novelraw Chapter 314: Edge of the Fog
Chapter 314: Edge of the Fog
Captain? Chen Qi hadn't expected Fen to address him this way.
Counting Burry, the Ice Demon Pirates member who had been tricked into joining, his ship currently had only three crew members total.
No, there were also six capable little sailors.
As they departed, the lamp-moon sea dragons blinked their eyes, their silver-white bodies swimming through the sea under the sunlight, emitting farewell calls that sounded like bird songs.
"Farewell."
There were still many lantern fruits on this island, and Chen Qi had also stocked up on high-end feed made from specially processed meat.
The Coastal Apex Predator picked up the piled feed bags on the deck from behind the ship, swam to the leader of the lamp-moon sea dragons, and gently placed the feed bags on the island.
Then, its black scales emitted lava-like dark energy as it opened its mouth, panting wildly, then wagged its tail proudly before diving beneath the Ghost Ship.
Smack! Smack!
While turning around, the Coastal Apex Predator's vigorously swinging tail slapped the lamp-moon sea dragon's face repeatedly.Anger flashed in the lamp-moon sea dragon's eyes, but without white sea fruits, they had no means to fight back.
But it didn't matter—if they worked hard and regrew new white sea fruits, they could confront this arrogant fool!
The proud lamp-moon sea dragons would never forget this humiliation, quickly transforming their grief and indignation into motivation for growth.
This feed should be enough for the lamp-moon sea dragons to lie around and eat for a month without doing anything. Hopefully, their numbers will have increased by the time we return... Chen Qi smiled slightly, then shouted:
"Set sail!"
The Ghost Ship turned its bow around, engines roaring.
"Whoosh!"
Fen stood by the ship's edge, feeling the increasing sea breeze as they embarked!
Under the protection of the sea winds, the Ghost Ship sailed toward the edge of the Witch Sea, toward the place perpetually shrouded in mist.
Three days passed.
"We're almost there..."
Chen Qi looked up, gazing toward the horizon ahead.
They had been sailing on the open sea for three days, and surprisingly, their three-person crew hadn't encountered any dangers during this time.
Now, just by looking up, they could see the boundary most adventurers dared not cross—the Fog Sea.
In the distance, thick black mist enveloped the world. That black fog seemed infinitely high and infinitely deep, connecting sky and sea, blotting out the sun, with no end in sight.
The black mist writhed unnaturally, and within those distorted vapors, one could vaguely see twisted, screaming faces.
Ahead of them lay one of the nearest harbors to the Fog Sea—Fringe Harbor.
Fringe Harbor was only three kilometers away from the Fog Sea.
Aside from the navy and the Blackfin Crew's secret islands, this was the most suitable place to enter the Fog Sea.
Although the Fog Sea was dangerous and known as a place from which few returned, 'treasure' was always captivating!
Long before the dimensional tide arrived, some crazy adventurers had already called the Fog Sea the golden treasure land. From time to time, ambitious individuals would form fleets to venture deep into these lightless seas full of ruins and dimensional rifts.
Coupled with the many fugitives and treasure hunters who favored this fringe territory,
as the dimensional tide arrived, this Fringe Harbor had also become a hiding place for numerous monsters.
Chen Qi stopped the ship, turned around, and said to Fen and Burry:
"Hide your spiritual energy fields. I'm going to that small island to gather some intelligence. Follow behind me, don't speak—I'll handle everything."
"Don't speak..."
Fen nodded, drinking the 'Spiritual Energy Concealment Potion' she had brewed.
Chen Qi knew quite a bit about the Fog Sea, but he still needed some specific information.
Then, Chen Qi put on his face-concealing hood, leaped off the ship, and walked along the scorched gravel path into the bar.
Bang!
Chen Qi forcefully pushed open the bar door.
Just as expected... Chen Qi cautiously scanned the surroundings. Broken liquor bottles were scattered everywhere, and many ferocious-looking third-tier Transcendents were present.
Additionally, there were some first, second, and third-tier Transcendents, along with some young men and women. Their exposed skin bore tattoos of crocodiles, black rabbits, and other patterns, as well as whip marks.
Slave traders, and not just any slave traders—ones who dared to traffic even third-tier Transcendents... Chen Qi thought to himself. On this fringe island, there seemed to be an even more vicious slave trading organization.
Perhaps due to Captain Blackeye's frenzied actions, or because of the Blackfin Crew.
"Selling goods?"
Although both wore hoods, judging by the deliciousness of their spiritual energy, the two behind him were quite attractive... The bar patrons drank while curiously examining them.
"No, I need information."
Short on time, Chen Qi didn't waste words. He stepped forward, knocked on the counter, and directly asked:
"I need information about recent 'anomalies' at the edge of the Fog Sea, and I want to buy a magnetic needle!"
