Endless Ocean: Escape Starting from a Canoe

Chapter 233 Bringing a "gift" for Ah Jian

"There's only one dragon scale, so I definitely have to keep it for myself."

"The decaying flesh and keratin are very suitable for research, so we set aside a portion for the Twelve Stars to make the most of them. The molted skin is too light and doesn't take up much weight, so we'll keep it for ourselves."

“We can provide them with 300 grams of blood, which is about 22 milliliters.”

Shi Ming stayed in the captain's cabin, distributing the "dragon hair" plucked from the Great Black Dragon.

The 1.2-liter super-heavy blood is the most precious because it is very heavy, weighing about 15 kilograms. One kilogram has already been consumed by the evolution of the Infinite Brain. This strategic item is very rare. After the Lighthouse sealed off Mount Fujin, there was no other way to obtain it. The rest should be stored as materials, so 300 grams were given to the Twelve Stars.

I don't need those four or five pounds of keratin and scraps of flesh right now, so I allocated 300 grams of keratin and 400 grams of scraps of flesh to them.

The 1000-gram quota is as described.

Taking into account the research of different parts is quite reasonable.

After preparing the loot plan, Shi Ming looked at the Awakened "Virus" from the Lighthouse, which was still lying in the system warehouse. A day had passed, and the daily opportunity to actively acquire intelligence through the Eye of the Mortal World had been regained. Shi Ming was ready to study this "Infinite Mother" carefully.

He did not remove the "virus," but instead looked inside his warehouse.

"The Eyes of the Mortal World, to Gather Intelligence."

[Beep~ Beep~]

[Intelligence being compiled...]

[Searching. Confirming detailed coordinates... Search successful, intelligence summary in progress... Intelligence generated.]

[Infinite Mother and Infinite Virus.]

The S-rank skill "Infinite Mother," ranked 19th, was not obtained by bathing in the blood of sea monsters, but rather by "infecting" with the Infinite Virus.

[The awakened one actively accepts the infection, releasing all physical defenses, opening the prison of body and mind, and unconditionally embracing the infinite virus. In doing so, they can borrow its power and gain the ability to infinitely multiply. However, this power comes at a price. As the infinite virus resides within the body for longer, the awakened one's emotional threshold increases, becoming indifferent to joy, sorrow, anger, and grief, much like a person who has undergone a lobotomy.]

After the host virus dies, it can no longer draw energy and enters a dormant state, ceasing to divide.

The dormant Infinite Virus is extremely fragile. Therefore, it is the ideal food for some high-level sea beasts. They don't need to release their bodies and minds; they can forcefully devour the Infinite Mother Virus using their own power, gaining substantial benefits.

This is a kind of power that can only be obtained by actively letting go of one's physical and mental defenses, willingly being parasitized, and giving up a part of oneself.

Indeed, power that comes easily comes at a price.

Looking at the virus corpses in the warehouse, Shi Ming wondered if he could bypass the parasitic method and directly devour its power to acquire its skills by using the red markings on his right arm.
Let's put it into practice.

He stretched out his right hand, tentatively trying to touch the wound caused by the virus, waiting for the possible warning from the Eye of the Mortal World.

The Eye of the Mortal World offered no warning.

When the red stripe on his right arm touched the wound, he felt it rapidly absorbing the power of the virus's parent organism, giving him some numerical boosts.

But that's about it.

Attack power +18, Attack power 157

Stamina +23, Stamina 182

[Endurance +21, Endurance 160]

[Defense +26, Defense 193]

[Mental Strength +34, Mental Strength Unknown]

……

No skills were acquired.

Shi Ming couldn't help but feel somewhat disappointed.

He blinked.

[You want to obtain its original power without getting infected? The Infinite Virus isn't dead! It's an intelligent virus! Squeezing all its energy out is already a pretty good result!]

[The Eye of the Mortal World kindly offers you a secret.] [The essence of S-rank awakening is to seize and accept an extremely abstract "skill origin" from within an S-rank sea beast through blood bathing. This process typically takes about 60-120 minutes.]

[The "Origin of Skills" is unique; once it is taken by humans, even if the sea beast survives, it will immediately lose the ability to have it taken. Therefore, attempting to steal the skills of S-class creatures capable of resistance will be met with fierce resistance and is virtually impossible.]

That's right! If Xuanwu were to awaken one day, he would be surprised to find that his "Xuanwu Shield" and "Death Situation" were gone.

Once the essence of a skill is transferred, it will be digested and absorbed, and cannot be transferred again.

……

No wonder that after Jafar's death, the Pharaoh, with its massive body and remaining blood of the Feathered Serpent of the Underworld, did not produce a second S-class Awakener.

There is only one origin of skill.

It doesn't belong to the kind where, after death, the blood regains its ability to awaken people and can be used again.

The awakened one codenamed "Virus" is dead, but the "Infinite Virus" has not gone inactive and is still alive within the host. The Infinite Virus has no blood; to acquire its abilities, one must open one's body and mind and allow it to parasitize and multiply within one's body.

This is impossible for Shi Ming.

Shi Ming pondered for a moment.

It would be better to...

Used to "pie in the sky" for the nameless cocoon!
Anyway, it's sealed away, unable to break free, and can't get any food; it can only watch.

Shi Ming knew perfectly well that for those collaborators whose alliances were not fully unified and who might betray him at any moment, the promises were meant to be made, not to be eaten!
A pancake that can be eaten loses its meaning.

Like the carrot hanging in front of the donkey when the wise man in the fable is traveling, if the donkey swallows it whole, the carrot becomes useless.

The nameless cocoon has paid so much.

It's time to give it some positive emotional value.

Look, I've prepared such wonderful things for you.

I'll give it to you once you're out of trouble.

Reciprocity.

This time, what should we ask it for?
……

During the discreet voyage, the Grand Transport returned to the Europa Sea. Shi Ming did not go to the Twelve Stars; such a covert commission required covert delivery.

Just like last time, the delivery location was determined by Shi Ming.

Far from the twelve stars, in an uninhabited area.

The seven-meter-long wooden boat sways gently here.

Shi Ming arrived alone on the Sun-Shooting Ridge to keep the appointment.

After confirmation, it is indeed a wooden boat without any special functions. It has no mechanical, steel, or non-wooden parts and is assembled using a modified mortise and tenon structure. Its greatest value lies in its artistic value.

The secretary-general of the Twelve Stars and a seemingly dull-looking man sat there waiting for Shi Ming, just like last time.

The boat was an ordinary boat.

This dull-looking man was no ordinary person.

This is normal.

The Secretary-General definitely needs bodyguards.

As Shi Ming entered, the surrounding light began to dim. This was a manifestation of a skill called "Lightless Dark Box," which could physically isolate all traces left by spying, recording, and video recording. It was an A-level skill, but not this man's primary skill.

"Brother Shi, it's a pleasure to see you again."

"This time, I am not only acting in my personal capacity, but also carrying the friendship of the twelve stars."

(End of this chapter)