Survival on the Internet: A Bizarre Start at Sea

"This is your Alchemist Badge, which records your information and certification level."

"With this badge, you can legally purchase controlled alchemical materials within Hydeland, sell your own qualified alchemical products, and rent alchemical facilities from guilds or certification bodies."

"Please be sure to abide by the Alchemist's Code and do not create or distribute prohibited alchemical products."

"I understand, thank you, examiner."

Su Zhisu took the badge; it felt slightly heavy in her hand.

The front of the badge features the Alchemist's Guild emblem against a background of a golden sun, while the back is engraved with his name, rank, and a series of numbers.

After leaving the assessment laboratory and completing the final registration at the service desk, Su Zhisu officially became a certified skilled alchemist by Heidelan.

Certification badges and other similar items opened many doors for him.

He immediately went to the rental service desk provided by the guild.

"I need to rent a basic alchemy lab to conduct some private alchemy."

"Time... I'll rent four hours first."

"A laboratory with basic protective measures costs 5 silver conch coins per hour. Four hours would cost a total of 20 silver conch coins."

"Please pay a deposit of 5 Silver Conch Coins, with refunds for overpayments and additional charges for underpayments. This is the key to Laboratory No. 12, Section B, 2nd Floor. Please return it before the end of the time."

After paying the fee, Su Zhisu received the key.

Laboratory No. 12 in Zone B is slightly larger than the one used for the assessment, and its protective runes are more complete, which can isolate energy fluctuations and odors to a certain extent.

After closing the door and activating the protective measures, the interior of the laboratory fell into a relatively isolated and quiet space.

Su Zhisu took out several pieces of equipment that needed to be mutated from her inventory and placed them on the workbench.

【The Scimitar Towards the Storm】, 【Thorne's Pocket Watch】, 【The Anchor of Obsession】, 【The Blank Core of Obsession】, 【The Crystal Bottle of Emotions】, 【The Music Box】.

"The quality of these equipment items is no higher than blue, so they should all be within the scope of the cost exemption."

"But each item has different characteristics and potential, and the direction of differentiation needs to be carefully chosen."

"After the mutation, my strength will be greatly enhanced, and then..."

"Then we can go and explore the Old Harbor Cliffs in the Broken Reef area. I hope everything goes well."

He first picked up the "scimitar pointing towards the storm".

This green, high-quality scimitar accompanied him through many battles; it was sharp and sturdy, and its additional effects saved him many times.

Stroking the [Scimitar Towards the Storm], Su Zhisu activated [Alchemy Transformation].

A strange power, mixed with the Night Watcher's Heart Flame, slowly enveloped the scimitar.

Three clearer options came to mind:

Option 1: [Flame Mark Imprint] - Inscribes a flame mark of the Night Watcher's Heart Flame inside the blade, increasing the burning effect of the Night Watcher's Heart Flame when attacking, and increasing damage to strange and corrupted creatures.

In return, it will continuously consume strange power.

Option 2: [Storm Echo] - When the "Towards the Storm" effect is triggered, attack speed and movement speed are greatly increased for a short period of time (depending on quality).

As a trade-off: After the duration ends, the durability is reduced (depending on the holder's level).

Option 3: [Pain Drain] - Grants the blade a slight life drain property, allowing a small portion of the damage dealt to enemies to be converted into the user's own health.

In return, the holder will suffer "pain" corresponding to the damage value.

After a moment's thought, Su Zhisu chose [Storm Echo].

In his view, neither option one nor option three was necessary.

While option two will reduce the durability of the scimitar, this amount of durability is insignificant compared to the critical moment when the effect is triggered.

The eerie blue flames seeped into the blade, leaving behind barely perceptible, fine storm-like patterns.

A few seconds later, the transformation was complete.

【Scimitar Towards the Storm (Altered)】In addition to the original effect, the new 【Extra 2】 effect, "Storm Echo", has been added.

I picked up the knife and swung it a couple of times; it still felt the same.

He put down his scimitar and picked up Thorne's pocket watch.

This quest item is of paramount importance, as it embodies the soul's obsession with First Mate Edgar Thorne.

However, the pocket watch itself is also very useful for providing "warning" information.

The alienation was triggered again.

Options appear:

Option 1: [Danger Ripple] - Slightly enhances the pocket watch's perception and accuracy in detecting "danger." When the wearer is performing actions requiring precise judgment, they will receive subtle intuitive cues (depending on the wearer's level).

Option Two: [Soul Resonance] - Strengthens the connection between the pocket watch and the inner soul's obsession. When near people, places, or objects with a strong connection to Edgar Thorne, the pocket watch will emit a clearer and more directional vibration and low hum.

Option 3: [Critical Moment] - Grants the pocket watch a one-time "cost" effect. In a critical moment, it can be actively triggered, using a portion of one's own health, sanity, or supernatural power as the "cost" to briefly accelerate one's own time (depending on the holder's level).

As a price: This ability will disappear upon use, the pocket watch will be damaged, and the hidden mission will fail.

Su Zhisu's gaze lingered on the three options.

"Soul Resonance" is undoubtedly the most helpful for the current quest to find Liliana Thea, but the other two mutation options are both excellent.

"The rewards for the hidden mission are still attractive enough, and this option can also help me with my next move."

After a slight hesitation, he chose option two.

A warm luster swept across the watch case, making the hands on the dial seem even more lively.

[Thorn's Pocket Watch (Alienated)] Adds [Extra 2]: "Soul Whisper Resonance" effect.

Su Zhisu could feel that the warm pulse coming from under the watch seemed clearer and more "directional".

Next is the "Anchor of Obsession".

This item, obtained from the Abyss dungeon, allows him to stand on "water," but at the cost of experiencing the feeling of "drowning."

Alienation options:

Option 1: [Strengthening Obsession] - Enhances "Obsession," slightly increasing the holder's stability when "walking on water," with stronger effects in turbulent or chaotic waters. Simultaneously, the quality requirement for [Emotional Crystals] to replenish uses is reduced.

As a trade-off, the "drowning sensation" during use will become clearer and more persistent, possibly accompanied by several seconds of difficulty breathing and auditory hallucinations.

Option 2: [Deep Dive Resonance] - Changes the mechanism of action. When activated, while "walking on the surface," the holder is allowed to synchronize their own perception with "drowning obsession," gaining a vague sense of life forms or high-concentration energy sources within a larger underwater area (the range depends on the holder's level).

Option 3: [Drowning Anchor Point] - After activating "Water Walking", the user can "project" the "drowning feeling" they are experiencing onto other targets within a certain range (the range depends on the holder's level), causing the targets to experience a strong feeling of suffocation and drowning simultaneously.

As a trade-off: after using "Drowning Anchor Point", the holder's "drowning sensation" will be greatly amplified. At the same time, for a period of time after the effect ends (depending on the holder's level), the sanity recovery speed will be halved, and a psychological aversion to "water" will develop.