novelraw Chapter 464: The Missing Water Spirit No.1
Chapter 464: The Missing Water Spirit No.1
Chapter 464: The Missing Water Spirit No.1
Witch, I Swear I’m Not a Deep Sea Ancient God!
If I could tame that sea beast, without a doubt, the chances of victory against Whale Father would increase dramatically.
However, the Ember Beast’s strength and origin remain a mystery.
Hayer recounted, one by one, the horrific scenes he encountered on his war ship.
Chen Qi looked toward the Ice Witch:
“Big White Hair, what do you think?”
“Don’t make noise, Little Black Hair, I’m thinking.”
The Ice Witch lightly rubbed her chin, searching the storehouse of knowledge sealed in her mind.
Hayer’s figure was weary; he spread his hands, a trace of helplessness flashing through his eyes:
“Its power exceeded mine, and when it appeared, a special rift notification popped into my head.
I think this might mean the appearance of a forbidden dimensional rift.”
“A forbidden dimensional rift!”
Everyone flinched in shock.
When rift energies continuously collapse, ultimately a forbidden rift can appear.
If an A-rank rift is a desolate little world, then a forbidden rift is a wondrous grand world.
Its interior is unimaginably dangerous; even a fifth-tier Transcendent exploring inside must proceed with utmost caution, for a single misstep could mean death.
In times without Dimensional Tides, there were only two ways to enter a forbidden rift.
First, a hidden gate: forbidden rifts can connect to A-rank or B-rank rifts; by searching rift boundaries there is a tiny chance to glimpse a path into the forbidden rift.
But for most Transcendents, lacking a return path, entering that way only leads to one result—death!
The second way is through the kingdom’s highest rulers.
Some families, by constructing rift channels, can maintain contact with forbidden rifts.
However, such channels are controlled only by a kingdom’s top Transcendent families.
And within those families, only the absolute geniuses among geniuses qualify to enter.
Even someone with royal blood like Hayer had only heard legends of forbidden rifts in bathhouse gossip; he had never seen one with his own eyes.
Forbidden rifts are the key for fifth-tier Transcendents to ascend to the sixth tier.
They belong to imperial rulers, to the path of gods, to the foundation of royal prosperity—unspeakable, sacred.
Forbidden rifts… Chen Qi pondered for a moment.
If Whale Father is the final boss of the Witch Sea, then a forbidden rift is unquestionably the ultimate dungeon of the Witch Sea.
The Ice Witch asked:
“What is the affinity of that forbidden rift?”
A complicated emotion flashed in Hayer’s eyes—excitement mixed with fear:
“Light.”
“Light?”
The Ice Witch’s eyes brightened.
“Great Ice Witch, do you know something? Is this the rift you once conquered?”
Hayer asked devoutly.
He had risen to the fifth tier for a full ten years.
He also knew all too well that with his bloodline, age, and strength, he could never earn the king’s favor.
The forbidden rift before them was undoubtedly an opportunity.
Unlike them, although the Ice Witch’s spiritual field is only fifth tier now, legend said she had been to a forbidden rift and tamed its power, incorporating it into herself as the Witch Queen.
According to secret records of the Witch Sea, the Ice Witch very likely touched the forbidden rift’s power and obtained Time Stop ability.
The Ice Witch crossed her arms:
“I did not conquer that rift, but it may have some connection to the fate rift inside me.”
She pressed her throbbing head:
“In that rift, there might exist a prophetic light ability, or perhaps even stranger powers.”
Stranger powers… Hayer looked at his own body.
At the instant he had touched that rift, his body had shown visible aging and power decay.
But now his body had returned to normal.
“Any other clues?”
Hayer pressed urgently, hoping for even the slightest chance of advancement.
The Ice Witch tapped her temple:
“Too many of my memories are sealed. Only by finding the Ember Beast can I determine the specifics.”
“Hayer, did you place a soul mark to track the Ember Beast?”
Hayer shook his head helplessly:
“My soul mark had no effect on it; after fulfilling the Blood Lion’s wish, it simply dissipated with the wind.”
“There’s only one clue: it likes delicacies imbued with Deep Sea Power.”
Delicacies imbued with Deep Sea Power? The Ice Witch’s gaze unconsciously rested on Chen Qi’s muscular body.
Why are you staring at me? Chen Qi blinked in surprise.
“Little Black Hair, the task of finding the Ember Beast is yours.
Fen, prepare your Golden Flower Bird Kingdom’s special luring fragrance, and sprinkle it on him!”
The Ice Witch waved a large hand.
