Witch, I'm really not an ancient god of the deep sea!

Chapter 243 The Shadow of the Lantern
White Tower Federation, free card making, free... Chen Qi looked at the other party.

Generally speaking, it costs 100,000 shell coins to make a Tier 3 job card. However, if the maker is highly skilled, the price will increase to between 300,000 and 500,000 shell coins.

Of course, in the country of Bei, highly skilled card makers are extremely rare; they are the kind of people who are rich but can't find anyone.

The free card issuance is a nice little bonus.

Free things often mean danger... Chen Qi carefully scanned the other party.

Aside from Ann, who had returned from studying abroad, this should be the first time he has spoken with people from the White Tower Federation since coming to this world.

Besides the hunter's clothes, there were two silver teardrops hanging on the other person's ears.

Mercury Drop, I've run into another important person... Chen Qi thought to himself.

Melanie, the renowned card maker of the Kingdom of Belial, codenamed Mercury Hunter.

Judging from his clothing and aura, the superhuman in front of me was just an ordinary second-tier superhuman.

However, the White Tower Hunters are actually skilled at concealing their spiritual energy fields, and the true strength of these six people should all be at the third tier.

Melanie, the Mercury Hunter, enjoys reading, newspapers, card making, playing pranks on others, searching for spies and undercover agents, looking for witches, and a whole host of valuable items.

Like Gray Rat, Melanie is a young president of the Hunter Association and a mentor to many newbies. At Tier 3, she has mastered several powerful release techniques and is only one step away from becoming a Legendary, which is extremely dangerous.

Melanie gently swirled the wine in her glass, raising an eyebrow:
“Little brother, you seem to need a knowledgeable and powerful card maker. If you really succeed in getting information about Shadow Tide, this hunter is willing to make cards for you for free.”

I paused to think for a moment at the start of the morning.

The White Tower Federation has a very high level of card production.

Card makers are merely a support profession in other countries, but in the White Tower Federation, they are a terrifying fighting force.

The card makers of the White Tower Federation possess greater power; they are able to create many powerful and dangerous cards and have mastered the skills of using cards in combat.

Due to the investment of extraordinary resources, 80% of the White Tower card makers possess formidable combat strength, and therefore, they are also known as card masters.

Getting to know a White Pagoda card maker would be quite a good thing...

However, the other party actually thought I could get information... Chen Qi thought for a moment and said:
"I hope you won't go back on your word."

"Of course not, I wish you success, little brother."

Melanie narrowed her eyes and smiled.

Chen Qi shook his head inwardly.

While getting to know a card maker who works for the White Tower Hunter isn't a bad thing, there's no doubt that the other party's motives are impure.

As expected, their goal was the same as mine: the Deep Blue Flame of the Sea God Pirates and the Witch's Relics.

These six people are all competitors.

We must remain vigilant in any future contact... Chen Qi put away the map and left the place with Captain Sea Serpent.

After they left, Melanie and the others also departed for the Sea God Pirates' inn.

Inside the inn, a White Tower hunter asked curiously:

"Captain Melanie, why did you agree to that hunter's card-making request? A second-tier hunter has no way of getting any information about Shadow Tide."

Melanie hesitated for a moment, then said:

"Yes, because I've taken a liking to him."

"team leader???"

Melanie's lips curled into a smile:
"I was just kidding you. My intuition tells me that his strength far surpasses that of an ordinary second-tier superhuman. In addition, given his newcomer status, isn't our plan just missing a decoy, a decoy who can attract firepower!"

Given our current situation, cultivating an attention-grabbing lure would be an excellent option.

Moreover, if the other side can actually obtain information about Shadow Tide, it would be a good thing for us! After all, Shadow Tide is an extremely valuable resource.

Therefore, we might as well make contact with them first and offer them something in return.

Melanie smiled, confident that she could use the resources of the White Tower Federation to lure Chen Qi into their adventure team as bait.

Will that person really come back alive...? The White Tower Hunter was speechless, but still managed a smile and said:
"Captain's insight is brilliant!"

……

……

The next day, at midnight.

After handing over the reins to Captain Sea Serpent, Chen Qi went to the shipyard and spent 100,000 shell coins to refurbish the ship, and another 200,000 shell coins to install a stronger triple propeller on the small houseboat.

While ghost ships are powerful, smaller vessels offer greater safety and stealth in many sea areas.

After upgrading the houseboat, Chenqi assigned Water Sprites No. 5 and No. 6 to handle the tentacle grass.

The task of repairing the tentacle plant is very simple. The main tasks are to go to the roots of the tentacle plant, remove the fish bones, and apply a layer of essential oil to the tentacle plant.

Both being deep-sea creatures, the tentacle plant won't attack the water spirit indiscriminately. With the water spirit's crafting abilities, completing both areas is more than enough.

Finally, Chen Qi spent another 100,000 shell coins to purchase ten high-intensity waterproof spherical lamps, which he then stuffed into the bellies of Number One and Number Three, briefly transforming them into light sprites.

