ctnovel Chapter 128 Extraordinary Pathways More Suitable for Human Babies' Physique
Chapter 128 Extraordinary Pathways More Suitable for Human Babies' Physique
Chapter 128 An Extraordinary Path More Suitable for Human Babies' Physique (Combined Chapter of 10,000 Words)
For the next two days, the sea was calm and peaceful. It was unclear whether the deep-sea divers were preparing a bigger counterattack or had truly retreated, as they did not reappear to cause trouble.
However, the creature that swam incredibly fast, seemingly a wild superhuman, followed behind the Little Yellow Duck at a leisurely pace.
It doesn't attack, it just follows. And it doesn't care about the rotting fish carcasses on the surrounding sea surface, it only eats the small fish that have been hit by the bow of the ship and are still fresh.
Moreover, unlike the surrounding creatures that had undergone plant-like mutations, its body was smooth and unmarked, clearly indicating that its powerful strength enabled it to be immune to the assimilation and pollution of this sea area to a certain extent.
This reminded Yu Wang of the information the siren had mentioned about extraordinary creatures from other seas crossing the border.
This fish was most likely smuggled in from other sea areas.
The two boats and the fish maintained a delicate peace, and life was passable—or at least peaceful.
"Ugh! You stinking fish! You've taken the supplies again!" Zhang Xinlan's furious roar came from the deck.
On the sea, the giant fish deftly flicked its tail, using its dorsal fin to easily push aside a thick piece of driftwood that was floating by, letting it swirl and drift away into the distance, while it leisurely submerged into the water, leaving behind a triumphant bubble.
Zhang Xinlan was furious and fired several shots in the direction where it had disappeared. The shells futilely exploded into thick, green water columns, but the giant fish had already vanished without a trace.
Rhinoceros beetles have limited flying ability; they can only carry supplies for a maximum of a hundred meters before needing to rest. They are naturally powerless to carry supply boxes or planks that are too far away.
The ship is in a hurry to get going, and the "Turbo Duck" skill needs to be activated immediately after its cooldown. It's impossible for it to stop for a few wooden resource boxes.
Zhang Xinlan was extremely annoyed and wished she could kill and eat that troublesome fish right away!
At that moment, she noticed Yu Wang banging on the boat out of the corner of her eye, and her attention was instantly diverted, and she fell into her memories.
Yu Wang's behavior has been somewhat abnormal these past two days.
He would go up to the second floor every now and then, and after coming out, he would search around the ship, or he would chat with the black cat while holding the receipts.
It looks like they've already betrayed the Duck Cult.
After the "Left-Wing Saints" made a high-profile statement on the world channel, Yu Wang realized the core of the problem: wherever the extraordinary path is, people's hearts will turn to it.
If we don't seize the initiative, humanity will ultimately be firmly controlled by the forces that have access to divine favor.
So, with a tentative mindset, he asked the Iristiel figurine on the second floor: Is there a path to transcendence that does not require the blessing of a specific god?
The answer he received was somewhat intriguing. The little figurine's attitude gave Yu Wang the illusion that he was looking for his phone while holding his phone, or looking for his glasses while wearing glasses.
Iristel tried her best to choose words that wouldn't be harmonized by the "rules," and the gist of what Yu Wang summarized was: the laws of different worlds are different. In the world of navigation, at least before the outbreak of the "war of gods," the relationship between believers and gods was complementary, and both sides had the freedom to choose and terminate the contract at any time.
Believers offer faith, and the divine rewards them with abilities and extraordinary means. It is an equal exchange between the two parties, not a one-sided gift or charity.
These words, combined with the intriguing attitude of the little figurine, gave Yu Wang a flash of inspiration!
Thinking about the initial situation of having only one person on a ship, and the "ship soul" concept in the skill description.
Please recite the following incantation, using flesh and blood as a catalyst, to awaken your companions slumbering deep within the ship's spirit.
"Having a soul" means that the ship is alive.
Furthermore, the ships provide shelter for humans at night, and humans collect materials such as empty nuclear fragments to upgrade the ships.
This is another kind of equal and complementary relationship.