“Understood! Teacher!”
Fen had long wanted to use her special lure potion on Chen Qi.
Chen Qi blinked.
The Ice Witch was planning to use him as bait to attract the Ember Beast!
Bait!
Ice Witch, this plan is just—!
Picked the right person!
Chen Qi had to admit, he was the best choice to attract the Ember Beast.
In terms of Deep Sea Power, even the Black Lantern Dragon could not compete with him.
The Ice Witch continued:
“Little Crow, come with me. Next, I will fully fund you to develop an antidote for Black Blood.
Oh, Qi, you can also ask the Book Saint; perhaps the Book Tower’s library has information on the Ember Beast.”
With so much spoils, developing the Black Blood Potion would be only a matter of time.
“All right!”
Little Crow followed the Ice Witch and left the warehouse.
See you tonight, Big White Hair! Chen Qi stretched his limbs.
He planned to rest a bit, to ease the aching body from releasing domains.
Right, and he needed to find the Book Saint.
Wait—the Book Saint! Chen Qi suddenly remembered Aslina.
Because of the war, he had almost forgotten Aslina!
Both he and the Ice Witch had been fighting.
This was a prime chance for the Book Saint to escape.
And with the Book Saint’s temperament, if she escaped, she would definitely come back for revenge.
This could be trouble… Chen Qi and Fen left the warehouse to search for Aslina.
…
Moonstone City coast.
Black tidewater, heavy with brine, surged over scorched rocks, gradually washing away traces of cannon fire.
Countless merchant ships sailed into the massive harbor from the opposite shore.
The Black Blood Empire’s defeat meant the port could resume normal operations!
This port, tempered by war and blessed by Rift Tides, would usher in unprecedented prosperity.
Beneath the war ship, Madame Oli stood surrounded by envoys from many countries and great families.
With the Black Blood threat gone, many families wanted to invest in Moonstone City and claim their share!
“Madame Oli! We shouldn’t have withdrawn our investment earlier; we didn’t expect Black Hunter to be an ally of yours!”
“Madame Oli, could you ask—does Black Hunter have a wife? I’m an envoy of the Becker family from the Imperial Capital.”
“Madame Oli! Can we buy the war ship?”
“Madame Oli! I’ll invest ten million Shell Coins for the auction venue on Commercial Street!”
“Madame Oli! When will the auction start? I heard you seized a large amount of Transcendent goods!”
“Madame Oli! Our Maker Workshop offers ten times the price to buy Damarro Island’s land.”
People swarmed around Madame Oli, desperate to gain an advantage.
Madame Oli looked at the crowd, bewildered.
Too many people!
At that moment, a petite woman kicked through the noisy crowd, sending them flying, and stood before Madame Oli.
“Who are you?”
“Someone’s attacking! Call the guards!”
“How dare you be rude to Madame Oli! Do you want to die?”
“I’m an envoy of the Winter Kingdom! Who are you to cut in line?”
The small woman put her hand on her hood mockingly:
“Envoy? Cutting in line? For people like you, you’re fit only to kneel before me.”
With another casual motion, she knocked the merchants aside.
“Damn it! Guards!”
At the merchants’ shouts, five burly third-tier mercenaries charged forward to seize her.
“I don’t know which noble daughter you are, but this is grown-ups’ talk, not for—”
Suddenly, a surge of spiritual energy erupted!
Aslina, the Book Saint, removed her round-rimmed glasses, shed her robe disguise, and released her hidden spiritual energy.
A hundred people under the war ship froze in astonishment.
“How is this possible! You—you are—”
“This can’t be, you actually are—”
“You are the Book Saint!”
“Book Saint, my lord!!”
Madame Oli gaped, disbelief filling her eyes.
The Book Saint of the Book Tower had suddenly appeared in Moonstone City!
In Madame Oli’s impression, the Book Saint seldom traveled.
The crowd, like chameleons changing color, instantly put on smiles and apologized to the Book Saint for any offense.
At that moment, in the distance, the white tower’s banners fluttered and sailed into the harbor.
The Book Tower’s large fleet had arrived.
Finally, they’re here; not too slow… The Book Saint stepped forward, standing high and looking down at the stunned crowd.
Her emergence in Moonstone City had already been exposed when Chen Qi fought the Red Dragon.
Just now, she had felt the Book Tower’s power.
The Ice Witch and Black Hunter had just endured two brutal battles; they were exhausted… a smile tugged at the Book Saint’s lips.
It’s time!
To return to her loyal Book Tower!
