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

Chapter 442: The Mastermind Behind the Tower of Books — An!

Chen Qi watched the Book Saint's retreating figure, a thought surfacing in his mind. As expected, he'd have to stick to the original plan and kidnap her back.

"Well, don't worry, the Book Tower won't forget your help, Black Hunter."

The Book Saint waved her hand, suddenly feeling a bit dizzy and heavy-headed.

Without paying much attention to the devastating state of the Book Tower's mobile city-state, she took out some candy and ate it.

Then, she glanced once more at An, who was covered in wounds.

After the battle situation stabilized, Little Crow was carefully treating An's injuries.

Multiple compound fractures all over her body, damaged spiritual energy, and poisoned by the Edge's toxins!

How pitiful... The Book Saint said cheerfully:

"Oh right, An, once you've rested up, don't forget to complete the task I assigned."

"......"Both An and Little Crow were stunned for a moment.

Especially An, who had already been in so much pain she'd lost all sensation in her body, suddenly felt as if a massive mountain had slammed down on her again!

She had fractures all over her body right now! Plus she was poisoned!

But there was no way around it. The Book Saint was fifth-tier, the teacher who had given her the fourth-tier profession card... An struggled to speak with her injured throat:

"O... okay."

"Good girl, my dear An~"

Having received a positive reply, the Book Saint snapped her fingers and vanished from the battlefield littered with wreckage.

What a scoundrel... Chen Qi watched the Book Saint leave.

Although she and the Ice Witch were both long-lived beings, their personalities were as different as heaven and earth!

For most people, today's surprise attack could be considered a meat grinder battle they'd only encounter once in a lifetime.

But for the Book Saint, who had experienced several Tides and great calamities, such things were already commonplace.

"Little Crow, I'll leave An in your care for now."

Chen Qi didn't hesitate, going to help the White Tower Hunters clean up the battlefield and rescue the wounded.

Plus, to loot a wave of supplies!

"Water Spirits, all units, move out!"

Chen Qi whistled, summoning all the Water Spirits.

"Waku waku! (Third Brother! Follow me!)"

The nearly one-meter-tall Water Spirit No.1 looked at the half-meter-tall Water Spirit Number Three, showing off its robust physique.

It could now evolve into a Titan Water Spirit! This was the power of following its master!

It hadn't seen its taciturn third brother like this in a long time.

"Waku waku! (Okay! Big Brother!!)"

Water Spirit Number Three said softly.

Water Spirit No.1 rushed over and hugged Water Spirit Number Three.

Soon, under Chen Qi's command, the Water Spirits put on the White Tower Hunter hats and began their operations.

Among them, the strongest No.1 was responsible for pulling people out of the ruins. Number Two, who had learned healing arts from the Flower Witch, was in charge of treating the wounded. The other Water Spirits were responsible for scavenging items from the Black Blood soldiers.

The severely wounded Tower Master of the Book Tower leaned on a cane, making his way through layers of rubble:

"Mr. Black Hunter, thank you for your assistance."

The Tower Master was an old man reminiscent of Gandalf, who had been the de facto manager of the Book Tower for a very long time.

However, unlike the Book Saint, he was already ninety-nine years old, and the mutation disease accumulated in his early years kept recurring this year.

He often dreamed of the God of Death whispering by his ear, gently using a scythe to cut off his head.

He was increasingly unable to handle many matters as he wished.

Therefore, he had handed over many affairs to the Book Saint this year.

But he never expected that the Book Saint, who hadn't handled affairs for so long, could accomplish them so effortlessly.

In his hand was the Black God's Weapons potion! Chen Qi nodded:

"Moonstone City and the Witch are researching a solution for this power."

"We are also conducting research, but our chief Alchemist has only figured out how to use the Black Blood. This power seems to have a kind of magic that makes people unable to resist using it, constantly growing stronger..."

The Tower Master shook his head, handing the Black God's Weapons potion to Chen Qi.

Regarding an antidote for the black whale blood, their Alchemist had made no progress.

To be precise, they had made no headway at all.

The black whale blood collected from this battle should be enough for research... Chen Qi took the potion.

The Tower Master bowed, performing the highest form of etiquette once more:

"Black Hunter, thank you again for your help."

He was too old. In this battle, poisoned by the Black Blood Poison, he had almost instantly lost fifty percent of his combat power.

And as one of the Book Saint's many students, he understood his teacher.

Capricious, willful, lazy, utterly indifferent to the lives of others...

At the moment the battle began, she wouldn't care about anyone.

Without Chen Qi, the entire Book Tower would have plunged into who knows what kind of hell.

The Black Hunter's favor must be repaid... The Tower Master stood up and said:

"Apologies, Black Hunter, I'm afraid we cannot host you properly right now.

But if there is anything you need our help with, our Book Tower will accomplish it even if it costs us everything."

"Even if it's a rift unique item, as long as our Book Tower's treasury possesses it, you may choose it!"

The Book Tower's massive treasury!

Chen Qi's eyes lit up.

As a mobile city-state upon the sea, the Book Tower's treasury collected a vast amount of special resources of various Affinities, among which were many rare treasures.

