The letter from the Da Yu warrior was written with a choice of words and phrasing that felt deeply familiar to Shi Ming, as if he had dreamed his way back to his past life.

"Brother Minglong, I hope this letter finds you well."

"Since we parted ways at Fujing Mountain, I have remained ever grateful for the life-saving grace you showed me. I have not forgotten it for a single moment, and I wish you all the best."

"I am writing to you now for two reasons. First, I would like to sincerely invite you to the Sea of Soaring Dragons. I hope for the chance to play the part of a proper host and express my gratitude."

"Second, a student of Dr. Chongwen from Da Yu’s Xirang Research Institute suffered a physical mutation due to a mishap during his research. A large number of dark Nine-Strand Patterns have appeared on his skin, and his life now hangs in the balance. After reviewing footage from the battle at Fujing Mountain, Dr. Chongwen noticed that these patterns are extremely similar to the ones on your neck. Desperate to save his student, he hopes to receive your guidance and support."

"I would be endlessly grateful if you could agree."

"With best wishes for your safety. Shentu Kuo."

When Shi Ming had rescued Shentu Kuo, he had indeed considered using him as a channel to connect with Da Yu. He just never expected the story to unfold quite like this.

’The Nine-Strand Pattern is a rejection response from the body after consuming a Sea-Rising Cherry Root. You need a Physical Strength stat of over 100 to have the best chance of avoiding the risks after swallowing it. And someone from Da Yu actually ate this stuff raw? A researcher, no less?’

’So gutsy?!’

’How much of that Sea-Rising Cherry Root did he even eat?’

’He couldn’t have eaten the whole thing, could he?’

’Probably not.’

Considering his own Physical Strength, his body had begun to heat up and burn after eating just a negligible sliver of the root. If someone ate the whole thing, Shi Ming didn’t think there would be any chance of saving them.

’He probably just ate a tiny slice.’

Shi Ming looked at the letter and pondered.

He had actually left a hidden hook, a breadcrumb trail to connect with Da Yu. That hook was the small wooden boat he’d used to send Shentu Kuo back. It looked perfectly ordinary, but it was actually modeled after the exterior of the *Sun-Shooter*, and he had even specially carved the number 360 on its hull.

If the right people discovered it, he would surely be able to establish contact with the Xirang Research Institute.

Of course, there was no way he was giving them the ship back.

But there were still ways to forge a connection.

He never thought his hidden breadcrumb would go undiscovered, while the Nine-Strand Pattern would end up helping him out first. And it was even directly tied to the Sea-Rising Cherry Root. Now he didn’t need to come up with some other plan.

This was an unexpected bonus.

Shi Ming had heard of Dr. Chongwen of the Xirang Research Institute before. The team he led was responsible for analyzing and compiling the information for the two leaderboards on the great stele. If he could get on good terms with him, it might be more convenient to view the great stele in the future.

Shi Ming thought for a moment, then replied in the same format:

"I hope this finds you well."

"We faced a common enemy on Fujing Mountain. What I did was a small effort; please don’t trouble yourself over it."

"The Sea of Soaring Dragons is known as the calmest region in the Endless Ocean; its scenery and customs are something to look forward to. As I also have important matters to discuss, I will naturally accept your invitation. The Nine-Strand Pattern is caused by ingesting a certain item, but aside from the mark itself, it has no other strange effects."

"Please convey my respects to Dr. Chongwen. As for his request, I will do my humble best to help. Since the matter at your institute is urgent, I, Minglong, will set out for the Sea of Soaring Dragons soon."

"Sincerely, Rong An."

Shi Ming was a man who appreciated symmetry; if someone sent him a formal letter, his reply would be equally so.

’Such a nostalgic feeling.’

The traditional letter format was probably one of the few bits of romance left over from the Land Era.

After the message was sent, Shentu Kuo would probably receive it in about two hours.

He had nothing else to do in the European Sea Region for the moment, so he might as well rest up and then head directly for the Sea of Soaring Dragons. As for his original plan to dangle a carrot for the Nameless Cocoon, that could wait. It had only been ten days since they parted ways in the Sea of Silence.

When taming a beast, one also had to learn the art of the push and pull.

He had to get the pacing right for his meetings with and feedback for his "investment insect."

The Contract Core he had obtained from the Scorpion King’s Pyramid had been upgraded to Level 5 and could now form a contract with an A-rank sea beast.

[Contract Core]

[Level: 5]

[A contract core created using the method from the Divine Revelation Stele. It has been further enhanced by a special power, increasing the rank of sea beasts it can control. Integrating it into an A-rank or lower fierce beast or sea beast allows one to form a contract with it. Alternatively, it can transform the corpse of a corresponding sea beast into a puppet that will obey commands until its destruction.] 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

[Upgrade Requirement: 5000g of flesh and 5000g of blood from five different S-rank fierce beast or sea beast types.]

If it upgrades again, it will be level 6.

If nothing goes wrong, it will most likely be able to control an S-rank sea beast.

When that time comes...

Heh heh.

There was only one Contract Core. Although he had mastered the method of creating them from the Divine Revelation Stele inside the Pyramid, the necessary raw materials were hard to find in the ocean. Even if he managed to make a new one, it would still need to be upgraded step-by-step. It was far better to focus his limited resources on the one he already had.

The Nameless Cocoon possessed two great skills: Undying Insect and Eternal Life Law.

It can’t be killed.

And once it broke out of its cocoon, it would surely bring disaster. It might even turn on him, its savior, right on the spot.

’Might as well make it my underling.’

Eternal Life Law, ranked third overall, was an incredibly powerful single-target annihilation skill. Once hit, the victim’s mind would be flooded with a massive influx of memories, their consciousness sinking into an eternity of ages in a single instant. If they couldn’t wake up right away, they would never wake up at all.

’Totally broken.’

Investing is inherently risky. It would be perfectly reasonable and not at all uncommon for an "investment insect" to keep investing until it ends up losing itself in the deal.

...

...

...

「Sea of Silence.」

Beneath the King-level Wandering Ship, the *Black Gold*.

Inside the giant cocoon wrapped in black threads, the trapped insect suddenly twitched instinctively, like a human sneezing.

’Strange.’

’...’

’That human... wants to profit from the Nine-headed Giant Dragon? He truly has no idea how deep the sea is.’

’If he gets eaten, who knows how long I’ll have to wait to find another being who can resonate with my Spiritual Power.’

Two years!

Two whole years had passed since it awoke within the cocoon and developed a new consciousness!

In those two years, it had been unable to move, unable to emerge, unable to break free from its cocoon. For the insect, it was sheer torture.

God only knew how it had gotten through the past two years.

When it was bored, its only recourse was to use its Spiritual Power to spy on the humans aboard the King-level Wandering Ship. It perceived their civilization, observed their behavior, and learned their language. This taught it that while the human species was physically insignificant, they were exceptionally cunning. Among them were truly resolute individuals capable of unleashing power comparable to that of an S-rank sea beast.

Humans.

Cunning, detestable.

But no matter how cunning they were, they couldn’t stop its emergence. Once it broke free from the cocoon, it would devour them all!

Daring to suppress it, a King Insect, for so long... they were courting death!