They spent another 200,000 coins to purchase 100 light bullets produced by the Magic Bullet Company.

Although it is expensive, it is an essential tool for dealing with Shadow Fiend... Chen Qi picked up the sniper rifle and loaded bullets.

I must find the shadow of the lantern before nightfall and kill him... Chen Qi thought to himself.

After dealing with this series of events, Chen Qi sailed his ship at the dawn and headed to the place of origin of the Shadow Tide.

……

……

Noon, in the waters around Poseidon Island, at Black Forest Island.

Under the huge shade of the tree, a small expedition team on reconnaissance duty was fleeing in panic, carrying lanterns and looking back frequently.

Behind them, the sounds of wild beasts could be heard from time to time.

Forest Island is a densely wooded island, its tops covered with fluffy leaves that form a huge dark cloak, burying the entire island in darkness.

Before launching their attack, the Shadow Tide needed a place to stay, and this island was undoubtedly the most suitable place for them.

The expedition team consisted of five people, all of whom were second-tier superhumans. They had come here for the million shell coins promised by the Sea God Pirate Crew.

Upon arrival, the expedition leader was overjoyed, thinking they had only been given a simple reconnaissance mission!

After all, according to the information, the Shadow Beast cannot get close to the light.

But now, he couldn't help but say in a trembling voice:
Is he still alive?

The expedition leader, a Blademaster soldier, activated his Courage skill, but even so, he couldn't stop trembling.

"Captain, I don't know. I feel like they're always there, as long as our lanterns go out!"

In the forest, a fierce wind howled, as if countless dark hands were trying to snatch the lantern from his grasp.

"Damn the Sea God Pirates! If it weren't for the flames they promised, I wouldn't be here at all! If it weren't for that wretched debt collector!"
The expedition leader gritted his teeth and said, "I am a hunter who has completed three C-rank rift missions and twenty D-rank missions, and has teetered on the brink of death several times."

His family was originally well-known mining merchants in the Moonstone Islands, and they had even refused a marriage proposal from the mayor of Maro Town.

However, after the Rift Tide, driven by greed, he joined forces with his friends to borrow 30 million shell coins from the Shell Kingdom Bank, but was unable to repay the loan. His entire family of fifty people became debtors under the control of the debt collectors.

Why? Why do I have to pay back the money? Why did I have to come to this godforsaken place? Why can't I have my own freedom? If I run away, I won't die!

The expedition leader grew angrier and angrier, and more and more regretful as he thought about it:
"My family is capable of resolving this matter; I should go and pursue my freedom!!"

He had had enough of this hectic life. As a graduate of the Royal University of Belgrade, he should be searching for his love and his legendary path on this vast ocean.

"I will become a legend, even if it means letting everyone down! Once I become a legend, no one can stop me!"

The expedition leader gritted his teeth and said.

Suddenly, three whips flew out of the darkness, entangled the four team members behind him, and then plunged into their chests.

Dark red blood instantly splattered onto the expedition leader's face.

They reacted a beat too slow, and that one beat determined their life or death!
In the darkness before them, a tall, dark figure, wielding a large scythe, approached him.

"Light! Light! Light!" The expedition leader took out his lantern, trying to stop the monster in front of him!

All the shadow beasts fear the light!
However, the other party ignored the light and became even more excited.

In the next instant, a slender arm grabbed his head, picked up a sickle, and cut him down like grass, splattering dark red blood all over the ground.

boom!
Five people were carelessly thrown to the ground.

In the blink of an eye, wolf-shaped shadow beasts emerged from the darkness, their tails wagging happily.

After dealing with the five people, the tall figure bent over, holding a sickle, extinguished the lantern, and looked towards the entrance of the forest.

He vaguely heard voices coming from afar, from the weak.

……

……

"Ha! Ha! Ha! (Get away! Get away! Don't come near my master! Do you know who my master is?)"

"Hiss! Hiss! Hiss! (I am a monster from the deep sea! A terrifying monster!)"

Inside the Black Forest, Water Sprite Number One and Water Sprite Number Three swelled up, bouncing and leaping on either side of Chen Qi, chasing and biting the shadowy beasts in the darkness.

The interiors of Water Sprite No. 1 and Water Sprite No. 3 are now filled with spherical lights, making them ample mobile light sources themselves.

Now, they are light spirits!
Chen Qi carried a lantern, chopped meat and bones, and placed them on his waist, ready for battle at any moment.

What Chen Qi held in his hand was a divine artifact from the senior superhuman Bai Bao, one of the best lanterns in the Witch Sea.

With this lantern, even the giant beasts among the shadow beasts dare not approach him easily.

Therefore, in Chen Qi's view, his only enemy on this trip was the Lantern Shadow mentioned in the intelligence.

"The crazed superhumans won't let go of the opportunity to hunt me down..." Chen Qi thought to himself.

It's only a matter of time before he encounters the Lantern Shadow while patrolling the edge of the Black Forest.

However, time is a big problem.

