I have a composite mirror

At the same time, Lan also made up her mind.

Although the formation is powerful, it is ultimately a man-made arrangement.

Since it is human-made, there will be oversights.

After countless observations, she discovered that every seven days, human cultivators would replace the energy stones of the formation.

At that moment, the transparent barrier will flicker for twenty breaths in the southwest corner, revealing a tiny crack.

For prisoners in dire straits, twenty breaths is the only door to freedom.

The next rotation is in three days!

She began making preparations in secret.

Those selected were all able-bodied young men who still possessed strength in the clan, and several elders, including Cang, nodded in agreement.

Ke Lan knew in her heart that although these people were all skilled, they were missing the most crucial one.

That "Ze" who could still control water as easily as an arm even under six layers of shackles.

Without him, the chances of success in this escape are probably less than 30%.

So she sent someone to invite them.

The three white-haired old merfolk held extremely high seniority in their clan, and even Lan had to show them great respect.

Cang You approached Gu Shenyan, his body hunched over, his tone sincere:

"My child, I know you have grievances."

Your clansmen treated you unfairly back then, and the young clan leader also looked down on you.

But now that disaster is imminent, I hope you will consider our shared kinship…

"No need for further explanation."

Gu Shenyan opened his eyes, his eyes shining like cold stars in the darkness:

"Elder Cang, I will not make things difficult for you."

"But as for escaping..." his voice grew colder: "You'll have to figure it out yourself."

Cang sighed.

Looking at the young man who was both strange and familiar, he became increasingly certain in his heart.

Is this child really Ze?

But if it wasn't Ze, then who could it be?

Cang did not try to persuade him further.

He gave Gu Shenyan a deep look before silently leaving with the two old men.

Back beside Lan, Cang shook his head: "The child refused."

Lan bit her lip.

She, the young clan leader, lowered herself to extend an invitation, yet the other party wouldn't even give her a second glance?

She had no choice but to go herself.

As night deepened, most of the merfolk in the fishing grounds had fallen asleep, with only a few remaining vigilant and keeping watch in the shadows.

Lan swam alone towards the shadow of the stone pillar.

Her fishtail refracted a dreamy blue light, and her long hair flowed behind her like seaweed.

"Ze".

The voice was very soft, as if afraid of disturbing something.

Gu Shenyan opened his eyes.

He saw Lan standing not far away, the moonlight outlining her graceful figure.

The face was so beautiful in the dim light that it seemed otherworldly, yet there was a rare hint of unease in its eyes.

"Young clan leader, what brings you here?"

The tone was polite, yet it felt distant, as if separated by thousands of miles.

Lan took a deep breath: "We're going to escape in three days."

There is a weak point in the southwest corner of the formation; there will be a twenty-breath gap when replacing the spirit stones…

"What does it have to do with me?"

Gu Shenyan interrupted her.

Lan Yizhi paused.

She didn't expect the other party to be so direct, not even bothering with polite words.

"You!" She bit her lip, her voice tinged with anger.

"Are you really that cold-blooded? Those are all your own kind!"

"Same race?"

Gu Shenyan smiled:

"When Ze was humiliated, did anyone think of the bonds of kinship?"

"When Ze was so hungry he was just skin and bones, and could only scavenge scraps to fill his stomach, did anyone share a bite with him?"

"When Ze was beaten and humiliated by Jiao, crying and begging for mercy, did anyone stand up and say a word of justice?"

Every word he uttered was like a knife piercing Lan's heart.

"Now that you need me, you talk about kinship?"

He slowly rose to the surface, looking down at Lan:

"Young clan leader, do you think I'd believe that?"

Lan's face turned deathly pale.

She opened her mouth, only to find that she had nothing to say.

Because everything Ze said... was true.

His clansmen had indeed treated him unfairly, and she, as the young clan leader, had never paid any attention to this weak member of the clan.

"sorry."

After a while, she managed to squeeze out those three words.

Gu Shenyan did not respond.

He turned around, sat cross-legged again by the stone pillar, closed his eyes, and made it clear that he was seeing the guest off.

