Chapter 477: Chapter 314: Edge of the Mist_2
Through this massive special magnet, people could find their way home in the shallows of the Mist Sea using a “magnetic needle.”
However, over the long years, these “special magnetic needles” had been monopolized, becoming tools of profit for some individuals.
Their prices were exorbitant. A mere magnetic needle could cost as much as one hundred thousand shell coins.
Barkeeper Monroe grinned, revealing a dense row of teeth sharp as needles:
“Information plus the magnetic needle, twenty…”
Two hundred thousand shell coins, truly an astronomical demand.
Pressed for time, Chen Qi did not bother with chatter, sliding twenty Gold Coins across the counter.
In order to repair the Ghost Ship and purchase premium feed for the Lamp Moon Sea Dragon for the month, he now had only three hundred thousand shell coins left on him.
Barkeeper Monroe extended his bone-like hand, picked up a stack of papers, and said:
“According to the Disaster Messenger’s survey from the Bei Country Meteorological Bureau, no major calamities or Crack collapses are expected in the shallows of the Mist Sea within the next twenty days.”
“However, the Ice Demon Pirate Group has been spotted in the Mist Sea before January, their purpose unknown, but it’s highly likely they’re after the Ice Witch again, as they always are for the Ice Witch.”
“Also, according to a mad adventurer, he saw a massive ship in the sea, built from black bones, resembling a city.
The moment he saw the ship, a hole formed in his brain, and from that hole, white maggots incessantly squirmed out.”
“Hmm… Also, recently there have been merchants with tentacles conducting business. Even those who are not Shell Phase Transcendents can exchange for rare items from them.
But if you don’t have the mysterious ancient currency, don’t approach them at any cost. They do not welcome the penniless without ancient currency.
In the Mist Sea, they can extinguish your lantern, unless you are a Lamp Keeper.”
No bad weather, the main dangers were the deep-sea merchants and the bone-constructed giant ship.
Deep-sea merchants weren’t an issue… Chen Qi quietly mused.
In the Mist Sea, dangers lurked everywhere, but as long as one adhered to the rules and stayed rational, it wasn’t so easy to perish.
This was a necessary risk… Chen Qi continued to inquire:
“The magnetic needle?”
However, barkeeper Monroe extended his hand, covering the twenty Gold Coins on the countertop with a grin:
“Sir, you haven’t paid yet.”
“??” Chen Qi’s eyes held a touch of curiosity.
Subsequently, barkeeper Monroe pointed to a battered sign in the corner of their bar.
It read:
“This shop accepts only ‘ancient currency.'”
“Customer, the twenty I mentioned refers to ancient currency.”
Ancient currency, a special currency that Shell Phase Transcendents could obtain by completing tasks in the Mysterious Shop, had advantages over shell coins.
The value of one piece of ancient currency was around one million shell coins, effectively inflating the price by a hundredfold!
Then Monroe, nearly hysterical, said:
“Customer, do you know? In the Mist Sea, there is a great merchant who doesn’t care about your identity or strength, only a living person is needed to exchange for one piece of ancient currency! A Third Rank for a hundred pieces!”
“You can pay with corpses and your companions, go to the Mist Sea, sacrifice our goods to it! Then we will waive your”
Do I look so gentle, so easily bullied… Chen Qi turned his head, scanning the surroundings.
He saw that the Third Rank Transcendents inside the bar were all grinning as they stood up.
Ten Third Ranks, plus twenty Second Ranks, hungry as a group of crocodiles, had been lying in wait for quite some time.
Visible on their skin were exposed animal patterns, common among Moonstone City’s gangs, and amongst them, he even recognized the familiar Black Rabbit.
They must be one of Moonstone City’s many gangs, influenced by the Witch Sea’s cultivation of gu and by some mysterious entities in the Mist Sea.
Chen Qi took a drink from his flask tied to his belt and said in an even tone:
“I have ancient currency.”
“You have ancient currency?” barkeeper Monroe was startled by this response.
In the next moment, Chen Qi suddenly seized Monroe’s head and smashed it downward!
With a thunderous roar, Monroe’s head was driven straight into the steel-made bar!
Bones shattered, blood splattered!