And one part of his domain concept, 'Azure Pastoral Song', required at least one Lamp-affinity rift unique item, one Heart-affinity rift unique item, and a fifth-tier Lamp-affinity visualization method!

Chen Qi asked the Tower Master about these three items.

A fifth-tier visualization method, Lamp and Heart-affinity rift unique items... The Tower Master pondered for a moment:

"The White Tower Federation was originally the nation of Lamp and Book. A fifth-tier visualization method and a Lamp-affinity rift unique item are both in the treasury.

As for a Heart-affinity rift unique item...

Hmm, that might take some time. Our Book Tower is currently trading with the Serpent of Life family from the Goldenfinch Kingdom. Perhaps we can exchange other rift unique items for a Heart-affinity one..."

As he spoke, the Tower Master fell into hesitation again.

The Black Hunter had helped them, but the value of these three items exceeded his imagination.

After all, even he himself only possessed a single, incomplete Book-affinity rift unique item!

Moreover, rift unique items were all heavy treasures that required the Book Saint's approval!

It really isn't possible... Chen Qi looked at the Tower Master's hesitant expression and shook his head.

In an era when the Dimensional Tide hadn't arrived, each rift unique item was enough to spark wars between families.

Even with the Book Tower's rich heritage, it was unlikely they would hand over all three items to him at once.

Now is the Dimensional Tide. If we can secure the Black Hunter's aid, we will eventually obtain more unique items... The Tower Master hesitated for a while:

"Black Hunter, according to regulations, I need to write a document for the Book Saint to review regarding the retrieval of these three items.

Please wait one day."

The Tower Master looked at the Black Hunter. In his view, if they could secure the Black Hunter's aid, even three rift unique items could eventually be earned back!

Within the White Tower Federation, due to the spread of the Magic Net rift, there was a severe shortage of military forces.

Currently, even their Book Tower needed assistance.

The person before him was a fifth-tier Saint.

Even if the Black Hunter only publicly declared support for them without taking action, it would still exert the greatest effect!

Chen Qi nodded:

"Alright."

The Tower Master handed Chen Qi the key to the Book Tower's VIP room:

"Oh, and if possible, could you please take back your... adorable pet beast?"

Adorable... The Tower Master suppressed a feeling of nausea as he said the word.

He looked at the distant Twelve-Tentacles, feeling his heart race.

"Alright."

Chen Qi nodded. Both the Black Sea Mammoth and the Deep-Sea Twelve-Tentacles could submerge and hide in the sea.

"Thank you again for your help, Lord Black Hunter."

The Tower Master thanked him once more before leaving, dragging his aged, scarred body to deal with the ravaged Book Tower.

Soon, the Water Spirits also brought back the spoils of war.

Mostly, they were the Black Whale Crew's Black Blood heavy armor and the Black God's Weapons potions.

They piled up into a small hill!

Such a massive quantity of black whale blood... Chen Qi collected all these items, moving them onto the newly subdued Black Sea Mammoth.

After handling all these matters, Chen Qi took the key and, along with Little Crow and An, headed to the Book Tower's VIP room.

...

One day later, Book Tower, VIP room, on the bed.

"Huff, huff, huff..."

An gasped for breath, her pale chest rising and falling continuously.

A girl dressed in crow-feather clothing was continuously using fine needles, stitch by stitch, to pass through her skin and flesh.

Flesh stitching technique.

"Don't be afraid. Although I don't have a license, my medical skills have been verified by many people."

The black doctor, Little Crow, used a needle to stitch the wound on An's chest, then covered her with the blanket.

After a night of surgery, An had finally been fully bandaged.

However, a complete recovery would take at least two more weeks.

An slowly sat up, looking at the two people in the room.

"Waku waku! (Do you need something to eat?)"

Water Spirit Number Three brought over some candy.

Unlike Number Two, who had already submitted to the Flower Witch, Water Spirit Number Three's mind, from start to finish, contained only its master!

The master was the best!

But after spending so much time with An, it realized it actually quite liked her.

Although An didn't have even one percent of its master's charm, she was really good to it!

If not for An, it wouldn't have learned to pilot a mecha, nor grown into an excellent Water Spirit.

"Thank you."

An took the candy from Number Three and took a bite.

"An, how are you feeling?"

Chen Qi asked with concern.

An suppressed the pain and smiled slightly:

"I'm fine, thanks to the doctor."

"Thanks to the Witch's Sage-Level potion."

Little Crow said modestly.

Then, An turned her gaze to Chen Qi:

"Qi, you actually advanced to the fifth tier..."

Although she already knew, she still couldn't help but feel shocked when she said it out loud.

They both came from Damarro Town, yet Chen Qi had managed to reach this point.

And he seems to have grown taller too... An's gaze lingered on Chen Qi's body, unable to look away for a long time.

Right now, no matter how hard she tried, she probably couldn't budge Chen Qi's fifth-tier physique.

Chen Qi said with a smile:

"An, if you had a rift workshop, you could also advance to the fifth tier during this Tide."

Fifth tier... An was stunned for a moment.

Becoming fifth-tier was one of her goals!

A fifth-tier profession card and rift workshop technology were things she hadn't dared to imagine.

