Chapter 259: Chapter 252: The Reward for the Mission is Very Bountiful

The Destiny Golden Toad had discovered three forms of great fortune.

The first, a person, was the most difficult to find.

Trying to find a person with an indistinct face on the Endless Ocean was like searching for a needle in a haystack. When the Destiny Golden Toad had scouted, it had only provided the person’s silhouette and their coordinates at that moment. But as everyone knew, people move, rendering the coordinates meaningless. It was a daunting task.

The second, a shattered giant pillar, didn’t move. Its location was fixed.

However, its location was so peculiar that even the exploration ship, *The Nine Cauldrons*, couldn’t investigate it.

That left only the flourishing tree—the Bodhi Tree of Suffering. It was the most promising of the three. Its ability to produce a continuous supply of Purifying Marrow was a major opportunity in itself. Moreover, if they could slay the Moonlight Ripple Beast that guarded it, they would not only eliminate a threat but also gain another S-rank Awakened! For Da Yu, this was an even greater opportunity!

It was a chance to kill three birds with one stone!

How could Da Yu not covet such an opportunity?

Unfortunately, the beast’s skill, Eclipse Moon Image, was simply too bizarre. It could create illusory reflections and instantly swap between its shadow and its physical body, making it incredibly difficult to fight. Rong Bing couldn’t defeat it alone. After learning from the intelligence gathered during the battle with the Pharaoh’s ship that Shi Ming possessed a skill granting invincibility, Da Yu had immediately wanted to extend an invitation.

Rong Bing shared some of the intelligence on the Bodhi Tree of Suffering and the Moonlight Ripple Beast with Shi Ming.

"The Moonlight Ripple Beast only appears on moonlit nights. It can dissolve into moonlight on the water’s ripples, making it nearly impossible to track. However, since it started consuming the Purifying Marrow, it has been appearing much more frequently, which makes finding it easier. Its skill, Eclipse Moon Image, can create the illusion of a lunar eclipse on the moon’s reflection in the sea, lasting for ten seconds. In the final second before the eclipse ends, you must activate an Overlord Body-type skill. Otherwise, your Physical Strength will be completely drained. It’s extremely dangerous."

"I’ve fought it a few times, and it’s a real handful. Brother Shi Ming, your skills are absolutely top-tier. If we team up, we can definitely slay it."

"As for the reward, name your price."

With Da Yu’s approval, Rong Bing puffed out his chest and declared.

"There is, however, one more condition from the higher-ups."

"S-rank skills are unique. After we kill the Moonlight Ripple Beast, the right to acquire its skill must be reserved for Da Yu. Additionally, Da Yu requires half of the Purifying Marrow from the Bodhi Tree of Suffering. Of course, we won’t let you get the short end of the stick. The Moonlight Ripple Beast’s blood is its most valuable part. As compensation, Da Yu is willing to provide other rewards of equal value."

Rong Bing explained to Shi Ming.

As Shi Ming would be an outside expert, all these details had to be clarified in advance. Rong Bing, as an internal member, would also be rewarded, but his reward couldn’t possibly be as generous as Shi Ming’s. Elder Zhou had told him as much a long time ago.

Shi Ming began to ponder.

’Eclipse Moon Image isn’t something I absolutely need.’

’I currently have the powerful single-target offensive skill "Third Law," the powerful AoE offensive skill "Ragnarok," the defensive skill Black Tortoise Shield, and the backup skills Descent of the Titan and "Desperate Stand." On top of that, there’s the Fallen Sanctuary, which is still fusing, as well as the Nameless Cocoon with its Eternal Life Law skill and the Great Black Heaven Dragon’s Nine-Headed Sanctuary, which I’m quietly planning for.’

’Getting Eclipse Moon Image would just be icing on the cake.’

’It would be better to trade it for more useful resources, like the Sea-Rising Cherry Root... This way, I can build a good relationship with Da Yu, and we can both get the spoils we need. It would be a healthy partnership, a win-win situation.’

