Chapter 94
Experience told Shen Li: whatever Lu Chuan wanted to do, it was best to get it settled early. Otherwise, who knew what kind of mess Lu Chuan might stir up again.
Soon enough, Shen Li found someone familiar with the Ocean Heart Guild to answer Lu Chuan’s barrage of odd questions—and at the same time gave himself a little break.
He also went to notify Starry Sasha, telling her to be ready in the coming days, since Lu Chuan might drag her off to Ocean Heart at any time.
Dealing with Lu Chuan was more exhausting than running a dungeon.
What a hassle.
—
Ocean Heart Guild.
“The Guildmaster has really given us a tough problem.” A weary-looking person slumped over a table, too tired to even lift her hand.
If Lu Chuan had been there, he would’ve recognized her as Vivian, the A-rank player who once tried to recruit him.
But now, Vivian had advanced to S-rank.
Compared to before, her hair had turned blue, her teeth sharper than ever. When she kept her mouth closed, she looked like the legendary mermaid princess; but when she spoke or acted, people realized she was more like a shark princess.
“Captain, more and more people are trying to probe into our dungeon.” one of her subordinates said carefully. “A lot of folks want to enter. But I don’t get it—this dungeon is so profitable, why don’t we just explore it ourselves instead of spreading the news?”
Vivian sighed.
Next time, she really needed to pick subordinates with more brains.
Plenty of players were fine in dungeons, but when it came to handling people and situations like this, they were completely clueless.
Could it be that Lu Chuan had sucked all the brains out of his peers? That’s why he seemed like an old monster in matters like this, while everyone else his age seemed like idiots?
Vivian grumbled inwardly about Lu Chuan for a while, then looked at her clueless teammate and patiently explained.
“The Guildmaster’s dungeon key is indeed lucrative, but in the short term we can’t possibly clear it fully. Yes, it’s high reward—but tell me, what’s the survival rate?” Vivian asked.
“Less than ten percent,” the teammate whispered.
“Exactly. Less than one in ten.” Vivian sighed. “Dungeons spawned by mutated Master-Rank players are bound to attract Burial Squad. Master-Rank players themselves will never step into such a dungeon. But for those who aren’t Master-Rank players, going in is basically suicide. What we need are people whose strength approaches Master-Rank level. And such people are precious treasures in every guild.”
Ocean Heart had only a handful of players with such potential. Even if they all went together, they still wouldn’t make up enough to challenge this dungeon.
Otherwise, the key would go to waste.
So it was better to spread the word, attract players from other guilds, and exchange access for compensation, than to let it rot unused.
“If other guilds also fail to clear the dungeon, that’s fine. We’ll just keep recruiting the next batch of players.” Vivian smiled. “After all, anyone entering our dungeon has to pay a price. No matter what happens, we won’t lose out.”
That was likely the Guildmaster’s real reason for giving them the key.
The only headache was the endless negotiations with other guilds.
Other guilds wanted Ocean Heart to charge less, while Ocean Heart wanted to raise the price. The bargaining in between was simply exhausting.
Vivian could only complain while getting on with it, helpless as she was.
“I understand now, Captain.” The subordinate nodded, half comprehending. “But then why do you look so troubled, holding the invitation letter from the Star Guild?”
“Ugh. Don’t even have to look to know—it must be Lu Chuan, applying to enter the dungeon on behalf of Star Guild.” Vivian’s brow furrowed. “He’s close with [Eye of Rebirth]. That one definitely told him about the dungeon. The reason I didn’t want to notify Star Guild was because I didn’t want Lu Chuan to come.” She admitted her own conflict. “On one hand, I don’t want him to succeed here. But on the other… I do want him to.”
The [Eye of Rebirth] was already a Master-Rank player. Everyone was watching Lu Chuan as the next candidate.
Vivian was no exception.
Especially since she had once nearly recruited him into her own guild—her feelings toward him were even more complicated.
“Forget it, let’s meet him.” Vivian finally decided. “But if Lu Chuan wants in, he’ll have to pay three to five times the price of anyone else.”
If Lu Chuan entered, there was a real chance he’d take all the dungeon’s legacy for himself.
So for him, the price had to be higher!
*
Lu Chuan, along with Starry Sasha, Edith, Shen Li, and others, arrived at the seashore.
They had already sent an invitation letter via item, gaining Ocean Heart’s approval. Ocean Heart gave them coordinates and told them to wait—someone would come to bring them into the guild.
“I haven’t visited Ocean Heart that many times myself.” Shen Li gazed out at the boundless sea, his mood lifting. “There’s no way to just walk in. Their own people have to submit the application, and if it’s approved, then someone is sent to escort us inside. Especially for the headquarters, there are strict limits on time, numbers, and reasons for entry. Aside from official business, I can count on one hand the times I’ve been here.”
If even Shen Li hadn’t been here often, then the others had never come.
“When I followed Messiah before, he had chances to visit, but he didn’t want to appear in public, so he never came.” Edith took a few deep breaths, tasting the salt in the sea breeze. “I never thought the ocean would look like this.”
Starry Sasha was completely absorbed in picking seashells off the beach.
