fynovel Chapter 330 - 323: Hitting the Mother Lode! The Value of Red Fortune
Chapter 330 - 323: Hitting the Mother Lode! The Value of Red Fortune
Wasting no time, the King-level Wandering Ship, the *Da Yun*, powered straight through the outer region of the Ice Sea in less than a day, arriving at the glacier zone.
In the bone-stripping cold, a bare-chested Shi Ming set foot upon the glacier.
’Refreshing!’
Although the *Da Yun* was capable of hovering and flying above the sea, the goal of this trip was to investigate the sudden changes within the Extreme North Ice Eye. Powerful enemies might be lurking, so it was best not to be too conspicuous. Thus, upon entering the Core Area of the Extreme North Ice Sea, he opted to ride the *She Ri*.
The *She Ri* also had a flight mode.
It also had stealth and mimicry modes. While these might not fool a Holy Hall-level Sea Beast, Shi Ming could also use his own immense Spiritual Power to conceal his presence. ’With my current level of Spiritual Power—a value so high even the Eye of the World can’t detect it—I doubt even the terrifying creature that killed the Creation Celestial Pillar could surpass me.’
The *She Ri* skimmed along the surface of the glacier.
It left not a single trace.
Powdery snow, carried by a storm common to the polar regions, whipped against his body, sharp enough to slice off a few fine hairs.
’A Sub-Blade Storm?’
’It’s identical to the Sub-Blade Storm from the Mount Everest Summit. According to intelligence from Da Yu and the Twelve Stars, there were never storms like this in the polar regions before. Did that creature bring this as well?’
For the man Shi Ming was now, the Sub-Blade Storm was hardly a threat.
He channeled a bit of the Fallen Sanctuary’s power. Even without using any other defensive artifacts, like the Shield of Star Guardian, the Sub-Blade Storm couldn’t so much as scratch his skin.
This was the difference between the Holy Hall Tier and S-rank.
’The temperature is already approaching -180 degrees Celsius, and the oxygen content in the air is dropping. This is where the Calm Sea Pearl will prove its worth.’
’Further ahead lies the very heart of the Core Area.’
’I have to be even more careful.’
’I can’t let my presence be known.’
Ah Jian lay dormant among the strands of his hair, its Spiritual Power spreading out just as silently to probe for unknown dangers. Having fused with the Infinite Matron, its body was small, and its skill and experience in manipulating Spiritual Power were far more refined, allowing it to go unnoticed.
However, its resistance to the cold was no match for Shi Ming’s.
In this regard, Shi Ming could offer it effective protection.
For this, Ah Jian was all the more grateful. ’This is the benefit of having a master.’
...
Man and bug, riding the canoe-like *She Ri*, journeyed across the Ice Sea.
At last, Shi Ming’s consciousness perceived a pristine lake.
What flowed in the lake was not water but liquid air—a marvel created by the combined effects of the extreme cold and the unique geography of the Extreme North. An Air Lake.
From a purely aesthetic standpoint, the Air Lake would undoubtedly rank first among the ten great spectacles of the Endless Ocean. But this was a forbidden zone for humanity. Only Da Yu’s exploration vessel, the *Jiu Ding*, and Katyusha’s Awakened, relying on the artifact Jade Sea Cangwu, had ever explored this place together and witnessed its splendor. If it were listed among the ten great spectacles, it would only attract reckless Awakened who didn’t know any better to come "sightseeing," sending themselves to their deaths one after another.
Such incidents were not uncommon.
As he neared his destination, Shi Ming grew even more cautious.
Ah Jian deconstructed its form entirely, becoming pure Spiritual Power that merged into the strands of Shi Ming’s hair.
Three kilometers, two kilometers, one kilometer...
An expanse of sapphire amber materialized before Shi Ming’s eyes. Just as he was about to activate the Eye of the World to gather intelligence, text from the Eye proactively appeared.
...
...
...
