Chapter 248: Chapter 242: Captain Kunwu’s 3 Missions

Shi Ming had come to Da Yu this time with two main objectives.

First, to use the Eye of the World to find a way to cure Dr. Chongwen’s students, and to figure out how to obtain another slice of the Sea-Rising Cherry Root to create a stronger resonance with the source of destruction within himself.

Second, to find an opportunity to read the great stone monument.

Both objectives required a high degree of goodwill.

A King-level Wandering Ship wasn’t like the Black Society; there were no shortcuts to be taken. Therefore, he would give his all to helping cure Dr. Chongwen’s students.

What he didn’t know, however, was that Dr. Chongwen and the captain from the Kunwu had their own separate missions, aside from saving the students.

This was especially true for Captain Rong Bing.

He had just returned from the Kunwu after a long and arduous campaign, hoping for a short vacation. Instead, he’d run right into a storm and "happily" received three new missions.

Mission one: Make contact with Minglong and confirm if this young man, who had sunk the Black Society’s ship in the Fujing Mountain Sea Region, was the same Shi Ming who had struck the Pharaoh in the Sea of Yellow Sand and possessed a skill similar to "Royal Hegemony."

Mission two: Invite him to form a temporary team, or join his, to kill the Moonlight Ripple Beast in the Northeast Domain of the Sea of Soaring Dragons and obtain the Purifying Marrow from the "Bodhi Tree of Suffering" it guarded. The Moonlight Ripple Beast possessed a brief, high-burst damage output, making Overlord Body-type skills indispensable.

Mission three: Win over this lone Awakened.

...

Li Jiuyuan’s idea of an elimination-style experiment by ingesting slices of the root gained the approval of quite a few people.

But as a rigorous scientific researcher, Dr. Chongwen didn’t agree so easily, even if Li Jiuyuan possessed the skill "Idealism."

’Minglong is young and full of spirit; his offer to help is a kindness, but I must also be responsible for his safety. Although it’s been confirmed that he has developed a certain resistance to the Sea-Rising Cherry Root, an elimination experiment requires ingesting more than just a tiny bit. I can’t casually place him in danger.’

Similarly, the number of Sea-Rising Cherry Root slices he could procure was limited.

Li Jiuyuan’s proposed plan would consume a considerable number of slices. Even as the project head, he would have to file an application with his superiors. This strange object, ranked 64th, had been acquired at a great cost, even if it had so far yielded no results and only caused losses.

After a long discussion, they reached no conclusion.

Rong Bing offered his personal opinion.

"How about we do this instead?"

"Time is of the essence right now."

"Under these circumstances, we can refer to the Black Society’s research. According to them, only those with Physical Strength far exceeding an ordinary person’s can withstand the destructive power within the root. This finding has already been proven true with Brother Minglong."

"If a second verification is needed, I can be the one to conduct the experiment."

"Given my personal physical constitution, combined with activating my skill, ingesting a small amount of the Sea-Rising Cherry Root shouldn’t theoretically pose a major problem."

"Once we confirm there are no adverse effects, Brother Minglong can proceed with subsequent attempts. The Doctor can also record the physiological changes in both of us after consumption. Perhaps that will provide some inspiration and lead to new clues. If we find new inspiration, the follow-up elimination experiment might not even be necessary."

"What do you all think?"

Li Jiuyuan thought for a moment before blurting out his opinion.

"That’s not a bad idea. The Captain’s Physical Strength is astounding; he’ll surely have no fear of the Sea-Rising Cherry Root."

They were all quite familiar with each other’s skills.

Royal Hegemony could grant temporary invincibility and a threefold boost to initial attributes for five seconds, during which the user was immune to all damage. If even under these conditions, he couldn’t handle a tiny bit of the Sea-Rising Cherry Root, then the thing was definitely not meant for human consumption, and no one else needed to try.

Shi Ming nodded as well.

The group finally settled on a definitive plan.

They would start with a small-dose trial.

They would observe the clinical reactions of Rong Bing and Shi Ming after they ingested slices of the Sea-Rising Cherry Root. If it proved too dangerous, the experiment would be halted immediately.

This was the most prudent plan available.

Chongwen was extremely grateful for Shi Ming’s help. The young man was truly warm-hearted. Not only had he helped Da Yu eliminate a long-standing thorn in its side by getting revenge on the Black Society, but he was also willing to risk his life to help his students. Chongwen didn’t know how to thank him.

