It's a constant cycle of hatred and violence between the Shark/mermaid clans versus humanity that's severed at the end. There's so much pain brought onto the both of them but they have each other throughout the story until their ending.

In response to the reviewer that thought the romance came too suddenly and had no deep foundation, I think they missed an important part of the ending. It's explained that because the MC was told to cultivate by observing the land and sea, and because he did it so diligently, he built a connection with the land spirit and also the god of the sea. This is why the land spirit feels so familiar to him and saves him in the end. This is also how he gets noticed by the god, and it's implied this is why the god bothered to save him when he went out adventuring. This slow exchange of favors at the beginning resulted in them catching each other's eyes and fascinating each other; and then built into a deep understanding, tolerance, and love in the second life. It's actually a really deep, meaningful love that's built up and been reinforced over time.

as shown by the high priest

Also I sometimes find the MC and ML's conversations frustrating because the ML has never really communicated properly (?) and is never straight to the point. He always talks in a teasing manner and sometimes I can't tell whether he's messing with the MC or is actually serious. Most of the time the conversation goes nowhere and just like the MC, I always end up feeling frustrated at the end of the conversation.

it seems MC never truly develops feelings for ML as a person, simply being influenced by past life

It's about the MC's backstory.

What was the modern life split lifetime? Was that really a life he led, or a parallel space he got sent to, or a hallucination? He speaks as if it’s a life he lived, but he went from Peng Lai disciple to modern world then dragged back by Zhu Ji? How did that happen?

Also on MC, not enough backstory, why was he the ‘purest soul’, why did Zhu Ji tie him to ML’s life and death? Since she ‘planned it all’, was it to kill two birds with one stone—but she didn’t know ML was the god? She didn’t see them sink into the sea, or have that bond, how would she know?

And ML becoming a god = dying = MC dying along + MC not wanting ML to suffer was honestly confusing. Is MC pretending to sacrifice = less bloodshed = less eventual pain for the ML? But it’s a stretch...

Also, I think I missed it, what’s so special about that bone flute? (Cute btw) and what’s with the random relic that could body-fy the MC’s soul? The little flame/system was also quite random, so it liked to read dog blood novels... I feel like if they introduced more of the three saintess mermaids it would help more.

It also felt like MC/ML were conveniently out of the picture/unconscious when needed.

And suddenly ten years later MC’s body is formed? This spirit of Peng Lai sure is something... a convenient plot point which I wish had more build up.

Originally, I thought the author was good at storytelling, but then... it slowly got bad.

Translators did AMAZING, so not talking about them, but the actual author and her storytelling ability.

I feel that everytime there is a scene involving four characters or more, the author kind of stumble with the writing, but maybe that's just me.

Anyway, barely consistent with the character, MC yeets objects from afar to interrupt bullies from bullying.

..... But, why does he act so s*upid and cruel when he sees the guard?!?! Bro understood to comfort a child, bro saved a merman, but bro just rolls his eyes at the guard because he thinks the guard is too s*upid and that he has too much drama? Like, man was half dead when he met MC for the first time, but MC barely gives a crap about the guard. If we are gonna talk about being full of drama, explain why the eff he is still next to the ML?! At least the guard have a reason for his loyalty! Where tf is MC's reasoning??? "I'm just used to always being next to you" like.... bruh.... if you don't shut your mf hypocritical ahh mouth.... GRRRRRRRR..... why does MC lose character and braincells when he has a scene with the guard? Not only that, he acts all indifferent and haughty with the guard like he is some f*cking royal person. It's so irritating to read this inconsistency.

Yes, I'm aware MC likes to be indifferent and mind his own business and stay away from drama. I'm aware he does have his own way to help those in need, like throwing objects, but whenever the guard shows up, his indifference, ridicules, and him wanting to mind his own business triples! Ok, maybe it's because he wants to avoid the protagonist shou, or maybe it's because he feels that this is the fate of the characters and that's why he just mocks them from a distance and doesn't do anything, but then that makes him one shitty ass MC for not holding ML to the same concept.

Anyway, sorry for the vent. I'm only 33 chapters in so maybe I'm jumping to conclusions too fast.