novelraw Chapter 237: The Smiling Moon Arrives, The Ocean Mutates
Chapter 237: The Smiling Moon Arrives, The Ocean Mutates
It fits so well... Fen's eyes flickered as she wanted to glance at Chen Qi’s back.
But considering the presence of outsiders, her elegant nature restrained her.
If the Sea God Pirates didn’t know that Ember’s Touch was equipment exclusive to the Deep Sea Hunters, just based on the sea beast pattern on Chen Qi’s back, joining the Sea God Pirates wouldn’t even require any assessment.
"Hmm... you really do suit them quite well."
Jin Li looked up, observing Chen Qi’s outfit and the tentacles behind him.
Judging solely by appearance, it would be a waste of talent if this person didn’t join the Sea God Pirates, become a minor cult leader, or captain a pirate ship.
Chen Qi couldn’t help but recall various information about the Sea God Pirates.
In fact, joining the Sea God Pirates and rising from a low-level pirate to a captain, or from a minor follower to a major cult leader within the Sea God Pirates, held quite promising prospects—
The Sea God Pirates were actually a pirate crew rich in resources. They were backed by the Rift Sea’s densest area of dimensional rifts and mastered a unique faction specializing in berserk power.
However, their biggest problem was madness.Simply put, the Sea God Pirates specialized in insanity. Whether it was madness, bodies growing strange appendages, gender transformations, uncontrollable excitement, poisonous mushrooms, or potions that turned people into cats...
In the eyes of the Sea God Pirates, as long as it made you stronger, none of it was an issue!
Therefore, the Sea God Pirates possessed many powerful, insane, and reckless factions. After the Smiling Moon’s arrival and the Shadow Demons’ rampant destruction, the Sea God Pirates even developed a Shadow Demon proxy faction!
If you ignored mental issues and mutations, dealing with a bunch of pirates who only believed in strength and a group of sea beast protectionist cultists, the Sea God Pirates were actually quite a promising pirate faction.
Leveling up, promotion, and gearing up were his primary goals right now.
The Sea God Pirates’ Deep Blue Fire, berserk factions, brutally extreme enhancement surgeries, and madness-based methods all aligned perfectly with his objectives.
Chen Qi raised an eyebrow:
"Yes, next I’ll go to the Sea God Pirates to study their techniques, and try to see if I can find the legendary Flower Witch relics. After all, with my current strength, if I don’t improve soon, I’m afraid I’ll be beaten to death."
"Beaten to death?"
Jin Li’s lips curled with suspicion.
Although it was only a clone that sparred with Chen Qi a few moves, Jin Li still acknowledged some of Chen Qi’s strength.
Chen Qi crossed his arms and said seriously:
"The times have changed. Without absolute strength, in the future, not only might I be beaten to death, but Jin Li, the great merchant, you might also be repeatedly beaten to death on the sea."
Under the Rift Tide, third-tier supernaturals were increasing. Some second-tier supernaturals who had stagnated for a long time would show terrifying lethality after ascending to third tier.
Meanwhile, after the Smiling Moon’s arrival, the Witch Sea 2.0 version and the Shadow Demons would display extremely terrifying dominance. Amid the chaos, Jin Li, with her random teleport ability, would be killed one after another.
Once powerful merchants like Jin Li, who were hard to defeat before, would become high-priority treasure targets for pirate ships due to their inability to keep up with the current power level.
"Beaten to death? Are you sure?"
Jin Li’s smile faded.
Yes, your death count will conservatively exceed hundreds of times... Chen Qi explained mysteriously:
"As a Lantern Bearer, I even sense that you might face mortal danger."
"What are you talking about?"
A hint of invincible confidence flashed in Jin Li’s eyes. In her view, since she could buy resurrection times with money, even if a legend intervened, she wouldn’t die.
Qi is right! Fen chimed in:
"According to my dream, in the coming days, even legends won’t have the power to survive safely. Improving strength is the utmost priority.
Miss Jin Li, you’re a traveling merchant, please be very careful."
Why does it feel like the Flower Witch is biased towards the Black Hunter... Jin Li’s eyes showed doubt.
As the Ice Witch’s successor, shouldn’t she hate deep sea monsters to the bone and maintain the highest vigilance against such strange creatures?
Chen Qi asked:
"So, Fen, will you come with me?"
The Flower Witch closed her eyes and hesitated.
Unlike Chen Qi, whose appearance had never been exposed in public and could switch identities at will,
Although the Sea God Pirates had many valuable resources, her primary goal was to settle old grudges and produce a sage-level potion by digesting a fourth-tier profession card. That was her current top priority.
After a long pause, the Flower Witch whispered:
"I can’t follow you. As I am now, joining the Sea God Pirates would only be a burden..."
The Flower Witch wasn’t a burden, but their promotion paths required vastly different resources.
If they traveled together, one’s progress would inevitably slow the other’s.