Pure Dome Crystals?

No, Brother Minglong wouldn’t care about mere Energy Stones.

"Brother Minglong, you’ve come from so far and are even risking your life to help us. I’m endlessly grateful. I wonder, what kind of reward would you like? Please, don’t hesitate to ask."

"You’re too kind, Doctor. It was a small effort, hardly what I’d call risking my life. And to be honest, while ingesting the Sea-Rising Cherry Root caused some discomfort, being able to accept the destructive aura within it also has its benefits. Speaking of which, if we really do go through with the elimination experiment, I’d say I’m the one benefiting."

’Sometimes, appearing to want nothing at all just seems disingenuous.’

’Revealing one’s own motives at the right time feels more genuine.’

Li Jiuyuan grabbed Shi Ming’s arm and slung his own over his shoulder.

"See? I told you! Anyone can see Brother Minglong is a good guy. Sinking the Black Society’s ship makes you a hero of the Dragon Country!"

...

The Sea-Rising Cherry Root was stored in a branch of the Xirang Research Institute. Requesting the use of its slices required the Doctor to file reports through multiple layers of bureaucracy and undergo the necessary approval process. This was standard procedure.

Therefore, the initial experiment couldn’t begin until the next day at the earliest.

Shi Ming’s chance to use the Eye of the World also wouldn’t refresh until the next day. After the lengthy research and discussion, he politely declined the invitation to tour Da Yu and have dinner, said his goodbyes, and returned to the *Da Yun*.

It was clear that Dr. Chongwen cared deeply about his students.

’Once, I had teachers and teammates like that, too.’

In the blink of an eye, it all felt like a lifetime ago.

He sat on the empty deck, gazing at the familiar yet strange scenery.

Da Yu was thirty nautical miles away, yet it felt close enough to touch. The thirteen-kilometer-long hull was like a Great Wall built upon the sea. Far to the southwest, Mount Everest stood in the distance, facing Da Yu. The sun was about to set, and with the clear weather, the spectacle of "sunshine on the golden mountain" would soon be visible.

"Captain, dinner’s ready!"

Old Zhou brought out tonight’s dinner.

It was a carefully prepared crab congee. The rice used to make it, though synthetic, tasted no different from ordinary rice. Crab meat and roe were mixed together, accompanied by three different side dishes. It was a simple meal, yet quite sumptuous.

The crew members, finished with their work, came out onto the deck in twos and threes, chatting and laughing as they watched the distant "sunshine on the golden mountain."

His mood grew increasingly peaceful.

...

...

...

After saying goodbye to Shi Ming and gaining a new research direction, the group consisting of Dr. Chongwen, Rong Bing, Li Jiuyuan, and Shentu Kuo piloted the Silver-level Wandering Ship back to Da Yu.

Shentu Kuo returned to his post.

Meanwhile, Rong Bing and Li Jiuyuan started chatting in the laboratory.

"Captain, what are you doing back on Da Yu instead of staying on the Kunwu? And why are you hanging around our lab? You want to be a guinea pig? Or are you also interested in that Sea-Rising Cherry Root and want to sneak a piece?"

He was very curious about the Captain’s motives.

"Executing a special mission, of course."

’A special mission? Really?’

Li Jiuyuan looked at the Captain, who had reined in his kingly, domineering aura. There were very few people on the entire King-level Wandering Ship who could assign a mission to the Captain.

"What special mission?"

Rong Bing didn’t answer, merely asking back, "Do you think my mission will be successful?"

"Hmm... If it’s a good thing, it will definitely succeed. If it’s a bad thing, it will definitely fail," Li Jiuyuan said casually.

This was just a joke; Li Jiuyuan himself didn’t take it seriously, so naturally, it wasn’t affected by his skill.

"Haha, you brat! How could a mission from the higher-ups be a bad thing? Careful, or I’ll report you!"

The three missions his superior had assigned him flashed through his mind. His brief contact with Shi Ming gave him a rough expectation for each of them.

’Recruiting Minglong to become a member of Da Yu will be difficult.’

’But I’m confident about the other two missions.’

The S-class sea beast, the Moonlight Ripple Beast, had once swallowed the *Dawn* whole when it accidentally entered its territory. It also guarded the marine plant known as the "Bodhi Tree of Suffering." If they could kill it, the rewards would be enormous.