novelraw Chapter 242: Good News Upon Landing
Chapter 242: Good News Upon Landing
Whoosh—
A tremendous snapping sound echoed as if a massive beast were roaring.
A single slash to kill!
Amidst the smoke from the falling tree, Chen Qi's muscular right leg stomped down on the shattered remains of Lantern's Shadow.
Lantern's Shadow's eyes bulged wide as he weakly raised his hand toward Chen Qi.
"Why..."
"Why... I still had unused techniques... why... no chance..."
Killed in one strike and still wanting to unleash your ultimate?
This delusional fool... Chen Qi's gaze turned icy as he brought his foot down hard, crushing Lantern's Shadow's form into dust.
A black hole suddenly appeared on the ground, splattering dark blood everywhere.This was his Blade Release—a powerful skill capable of instantly killing third-tier Transcendents.
The only drawback of Sacrifice My Flesh and Blood was having to endure the enemy's attack before activating Blade Release. If one couldn't withstand the assault, they'd die before executing 'Sever My Bones.'
However, combined with Steel Qi's passive defense, Chen Qi's body could even withstand an ordinary Blade Release while under Sacrifice My Flesh and Blood's defensive state.
Compared to his first Blade Release—that sensation of his whole body boiling while nearing death—Chen Qi now only felt a burning excitement coursing through him despite the pain.
Lantern's Shadow died without ever using his ultimate.
Chen Qi flicked the black blood off his blade.
Typically, when madmen reach emotional extremes, their bodies mutate and expand into more terrifying monsters—entering phase two.
But his attack power was so high that phase two never even manifested.
"Wuwuwu (Master save me...)"
"Wuwuwu (Master I'm... disappearing...)"
Water Spirit No.1 and Water Spirit No.3 cried for help.
"Coming, coming."
Chen Qi wiped the cold expression from his face, transforming into a professional caretaker as he approached the water spirits. He took out a canteen of seawater and poured it over them, gently rubbing their heads before placing light bulbs atop them.
Pop!
Through his massaging, the water spirits gradually expanded back to their full size!
Fortunately, water spirits were highly resilient pets—able to recover from almost anything except extreme heat.
Next, Chen Qi stood and drew his knife.
He had two tasks now:
First—loot the corpse.
Second—investigate the shadow tide's situation.
"Keep watch around me. Don't let shadow beasts get close," Chen Qi instructed the water spirits.
"Waku waku (Understood! Master!)"
"Wuwuwu! (Stay back! Shadow beasts!)"
No.1 and No.3 perked up again, hopping about to drive away nearby shadow beasts.
Time to loot... Chen Qi excitedly crouched down.
After death, Lantern's Shadow continuously burned until only special golden powder remained.
Madmen's bodies automatically disintegrated upon death, leaving behind unique supernatural resources.
Chen Qi first picked up the conspicuous black scythe.
[Shadow Great Scythe:
Affinity: Shadow
Description: A weapon crafted from Wriggling Shadows, possessing extreme durability. Increases shadow affinity power by 20% when attacking.
Note: While wielding this weapon, spiritual energy capacity increases by 20% and potency by 20%, but continuously drains mental and health points while generating dark, terrifying desires.]
A weapon made from Wriggling Shadows held little use for me.
Still, it could be dismantled—one shadow scythe should yield 8-10 Wriggling Shadows.
Creating a Forest of Tentacles required fifty Wriggling Shadows, with a maximum capacity of one hundred. More shadows meant greater power!
Without hesitation, Chen Qi stored the shadow scythe in his Backpack Card.
His eyes then lit up as he focused on the golden powder.
Taking out a spoon, he carefully scooped the powder into a paper packet.
[You obtained Lamp Keeper's Powder:
Affinity: Scale, Lamp
Description: Lamp Keeper's Powder can be used to create Lamp Keeper cards or diluted as material for Lamp-Scale affinity!]
Though the description seemed ordinary, this was exceptionally precious material.
Finally obtained it!
Chen Qi felt exhilarated. With Lamp Keeper's Powder, he just needed to find a White Tower Federation card maker to complete his card and finish a simple trial mission before officially advancing to third tier.
