Chapter 491 — A Love That Crosses Species

[!] The Winter Water Snake overlord had never expected Shi Jin to remember it at all—they had met only once, at the Dragon Palace banquet, and had not exchanged a single word the whole time.

"I've come this time to look into a few matters. After you received the Time-Accumulation Fruit from the Environmental Protection Department, did you give birth to a daughter?"

The Winter Water Snake nodded frantically, thanking him delightedly, "Yes, yes! And her talent is quite exceptional. Thank you, Minister Shi Jin."

"I hear your daughter and the offspring of the Thunder Dragon Palace's Chancellor Turtle have run into some trouble?"

The delight on the Winter Water Snake overlord's face cut off short. Embarrassed, it said, "That is so. My daughter is truly a disappointment—such talent, such a tender age, and yet she's gone and fallen head over heels in love. I've confined her to reflect on her conduct!"

"And how is that reflection going?" asked Shi Jin.

"...Not well. She hasn't eaten in ages. She says she won't eat a bite until that Ten-Thousand-Year Turtle is released from the undersea prison. A disgrace to the family!!" The Winter Water Snake overlord's eyes brimmed with tears.

What kind of karma was this?

Barely one year old. Barely one year old.

Shi Jin fell silent—he could well understand the Winter Water Snake overlord's feelings.

Any father whose daughter turned out like this at barely a year old would surely go mad.

And on top of that, it was a love across species...

Still, from the looks of it, the little princess of the Winter Water Snake clan was rather deeply attached to that blue softshell.

"May I go and see her?" asked Shi Jin.

…………

A short while later, amid the cliffs where the little princess of the Winter Water Serpents was confined, Shi Cen caught sight of that legendary Winter Water Serpent of proud temperament. Like the Longevity Turtle, its fusion technique was one that could be taught.

At this moment it lay cold and aloof upon the ice rock, sleeping to conserve strength in place of eating.

Shi Qi made a round of inquiries; indeed, only the turtle clan and the serpent clan could learn this fusion technique developed by the Martial Emperor.

This fusion technique really ought to be renamed the Turtle-Serpent Fusion, or better yet, the Black Tortoise Fusion.

"I'll go wake it right now." Though the Winter Serpent Overlord had no idea why Shi Jin wanted to see its daughter, it was delighted.

No matter how you counted it, Shi Jin was half a father to its daughter!

If it could forge a connection here, wouldn't that mean soaring to the heavens?

"That won't be necessary." Shi Li said, "Winter Serpent Overlord, have you ever considered what it might become if you don't stop it from developing something with that Longevity Turtle?"

The Winter Serpent Overlord was stunned, unable to grasp what Shi Jin meant.

By then, Shi Yan's insect spirit had already invaded the dream of the little princess of the Winter Water Serpents.

He now needed to understand the little princess's true feelings as well—after all, one must not blindly pair off a couple.

Within the dream.

The little princess's subconscious was gazing in bewilderment at the human and the Azure Dragon before her.

"Do you like that Longevity Turtle?"

Shi Jin and the others cut straight to the point. Under the insect's dream dominance, the other party could hardly lie; and even if it did, they could still perceive the true thoughts in its heart.

At this question from the young man before it, the little blue serpent was instantly flustered and annoyed. A faint blush rose to its face, and it turned its head away in disdain.

[Who would ever like a turtle?]

Shi Jin and the insect spirit: ???

Didn't the records say it was proud by nature? This was plainly a tsundere! What was with the blushing, snake-face? What was with the racing heartbeat, snake-face!

Outside the dream.

"Minister Shi Jin, do you mean..." The Winter Serpent Overlord was perplexed.

Shi Qi turned to it and said, "I've been thinking of cultivating a Black Tortoise. That Longevity Turtle and your daughter have the potential to evolve into a Black Tortoise together—and perhaps, in the future, even to breed a true-god Black Tortoise. I'd like to take them away from Mirage Abyss City so they can train and grow together. I wonder if that would be feasible."

Shi Jin intended to respect the elder's wishes. After all, both were only a year old—extremely young. If taken along, Shi Yun, who followed at his side, was in fact the older one.

The Winter Serpent Overlord's mouth fell open, face full of shock. Shi Jin wanted to cultivate a Black Tortoise? It knew very well that Shi Jin had personally cultivated an orthodox Azure Dragon—and now he wanted to cultivate a Black Tortoise? And had even chosen its daughter?

"You may not believe this, Minister, but I'm actually quite optimistic about them myself. It's just that the Longevity Turtle clan has strict rules, and I simply don't have the power to change any of that, Minister Shi Jin! My daughter's happiness rests entirely in your hands, Minister!" The Winter Serpent Overlord's old tears streamed down.

Shi Jin: ????

Beside them, the insect spirit fell silent. Why did it feel that in a moment, the Turtle Chancellor of the Thunder Dragon Palace would say the exact same thing... You people are just too real!