novelraw Chapter 194: Experiment
Chapter 194: Experiment
What a simple and crude excavation method... Chen Qi silently watched Levin dig for treasure.
This was his first time witnessing such an unadorned treasure hunt.
As the guide mentioned, obtaining this treasure posed extremely low difficulty—one could even say there was no challenge at all.
The only real obstacle was crossing the dangerous sea.
With proper preparation, even a first-tier could make it past the flying fish swarm.
Levin wiped sweat from his brow and forcefully struck downward with his shovel:
"Captain! Almost there!"
The shovel hit something hard with a crisp "clang!"
His heart leapt with joy as he carefully brushed away surrounding sand, gradually revealing the outline of a rusted combination lockbox.
"Captain, leave the rest to me!"Crouching down, Levin input the combination and smoothly opened the box.
Bang!
Accompanied by a clear sound, gold coins spilled from the container along with stacks of papers, a fiery red talisman stone, and a special Hammer-affinity skill card.
This haul! Genuine treasure! Levin excitedly rubbed his hands together.
Normally, as the operation's organizer, he should be presiding over the loot distribution!
Yet now, Levin only felt uneasy.
Throughout their voyage, strange noises inexplicably echoed across the unmanned ship.
Not to mention those green will-o'-wisps!
Undoubtedly, that second-tier aura was just bait for their trap!
Rubbing his hands nervously, Levin whispered:
"Captain, you examine first. Actually... about how I found this treasure, there's something I should tell you..."
"??"
Chen Qi raised an eyebrow—Levin's lips had come unsealed so easily?
Approaching, he inspected the box's contents.
Not much gold—only 500,000 Shell Coins, all standard minted bank currency.
Additionally, there was a high-tier Hammer-affinity skill card: [Steam Engine]—body mechanization allowing energy channeling into an engine to unleash scalding steam-powered punches!
This skill required mechanical body modifications, something Chen Qi currently had no interest in pursuing.
To him, neither versatility nor power compared to the Hammer-affinity's [Body Tempering].
Weapon talisman stone... Chen Qi extracted the elongated engraved stone.
Its surface bore intricate glowing red sigils.
[Flameforge Sigil:
Affinity: Blade
Description: Longsword, ignite with raging fire!
Effect: Coats weapons with searing inscriptions. When infused with spiritual energy, the engravings combust to enhance attack power and grant unique flame-forging properties.
Flameforge: These ultra-high temperature flames deal bonus damage against metal and intensify rapidly under spiritual control.
Note: Normally only compatible with melee weapons. Cannot stack with other inscriptions.]
Talisman stones served as weapon enhancement components... Chen Qi stroked his chin.
Only third-tier Hammer/Book-affinity runesmiths could forge such specialized equipment boosters.
Yet the mightier the armament, the higher grade inscription stone it demanded.
Flameforge... Chen Qi studied the sigil.
Merest spiritual infusion could conjure roaring infernos—impressive firepower even against third-tier Transcendents.
Running fingers across the stone, he detected simmering heat radiating within.
This talisman's quality was exceptionally high!
Chen Qi made a quick allocation:
"I'll take this sigil stone. The Hammer skill card's yours."
"No problem, Captain!"
Levin inwardly rejoiced. Though appearing as a Blade-affinity warrior, he truly walked the Hammer path.
This was undoubtedly favorable for him.
Next, Chen Qi gathered the scattered papers.
"This is..."
His eyes brightened.
Encrypted text covered each page, though distorted sea monster illustrations hinted at classified research documents.
Navy research files—fascinating, concerning mutated marine creatures...
Including depictions of Deep Sea Hunters and their nemesis, the Azure Beast...
Chen Qi rapidly scanned the materials.
Though mostly encoded, partial research content remained discernible.
Essentially: utilizing dimensional rift substances to induce mutations in sea beasts and humans.
Beiguo law strictly prohibited such biological fusion/distortion research—unless conducted by fourth-tier Goblet-affinity Transcendents.
Upon seeing the documents, Levin gulped hard.
These research files constituted the island's true treasure—buried for over twenty years!
Could he comprehend them... Levin's heartbeat accelerated violently:
"Captain, these documents..."
"Could be sold to Blood Blade Pirates, Sea God Pirates, even Black Whale Pirates. Any faction would trade a Release technique skill card for them."
Chen Qi preempted.
Undoubtedly, these files qualified as premium loot.
With the Dimensional Tide approaching, this single dossier could ignite fierce competition.
Despite being banned, both Blackfin Crew and Sea God Pirates actively pursued such research.
Its value could enable any crew to elevate an ordinary person to third-tier status.
No wonder players leveraged this treasure for rapid advancement!
Yet how had Levin discovered its location?
A foreboding intuition stirred within Chen Qi:
"Levin."
"Yes! Sir!"
"How'd you learn of this?"
Levin swallowed hard:
"Captain, as a freelance hunter... call it chance. During a missing-cat commission, I encountered an old man claiming to be Blood Blade Pirates' former vice-captain—an ex-Navy Admiral. He begged me to unearth these files for their current leader...
Said everything except one paper was my payment."
Navy Admiral... Chen Qi studied Levin.
This kid stumbled upon quite the serendipity.
Levin raised hands defensively:
"I know it sounds absurd, but he truly was a legendary powerhouse—though withered by dimensional sickness, completely immobile.
After entrusting me, he just... died. Left nothing behind.
Blood Blade Pirates despise deceivers—they're ruthless. I feared being tricked or having pirates contest the treasure, so I wanted verification first..."
Chen Qi pondered.
Even fourth-tier legends couldn't escape time's erosion. Though avoiding the Lantern Reaper, dimensional illnesses could still cripple them permanently.
Like the Flower Witch—even after reaching fourth-tier, Blood Blossom Disease might paralyze her forever.
Levin raised a trembling hand:
"I swear! Captain! If lying, may storm lightning strike me! May Blackore City's four brutes torture me to death!"
No deception detected... Chen Qi smiled slightly:
"Anything else?"
Levin exhaled deeply, mustering courage:
"Well, sir... one more thing..."
"Speak."
Struggling, Levin confessed:
"Just speculation, but... sailing through these waters might draw pursuit from Blood Blade and Blackfin crews.
Lately they've been patrolling this area. Our return voyage... may prove hazardous!!"
Sweat soaked Levin's palms—his instincts screamed of imminent peril.
Distant winds howled across the derelict island.
"I know."
Chen Qi stood. When approaching this island, his ship's radar had already detected lurking threats.
"Seems our luck's run out..."
Gazing at the horizon where dusk met sea, he could almost hear warships' battlecries and submerged predators' hungry roars.