Lan stood there, looking at that tall, straight figure.

Moonlight shone on him, the shackles glowed with a faint white light, and water swirled around him as if a spirit snake were coiling and dancing.

Lan bit her lip and made a decision.

This time, she swam directly to Gu Shenyan, the two of them less than a foot apart.

This distance represents the most intimate relationship for merfolk.

"Ze...no, what should I call you?"

Gu Shenyan looked at the mermaid girl who was so close to him with some surprise.

At such close range, he could even see the gaps between her scales and smell her faint fragrance.

"Just call me Ze."

"But you're not Ze." Lan looked earnestly into his eyes:

"That cowardly Ze is long dead."

Gu Shenyan remained silent; she was right.

"Ze's" consciousness has indeed dissipated, and the one who now occupies this body is Gu Shenyan, who is at least a thousand years in the future.

But of course, he couldn't say such a thing.

Lan's voice was almost pleading:

"I know you're strong, so strong that you might not even need us. But the people... the people really need you."

Gu Shenyan looked at her.

The merman girl's eyes no longer held arrogance, only humble pleading.

As the young clan leader, it is truly remarkable that she has achieved this much.

After waiting for a long time without receiving a response, Lan lowered her head in disappointment.

"Three days later, when the formation is changed... I will help you once."

Hearing the sound, she turned around abruptly.

Under the moonlight, that figure remained aloof, but no longer so indifferent.

"But I have one condition."

Gu Shenyan did not turn around:

"I want to be the vanguard, charging ahead."

Lan was taken aback, then her eyes lit up:

"That's the most dangerous spot."

"I know."

"But why..."

Gu Shenyan waved his hand:

"No need to ask any more questions, go back, young clan leader."

Lan glanced at Gu Shenyan again, wanting to say something, but in the end said nothing.

After swimming several meters, she couldn't help but turn back.

Under the moonlight, the once timid Ze now stands tall and straight like a spear.

My heart suddenly skipped a beat.

Gu Shenyan only opened his eyes after Lan had walked away.

Deep within his consciousness, Ze's obsession roared madly.

She needs me! The young clan leader needs me!

Is this a dream? It must be a dream!

That joy almost overwhelmed my entire consciousness.

This is the feeling of first love, the purest emotion a simp has for his goddess.

Every time Lan gets close, this obsession boils over like magma.

But Gu Shenyan suppressed them all:

Why the rush? It's just going with the flow.

She came to me of her own accord, which is exactly what I wanted.

The Water Control Divine Skill is stuck at 99 proficiency points, just one step away from completion.

This kick can only be delivered in a real life-or-death struggle.

………………

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

For the past three days, Gu Shenyan has spent all his time cultivating his water control abilities, except for the occasional hunting.

He no longer pursued improving his proficiency—that final step could only be achieved through actual combat.

All he did was practice every variation and application of the water-controlling technique until it reached its ultimate level.

Water blades, water whips, water shields, water prisons...

Condensation, dispersion, aggregation, transformation...

Every change must be handled with ease, and every flow of water must be precisely controlled.

Only in this way can one avoid making mistakes in the life-or-death struggle.

Meanwhile, Lan was also making preparations in full swing.

Thirty elite soldiers have secretly assembled.

Several elders, including Cang, volunteered to act as bait during the breakout to attract the attention of human cultivators.

These old guys weren't going to live much longer anyway, so rather than waiting to be bled dry, they'd rather fight to the death to give the younger generation a chance to survive.

Lan wanted to refuse, but the elders were adamant.

Jiao, along with a dozen or so strong young men, guarded the vicinity of the array day and night, recording the exact time when human cultivators replaced spirit stones.

After several days of observation, they discovered a pattern:

Every seven days, at noon, two cultivators would come here to exchange spirit stones.

The process takes twenty breaths, during which a crack almost invisible to the naked eye will appear in the formation.

The crack was only the size of a fist, and normally it would be impossible to pass through.

But if someone could tear the crack open with immense force at that moment…

Perhaps, we can fight our way out.

This "someone" naturally refers to Gu Shenyan.