novelraw Chapter 359: The Dying Flower Witch
Chapter 359: The Dying Flower Witch
A saint-level enforcer... Chen Qi slightly raised his head, examining the Tentacle Merchant before him with considerable interest.
Rather than improving himself, why not try recruiting a genuine deep sea monster enforcer—a natural disaster of the ocean.
Chen Qi asked:
"Little Tentacle, how much are you worth?"
"???"
The Tentacle Merchant lifted her head.
What did this adventurer—who was utterly useless except for being 'fragrant'—want to do? The little Tentacle Merchant said with considerable confidence:
"My price is different from you unblessed lowly humans—I'm worth at least ten million Ancient Currency!"
Chen Qi raised an eyebrow:
"Ten million Ancient Currency? Your value exceeds even the Sea God's savings?""......"
The petite Tentacle Merchant froze for a moment. She couldn't tell whether this shameless human was mocking her or the great Sea God!
Chen Qi rephrased:
"What I mean is, how much would it cost to hire you for a battle?"
The Tentacle Merchant looked up and asked suspiciously:
"Who are we fighting?"
Chen Qi thought for a moment before answering:
"Some small-time pirates."
Although monsters in the Merchant's Coffin rarely took initiative, when money was involved, they became the sharpest blades in the Great Sea Coffin!
The Tentacle Merchant pointed toward where the Blackfin Crew had departed and asked:
"Those small fry?"
Chen Qi nodded:
"Yes."
The Tentacle Merchant closed her eyes, her tentacles brushing against the ground as she fell into deep thought.
As a small merchant, she didn't do losing business. As a monster, she wouldn't become a human's servant.
The Tentacle Merchant reassessed Chen Qi's strength. With his current power level, accidents and serious injuries were inevitable during battle.
When that time came, if Chen Qi lay dying on the cold ice wall, unable to move...
Then she could stop all medical personnel and, like a merciful angel, come to Chen Qi's side.
She would take his hand with the gentlest words, then tell Chen Qi:
"One hundred million Ancient Currency for one life!"
One's own life was priceless—no matter what price was demanded for it, it was reasonable... The Tentacle Merchant grinned, her small mouth filled with sharp teeth, unable to suppress her laughter.
Even under the Sea God's decree and the constraints of the Shell Principles, she could still make Chen Qi owe an enormous debt through "life" and become her servant.
Moreover, when necessary, she could choose to take action herself to complete this transaction.
After all, she was the native of this forbidden dimensional rift, while the adventurer before her was merely a foolish outsider!
Thinking this, the Tentacle Merchant's eyebrows curved slightly, her lips forming a perfect arc as she couldn't help but smile:
"Sure... human. For just one thousand Ancient Currency, I'm willing to help you fight. Witnessed by the Sea God, I'm willing to join you in making those weak humans understand what true strength means!"
Chen Qi nodded slightly.
As expected, just like the forums said—though highly dangerous, aggressive, and with a sharp tongue—cooperation was possible!
Chen Qi's plan was simple.
Use the Tentacle Merchant's power to confront the Azure Beast and the Blackfin Crew.
But this contained hidden dangers. To ensure "safety," he had to sign a supernatural contract with the Tentacle Merchant.
The Tentacle Merchant took out a blood-red parchment contract:
"Come! Human, sign the employment contract!"
Chen Qi took the contract and scanned it.
This was a Scale Phase artifact that could bind both parties to fulfill their contractual promises. Violation would bring unimaginable disaster.
The contract the Tentacle Merchant provided included not only her obligation to help him fight the Blackfin Crew and the prohibition against employer and employee attacking each other...
But also allowed the employee to sense the employer's location through the contract's power.
Full of traps... Chen Qi frowned.
Though seemingly reasonable, this contract was riddled with pitfalls.
First, it only prohibited mutual attacks but didn't require either party to protect the other.
Additionally, the employee could lock onto his position through the contract.
The Tentacle Merchant's lips curved slightly upward. She knew the lantern at Chen Qi's waist could counter her!
But that lantern couldn't defeat her—it could only keep Chen Qi away from her.
This contract would give the Tentacle Merchant the power to track his location.
This meant that once signed, the Tentacle Merchant would always know Chen Qi's position.
Even if Chen Qi ultimately defeated the Blackfin Crew pirates, the Tentacle Merchant could slowly torment him, becoming a nightmare following behind him.
Such a huge trap... Chen Qi looked at the smirking little Tentacle Merchant.
The Tentacle Merchant crossed her hands, smiling gently like a devout believer:
"Normally, supernatural contracts require payment too, but human, I'm willing to give you preferential treatment."
Chen Qi hesitated for a moment, then signed the contract.
The Tentacle Merchant's issues weren't unsolvable.
After all, the Tentacle Merchant might not be a match for the Azure Beast.
Moreover, the revived Ice Witch could easily deal with this monster.
Even if the Ice Witch refused to help, Chen Qi himself was confident he could defeat this arrogant Tentacle Merchant in the future.
Chen Qi cut his finger with his knife and signed the blood contract:
"Meals and accommodation provided, plus free medical care if you get injured."
