One week later, dusk, Moonstone City, grand harbor.
On the rolling black waves, ships billowing thick smoke sailed in from the distant sea.
Dense crowds packed the harbor, gazing into the distance. Those aboard the ships weren't adventurers returning with full loads - they were mostly wounded, n and won, old and young.
In this chilly autumn, the injured on board huddled together like cargo, cramd into every corner of the ships.
A sea breeze carrying the scent of blood slowly blew past. The mont the ships docked, the crowd anxiously surged forward.
A weapons rchant wearing tattered robes with bark-like skin had set up a small stall by the harbor road, looking toward the crowd.
Among this dense mass of people, only one man in black hunter attire stood on the harbor, gazing at the sea for a long ti without moving.
The weapons rchant asked in a dry, hoarse voice:
"Sir, are you a hunter from Blackore City?"
At the man's waist hung a second-tier hunter license from Blackore City.
Chen Qi adjusted his hood and turned to scan the rchant before him.
The man was conservatively sixty years old, his skin so dry and shriveled like bark it almost stuck to his bones.
A third-tier Shell affinity Transcendent, probably a【Shopkeeper】of Shell affinity - this was a very popular managent profession suitable for farming-type players. During digestion, it required consuming an additional third-tier profession card, plus an artifact anchored to 'shop attributes', and fifty gold coins to advance to a special Shopkeeper. Then by selling items and earning money to complete tasks, one could obtain the rare supernatural currency and inspiration points of the supernatural world.
In Beiguo, many miscellaneous weapon shopkeepers, potion shopkeepers, dock shopkeepers, bar shopkeepers, succubus shop shopkeepers, and other such Transcendents all belonged to branches of the "Shopkeeper" profession.
Chen Qi asked confirmingly:
"Weapons Shopkeeper?"
The weapons rchant calmly lifted the ragged cloth covering his rchandise:
"Yes, I was once a treasure hunter in Blackore City too, sir. Would you like to buy sothing?"
As he spoke, the skin at the corners of the weapons rchant's mouth made obvious creaking sounds.
This was the common necrotic tree disease from Goblet affinity rifts. If not treated promptly, it could leave a Goblet affinity third-tier Transcendent permanently disabled.
Beyond death, rifts could also bring unimaginable incurable diseases.
The story of a once glorious third-tier expert who eventually beca crippled for life due to an illness contracted during constant adventures, or even had their corpse used as material, was not uncommon on these seas.
To be precise, aside from dying in rifts and conflicts, this was the ultimate fate of most third-tier Transcendents in this age of adventure.
Chen Qi looked down, scanning the rchant's goods before him.
He had been in Moonstone City for so ti, but there was one very important thing he still hadn't obtained.
Vendors at Moonstone City harbor occasionally had so items. In terms of quality alone, this weapons rchant's goods were quite good.
The weapons rchant said sorrowfully:
"Sir, my eldest son died because abdominal poison insects weren't operated on in ti. Now that war has co, the Blackfin Crew has killed many navy personnel."
"My second son, though second-tier, cannot refuse others and lacks his own opinions. Good doctors have limited availability - I need to secure him a spot in advance, if he can return..."
Chen Qi didn't respond, continuing to scan the rchandise.
Seeing this, the weapons rchant added:
"Sir, I'm not seeking sympathy to cheat you out of money. These are all good items I obtained during my early adventures. If not for so conflicts with Moonstone City's rchant Consortium, they could fetch a large sum..."
Chen Qi remained silent for a mont before saying:
"Do you have those 'tattoo-type magic circuits' that don't require surgery, just need to be applied to the body to increase total spiritual energy and casting speed?"
The weapons rchant lowered his head, thinking for a mont:
"Yes, let look..."
Chen Qi had already purchased many things during this trip to Moonstone City.
These included eighty spiral magic bullets worth ten million, sixty dazzling flash bombs specifically for blinding large creatures worth three million. During warti, weapon prices in Moonstone City had increased significantly, but to counter flying dragons, he needed so anti-air capabilities.
Additionally, a Holy Light technique skill card that provided group courage, strength, and inspiration bonuses, worth five million. Though an auxiliary skill, it was essential for Lamp Keepers.
And in the black market, the sky-high priced "Water Breathing" skill card that extended underwater breathing ti cost him ten million Shell Coins alone.
Plus express ship tickets, special mall entry passes, and other expenses, the fifty million gold coins Chen Qi had obtained now dwindled to just twenty million.
Fortunately, all his misdeeds were in the Rift Sea, so he had no reputation in Moonstone City. With his second-tier hunter license, he could enter any store without screening.
After a mont, the weapons rchant found a roll of 'bandages' among the densely packed goods on his ragged cloth, with deep blue text engraved on them.
