Chapter 1030 – Mo Lan’s Lazy Daily Life 14

Sentai climbed up in perfect coordination, its verdant vines nimbly weaving, interlacing, and coiling along Zhizhi’s broad back and shoulders, quickly forming five comfortable “vine seats” evenly distributed across the most stable area of Zhizhi’s chest.

Clack scrambled onto the smallest seat, extended a bony hand to adjust a slightly protruding vine at the seat’s edge, then sat down prim and proper.

“Everyone, please take your seats.” Mo Lan smiled and made an inviting gesture, then flew up onto one of the seats first. The soft moss immediately wrapped around her gently, the vines adjusting automatically to make her incredibly comfortable and secure.

Seeing this, Vasida, Lilith, and Sylph hesitated no longer, each choosing a seat and settling in.

Once everyone was seated, Zhizhi’s massive head turned slightly, and from its throat came a deep, low growl that seemed to vibrate through space itself: “We’re off!”

It took a single step forward. Everyone felt the “seats” beneath them dip slightly as the scenery around them suddenly blurred, stretched, and warped. When everything stabilized again, they were surrounded by mountain forests.

“This is… Greenvale Highlands?” Lilith was somewhat surprised. From Witch’s Town to here, it would take ages even on a broomstick!

“I always knew Zhizhi had a spatial gift, but I never imagined it was this powerful!” Sylph exclaimed as well.

No sooner had she finished speaking than the scenery blurred again. When it restabilized, Vasida pointed at a distant city and said, “That can’t be the City of Chaos, can it? We’ve already reached the Land of Chaos?”

Lilith had spent a long period of time in the Land of Chaos and recognized it at a glance: “That’s the City of Chaos.”

Zhizhi took another step forward, and the moist air of the inland lakes was instantly replaced by a vast, salty sea breeze carrying the tang of brine!

Before their eyes stretched a boundless, magnificent ocean that appeared deep blue in the twilight.

Waves crashed against the steep rocky coast below, producing thunderous roars.

They had already reached the southwestern edge of the Continent of Valen—the near shore of the famous Giant Troll Sea.

Zhizhi’s enormous silhouette paused briefly atop the seaside cliff to confirm its bearing. Then its massive foot lifted, and it stepped out over the surging ocean.

Space rippled like water once more, and this time, the distance crossed was an even vaster expanse of sea.

When space stabilized, they found themselves in an entirely different world.

Beneath their feet lay soft, pristine white sand. Behind them stood lush tropical forests.

Ahead stretched the endless deep-sea region of the Giant Troll Sea—ink-black yet glittering like scattered diamonds under the moonlight. The sound of waves mingled with deep, muffled calls from unknown sea beasts somewhere in the depths.

“That’s right, this is it!” Lilith said. “So many years have passed, and this place still hasn’t changed much.”

Zhizhi slowly lowered its body, setting them down on the sand, then rapidly shrank back to its original adorable silver-furred monkey form. It hopped lightly onto Mo Lan’s shoulder and nuzzled her cheek proudly.

Vasida, Lilith, and Sylph stood on the beach, feeling the utterly different sea breeze and atmosphere, their faces showing expressions of wonder and excitement.

“The Zhizhi Express—what a thrill ride!”

Hearing this, Zhizhi lifted its little head even higher.

Standing on the fine white sand, the sea breeze tousled the Sorceresses’ varied robes and hair.

“Where do we start our ‘hunt’?” Lilith’s sharp gaze swept across the ocean surface. “The outer waters near the continental shelf have relatively tamer sea beasts with finer, more delicate flesh. Further into the deep sea, near the trenches and where the ocean currents converge, the creatures there are… more powerful, their meat firmer, their flavors more intense. Of course, the danger level also rises exponentially.”

She looked toward Vasida, clearly deferring to tonight’s head chef.

Vasida didn’t answer immediately.

She walked to the edge of the surf, crouched down, and extended her right hand palm-down, pressing it gently against the damp sand. A layer of amber-colored Power of Cuisine silently seeped into the beach, then seemed to extend along the earth’s veins out into the sea.

This was “Earth Vein Tasting,” a culinary magic from the Gurgling Gurgling Gourmet World that could sense the quality of ingredients across an entire area through the earth’s veins.

After a moment, she withdrew her hand, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She stood and pointed toward a stretch of sea to the island’s southeast that looked particularly deep and forbidding:

“That way! I ‘tasted’ it—the ‘flavor’ there is the richest, the most layered. It’s definitely a gathering ground for top-tier ingredients!”

The group produced their broomsticks and flew in that direction, while Zhizhi and the others stayed behind on the island to build a fire and set up camp.

As they left the island behind, their surroundings grew ever darker and more silent. The sea breeze carried a bone-deep chill and heavy salt tang. The water beneath them was unfathomably deep, presenting a near-black shade of dark blue.

“This is the spot!” Vasida braked sharply, her broom transforming into a flying carpet. She produced several oddly shaped containers: an ice crystal bottle continuously emitting frigid mist, inside which some kind of constantly writhing, purple-glowing chunk of flesh was sealed; a black metal sphere that produced a dull, heartbeat-like sound when shaken; and a small vial of viscous, blood-like dark red liquid that gave off a bizarre mixture of sweet fishiness and decay.

“For the big ones, you need more ‘hardcore’ bait.” Vasida explained while blending them with culinary magic. “‘Abyss worm active gland,’ ‘agitated sea core,’ plus a touch of ‘rot-dream whale fat extract’… This formula is enough to drive the laziest, pickiest deep-sea leviathan within a ten-mile radius absolutely mad!”

She combined the ingredients in specific proportions inside a specially made metal mesh pouch covered in energy-absorbing runes.

The mesh pouch instantly emanated an indescribable wave of primal temptation and dangerous energy.

A flash of light appeared in Lilith’s hand, and a long spear of mithril alloy materialized—its tip spiraling with impossibly sharp edges:

“This ‘Wave-Breaker Spiral Spear’ of mine combines armor-piercing, paralysis, and blood-marking functions. Once it hits, there’s no easy escape, and the blood it draws forms a tracking marker. Let’s use it as our fishing rod!”

Vasida nodded and attached the bait pouch to the rear of Lilith’s “Spiral Spear” with an extremely tough fishing line.

“Then let’s begin.” Vasida gently cast the bait into the sea. The mass of eerie light and strange aura sank rapidly into the depths.

Everyone held their breath, each using their own methods to sense any movement below.

Seconds ticked by, and the silence of the deep sea felt as though it could swallow a person whole. The only sound was the gentle lapping of waves against the bottom of the hovering float-stones.

Suddenly!

Lilith’s grip on the rod tightened sharply. The tough fishing line went taut in an instant, emitting a teeth-grinding “creak,” and the section plunging into the water began to vibrate violently!

“We’ve got a bite!” Lilith hissed, her eyes blazing with intensity. “This thing’s got serious strength!”