novelraw Chapter 259: Ambush, No Martial Ethics!
Chapter 259: Ambush, No Martial Ethics!
Above the gray, misty sea, three massive ships confronted each other like giant beasts, the sea wind howling and stirring up towering waves.
No, more precisely, it was two beast-like warships and one husky-like vessel.
On one side was the White Tower Hunter, captained by Melanie, a standout genius card maker among the White Tower Hunters!
Alongside was the Ghost Ship, known for its extreme speed, currently captained by Water Spirit Number Three, an exceptionally insightful water spirit.
For convenience, Chen Qi had specifically assigned Vice Captain Water Spirit Number Three to steer, following the White Tower Hunter. So far, Water Spirit Number Three had completed the mission remarkably well, truly a meticulously trained pet beast.
On the other side was the Viper Father, captained by the vibrant and life-loving Beast Transformer Viper Father!
Its hull was covered by a dark, semi-transparent scale-like defensive shield, forming an impenetrable wall between the Viper Father and the White Tower Hunter.
Both the White Tower Hunter and the Viper Father were upgraded warships, boasting impressive combat power on the sea.
The White Tower Hunter's main cannon slowly adjusted, aiming directly at the Viper Father. Its main cannon, called the Spiritual Energy Cannon, was a powerful weapon requiring a Transcendent’s spiritual energy to operate.
With a massive infusion of spiritual energy, the magical runes along the barrel shimmered dazzling white light, and a concentrated mass of white energy gathered at the muzzle!Fire!
Spiritual energy bombardment!
With a thunderous boom, a beam of spiritual energy laser struck the shield fiercely. The defensive barrier cracked extensively under the intense assault from the White Tower warship, and the Viper Father was violently pushed back hundreds of meters across the sea.
Unwilling to be outdone, the Viper Father seized an opportunity, deactivated the shield, and suddenly fired back!
Meanwhile, the pirates on deck brandished their weapons, firing at the White Tower Hunter.
In an instant, the waters between the two warships were engulfed in a barrage of cannon fire, explosions echoing one after another, deafeningly loud.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
The Viper Father’s defense shield was top-tier. Even with the White Tower’s full firepower unleashed, the ship could not be taken down quickly… Chen Qi rubbed his slightly ringing ears and checked the communication card again.
At that moment, a new message came through the communication card:
“Hold on! Reinforcements are arriving soon!”
“Hold on…”
Chen Qi looked again at the earlier message from White Tower Hunter Melanie.
“Plan changed, Lamp Keeper, be careful!”
Could it be Melanie feared he might be killed? Chen Qi pondered briefly.
Indeed, in Melanie’s eyes, his strength was probably that of a newly ascended Transcendent.
Simply put, to Melanie, he was just a little brother.
Hence, Melanie told him to be careful, to hold on…
But what did the plan change mean? Chen Qi shook his head. For now, he could only assume the White Tower Hunter had encountered some minor trouble.
However, Chen Qi no longer had the energy to deal with those troubles.
It hurts—
Chen Qi took out the last vial of potion given by the Flower Witch from his Backpack Card and gulped it down.
[Your battered body begins to slowly recover...]
Viper Father’s combat strength was formidable. Despite triple defenses of Steel Qi, Ember’s Touch, and Sacrifice My Flesh and Blood, enduring a single Cup Release still inflicted great damage on Chen Qi.
I need to rest… Chen Qi temporarily lowered his guard and returned to the room he had just left.
Now, the other two third-tier Transcendents were tied up by the White Tower Hunter, and second-tier pirates dared not enter here recklessly.
This was a perfect moment to collect spoils.
At that moment, some sea serpents gently brushed past his toes—
These sea serpents had offered no assistance during Viper Father’s fight.
Chen Qi crouched beside Viper Father’s corpse and picked up a snake-shaped Backpack Card.
“Open!”
Chen Qi gently shook the Backpack Card, and a large number of items clattered out.
Unexpectedly, Viper Father’s Backpack Card held no large sums of money, only ten standard gold coins—that is, 100,000 Shell Coins.
Besides that, there was a cloak covering the whole body, potent poison potions, strengthening potions, skill cards, maps…
Nothing immediately impressive… Chen Qi frowned.
As an experienced third-tier Transcendent, Viper Father’s belongings were fewer than Chen Qi had imagined.
However, soon a skill card with a floral pattern on the back caught his attention.
The front of the card depicted a huge serpent covered in blood-red roses. The serpent seemed alive, ready to leap out of the card and devour its target.
Judging from the aura emanating from the card, it was very likely a legendary attack skill card dropped from a B-tier dimensional rift.
“So, this old fellow even has a legendary floral affinity skill card?”
