Witch, I Swear I’m Not a Deep Sea Ancient God!

Chapter 312: The Witch’s Mysterious Plan

Through the scale gaps of the Coastal Apex Predator, droplets of blood continuously seeped out. Its bronze bell-like dragon eyes were filled with killing intent—it wanted to devour the disrespectful fool before it completely.

"ROAR!"

The Coastal Apex Predator unleashed a beastly roar, venting its fury upon this vast sea.

The scorching crimson breath dyed the sea before them red, forcing Gambler Loren and Gray Mouse to retreat several steps. This was the first time they'd witnessed someone capable of controlling a sea dragon in the Witch Sea, especially such a ferocious Blackship Sea Dragon!

Seems like it grew taller... Chen Qi crouched down, stroking the Coastal Apex Predator's sharp, hard scales.

Only a single day had passed, yet the enhancement effects of the supernatural items from the Dragon Tamer King's Backpack Card on the Coastal Apex Predator were stronger than he'd imagined.

And this was just from one Blood Python Heart.

If all items could be fully digested, the Coastal Apex Predator might become a hundred-meter-class giant dragon, possessing strength comparable to the Black Lantern Dragon.

In that instant, Chen Qi's Deep Sea Affinity allowed him to sense the spiritual energy movements of everyone in the sea area. On Gambler Loren's back, he could feel a powerful Lamp affinity object.

Lamp? Chen Qi's gaze shifted away from Gambler Loren. Before leaving, he looked toward An on the dock.An was pressing her chest, her hunter-like azure eyes fixed intently on him.

Next time we meet, no matter what method I use, I must teach An a lesson... Chen Qi snapped his fingers.

The Coastal Apex Predator's massive form submerged into the sea, disappearing into this vast oceanic expanse.

Everyone on the dock stared dumbfounded at this terrifying scene. Without naval support, none dared to advance recklessly.

Only when the bloody mist above the sea dissipated did the crowd emerge from their terror, beginning to speak loudly.

"Inadequate preparation."

Gambler Loren spun his pistol before holstering it at his waist.

As one of the operation's leaders, even he hadn't anticipated they could capture the Black Hunter so quickly.

"We missed a precious opportunity."

Gambler Loren walked back ashore, summarizing the situation.

An reached out, moving her disheveled hair away from her eyes:

"He didn't even use Release."

Without even forcing out the opponent's Release technique, this encirclement couldn't be called an 'opportunity' at all.

Gambler Loren's eyebrows furrowed, his face twisting into a pained expression:

"What a pity. If our luck had been better, the navy we contacted should have arrived earlier. With naval assistance, even with his special sea dragon, we could have formed a complete encirclement."

Then he forced a smile:

"Fortunately, An, you obtained the Black Hunter's blood. This is our chance."

An looked down at the blood in her hand.

Though just a tiny amount, it was enough for the next tracking attempt.

To defeat the Black Hunter, I must step into a new realm... An felt the immense energy within her body.

During this battle with the Black Hunter, she could sense that operating on the edge of danger had made her spiritual energy manipulation more proficient.

She faintly felt that even without a legendary profession card, she could touch a completely new realm—an unprecedentedly powerful realm.

Either we get completely wiped out, or the Black Hunter falls into our hands.

An circulated her spiritual energy, carefully preserving these two drops of blood.

Loren took out his mirror again, carefully stroking it:

"This mirror is borrowed. According to the original owner's conditions, we can't use it more than once per day. Moreover, each use requires a 'participant' to bear the mirror's curse. Otherwise..."

A trace of helpless bitter smile appeared at the corner of Loren's mouth.

"Borrowed, can only be used once per day..."

Gray Mouse repeated this sentence, his hands unconsciously clenching into fists.

This mirror's grade was likely an S-rated drop from a B-tier dimensional rift, or possibly even a sealed artifact from an A-tier rift.

At the Beiguo Meteorological Bureau, using an item of this level required approval from three highest-level investigators and the Beiguo Capital Forbidden Artifacts Management Bureau.

Simultaneously, if an item of this level went missing, it would directly alert Beiguo's debt collectors and retrievers.

A sealed artifact of this level shouldn't appear in our temporarily assembled hunter team!

Gray Mouse cautiously pressed further:

"If we lose this mirror, how will the mirror's owner deal with us?"

"Hmm..."

Gambler Loren's expression shifted slightly. His gaunt, lifeless face actually showed a flicker of excitement, a glimmer of light:

"No, she probably won't be angry, she shouldn't be. She's not someone who cares about such things. However, her companions might care."

After saying this, Gambler Loren looked toward the distant sea, speaking extremely quietly:

"This is a high-stakes gamble."

As long as we can capture the Black Hunter, then this 'mirror' problem becomes irrelevant.

"High-stakes gamble..."