Chen Qi currently didn’t urgently need the Flower Witch’s help, but if he obtained enough medicinal materials from the Sea God Pirates, he would definitely require her assistance.
Inside the Sea God Pirates, there were many materials to strengthen oneself.
Soon, they would part ways for a while.
Chen Qi looked deeply at the Flower Witch and smiled:
"Alright, I understand."
At this moment, Fen said seriously:
"By the way, the upcoming sea area is very dangerous. We must have a way to contact each other."
Due to the previous failure to find Chen Qi, Fen paid special attention this time.
She absolutely needed to get Chen Qi’s contact information!
Contact required a radio device, and preferably a secure temporary base... Chen Qi said:
"I’ll think about it."
These two seem so close... Jin Li adjusted her round glasses, flipped through some special products she sold highly rated to couples, and fell into thought.
This looks like a business opportunity!
No! Jin Li! This must be a wrong thought. This might be the Flower Witch deliberately showing a weak side to manipulate the Black Hunter...
If the Ice Witch knew her disciple was so close with such a strange hunter, she would definitely crawl out of her coffin to severely punish them!
The strange flowers occasionally sprouting on the Flower Witch’s head? That might be the Flower Aspect’s hypnotic perfume controlling the Black Hunter!
Jin Li put the items away, silently imagining, then smiled and said:
"Do either of you want my contact info? Only fifty thousand Shell Coins."
Fen’s eyes brightened, and she said seriously to Jin Li:
"Could you give a discount? Two copies, please!"
...
...
Above the sea, the sun and moon spun chaotically. Unconsciously, dozens of days passed.
At midnight, the Blood Blade Pirates’ shipyard.
The petite ship repairer, Little Ami, repeatedly hammered Chen Qi’s Ghost Ship with her six mechanical fists.
"Ora ora ora ora ora!"
Bang!
With Little Ora’s pounding, green runes appeared on the ship’s hull, then quickly condensed into a spiritual energy barrier comparable to steel!
"Ora!!!!"
With a roaring punch, Little Ami’s mechanical arm broke.
What a powerful protective shield!
Little Ami looked astonished:
"Such a strong engine! Hunter, your Ghost Ship’s defensive shield is finished! Even the Coastal Apex Predators can only watch your shield and tremble."
"Thanks, little ship repairer."
Chen Qi stepped up and glanced at his renewed Ghost Ship.
As payment, the Blood Blade Pirates had remodeled his ship for free.
Moreover, the Blood Blade Pirates didn’t spare materials and splurged heavily.
For craftsmanship, they used products from the Steam Hand Workshop and special runes from the B-rank Hammer Phase rift “Unbreakable Wall” under Beiguo’s Shield management.
These runes had extremely strong waterproofing and spiritual energy dissipation properties, combining great strength with remarkable durability.
At full deployment, it could provide 360-degree, no blind spot defense against attacks from underwater or the sky.
Even the Magic Bullet Company’s heavy artillery couldn’t break through the Ghost Ship’s shield in a short time.
Of course, the shield’s strength depended on the ship’s core, and Chen Qi’s Ghost Ship’s Ghost Fire engine could perfectly control this powerful shield.
Little Ami rubbed her nose:
"Hunter, are you leaving?"
In recent days, Chen Qi had been training his breathing techniques with General Gale in the Blood Blade Pirates’ training room.
At the same time, General Gale also gave Chen Qi the blood crystal materials needed for the Blade Forging Body Technique.
So, Little Ami believed Chen Qi might become a cadre in the Blood Blade Pirates.
"Yes, staying any longer isn’t a good choice."
Chen Qi jumped on the ship and ordered Deepsea Water Spirit Number Three to start the engine.
Now that the Blood Blade Pirates were deep in war, staying would only be a burden.
Chen Qi had clearly sensed that because of him and the Flower Witch, the Blood Blade Pirates had faced repeated hunter group pursuits.
The Blood Blade Pirates needed time to catch their breath.
"Goodbye, Hunter!"
Little Ami waved.
"Goodbye. By the way, everyone in the shipyard, stay home tonight. Don’t go out to watch the moon."
"The moon?"
Little Ami scratched her head and looked at the slightly reddened sea.
Chen Qi waved goodbye.
With the engine’s roar, the ship left the shipyard and sailed into the night sea.
At this moment, as he sailed into the ocean, a notification finally popped up before his eyes.
[You have adhered to the Lantern Principle, gaining the Lantern Principle bonus ‘Lantern’]
[You will gain a certain danger perception. When danger is imminent, your intuition will be stronger, and the chance to have precognitive dreams and special rift inspirations increases.]
[Note: When your Lantern Heart dissipates, this bonus will also disappear.]
Finally...
Chen Qi stood at the ship’s side, enjoying the sea breeze, smiling involuntarily.
Every person who adheres to an affinity gains corresponding bonuses at a certain level.