Chen Qi pinched the card between his thumb and forefinger, inspecting the details.
[Death’s Whip and Bind Lv1:
Affinity: Floral, Phantom
Description: Using whipping and binding to make enemies experience true pain.
Learning conditions: Must possess weapons or body parts similar to “tentacles,” “tails,” “whips,” or “vines,” and have minor Floral or Phantom Affinity enlightenment, constitution at least 30, and possess third-tier spiritual core.
Effect: Quickly forms binding and whipping attacks, inflicting massive damage on enemies struck or ensnared. Causes abundant death poison, drastically reducing targets’ physical attributes and inducing immense pain.]
A high-level whipping and binding card from a B-tier dimensional rift!
Chen Qi’s expression instantly shifted from disappointment to excitement!
Among all Viper Father’s items, this was the only legendary skill card from a B-tier rift—and it perfectly suited him!
Chen Qi had never expected this.
His strongest current equipment was the standard tentacle-type Ember’s Touch.
And Viper Father, as a Serpent Body Avatar, had limbs that were essentially ‘whips.’ Unfortunately, due to the Floral and Phantom affinity enlightenment required by the skill card, Viper Father himself could not learn it.
Thus, Viper Father had to keep this powerful skill card in hand.
Chen Qi’s lips curled in a smile. Although he was not a true Floral Affinity succubus, he did possess some Floral Affinity enlightenment!
Previously, Fen had made him an Illusion Potion, allowing Chen Qi to surpass his profession card and gain minor Floral Affinity enlightenment.
“Digest…”
Chen Qi did not hesitate, quietly chanting in his heart.
Soon, the card turned into rose petals at his fingertips and gently dispersed.
In that instant, a warm current surged from his heart through his limbs and bones, as if countless whipping masters wielding whips taught him how to lash beasts and enemies, imparting their whipping expertise.
Very soon, Chen Qi felt he had mastered the tentacle binding, whipping, piercing, and the ability to condense death poison during attacks to deliver heavy blows.
A truly powerful skill… Chen Qi stretched his muscles. Since he had previously mastered whipping, this skill card was unexpectedly easy to grasp.
Chen Qi checked his panel.
[Death’s Whip and Bind Lv1 can consume 4000 inspiration points to upgrade? Upgrade?]
Upgrade!
Without hesitation, Chen Qi confirmed. His 34,100 inspiration points instantly dropped to 30,100.
[Your Death and Bind Lv1 has upgraded to Lv2. Power increased. Attacks now add an extra effect, “Whip of Love.” Your whipping and binding cause paralysis and simultaneously produce pleasure effects on enemies.
Description: Pleasure! Pleasure! Whip to your heart’s content!]
Chen Qi scanned the details. At Lv2, it produced a pleasure effect? While the normal effect caused pain.
What kind of bizarre skill is this, pain mixed with pleasure? Chen Qi was speechless, but he understood Floral Affinity skill cards.
Though the pleasure effect was minor, the increased base power was undeniable.
Chen Qi stood, aiming at the steel wall in the room, then twisted the tentacles behind him, gathering strength—
Bang!
In an instant, five Shadow Touch lashes shot out like arrows from a bow, violently striking the steel wall.
Boom! A sonic boom echoed!
This casual leisurely strike punched five large dents into the hard steel wall, steam rising from the scorching impact.
“Phew, not bad power…”
Chen Qi sighed in amazement.
Undoubtedly, this was an extremely strong skill card. Thanks to it, the power of his usual Ember’s Touch Shadow Touch attacks had at least doubled!
“Phew, Tide’s Garment retract…”
Chen Qi whispered inside.
His constitution was only 90 points, below the 100 points required to equip Ember’s Touch. Coupled with his recent severe injuries, he had no extra energy to maintain the Shadow Touch state.
Clatter—
The massive tentacles on Chen Qi’s back instantly transformed into dark tidal waves, then condensed into deep dark flames before his chest.
Chen Qi reached out and grasped the dark flames, absorbing them.
“Phew, much better…”
Chen Qi murmured. Maintaining Shadow Touch was still too difficult with his current constitution.
He lowered his head and continued inventorying Viper Father’s belongings.
[Dragon Blood Medicine Third Type
Affinity: Goblet
Usage conditions: Possess third-tier spiritual core and constitution between 80 and 200 points.
Effect: Increases constitution and strength, and temporarily enhances healing ability.]
Dragon Blood Medicine!
Such a good thing was still left behind… Chen Qi rejoiced quietly. This medicine required dragon essence to craft.
Dragons were full of treasures.
As a Goblet Affinity potion, its effect was straightforward and brutal.
Chen Qi opened the potion and drank it all.