So, if we continue down this path, constantly upgrading and nurturing our ships, could we perhaps gain a boost of power from our longest-lasting "ship partners," or even find a unique, extraordinary path that doesn't rely on external deities?
Thinking of this, Yu Wang felt a surge of excitement.
Following the small figurine's hint, she carefully took out a "hollow core fragment" from her spatial backpack.
In the past two days, he has collected 12 more core upgrade materials through sea helmet worm salvage and trading platforms.
The "empty core fragment" is a translucent milky white crystal. It looks solid, but it is actually extremely fragile. If exposed to air for a while, it will slowly dissipate like ice sublimating.
For this reason, no one has ever been able to study it systematically; all that is known is that it is an essential consumable for upgrading ships.
The game system seems to be afraid that players will lose this item, so when trading, the data is added or removed directly in the ship's cabin.
At this moment, less than a minute after Yu Wang took out the "empty core fragment," its edges had already begun to blur, and its volume had clearly shrunk by about one-third.
Just then, something unexpected happened!
Fragments of divine authority in the realms of "foresight" and "insight" flew out automatically, as if attracted by a magnet, and hovered next to the "empty core fragment".
A strange resonance and attraction arose between the two.
Yu Wang's pupils constricted slightly.
He saw that the fragments of "foresight" and "insight" emitted a faint light, subtly connecting with the pure, attribute-free primordial energy of the empty core fragments.
They seem to be different manifestations of the same origin!
However, the "Precognition" and "Insight" fragments have specific attributes, while the empty core fragment has no attributes, or rather—it has the potential to be transformed into any attribute?
In Yu Wang's vision, the two fragments approached each other, and the milky white crystals transformed into streams of pure energy, merging into the fragments of authority.
The absorption process was extremely fast; in the blink of an eye, the empty core fragment completely disappeared.
After absorbing this pure source, the fragments of divine authority that allowed him to "foresee" and "see" became visibly solidified and strengthened! Although the change was extremely subtle, Yu Wang clearly perceived it.
A startling conjecture exploded in Yu Wang's mind like a thunderclap:
The empty core fragments are likely the purest, undetermined fragments of the "authority" origin!
Upgrading a ship and consuming a large amount of empty core fragments may be a way of using this primordial power to continuously nourish and strengthen the ship's own "soul," ultimately making it grow into a "source of the extraordinary" that can provide feedback to the captain and even open up unique paths!
If this conjecture is true—
So, he himself, and all the captains focused on upgrading their ships, may be walking on a supernatural path that everyone has overlooked, a path with infinite possibilities, and a path more suitable for the human body!
Humans are not helpless; their own mothers have always protected them, yet they run to other people's homes and shamelessly claim to be stepmothers!
They deserved to be used as cannon fodder!
A strange surge of emotion welled up in Wang's heart, but what followed was a new set of questions.
Upgrading your ship grants a power boost—but where exactly is this "boost point"?
Level 4? Level 7? Or the ever-present Level 10?
Do special ships possess skills, meaning they receive the "ship spirit" reward earlier? And for the most numerous ordinary ships, when will they see the light of day in return?
If the required level is too high, the massive resources and long time required for the upgrade process are simply beyond the capacity of ordinary survivors.
They may soon give up in despair, having invested huge sums but seeing no return, and turn to those "stepmothers" who offer immediate and divine favors.
"Levels one to three are definitely out of the question," Yu Wang calmly analyzed. "If there had been significant feedback during this period, I wouldn't have been completely unaware of it."
So, could the breakthrough point be at the fourth stage, where the ship undergoes a qualitative change?
The 444 section currently has more than 100 Class III vessels, and most of the others have also reached the Class II threshold.
However, looking at the entire server, other divisions still mainly use level one and two ships, with level three ships being extremely rare, belonging to the top of the pyramid. By the time most ordinary survivors have painstakingly accumulated enough resources to upgrade to level four, the human community will probably have already been infiltrated and divided up by various divine forces, losing all say.
By then, even if there were any rewards along this "Ship Soul" path, they would probably have already been swallowed up by the gods of the maritime world.
