The Rich Cultivator-Chapter 413. Transparent Corals

"Even though we’re merchants, business hasn’t been great lately. How about we give half the toll and call it even?" a merchant pleaded, trying to negotiate with the Tash Sun Pirates.

"You guys are seriously haggling?" one of the pirates scoffed in disbelief.

Just then, a loud splash echoed through the sea. A massive anchor, shaped like the letter W, plunged into the water with a dramatic crash. The ocean rippled, drawing everyone’s attention.

The White Pearl had arrived.

Standing proudly on the deck was a masked man surrounded by an entourage of stunning women in shimmering swimsuits, their confidence radiating as they posed without a trace of shyness. Each of them looked like they had just stepped out of a divine painting—elegant, playful, and dangerous.

It was none other than Tyler White, accompanied by Lily, Mathilda, Mana, Darla and Su Fei.

Without hesitation, the group leapt gracefully into the water, splashing into the crystal-clear sea one by one.

From afar, the Tash Sun Pirate Captain observed the scene, puffing up his chest with pride. "Now look at that ship. No haggling. No complaints. Paid the toll without a single groan. That’s the kind of respect we expect! And remember, as long as you’re in this territory, I swear on those orange clouds—no one will touch you!"

"Captain... those are white clouds," one of his crew members quietly corrected from behind.

The captain squinted at the sky, frowned, and waved the comment off. "Whatever, the point stands."

As the sun bathed the sea in golden light, the waters sparkled in vibrant hues of aquamarine and silver. The surface was calm, and the clarity of the water revealed shadows of reefs below—twisting shapes that hinted at the legendary Tiger Reef.

The White Pearl’s group swam away from their ship, guided by what the pirates described as one of the most visually stunning spots beneath the sea. According to their intel, there were breathtaking coral gardens and reef formations that resembled giant tigers carved by nature itself.

Beneath the surface, Tyler and the girls moved gracefully. The girls were using Underwater Breathing Charms that shimmered faintly against their necks. Tyler, on the other hand, didn’t need one. His Kunpeng Art granted him full water affinity—swimming with the ease of a mythical beast and breathing effortlessly in the depths. Mana, being something... well, a spirit, didn’t need to breathe at all.

"Why the mask?" Darla asked through a Sound Transmission, her voice playful.

They were all connected through Divine Sense, essentially forming an underwater group chat.

"Because I’m the mysterious boss, remember?" Tyler replied, his voice echoing through the connection. "Gotta stay low-key. Don’t want you-know-who accidentally sensing I’m still alive."

The group glided through the gentle currents. Shoals of fish darted around them, their scales catching the light like living jewels. Soon, they reached their destination.

In the heart of the reef’s embrace, where beams of sunlight pierced the water like sacred lances, a breathtaking structure stood tall.

A solitary coral formation rose from the seabed—a masterpiece sculpted by nature. It stood like a glass tiger frozen mid-prowl, its transparent tendrils forming the elegant curves of a feline predator. Every twist of coral mimicked the outline of a tiger’s limbs and body, and the way the light refracted through its form made it look almost alive.

The coral shimmered in tones of cerulean and turquoise, capturing the very soul of the sea. Petal-like structures flared out at its base, each edged with soft opalescence, reflecting dappled beams of sunlight that filtered from above. It was like gazing into a dream—both fragile and eternal, like a ghostly guardian watching over the ocean’s secrets.

"This place is beautiful," Lily whispered through the voice transmission, awe in her tone.

"It really is..." Mathilda added. Then her voice perked up. "Let’s take some pictures!"

She pulled out a glowing camera crystal from her storage device and tossed it lightly into the water. The crystal floated in midwater, softly humming as it activated.

Su Fei Fox ears perked up.

"Alright, everyone! Group photo time!" Mathilda squealed, grabbing Tyler’s arm and dragging him to the center.

The other girls swam in close, practically hugging Tyler from all sides. He chuckled, finally removing his mask and storing it in his ring.

Su Fei also joined, she was held by Tyler in arms. She didn’t resist though.

The crystal gave off a bright flash, then rapidly orbited them in perfect circles, capturing a 360-degree view. Everything—from the tiger reef in the background to the playful chaos of the crew—was recorded in exquisite detail.

"All done!" Mathilda grinned. "That’s a 3D holographic picture. We can use it for display or even project it like a memory orb."

"That’s cool." Tyler said, stretching his arms underwater. "Let’s explore a bit more. I heard there’s orange seaweed around here—supposedly sells for good price."

As they swam deeper into the coral forest, the reef became even more surreal. Giant coral fans swayed like underwater trees, schools of rainbow-colored fish darted between glowing anemones, and in the distance, Tyler could make out pearl-like orbs embedded in rock beds—likely the Tiger Pearls Mana had mentioned earlier.

Tyler slipped his mask back on with a sigh. "Just let the crew handle the collection. I’m in vacation mode."

"Got it, Captain Lazy," Mathilda teased, floating lazily beside him.

