing more, but he remembered this significant event.

One day later.

In the elegant courtyard at the center of Black Island.

Several women dressed in white robes stepped in steadily, their pristine appearance commanding respect. They exuded an extraordinary aura, but their expressions were icy to the extreme.

"Miss Shuyao."

"According to the decree of the Heavenly Dragon Merfolk Clan, you are the Heavenly Maiden. We hope you will comply with the will of heaven."

Lu Shuyao clenched her jade-like fingers, refusing to rise.

After staring for a few moments, her red lips parted slightly, devoid of her usual composure. Her voice was cold and filled with grief and indignation.

"Nonsense!"

"How could I possibly be the Heavenly Maiden?"

The sword-wielding women exchanged glances but remained silent.

The eldest among them held out a jade slip.

Instantly, the jade slip emitted a faint glow, which coalesced like flowing sand, forming five seated figures in the air. Their faces were obscured by dark cloaks.

Even though they were mere projections, the aura they exuded was still terrifyingly powerful!

Lu Shuyao's face changed again, and a sense of foreboding rose in her heart. She had no choice but to slowly rise and bow.

"I pay my respects to the five elders..."

The five projections paid no heed to her courtesy. The leading elder spoke in a cold, commanding tone, exuding an overwhelming pressure that brooked no refusal.

"Lu Shuyao."

"As a direct descendant of the Lu family, your talent and beauty are renowned throughout the island. You have been decreed by the Heavenly Dragon Merfolk Clan to be the Heavenly Maiden. This is fate!"

Whoosh!

Lu Shuyao's eyes widened in shock, her face turning deathly pale.

Why?

Why was this the outcome?

She had lost the competition, allowing Lu Xinlan to take the position of the tower master. That was one thing—she had indeed been outmatched and had no complaints.

But now, she was also chosen for the Heavenly Sacrifice?

Why did all the good things fall to Lu Xinlan?

How hateful!!

Lu Shuyao gritted her teeth in anger, her clear eyes brimming with tears.

But when she looked up, the projections of the five elders were already filled with cold determination. Their indifferent eyes no longer concealed their killing intent.

Instantly, Lu Shuyao's pupils contracted violently, and gradually, her expression turned calm, like still water without a ripple, all light fading from her eyes.

She understood that she had no choice.

Before Lu Shuyao could recover, the five elders, who had once been caring and affectionate, had already vanished before her eyes.

Only the sword-wielding women remained, bowing respectfully.

"Miss."

"Now that you are the Heavenly Maiden, we are acting under the orders of the five elders. The matter is already decided. We hope you will not make things difficult for us servants."

Her heart turned cold.

Despite her immense unwillingness, Lu Shuyao could only close her eyes, holding back the tears that threatened to fall.

"Fine, fine..."

"What a mockery of a title, 'Heavenly Maiden'..."

Under the escort of several terrifyingly powerful maids, Miss Lu walked out of the courtyard in a daze, her steps as heavy as if they weighed a thousand pounds. Even as she sat in the sedan chair, she remained silent, as if her fate was already sealed, powerless to choose.

At the same time.

Deep within the Treasure Pavilion.

Yi Feng and Lu Xinlan sat in silence on the upper floor, both wearing grave expressions.

Upon learning of the so-called Heavenly Maiden's selection, Yi Feng couldn't help but feel a sense of irony.

"Fate truly plays cruel tricks."

"I never expected that Lu Shuyao would become the so-called Heavenly Maiden, suffering such an unjust fate at the lowest point in her life."

Lu Xinlan nodded in agreement, her eyes still filled with grief and indignation.

"Mr. Yi is absolutely right."

"But it's not that the five elders chose her. The selection is always decided by the third prince of the Heavenly Dragon Merfolk Clan. No one can change it."

"The humiliation she suffers today may one day be my fate as well..."

As she spoke, Lu Xinlan sighed, not gloating over Lu Shuyao's misfortune, but rather feeling a sense of shared sorrow.

As the two of them reflected, a sedan chair flew through the air, heading deeper into the island, surrounded by several white-robed figures, drawing many gazes.

Yi Feng finally showed a hint of surprise and turned to Lu Xinlan to ask, "That sedan chair—it's Lu Shuyao, isn't it?"