62: Black Shark's Relics

Time flew by like flowing water; half a month had passed in the blink of an eye.

Recently, the Cultivators on the island noticed that the business of the small shop in the corner of the market, named "Han Clan Artifact Maintenance," seemed to be getting better and better.

Although that Shopkeeper Han usually looked half-dead and indifferent, his skill in removing rust and creating a patina was truly beyond reproach.

At this moment, inside the shop.

A burly man with a full beard was carefully holding a massive Xuanhua Board Axe. The surface of the axe was originally covered in rust, with several pits corroded by the stomach acid of sea beasts.

"Shopkeeper Han, this is my lifeblood. Please take a look, can it still be saved?"

Zhou Wannian put down the teapot in his hand, slowly lifted his eyelids, and glanced at the axe.

"Corrosion from Sea Anemone Beast mucus, plus penetration from Deep-sea Salt Crystals."

He extended a finger and lightly flicked the axe's surface, producing a dull hum.

"Fortunately, the spiritual core wasn't damaged. It can be repaired."

"Really?!" The burly man was overjoyed.

"However..."

Zhou Wannian's tone shifted, a hint of shrewdness flashing in his cloudy old eyes as he said slowly, "The material of this axe is special, mixed with Sunken Water Iron. Ordinary rust removal methods won't work; I must use my exclusive, secret Runling Paste for deep maintenance. As for the price..."

"Name your price!" The burly man patted his chest generously.

"Five Spirit Stones."

"Deal!"

Zhou Wannian smiled slightly; this was called a technical premium. In fact, that so-called Runling Paste was just some of the cheapest fish oil mixed into the ink of a Cleaning Talisman; the cost wasn't even ten spirit fragments.

He picked up the broadaxe but didn't start work immediately. Instead, he hung out a "Do Not Disturb" sign and pulled the curtain shut.

Behind the curtain, Zhou Wannian didn't use any complicated tools.

He just took out an extremely neatly drawn Cleaning Talisman and slapped it onto the axe head.

Accompanied by a faint sizzling sound, the rust and corrosive toxins on the axe surface faded away visibly.

Next, he took out a Polishing Talisman—which was actually a miniature, weakened version of a Vajra Talisman—and rubbed it against the axe surface for a while.

Finally, he applied a layer of the secret ointment mixed with fish oil.

In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a brand-new broadaxe, gleaming coldly and with a faint fishy anti-corrosion coating, was ready.

"Done."

Zhou Wannian clapped his hands in satisfaction.

He didn't repair the axe to perfect condition but intentionally left a few shallow scratches.

This was also the wisdom of Gu Dao; something too perfect easily attracts envy, and having a few flaws is what life is about.

After sending off the grateful burly man and earning a huge sum of five Spirit Stones, Zhou Wannian looked at the time and decided to close the shop early.

Earning money was just a cover; Cultivate was the true path.

He packed up his things, put his hands behind his back like a strolling old man, and slowly left the market, walking towards the cliffs on the west side of the island... towards the Cold Pool Cave Dwelling.

As soon as he entered the Immortal Cave, a bone-chilling cold rushed at him.

For ordinary Cultivators, this was torture, but for Zhou Wannian, who practiced the Turtle Breathing Technique and Yang Locking Technique, it was practically a natural air-conditioned room.

Wangcai squeaked as it crawled out of the Storage Pouch, skillfully hopping onto the stone table and starting to gnaw on a spiritual fruit. This little thing had gotten a rounder recently, its original golden fur almost stretched into a ball.

"Eat, eat, eat, all you know is eating."

Zhou Wannian scolded with a laugh and activated all the Restrictions of the Immortal Cave.

After confirming it was safe, he walked into the innermost cultivation room.

Here lay that top-grade yin chen wood, where the Spiritual Qi concentration was twice that of the outside.

Zhou Wannian sat cross-legged, took a deep breath, and a look of anticipation appeared on his face.

After being busy for half a month, he finally had time to open this big mystery box.

With a wave of his hand, three Storage Pouches landed in front of him.

These three bags were all things he had swiped from the captain's private storage before the black ship sank.

That was the accumulation of Captain Black Shark's many years.

First, the first one.

Zhou Wannian opened the bag on the left.

With a clattering sound, a pile of Spirit Stones rolled out.

Eight hundred Medium Grade Spirit Stones and over three thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

Zhou Wannian counted them with a beaming smile. Although it couldn't compare to the windfall from the Chen family treasury, it was still a significant amount of cash.

Next was the second bag.

This bag contained miscellaneous items. There were several high-quality sea beast Materials, a few bottles of Medicinal Pills suitable for water-attribute Cultivators, and an unknown black metal.

Zhou Wannian took the metal and tried to poke it with that second-tier talisman brush, but it didn't even leave a mark.

So hard. Could it be Deep-sea Black Iron Essence?

