novelraw Chapter 279: The Witch’s Statue and Ruins
Chapter 279: The Witch’s Statue and Ruins
"Cough cough……"
Chen Qi walked out from the ghost ship's bedroom, coughing up blood continuously, feeling as if he might cough his lungs out.
After the spatial leap, due to exhaustion, Chen Qi had rested for an entire night.
Only when the adrenaline from battle faded could he truly feel how much damage the Shadow Flame Demon form, combined with the Ember's Hands. Bloom dual transformation, had inflicted on his body.
Even after consuming large amounts of healing potions, this muscle soreness showed no signs of improvement.
His current physique was still too strained to simultaneously withstand these two forms.
I might need a doctor to examine my body... Chen Qi knocked on his own back with his hand.
For third-tier Transcendents, besides consuming potions and eating, flesh surgery was also a quite effective method to enhance physical constitution.
At this moment, Melanie and the others had also finished resting and were on the deck, enjoying the sea breeze while waiting for Chen Qi.
"Good morning, Captain Black Hunter..."The White Tower Hunters greeted Chen Qi.
Melanie looked at Chen Qi with slight fear, then mustered her courage to say:
"Captain Black Hunter, shouldn't we distribute the loot?"
"Good morning, but before that, I should first know—where exactly is this place?"
Chen Qi endured the pain as he walked to the ship's side, gazing into the distance.
They were in a strange sea area where, at the horizon's edge, numerous islands could be seen. Each island was either covered with extensive forests or blanketed with vast flower fields.
Additionally, occasional flying dragons could be spotted in the sky, while some small sea dragons were visible beneath the waves.
The sea breeze was also exceptionally pleasant.
"Dragonflower Archipelago?"
Chen Qi first thought of this possibility.
The situation back then had been too urgent, and Chen Qi didn't know the specific parameters of the spatial leap.
They couldn't venture deeper into the Sea of Calamities, nor could they head toward the navy's direction, leaving few options for escape.
Although the Dragonflower Archipelago was the territory of the Dragon Tamer King among the Seven Sea Pirates, overall, its danger level wasn't particularly high.
Moreover, this place had abundant sea dragons, rare ingredients and medicinal herbs, many neutral mobile docks, and numerous floral, heart, and goblet affinity rifts, making it a rather excellent location.
Of course, this was provided they had enough luck to avoid encountering the Blackfin Crew's flying dragon squad.
What Chen Qi needed most right now was to enhance his physical constitution.
The numerous floral and goblet affinity rifts in the Dragonflower Archipelago could yield plenty of materials for physical enhancement.
"It should be the Dragonflower Archipelago, but where exactly are we within it?"
Chen Qi fell into thought.
Normally, around the Dragonflower Archipelago, one should see many small mobile docks, numerous adventurer ships, and human structures.
But now, the area they found themselves in felt like an uninhabited secret realm—desolate and barren.
Not even a single human figure could be spotted.
"Whatever, regardless, we should be safe for now..."
Chen Qi clapped his hands, then said to Melanie:
"Alright, Captain Melanie, let's distribute the loot."
"Okay."
Melanie waved her hand, signaling the others to bring out the loot and place it on the deck.
Soon, a large pile of treasures covered the deck, among which fifty bottles containing deep blue fire were particularly conspicuous.
Aside from the deep blue fire bottles, most of the loot the White Tower Hunters produced consisted of items they had acquired from pirates and campfire hunters.
Last night, while everyone's attention was focused on Chen Qi, they had secretly obtained quite a few valuable items.
You guys were quite ruthless too... Chen Qi stepped forward and picked up the bottles containing deep blue fire.
Other items weren't particularly relevant to him; the only thing that truly needed distribution was the deep blue fire bottles.
Deep blue fire bottles could be used to forge entirely new equipment or upgrade existing gear, making them truly forbidden materials.
Chen Qi remembered that there happened to be many blacksmiths in the Dragonflower Archipelago.
If necessary, he could also find some shadow affinity materials and commission the Shadow Weaver for crafting.
"How many do you want?"
Chen Qi sat down, propping his face with his hand, and asked with a smile.
"..."
Melanie took a swig of strong liquor, mustered her courage, and said:
"22?"