Madame Oli asked with puzzlement:
“Book Saint, have you come to Moonstone City for some matter?”
“Guess why I came.”
The Book Saint pointed at Madame Oli’s nose, anger blazing in her eyes.
She had been kidnapped!
Stupid An and Little Black Hair—when I return to the Book Tower, I will not let them off.
“Because…”
Madame Oli thought for a long moment.
Clearly, the Book Saint had no interest in business.
Her purpose must be Black Hunter!
Madame Oli bowed:
“Respected Book Saint, you must be here for Black Hunter and the Ice Witch, right?
Shall I call Black Hunter and the Ice Witch for you?”
At mention of Black Hunter, the Book Saint’s arrogance evaporated, and she stammered:
“No, no need.”
Hearing the names Ice Witch and Black Hunter made her body instinctively go limp, as if whipped.
After she met up with the Book Tower’s ships, she did not want to see Chen Qi again!
I guessed right… Madame Oli smiled inwardly, impressed with herself.
At hearing Black Hunter’s name, the Book Saint’s fury disappeared!
In the distance, the Book Tower’s ships detected the Book Saint’s surging spiritual energy.
“Book Saint!!”
The Book Tower’s Tower Master leapt down from a ship in haste.
Their great Book Tower Saint had arrived ahead of them in Moonstone City.
The Tower Master looked dumbfounded:
“Book Saint, how can you be here? Weren’t you in seclusion?”
The Book Saint crossed her arms:
“Old man! What do you think?
Haven’t you noticed something’s wrong inside the Book Tower?”
The Tower Master smoothed his white beard.
These days, the Book Saint had been diligently handling Book Tower affairs every day.
Could it be then…
The Tower Master realized everything.
No doubt, the Book Saint had long anticipated today’s developments.
He nodded:
“You’ve worked hard, Book Saint.
You have been toiling. Worried our deal with Black Hunter might not succeed, you specially came.”
A tear rolled down the Tower Master’s face.
These days, the Book Saint had been handling Book Tower matters steadily, putting it back on track.
He had lived so long and had never seen Aslina work so diligently!
“I…”
The Book Saint swallowed the words stuck in her throat.
Surely no one in the vast Book Tower realized she had been missing?
Could the Book Tower truly function without her?
The Book Saint pursed her lips, about to reveal she had been kidnapped.
But she recalled the Ice Witch might say she had been whipped by Water Spirit Number Seven!
And perhaps there were even photos of her being punished in the Ice Witch’s hands.
She was a noble Saint.
Yet if she didn’t reveal the truth, she would never exact revenge on Chen Qi and Big White Hair.
She closed her eyes, torn.
Although these days she had been exploited, her long-neglected hammer technique had improved.
Besides occasional whipping, her meals and assistants had been quite good.
When tired, the water spirits even massaged her aching body.
Sweet Fen lovingly brewed her wakefulness potion, afraid she’d collapse while working.
Being whipped so often, the Ice Witch’s whip had strangely become somewhat pleasant.
Especially the Ice Witch’s own whip technique—far superior to Water Spirit Number Seven’s!
Maybe…
I should stay with them?
No! What am I thinking? Am I addicted to being whipped?!
Anyone who insults me must pay!
The Book Saint snapped:
“Tower Master, I order you to mobilize Book Tower, gather its largest force immediately!!”
“Aslina, why gather troops?”
A ghostly voice whispered from behind.
Chen Qi appeared instantly behind the Book Saint, his hand on her shoulder, kneading it.
“…”
The Book Saint felt as if a monster had pressed down on her shoulder.
Chen Qi’s current pressure rivaled even the Ice Witch’s.
The Book Saint snorted coldly and declared loudly:
“Of course to gather troops! To punish the remnants of the Black Blood Empire!”
“The Black Blood Empire is Book Tower’s enemy; they must pay!”
She put her round glasses back on.
The Book Tower’s Tower Master bowed to Chen Qi:
“Long time no see, Black Hunter. We were about to look for you.”
“Long time no see.”
Chen Qi smiled.
The Tower Master rose and hurriedly said:
“By the way, Black Hunter, when we approached the harbor, we saw on the Black Blood Empire’s ship that your water spirit seemed to be fleeing.”
“My water spirit fleeing?”
Chen Qi was stunned.
Through his deep-sea sense, he could feel the locations of all his pet beasts.
His spiritual power swept across the sea.
Water Spirit No.1 was moving at high speed, and the link between them was weakening.
Like steam evaporating, all of its spirituality vanished in an instant over this stretch of sea.