Chen Qi's eyes lit up as he took the bandages.
【Convenience-type Tattoo Magic Circuit
Affinity: Book
Description: A convenience-type magic circuit that only needs to be wrapped around the body to enhance your 'spiritual energy transmission efficiency' and increase your total spiritual energy.】
Magic circuits were enhancents engraved on oneself that greatly improved spiritual energy transmission efficiency and total spiritual energy. However, for non-Book affinity Transcendents, such enhancents could only rely on surgery or equipnt.
Convenience-type magic circuits could achieve similar effects, with the only drawbacks being easy damage and looking like a mummy wrapped in bandages when worn.
But for Chen Qi, this was quite good equipnt. After all, among his opponents this ti, he might directly face extraordinary Transcendents like An, so he needed to maximize his imdiate combat power.
An's magic circuit ca from her school's special encounter - one connected to the A-grade rift 'Magic Net'.
When Release was activated, her spiritual energy was nearly infinite, limited only by her frail body.
In this conflict, he was highly likely to encounter these third-tier Transcendents with extraordinary encounters.
Good luck this ti... Chen Qi took the bandages and asked:
"How much?"
The old weapons rchant paused:
"Sir, I have two here. Total price six million, five million for both together."
A quite good price... Chen Qi took out a money pouch and poured out a thousand gold coins:
"I'll take these two cards, plus these explosion-making bottles and jars."
Though he had no use for many items in this small shop, they could probably be resold at higher prices in Blackore City.
A thousand gold coins! The weapons rchant was montarily stunned by this amount:
"Thank you so much. This money can schedule a surgery with a doctor."
"Nothing much..."
Chen Qi sighed.
The navy base's great defeat had caused too much chaos, and chaos led to disaster. The entire sea's order had completely collapsed. With so many wounded, surgery fees for good doctors in Moonstone City kept rising.
For an ordinary person, healing a half-crippled body required at least ten million Shell Coins.
This amount was astronomical even in the current 'gold rush' on the Witch Sea.
Not to ntion that many wounded had parents who were just ordinary workers in Moonstone City's factories.
Then, as he put away his purchases, he faintly sensed an ominous premonition and opened the envelope in his pocket.
Inside was lanie's communication card, with only the latest crimson text:
"Danger, help."
"It's finally begun?"
Chen Qi felt a mont of excitent, then quickly frowned.
Red ant ergency - aning things had developed beyond Fen's expectations!
Plus, transportation was now a problem.
Ordinary travel ships were far too slow.
Coupled with the massive number of wounded, eighty percent of Moonstone City's travel ships had been temporarily requisitioned as transport and rchant vessels for evacuating casualties.
He had stayed in Moonstone City a bit too long.
Chen Qi anxiously looked out to sea.
At this mont, the weapons rchant looked up and said:
"Sir, are you heading out to sea to fight? I hear the Blackfin Crew and Sea God Pirates are taking advantage of the chaos to massively attack various islands. There are hardly any safe places left at sea."
The weapons rchant spoke instinctively. Recently, Moonstone City's morgues had filled up, body bags piled high across the squares - all containing young people seeking glory and wealth.
"I know."
The weapons rchant said uncertainly:
"Is there sothing important out there?"
Important... quite important indeed... Chen Qi thought for a mont and said:
"You could say that."
"Sir, at Moonstone City's Goldfish Dock, there are cheap, fast steam boats for rent."
The weapons rchant seed to rember sothing, then drew a snowflake pattern over his chest:
"May the Ice Witch bless you. May you and your family return safely."
"Mmm..."
Chen Qi nodded, pushed through the crowd, and walked into the distance. He gently stepped onto the seawater, then walked across the sea surface, continuing until he reached the vast, empty ocean.
The sea breeze blew.
As he advanced, black scales gradually erged from the sea, appearing beneath his feet.
A low roar ca from below.
"Let's go."
Chen Qi raised his head, opening his tired eyes to gaze at the distant sea.
......
Two days later.
Dragonflower Archipelago, atop the ruins of Haibao Number One.
Now, the once splendid mobile dock Haibao Number One had broken into two sections. Scorching flas had burned for three days and three nights, with Haibao Number One's location being the strategic passage to the Dragonflower Archipelago.
Over these past days, too many battles had occurred on these ruins. Right beside the raging flas, navy soldiers with severed arms remained.
This was their battlefield, their sleeping place, and where the upcoming decisive battle would occur.
Around the massive ruins of the Haibao Number One mobile dock, nurous adventure ships of hunters lingered nearby.
So sought wealth, others vengeance for friends.
A ghost ship filled with flowers also stayed in the distance, particularly conspicuous.