Speculation needs to be verified, and verification requires samples, data, and observation of other captains who focus on upgrading their ships rather than seeking divine protection.
He himself is just a special case and cannot represent the rafts that make up the largest proportion of the population.
"We can only give it a try."
As we got closer to the Thousand Sails Sea, the number of ships on the sea gradually increased, most of which were owned by local ethnic groups.
Their boats are somewhat similar in shape to human sailing ships, but their sails are often decorated with brightly colored totems and symbols of various styles.
The sails served not so much to gather wind, but rather to proclaim the ship's owner's affiliation and the deity behind it.
If they encounter believers of the same faith, or forces that are on good terms with their own gods, these ships may even stop, chat for a few minutes, and see if there is any business cooperation they can do.
Conversely, at best they will glare at you coldly, and at worst they will confront each other at sea or even break out into a conflict over a single word.
Many passing local ships, upon seeing the strangely shaped "Little Yellow Duck" and "Ghost Pirate" ships from afar, with their sails empty and devoid of any religious markings, couldn't help but approach them out of curiosity.
In this world built on faith, the mark of a powerful deity is not only a form of protection but also a display of status, much like designer clothing.
Going out to sea without any markings is, in their eyes, like walking naked in a bustling city.
Among them, a small sailboat painted with a "cloud and lightning" motif approached. It was piloted by a penguin-man captain wearing a waterproof leather robe, with a stocky build and a bright yellow beak. On the deck, some small penguins were busy at work.
After discovering that Yu Wang and his companions were human and intended to travel to Shell City, the talkative penguin kindly pointed them in the right direction.
The penguin captain stroked the feathers on his chin, his yellow vertical pupils filled with inquiry. "It's truly rare to see humans here. The ancient sea route you're taking almost completely bypasses the large settlements of all ethnic groups, including Shell City. Its remote location shouldn't be on the regular routes of outsiders like you."
However, Shell City is an open port, so as long as the rules are followed, there shouldn't be any problems. Sailing in that direction for another half a day, you'll see the port's lighthouse.
Zhang Xinlan wasn't too concerned about the specific route, but instead caught another key phrase, her eyes widening: "You know—"
"Ancient sea route?"
Isn't that the flight path given in the game?
"Of course I know!" Captain Penguin's voice rose slightly, his tone carrying a sense of pride as he spoke of a glorious history. "Legend has it that this route spans the entire world, and following it can lead to the world's borders!! Unfortunately, the complete nautical chart was lost in the war of the gods. Those who know the specific route are probably the gods who participated in drawing it back then."
A longing flashed in his eyes, then dimmed again. He patted his round belly: "The edge of the world! What adventurer wouldn't want to see it for themselves in their lifetime? If I were eighty years younger and didn't have this family to support, I would definitely beg and plead to go on an adventure with a human ship!"
He flapped his wings and added, "If it weren't for the fact that you are human and I know you are traveling on an ancient sea route, I wouldn't bother coming over to talk to you."
Good luck to you, stranger.
After the penguin captain finished speaking, he skillfully steered his small sailboat, which was painted with a lightning bolt totem.
As he sailed, his boat seemed to be blown by an invisible "storm herald" wind. In an environment where there was almost no wind on the surrounding sea, the speed did not decrease at all, and it was even faster and more stable than conventional sailboats that relied on wind power.
In the blink of an eye, the sailboat merged into the many ships in the distance and disappeared.
But Yu Wang's gaze seemed to be fixed on that ship, which was able to move forward at high speed on its own without any visible external wind or human rowing!
How similar this is to how humans can control a raft to sail using only their thoughts!
This is a detail that everyone previously took for granted and never investigated, simply regarded as a routine operation given by the game system.
Perhaps humanity's path to transcendence began the moment it acquired a ship.
However, too many people have not yet persevered to the day when they reap the rewards. An idea took shape in Wang's mind: "If there is a clear hope to support them and tell them to persevere, and that upgrading the ship itself is accumulating capital to move towards the extraordinary, then perhaps a large number of people will be willing to grit their teeth and hold on a little longer!"
