novelraw Chapter 411: The Witch's Second Disciple
Chapter 411: The Witch's Second Disciple
Chapter 411: The Witch's Second DiscipleThe Sea God Pirates... The Ice Witch's crimson eyes narrowed slightly.
Beneath the sea level on the horizon, the seawater stirred faintly.
Chen Qi's spiritual energy also probed in that direction, sensing the presence of two fourth-tier legendary powerhouses there!
The Ice Witch's brow furrowed slightly.
"Number Seven, pour tea, we have guests."
"Waku waku (Understood! Witch Lady!!)"
Soon, Water Spirit Number Seven skillfully hopped up, dragged a golden-threaded wooden round table onto the deck, set up a sun umbrella, poured red tea, and dragged the dreamless salted fish Little Tentacle under the table to serve as the witch's footrest.
Number Seven, why are you so proficient at this? Chen Qi drank a cup of tea, tilting his head to observe the water spirit's obedient, dazed little expression.
During his absence as the proper owner, unbeknownst to him, Water Spirit Number Seven seemed to have been captured by the Ice Witch, becoming her exclusive water spirit.
Water spirits are so useful... The Ice Witch sat on the chair, crossed her long legs, and snapped her fingers:"Come out."
The Ice Witch calmly waited for the Sea God Pirates members.
As believers of the ancient evil Sea God, under their leader's guidance, the Sea God Pirates had conquered numerous islands in the Rift Sea, turning them into their own territory.
And their current leader, the madman who proclaimed himself the Sea God, also had considerable history with her.
Swish!
In the distance, the sea breeze drifted along with the ocean currents.
Two powerful members of the Sea God Pirates leaped from the sea like flying fish, landing on the deck.
The Sea God Pirates' High Priest, known as the Great Sea Beast Haige.
These two... Chen Qi observed them with interest.
Although both were powerful members of the Sea God Pirates, possessing considerable reputation on the seas.
In Chen Qi's view, even combined, they weren't his match.
Let alone the Ice Witch, who could crush them single-handedly!
Yet both held their heads high, their eyes filled with pride and confidence.
In their eyes, Big White Hair seemed insignificant... Chen Qi thought to himself.
The Ice Witch asked:
"Speak, why have you come to find me?"
The Sea God Pirates' High Priest stepped forward, bowed, and said:
"Great Witch Lady, our faith, the mighty Sea God, shall return to the seas during the war tides!
I come in the name of the great Sea God to demand two things from you, as birthday gifts for his rebirth."
After speaking, the Sea God Pirates handed a seaweed-wrapped letter to the Ice Witch.
Birthday gifts? The Ice Witch opened the letter, not preventing others from looking.
Chen Qi and Fen stood nearby, glancing over.
Beneath the seaweed was exquisite engraved writing paper, with elegant cursive script:
"Teacher, long time no see. I have cultivated for many years, and now, at the tide's moment, I shall be reborn, ascending to the demigod tier.
As you hoped, I have surpassed the Cup Witch, and soon, I shall surpass you..."
The Ice Witch unconsciously tightened her grip on the letter, as if recalling unpleasant memories.
She continued reading.
"Teacher, I know you fear the Great Whale's power, living in constant terror.
If I'm not mistaken, your current feeble strength can only be described as tragically crab-like."
"Teacher, although you abandoned me long ago, I remain merciful, willing to give weak you a chance at redemption."
A chance at redemption... Chen Qi couldn't help but smile beside her.
So the Ice Witch has come to this.
The arrogant tone practically oozed from the letter.
Who would have thought the lofty Ice Witch would one day be looked down upon like this.
The Ice Witch maintained her composure, continuing to read:
"Teacher, if you can offer the two items I require, I'm willing to help you resist the Whale Father's power. Of course, the prerequisite is that you support me as the new Sea God. I'll let you tend to the sea beast pastures.
Then, teacher, you can hide like a baby in the gentle harbor under my arm."
"Oh, teacher, one more reminder: your fate projections cannot detect deep sea power. You'll never find me.
The weak should maintain their humility. I don't wish to hear about any attacks on my great Sea God Crew after my return.
Otherwise, teacher, after my revival, I won't mind giving your rear some color."
"Your former student, the new Sea God, the sea's new ruler—Adrian, remains."
The letter wasn't long, but it left the Ice Witch silent for a long time.
Five seconds later, she finally closed the letter and tossed it into the sea.
Teacher, besides me, you have other students... Fen's head sprouted a surprised little flower.
