Having undergone intense training, the now Level 2 [Heavy Tide] needs no further explanation. Even [Embers Resonance] has been raised by one level due to his efforts, and [Gravity Control] has seen substantial advancement thanks to his moments of spiritual enlightenment during various battles, with upgrade progress nearing halfway.

These may seem like intangible gains, but they are crucial to Xia Nan’s actual combat power.

Additionally, [Dream Weaving Corridor] has received a six percent charge from his contact with the core of the Secret Realm, requiring only the key to begin upgrading his battle skill level through dream enhancement.

In tangible terms, Xia Nan’s satisfaction with this mission’s outcomes lies in concrete achievements.

Ultimately, almost two years after his transmigration, he finally acquired the long-desired space storage equipment—the [White Pot] pocket watch.

Compared to the value of this item, giving up other loot within Twin Canyon doesn’t seem significant.

"Everyone, come over and lend a hand, lift its arms up!"

The shouts of the crew echoed in his ears.

Looking over, he saw several sailors working together to lift the shark beast’s corpse, whose head had been severed by Xia Nan and which now lay quietly in a pool of blood.

To speak of it, this shark beast monster summoned by the Sha Hua Fishmen is quite valuable, with many parts on its body having great utility.

Whether to sell for money or to seek skilled craftsmen to make it into weapons and equipment are both worth considering options.

The skin and tendons of the one he previously killed on Cliff Island became the material for his new armor; considering the Gold Coin investment, it should be Blue Quality equipment.

Calculating the time, by the time he returns to Suo Yu Bay, the forging should be completed, ready for wear.

Currently, the shark beast the sailors are trying to transport not only is larger in size but also far stronger than the one on Cliff Island, so the materials should be even more valuable.

But...

Xia Nan’s gaze lingered on the shark beast’s side chest, where a huge bloody hole caused by his [Gravity Etching] was also where the pale human torso had grown.

Indeed, those two pale human legs still hung stiffly like deformed limbs on the side of the shark beast’s spine. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

His mind involuntarily recalled the battled moments when the human head seemed to shriek like a spellcaster, releasing mental attacks upon them.

Previously, during his journey in the Secret Realm, he hadn’t noticed this detail. Now, upon careful recall, he realized that the face and features bore a seven-part similarity to the mysterious "Old Mark" from the Secret Realm.

Furthermore, considering the surgery room on the altar, identical to the setup in the Mande Dark Room.

Xia Nan boldly speculated, perhaps when the Secret Realm transmigrated into Twin Canyon, it coincided with the Sha Hua Fishmen holding a sacrificial ceremony. Even earlier, before all the canyon dwellers were captured and sacrificed, the shark beast had been summoned not long before.

The surgery room fused into the altar, and as Old Mark’s body originally lay on the operating table, at an incredibly delicate moment, it forcibly fused with the shark beast that was originally in its normal form. This caused it to transform into the "glitch-like" state and presumably allowed the potentially deceased Old Mark to be parasitically revived with life force.

Old Mark’s strange mental attacks led the villagers and Sha Hua Fishmen to internally murder each other sequentially, impacting the nearby waters causing groups of Saw-tooth Sharks to flee.

Currently, the shark beast and the transmigrated body of Old Mark are utterly dead, beyond any resurrection.

However, this doesn’t mean the shark beast corpse can be safely recovered without concern.

Xia Nan harbored some apprehension, signaling to have the corpse temporarily placed on the ground by the sailors.

Then, approaching Lorin, who was suffering from physical overextension due to combat skill overload, barely propping herself against a nearby wall while directing the crew to clean the battlefield, whispered:

"I personally suggest further consideration on the recovery processing of this demon."

"Hmm?" Lorin showed confusion, "Why do you say that?"

Of course, Xia Nan wouldn’t disclose his specific experiences within the Secret Realm. After all, encountering and establishing connections with the Secret Realm’s core somewhat counted as one of his Golden Fingers, a necessary secret to be kept.

After organizing his words in his mind, he slowly spoke again:

"You should be able to see that the shark beast and its human body aren’t from the same origin but forcibly combined later."

"The shark beast I encountered on Cliff Island also attests to this. The normal form of such monsters shouldn’t be what we saw."

"The reason may vary, potentially a product of some spellcaster’s biological experiment or perhaps behind-the-scenes machinations by the Fishmen. But during the battle, you saw the human’s performance, showing a strong erosive influence over the mind."

Hearing this, Lorin seemed to recall something, her expression paused.

"You mean... the shark beast corpse might retain influences from that strange human body?"

Xia Nan nodded.

It’s not overthinking; rather, Old Mark’s eerie transformation within the Secret Realm was excessively peculiar, even causing Doctor Mande, who had prolonged contact, to become insane and ultimately extreme.

With Old Mark’s corpse having arrived at Aifala Continent, he certainly doesn’t want his teammates to end up like Doctor Mande.

Under such circumstances, the shark beast monster fused with Mark’s corpse needs cautious handling.

After deliberating, Xia Nan proposed further examination to Lorin.

With her agreement, he pulled out the [Ash Fall] Straight Sword, moving beside the shark beast corpse lying there.

Aligning the trajectory along the fusion line of a normal Mark and the shark beast’s body, he sank the sword deeply, cutting from the blood hole opened by force field energy to the back of those human legs.

With a firm wrist force, he parted the wound with the sword edge.

Before his eyes were the shark beast’s organs, as deformed and twisted as its exterior.

The beast’s thick intestines connected with human petite liver and lungs, while a non-pulsating human heart was wedged beneath the shark beast’s chest cavity.

Not just externally!

Even within the shark beast’s body, blood and flesh were fused with Mark!

Stumbling to Xia Nan’s side, gazing at the twisted and deformed innards of the shark beast, Lorin furrowed her brows, pondering deeply.

After a long contemplative stare, a decisive flash crossed her face.

"Burn it!"

She commanded resolutely to the nearby sailors standing guard.

Though the shark beast’s loot materials carry substantial value, if its equipment poses risks affecting the wearer’s mind, then no matter how good quality, they aren’t worthy choices.

Even if she didn’t use them and solely sold the beast’s blood and meat materials, should issues arise for the buyers, they’d ultimately trace back to her "Vengeance Blade Fleet."

And anyone with the financial backing to buy such high-level materials certainly wouldn’t be easily handled individuals.

Ultimately, it’s not just offending the loot material merchants but inciting other troubles, proving counterproductive.

Having ventured the Southern Islands for many years, she has expanded the Vengeance Blade Fleet to its present size, avoiding the shortsightedness of those low level adventurers who live day-to-day in tavern drunkenness.

As a captain commanding matters great and small among dozens of crew, she has much to consider.

The potential profits brought by the shark beast corpse do not justify the excessive risk.

"Crackle."

Sparks splashed.

With a gentle wave of the [Scale Fire Saber], the woods collected by sailors from around the canyon combust violently.

The enormous lifeless body of the shark beast, along with its head tossed into the woodpile, gradually charred under the orange-red flames.

Thousands of Gold Coins’ worth of blood materials vanished into the air with the slowly rising scent of burnt meat.