Truly facing the legendary Enigma, Lu Yunian didn’t have a foolproof strategy. With his military talent taken away, all battle plans relied on years of experience and countless campaign analyses. Many involved conflicts with the Winged and Sea tribes. Lu Yunian held nothing back, thoroughly explaining his troop deployments. Tian Yulan initially underestimated Lu Yunian, especially knowing Kun had given the military gift to Hai Yu. But after several fireside meetings, the Winged tribe finally showed due respect to this Imperial War Star.

“The Ghost Legion abducts quality Alphas, aiming to convert them into usable Omegas through Enigma,” Lu Yunian displayed the total missing persons from the three tribes on a holographic screen, projecting 3D profile images of several elites. “Three days ago, the Ghost Legion attacked the Pentagon, kidnapping over ten researchers attending a quantum evolution conference, including three gold-star professors.”

Hai Mu’er stood, enlarging an image of a merman Alpha in the upper right corner, saying gravely, “This is our oceanographer, Professor Hai Liman.”

Tian Yulan shrugged, lazily remarking, “There is no one from our Winged Clan!”

Hai Yu blurted out thoughtlessly, “That’s because you don’t have many professors.”

Tian Yulan narrowed his eyes, unfurling his wings to create a gust that sent the young Sea King tumbling. Hai Mu’er, embarrassed by Hai Yu, grabbed his collar to steady him, shielding him behind himself while shooting Tian Yulan a sharp, warning glance. The beautiful Winged King retracted his wings, covering his mouth elegantly, “Just stretching, no need for alarm.”

“The military has requested wartime protection from the Alliance, inviting elites and Alphas with outstanding contributions to the Empire to the Sandalwood Hill villa district. If the Sea and Winged tribes need, I’ll arrange for my deputy to secure suitable accommodations for your people,” Lu Yunian continued.

“No need,” Hai Mu’er coldly replied, but his gaze flicked to Pei Xiuran. Seeing him frown at his words while standing serenely behind Lu Yunian, he changed his words, “If needed, I’ll discuss it with Xiuran.”

“We don’t need it, after all, we don’t have many professors,” Tian Yulan beckoned to Hai Yu, eyes twinkling with mischief. Hai Yu was really afraid of this Wing Clan leader and scurried behind Gu Zeyu. “But you can leave me a room next to the little Sea King, so that we can exchange military strategies.”

Hai Mu’er stared directly at Tian Yulan, then at his useless uncle, coldly snorting, “The Sea tribe has no tradition of seeking protection through marriage. We are the strongest on our own.”

Tian Yulan’s feathered lashes fluttered, his iridescent eyes gleaming with elusive mirth as he drawled, “Then go fight the Ghost Legion alone. Why seek my help?”

Despite his fear, Hai Yu had personally sought the alliance with the Winged tribe. Hearing Tian Yulan’s apparent change of heart, he peeked out from behind Gu Zeyu. “I’ll stay! But it must be equipped with a triple anti-theft lock, the kind that can only be opened from the inside!”

After the meeting dispersed, Gu Zeyu pulled Hai Yu aside, asking softly, “How did you provoke such a powerful person?”

Hai Yu replied, torn between laughter and tears, “During negotiations with the Winged tribe, I mistook him, an Alpha, for an Omega and flirted a bit. How could there be such a beautiful Alpha? How was I to know he was Tian Yulan?”

As Gu Zeyu moved to comfort the pitiful young Sea King, Lu Yunian swept him up in his arms, saying as they walked, “Throughout history, countless princesses were sent for political marriages to quell wars. It’s quite normal.”

Three days later, not only were Gu Zeyu’s twelve brothers invited to the Sandalwood Hill¹檀香山 (Tán xiāng shān) – Honolulu, capital of Hawaii, but individually it means sandalwood fragrance mountain/hill villas, but Lu Yunian also met their legendary scientist father, Professor Gu Hengzhi, for the first time. This industry titan, so engrossed in research he’d missed Gu Zeyu’s wedding, couldn’t let go of Gu Lulu upon seeing him. At just over nine months, barely able to sit and crawl, the old man conducted scientific experiments with his grandson in the playroom, more effective than any Beta nanny.

Gu Hengzhi understood Gu Zeyu’s identity better than his sons. Learning that Lu Yunian was Gu Zeyu’s chosen mate, he finally accepted this son-in-law. He even described bringing Gu Zeyu home: a fry in the cultivation pool suddenly transformed into human form, with divine consciousness conveying its will through dreams.

For twenty years, Gu Hengzhi’s research focused on helping Gu Zeyu regain his full divine consciousness. He discovered Gu Zeyu had distributed his talents among his twelve sons like gifts, while the ancient god’s intellect remained childlike after dispersing his divine consciousness. As the twelve sons excelled in various fields, making significant contributions, the ancient god slumbered peacefully, knowing others would protect his beloved people.

Gu Hengzhi nearly terminated his research when Gu Zeyu transitioned from a god to his son, inevitably becoming partial and affectionate. Everyone needed a powerful god as spiritual support, but no one truly cared if the god grew weary.

Yet since encountering this powerful Omega, he understood Lu Yunian was like him. All his efforts aimed to unite the three tribes against the Ghost Legion, never intending to burden Gu Zeyu with saving the world.

While Gu Hengzhi entertained his grandson, Gu Zeyu crouched nearby, playing, too. Lu Yunian entered to find two small mouths agape, astonished by a floating ping-pong ball. He respectfully greeted Gu Hengzhi and then waved to Gu Zeyu. “Xiao Yu, take the baby out for a bit. I need to discuss something with Father.”

Gu Zeyu shook his head, watching the ball rise and fall with air currents, waving Lu Yunian off. “Just a little longer, please.”

Gu Lulu, clinging to his father, wobbled against his arm, cooperatively babbling. “Ah ah, ah ah!”

Lu Yunian approached, patting both their heads, lowering his voice in mock seriousness. “It’s important business, be good.”

Gu Lulu reacted faster than Gu Zeyu and crawled out on all fours. Seeing his son’s practiced betrayal, Gu Zeyu rose in shock and followed. Lu Yunian sat opposite Gu Hengzhi, his expression grave. “On the main battlefield, the Sea tribe lost two elite units, the Interstellar Alliance had a base captured, and the Winged tribe’s Hummingbird Vanguard was annihilated. Professor, your research on tertiary differentiation at the Beta Conference three years ago—is it possible for an Omega to become an Enigma through tertiary differentiation?”

“You want to become an Enigma?” Gu Hengzhi lowered his voice, hearing Gu Zeyu’s footsteps chasing Gu Lulu outside. “This defies natural law. We have no clinical trials proving this method’s success, let alone knowledge of potential side effects. Military losses stem from the power imbalance between you and the Ghost Legion, but if we could awaken Xiao Yu’s divine consciousness…”

“Father,” Lu Yunian interrupted, his gaze resolute. “We shouldn’t place the safety of all beings on prayers to gods. Our own strength is endless²源源不断 (yuán yuán bù duàn) – a steady flow (idiom); an unending stream and full of potential³生生不息 (shēng shēng bù xī) – to grow and multiply without end!”

TL Notes

• 1
  檀香山 (Tán xiāng shān) – Honolulu, capital of Hawaii, but individually it means sandalwood fragrance mountain/hill
• 2
  源源不断 (yuán yuán bù duàn) – a steady flow (idiom); an unending stream
• 3
  生生不息 (shēng shēng bù xī) – to grow and multiply without end