Everyone fell into brief silence. They faintly sensed a bad premonition—if they failed to capture the Black Hunter, the consequences would be unimaginable.

An shook her head. She quickly walked onto the dock.

The Black Hunter can tame Coastal Apex Predators, and his spiritual energy field is already sufficiently rich... An stood on the dock, letting the sea breeze blow through her hair.

Unconsciously, she recalled the Ice Witch's prophecy—when the tide arrives, humanoid monsters from the deep sea will descend upon this world.

Even letting just one escape would cause incalculable, catastrophic disaster.

The monster must die.

"Perhaps next time will be my one and only chance in this lifetime..."

An gazed at the distant waves, clenching her fist.

......

Near the Great Whirlpool, the lamp-moon sea dragon's habitat.

Chen Qi returned from Scorched Earth Town, riding the Coastal Apex Predator.

"Huff..."

Chen Qi breathed heavily, looking toward the island.

Fen stood at the island's center, staring at the ground beneath her feet, not shifting her gaze for a long time.

Burry and the water spirits, having finished repairing the ship, were resting in a corner of the island's central dilapidated wooden hut.

Hearing the sound, he looked up and quickly noticed the depression in Chen Qi's chest and the bloody wound on his shoulder.

"Got chased?"

"Yes, encountered some troublesome matters."

Chen Qi tossed the apple pie from his Backpack Card to Burry.

"I'm starving to death!"

"Fen..."

Chen Qi called out to Fen.

"I'm contemplating our future plans, don't disturb me..."

Fen turned her back to him, eyes closed, speaking rather mysteriously.

"There's food."

Chen Qi took out the apple pie from his Backpack Card.

Fen instinctively turned around, calmly walked up to him, and accepted an apple pie:

"Thinking requires sugar too."

Gluttons always have many excuses... Chen Qi mentally complained.

Fen, who hadn't eaten sweets for a long time, accepted the apple pie and began eating it in small bites.

Soon after, she noticed Chen Qi's wounds.

Chen Qi briefly explained encountering third-tier hunters in Scorched Earth Town.

"Chased by six top experts..."

Burry crossed his arms, feeling a piercing cold:

"Qi, you need to seek some protection. Either Goldenfinch Kingdom's protection or our Ice Demon Pirates' protection. Unfortunately, our captain is mostly off adventuring. Well, most of the time, they need protection too..."

"Six renowned hunters..."

Burry sighed. Trying to put himself in Chen Qi's situation, aside from using 'Captain Summoning Technique,' there was absolutely no chance of escape.

Chen Qi said slowly:

"Yes, especially Supernova An. She's even stronger than I remembered."

An being called 'An Aotian' wasn't without reason. Beyond various face-slapping scenarios and strange encounters, she possessed some special traits—when nearing critical health, she would achieve great enlightenment, comprehending entirely new realms!

Chen Qi now felt confident about defeating An, but only under conditions of one-on-one combat and sufficient intelligence.

Fen instinctively asked:

"How did they find us? Used some special relic?"

"Yes, a Lamp affinity mirror..."

Chen Qi confirmed Fen's guess.

On the sea, his Deep Sea Affinity could sense the special Lamp affinity spiritual energy on Loren's body. It should be a mirror with tracking capabilities.

"Lamp affinity mirror..."

Fen showed a puzzled expression.

"???"

Chen Qi showed curiosity—Fen seemed to know this relic's origins.

Fen explained:

"The Lamp relic among the Thirteen Witch Relics was made into a mirror."

Witch relics—isn't this exactly Fen's goal... Chen Qi pressed further:

"Are you sure? That artifact is a witch relic?"

Fen shook her head, sighing:

"I'm not entirely certain. The Lamp affinity witch relic is in the hands of a top-tier supernatural organization. My teacher once offered massive amounts of supernatural materials as payment to borrow this relic, but ultimately, that supernatural organization refused..."

With her teacher's status, she couldn't obtain the Lamp Witch's relic, let alone these third-tier hunters.

"That's not necessarily true..."

Chen Qi thought to himself.

On the Witch Sea, there was an extremely powerful yet chaotically managed Lamp affinity supernatural organization full of exceptional talents—that was the White Pigeon Press.

A small worried blue flower sprouted above Fen's head:

"If it really is a witch relic, then even with anti-divination items or your inspiration being stronger than the opponent's, it would be difficult to avoid tracking."

"......"

Chen Qi's expression turned grave, gently biting his teeth.

If the opponent truly possessed this relic, then his situation was much more troublesome than he'd imagined.

I must hurry to the Fog Sea, obtain the Deep Sea Hunter profession card, then advance to legendary... Chen Qi thought to himself.

However, his current preparations were insufficient.

Fen's potions weren't completed, and besides, he couldn't create a sufficiently powerful ship in a short time.