Watching the navy's hoarse roars in the distance, Burry checked his pocket watch:
"Miss Flower Witch, according to intelligence, Tiger Shark - one of the Three Admirals and owner of the Great Shark Battleship - will arrive soon. We're running out of ti."
"......"
Fen didn't speak, instead turning her head to look at the distant sea.
Rumble!
With the sound of massive waves, the Great Shark Battleship broke through the sea. At the bow stood a man wearing tight navy battle attire and an admiral's cap, looking up at the sky.
He had a square head, rough skin, small round eyes filled with killing intent, constantly emitting extrely violent Blade affinity aura. On these seas, he was like a roaring great shark.
Tiger Shark, one of the Three Admirals. His profession was the Blade-Scale Phase 'War General' - extrely combat-capable himself, while able to grant all 'warriors' fearless buffs and powerful global vision. A profession combining both command and combat abilities.
If he wished, he could even temporarily elevate all second-tier navy personnel present to third-tier Transcendent spiritual energy source levels.
Unlike the navy under White Seagull's command, Tiger Shark's forces revered Blade affinity, worshiped the Thirteen Prison Lords - an extrely violent unit. To many, their naval forces were even more pirate-like than actual pirates!
War drums sounded!
Two thousand Tiger Shark navy personnel wearing 'Storm Hamr' battle uniforms with 'Great Shark' armbands shouted in unison:
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
Amidst the overwhelming killing cries, Tiger Shark raised his head, crossing arms as thick as iron pillars, roaring:
"Co out! Jie!"
Boom! His trendous voice echoed across the sea, stirring layer upon layer of waves.
These past days, the navy and the Dragon Tar King's forces had clashed twenty tis, causing five thousand casualties.
Today, either the Dragonflower Archipelago would belong to the navy, or the Great Shark Battleship would belong to the Blackfin Crew!
"Opportunity!"
Burry's eyes lit up as he urgently exclaid.
If the Dragon Tar King and Tiger Shark's navy fought, that would be their best chance to enter the Dragon Tar King's island backyard.
"......"
Fen shook her head. This might be her closest opportunity to obtain legendary dicinal herbs.
Moreover, the location of the Moon Island Flower was highly likely the sacred land the Ice Witch left for her. Perhaps she could complete her advancent right on Moonflower Island.
But now, they were still missing one person.
Fen touched lanie's communication card - it had broken after just one use during ultra-long-distance transmission.
Burry turned back to look at the Flower Witch, saying quietly:
"Miss Flower Witch, the recent situation at sea is too severe. All travel ships have beco dical vessels. Even if Chen Qi received your ssage imdiately in Moonstone City, he couldn't co.
We don't have ti to wait for him now. You might need to gamble."
Burry stretched, having upgraded his equipnt these past days and regained his confidence.
"......"
Fen remained silent for a mont. Ti was not to be missed. While Admiral Tiger Shark and the Dragon Tar King confronted each other was their best opportunity.
The next instant, a second-tier Transcendent squad from Tiger Shark's navy charged across the sea.
They were wrapped in crimson aura - Admiral Tiger Shark's skill 'War Zeal' that granted warriors power but also filled them with killing and combat desire.
Fifteen strong, under Tiger Shark's War Zeal, each possessed third-tier spiritual energy sources, temporarily matching third-tier power.
The Tiger Shark squad leader brandished a blood-stained curved sword, eyes bloodshot:
"Who allowed you to be here, Chef?"
"Get back now, leave this place, and prepare us a feast for our triumphant return!"
They approached fiercely like thirsty beasts!
Trouble... Fen held her staff, looking at the Tiger Shark squad on the sea, montarily caught in indecision.
But if she didn't act, these Tiger Shark squad mbers might violently plunder items from her ghost ship.
"Sorry, sorry, I'm a chanic from Steam Hand Workshop. We'll leave imdiately..."
Burry bowed down, reluctantly saying. When such a major battle was about to begin, they absolutely couldn't offend these terrifying executioners.
Everyone was an enemy!
"If leaving, leave the woman's body behind..."
The Tiger Shark squad leader grinned, spinning his curved sword.
Boom!
Almost without any warning, a sharp head suddenly erged from the sea. Sharp black scales danced with blood-stained waves, instantly devouring the fifteen-mber Tiger Shark squad.
"!!!"
What was that black thing? Everything happened too fast. Burry's lips trembled slightly, unable to see clearly montarily.
But Fen slowly turned around. In front of the captain's cabin, she heard a familiar voice and the cheers of water spirits.
"We should depart, you two."
Drenched Chen Qi leaned against the captain's cabin, patting Water Spirit No.1's head, saying quietly.
Reviews
All reviews (0)