Zhou Wannian's eyes lit up. This was a top-grade material for refining defensive Magical Artifacts; if he wanted to upgrade his turtle shell in the future, this would be perfect.

Finally, his gaze fell on the third and most personal, small Storage Pouch.

This bag still had Captain Black Shark's Divine Sense imprint on it; although the imprint had weakened significantly after his death, it was still stubborn.

Same old routine.

Zhou Wannian took out two enhanced Cleaning Talismans and slapped them on.

After a grating sound of spiritual power friction, the imprint dissipated.

The bag opened.

There were only three things inside.

A Jade Slip, a small blue flag, and a yellowed beast skin map.

Zhou Wannian first picked up the Jade Slip and pressed it to his forehead.

A moment later, he opened his eyes with a strange expression.

Shark Transformation Art?

This was a heterodox Cultivation Technique that allowed one to simulate a shark's aura in the water and even grow gills and scales for a short time.

No wonder he was called Captain Black Shark, but this technique was too ugly, and one had to eat raw sea beast hearts to practice it.

Zhou Wannian tossed it aside with a look of disgust. He had the underwater breathing method recorded in the spring palace picture, which was much more elegant.

then， He picked up the small blue flag.。

The flag's surface was embroidered with wave and cloud patterns. When spiritual power was injected, a mass of water mist automatically condensed around the flag, completely concealing Zhou Wannian's figure.

Medium Grade Magical Artifact, sea cloud banner.

Zhou Wannian tested it and was overjoyed.

This thing was great; not only could it grant invisibility, but it could also create mist at sea. Combined with his Gu Dao tactics, it was a divine tool for escaping.

Finally, it was the beast skin map.

This was exactly the sea chart he had swiped from the captain's room. But looking closely, it wasn't just a sea chart; it was also a robbery route map and a treasure map.

The map marked most of the shipping routes in the Thousand Star Sea Region, with red crosses indicating several locations suitable for ambushes; this was clearly the black ship's former business range.

And in the depths of the sea region, at a place called Chaotic Star Reef, a golden skull was drawn.

Beside it was a small note: Suspected ancient Water Mansion ruins, guarded by a second-tier Yao Beast, the Bishui Giant Python. Can be explored after Breakthrough to Foundation Establishment.

A Foundation Establishment dungeon?

Zhou Wannian rubbed his chin.

Captain Black Shark was at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer Peak, and even he didn't dare to go, which meant it was truly dangerous.

Save it for later.

Zhou Wannian solemnly put away the sea chart.

Right now, he had only just reached the threshold of the Qi Refining Sixth Layer. Although he had spiritual liquid to help, he hadn't officially made the Breakthrough yet; going to such a place would be suicide.

This trip on the black ship, though perilous, had yielded massive gains.

He had plenty of Spirit Stones, a defensive Magical Artifact like the sea cloud banner, a map, and even the skill of repairing Magical Artifacts to make a living.

Zhou Wannian let out a long breath, feeling his whole body relax.

Next, he would peacefully be Master Han on this Bitter Leaf Island.

Earning money while pushing his cultivation level up.

He took out a bottle of the remaining array core spiritual liquid.

Tonight, he would charge for the Qi Refining Sixth Layer!

Zhou Wannian closed his eyes and circulated his Cultivation Technique.

The cold air in the Immortal Cave intertwined with the spiritual power in his body, forming a perfect cycle... Meanwhile.

In a dim tavern in the Bitter Leaf Island market.

Several Loose Cultivators who had just returned from the sea were boasting.

“Hey, have you heard? That famous black ship, the Youming, sank in the Black Storm sea region a few days ago!”

“Really? That Captain Black Shark was a tough character!”

“Absolutely true! It’s said a mysterious expert was hiding on the ship. That expert not only blew up the engine room in one move but also looted the captain’s private treasury before leaving coolly!”

“Hiss... What kind of cultivation must that be? A Foundation Establishment Stage Senior?”

“Who knows? Some say they saw a black shadow jumping into the sea clutching a rat...”

In the corner.

A hooded One-eyed Man who was drinking was the same person who sold the tickets. Hearing this, his hand shook, and wine spilled all over the table.

An old man clutching a rat?

The image of that destitute old man shivering in the Dragon King Temple, so poor he only had a few spirit fragments left, surfaced in his mind.

No... that's impossible, right?

The One-eyed Man swallowed hard, feeling a chill run down his spine.

If that old man was the ruthless person who blew up the ship... then he had actually snatched his iron essence and kicked him back then... Damn, I can't stay here.

The One-eyed Man threw down his glass, bought a ticket to another island overnight, and fled... Inside the Cold Pool Cave Dwelling.

Zhou Wannian, who was in seclusion, suddenly sneezed.

Atchoo!

He rubbed his nose.

Who's talking about me?