Suddenly, a black bottle caught his attention.
On Lantern's Shadow's waist pouch sat a small black vial.
This is... Chen Qi picked up the potion.
[Witch Sea Body Tempering Elixir:
Affinity: Cup
Description: A body tempering potion made from special Cup-affinity body fruits that enhances supernatural physique.
Note: Can be consumed multiple times, but only by third-tier Cup-Pattern Transcendents. Other affinity Transcendents risk developing muscle disease if overused.]
Body Tempering Elixir—excellent find... Without hesitation, Chen Qi drank it.
Gulp gulp—
A powerful heat instantly spread throughout his body.
[Your constitution +5 points, approaching a certain limit.]
Chen Qi faintly sensed his physical power nearing some limit. Only by advancing to third tier and reshaping his spiritual energy field and blood could he grow stronger.
Now, finally able to take the next step... Feeling the heat coursing through him, Chen Qi opened his eyes.
In his vision, crimson eyes flickered while twilight began showering from the sky.
Night approaches—better investigate the shadow tide quickly...
Holding the Daylight Lantern, Chen Qi walked deeper into the forest under the water spirits' protection.
Soon, he arrived at an area littered with broken bones—so many that counting the dead became impossible.
Previous adventurers... Chen Qi scanned the surroundings.
Only three bloodstained backpacks, shattered lanterns, and a meter-tall rectangular metal contraption remained.
Shadow beasts didn't just devour flesh—they consumed supernatural resources too. Most resources had been completely eaten.
"Ha! Ha! Ha! (Go! Go! Go!)"
"Wuwuwu! (Don't come closer!)"
Deepsea Water Spirit No.1 and No.3 made scary faces to ward off shadow beasts.
As twilight deepened, more shadow beasts gathered like a pack, encircling Chen Qi.
Only his lantern kept them at bay.
Need to hurry... Chen Qi examined the metal contraption's buttons.
[Catastrophe Detector:
Affinity: Lamp
Description: A White Pigeon Press creation that detects subtle spiritual energy fluctuations across large areas to estimate catastrophe intensity.]
A Catastrophe Detector!
Chen Qi was shocked. These detectors had incredible range—spanning kilometers—and could predict catastrophe arrival times and intensity through minute energy fluctuations.
For a Transcendent to match its detection capability, they'd need over 100 inspiration points and specialized spiritual vision skills!
Luckily, this device wasn't badly damaged... After five minutes studying its buttons, Chen Qi found the power switch and firmly pressed the red button.
Bang bang bang bang!
The Catastrophe Detector gurgled to life:
"Detection commencing..."
"Catastrophe level F... E... C... B..."
Chen Qi watched as the detector's danger indicator shifted from green to blue, then orange, finally settling on blood-red.
Red! Chen Qi's heart sank.
Red indicated B-rank—ordinary detectors' maximum level.
As the machine gurgled, sudden inspiration struck him.
[You have entered the collapsing rift "Shadow Tide Siege." The shadow tide will soon engulf the city, transforming everything visible into the night's kingdom...]
Inspiration enlightenment...
Wait, why enlightenment? When did I enter a rift?
Chen Qi's heartbeat accelerated.
He hadn't taken a single step or passed through any 'gate' structure, yet received intense inspiration enlightenment!
Normally, one had to actively enter rift gates.
Only one possibility existed—rift collapse expansion!
This unique collapse phenomenon occurred when rifts degraded while simultaneously expanding rapidly into reality, contaminating surrounding space.
Extremely dangerous rifts—normally only B-rank ones exhibited this!
Typically, B-rank rifts strictly limited entry to third-tier Transcendents.
But collapsing expansion rifts had no tier restrictions—they absorbed all Transcendents like an abyss.
I'm at a B-rank rift's edge!
Forced inside... Sensing danger, Chen Qi immediately grabbed Water Spirit No.1, No.3 and the detector, sprinting toward the island's edge.
The rift was consuming him—not vice versa!
Suddenly, without warning, Chen Qi saw a massive palm bathed in intense light swat the water spirits hundreds of meters away.
A Lamp-affinity Transcendent's warning!
"Not good..."