Most importantly, even with all preparations complete, just him and Fen going to the Fog Sea would still be too dangerous.

Unfortunately, they couldn't seek the Ice Demon Pirates' help now.

But no matter what, they had to move forward.

Must speed up, advance to legendary as soon as possible... Chen Qi looked at the wound on his shoulder.

The Coastal Apex Predator could replace the ship, but potions were indispensable.

He took out the Ice Demon Pirates' sea chart, asking:

"Fen, when will your potions be ready? What other raw materials are needed?"

To enter the Fog Sea, they needed large quantities of Philosopher's Stone Potions. But even with the lamp-moon sea dragon fruit, collecting other medicinal ingredients would require significant time.

Yet the current situation didn't allow delay—they had to collect ingredients in the fastest way possible.

Fen's mouth curved slightly as she drank the black tea handed to her by Water Spirit No. 2:

"Regarding ingredient acquisition, I've already thought of a plan."

She extended her index finger, placing it on the sea chart at a trading location frequently visited by Goldenfinch Kingdom people—the Hundred Flowers Merchant Ship.

On the Hundred Flowers Merchant Ship, rare medicinal ingredients were sold. Additionally, this place had up to twenty third-tier Transcendents stationed there.

Simultaneously, there were giant beasts tamed by Goldenfinch Kingdom—'Mountain Beasts'—acting as gatekeepers.

Fen stood up, making a staff-wielding motion, saying:

"This place is my plan!"

That motion for hitting the back of someone's head is really practiced... Chen Qi and Burry simultaneously showed shocked expressions:

"You want to rob the Hundred Flowers Merchant Ship?"

If they wanted to collect large amounts of materials in a short time, robbery was indeed a good idea.

Moreover, robbing the Hundred Flowers Merchant Ship would be somewhat dangerous for them, but not impossible... Chen Qi shook his head.

However, they were already being watched by the Blackfin Crew and navy.

If they robbed Goldenfinch Kingdom's merchant ship too...

At this rate, wouldn't they become enemies with the entire world?

Burry quietly mentioned:

"Recently, due to the dimensional tide's abundant resources, Goldenfinch Kingdom has sent many mysterious Transcendents to the Witch Sea. Robbing Goldenfinch Kingdom's ships would be extremely dangerous..."

Fen snorted coldly:

"Robbery?"

"You actually think this witch would devise such a boring plan."

"???"

Chen Qi fell into thought.

Did Fen have a more covert plan? Perhaps through 'threatening' methods?

Burry took a deep breath, recalling the Flower Witch's legends. Rumor had it that to obtain a medicinal herb from a Saint, the Flower Witch implanted seeds into that Saint's wife and daughters.

And those implanted wife and daughters completely became the Flower Witch's playthings.

Reportedly, when that Saint saw his wife and daughters being toyed with by the Flower Witch, he fell into indescribable madness.

However, accomplishing such manipulation would be highly difficult...

"Ignorant. Why would I use something as dull and joyless as robbery?"

"Is that all you can think of?"

Fen shook her head, extremely disappointed with the two before her.

The simplest way to obtain medicinal ingredients couldn't possibly be robbery!

Gluttons always have many excuses... Chen Qi mentally complained.

"This witch's plan!"

"Is farming!"

She held her staff like a hoe, making tilling motions.

Fen's hoeing movements were exceptionally standard—clearly, she was a professional farming master.

"Farming..."

Chen Qi blinked, tilting his head in confusion.

Wait, I got misled by her arrogant expression—I should have realized earlier... Chen Qi remarked:

"Truly worthy of someone who will become the Vegetable Witch in the future."

Fen rubbed her nose proudly:

"My life magic, besides absorbing plants' life energy, can also accelerate plant growth."

"Of course, this growth can't be used on high-grade medicinal ingredients. But with the lamp-moon sea dragon fruit, even without high-grade ingredients, we can brew philosopher-grade potions."

"And to obtain these ingredients, we only need seeds and fertile land. Under my life magic, these seeds will grow into rare medicinal ingredients in just ten nights."

She took out a green bottle filled with life essence, shaking it.

"This witch has inherited the Flower Witch's knowledge and has considerable expertise in farming."

"Even including potion brewing time, as long as we get the seeds, completing these operations might only take a month."

Completing these preparations in just one month... Chen Qi pondered momentarily. This plan was sufficiently fast and reliable.

After explaining this series of operations, Fen walked over and patted Chen Qi's shoulder twice.

"Once the potions are brewed, we'll head to the Fog Sea to find the Deep Sea Hunter profession card!"

Then, holding her staff, blown by the sea wind, she said coldly:

"Qi, your advancement—this witch will assist you!"

After speaking, Fen's cold, rational mouth corners uncontrollably turned upward.