Rong Bing stared at the slices of Hai Sheng Ying, which had been completely drained dry.
"Dude, are you really okay?"
"These five pieces of the Sea-Rising Cherry Root... you didn’t drain them dry too, did you!?"
’What’s the principle behind this?’
Chongwen examined him carefully but found nothing abnormal about Shi Ming for the ti being. The vital signs of the researcher on the hospital bed continued to improve. The terrifying blood-red patterns that had covered him had now faded by more than half, and his condition was even better than before.
He pondered, a few theories forming in his mind.
’An energy siphon caused by resonance?’
’The principle of degeneracy?’
’Or perhaps the tunneling effect?’
As an expert in this field, he was struck by a sudden burst of inspiration, leading to many wonderful hypotheses.
And the source of all this inspiration was this Awakened nad Minglong!
’A Lucky Star!’
’No wonder the higher-ups place so much importance on him!’
"It seems the power within these Hai Sheng Ying slices was drawn into your body by a ’prir’ that was previously left inside you, little brother."
"This is a mutation worthy of study."
"Perhaps we’ve found the key to cracking the Sea-Rising Cherry Root."
His student’s condition was improving, and his research was making a breakthrough. This scientist, who was always engrossed in his academic work, was overjoyed. He was eager to record his sudden findings but was also worried about his student’s current state and any yet-to-manifest abnormalities in Shi Ming’s body.
"These withered root pieces are also worth studying."
As for Shi Ming, if this hadn’t happened on Da Yu, and if Dr. Chongwen’s reputation weren’t so sterling, he would have been worried about being captured for research—especially if this were the Black Society or the Lighthouse.
The siphoned energy of destruction, guided by his consciousness, gathered like assembled soldiers. It piled up bit by bit on the blood-red Nine-Strand Pattern on his neck, lining up to be digested and absorbed by his body. The amount of energy was ten tis what he had devoured last ti, and it would take a considerable amount of ti to fully process it all.
The extrely compressed energy made his neck feel a little hot.
Moreover, the Nine-Strand Pattern was slowly growing, and it itched...
’No, it’s mutating!’
He looked down and discovered that beneath his collar, the Nine-Strand Pattern resembling the Great Black Heaven Dragon was rapidly spreading from his neck down to his chest and abdon. It glowed an intense crimson, visible even through his clothes...
A dense destructive power swirled over it, as if brewing for an impact.
"Little brother, what’s wrong?"
The three of them noticed sothing was off with Shi Ming.
"Noth—"
BAM!
Before he could finish, a huge sonic boom and a powerful aura of destruction erupted from Shi Ming’s body, blasting his brand-new captain’s uniform to shreds. The massive pattern resembling the Great Black Heaven Dragon on his chest and abdon, along with the Right Arm Red Pattern, lit up in unison, making him look just like a delinquent teenager covered in tattoos.
But it caused no harm whatsoever.
’What the hell.’
[As the saying goes, one mountain cannot contain two tigers. The Eye of the World indicates this was an insignificant accident.]
[When the destructive aura from the Sea-Rising Cherry Root passed by your right arm, it was driven out by the power of the Red Pattern. Violently suppressed and impotently furious, it erupted.]
[Due to your exceptionally high Physical Strength and defense values, you suffered no damage aside from destroying a nice naval uniform. Even the true bloodline of the Great Black Heaven Dragon could not gain the upper hand while being suppressed by the Right Arm Red Pattern. This is self-evident.]
...
’I really am fine.’
Amidst everyone’s shock, Shi Ming changed into a new set of clothes.
Dr. Chongwen expressed his concern.
"Why don’t you stay on Da Yu today? If you experience any discomfort, we have the most advanced dical equipnt in the Endless Ocean right here. Da Yu is not the Lighthouse; we would never repay kindness with malice. Your safety here is guaranteed."
"You worry too much, Doctor. I’m really fine."
’This pattern that looks like a Nine-headed Dragon seems intimidating, but it’s all bark and no bite.’