Instead of easily mortgaging the future to unknown deities.
After all, they all come from a unified atheistic world!
Yu Wang rallied his spirits and steered the "Little Yellow Duck" to increase its speed.
Before long, Luo Ke Cheng (Snail Shell City) became clearly visible.
The most prominent landmark of the port is the giant fossilized conch shell on the shore, which has been petrified but still retains its spiral pattern. Most of the city's buildings are constructed using locally produced colorful coral stones and shellfish shells, which refract dreamlike colors under the sunlight.
The dock was filled with masts, and ships of all kinds, flying flags of different faiths, were moored densely. Sailors, merchants, and adventurers of all races moved among them, and the sounds of hawking, bargaining, shouting, and banging tools mingled together.
This is the Shell City of Thousand Sails Bay, the intersection of countless shipping routes on the Sea of Origin, a melting pot where opportunities and risks coexist.
Two strange ships without any religious markings slowly docked at the bustling Shell City dock, immediately attracting many curious, scrutinizing, or ill-intentioned glances.
Yu Wang ignored the stares from the dock.
After settling the boat, he disembarked alone and headed straight for the giant petrified conch shell that served as a city landmark.
He had already inquired with Captain Penguin that the location was where port management and official institutions were located.
Unexpectedly, Yu Wang encountered the penguin captain who had guided them at sea again here.
At this moment, the penguin patriarch, dressed in a self-made captain's uniform and with a round belly, is leading a group of fluffy little penguins, looking up with envy at the office hall where people are moving around under the conch shell.
"Sigh," Captain Penguin sighed, "I heard that the ocean currents were all built before the War of the Gods. If only one tributary had been built near our island when the ocean current network was being constructed—if there were ocean currents right outside our door, the value of our land would definitely skyrocket!"
A little penguin following behind couldn't help but mutter under its breath, "The chief is daydreaming again—he's trying to fix ocean currents, huh? We don't have a single legend in our family. It's been almost three thousand years, seven or eight generations, to save up enough money to get a pass."
Captain Penguin, with his sharp ears, turned around and glared at him angrily, saying, "If you want to come along and see the world next time, shut your mouth!"
The little penguins immediately fell silent, huddled together with playful grins.
Yu Wang did not disturb the captain he had only met once, and went straight into the hall.
The interior space was more spacious than it appeared from the outside, divided into several areas, with clerks of different races busy behind their respective windows. He quickly found the area marked "Route and Passage Permits".
Because of the high prices, this place is the least crowded, and the staff behind the windows spend their time planting flowers, raising fish, and doing health exercises.
After some questioning, he found that the application information he obtained was exactly the same as what he had learned in his previous life, which put his mind at ease.
The key lies in those 20 billion pearl coins, and how to persuade enough people.
The time has come.
Yu Wang took a deep breath, sat down in a relatively quiet corner, brought up the game interface, and took out that precious...
"World Gossip" begins editing a message.
At the same time, he silently activated the server-wide announcement he had previously agreed upon with "Gugu," the administrator of section 444.
At that moment, the long-awaited, grand server-wide announcement resounded simultaneously in the ears of all survivors!
However, the name mentioned in the announcement was not the "left-wing saint" who had been vehemently proclaiming divine grace in the world chat two days prior, but rather an ID already familiar to countless people:
The will of the ocean is stirred! A new milestone has been forged!
[Congratulations to the survivor of Region 14, Division 444! You're in for a ton of luck!] You've broken through the shackles of the mundane and become the first navigator in the entire server to upgrade your personal ship to level four!
May your sails always be high, brave the waves, and reach the other shore! (The ocean is vast; may your ship forever sail high, cutting through the waves!)
In contrast to the tone used when announcing daily mileage increases or the opening of group dungeons, these pre-recorded texts sound more like a mother encouraging her child's progress.
Furthermore, the announcement wasn't just a fleeting moment; it was accompanied by a background sound effect of countless conch shells and the tides, echoing three times in a row!
Its inspirational message is far more impactful than the faith propaganda of the "left-wing saints"!
