Witch, I'm really not the Deep Sea Ancient God!

"I don't think so."

Chen Qi shook his head, answering his own question.

After all, that was the fingertip of a legendary hunter.

He had just entered the First Order and had yet to bring out a chef's true capabilities; he was just a newbie.

However, for him, it wasn't the deep sea monster guarding the treasure that was the challenge, but how to reach the location of the hidden treasure itself.

After setting his goal, Chen Qi laid the scroll aside.

He got up and looked toward the rickety old mini fridge in the boathouse.

A one-meter-tall mini fridge, covered with a bunch of tattered patches.

But within, there was a rather rare transcendent food item!

The Gold Scales Fish he got from the adorable near-shore overlord wasn't yet eaten.

"A midnight snack."

Chen Qi excitedly took the Gold Scales Fish out of the fridge, ready to cook a pan-seared Gold Scales Fish.

The Gold Scales Fish was naturally delicious food, with flesh as delectable as butter, needing little preparation.

When fried in oil, the skin of the fish quickly turned slightly charred, gleaming like gold.

Then he sprinkled down some Soul Seasoning.

In no time, a fragrant golden Gold Scales Fish was ready to come out of the pan.

"Let's try the taste of transcendent ingredients."

Chen Qi took a gentle bite.

The juices burst in his mouth, and the rich taste instantly spread!

Without any sugar, it had a hint of sweetness.

The texture was less like meat, and more like melting cheese.

Meanwhile, a burning power slowly seeped throughout his body.

A prompt appeared on his panel.

[Your constitution has increased by +1.]

[You have gained a Self-healing Physique (Weak).]

[Self-healing Physique (Weak):

Your body's recovery abilities have strengthened.

Note: I can feel it, the breath of life flowing within me!]

A Self-healing physique is a prerequisite for many High-order physical skills.

However, Chen Qi was still uncertain about the specific effects.

"Let's test it out."

After hesitating for a moment, Chen Qi picked up a kitchen knife and lightly slashed the back of his hand.

At this moment, under the enhancement of a Self-healing physique, he could clearly feel the light wound on his hand continuously healing.

In just over an hour, this light wound would be completely healed.

Many serious injuries that would normally require months of recuperation could now heal in just a couple of days with the Self-healing physique.

"Not bad, not bad."

Chen Qi patted his hands and checked his panel.

[Constitution: 17, Strength: 15, Inspiration: 38, Agility: 19]

Compared to his initially weak constitution, he had made significant improvements after getting proper nutrition.

All his attributes were not low, resulting in a well-balanced panel.

In the setting of the new day, as one's constitution increases, the enhancement from many items will decrease.

As a rare item, Gold Scales Fish would typically boost a normal person's constitution by 2 to 3 points.

But because his constitution was already relatively high, it only increased by 1 point.

Chen Qi stretched, sensing the vast untapped potential in his body.

Just like exercising on Earth, after digesting food, exercise was needed to fully unlock his potential.

With the right training, breaking through twenty points for both constitution and strength was just a matter of time.

"Whew!"

Chen Qi did some warm-up exercises.

Having eaten the Gold Scales Fish, he, who had been busy all day, didn't feel tired at all!

Instead, he felt an endless surge of energy in his body!

He decided to exercise before bed, only stopping when he was utterly exhausted and then going to sleep.

...

...

The next day.

Huge clouds loomed over the sea, as if foretelling the descent of disaster, and they lingered without dispersing.

Wave after wave crashed onto the boats at the dock.

Today, because of the startling events of the previous day, many fishermen who were planning to go out to sea decided to take a few days' rest instead.

Fortunately, the revival of the crack at the Maro Town mines brought forth a large number of new ores, providing people with new job opportunities.

Chen Qi got up early, ready to move his small houseboat to the dry dock for repairs and refitting.

The boat had a good foundation, but whether it was the boat lights or the various furniture and equipment inside, all were too old.

However, before he reached the dry dock, someone from the bounty department of the Moonstone Islands came over with caution, handing him a package containing two hundred thousand Shell Coins.