"Hmm?"
Chen Qi made a questioning sound, having expected the White Tower Hunters to ask for '25'.
Although he was the main damage dealer in this battle, the White Tower Hunters had provided significant assistance. Without them, achieving such substantial gains would have been difficult through his efforts alone.
Hearing the questioning sound, Melanie trembled and immediately extended five fingers:
"Then 20, no, 19?"
Chen Qi's activation of the Ember's Hands berserk state had left a deep impression on Melanie. In her eyes, even many outstanding third-tier graduates from White Tower Federation schools couldn't compare to that terrifying form.
"Let's make it 20."
Chen Qi thought for a moment before speaking. After all, he wasn't some ruthless profiteer.
"Deal!"
Melanie clenched her fist—negotiation successful.
Immediately afterward, Chen Qi changed the subject and produced two pieces of paper.
Both papers contained ciphertext related to the Deep Sea Hunters' treasure.
Special ciphertext was written on both the Lake Sword and the Deep Sea Hunters' small treasure chest.
Deciphering these codes happened to be the White Tower Hunters' specialty.
Chen Qi copied the ciphertext from the Lake Sword and small treasure chest, then handed it to Melanie.
Melanie took the papers, pulled out draft paper, calculated for a while, then said:
"The first one means: This thing is quite delicious, crispy crunch! Needs to be heated at 70 degrees Celsius on the sea under moonlight, then consumed. After consumption, you'll be the most dazzling dude on the high seas!"
"???"
Chen Qi frowned in confusion.
What the hell? That Lake Sword really is edible? What is this thing even made of? And it's crispy crunch?
The Deep Sea Hunters' treasure burial methods really aren't proper.
So the Lake Sword is an item that can enhance attribute panels... Chen Qi thought for a moment and decided to try it tonight.
"What about the other one?"
Chen Qi asked curiously.
Seeing the ciphertext on the other paper, Melanie frowned:
"I can only decipher the first sentence: Soak this chest with deep sea great whale blood to open it. As for the other text, it's too ancient—I can't make it out. You might need to go to the Book Tower and find the Book Elder to decipher it."
Soak with deep sea great whale blood to open... Chen Qi was startled.
Although it sounded difficult, actually, this task's difficulty wasn't particularly high. Black whale blood wasn't uncommon in the Witch Sea.
Many berserk monsters were creatures contaminated with black whale blood.
After reading both pages' contents, Melanie added:
"Which idiot wrote this ciphertext? So unprofessional—using two different ciphers simultaneously, format isn't standardized either. Seems like they even omitted parts where they couldn't figure out what to write."
"......"
Good thing the Deep Sea Hunters are already dead... Chen Qi retrieved both papers.
Next, he just needed to wait for nightfall, then consume the Lake Sword.
For the remaining time, he should first confirm their exact location.
The Dragonflower Archipelago wasn't safe, especially with the Dragon Tamer King's flying dragon forces. Their team lacked substantial anti-air capabilities.
Additionally, they needed to search for some medicinal herbs. Both Chen Qi and the White Tower Hunters had suffered serious injuries, yet their medical supplies were completely depleted.
After distributing the items, Chen Qi and the others headed toward the nearest island—one covered with flowers and trees.
That island looked particularly rich!
Objective: make landfall!
As the ship drew closer, the island became increasingly clear.
A sea breeze carrying floral fragrance gently blew past.
Chen Qi and the White Tower Hunters raised their telescopes, their eyes widening at what they saw on the island.
"Wait, where exactly are we?"
Chen Qi couldn't help but mutter.
Before them wasn't an ordinary island—all the flowers on this island were extremely rare medicinal herbs.
Additionally, at the island's center stood what appeared to be a tall witch statue covered in moss.
We seem to have come to some unusual place... Melanie frowned, full of confusion:
"Is this place some kind of ruins? Whose ruins could this be?"
In the Witch Sea, ruins symbolized both treasure and danger.
Chen Qi lowered his telescope, looking at the numerous rare flowers on the island and that somewhat familiar witch statue, muttering to himself:
"This island... why does it feel somewhat like... the Flower Witch's lost island where she ascended to legend?"