Billions of survivors, wherever they were and whatever they were doing, stopped what they were doing and began to process this sudden news.
Just as people were getting excited and discussing the matter, Yu Wang seized the opportunity in the world chat channel to release a message that he had been preparing in his mind for a long time.
You're about to hit the jackpot: "@Left-wing Saint, what kind of indenture did you sign? Are you working so hard at a pyramid scheme? Did you find out that after you reached level four, the game didn't notify you that you could make a server-wide announcement? Sorry, I arrived two days ago."
Therefore, humans do not need gods to achieve extraordinary things!
Focus on upgrading your ship – that's the most solid and secure path to extraordinary power! Even future breakthroughs to Legendary or Epic rank won't depend on anyone else!
Beware of any promises of reward from the gods! Remember the ancient proverb: any seemingly free gift comes with a hidden price. To easily surrender your future and faith is to hand over the reins of your destiny!
Don't let temporary temptations blind you, and don't give up hope because of temporary difficulties. Wait until you reach level 4 before considering anything else.
That concludes my advice. Now, let's discuss a crucial matter concerning the future well-being of all human survivors: the qualification for high-speed ocean current passage.
You can think of ocean current high-speed channels as subways that are spread throughout the ocean.
It allows travelers to quickly traverse multiple resource-rich sea areas, efficiently capture various treasure fish that can permanently enhance attributes, or quickly cross a dangerous sea area by using multiple ocean currents.
Applying for this qualification means that we humans will be able to utilize the natural ocean current network that spans the ocean to achieve ultra-high-speed navigation!
For example, the longer one stays in the "Fertile Sea," which is no longer suitable for survival, the higher the risk of being assimilated by "plantation."
Without ocean currents, a Class 3 ship would need to sail at full speed for at least three months to break away, while with ocean currents it might only take one month, and most of the time would be spent traveling between the starting points of various ocean currents.
Therefore, whether your goal is to explore the mysteries at the end of the ancient sea route, pursue greater power, or simply want to survive more peacefully, this highway is of great significance to you!
I have arrived at the processing location. After preliminary investigation, the application requirements are as follows:
1. Applicants for race protection must prove they have at least one person with authority to protect them.
2. A one-time payment of 20 billion peso to Pearl City as maintenance fees and permit processing fees for the expressway.
I have confirmed that I meet the requirements for the first item, but the 20 billion pearl coins will require the combined efforts of the entire clan!
Therefore, I hereby formally launch an initiative to all fellow human beings:
Click the link below to participate in this fundraising campaign. Each person only needs to contribute 1 pearl coin to buy this highway to the future for all of humanity!
Below is a clear photo taken by Yu Wang at the processing office, showing the distribution of ocean currents in various parts of the Initial Sea, as well as the application requirements, along with a fundraising link.
Then, Yu Wang turned off the notification sound on the world channel, let out a long sigh of relief, and felt that he had accomplished a very important task.
He has done what he could: attract everyone's attention with a server-wide announcement and then immediately release the fundraising message. This is the most efficient approach.
What remains is trust, and the weighing of options in each person's heart.
He muttered to himself, a hint of anticipation in his voice, "Now let's see what the section administrator, Gugu, will give me this time."
[Ding dong! Congratulations on receiving a mystery gift package! It has been sent to your cabin. Please check your mail!]
A virtual gift box icon, shimmering with iridescent light and tied with a golden bow, appeared in Yu Wang's inventory.
Meanwhile, the chat interfaces in each section had completely exploded! Messages were refreshing so fast that they were almost impossible to read!
"Did I read that right?! What's the first requirement for application?!"
"Protected by at least one powerful being?" A being?! A being?! Who is it? Are you trying to hit the jackpot?!
"Are you guys going to donate or not? Are you sure you're not just trying to scam me? My daydream of becoming a billionaire with just one dollar from the whole world has come true—"
As public opinion fermented, the progress bar for the title "Conspicuous Bag II" on Yu Wang's personal panel began to leap up as if injected with chicken blood!
The moment the server-wide announcement appeared, the progress skyrocketed from 60% to 81.5%!