After some discussion, Shi Ming agreed to the cooperation plan proposed by Da Yu, though he added a few of his own terms.

According to the plan, Da Yu would provide the location of the Bodhi Tree of Suffering, along with complete intelligence and external support. Shi Ming, as an outside expert, would team up with Rong Bing to slay the Moonlight Ripple Beast. If the hunt was successful, he would receive the following rewards:

1. Half of the Purifying Marrow from the Bodhi Tree of Suffering.

2. A Sea-Rising Cherry Root.

3. A portion of the Moonlight Ripple Beast’s corpse.

4. 11,000 of Da Yu’s internal Contribution Points—a value exceeding that of a typical S-rank sea beast. These points could be exchanged in Da Yu’s Treasure Vault for various items, intelligence, or assistance.

Normally, slaying an S-rank sea beast was worth 10,000 Contribution Points. Considering the danger posed by the Moonlight Ripple Beast and that this was their first collaboration, they had increased the amount by 10%.

It was a clear show of good faith.

Of course, all of this was predicated on his strength.

Good faith was not a courtesy extended to the weak.

The Endless Ocean was a hunting ground. Neither the Twelve Stars nor Da Yu would show good faith or kindness without reason. Everything was based on the principle of mutual benefit. This was true for ordinary wandering ships and for King-level Wandering Ships alike.

Shi Ming had considered adding another term—a tour of the Xirang Research Institute, or a chance to view the Great Stela—but on second thought, he decided against it.

It would seem far too deliberate.

He might reveal too much.

It was like helping your neighbor slaughter a pig. When he offers to thank you and asks what you want,

you say you want a plate of the dumplings his wife makes...

Reasonable, but... weird.

...

...

...

With a preliminary agreement reached, Rong Bing had to return to Da Yu to report. Once the higher-ups confirmed the deal, he would discuss the full details of the hunt with Shi Ming.

Shi Ming saw him off from the Kunwu, watching as the thirty-meter Admiral-class Ship sailed toward Da Yu, dozens of nautical miles away. Afterward, his crew resumed selling the sea beast carcasses, while he took a small boat and began to wander through the floating marketplace.

Most of the time, life on the sea was extremely lonely.

Only in the vicinity of a King-level Wandering Ship could one find such a bustling, lively scene.

Ships congregated, cultures from various sea regions mixed, and occasionally, one could stumble upon some excellent finds. For example, he had acquired the Scorpion King Pyramid Map in the Twelve Stars’ trading zone, a discovery that had brought him immense rewards.

He activated his Infinite Brain, his gaze sweeping over the various goods prominently displayed for sale.

"Hey, handsome! Cured sea beast meat, made from the most succulent back loin of a B-rank Plumpfat Swine! The flavor is one of a kind. Wanna buy some? A single piece will last you half a year!"

"Truth is found at the end of a cannon barrel! Da Yu’s specially developed weapon, the A77 Heavy Artillery! 20 Sky Crystals!"

"Bro! A Four-Eyed Cobra Fragment from the Pharaoh’s ship! Wards off evil, protects you from disaster, and has great collector’s value! Want a piece? Only 10 High-Level Sea Crystal Stones!"

???

’A Four-Eyed Cobra Fragment?’

’Wait, are these things bestsellers across the Endless Ocean now? Did I accidentally start a whole industry just by crashing into something?’

Shi Ming looked over.

On a Silver-level Wandering Ship, he saw golden architectural wreckage that had been salvaged from the sea. Judging by the texture on its surface, it really did look like a piece of the Pharaoh’s shattered Four-Eyed Cobra. The cracks between the scales had even been plated with a layer of real Gold.

It looked authentic.

Seeing an interested customer, the dark-skinned captain eagerly began his sales pitch.

"Bro! Buy now and I’ll throw in a free bottle of a specialty product from the Sea of Yellow Sand—mummy powder! This stuff is the real deal, it’ll make you as fierce as a sea beast! Everyone who’s tried it says it works great!"

’Ptolemy would probably like this.’

Shi Ming thought to himself with a silent, sarcastic jab.