But perhaps, just as Chen Qi said, she really did have the possibility to advance to the fifth tier during this Tide.

And just at that moment, a sound suddenly came from the pigeon mailbox card within An's blood-stained clothes:

"You have new mail! You have new mail, please check!"

Pigeon mailbox card... Chen Qi looked at that card.

Pigeon cards were unique creations of the White Tower Federation, used for long-distance communication.

And this particular pigeon mailbox card... A flash of surprise crossed Chen Qi's eyes.

This card was a top-level military mailbox card!

An picked up her blood-stained clothes and took out the pigeon mailbox card:

"Qi, please wait a moment. I need to handle my task."

An took out a stack of documents from the mailbox, along with a quill pen.

Your task? A flicker of curiosity appeared in Chen Qi's eyes.

He wondered what An was responsible for at the Book Tower?

He could sense that An was clearly much more exhausted.

Chen Qi leaned over, scanning the contents of the letters.

Even with the Book Tower's rich heritage, it was unlikely they would hand over all three items to him at once.

#Book Tower Reconstruction Plan#

#Book Tower Defense Measures Enhancement Plan#

#Seventh Team Captain, Outstanding Performance in Battle, Application for a Fourth-Tier Great Archmage Profession Card#

#Thorough Investigation of the Serpent of Life#

#Black Hunter's Reward, Please Review, Book Tower Master!#

An held the quill pen, quickly scanning the specific contents of these documents, then signing them.

"So you're just signing... Wait a minute..."

"!!!"

Chen Qi's pupils contracted sharply.

What's going on!

You call this your task!

Isn't this the Tower Master's task!

Chen Qi scanned these documents.

On these documents were the signatures of the Book Tower's high-ranking officials.

Chief Alchemist, Chief Defense Commander, Tower Master!

And the approval of these documents was all being signed by a student who had just advanced to the fourth tier...

An gave a bitter smile:

"The Book Saint handed all these matters over to me to handle."

Although the Book Saint had said she would kill her if she dared reveal this secret!

Still, An chose to tell Chen Qi.

If she didn't tell Chen Qi this secret, she was going to collapse.

Of course, there was another reason: she trusted Qi.

Chen Qi stroked his chin and asked:

"An, exactly how many of the Book Saint's tasks do you have to handle?"

"At first, it was half..."

An's brow furrowed tightly:

"Now, it's all of them."

All of them! Chen Qi and Little Crow shuddered upon hearing this word.

The Book Saint's tasks were all handed over to An to handle!

Chen Qi asked further:

"An, generally speaking, do you need to see the Book Saint to handle these documents?"

"No, because the Book Saint needs to sleep. She hates people entering her bedroom without permission.

Hmm... her morning grumpiness is quite strong."

"......"

It can be like this?! Chen Qi and Little Crow were shocked once more!

Chen Qi fell silent for a moment, watching as An skillfully signed various documents and wrote some ambiguous comments.

Soon, An saw the Tower Master's draft:

"To secure the Black Hunter's aid, retrieve the Lamp-affinity rift unique item from the treasury, the fifth-tier Lamp-affinity visualization method, and find a way to locate a Heart-affinity unique item...

This is a matter concerning the fate of the entire Book Tower. Book Saint, your student hopes you can..."

An read it once.

The Tower Master used a pleading tone, hoping the Book Saint would at least agree to retrieve one item from the treasury to repay the Black Hunter!

An glanced at Chen Qi and directly wrote with the quill pen:

"My old, useless, good-for-nothing student, you have, for once, proposed a correct idea. I command you to spare no effort! Find all the items the Black Hunter desires!"

All items!

Chen Qi and Little Crow were stunned for a moment.

There's such an operation?

And why did the letter address the Tower Master as 'old, useless, good-for-nothing student'?

"Can you really do that?"

Chen Qi asked.

An looked at Chen Qi, placed the quill pen on her lips, and said playfully:

"I just think the Tower Master is right."

After saying that, she placed the processed documents into the pigeon mailbox, sending them to the Book Tower's leadership.

Chen Qi watched as An performed this operation with extreme proficiency.

He thought for a moment.

An was handling the Book Tower's confidential documents, and she didn't even need the Book Saint's approval.

For a moment, Chen Qi didn't know whether the Book Saint was too outrageous or An's ability was too strong.

But if everything An said was true.

In a sense, An was the true ruler of the Book Tower!

This is actually...

Fantastic!

Chen Qi asked urgently:

"An, are you interested in helping me?"

"Help with what?"

An asked, puzzled.

Chen Qi thought for a moment and said directly:

"An, I want you to help me kidnap the Book Saint back to Moonstone City. Only her hammer power can help us quickly complete the rift workshop..."

Chen Qi told An his thoughts one by one.

After listening, An's pupils rapidly contracted as she looked at Chen Qi with extreme astonishment.

Chen Qi's initial goal was actually to kidnap her teacher, the apex of the Book Tower, the supreme Book Saint Aslina!

Chen Qi asked:

"An, I wonder if you can provide some assistance?"

An slightly opened her mouth, hesitated for a moment, and said:

"Qi, she is my teacher..."