The Goblet affinity enhances digestion and reduces mutation rates when taking special items; the Flower affinity allows viewing Rift unit favorability; the Shadow affinity converts negative emotions into permanent buffs; the Ice affinity strengthens willpower; the Dice affinity increases luck; the Blade affinity raises combat comprehension...
The Lantern affinity’s sole principle reward was quite a useful blessing.
In the Rift, it grants additional inspirations. In the normal world, it has a chance to unreasonably foresee impending danger.
No need for any spiritual insight or perception—the reward of precognition!
In this world where there is only one life, even a tiny perception might let him dodge a bullet directly to the brain.
That’s about it. Next, just wait for Fen...
After sailing to the designated spot, Chen Qi ordered Deepsea Water Spirit Number Three to stop the ship.
The Ghost Ship floated on the sea.
Chen Qi stood quietly on the deck, feeling the sea breeze, and took out the latest newspaper to read.
Over this month, Chen Qi had been constantly spending inspiration points, raising Blade Breathing Technique to level 3, and gaining the passive skill [Blade Fury].
This passive skill enhanced all attacks while enraged and in critical health, and made the body constantly breathe.
Moreover, Ember’s Touch itself could increase rage, making it a very powerful passive skill.
Besides that, Chen Qi had mastered Steel Qi, reaching level 3, which allowed him to actively turn his energy into steel-hard qi to wrap around himself.
He also gained the passive skill [Steel Body], which greatly improved his defense and instinctively formed a stronger qi barrier at injury points when hit.
However, as a price, his inspiration points were now zero.
Chen Qi opened the newspaper and glanced again at the sky.
After the Witch Sea 2.0 version and the Smiling Moon arrived, the White Pigeon Press would publish a bounty list of seven new star pirates at sea.
These seven new star pirates were those who had shown enough talent and strength on the sea after the Rift Tide.
In the White Pigeon Press’s view, all of them had a chance to ascend to legendary status!
As expected, he and Fen should be among them.
Soon, An, unable to resist boredom, would apply for a hunter’s license and unleash her power at sea, beating half of the pirates on the bounty list into submission, becoming a famous monster hunter and officially starting her path of overwhelming dominance.
Oh, and maybe Little Crow too...
However, Little Crow’s entry was indeed unexpected.
In the original storyline, Little Crow was an underground black clinic doctor in Moonstone City, a rare conscience-driven doctor with low prices on the black market. Later, she would meet the Black Death Doctor and be highly valued by him.
For a long time, she was a mysterious, cold-toned doctor.
But now, Little Crow had completely surpassed the existing trajectory, becoming a cadre of the Blackfin Crew and a strong contender for the Mermaid flagship captain position.
Meanwhile, Captain Blackeye, who lost his treasured blade, had, according to the newspaper, stumbled upon a Deep Sea Hunter’s equipment while searching for Chen Qi, regaining his vigor.
Besides them, Fen was another character who had undergone significant changes...
"Qi! Qi! I’m here!"
Chen Qi lowered his head. Fen was riding a small boat, waving and calling out to him.
Chen Qi’s knowledge of Witch Sea characters was limited.
But he remembered that after the Blood Blade Pirates and Blackfin Crew’s skirmish, due to Blooming Bloodflower, countless Blood Blade Pirates died tragically. The Flower Witch was severely injured and deeply guilty.
Since then, after brutal battles, the Flower Witch’s gaze became cold and merciless, killing without hesitation, instantly unleashing ultimate abilities at the slightest provocation.
At that time, the Flower Witch was a great protector of the Witch Sea, a savior, and carried the aura of the Ice Witch!
Cold, ruthless, and tough were the Flower Witch’s trademarks after the Blood Blade Pirates incident.
At sea, she was called the strongest new star, even the monster hunter An Aotian feared her somewhat.
As for now, well...
Chen Qi lowered his head.
The Flower Witch stood on the small boat, Deepsea Water Spirit Number Two on her head, with yellow flowers blooming and soaked...
Hmm, she even smiled foolishly without any sign of darkening, seeming more optimistic than when they first met.
Chen Qi asked curiously:
"Fen, did you fall in the water? Haven’t you learned to drive a small boat yet?"
The Flower Witch shook off the water like a little cat:
"Hmm... no... I just wanted to study and see if the flowers on my head could absorb seawater and become stronger."
"..."
The current Flower Witch, except for her sharp tongue, was utterly unrelated to toughness or coldness anywhere on her body.
Chen Qi leaned against the ship’s side, looking up at the distant sky:
"By the way, Fen, for our contact, I plan to pick a place at sea to be our hidden home."
"A home?"
A home!
Fen’s face showed shock. Born into a noble family, Fen was especially sensitive to the word “home”!
The Goldenfinch Kingdom was a kingdom that valued family ties above all.
Chen Qi said:
"Yes, a base for contact. By the way, Fen, as expected, tonight is the day the Smiling Moon begins. You better board the ship quickly."
"Sigh?"
A red glow shone on their faces.
Chen Qi looked at the moon turning red in the sky.
The Witch Sea 2.0 version had begun.