Under the powerful force of Chen Qi’s right hand, Monroe, a Third Rank with malicious intent, had no chance to resist. With all his might, he strained to lift his head.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
The sound of bones breaking echoed!
“What are you doing! Charge! This is our territory, just like we killed those navy men, enslave these three and offer them to the Mist!”
“Charge!”
Monroe roared, releasing the malice in his eyes with full force, using “Malice Stimulate” to empower his comrades!
However, in the next instant, a drop of blood from the ceiling fell upon his angry eye.
The ceiling was dripping blood…
Monroe looked up, witnessing a terrifying scene before him.
Dozens of indescribably slender arms sprouted from the back of the hunter they faced, those eerily twisted limbs, like one spear after another, stabbing at his charging brother.
Their hearts had been pierced, their bodies nailed firmly to the wall and ceiling by these ‘spears,’ dripping with blood.
Before death, they hadn’t managed to make a single move, only leaving behind faces contorted in agony and screaming.
The entire bar turned red with fresh blood and corpses in an instant.
Except for the slaves cowering in the corner, all the slave traders who had tried to attack were thoroughly penetrated by the Dark Fire Hand.
Then, the Dark Fire Hand behind Chen Qi gently opened a public small cabinet, took out ten ancient coins:
“I told you, I have ancient currency.”
Chen Qi smirked slightly.
He had no sympathy for these human traffickers.
These past days, he had successfully absorbed the half bottle of Sage’s Medicine given to him by Fen, his inspiration had increased by a total of 20 points, his strength by 20 points, and his agility by 15 points.
Thanks to that half bottle of Sage’s Medicine, compared to a month ago, his physical fitness had greatly improved. Now, controlling the Dark Fire Hand was as easy for him as eating and drinking.
“Let me go, I know the Black Death Doctor of the Black Whale Group, I can offer you…”
Silence ensued!
After disposing of things, Chen Qi disregarded Monroe’s final cries, leaving his body to fall to the ground.
“Huff…”
Fen inhaled deeply, eyeing the bloodstained clothes of Chen Qi and those dark arms retracting back into his heart.
Bree seemed even more astonished; he always felt that Chen Qi’s strength seemed to have risen again.
In Bree’s mind, Chen Qi had already surpassed Supernova An at this point.
Click-clack! Click-clack! Chen Qi retracted all the Dark Fire Hands, then turned to the slaves trembling in the corner.
The slaves huddled together, terrified that speaking a single word would have them impaled through the heart by those sinister arms, to be offered up to the monsters of the Witch Sea.
Becoming a Deep Sea Hunter was a career that required a reputation to be upheld as a legend.
Chen Qi thought it over; it was time for him to salvage his reputation.
Saving these slaves might be a good choice.
Otherwise, under the influence of the Witch Times, he truly faced becoming a freak with perverse tendencies for both torture and masochism.
Chen Qi packed away the bar’s props and money, including backpack cards, leaving enough for these slaves to return home and providing them with Healing Potions.
Judging by the state of these slave traders, the number of monstrous traders in the shallows of the Mist Sea was probably even more than I anticipated… Chen Qi made sure there were no loose ends before quickly departing from the place.
“Let’s go, Fen.”
“Yeah!”
Fen nodded happily, and alongside Bree, followed towards the Ghost Ship on the vast sea.
“Qi, that scared me to death, glad you guys are strong!”
Aboard the ship, Bree chuckled wryly; after that scene, he seemed to understand why his ever-obedient Captain Palu was so vehemently against him joining the adventure.
“Huff…”
Fen touched her chest, being a legend, she was the most excited person on the ship at that moment.
She vaguely remembered, even her unbeatable teacher would return from the Mist Sea not only with maniacal ‘Deep Sea Humanoid Monsters’ in tow but also with numerous new wounds.
Deep Sea Humanoid Monsters… Fen glanced at Chen Qi, suddenly realizing.
Only now did Fen surprisingly notice that Chen Qi’s ‘career’ was that of a Lamp Keeper, but the path he followed seemed somewhat off!
Was this really the performance of the supportive career ‘Lamp Keeper’?
“Qi, you couldn’t be…”
Fen asked, curiously.
However, before she could finish, a thick black fog enveloped her face.
The ship once more set sail, they crossed the black seas, entering into the boundless Mist.