"Congratulations, you've acquired a reliable enforcer.
Those weak small fries could never injure me."
The Tentacle Merchant accepted the contract, her tentacle hair dancing in the cold sea breeze.
Then her bare feet lightly stepped across the ground before she suddenly turned back:
"Wait for my good news, human. Soon, you'll have a ship capable of sailing the Nethersea."
After speaking, the Tentacle Merchant began contacting the city's monsters to fully construct the ship.
"A monster directing shipbuilding... I hope nothing goes wrong."
After Little Crow spoke, a chilling cold wind blew through.
Should I find something to block Little Crow's crow mouth? Chen Qi felt an ominous premonition as he picked up the recently purchased medicinal herbs, a trace of urgency flashing in his eyes.
Some time had passed since they came ashore—he wondered how the seriously ill Fen was doing.
......
On the Ghost Ship.
The water spirits had turned into ice sculptures, entering hibernation.
On the deck, Fen was wrapped in thick, stiff blankets, her small head resting on her knees as she gazed blankly at the campfire before her.
The flickering firelight illuminated her pale, lifeless face.
The vibrant red flowers on her head had withered into fading white, their petals falling one by one in the sea breeze, sinking into the ocean.
So cold... Fen's eyelids drooped as her consciousness gradually blurred.
"Fen, Fen, she can't die. She can become the family's hope, reach saint-level existence..."
"Fen, she can bring power to the family..."
In her blurred hallucinations, someone called her name.
Fen slowly opened her eyes. Through the hazy mist, she saw her parents kneeling before the family head, desperately begging for the cure to Blood Blossom Disease.
However, in the Canary family—renowned as the 'King's Hand'—internal strife was particularly fierce.
Her parents failed the A-rank rift trial to advance to legendary status, completely disqualifying them from obtaining the precious cure.
Even though, for the family head, obtaining the cure only required picking a flower from the A-rank rift they controlled.
Finally, amidst desperate wails, her parents had their legs broken and were thrown out.
When did this... happen? Fen's consciousness grew increasingly fuzzy.
Finally, she felt herself holding her parents' hands, traveling through dark forests, crossing snow-capped mountains, sailing across oceans.
They sailed for a very, very long time, encountering the Black Lantern Dragon, meeting pirates, until finally, after numerous adventures, they reached a lonely island—a solitary island in the sea.
On the island, a robed Prophet sat elegantly in a rocking chair, humming tunes, drinking coffee, and flipping through ancient books.
At the Prophet's feet stretched mountains of corpses and seas of blood spanning thousands of miles.
She saw her parents holding hands and moving forward, crossing the mountains of corpses and seas of blood to kneel before the Prophet, praying devoutly.
The Prophet remained silent, drinking coffee.
Finally, they knelt for a very, very long time, until snowflakes began to fall.
Eventually, the Prophet softened. They reached a transaction. The Prophet stood up, tapped her small head three times, and a vibrant red flower grew from her crown.
"All salvation comes with a price."
A familiar voice reached Fen's small ears.
Then her parents held her, sobbing uncontrollably.
They had made an exchange with the Prophet.
What exchange did they make? When was this memory? Fen felt her memories becoming increasingly blurry, like sand in an hourglass, growing fainter and fainter.
"Am I... going to die...?"
Fen thought silently to herself.
Since childhood, she had experienced this near-death feeling many times, but never as intensely as now.
The cold penetrated her entire body.
"So tired..."
Fen slowly closed her eyes.
But suddenly, new hallucinations appeared before her.
Chen Qi was looking at her with his usual serious expression.
Chen Qi's hand gently reached out, then pinched her cheek!
Even in dreams, Qi is equally detestable, showing no respect for an elegant witch... Fen smiled bitterly but didn't resist.
If this happened before sleep, it wouldn't be so bad.
Wait! This doesn't feel like a hallucination!
That hurts!
Chen Qi is actually pinching her cheek!
Detestable guy! Fen sneezed, her face flushed red as she looked at Chen Qi.
"Fen!"
Chen Qi called out, saying:
"Time for medicine, Fen! Don't sleep too deeply!"
"I know, I know..."
Fen buried her recent nightmare deep in her heart as she looked at the scene before her.
Chen Qi stood before her, watching with a worried expression.
Beside him, their newly recruited crew member kidnapped from the Blackfin Crew—the Blackfin Crew's Doctor Crow—was holding a steaming bowl of medicinal soup, spoon in hand, aimed at her small mouth.
Little Crow held the medicine and said:
"It's made from the recently purchased herbs. I know a bit about potion preparation."
Aren't you two standing a bit too close... Fen said coldly like a professional master:
"The medicine contains some useless nutrients that only reduce its purity."
"Yes, you're absolutely right."
Little Crow didn't argue, bringing the medicinal soup to Fen's lips.
Fen, completely wrapped in blankets like a caterpillar, opened her mouth and said:
"Ah—"
"!!!"
Do you want me to feed you? Little Crow's hand trembled slightly, her face blushing faintly.
She suddenly realized—was the rumored ruthless Flower Witch actually somewhat cute?