The most terrifying aspect of the Fog Sea was its mist.
Once you entered the Fog Sea, you couldn't navigate by the pale sky, stars, or Smiling Moon. Combined with the mist's mental effects, the slightest carelessness would leave you lost in the boundless sea.
Most positioning and communication tools would cease to function.
Among these, the most convenient and simple positioning tool was the magnetic needle.
Legend had it that the great adventurer, fringe hunter, and selfless Traveler Carlos used his powerful Saint-level power to place a massive magnetic stone spanning kilometers somewhere in the deep sea beyond the Fog Sea, enabling navigation within it.
Through this enormous special magnet, people could use 'magnetic needles' to find their way home in the shallow layers of the Fog Sea.
However, over time, these 'special magnetic needles' had been monopolized, becoming profit tools in certain people's hands.
They were extremely expensive—a single small magnetic needle cost a full 100,000 Shell Coins.
Bartender Monroe grinned, revealing needle-like, densely packed fine teeth:
"Information plus magnetic needle, twenty..."
Two hundred thousand Shell Coins—quite the outrageous price.
Short on time, Chen Qi didn't bother arguing with them, pushing twenty gold coins forward.
After repairing the ghost ship and buying a month's supply of premium feed for the lamp-moon sea dragons, he only had 300,000 Shell Coins left.
Bartender Monroe extended a bone-like hand, picking up a stack of papers:
"According to Beiguo Meteorological Bureau's disaster messenger investigations, there have been no major natural disasters or dimensional rift collapse events in the Fog Sea's shallow layers for twenty days."
"However, the Ice Demon Pirates appeared in the Fog Sea one month ago. Their purpose is unknown, most likely again for the Ice Witch—they're always after the Ice Witch."
"Also, according to an adventurer who went mad, he saw a ship-like structure built from black bones in the sea, massive as a city."
"The moment he saw the ship, a hole appeared in his brain, from which white maggots continuously emerged."
"Hmm... also, recently there have been merchants with tentacles doing business. Even non-Shell affinity Transcendents can exchange rare items with them."
"But if you don't have ancient currency, don't approach them—they don't welcome poor people without ancient currency."
"In the Fog Sea, they can extinguish your lantern, unless you're a Lamp Keeper."
No severe weather, main dangers are the deep sea merchants and the bone-constructed giant ship.
The deep sea merchants aren't a problem... Chen Qi thought to himself. His Lamp Keeper profession countered the light-fearing deep sea merchants.
In the Fog Sea's shallow layers, dangers were everywhere, but as long as you followed the rules and maintained rationality, death wasn't that easy.
This was a necessary risk... Chen Qi continued asking:
"What about the magnetic needle?"
However, bartender Monroe reached out, covering the twenty gold coins on the counter, grinning:
"Sir, you haven't paid yet."
"??"
Chen Qi's lips curled as he leaned forward.
Then, bartender Monroe pointed to a shabby sign in the corner of their counter.
Dark red text was written on it:
"This establishment only accepts 'ancient currency'."
"Customer, when I said twenty, I meant ancient currency."
Ancient currency was special currency that Shell affinity Transcendents could obtain through quests and mysterious stores. Compared to Shell Coins, these ancient currencies had advantages.
One ancient coin was worth approximately one million Shell Coins—this ultimately multiplied the price by a hundred times!
In such areas, using various methods to collect 'tolls' from people was a common gang practice.
"We provided information, and you must pay the price. You get what you pay for—that's Beiguo's rule."
Then Monroe said with near-manic intensity:
"You can use goods and your companions to pay! Go to the Fog Sea and offer our goods to it! We'll waive the ancient currency you owe!"
Do I look that gentle? That easy to bully?... Chen Qi turned his head, scanning the surroundings.
He saw the third-tier Transcendents in the bar standing up one after another, revealing cheerful smiles.
Ten third-tier Transcendents, plus twenty second-tier Transcendents—they were like a pack of thirsty crocodiles who had been waiting for a long time.
On their skin, visible animal patterns could be seen—common among Moonstone City gangs. Among them, he even recognized the familiar black rabbit.
This was probably the result of Moonstone City's numerous gangs conducting their survival-of-the-fittest practices in the Witch Sea, then being influenced by certain special entities in the Fog Sea, forming these frenzied gangs.
This was probably the result of Moonstone City's numerous gangs conducting their survival-of-the-fittest practices in the Witch Sea, then being influenced by certain special entities in the Fog Sea, forming these frenzied factions.
"I have ancient currency."
"You have ancient currency?" Bartender Monroe was shocked by this answer.
Bang!
The next instant, Chen Qi grabbed his head and slammed it downward!
With a tremendous crash, his head was driven straight into the steel counter!