Chen Qi frowned. It was already afternoon, and there was only a little over an hour until nightfall.

Once night falls, let alone killing the Lantern Shadow, even surviving becomes a problem.

Under the overwhelming shadow beasts, even a lantern could not withstand the swarms of shadows for long.

"Waaaaah! (Shadow Beasts! You're too weak! If you're so capable, kill us!)"

"Wakuwaku! (What a weakling! He doesn't even dare to come near us!)"

The two water sprites, one big and one small, had a wonderful time.

Stop stirring up trouble, my lovely little ones… Chen Qi said, “Come back, night is falling!”

boom!
Suddenly, a slender foot emerged from the darkness and stomped down on Water Sprite No. 1.

Its powerful kick instantly crushed the water sprite, along with the light bulb inside, into a meat patty.

Snapped!
Next up is number three!

In the blink of an eye, the two arrogant and domineering water sprites, who had been acting like bullies, were turned into meat patties!
Ignoring the light, the shadow of the lantern... Chen Qi raised his head and looked at the enormous presence before him.

He was tall and hunched over, holding a huge black scythe in his hand. His entire body was covered in black, as if he were wearing a layer of armor.

The sickle was still covered in fresh blood.

Tick ​​tock!Tick ​​tock!
The shadow carrying the lantern gripped the scythe with both hands, uttering a near-mad cry:

Do you want me to see you off?

"Phew, finally found it!"

Good luck, no, or perhaps the water sprite's taunt played a crucial role... Chen Qi pulled out the flesh and severed the bone, the residual fire covering his body like a tide.

"Second-tier strength, deep blue flames..."

With the last vestiges of his reason, the Lantern Shadow immediately analyzed the current situation.

collapse!
Dark Movement! Almost instantly, the lantern's shadow enveloped his entire body, covered by a layer of black wind, and then his speed increased fivefold!
A madman acquired powerful movement skills through a trade with a shadow beast!
So fast... Chen Qi didn't hesitate and decisively activated his super senses.

Beneath Chen Qi's feet, a wave rapidly spread for dozens of meters, forming a circle.

At this moment, Chen Qi's sensory world began to undergo earth-shattering changes, and an unprecedented experience appeared before his eyes.

Super-sensory! It can significantly improve the ability to perceive high-speed objects!

In this state, Chen Qi was able to easily catch the bullet.

Behind!

boom!
Behind Chen Qi, black smoke billowed out, forming two new translucent tentacles that then suddenly wrapped around the scythe that the Lantern Shadow was attacking.

The scythe struck Chen Qi hard, but an incredibly resilient black aura absorbed most of the attack!

This is steel!

With his powerful senses and the formidable defense of steel, the attack of the Lantern Shadow was completely within his defensive range.

Chen Qi immediately pressed his advantage, the tentacles behind him grabbing the shadow of the lantern and then, like throwing a chicken, slamming it against a giant tree.

Blade Breathing Technique!
Whoosh! Under the immense force.

With a sudden jolt of his heart, Chen Qi's feet shattered, and he swiftly took a step forward, then picked up the Berserker Flesh Cutter and unleashed a fierce attack on the Lantern Shadow!

"Cut, cut, cut, cut, cut!"

"die!"

In that instant, the flesh and bones clashed repeatedly with the sickle, flashing with lightning speed!

The blade shadows intertwined in the air, forming a dense net. Each collision sparked dazzling sparks, directly frightening the surrounding shadow beasts into retreating.

However, the combined power of Blade Breathing and Steel Qi made Chen Qi's offensive increasingly fierce, while Lantern Shadow grew weaker and weaker.

"Not enough stamina! Monster!"

Chen Qi laughed loudly and continued to intensify the offensive.

This is the explosive power of the Blade Breathing Technique!

"you!"

The shadow of the lantern was filled with disbelief.

He's gone mad, and should have become stronger, but now, in his madness, he's being rubbed against a tree by a second-tier transcendent!
Shadow. The Wave of Madness!

A spiritual energy field suddenly exploded from the body of the lantern-carrying figure, like a huge wave, violently shaking the surroundings!

"I have stepped into..."

Just as the shadow of the lantern was about to counterattack, he discovered that Chen Qi had already assumed a defensive stance with his sword drawn.

It was as if he had prepared this move long ago.

"Sacrifice my flesh and blood..."

A crimson glint flashed in Chen Qi's eyes. He didn't dodge, but instead drew his sword and, relying on his steely aura, took the blow head-on.

Wave after wave of shadow wolves, filled with mental oppression, struck Chen Qi!

"Break its tendons and bones!"

"What kind of trick is this..."

The shadow of the lantern is trying to gather an even more powerful move.

Blade Dissection. Slash!
With a piercing whistling sound, flocks of birds flew away from the forest.

Chen Qi suddenly drew his sword and severed the tall figure of the lantern-carrying shadow, along with the three giant trees behind him.

Happy Qixi Festival! And thank you everyone for your monthly tickets and subscriptions! Thanks (ω)! Thank you so much!
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(End of this chapter)