’It has no effect on my body at all.’
’Besides, I’ve got plenty of strange powers in my body already—’
’The Right Arm Red Pattern holds the top spot by an absolute margin;’
’The powers of the Black Tortoise, the Titan, and the Dusk Whale are in a three-way standoff;’
’My left arm is even stuffed with an Extrely Cold Saber! And on top of that, there’s the beyond-S-rank Fallen Sanctuary, which is currently in its fusion stage.’
’This little bit of destructive energy from the Sea-Rising Cherry Root doesn’t even make the list.’
’It’ll only take a few days to refine it completely.’
’By then, this Nine-headed Dragon pattern will naturally disappear.’
Dr. Chongwen doubtfully put away the shriveled slices of Hai Sheng Ying. The simple-minded Li Jiuyuan blinked, staring at the cool, destruction-filled tattoo now hidden on Shi Ming’s body, wondering if he should get one too.
Rong Bing’s eyes twitched almost imperceptibly.
’This guy... he’s Shi Ming.’
’Looks like I’ve already completed the first mission Da Yu assigned : [Confirm Minglong’s true identity].’
’I’ll be getting a bigger bonus this month.’
’Then again, this kid is seriously impressive. According to Da Yu’s intelligence, he has at least three S-rank skills. That ans he’s killed at least three S-rank sea beasts, and two S-rank Awakened from the Lighthouse have fallen at his hands! He even has enough power to capsize a General-level Wandering Ship in one go!’
’For a solo Awakened to achieve all this!’
’Impressive!’
’He’s not any weaker than !’
’But the second mission from Da Yu is going to be a lot harder.’
’How should I bring it up, though?’
’We’ve only known each other for less than two days.’
...
...
...
「On the docks of Da Yu.」
"Dr. Chongwen, you don’t have to see off any further. I’ll be around Da Yu for the next few days. If anything abnormal happens with my body, I’ll be sure to ask for your help."
"Thank you for your righteous help this ti, little brother. The Xirang Research Institute will rember this. I’ve already received permission from my superiors; if there’s a breakthrough in the Sea-Rising Cherry Root research, I will share it with you. If you ever run into trouble in the Endless Ocean where I can be of assistance, feel free to contact at any ti."
"Thank you, Doctor."
Shi Ming did not refuse his kind offer.
’This was also one of my goals for this trip.’
’If the power from the Sea-Rising Cherry Root isn’t enough to create a resonance with my origin of destruction, I might have to co back and ask the Doctor for help. Besides, I’m hoping to get a look at the Great Stele, but I don’t know when that opportunity will arise.’
He also added Rong Bing and Li Jiuyuan as contacts.
Then, he boarded one of Da Yu’s ferries and left the King-level Wandering Ship. Ships weren’t allowed to dock near a King-level Wandering Ship, so his Da Yun Ding Lan was anchored at the Dinglan Field, thirty nautical miles away. He had to take a ferry to get back and forth.
’This trip was too rushed. I didn’t even get to properly explore Da Yu and experience the culture on a King-level ship.’
’But right now, digesting this destructive power is the priority!’
’If it’s not enough, I can always find a way to ask the Doctor for a few more slices.’
...
Shi Ming’s figure grew smaller and smaller, eventually disappearing from their sight.
"Captain, did you complete your mission?" Li Jiuyuan asked Rong Bing curiously.
"Not yet, but there’s hope. If I succeed, Kunwu’s points will surpass your Xirang Branch’s this year! Oh, what’s that kid doing here..."
In Rong Bing’s line of sight, Shentu Kuo was running over from a distance. On a King-level Wandering Ship, Awakened were forbidden from using their skills in public areas when not on a mission. Therefore, even A-rank or S-rank Awakened had to travel on their own two feet.
"Kid, you’re too late."
"This! Brother Minglong’s boat, I haven’t returned it to him yet!"
"Boat? What boat?"
"A canoe."
It was the canoe Shi Ming had specially made to be identical to the Sun-Shooter, and he had even restored its number: 360.
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