Lu Chuan ran the sand through his fingers, wondering if it might contain gold.
They hadn’t waited long when a shadow appeared out on the water.
As it grew larger, its true form came into view.
It was a giant sea turtle!
The creature was like a moving hill, yet it swam through the sea with surprising speed.
What shocked them more was that its back was fitted with tables and chairs, so people could ride it, even dine and drink on top.
Two people stood on its shell, waving to Lu Chuan’s group.
When the turtle reached the shallows and stopped, the two leapt down to meet them.
“Are you friends from Star Guild? Captain Vivian sent us to receive you.”
Lu Chuan and the others nodded and climbed onto the turtle’s back.
Starry Sasha looked around in amazement.
“Brother Lu, Brother Lu, this looks like a real turtle, not some prop!”
“It’s huge—I’ve never seen one before.”
“It’s so obedient. Can I keep it?”
Her curiosity was at its peak.
Fortunately, the Ocean Heart escorts were used to such questions. They explained kindly, “These sea beasts are controlled by our Sea Emperor. Every generation of Ocean Heart’s Sea Emperor has this ability. Some say it comes from a special item, others say it’s an innate power—we don’t know for sure. But these sea beasts are our friends. We feed them, and in return they serve as our mounts and companions.”
“How many groups of guests are we?” Lu Chuan asked, looking down at the turtle, already thinking about tourism potential.
For landlocked players, this must be a rare experience. Charging 999 per person for the ‘boat fare’ wouldn’t be unreasonable.
“You’re the first group today. But if you mean dungeon applicants, you’re already the seventh. Three days ago, the key was used to open the dungeon and send in some players. To open it again, we’ll have to wait twenty days. The key only works once a month.” The Ocean Heart players answered every question smoothly—they were clearly well-trained.
“Right now, all dungeon control rests with Captain Vivian. Each time the key is activated, some of our own also apply to enter. But survival rates have never been high—the best was thirty percent making it out alive, the worst was total annihilation. Still, it’s not without reward. The survivors always bring back plenty.”
“When will the dungeon information be available?” Lu Chuan pressed further. “You’ve been collecting data on it for a while—you must know quite a bit already, right?”
The members of Ocean’s Heart Guild smiled.
“That’s another price. Only Captain Vivian knows about these things, and only she can be asked. We don’t know anything. Not knowing is the best protection for us.”
Who knew what kind of abilities the players coming to Ocean’s Heart Guild might possess? For safety reasons, those sent to escort guests only knew a little surface-level information about the dungeon. If anyone wanted to learn more, they had to meet Vivian in person.
Lu Chuan and Shen Li stopped probing and instead settled down to enjoy this rare journey.
But truth be told…
The service of Ocean’s Heart left much to be desired.
Although the turtle’s shell had tables and chairs, and there was food, the food was far too simple—just a few bottles of water, a plate of sunflower seeds, some fruit, and a few small seafood dishes. Nothing else.
As for entertainment—there was none at all.
Yet they sat on the turtle’s back for at least half a day.
In the end, even Starry Shasha, who had been buzzing with curiosity, collapsed on the table, listlessly fiddling with her fingers out of boredom.
Fortunately, before nightfall, they finally reached the headquarters of Ocean’s Heart.
It was a massive island, covered in strange peaks, rocks, and colorful seaweeds, resembling a primitive ecological garden.
The houses on the island were mostly low bungalows—few tall buildings—and there weren’t many players walking around.
Still, the people there looked rather calm.
Lu Chuan observed carefully and indeed noticed a few details.
Though the houses were small, nearly every roof was made from the shells of giant clams, often decorated with all sorts of treasures. Beaded curtains strung with thumb-sized pearls seemed to be a standard feature of every home. Coral, giant clams, and all kinds of shells served as decorations.
Lu Chuan couldn’t help estimating their value.
Extravagant.
Each of these “little” houses probably cost as much as several villas outside.
“Our headquarters is built on the backs of sea beasts. We have many islands, but the living space per person is very small—less than ten square meters on average. We can’t put too much weight on the beasts,” one player explained. “So, our guests can only live the same way we do. Please don’t think we’re neglecting you—our president lives no differently.”
If someone really wanted a large house, they could try finding an uninhabited island nearby and build one themselves.
Of course, some of the higher-ups of Ocean’s Heart had their own privately raised sea beasts, with a personal mansion built on the back—but that required immense wealth, and very few could manage it.
Lu Chuan and the others followed their guides to a platform on the island.
It was called an office platform, but in reality it was just a few small pavilions providing shade from the wind and rain, beneath which sat some desks and supplies. This was their “reception area” for visitors from other guilds.
Lu Chuan could only force out a compliment: “Very… natural.”
Vivian, wearing sunglasses and dressed lightly, waved cheerfully when she saw them.
“Lu Chuan, long time no see.”
“It really has been a while.” Lu Chuan returned the greeting. “I must say, Ocean’s Heart Guild is quite a surprise.”
He took back his earlier impression.
He still preferred stable, developed cities. This kind of all-natural guild headquarters was… a bit much for him.