Shaking his head clear, Chen Qi clutched the Daylight Lantern and ran.
As he fled, a gigantic crimson eye opened in the darkness!
Boom!
Instantly, accompanied by a monstrous roar, an enormous black hand—large as a hill—materialized from darkness and slammed down.
Five meters wide, it mowed down trees like grass.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Shadow Beast King!
Like fleeing a mudslide, Chen Qi channeled all his spiritual energy into the Daylight Lantern without hesitation.
Under its brilliant light, the massive hand recoiled as if stabbed by blades.
Even Pillar of the Abyss could be dispersed by this light!
Type advantage!
With an anxious leap, Chen Qi cleared dozens of meters onto his boat.
Start it! The engine roared to life as the vessel raced toward Sea God Island at twilight.
That was close... Gasping for air, Chen Qi felt like he'd narrowly escaped death.
A second-tier Transcendent—no, even a powerful third-tier—would struggle alone against shadow beasts in a B-rank rift.
Fortunately, he had White Cloak's Daylight Lantern... Glancing back at the dark forest island, Chen Qi smirked.
Below, that crimson eye still stared intently at him despite the lantern's glare.
...
...
At dawn.
"Finally ashore..."
After resting briefly on land, Chen Qi headed to Sea God Island's Hunter Association bar.
Many patrons drank today—the Sea God Pirates had discounted alcohol by 40% to recruit more hunters against the shadow tide.
While hunters got drunk, the pirates deployed octopus-girl waitresses and provocateurs—combining honey traps and taunts to secure recruits.
Occasionally, they even sent Muddy salesmen to pitch the pirates' spa and lifetime care packages.
Though a bar, the place overflowed with schemes.
Parched from his rushed journey, Chen Qi hurried to the counter:
"Two bottles of your strongest wheat ale! Also, summon Captain Sea Serpent—I've completed the investigation."
"You again..."
Melanie noticed Chen Qi from her barstool, swirling silver dew in her glass:
"Little brother, haven't you left yet? Want big sister to buy you a Brave Heart for courage?"
Ahhh! Chugging the ale, Chen Qi tossed an explorer's uniform onto the counter:
"I've already returned from investigating."
"Oh really? Hmm? Back already..."
Melanie blinked at Chen Qi.
Though bearing some scars, he lacked serious wounds.
Chen Qi then coolly met her gaze:
"By the way, as a card maker—can you craft profession cards?"
Oh? Really finished the investigation? Melanie's lips curled:
"Of course, little brother. There's nothing this sister can't make—even floral dancer profession cards. Want to become a dancer?"
Chen Qi cut straight to business:
"Not now. After turning in my mission, I'll bring you the materials—huntress of White Tower."
"Hmm, I swear by White Tower's honor to do my best..."
Melanie nodded.
Chen Qi then slammed the Catastrophe Detector onto the counter.
The entire bar's attention snapped to the machine!
This was the previous scout team's detector!
Meaning Chen Qi truly completed the investigation and retrieved it.
The room erupted in chatter.
"Captain's here."
Hearing the news, Captain Sea Serpent entered, rubbing his hands:
"Qi, how's the situation?"
Chen Qi sipped his ale:
"Not bad. I bring good news."
"Good news!"
The captain's eyes lit up.
Chen Qi grinned oddly:
"We've at least a day before the shadow tide arrives—bringing B-rank rift power. So many shadow beasts count as rift monsters—Sea God Island is blessed! Everyone can fight at least a hundred."
Captain Sea Serpent summarized:
"Oh! Over a day, B-rank rift catastrophe, tons of shadow beasts—our warriors can farm materials! Open a shadow path!"
"Wait—"
Blinking, the captain processed Chen Qi's words.
The bar's hunters exploded!
What nonsense!
Did Chen Qi mention a rift? And B-rank at that?
99% of hunters here had never even seen a B-rank rift!
A B-rank rift! Uncontrolled, it would destroy Sea God Island, leaving all hunters dead!
Amid the uproar, Captain Sea Serpent bellowed:
"You call this good news?"
After consideration, Chen Qi replied teasingly:
"Of course. If the shadow tide's a rift, we can farm both materials and inspiration points."