She had always thought the Ice Witch only had her as a student.
Adrian... Chen Qi stroked his chin, recalling the name.
He had no memory of this name. In his recollection, when the Sea God returned from the sea, he was no longer human but a monster with titan form.
As the letter said, that Sea God indeed possessed power surpassing Saints, comparable to demigods, adding fierce fuel to the war tides...
Simply put, when the Sea God emerged, he was no longer human.
Who would have thought this Sea God Pirates leader had such history with the Ice Witch.
This wasn't surprising—the Ice Witch remained frozen for long periods, reviving periodically to participate in Witch Sea events.
From the letter, it seemed the Sea God had once been chosen by the Ice Witch as a witch apprentice, but for some reason, they became enemies.
Their relationship was quite hostile.
This time, the Sea God Pirates' purpose was to demand two things from the Ice Witch.
The letter didn't specify what exactly... Chen Qi looked toward the two Sea God Pirates executives.
When the Ice Witch finished reading the letter with a troubled expression, the High Priest personally appointed by the Sea God proudly puffed out his chest:
"Witch Lady, the first item our Sea God wants is the gift once presented to you by Beiguo's Steam Masters—the Abyss Ship that can travel ten thousand meters underwater..."
The Abyss Ship, traveling ten thousand meters underwater... Chen Qi stroked his chin.
That sounded like a submarine's name.
Chen Qi suddenly remembered the Ice Witch constantly mentioning giving them a surprise, something that could help them dive into the deep sea.
Was this Abyss Ship the Ice Witch's surprise?
However, the Ice Witch definitely wouldn't accept... Chen Qi thought to himself.
After all, if Yisha and Fen wanted to dive into the deep sea, they needed to rely on these powerful Beiguo creations.
Yet the Ice Witch unexpectedly said:
"What's the second condition?"
Huh? Chen Qi was startled.
Given the Ice Witch's personality, she hadn't outright refused.
She's inquiring further... Just as the Sea God said, the witch is all bark no bite. She exhausted all her power in the previous tide... She fears the Sea God's power... The Sea God Pirates' High Priest's voice grew louder:
"The second condition, Black Hunter. Our great Sea God requires a sacrifice, and according to our information, Black Hunter possesses unprecedented talent, undoubtedly suitable—suit—suit—"
Crack!
The Sea God Crew's High Priest opened his mouth, attempting to continue conveying the Sea God's command.
Yet he couldn't produce sound—copious blood flowed in his throat—
When!? The High Priest looked around in terror. Unbeknownst to him, his tongue had been removed!
Time freeze... Chen Qi watched calmly.
Just now, the Ice Witch used time freeze, directly using scissors formed from ice to cut out this High Priest's tongue.
This is the Ice Witch—only the Sea God can look down on her, not me. I can't treat the Sea God's prestige as my own power... The Sea God Pirates' High Priest regretted immensely, paying the price for his arrogance, hurriedly stammering:
"Witch... Lady... sor... sor... ry..."
Just as the Sea God Pirates' High Priest thought the Ice Witch would stomp his head into the floor.
The Ice Witch spoke with slight helplessness, in a gentle voice:
"Little Black Hair is not for sale. The second condition is off the table. However, the first condition is negotiable.
Return and tell your arrogant Sea God that if she's willing to make promises, other conditions, including fate projection rifts, can be discussed..."
Fate projection rifts! Fen's head sprouted a surprised little blue flower.
Fate projections were like the Ice Witch's heart to her.
She could sense her teacher's helplessness.
In the Ice Witch's view, given the current sea situation, they needed to leverage multiple forces to possibly break through.
If the fate projections were accurate, to achieve victory, they must utilize all available power.
Even the Sea God Pirates' Sea God power needed recruitment.
The Sea God Pirates' High Priest clutched his neck:
"No... no... problem... Witch Lady... I'll tell... Sea... Sea God..."
After speaking, the Sea God Pirates' High Priest hurriedly left with Haige.
The Ice Witch watched the two fleeing into the distance, not pursuing.
She understood her former student—if they acted here, her first act upon sea revival would be revenge.
The other was already the Sea God Pirates leader, soon to surpass the deep-sea titan.
"Teacher, is there anything needed..."
Fen asked softly, wanting to share her teacher's burden.
Recently, she could clearly sense her teacher's powerlessness.
The Ice Witch didn't look at the Flower Witch, simply draining her red tea:
"Unnecessary. Fen, Qi, Yisha, you three gather here at ten tonight.
