Endless Ocean: Survival Begins with a Dugout Canoe-Chapter 66 - 64: Eye of Intelligence, 2 Lists
Shi Ming figured that for the Lighthouse to value him so highly, this B-rank Awakened must have some extraordinary qualities.
’Even in myths and legends, the sky and the ocean are one and the same. The "Navigator’s" abilities must be far more complex than they appear on the surface.’
’That said,’
’One is a top-tier A-rank attack-type Awakened from the Black Society, and the other is a rare Navigator highly regarded by the Lighthouse.’
’Heh, they’re both golden children. Are they really not afraid that sending two such Awakened after me will end in disaster? That I’ll be the one to slay them?’
Shi Ming chuckled.
If they dared to hunt him, they had to be prepared to be hunted in return.
The fight for treasure had always been this way.
Who was the hunter and who was the prey? No one would know until the very end.
In the time that followed, the communicator remained silent, returning to its usual tranquility.
Seeing that it was still dark, Shi Ming went back to sleep for a while, waking only when the morning sun rose over the sea and slanted across his face.
It was a new day.
"System, get today’s intel!"
[BEEP... BEEP...]
[Organizing intel...]
[Searching... Confirming Host’s detailed coordinates... No relevant intel found for the surrounding sea region.]
[Converting to general intel.]
[In the Endless Ocean, there are two rather authoritative lists, though no one knows who compiled them. The first is titled "A Catalog of the Endless Ocean’s Marvels," which enumerates 181 magical treasures of the sea. The second is the "S-Rank Awakening Skill Leaderboard," which lists 108 S-rank sea beasts of the Endless Ocean and the skills they can awaken in people!]
[Of course, what is unknown to most is that there is also a third list. It is called the "Holy Hall List," and it records only 7 Awakening Skills that surpass S-rank, originating from 7 different SS-rank sea beasts.]
Shi Ming blinked.
’The Holy Hall List?’
’As expected of the Eye of Intelligence.’
’It can even dig up such little-known intel.’
’Could the Great Black Heaven Dragon be on this Holy Hall List?’
Shi Ming had heard whispers of the first two lists mentioned by the intel. He’d even seen a fragmented copy of the "S-Rank Awakening Skill Leaderboard" in a Leviathan investigation report, but it had too few entries and the information was far from complete.
If he ever got the chance, he’d love to read those lists to broaden his horizons.
He could also see where his own "Black Tortoise Shield" placed on the leaderboard.
...
The drifter rumbled as it continued its voyage toward the depths of the Lost Sea.
Over the course of yesterday, he had harvested 76 High-Level Sea Crystal Stones and one Tide Stone.
At this rate, it wouldn’t be long before he could save up the 1,000 High-Level Sea Crystal Stones needed to evolve his canoe into a General-class drifter. But a General-class drifter was a huge, resource-intensive project. Before that, he needed to use the High-Level Sea Crystal Stones he already had to upgrade some of the items on his boat.
He divided the upgrade order for his items into three categories.
Important and urgent.
Important, but not urgent.
Not important and not urgent.
Within each category, he prioritized upgrades based on their cost-effectiveness. The most efficient upgrades came first, while the more resource-heavy ones were pushed to the back.
For example, the King Slayer Saber he held. Anything that could rapidly increase his strength was both urgent and important. After all, who knew when the A-rank Awakened from the Black Society might show up? The beverage machine and food production equipment, on the other hand, fell into the third category: not important and not urgent.
He looked at his King Slayer Saber.
[War Saber - King Slayer]
[Level: 5]
[A former prized possession of the Rhodes Lompe Clan, rumored to be the very blade that beheaded a King in the 14th century. Centuries later, it remains incomparably sharp. Blessed by a mysterious power, its attacks are now stronger than ever! At the same time, a Xuanwu Blood Crystal has granted it a new property—Immovable as a Mountain!]
[Immovable as a Mountain: When clashing blades, the wielder of this King Slayer Saber can never be knocked back!]
[Upgrade Requirements: Sea Beast Blood Crystal x30, Iron Ore x30, High-Level Sea Crystal Stone x30]
’I wonder how powerful this saber will be if I upgrade it to the maximum level?’
He caressed the saber’s edge, feeling the profound chill of the ancient metal.
’The materials are plentiful. It’s time for an upgrade.’
He had already gathered the materials. For him now, 30 High-Level Sea Crystal Stones were just half a day’s harvest—completely affordable.
This upgrade also used a Xuanwu Blood Crystal. He wondered if it would gain any new properties.
The heavy King Slayer hummed and vibrated. Within seconds, the Brain of Creation had upgraded it to Level 6. Its blade seemed sharper, its edge gleaming with a line of frost, as if it could slice through the very air.
He gave it a swing, and it produced a distinct whoosh as it cut through the air!
’It feels better and better to wield!’
[War Saber - King Slayer]
[Level: 6]
[The King Slayer Saber of old can now slay all manner of sea beasts and Sea Demons! Its edge has not dulled with the fall of dynasties; instead, it has grown ever sharper and more lethal! Blessed by a mysterious power, its attacks are stronger than ever!]
[Immovable as a Mountain: When clashing blades, the wielder of this King Slayer Saber can never be knocked back!]
[Upgrade Requirements: Sea Beast Blood Crystal x100, Iron Ore x300, High-Level Sea Crystal Stone x80]
The only shame was that it didn’t gain a new property this time. He wasn’t sure if it was because he had reused the same type of Blood Crystal, or if a saber could only have one special property.
’I have enough materials. Should I upgrade it again?’
’Of course!’
’Increasing my Attack Power is one of the most cost-effective investments I can make!’
’Upgrade!’
Eighty High-Level Sea Crystal Stones vanished as if they were nothing, turning into a diffuse mist that, along with the energy from the Sea Beast Blood Crystals, seeped into the ancient war saber. This time, Shi Ming didn’t use a Xuanwu Blood Crystal. Instead, he used an unknown Blood Crystal he had brought back from the *Huangshi*.
DING!
It was like the final, perfect strike of a master blacksmith forging a divine weapon!
The Level 7 King Slayer Saber was forged!
A dark light flowed along the saber’s body. Shi Ming tapped the blade with his knuckle, and it was as if the clang of charging cavalry echoed from within!
Killing intent surged from it!
Level 7 was the highest this saber could go!
But again, there were no new properties.
[War Saber - King Slayer Saber]
[Its deep history and the extraordinary Blood Crystal have allowed this war saber to transcend the mundane and become a true treasure, even earning it a place in the "A Catalog of the Endless Ocean’s Marvels"! Even in the hands of an ordinary person, it can easily shatter the defenses of a C-rank sea beast. Infused with Awakening Power, it will make you unstoppable!!!]
[Cannot be upgraded further!]
Shi Ming picked up the saber, unable to put it down.
’The upgraded King Slayer Saber could actually qualify for "A Catalog of the Endless Ocean’s Marvels"?’
After Awakening, a melee weapon like this was much better at channeling the energy within his body. Now, with a max-level King Slayer Saber combined with the tenfold power from his Arm of Power, even Shi Ming himself couldn’t predict the might of his full-strength strike.
’Could it be comparable to an A-rank or even an S-rank attack skill?’
’Without a benchmark, it’s impossible to know.’
Perhaps he truly needed an evenly matched opponent to have a real, blood-pumping fight!
