Chapter 42: Letter of Sand Gold

With the Living Bone in front and the Screaming Sea Anemone behind, Shore was caught in a pincer attack with nowhere left to run.

"Damn it, I’m going all in!"

Shore gritted his teeth, let out a roar, and charged the Screaming Sea Anemone.

He hated this thing more than the Living Bone. Even if he died, he was damn well going to take a piece of it with him.

But his fantasy was one thing, and cruel reality was another.

With his Spirit depleted, he couldn’t unleash the true power of his Wooden Staff, and his attacks on the Screaming Sea Anemone barely did any damage.

And so, a moment later, exhausted, he was swallowed whole by the Screaming Sea Anemone.

[DEATH]

Staring at the single, large word on his screen, Shore felt numb.

Just as he was glumly preparing for Resurrection at the Spirit Candle, he suddenly witnessed a startling scene.

He watched as the Cave Living Bone, instead of turning to leave after he died, raised its blade and charged the Screaming Sea Anemone. It quickly closed in, hacking at the creature again and again.

"ROAR!"

The Screaming Sea Anemone shrieked, frantically thrashing its bloated body and spitting stomach acid.

Struck by the stomach acid, the Living Bone sizzled and let off white smoke, but it still didn’t retreat, attacking with no fear for its own life.

"Eh?"

’These two types of monsters aren’t actually on the same side?’

Shore’s eyes lit up. He rubbed his chin furiously as an idea flashed through his mind.

’I have a plan!’

...

Of course, he wasn’t the first player to discover this. By now, someone else had already taken advantage of it in spectacular fashion.

SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!

A group of Living Bones were ganging up on a Sea Anemone, which was letting out pained howls.

"Doesn’t look like this Sea Anemone can take much more, huh?"

Niuniu sat to the side, enjoying the show while juggling a Demon-Blocking Jade in his hand.

He had also discovered by chance that the two groups of monsters would fight each other.

Originally, he had just planned to do a parkour run, skipping the monsters to grab the rewards directly, but by a twist of fate, he’d discovered this.

Afterward, the quick-witted Niuniu became the Candle Spirit’s resident idea man and quickly put his plan into action.

And now, it was clear his plan was working perfectly.

"Alright, you overgrown gut, your pal here is gonna ease the pressure."

Niuniu quickly snuck up behind a Living Bone, held his sword with both hands, took a deep breath, and gathered his strength.

"Take this, you fiend!"

Then, with a sudden thrust of his hips, he executed a Thousand-Year Kill, stabbing the Living Bone and shattering it to pieces!

[You have slain a Cave Living Bone]

The skull of the disintegrated Cave Living Bone dropped to the ground, jaw agape, as if it couldn’t believe it had died in such a way at the hands of a low-life.

"Hehe..."

Niuniu chuckled and retreated to a safe distance, observing the situation as he began to stir the pot.

The moment he saw one side about to lose, he’d jump in with a sneak attack!

His goal was to have them wear each other down so he could be the one to benefit from their conflict...

Niuniu’s strategy was a resounding success.

In the end, he finished off the battered Screaming Sea Anemone with his sword, effortlessly clearing out both types of monsters at once...

...

Watching the players use their various ingenious methods to explore made Luo Ge unsure whether to laugh or cry.

Manifesting the Near-Sea Cave didn’t require much Wax Oil.

This was related to its distance, as well as its size.

In Luo Ge’s opinion, it was at best a small-scale dungeon, one that didn’t produce many valuable items...

But it was still very useful. At the very least, its appearance took a lot of pressure off the Beach Fishmen of Candle Island...

Luo Ge took out a box.

This box was, of course, the [Mysterious Wooden Box] he had traded from Guagua. It was protected by a faint power that even Luo Ge couldn’t open.

Then, he took out a small, rusty key he had obtained in the Near-Sea Cave.

It was dropped by that thief Living Bone.

One was fished from the sea, the other was a monster drop.

Although it felt unlikely that the two would match, he still intended to give it a try. What if it opened?

As it turned out, trying new things can lead to pleasant surprises.

With a soft CLICK, the Mysterious Wooden Box actually opened!

Inside were two items: a sheet of glittering gold paper and a peculiar, light-blue fruit.

Luo Ge closed his eyes and picked them up. After a moment, having appraised them through the power of the Spirit Candle, he opened his eyes.

[Acquired: Letter of Sand Gold ×1]

[Acquired: Bloodline Fruit ×1]

[Letter of Sand Gold]

[Type: Item]

[Explanation: A letter made of a special material. It glitters like gold, yet feels as grainy as sand. But perhaps its contents are even more important.]

[Unknown Bloodline Fruit]

[Type: Special Item]

[Effect: After consumption, there is a chance to obtain the unknown bloodline within the fruit, or die from contamination.]

[Explanation: A fruit containing a strange power. It is an extremely rare item.]

"...A small wooden box can hold something this good?"

Luo Ge’s brow furrowed slightly.

The fact that a drop from the thief Living Bone could open this box already felt absurd.

But he never expected that, even more absurdly, the box would actually contain such amazing items.

Just the [Bloodline Fruit] alone was no ordinary item. Judging by its effect, it was definitely extremely precious.

Moreover, from the vague feedback Luo Ge received from the Spirit Candle, it seemed he could draw out an even greater function from it...

’I really have to thank her for this...’

Luo Ge couldn’t help but laugh. If Guagua knew there was something this good inside, he wondered if she would cry her eyes out with regret.

’I’ll have to find a chance to make it up to her later...’

Luo Ge thought to himself.

Then, he picked up the Letter of Sand Gold and began to read.

Although he couldn’t understand a single word of the text on it, the Spirit Candle could directly convey its meaning to him.

[Hello, stranger. You must be a treasure hunter, or perhaps an explorer?]

[...This is the ninth box I’ve placed in the sea. I put a fruit from a tribute banquet inside. According to the one who presented it, it came from a part of the seabed with a rather scary name... I don’t remember it clearly, but anyway, it tastes great. You should try it too...]

[Cause and effect are like the ocean currents and the waves on the shore... Just as you have accepted the sea’s gift, I too pray to the sea, hoping my eldest brother will return safely...]

The contents of the Letter of Sand Gold ended there.

Luo Ge put it away, his brow furrowed slightly.

From the information revealed between the lines, it wasn’t hard to deduce that this box came from a child or youth from a wealthy family in this world. He (or she) had released this Mysterious Wooden Box to make a wish to the sea.

’Perhaps this is a custom in this world?’

Luo Ge had no way of knowing.

But this letter made him feel that perhaps this world still had some signs of life...

After reading the letter, Luo Ge put it away and left the interior of the Spirit Candle.

He heard the call of a player outside.

’Judging by the voice, it sounds like Brother Yu?’

’He’s probably gathered enough Wax Oil to buy a spot for his wife...’

At this thought, Luo Ge felt pretty good.

’If that’s the case, I can rake in another large sum of Wax Oil.’