After speaking in the world chat, although the increase wasn't as dramatic as the first time due to the server-wide announcement, it still provided a significant boost, and the progress climbed slowly, eventually stopping at the 90% mark! A difficult march towards 100%!
-
After briefly anticipating the grand spectacle of the progress bar filling up, Yu Wang turned his attention to the rewards. He opened the gift pack, and with a burst of special effects, the rewards were revealed before him.
Congratulations on obtaining 50 Empty Core Fragments, 200 Pearls, a Universal Supply Ship Summoning Card, 3 Whetstones, and a Fluffy Island Dungeon Pass!
The contents of the gift pack were revealed, and while there were no special "gem" items as expected, the items inside were still quite valuable.
With at least the Universal Supply Ship Summoning Card, he could easily summon a Gem Merchant to buy the items himself.
Yu Wang glanced at the rewards briefly. His empty core fragments had increased to 61, and his pearl coins had exceeded 15 after the night of the Deep Ones' attack.
He planned to spend the money lavishly in Shell City, buying things like sea charts, food, basic materials, and furniture.
He focused his attention on the three whetstones, then his gaze shifted to the crab claw harpoon that had been with him for a long time and had served him well.
"It's time to upgrade you."
Three whetstones melted on the surface of the harpoon. [Hint: Your Crab Claw Harpoon has been successfully upgraded to +4!]
A brand new attribute panel unfolds before your eyes:
Crab claw harpoon +4
[Type: Weapon]
[Quality: Blue]
[Active Skills: Thrust (Damage against crustaceans +25%), Charge (Releases a short-range paralyzing arc of electricity, dealing minor damage and briefly paralyzing the target)]
【Special Feature: Heavy Strike (The weapon's weight and center of gravity have been specially reinforced, significantly increasing its power during heavy strikes such as slashing and striking, making it easier to knock back or stun targets.)】
After three whetstones, all the wear and scratches on the weapon's surface caused by the battle disappeared, and the spearhead became sharp again. Wang held the brand-new harpoon in his hand and casually swung it twice.
The weapon sliced through the air, producing a deep, clear whistling sound. It felt substantial and smooth to wield, a stark contrast to the previous stiffness.
However, this is a harpoon, and its attack method is basically unrelated to slashing.
He weighed the harpoon in his hand, his brow furrowing slightly. "It's a pity that the awakened trait after upgrading to +4 is critical strike."
This characteristic is more suitable for blunt weapons like warhammers and heavy axes, and is not a perfect match for weapons like harpoons that are primarily designed for "piercing" and "controlling."
Then, several more ideal options flashed through my mind: "Swiftness" to increase attack speed, or "Sharpness" or "Armor Penetration" to enhance piercing power or armor penetration, or even "Sturdy Bones" to increase weapon durability and make it harder for barbs to escape—these are all better suited than "Heavy Strike."
As a blue-quality weapon, the "Crab Claw Harpoon" has a maximum enhancement level of +6, meaning it only has one chance for a "qualitative change," which is to randomly gain an additional trait at +4 or higher.
The current "Critical Strike" is relatively less than ideal, which means its potential is basically set, and subsequent upgrades of +5 and +6 will mainly focus on base damage and skill level.
"Unless a highly skilled master craftsman can be found to reforge it," this "heavy hit" characteristic will likely remain with it indefinitely.
Yu Wang thought with some regret.
Master craftsmen are rare finds, and even if you do encounter one, they might be prejudiced against humans, making it difficult to persuade them to recast weapons for you. For now, you can only accept reality.
However, its merits outweigh its flaws.
Overall, the "Crab Claw Harpoon" has made a qualitative leap in combat power!
If you were to cut the skin of the "God of War Lion Ant Queen" again, it would be as smooth as cutting tofu, or as easy as opening a package with a utility knife.
As for the other rewards, most of them had been obtained before and their uses were known, so Yu Wang set his sights on the "Furry Island Dungeon Pass".
Recalling the previous game update announcement mentioning an increased drop rate for "Fermented Milk Mother" related dungeons, he had a slight thought: this was very likely the area affected by that god.
