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

Chapter 315: Monster in the Fog

The Ghost Ship sailed into the Fog Sea, thick black mist rising silently from all directions, enveloping the vessel.

Within the heavy black fog, the entire world instantly darkened, pitch-black waves washing past without a sound.

"Huff..."

Fen's mind buzzed for a moment, and instantly, blood began flowing from her nose, dripping onto the deck.

Just as she reached out to gently wipe her nose, she discovered her arm had disappeared.

Thump!

Chen Qi lightly patted Fen's back:

"Don't use inspiration perception, and try to stay within the lantern's light range as much as possible. It causes hallucinations."

A small surprised flower bloomed on Fen's head.

Chen Qi took out the Daylight Lantern, using Flame Forging to ignite the wick.Warm light shone upon Fen and Burry, bringing a thick warmth that gradually restored their spirits devoured by darkness.

Chen Qi's eyes showed no emotional fluctuations as he took out two more lanterns, handing them to Fen and Burry, emphasizing:

"And don't casually use spiritual energy detection. When you stare into the black fog, the black fog stares back at you."

The black fog of the Fog Sea not only interferes with spiritual perception but also possesses a bizarre energy that contaminates detected spiritual energy, subsequently affecting the caster's mind.

Therefore, in the Fog Sea, one must avoid using spiritual energy detection as much as possible.

At the same time, maintaining one's rationality is absolutely essential.

"Staring at me..."

Fen took the lantern, scanning the surrounding thick fog.

Dense mist blew past like one mournful face after another.

Fen muttered:

"What would happen if we probed this fog?"

"You'd go mad, possibly controlled by the fog, turning into a lunatic."

Chen Qi said calmly.

The essence of the Fog Sea is the result of multiple dimensional rifts collapsing. These overlapping rifts, combined with countless adventurers' lingering souls, have formed this terrifying forbidden land.

The Fog Sea is elusive and mysterious—once lost here, not only does one's spirit go insane, but physical mutations may also occur.

"Turning into lunatics..."

Tiny bumps continuously emerged all over Fen and Burry's bodies. Their three-person team lacked anyone specialized in handling mental issues.

Chen Qi added:

"But don't worry too much. The lantern's light can restore your spirit. Even if you go mad, just wake each other up promptly."

Chen Qi continued:

"As long as one person goes mad, the other two can beat them back to sanity, achieving a good balance. Usually, all three won't go crazy simultaneously."

"I see, I understand. Don't worry, Qi, if you go mad, I'll properly beat you back to senses..."

Fen crossed her arms, nodding firmly while staring intently at Chen Qi's face.

Burry, seeing this, also rolled up his sleeves, revealing his steel pipe-covered mechanical arm:

"If you two go mad, I'll use my iron fist to sober you up too!"

"Exercise utmost caution."

Chen Qi reduced the ship's speed, hanging the Daylight Lantern on the bow.

In the Fog Sea, the slightest carelessness could lead to madness.

Creak! Creak!

Soon, eerie baby-like sounds came from beneath the ship.

"Deep sea monsters are approaching..."

Chen Qi used the Daylight Lantern's glow to look toward the ship's bottom.

Beside the ship were some pitch-black, extremely ugly big-headed fish.

These sea beasts, while attention-grabbing, could provide some protection... Chen Qi didn't drive them away. Instead, he took out the sea chart and Magnetic Needle, adjusting the ship's course toward the 'Lighthouse.'

Then he opened the sea chart:

"In about two hours, we'll reach the Deep Sea Hunters' treasure location—an abandoned lighthouse.

If everything goes smoothly, we'll depart from here in four hours."

Four hours? Deep Sea Hunters' treasure location? Burry suddenly felt an icy chill run through his body.

Typically, Deep Sea Hunters set unimaginable dangers around their treasures...

Deep Sea Hunters weren't angels who simply gave treasures to adventurers.

Chen Qi fell into similar contemplation.

Based on current information, this treasure was a legendary profession card from the Deep Sea Hunters.

Since this legendary profession card was prepared for third-tier adventurers, it couldn't possibly be 'legendary difficulty,' right?

The Deep Sea Hunters wouldn't make third-tier Transcendents challenge legendary difficulty, would they?

Chen Qi thought silently to himself.

However, specific circumstances would only become clear after reaching the lighthouse.

After Fen and Burry adapted to the fog, Chen Qi increased the ship's speed.

Yet at that moment, another chill traveled up his neck.

Here it comes again... Chen Qi frowned. This familiar feeling was the sensation of being tracked.

