Endless Ocean: Escape Starting from a Canoe

Chapter 185 The Nameless Cocoon's Series A Investment

During the time Shi Ming was away, the Dayun remained stationary. Shi Dun and Lin Hai, using their awakened B-level abilities and the ship's firepower, hunted down two C-level and two D-level sea monsters by waiting for them to come to them.

It’s a good harvest.

After Shi Ming's return, the Dayun also ended its period of stability.
The admiral-class drifting ship slowly sailed away from the boiling sea.

In his captain's cabin, Shi Ming took stock of his gains from this trip.

1. Three fruits of the Immortal Tree. (Awaiting analysis by the Eye of Intelligence)
2. A severed limb cut off from a Saint-level sea monster. (Awaiting analysis by the Eye of Intelligence)
3. The twenty-odd points gained from hunting sea monsters were converted into real strength.

4. The B and C grade Sea Beast Hearts were packaged and sold to Golden Bodhi at a premium for 10 Pure Dome Crystals. In reality, their total value was far less than that, but Mel wanted to take this opportunity to make friends with him, so the price was raised relatively high.

In addition, they also obtained a lot of valuable intelligence.

For example, the exact location of one of the seven sacred sea monsters, which is elusive and difficult to find in the endless ocean.

Furthermore, through the future fragments of the Wheel of Fate, he learned that the scorching energy of the Three-Eyed Golden Crow could not counteract the "Formless Pure Ice." If it were to be forcibly neutralized, it would only result in an energy disorder and death by explosion, and even putting the person in a life-or-death situation would not be able to save them.

In contrast to the gains mentioned above, the cost of this operation was that it plunged the company into a prolonged cooling-off period once again.

Overall, the return on investment is quite good!

Especially the remains of the Holy Sea Beast, their value is immeasurable.

The Lighthouse found only a tiny bit of molted skin, the kind of completely inactive dead tissue, yet they treasured it like a precious gem and invited researchers from major organizations around the world to "participate in the grand undertaking." Unfortunately, Edward passed away suddenly, and it is unknown whether any research results were achieved.

As for Shi Ming, he only needs to wait until tomorrow, and with the help of the Eye of Intelligence, he will have a very high probability of obtaining some specific information about it.

Even understand its related skills!
By calculation, Shi Ming already knew basic information about three of the seven Holy Sea Beasts.

【Sanctuary 004: The Undying Evil Eye】

【Sanctuary 007: The Great Black Dragon】

【Sanctuary 00? : ? ? ? ? 】

With the flesh and blood of the Sanctuary Sea Beast, the "Extinguished Star Lamp," which Shi Ming obtained from the pyramid last time and had an initial level of 9, can now be upgraded to the required materials. At the time, Shi Ming thought 100 grams of Sanctuary flesh and blood was too difficult a condition, but unexpectedly, it was achieved so quickly through a series of fortunate events.

He had originally intended to hide that lamp to avoid the mysterious woman in the star-studded dress locating him.

But if its upgraded value is significant, perhaps it could be used for short-term purposes?
These kinds of things need to be analyzed on a case-by-case basis.

……

The near-death experience brought him to his best condition, but Shi Ming still slept lightly for a few hours in the sleep pod of the Dayun to get mental and emotional rest.

The Dayun has sailed out of the Boiling Sea and into the Silent Sea.

Next, we will travel north to return to Europe.
His brief encounter with the Sanctuary Sea Beast made him realize that his strength was far from sufficient.

A single misstep could lead to death.

Since the Three-Eyed Golden Crow cannot neutralize the power of the Formless Pure Ice, then let's go find the Twilight Whale! This treasure, ranked 48th on the list of rare items, can only be maximized if it is fully utilized. However, this voyage will not be too rushed, as he has other matters to attend to in the Sea of ​​Ashes and the Sea of ​​Yellow Sands.

Just like...

An unnamed cocoon.

They've already secured angel round funding, but unfortunately, it backfired. This time, they're trying to squeeze out Series A funding; maybe they'll get some extra returns.

Investors wouldn't just ignore the fate of a "seed player," would they?
Shi Ming is still a promising and rare stock.

……

As soon as the Dayun entered the Black Gold's jurisdictional waters, Shi Ming's "brainwaves" connected to the "channel" of the Nameless Cocoon. Guided by his mental power, just like last time, he followed that voice deep into the endless sea, diving into the great rift valley two thousand meters below, and continued to sink.

Just waiting for you!

My friend, you're back? How was it? What were the results? Did you kill that golden crow?

In the deep sea, his spiritual body once again saw the large cocoon wrapped in black silk threads.

A large cocoon bound by layers of chains.

Shi Ming used the prepared words he had already prepared.

Start questioning!
"Friend? How dare you ask me that?"

“I trusted you completely. In order to gain power to save you, I followed your advice, found the location you mentioned, and went to kill that three-eyed golden crow all by myself. I was about to succeed and gain new power, but you didn’t tell me at all that there was a Saint-level sea beast lurking in the sea where that three-eyed golden crow was located!”