He held the pass in his hand and examined it closely.
The vase depicts a vibrant island that is almost mad with life: the island's surface is covered with a thick, emerald-green, fuzzy-looking carpet of fungi and various plants that grow wildly, almost spreading into the sea, interspersed with many brightly colored berries of unknown purpose.
The whole scene is brimming with an excess of vitality.
[Furry Island Dungeon Pass]
[Level: 2]
[Type: 2-10 player exploration dungeon]
[Description: Excess life energy has spread to the island, causing plants to grow wildly! Therefore—the probability of mutated plants has increased! Huh? How did it grow on animals? Won't it be contagious? Wait a minute, ahhh, so enthusiastic! Why is it rushing up?]
Don't lick it!
"The probability of Baozhi's mutation has increased—" Yu Wang captured the key information.
Compared to the contaminated Treasure Fish, Treasure Plants, being directly blessed by the power of "humic milk mothers," are safe to eat without any worries.
It's like the principle that you can't eat pigs that have been poisoned by chemical fertilizers, but you can eat fruits and vegetables that have grown vigorously because of chemical fertilizers.
Meanwhile, after the message was sent out on the world channel, the most enthusiastic response and the fastest action came from the 444th partition where Yu Wang was located.
As the server's top-ranked server and the initiator of this initiative, the chat channel of section 444 reached a high degree of consensus almost within minutes of the message being sent: "Support! We must support it! Consider it payment for my chocolate wafers!"
"Just one pearl coin! A piece of cake! Consider it protection money for the big boss, not a bad deal!"
"Tch, who do they think they are? I donated 30! Screenshot here! We can't let other sections underestimate the power of 444!"
"Let's not compete with each other. Just do as the leader said, one for each person. The important thing is participation. Don't make those brothers and sisters who are short on money but want to contribute feel embarrassed."
"That's right! We'll act within our means, but we want the whole server to see the cohesion and execution of our 444 team!"
100,000 - 500,000 - 1,500,000!
If Yu Wangneng could take a look at the fundraising progress at this moment, he would find that the growth rate far exceeded his expectations!
With nearly 100,000 survivors across 444 sections, even if only half responded, each person receiving one pearl would amount to 50,000 pearls. However, actual data shows that the response rate was far higher than 50%, and just one section raised nearly two million pearls!
If Yu Wang takes this money and runs away, he can challenge a fleet of 10,000 men in the later stages of the game!
As for the other partitions, the reactions are much more complex.
Some were cautiously observing, some were vehemently questioning, but a considerable number of players who simply desired the convenience of "high-speed ocean currents" or were convinced by the fact that "level 4 ships were announced to the entire server" chose to believe it.
However, most of them strictly adhered to the "one per person" initiative, unlike the passionate 444 division.
-
A single partition may only contribute 20,000 to 30,000, but with so many partitions, the total amount accumulated is still astonishing.
In just five minutes, the total amount raised exceeded 8 million!
Although the growth rate has slowed down, it still maintains a steady upward trend.
Following this trend, as long as the information continues to spread and gain recognition from more regions, raising 20 billion, while still a huge challenge, is no longer an unattainable dream.
As long as no one causes trouble, that's fine.
"Ding-dong!"
In the world chat, an ID with a style similar to "Left-Wing Saints" popped up.
Right-wing Saint: "@You're talking big! You say humanity can achieve transcendence on its own? You say upgrading ships will bring rewards? Where's the evidence? You think you can fool everyone with nothing but empty words?!"
"You question the blessings of the Holy Angels Church? Then let me tell you, the power of faith is immediate and undeniably real! I, a right-wing saint, am willing to publicly testify to this!"
A short video was attached.
The image shows a mutated seabird that is severely injured and on the verge of death, with plant roots growing from its blood vessels and even some of its muscles.
Then, a human hand enters the scene, a pure white ball of light condensing in the palm, gently covering the seabird's wound.
A miraculous scene unfolded: the mutated plant roots withered and purified rapidly in the light, the outward-turned flesh healed at a visible speed, and the seabirds' rapid breathing gradually calmed down.