He could vaguely see Gambler Loren using quick-shot techniques aimed at his head, while An's arms were firmly targeting his chest.

The previous hunter team—they still haven't given up tracking me, or rather, they've prepared to pursue me?

If this were anywhere else, I might need to accelerate to escape.

But this is the Fog Sea. Do they really dare pursue me into the Fog Sea...

Chen Qi's eyes showed no fear, instead flashing with anticipation.

This is the Fog Sea.

Unlike other places, the Fog Sea holds numerous strange opportunities. His understanding of this sea far exceeded his knowledge of other maritime regions.

Come chase me if you dare! Perfect timing to settle everything once and for all!

Under the swaying lantern at the bow, the Ghost Ship slowly sailed into the Fog Sea's depths.

Drip! Drip!

The Ghost Ship had been sailing for some time.

"Huff, huff, huff..."

Burry breathed heavily, black blood seeping from the corners of his eyes.

In the black fog, he felt a sense of sensory deprivation, as if he'd fallen into the ocean—oxygen deficient, senses disappearing, experiencing mild suffocation like drowning.

"How much longer?"

Burry asked. As a mechanic who practiced intermediate meditation techniques, he was already struggling to withstand the fog's pressure.

"How much longer? I keep feeling there's something in the fog..."

Fen added.

Her meditation techniques were strong, and her Spiritual Core reached legendary standards, but the strange fish continuously approaching the ship, along with the distant thick fog, all triggered unease in her heart.

There are monsters in the fog.

However, she couldn't use spiritual energy detection, only relying on her eyes to confirm the situation.

So cold... Fen hugged herself tightly. Under the black fog's influence, small black flowers bloomed across her skin.

Even the usually fearless water spirits were frightened by the black fog.

Chen Qi took off his captain's coat and handed it to Fen.

Then, like an experienced captain, he took the Daylight Lantern from the bow:

"Both of you, calm down. We've arrived..."

Arrived? Fen's eyes flashed with confusion. In the thick fog, everything in the distance became extremely blurred.

How did he know? Another flash of confusion appeared in Fen's eyes.

"My spirit can withstand these polluted mists..."

Chen Qi took a deep breath and explained.

Once night fell, under the Lamp Keeper's passive influence, his mental value wouldn't drop below a safe threshold, allowing him to use spiritual energy detection to probe his surroundings.

Under the Lamp Keeper's innate talent, the Fog Sea's threats were greatly reduced.

Thump!

The ghost ship bumped against a small island.

Without hesitation, the three took their lanterns and disembarked onto the island.

Darkness brought fear. Except for Chen Qi, both Burry and Fen proceeded very carefully, afraid their movements might awaken unknown monsters in the fog.

This was a lighthouse island abandoned for a century. Before them stood a fifty-meter-high lighthouse built from stone bricks.

However, this lighthouse that once guided sailors was now also shrouded in thick fog.

Chen Qi turned his head, looking toward a corner of the island.

In the island's corner, they could see some white bones, with pitch-black carnivorous beetles emerging from the skeletons, hastily fleeing the area.

These bones are fresh... Chen Qi looked ahead.

If this was a treasure buried by the Deep Sea Hunters, then finding it shouldn't be difficult.

All Deep Sea Hunters' treasures shared one characteristic: he would mark a special "safety line" to warn adventurers.

Probably inside the lighthouse... Chen Qi held his breath, holding the lantern as he led the way toward the lighthouse.

Huff...

The lantern flame flickered as eerie winds blew past.

Moreover, they could faintly hear human breathing.

"Waku waku (Scared!)"

The other five water spirits clung to their strong leader Number One, trembling.

What a bunch of spineless creatures... Burry puffed out his chest, giving himself a thumbs-up:

However, she couldn't use spiritual energy detection, and could only rely on her eyes to confirm the situation.

The water spirits paused for a moment, looking at Burry's frail body and his confident smirk, falling into deep thought.

Even Burry is this brave! What reason did they have to be afraid and burden their master!

They silently jumped before Burry, their eyes filled with determination.

Indeed, the water spirits are inspired by me! As expected of me! Burry somewhat proudly wiped his nose, following Chen Qi's steps.

With careful steps, Chen Qi reached the lighthouse base, arriving before the large door.

"Huff, huff, huff..."

Continuous panting sounds came from within the lighthouse.

Simultaneously, Chen Qi noticed 'tiny cracks' carved with a knife at his feet.

This was the 'safety line' set by the Deep Sea Hunters. Pushing open this door meant crossing the safety line.

"Fen, watch the sea behind us for me..."

Chen Qi said cautiously.

