The Deep Sea Merchant listed his goods one by one.
At the same time, he explained the rules of trade:
"Ordinary potions and maps can be bought with money, but as for Skill Cards or other more rare items, besides money, you also need Black Blood mutant fish that have not decayed for more than three days and have been affected by the tides," he said.
"Guest, compared to money, I prefer bartering."
Chen Qi sat in the small boat, listening with interest.
As a special merchant of the night, the items the Deep Sea Merchant sold were extremely rare.
For instance, the deep-sea breathing technique—not only did it grant mastery of conventional Qi Power, but it also significantly enhanced one's ability underwater.
The Storm Scroll and the Windy Summoning Scroll were both incredibly powerful one-time use scrolls.
The Tentacle Sword and the Snake Blood Staff were weapons with both strong negative and positive effects.
The items sold by the Deep Sea Merchant were extremely expensive.
Under normal circumstances, only those of the Third Rank could afford the Deep Sea Merchant's items.
After listening, Chen Qi pondered for a moment.
His money was limited at the moment, and he didn't have any Black Blood mutant fish, so he couldn't afford most of the items.
The cheapest items were sea snake fluid and the Ice Witch Pirate Group's sea chart.
The Ice Witch Pirate Group's sea chart!
A shock ran through Chen Qi's mind.
The Deep Sea Merchant even had this valuable item.
Among the many pirate groups of the Witch Sea, there were the infamous Four Pirate Emperors.
Ranked from strongest to weakest, they were the Black Whale Pirate Group, the Sea God Pirate Group, the Blood Blade Pirate Group, and the Ice Witch Pirate Group.
Each of the Four Pirate Emperors was founded with a great purpose, clad in a grand premise.
The goal of the Black Whale Pirate Group was to hunt large whales.
The Sea God Pirate Group consisted of a group of mad devotees who worship ancient deep-sea species.
The merchant before him was very likely one of them.
The Blood Blade Pirate Group was a product of a split within the Shell Country navy, with countless complicated feelings of love and hate toward the Shell Country navy.
Meanwhile, the Ice Witch Pirate Group was established to investigate the legendary Ice Witch who resisted the large whale hundreds of years ago; they, like the legendary Ice Witch, also had a passion for studying history and archaeology.
In player guides, the Ice Witch Pirate Group had an incredibly extensive professional sea chart.
Unlike common charts sold in stores, it not only marked the terrain but also the frequent routes of many merchant ships and warships.
More importantly, it detailed the conditions of dangerous sea regions.
In the nearby seas, there were many accident-prone dangerous areas.
The conditions of these dangerous areas were severely overlooked, with scant internal information available.
That's why the Ice Witch Pirate Group always treated their sea chart as a treasure, not readily revealing it.
Often, to save time, or when encountering pirate attacks, many ships were forced to enter dangerous areas.
Thus, for players who frequently engage in trade, adventure, and actions, the Ice Witch Pirate Group's sea chart could be considered crucial.
Chen Qi swallowed.
The areas known as dangerous territories were so called not just because of Sea Beasts, but also due to special terrains like whirlpools.
If he could get this sea chart from the Ice Witch Pirate Group, it meant his navigation would no longer be limited to ordinary sea routes, but could be more bold!
Under normal circumstances, to obtain the Ice Witch Pirate Group's map, one must spend a lot of effort and curry favor with the Ice Witch Pirate Group.
"This map is very important; I must acquire it!"
Chen Qi thought to himself and said to the Deep Sea Merchant before him:
"The Ice Witch Pirate Group's sea chart, how much is it?"
The Deep Sea Merchant made a creaking sound and extended a charcoal-black burnt finger.
"One million Shell Coins?"
Chen Qi's heart missed a beat.
The Deep Sea Merchant said:
"That's the market price. I never overcharge my customers for their first purchase, so let's say eight hundred thousand Shell Coins.
This map is taboo. You might want to inquire about it. Even the forgeries are worth ..."
Chen Qi thought for a moment.
The Ice Witch Pirate Group's sea chart was indeed rare; in some black markets, it could fetch two million, and there was also a need to sign a strict non-disclosure agreement.
Selling the Ice Witch Pirate Group's map could prompt not only pursuits from the Ice Witch Pirate Group but also from the navy.
And the chance of buying counterfeit items was also very high.
Chen Qi checked his backpack card; he currently had only four hundred thousand Shell Coins on hand.