The video clearly shows that no drugs or props were used throughout the entire process; it was all thanks to that healing white light.
As the video ended, the right-wing saints continued to go all out, using the "world megaphone" to speak, their tone aggressive:
Right-wing Saint: "See that? This is the gift of faith! It's real power! You don't need to painstakingly gather materials to upgrade to a Tier 4 ship! As long as your faith is devout enough, the power will come naturally!"
"Look at what he @YouAreGoingToHaveAGreatLuck is saying? He needs everyone to contribute 1 pearl coin to raise 20 billion? 20 billion!
Who knows where all this money will end up? Who knows if the so-called "ocean current highway" is just another empty promise?
It might just be a pretext for him to amass wealth! Don't fall for it! Keep your pearl coins and invest them in ways that offer tangible returns, such as improving your own abilities or seeking divine protection!
I advise you, without solid evidence, to shut your mouth and stop spreading rumors and misleading your fellow countrymen!
Yu Wang saw the message the moment the notification sound appeared on the world channel.
In a daze, he thought it was that guy from "The World Is Going Downhill" who had changed his identity and come back with a vengeance, otherwise why would his methods of inciting emotions and labeling people be so similar?
They look so alike, so incredibly alike!
He frowned, feeling helpless. The other party had seized on his weakness of not being able to provide direct evidence at the moment.
And the fundraising progress —
He glanced at the backend of the fundraising link, and sure enough, after "Right-Wing Saint" spoke, the rapidly increasing fundraising speed came to a noticeable halt.
Finally, it stopped at the 10 billion level and remained completely stagnant.
"Only half? —" Yu Wang muttered to himself. Although the hope was slim, he still decided to give it a try. After all, theoretically he possessed two kinds of authority, which meant he had already exceeded the first condition.
So, is it possible to apply for a reduction or exemption of some of the corresponding fees?
In order not to delay their trip to the snail shell market with Zhang Xinlan, Yu Wang walked to the reception window where no one was handling any business. Behind the window was an elderly, fossil-like old sea turtle clerk whose shell was covered with moss and seaweed.
It half-closed its eyes, seemingly oblivious to the noise of the outside world, and leisurely tended to the flowers and plants in its workstation.
Creatures in the maritime world are generally long-lived, and this sea turtle may be several thousand years old.
Yu Wang briefly explained the situation and tentatively requested a reduction in fees.
The old sea turtle slowly raised its heavy eyelids, its cloudy eyes seemingly glancing at Yu Wang, or perhaps piercing through his body to look into a deeper place.
Her movements paused slightly, her eyes widening: "This—this is—the aura of the Prophet Goddess? No, it's a fragment of authority from the same source. You—you are connected to that great being?"
Yu Wang's heart stirred, realizing that it referred to the fragment of divine authority of "foresight and insight" that he had obtained. Could this sea turtle be a follower of the prophetic goddess?
That's not right either. The prophetic goddess already perished in the divine war. No matter how long-lived this sea turtle is, it couldn't possibly live to be ten thousand years old. It's probably just hearsay—
Yu Wang explained the origin of this fragment of authority. After listening, the old sea turtle fell into a long silence, as if it had been stirred by distant memories. Finally, it slowly spoke: "20 billion is a fixed amount that grants a race the right to pass. Due to the rules, it cannot be reduced or exempted —"
Yu Wang's heart sank slightly.
"but----"
The old sea turtle changed the subject, "However, you can use this money to buy ready-made passes. I can offer a favor: one billion pearls, corresponding to one billion passes."
Humans will not be granted full right of passage; only ships with permits can use ocean currents.
As for how to obtain it, rest assured, we will use the Stork Post Office for delivery, and the document will be delivered to your family member today.
One billion passes! Delivered today!
"I understand." Yu Wang nodded solemnly to the old sea turtle in thanks. "Thank you for your understanding and guidance."
It's already quite good that a billion people have the right to pass.
Thank you to the postmen at the Stork Post Office for working overtime today.
I heard their abilities are related to space, so they shouldn't get too tired, right?