Tyler and the others took one last look at the mesmerizing reef below before allowing themselves to drift through the tranquil waters, soaking in the beauty of the vibrant underwater world. Schools of shimmering fish darted between coral towers shaped like tiger fangs, and a soft light filtered down through the ocean, giving everything a surreal, dreamlike glow.

Not wanting the moment to go undocumented, Su Fei turned to Mathilda. "Can I borrow the camera crystal for a bit?"

Mathilda tossed it to her with a wink. "Don’t drop it. Or you have to pay with your body."

She wanted to take pictures of sceneries and upload it in NN.

After a long swim and enough laughter to fill a memory orb, the group made their way back to the White Pearl. As they climbed aboard, they noticed someone new waiting on deck.

A neatly dressed man stood at the bow, flanked by a few others wearing merchant badges. Their ship hovered nearby, clearly marked with a crescent moon symbol.

"We are from the Shade Merchants," the man said, bowing slightly. "May we speak with your boss?"

Tyler waved casually. "Darla will take care of it."

With that, he and the girls casually disappeared below deck, leaving the matter in more than capable hands.

A maid in a sleek uniform walked over with a formal coat draped over her arms. She handed it to Darla, who shrugged it on with effortless grace. Her long hair flowed like a waterfall as she adjusted the collar, her movements elegant and calm.

The merchant, Ruban Shade, found himself momentarily stunned.

Whoa... he thought, coughing awkwardly to cover the blush creeping up his cheeks. "Hello, Miss. I’m Ruban Shade, the branch manager of the Shade Merchants. We’re fairly well-known in the Northern Waters."

He extended a hand for a handshake. Darla returned it with a firm but polite grip, her expression composed.

"Oh, I’ve heard of you," she said with a small smile. "Though I also heard that business hasn’t been great lately. I even saw one of your men haggling over the toll fee earlier."

Ruban’s smile faltered. His ears turned red with embarrassment.

"Ah... yes, well..." he chuckled nervously. "That’s just how merchants talk! We always negotiate. Profit and customers are everything to us."

Darla nodded thoughtfully. "A good motto. Though I’d argue reputation comes first in these waters."

Ruban straightened up, trying to regain his composure. "Well, I must say, I’m surprised to see such a magnificent ship. Are you from an Immortal Family?"

Darla laughed softly, her voice like wind chimes. "Oh, no. I’m not the boss. I’m just the representative. But don’t worry—you can negotiate everything with me."

Her tone was confident, professional. Gone was the flirtatious, bubbly Darla that the crew usually saw around Tyler. In her place stood a cool, sharp negotiator.

Ruban nodded. "Of course. We heard you were collecting orange seaweed, tiger pearls, and other rare items. If possible, we’d like to purchase some—preferably at a discounted rate."

He glanced away for a moment before continuing, "Our crew was recently attacked by a Mist Tortoise. A lot of our people are sick from the mist. We could also use healing potions, if you have any."

Darla’s expression softened slightly, but her voice remained measured. "Let’s discuss what you need and what you’re offering in return."

And so, the negotiations began.

---

Meanwhile, in one of the lounge rooms aboard the White Pearl, Tyler and the girls hadn’t bothered changing out of their swimsuits. They lounged on oversized cushions and couches, sipping chilled fruit nectar.

"So... what exactly is a Mist Tortoise?" Tyler asked, frowning.

Mathilda raised a brow. "Seriously? We studied them together."

Tyler scratched his head. "I remember... arrays and weapons. Not weird fog reptiles."

Mathilda rolled her eyes but explained anyway. "Mist Tortoises absorb elements from their environment and generate mist from them. If one lives in a lava zone, its mist burns like molten fire. If it’s from a poisonous swamp, the mist will be toxic. Very dangerous. Not something you want to inhale."

"Oh..." Tyler muttered. "That actually sounds cool. Scary, but cool."

"You only think that because you didn’t get sprayed by one," Lily deadpanned from the corner, flipping through a magazine titled Immortal’s Digest.

---

Back on deck, the sun began to set, casting golden light across the sea. Ruban Shade wiped his brow. Despite his earlier embarrassment, he felt like the negotiation had gone well.

"You’re really skilled at this, Miss Darla," he said earnestly. "If you ever consider a change... the Shade Merchants could use someone like you. With your talent, I promise, within ten years, you’d have your own ship. We’d make you a manager, maybe even a regional head."

He looked hopeful, maybe even a little smitten.

Darla, however, didn’t miss a beat. Her eyes met his with a calm finality.

"I can’t and I won’t," she said simply.

Ruban’s hopeful smile faltered.

"I belong to my boss," she added, voice cool as steel. "And He’d be miserable without me serving for him daily."

Then, without another word, she turned and walked away, her coat billowing behind her like the cape of a queen.

Ruban Shade stood frozen, still processing her words. His assistants hesitated before finally escorting their stunned manager back to their ship—specifically, the medical bay.