Bones cracked, blood splattered!
Against the powerful strength of Chen Qi's right hand, this third-tier Malicious Slanderer Monroe had no chance to resist. Using all his strength, he struggled to lift his head.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
However, Chen Qi gave him no opportunity to resist.
The sound of breaking bones continuously echoed!
"What are you doing! Attack! This is our territory! Just like killing those navy soldiers, turn these three into slaves and offer them to the mist!"
"Attack!"
Monroe roared, malice pouring from his eyes as he used 'Malice Activation' to strengthen his companions!
However, the next instant, a drop of blood from the ceiling fell onto his furious eyeball.
The ceiling was dripping blood...
Monroe looked up, witnessing the horrifying scene.
He saw more than ten indescribable slender arms growing from the hunter's back—those bizarre, twisted arms like sharp spears, stabbing toward his brothers!
Their hearts had already been pierced, their corpses nailed firmly to the walls and ceiling by these 'spears', continuously bleeding.
Before death, they hadn't even managed to use a single technique, leaving behind only faces contorted in pain and agony.
In just an instant, the entire bar was stained with blood and corpses.
Aside from the slaves huddled in the corner, all the slave traders who had tried to attack him had been completely impaled by dark-fire hands.
One of the slender dark-fire hands behind Chen Qi gently opened the public small cabinet, taking out ten ancient coins:
"I said, I have ancient currency."
Chen Qi smiled slightly.
He had no sympathy for such human traffickers.
These days, he had successfully digested the half-bottle of Philosopher's Stone Potions Fen gave him. His inspiration had increased by 20 points total, strength by 20 points, and agility by 15 points.
Thanks to that half-bottle of Philosopher's Stone Potions, compared to a month ago, his physical attributes had significantly improved. Now, controlling dark-fire hands felt as natural to him as water spirits drinking water.
Just who is this monster? I'll kill you! Bartender Monroe struggled, his malice-filled face squeezing out pleas for mercy:
"I was wrong, spare me! I know the Blackfin Crew's Black Death Doctor, the navy's admiral! I can provide you with..."
Squelch!
After handling things, Chen Qi's eyes remained cold. He ignored Monroe's final pleas, letting his corpse fall to the ground.
"Whoa..."
Fen took a deep breath, looking at Chen Qi's blood-stained clothes and the dark arms retracting from hearts.
Burry swallowed hard. Although he deeply hated slave traders, watching an entire nest of them be so effortlessly defeated still made his heart pound with fear.
Simultaneously, he was even more astonished—he felt like Chen Qi's strength seemed to have increased again.
In Burry's mind, Chen Qi had already surpassed the supernova An.
Crack! Crack! Chen Qi retracted all the dark-fire hands, then looked toward the trembling slaves in the corner.
There were about thirty slaves here, most under sixteen years old, their bodies extremely fragile.
The slaves huddled together, afraid that speaking a single word would get their hearts pierced by those bizarre arms and offered to the Fog Sea's monsters.
Deep Sea Hunters needed legendary reputation.
Chen Qi thought about it—it was time to restore his reputation.
Saving these slaves might be a good choice.
Otherwise, under the influence of the Witch Times, he would really become known as a perverted monster who enjoyed torture and being tortured.
"You're free."
Chen Qi collected the bar's items, money, and backpack cards, then set aside a portion to leave these slaves funds for returning home and healing potions.
Judging by these slave traders' situation, the number of monster merchants in the Fog Sea's shallow layers might be higher than I thought... Chen Qi shook his head. After confirming no one had escaped, he quickly left the place.
"Let's go, you two."
"Okay!"
Fen nodded happily and walked with Burry toward the Ghost Ship on the sea.
"Qi, that scared me to death! Good thing you're strong enough!"
On the ship, Burry smiled bitterly. After what just happened, he seemed to understand why his easygoing Captain Palu had firmly prevented him from joining adventures.
"Whoa..."
Fen touched her chest, her heart pounding. As a legend, she was the most excited and nervous person on the ship at this moment.
She vaguely remembered that even her invincible teacher, when returning from the Fog Sea, would have numerous wounds besides bringing back crazed 'deep sea humanoid monster' corpses and trophies.
Deep sea humanoid monsters... Fen looked at Chen Qi, suddenly realizing something.
Only now did Fen notice with astonishment that Chen Qi's 'profession' was Lamp Keeper, but the school he followed seemed somewhat unusual!
Were these dark-fire hands the proper manifestation of an 'Lamp Keeper'—a support profession that proclaimed 'holy light shines upon us' and stood for righteousness and integrity?
"Qi, you're not..."
Fen asked curiously.
However, before she could finish, black thick fog swept over her face.
Amid the howling storm winds, the ship started moving again. They had already crossed the black sea and sailed into the boundless mist.