[The Eye of the World has located the ’culprit’ from Mount Everest, whose information could not be fully displayed at the time because the power disparity exceeded the threshold! It is a ’wolf’ that the Creation Celestial Pillar lured into the Endless Ocean!]
[Cosmic Fierce Beast: Quintetra (Translation: Active Wormhole)]
[Heh heh, this is what happens when the Eye of the World has yet to reach its ultimate form as the Eye of the Divine.]
[Otherwise, it wouldn’t be so easily disrupted.]
’An Active Wormhole?’ Shi Ming recalled seeing records of this type of fierce beast on a great stone stele. It possessed terrifying, innate powers such as traversal, dimensional manipulation, and devouring.
The Eye of the World was providing a great deal of information. He continued to read.
[...]
[This is a fierce beast born in a Wormhole. It has roamed the Star Sea for countless eons and is on the verge of ascending to the Nirvana Tier... Whether by good luck or bad, it used the Creation Celestial Pillar to reach the Endless Ocean. After devouring the Pillar’s energy, it acquired a taste for it and was surprised to discover seven more, equally delicious meals!]
[That’s right! Seven! And that includes you!]
[While you were absorbing the Origin of Destruction, it used its wormhole power to travel into the Ice Sea and kill the Holy Hall-level Sea Beast, Candle Mirage!]
[Once it finishes devouring Candle Mirage, the quantitative changes it has accumulated over countless years will trigger a qualitative transformation, allowing it to ascend to the Nirvana Tier!]
[And now, our adventurer stands at a crossroads. Before him lie two paths!]
’Two paths?’
Shi Ming wondered.
New text streamed into view.
[A. Kill Quintetra.]
[Danger Level: Two Stars]
[Even though it is the strongest of fierce beasts, on the verge of breaking through to the Nirvana Tier, it is ultimately still at the Holy Hall Tier.]
[You, who possess an unknown number of trump cards, can use the Arm of Power to wield the Blade of Chaos, use the Arm of Conquest to immunize yourself against its abilities, use the Nine-Headed Sanctuary for superior endurance, and use the Shield of Starry Sky Guardian, Black Tortoise Shield, and Twin Mirror to increase your margin for error... With a little effort, you can kill it while it’s enjoying its meal.]
[Of course, there is still a chance things could go wrong...]
[Kill Rewards:]
[Life Holy Hall Origin x1, Space-Time Holy Hall Origin x1, Devouring Holy Hall Origin x1; Holy Hall-level Fierce Beast Corpses x2; Crown of the Winter Night Aurora x1]
’So the Candle Mirage’s origin was space-time?’
’And Quintetra’s is devouring?’
’Talk about a jackpot! One big score to last for years!’
’The Crown of the Winter Night Aurora? The artifact ranked 58th on the official list. Wearing it makes you the king of the Frozen World! As long as you don’t harm the creatures of the Land of Extreme Cold, they’ll treat the wearer as their most exalted friend.’
’That treasure is in the Ice Lake, too?’
Shi Ming’s gaze moved to the next option.
[B. Allow Quintetra to devour the Candle Mirage. According to the Eye of the World’s meticulous calculations, it will finish its meal in 35-40 days and begin its ascension. The ascension process itself will take another 25-39 days. At the final moment of its ascension, kill it! Take its place!]
[Danger Level: Five Stars!!!]
[Extremely Dangerous!]
[Great danger is always accompanied by great reward. The Fierce Beast Quintetra spent untold years to find this opportunity to ascend to the Nirvana Tier. Do you dare to snatch it away?]
[Kill Rewards:]
[Nirvana Tier Skill: Bore (A single-word ID, very expensive, heh. Steal directly, no requirements.)]
[Nirvana Tier Fierce Beast Corpse x1]
[Life Holy Hall Origin x1, Space-Time Holy Hall Origin x1, Crown of the Winter Night Aurora x1]
...
[Now,]
[Please make your choice—]