Little Crow carefully fed the medicinal soup to Fen.
Like a small cat, Fen slowly drank the soup with her small mouth.
As the medicine flowed down her throat, a surge of intense warmth spread throughout her body.
Fen's pale face gradually regained its rosy color, and the withered little flower on her head stood up again.
Indeed, the herbs from Merchant's Coffin can suppress this extreme cold... Chen Qi breathed a sigh of relief.
As the protagonist of the Witch Sea, Fen was much more fragile than he had imagined.
Perhaps it's because she hasn't undergone her dark transformation... Chen Qi thought silently.
But thinking carefully, in the original timeline, Fen frequently traded life for power. By the middle and later stages, she had already become an icy witch with half-white hair.
Fen asked concerned:
"How are things going?"
Not wanting to worry Fen, Chen Qi didn't share too much information, simply saying solemnly:
"We haven't encountered any major dangers. We're upgrading our ship now. We should reach the Witch's Coffin in about five days."
Five days until we see teacher, until we enter the Witch's Coffin... Fen looked at the hardworking Chen Qi, wrapped in her blanket, and gently bumped her small head against Chen Qi's forehead:
"Thank you for your hard work, Qi!"
Thump! Chen Qi touched his forehead—it felt warm.
Fen smiled slightly. Her goal of traveling thousands of miles to reach the Witch Sea was finally about to be realized!
Fen promised Chen Qi:
"Both of you, after my teacher revives, she won't forget to reward you!"
"Especially you! Qi!"
Wrapped in her blankets, Fen imagined introducing Chen Qi to her teacher and parents, then seeing her teacher and parents happily accepting him, giggling foolishly.
Hopefully... Fen, who hasn't undergone her dark transformation, remains as optimistic and naive as ever... Chen Qi smiled bitterly inwardly. The Ice Witch should be able to help them through the crises ahead for quite some time.
......
Great Sea Coffin, Great Snow Mountain—the fifth day since Chen Qi separated from the Ice Demon Pirates team.
Twenty-five Transcendents wearing heavy ice yak fur coats struggled forward through the blizzard in the deep snow.
"Everyone, keep going, keep going!!"
"According to the map, we're almost there!!!"
The leader Palu used his cane to support himself in the snow, climbing upward with difficulty.
Burry advanced painfully—both his flesh and mechanical parts had become severely stiff, his whole body creaking like a puppet.
In the team, whether the other three newly advanced minor legendaries, other third-tier Transcendents, or even the intelligent marching pets, all showed severe frost damage.
This cold damage ignored their supernatural bodies, penetrating to their hearts and even their souls' depths.
In the Great Sea Coffin, they Transcendents—who were immune to all illnesses in the real world—were as fragile as weak children.
"How much... longer... Captain..."
"I want to drink the meat soup Black Hunter made..."
"I'm... so hungry... I can't hold on anymore..."
"My future virtuous wife... is still waiting for me to return home..."
"Since when did you have a wife?"
Burry's teeth chattered as he spoke with difficulty along with the others.
Since their last meal of fingernail-sized Ice Watermelon Worm swarms, they hadn't eaten for twenty hours.
Meanwhile, in the blizzard, their communication device with Chen Qi suffered signal interference and was completely unusable!
Food exhausted, boundless cold penetrated their minds.
Even if they reached the Witch's Coffin, if Chen Qi didn't arrive as promised, they lacked combat strength and would certainly die!
And even if Chen Qi arrived, they didn't have enough food to sustain their vital signs!
Everyone advanced like zombies, as if they had already turned into unconscious ice sculptures.
"Persist!"
Palu didn't answer, continuing to support himself with his cane as he struggled through the blizzard toward the mountain peak.
Suddenly, he stopped and gazed into the distance.
They had reached the snow mountain's summit!
As the storm howled, Palu shouted loudly:
"We've arrived!"
Palu gazed into the distance. Even through the heavy snowstorm, he could still see the transparent blue barrier standing at the horizon's edge and the magnificent supernatural structure!
"We're here!"
Burry exhaled, leading the others as they struggled to reach Palu's position. Standing before the snow mountain, they gazed at their final destination—the Witch's Coffin!
In the distance, across the vast expanse of snow, they could vaguely see the entire land seemingly sunken, forming an angular rectangular shape like a man-made earth coffin.
That was the legendary Witch's Coffin—the legendary land of frozen time, the Ice Witch's slumber place, countless adventurers' final stand against death, the resting place of numerous ancient heroes!
In bygone eras, the land of immortality sought by countless adventurers!
"We've, we've arrived!"
Palu raised his hand, clenched his fist, preparing to celebrate.
However, this passion was instantly buried by the biting cold wind.
Boom—
They heard an earth-shaking, prolonged dragon roar.
In the endless storm, Palu's pupils contracted sharply.
His spiritual energy senses detected the Blackfin Crew's presence!
But even more terrifying than the Blackfin Crew was the gaze from above!
Something was guarding this Witch's Coffin! Palu slowly looked up.
At the unreachable sky's zenith, a pair of dragon eyes spanning the entire Great Snow Mountain were staring directly at them.