"It knocked me three hundred nautical miles away."

"I almost died because of you! My friend!"

What? A sanctuary?

[What? There's a sanctuary here?]

The voice of the nameless cocoon contained unimaginable astonishment.

Shi Ming snorted.

Actually, I am very disappointed in you.

“When I listened to your advice, it meant I trusted you. In my heart, you are not just a simple business partner. I hope that through our first collaboration, we can enhance our mutual understanding, rather than coldly exploit each other.”

“I originally thought you were fundamentally different from other sea creatures. You could communicate, trust each other, and cooperate to achieve a win-win situation,”

"But you really disappointed me."

"Your intelligence failure not only cost me an S-class sea beast that was almost within my grasp, but also nearly cost me my life. I think I need to re-evaluate this partnership. After all, there are so many S-class sea beasts in this endless ocean, and even more powerful Sanctuary-class sea beasts. No partner is irreplaceable."

"Perhaps you did it on purpose. There is still an insurmountable gap between humans and sea creatures."

The two-year-old nameless cocoon, listening to Shi Ming's accusations, actually felt a little guilty after being manipulated by him!
No, that's not right! Cunning humans!
He's just trying to get my sympathy!

But the Golden Crow's dwelling place actually hides a Saint-level sea beast?

This was something it didn't know either.

It seems this human really suffered a huge loss due to their own intelligence failure? If that's the case, it's understandable that they would have doubts and no longer trust me.

If we put ourselves in its shoes, it would no longer trust this human and would retaliate fiercely.

I don't know either, about its existence.

"None of this matters anymore."

"Having failed to kill that sea beast, it would be difficult for me to fight against the large ship that is suppressing you. Next, I will travel to other seas or return to my homeland, where at least I will not be in danger of death."

"This farewell can also mark the end of our brief collaboration."

Shi Ming shook his head, indicating that he didn't care.

The nameless cocoon was getting a little anxious.

I haven't even left yet, how can you give up?
Having finally encountered a human whose mental strength barely met its threshold requirements, how could it let this opportunity slip by? If it did, who knows when it would be possible to find another powerful individual whose mental strength was on par with its own?

It had had enough of being trapped in this dark and sunless cocoon.

Perhaps I can make it up to him? Maybe I can give him a little treat?
And then make him unable to stop?

Do you become dependent on yourself?
This kind of control seems to be prevalent among humans.

It used its two-year-old brain.

What do you want in compensation?

"Compensation? No need."

"Perhaps you really didn't mean it. After all, you're just an S-class sea monster, neither omniscient nor omnipotent. My previous questioning was only to hope that our cooperation could be closer, rather than backstabbing each other."

You want blood?

I can give you just one drop.

After all, I haven't yet broken free of my cocoon.

You can't catch a wolf without risking your cub.

The nameless cocoon thought to itself.

However, human, my spirit heard a saying on this great ship that makes a lot of sense: every gift comes with a hidden price. What you take from me, you will have to repay double when I leave.

It has decided to give this human a little treat.

But deep down, he was extremely unwilling and filled with anger at being desecrated.

But Shi Ming was thinking...

After all this talk, all you're giving me is a single drop?
What use is a single drop!

I could squeeze out half a liter from the severed limbs of that sacred sea monster!
Shi Ming was about to try again, or try something else, but his eyes started blinking and his right arm started to feel hot, as if he was becoming impatient again.

alright,

Just one drop.

No, three drops.

“Ah Jian,”

"I don't want your blood either."

"But as you know, only when I become stronger can I rescue you faster. I said long ago that we are destined to be in the same boat, facing the same enemy."

"One drop is still too little, how about three drops?"

"By the way, how do I get it?"

【…】

A powerful surge of spiritual energy roared across the seabed. Shi Ming's spiritual body sensed that energy was rapidly gathering within the cocoon entwined by black threads. A large amount of spiritual energy merged and converged, eventually forming a few tiny drops of blood.

The blood seeped out from the cocoon and floated before the eyes of the spiritual entity Shi Ming.

???

Is this okay?

My mental strength is extremely high, high enough to slightly influence reality, but it's difficult to reduce or revert to lower levels.

Only insects with a mental strength threshold exceeding 300 can barely hear my voice and witness my inconceivable power. Human, your mental strength has reached the threshold, but I warn you, my blood is extremely terrifying.

But this is my sincere investment.

No, don't disappoint me.

Call ~
Shi Ming was jolted awake from a dreamlike mental experience.
Suddenly, he saw three drops of black blood appear before him. The blood carried a terrifying pressure, like spiritual power condensed to the extreme. Just a close look at it could cause confusion in some awakened individuals with low spiritual power.

Really give!
Shi Ming smiled.

He took out a very sophisticated container, carefully collected the few drops of blood, and then put them into the system space.

The Eye of Intelligence will be very busy in the next few days.

(End of this chapter)