"Mm."

Fen nodded, taking out and drinking a potion.

Chen Qi didn't hesitate either, drinking the Wind Spirit Elixir to enhance his agility. Slight breezes began appearing on his skin.

Under the Lamp Keeper's talent, the Fog Sea's threats were greatly reduced.

Although she didn't dare use spiritual energy detection, her intuition told her something was about to emerge from the sea.

Burry also stayed with the water spirits, watching the sea to prevent surprise attacks.

In this Fog Sea, no one knew when or where twisted monsters might appear.

Chen Qi held the lantern in his left hand, his right hand pushing open the lighthouse's heavy door.

Creak, creak—

The lantern's light gradually illuminated the lighthouse interior.

Using the light, Chen Qi looked inside.

A weak, mosquito-like voice came from within:

"You... are..."

A man completely wrapped in bandages, covered in blood, reached out his hand. His pupils rapidly contracted, and like an insect exposed to light after too long in darkness, he kept shrinking backward.

Human sounds! Burry heard the voice and prepared to turn around, drawing his gun to shoot.

Chen Qi extended his hand, saying:

"Don't look at him. Fen, Burry, watch our backs..."

Chen Qi held the lantern, looking at the person shrinking back before him.

In the Fog Sea, it's best not to directly attack any humanoid units.

The other wore the latest Beiguo Meteorological Bureau uniform. His identity was most likely that of a bureau investigator.

Simultaneously, the other seemed to be someone he recognized.

The other had rough, thick hair, very similar to Investigator Jiger whom he'd encountered in the deep-sea titan territory.

Within the Beiguo Meteorological Bureau, they possessed special items that could help their investigators survive a few more days in the Fog Sea's high-pressure environment.

Beside him, they could see some bread crumbs.

Chen Qi took a deep breath and asked:

"Name?"

"Newly established Fog Sea Investigation Team Two, Jiger. You... are you na... navy... personnel?"

He used one hand to shield against the lantern's glaring light while curling up, seemingly stuttering from not speaking for too long.

An investigator who encountered an accident, trapped here.

Chen Qi used spiritual energy to detect the surroundings, confirming no enemies before asking:

"What happened?"

Jiger adapted to the light, putting down his emaciated right hand. Unable to determine the identity of the person before him, he said trembling:

"We followed organizational orders to investigate the skeletal giant ship matter, but midway, all our team members were killed by something with pitch-black tentacles..."

"On the ship, something made our team members turn on each other. Then after they died, they turned into coins, flesh-made coins..."

Turned into coins... Chen Qi's eyes flashed with an unbelievable light.

This person, this person was actually...

A normal living person.

Contrary to his expectations, the information about this person basically matched what he'd collected.

The coins pointed toward the Abyssal Merchant... Chen Qi couldn't help feeling shocked.

Normally, surviving investigators in such places should perform a monster transformation after exchanging a few words!

Jiger's eyes also flashed with the same shocked light as Chen Qi's. Years of investigation experience helped him quickly regain reason, continuing:

This was the 'safety line' set by the Deep Sea Hunters. Pushing open this door meant crossing the safety line.

Arrived at this island by chance? Chen Qi looked at Jiger's feet.

Beneath his feet, they could faintly see an 'X' pattern symbolizing a treasure location.

Jiger moved his foot away, asking:

"Are you investigators?"

Chen Qi said expressionlessly:

"No, I'm a hunter."

Hunter Association's... Jiger shuddered. He wasn't worried about the Association's high "assistance fees" but feared the other might end up buried in this sea like himself.

According to their bureau's reports, too many overconfident adventurers had been coming to the Fog Sea recently.

Jiger took a deep breath, raising his head. Using the lantern's light, he slowly raised his right hand, extending a bloody index finger:

"Hunter, behind you..."

Behind... Chen Qi turned back with confusion.

At that moment, Fen walked over nervously, urgently placing her hand on Chen Qi's shoulder:

"Situation's not right! In the fog, there's in the fog..."

"What's in the fog?"

The next instant, Fen's lips curved upward. The flowers on her skin sprouted like buds, transforming into blood-red blossoms one after another.

Even her eyes grew thorn-like flowers.

In that moment, Fen resembled a flower monster covered in blossoms, continuously dripping blood.

Then, thick black mist covered her face.

In the black fog, 'Fen's' lips slightly curved upward as she raised a finger, making a 'shh' gesture:

"There's... me..."

Thump!

The wind gently blew as the lantern fell to the ground.

Blood Blossom Disease's mutated state... Chen Qi's hand turned, drawing the long sword at his waist.