Fen, arrive twenty minutes early."
Me arriving early? Does teacher have some important task for me? Fen's head sprouted a confused little yellow flower.
The Ice Witch said nothing more, picked up Number Seven, returned to her room, and firmly closed the door.
Hmm... Chen Qi tilted his head. As the sea's finale approached, he too could clearly sense the Ice Witch's melancholy.
...
Night, Nether Sea Ghost Ship, the Ice Witch's room.
Under dim yellow lighting, the Ice Witch sat at her desk chin in hand, snow-white hair naturally cascading, writing a letter.
Slap! Slap! Slap!
Urgent panting sounds continuously emerged.
"Haah, haah, haah, teacher, whip me, flog me, torment me..."
Before the Ice Witch's desk, Little Crow wept bloody tears, curled at the Ice Witch's feet, continuously knocking her head against the floor!
The once healthy Little Crow was now covered in festering black pustules. On her pale skin, numerous black blood vessels protruded, as if hundreds of centipedes squirmed beneath her skin.
Recently, as the Great Whale's influence deepened, Little Crow's Black Blood Poison had worsened.
This squirming black blood not only eroded flesh but had penetrated her spirit, driving her insane.
Little Crow was afflicted with the highest grade Black Blood. The Ice Witch had exhausted all methods but remained helpless, only able to help Little Crow advance to enhance her constitution while using the Winter Kingdom ascetic practitioners' 'Holy Flogging' to alleviate her pain through pain.
Yet despite her assistance, although Little Crow successfully advanced to Disaster Messenger, after days of relentless flogging, her life had become like a candle in the wind.
Little Crow clung to the Ice Witch's thigh, begging:
"Teacher, please use Holy Flogging on me again, I beg you. I feel myself mutating..."
Black Blood power is irreversible... If we cannot resolve the Black Blood... then countless powerful individuals will become the Blackfin Crew's apostles... The Ice Witch looked at the extremely weak Little Crow and sighed helplessly.
She could only comply with Little Crow's request, using Ice Flogging to keep her calm.
Slap slap slap!
After some time, Little Crow, using pain to counter pain, finally quieted down.
"Sigh..."
The Ice Witch applied medicine to Little Crow's wounds before returning to her desk to write.
Tonight, she wanted to write a letter.
This one was for Fen's parents.
Recently, the Ice Witch had intermittently used some lower-level fate projections.
Yet in every projection, she couldn't resist the Great Whale's power.
As her former student said, during the previous tide, opposing the Great Whale plus the Great Sea Coffin's power erosion had drained too much of her strength.
Moreover, they actually received the Black Blood Empire's assistance.
In today's allied forces battle, the Blackfin Crew hadn't even used weapons made from Great Whale power...
As the fate projections indicated, if they continued fighting, everyone around her would leave her one by one.
And a question surfaced in her mind.
Should she send Fen back?
This question, along with Fen's image, lingered in her mind for a long, long time.
For a long, long time...
Finally, the Ice Witch picked up her quill.
Unlike me, who inherited the Winter Convent's will, the Thorn Goddess's blessing, destined to save others with my life, Fen was merely my revival tool from the beginning...
Unlike Chen Qi, Fen lacks determination to reach the tide's peak and has no god-given mission.
After my revival, Fen holds no value.
Besides, with Little Black Hair, I don't need a second tool. Little Black Hair is the perfect new tool...
Fen's current power is merely decorative, a useless waste only providing potions... She's utterly useless here, only dragging me and Little Black Hair down... I won't miss her, absolutely not... The Ice Witch thought while writing:
"You two, long time no see. Your child's Blood Blossom Disease has reached its final stage. Without treatment, she will inevitably mutate. Recently, we met Third Princess Yisha..."
"We can help Yisha complete the Canary family's task. With Yisha's favor plus Fen's current talent, the Canary family head won't refuse you like before. They'll be willing to treat Fen..."
"Oh, Fen also met a bastard Little Black Hair. Their relationship is..."
The Ice Witch hesitated here, silently crossing out the last line.
Every prediction from her fate projections showed hopeless futures.
The dark tides had begun—none could escape unscathed.
She and Little Black Hair would most likely be buried in this sea.
Fen's parents might never see him.
If Fen didn't leave now, she might truly miss her chance.
She stopped writing, silently placing the letter into an exquisite flower-patterned envelope.
Knock! Knock!
"Teacher, I'm here..."
The moment the Ice Witch held the envelope, light knocking sounded at the door.