As the Dragon Blood Medicine slid down his throat, a scorching, wild power instantly erupted inside him, like a volcanic eruption or a rushing river.
Chen Qi’s body trembled involuntarily. Beneath his skin, countless tiny dragon shadows seemed to roam, every muscle absorbing the mighty force.
[After taking Dragon Blood Medicine, your constitution increases by 8 points, strength by 8 points. Current constitution 98 points, strength 76 points!]
“Awesome—”
Chen Qi roared. After ascending to third-tier, digesting a Dragon Blood Medicine was now a moment’s matter.
Besides that, there was a cloak from Viper Father’s gear.
[Snake Cloak:
Affinity: Floral, Phantom
Wearing conditions: None
Effect: Wearing this equipment can conceal part of the wearer’s spiritual energy and prevent others from spying.]
However, this equipment was mediocre, only suitable as an additional loot item.
Next, Chen Qi scanned the other items from Viper Father, including other Goblet Affinity potions that enhanced the body and some sedatives.
Perfect, I’m running low on medicine anyway… Chen Qi collected these and stood up, stretching his muscles.
“A good haul!”
Chen Qi adjusted his breathing, stretched, and surveyed the Viper Father ship again.
At this moment, the White Tower Hunter’s cannon fire gradually calmed down.
“Did they win? The White Tower Hunter?”
Chen Qi stepped out from the cramped, dim room and walked along the windowed corridor to look outside.
In the distance, the White Tower Hunter had stopped attacking, its cannon still smoldering.
Yet the White Tower ship showed no other movement.
“Wait—”
Chen Qi sensed something was off.
The other two third-tier Transcendents, who should have made a big ruckus, seemed to have vanished.
There should have been roaring battle cries and cannon explosions, but the entire ship was eerily quiet.
So quiet he could hear the sound of the waves and even his own heartbeat.
Quiet—unnaturally quiet—as if the Viper Father ship’s fight had ended.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Chen Qi’s heart rate sped up. Everything felt incredibly abnormal.
He took a few steps forward and saw pirates lying unconscious on the floor.
Did Melanie take care of them? Chen Qi thought secretly and stopped moving.
At that moment, he sensed a presence behind him.
It was not a spiritual energy detection, nor a sound—just an instinct, the Lamp Bearer’s dangerous intuition…
Chen Qi turned his head and looked again at the distant White Tower Hunter.
As the White Tower ship approached, he finally saw Melanie holding a telescope aboard and a small boat beneath the White Tower ship—a shabby steam boat…
…
…
On the distant White Tower Hunter, seven other hunters leaned on the deck, faces full of worry.
Melanie stood at the bow, lowered the telescope, and frowned:
“Everyone, the Lamp Keeper is not just some courageous guy. He must have survived Viper Father’s claws!”
In Melanie’s eyes, Chen Qi was just a weak little brother, no match for Viper Father.
The glasses-wearing hunter adjusted his glasses:
“Captain, because we encountered an unexpected situation, we were late. Even if the Lamp Keeper survived, the torment from Viper Father likely left psychological scars.”
Melanie said helplessly:
“Psychological scars? There’s no other way. He faced Viper Father, who loves making people experience suffocation.”
Many on Sea God Island had gone mad or lost their sanity for life due to Viper Father’s torture, becoming wrecks.
Mary, the White Tower mechanic, lowered her head and asked curiously:
“Captain, can your junior really save our Lamp Keeper friend alone on the Viper Father ship? Is her strength really enough?”
Upon hearing this, Melanie’s expression turned serious:
“Of course. Though I dislike that countryside kid, as long as she reaches the ship within three minutes and the Lamp Keeper little brother is still alive, she will definitely do everything to rescue him from Viper Father’s claws!”
“Look! Viper Father has been hit!”
Melanie sensed the battle energy and hurriedly picked up her telescope, looking at the window in the middle of the distant ship—
Boom!
In the dark corridor, relying on the Lamp Bearer’s intuition, Chen Qi suddenly turned his head—
At the moment he turned, beneath the blood-stained white hair drifting about, he saw a pair of clear blue eyes, a pair of robot-like cold pupils—
White hair lightly brushing against his face—
At the same moment, a fist aimed at his abdomen collided with him—
“An…”
Chen Qi’s brain trembled, but his intuition and reaction were still a step too late.
Too late!
The attacker’s speed was beyond his imagination!
This guy—
An ambush! Without any hesitation! Like a beast’s ambush!
A tiny fist had already slammed into his abdomen!
Boom!
Boom!
Accompanied by a huge white flash, the ship’s hull suddenly ruptured, a massive hole blown open, and countless spiritual energy forces burst forth from the ship—