He would have to barter.
Chen Qi picked up a bucket filled with Ghost Fire Oil.
"Half a bucket of Ghost Fire Oil, how about that?"
This half bucket of Ghost Fire Oil, if sold to a weapons merchant, might bring about four hundred thousand Shell Coins, much cheaper than the price mentioned by the Deep Sea Merchant.
But compared to money, the Deep Sea Merchant preferred to barter.
"Ghost Fire Oil..."
The tentacles on the head of the Deep Sea Merchant twisted slightly.
With so much ghost oil, the other party was likely a merchant specialized in collecting ghost oil.
Without professional techniques, this couldn't be done.
"It is possible..."
The Deep Sea Merchant replied, as this could expand his shop.
The two of them took out the goods separately, maneuvered for five minutes, then tossed the goods onto each other's vessels.
Hopefully, they aren't counterfeit... Chen Qi received a one-meter-long sea map and scanned it from left to right.
The map meticulously described the various terrains of dangerous territories, numerous merchant shipping routes, as well as some well-known pirate group bases.
It matched the sea map he remembered.
They were genuine!
Chen Qi kept the sea map.
At that moment, the Deep Sea Merchant glanced into the distance:
"Customer... do you have anything else you want to buy?"
"No more."
Chen Qi replied.
The Deep Sea Merchant picked up the black oar:
"Customer, if you have nothing else to buy, I should be leaving. After all, the night is still long..."
The other became a lot more polite... Chen Qi thought for a moment and asked,
"Where can I find you?"
The Deep Sea Merchant was stunned for a while; having been a monster in the sea for many years, it was the first time he had seen a First Order Transcendent not run away but actually seek him out.
An interesting customer... The Deep Sea Merchant fell silent for a moment before replying,
"Near the shore, Sea Flower Island."
"Oh."
Chen Qi nodded.
He didn't actively want to seek out the Deep Sea Merchant.
With his current strength, venturing into the other's territory would undoubtedly be walking into a trap.
Having more information wouldn't be a bad thing.
Click, click!
The Deep Sea Merchant picked up the charred lantern in his hand, lifted his head, looked towards the small houseboat's bright boat lantern, hesitated for a long time, and eventually, accompanied by mist, left the place.
"Sigh..."
He left... Chen Qi let out a long sigh.
He had just completed a trade with a black skeleton whose strength far surpassed his own.
This skeleton in the mist had claimed the lives of many people.
In the darkness, a Second-tier Black Rabbit Gang cadre didn't survive even a second.
If he hadn't encountered even more ferocious monsters and had enough understanding of the Deep Sea Merchant, he might have shown fear as well.
Moreover, obtaining the sea map of the Ice Witch Pirate Group, this voyage could be called a full success!
Chen Qi walked into the cabin, spread out the recently obtained sea map, and took out a pen, writing "Deep Sea Merchant" above Sea Flower Island.
Then, he positioned the pen over Moonstone City.
He had traveled southeast from Moonstone City for about an hour.
"It should be at this position..."
Chen Qi placed the pen where he currently was.
At this position, there were marks for Ghost Fire Fish and bullet squids.
In addition to the shipping route, various sea beasts' activity areas were also drawn... Chen Qi was pleased; this sea map was even more detailed than he imagined.
The sea area surrounding his current location was outlined with bright red lines.
Within these red lines was a particularly dangerous area, which was also an area that ordinary vessels should never enter.
He was already at the edge of a dangerous sea area.
Chen Qi's pen moved towards the direction of the dangerous sea area.
Not far from his current location, there was a white coral pattern.
And next to the coral pattern, there was also a drawing of a black sea dragon.
A nearshore overlord?
Chen Qi observed this hazardous sea area.
It was densely marked with many dangerous sea beasts.
It seemed that the reason for marking this area as dangerous wasn't related to whirlpools or cracks, but purely because of the sea beasts.
Chen Qi paused his pen over the coral reef.
From the distribution of sea beasts, this place was likely a habitat for sea beasts.
Chen Qi stood up, took out the Compass, and looked out the window.
Under the dim seawater, the school of Ghost Fire Fish that had just finished eating Extraordinary Fish Bait was heading towards the dangerous sea area.
Chen Qi suddenly felt a surge of excitement.
The night was still long; perhaps, he could take a trip to that dangerous sea area.