Chapter 1020 - 852: Beauty Shell’s Secret (Part 2)

Around the palace, large groups of coral reefs spread across the slopes of the mountain, layer upon layer. Colorful coral polyps slowly squirm on the reefs, releasing tiny points of fluorescence, illuminating the entire area like an underwater galaxy.

Duke’s gaze followed the coral reefs downward, discerning the Sea Race residential areas distributed on either side of the mountain.

The architecture there was entirely different from human cities, with no streets or squares. All the buildings resembled giant shells or spirals, intricately embedded in the gaps of coral reefs, connected by suspended walkways woven from soft seaweed.

Sea Race civilians moved along these walkways, some dragging long fish tails, others gently gliding as currents lifted their bodies. Occasionally, young Sea Race children swam near the edges of the walkways, chasing luminous plankton, playing and frolicking.

The Imperial Chariot slowly descended onto the platform in front of the palace’s main entrance. The Sea Dragons bowed their heads in unison just before touching the ground, allowing the Coral Imperial Chariot to smoothly settle on the platform paved with solid white Crystal.

Flanking the platform, dozens of Deep Sea Maidens were already lined up waiting. They wore long court gowns woven from seaweed silk and pearls. The deep blue and dark green skirts floated gently in the water, complementing the Royal Family’s exclusive azure curls atop their heads.

As one, the maidens bowed, their movements impeccably synchronized, akin to a ceremony rehearsed countless times.

Serafina walked out of the Imperial Chariot, slightly nodding toward the maidens, then proceeded directly into the depths of the palace.

Her steps were brisk, the hem of her skirt leaving a thin trail of water across the coral floor, indicating her familiarity with every corridor and side hall of the palace.

Duke followed behind her, discreetly scanning the corridors on either side.

On the walls here were embedded carefully selected Luminous Pearls, each the size of a fist. Their gentle light illuminated the entire corridor brightly, entirely eradicating the deep sea’s natural gloom.

Every few steps, the walls displayed reliefs carved from Deep Sea Crystal Stone, depicting scenes from the ancient Sea Race wars with giant Sea Beasts to the Royal Family’s coronation ceremonies. The style was ancient and solemn, with an undeniable majesty in every engraved line.

After passing through three archways, Serafina stopped before a large door carved from a single piece of light blue Crystal.

She raised her hand, lightly touching the Crystal door with her fingertips, causing the door to silently slide open on both sides, revealing a spacious reception room beyond.

The room was furnished with extreme luxury, a chandelier hanging from the ceiling composed of thousands of meticulously polished mother-of-pearl fragments, each linked with fine silver threads, refracting gentle rainbow hues with a slight sway.

The walls were adorned with murals carved from whole Deep Sea Aquamarine, depicting the ancient Sea Race Royal Family’s coronation scenes, every detail vivid and lifelike.

The floor was covered with a thick carpet woven from the fibers of unknown deep sea plants, feeling like walking on a soft beach without raising a speck of dust.

Coral coffee tables around were laden with deep sea specialty fruits and drinks emitting a faint blue glow. The air was filled with a light sea salt fragrance, mingling with an indescribable sweetness.

Serafina turned to face the Deep Sea Maidens and guards who followed her in.

Though her demeanor remained that of a stately Royal Family member, there was an almost imperceptible urgency in her voice: "Everyone leave. Without my command, no one is allowed near this room."

The lead maiden hesitated briefly, unconsciously glancing at Duke, her lips moved as if she wanted to say something.

But Serafina merely slightly tilted her head, her deep Sea Blue gemstone eyes calmly meeting the maiden’s gaze, prompting her to swallow her words, bow deeply, and then lead all the maidens and guards out.

The heavy gemstone door slowly shut behind her, emitting a muffled light sound.

Serafina stood by the door, listened for a moment, confirming everyone was a safe distance away.

Then she raised her right hand, her slender fingers lightly tracing the air.

An invisible ripple spread from her fingertips, like a stone cast into a still lake, expanding outward, finally attaching a thin, translucent membrane over the walls, floor, and ceiling.

As the membrane formed, the room’s ambient noise suddenly vanished.

Even the exceedingly faint friction of Duke’s movements on the carpet fibers disappeared, as if the entire reception room had been removed from the world.

"Alright." It was only then that Serafina breathed a sigh of relief, her stately Royal Family demeanor relaxing slightly.

She pointed to the seat beside the coral coffee table, indicating Duke to sit down, while she herself settled into the chair opposite, casually pulling her skirt to one side, revealing delicate ankles and a thin pearl chain encircling them.

Leaning back in her seat, she looked at Duke, her eyes brighter than they had been on the deck moments ago.

"Now we can speak freely."

Duke sat across from her, looking at the crown-wearing Level 4 Sea Race Royal Family girl, falling silent for a moment, then expressing genuine admiration: "Your strength’s growth is truly shocking to me. When I first met you at the Bottom of the Abyss several years ago, you didn’t even have Level 1 energy waves."

Hearing this, Serafina couldn’t suppress the arc at her mouth from turning upward.

Slightly raising her chin, she spoke in a tone of feigned calm: "That’s because I was always strong."

But halfway through her words, she couldn’t hold back any longer, the smile spreading from her mouth to her eyes, lighting up her whole face.

"Alright, I’m not teasing you anymore. Actually, it’s because of the Beauty Shell."

Sitting upright, the smile on her face gradually faded, replaced by a serious expression: "You should have already guessed. Ordinary Sea Race can’t transform from a level below Level 1 to Level 4 Life in such a short time.

The reason I could do it is because I was born from the Royal Family’s bloodline, and I’m among the most special kind of Sea Race Royal Family bloodline. The true nature of the Beauty Shell is probably not well understood even by you Wizards. In your records, the Beauty Shell is probably just a peculiar, delicious little creature, right? But actually, it’s the most crucial means of bloodline inheritance for the Sea Race."

"There are many Beauty Shells in the seas. Most Beauty Shells are as you’ve recorded, palm-sized, opening to reveal a small girl-like figure, very delicious but fragile.

However, among them lies a very low probability, extremely low, of nurturing a true Sea Race Royal Family bloodline."

She placed her hand lightly on her chest, her fingers touching the blue gemstone pendant matching the crown’s centerpiece.

"There are two types of Sea Race Royal Family: normal royal descendants, bred by parents, much like other races. And the other, like me, nurtured by the Beauty Shell, sleeping in the deep sea for hundreds to thousands of years, until awakened by specific conditions."

"This kind of bloodline power is on an entirely different level from ordinary Royal Family." Serafina’s voice was calm and assertive, not boasting, merely stating an established fact. "We don’t need to meditate on Magic, construct Magic Models, or refine Spiritual Power like Wizards. Our power comes from the awakening of the bloodline itself. The longer we sleep, the more intense the awakening process is, the faster the strength grows.

I slept at the Bottom of the Abyss for at least several thousand years, so when you awakened me, the bloodline within me began to awaken at the fastest pace. From Level 1 to Level 4, something that appears as decades or centuries of cultivation to you Wizards, for me, is merely the gradual release of bloodline power."