It was the bounty for killing Iron Hand!

"In one night, the bounty arrived; such efficiency is truly fast..."

Normally, those departments wouldn't be this efficient; it must have been An Ti who pushed things along.

"Quick, say 'Thank you, Teacher An'?"

Chen Qi silently gave thanks in his heart as he received the bounty and counted it.

The largest denomination of money in Shell Country is 10,000 Shell Coins, so the weight of 200,000 Shell Coins wasn't very heavy.

However, holding it in his hand, there was an indescribable sense of solidity!

Just right, this money can be used to enhance his ship.

The dry dock wasn't far from the pier of Maro Town.

Chen Qi steered his houseboat into the dock and said to the ship repair woman with the dirty braids:

"Get me the best ship lantern available, replace the propellers with new ones, and also, take a look at the engine to see if it can be repaired.

If you have any good new products in stock, feel free to recommend them."

Now that he had money, he could afford to be a little extravagant!

"No problem!"

The seasoned ship repair worker heartily agreed.

She excitedly boarded the houseboat, but the first glimpse of the engine made her frown:

"Crack technology, I'm just a First Order mechanic apprentice, can't fix that. However, I can help you remove the ash and add some lubricant."

The Hammer Phase symbolizes elements such as mechanics, creation, craftsmanship, and steel.

In addition to governing "Shell," Shell Country also governs "Hammer." Within its borders, there are many large corporations and a multitude of man-made wonders.

Even numerous Steam Cities.

However, in remote coastal areas like Moonstone City, these large corporations don't have much presence.

Indeed, the high-end goods of Steam Hand can't be fixed here, Chen Qi thought:

"Alright, then please also check if there are any other minor issues with the ship."

In Chen Qi's memory, the only ship repair worker in Maro Town was skilled and didn't charge exorbitantly.

Clang clang!

Clang clang!

The ship repair worker began to work.

Before long, his ship acquired two brand-new ship lanterns, one inside the cabin and one outside.

Nights following the Crack Tide were when many monsters lurking in the shadows came out to hunt.

If one were to navigate at night, a good ship lantern was an absolute life-saving device.

On this, he definitely couldn't skimp!

Chen Qi directly chose the latest top-of-the-line model.

Waterproof, impact-resistant, and capable of remaining lit even in emergencies.

The ship lantern for inside the cabin wasn't expensive, but the one for outside cost him 50,000 Shell Coins!

He replaced the two propellers, slightly boosting the ship's speed, for 30,000 Shell Coins.

Plus some other minor patches and repairs.

In one go, that was 100,000 Shell Coins spent!

Nevertheless, in the end, the money was well spent.

Chen Qi folded his arms and looked anew at his houseboat.

Under the ship repair worker's handiwork, this junker's houseboat was completely transformed.

Now, he still had over 100,000 in cash.

Chen Qi headed to Maro Town's furniture and nautical equipment stores.

He needed to replace the furniture in his houseboat.

He bought a small bed, a small sofa, two new chairs, a fire-starting device using special energy, and also a telescope, music box, oil lamp, carpets, incense, and other small items.

Chen Qi selected all the furniture with a good cost-performance ratio, spending a total of 10,000 Shell Coins.

...

Before he realized it,

By the time Chen Qi had moved all the furniture onto the houseboat and finished arranging it, it was nearly noon.

"Phew..."

Chen Qi wiped the sweat from his forehead inside the cabin and looked at his cozy new home.

A leather sofa, a decent desk, a brightly new kitchen, and a dining table.

Also, a super comfortable, soft new bed.

Paired with the light scent of incense, the entire room felt exceptionally welcoming.

It was finally looking habitable.

The feeling of having a new nest after all that effort was really not bad.

Chen Qi smiled wholeheartedly.

Bang bang!

"Is anyone there?"

Someone knocked on the boat door.

"?"

Chen Qi looked outside.

At that moment, An was holding a bag of new things and winked her blue eyes at him.