Chapter 101: Fish Head Hotpot
Releasing the Red Blade, the mutated dagger appeared in Lin Ye's hand. Activating the runes engraved on the dagger, Lin Ye's right hand suddenly accelerated, piercing through the fish-headed man's abdominal cavity.
The fish-headed man let out an angry roar as it actively tore apart its damaged mutation organ, unleashing all the spiritual energy within its body.
This spiritual energy eruption wasn't concentrated, so the damage was limited, but causing damage wasn't the fish-headed man's intention.
Lin Ye and Ayla were sent flying by the violent spiritual energy, landing above the stagnant water area.
Numerous sharp tentacles simultaneously stabbed toward the two figures in mid-air.
"Stand on the shell!"
Lin Ye activated his special skill, Snail Shell.
The tentacles struck the snail shell, leaving only white marks without penetrating his defense.
The fish-headed monster collapsed on the ground. That last attack had been its final strike—whether successful or not, with its mutation organ shattered, it was doomed.
The snail shell was knocked flying and landed in the stagnant water, with Ayla steadily standing on top of it. Without the fish-headed monster's control, the tentacles retreated into the depths of the stagnant water, ceasing their attacks. However, numerous fish mutation creatures charged toward the snail shell, spraying high-pressure liquid at them.
Spiritual energy blades materialized behind the creatures, piercing through their mutation organs.
To prevent those deep-water tentacles from reappearing, Lin Ye used spiritual energy to propel the snail shell, rapidly moving toward the platform on the opposite side of the stagnant water area.
"Are you okay?"
Upon reaching the platform, Lin Ye used spiritual energy to roll the snail shell closer to the treasure chest.
"I'm fine. That was really exciting."
Ayla savored the recent battle—her first life-and-death combat experience, even if it was just with a duplicate.
"Really? For me, opening chests is more exciting."
The treasure chest contained only a single red book.
Lin Ye immediately stored the book in his loot space without even looking at the title.
Nowadays, whenever he saw books, he couldn't help but think of that "Abnormal Incident Compilation in the Gray Realm."
Such dangerous items were better examined safely back at the shelter.
"There's only a book inside. Books can be very dangerous items, so I stored it directly. Do you need anything?"
Ayla had protected him from the tentacles behind them, so Lin Ye wouldn't hog all the loot.
"No need. Our family's library contains many dangerous books, even ancient texts referred to as relics."
Still immersed in the aftermath of defeating their enemy, Ayla casually declined.
"What are relics? How are they different from spiritual energy items?"
The Abyss relic Card Box had helped Lin Ye greatly, and the term "relic" had appeared in the system activity introductions. Though he had some guesses, he wanted to hear how other planes explained such items.
"Relics are essentially spiritual energy items from long ago. Having undergone the test and baptism of time, they've transformed into something distinct from ordinary spiritual energy items. Each relic possesses its own unique history and function. Some powerful relics even develop independent wills, capable of moving autonomously like living creatures and exercising their own rules."
Ayla explained.
She actually possessed a relic in her item space, but it was sealed by the system and couldn't be taken out for Lin Ye to see.
"I see. Have you heard of Abyss relics then?"
Lin Ye continued questioning.
"...Most relics are dangerous, but the most dangerous among them are those with specific prefixes. The Abyss, Dreamrealm, Emerald Capital, Red Sea, and Gray World are all notably dangerous special planes. Relics bearing these dangerous plane prefixes are listed on the Imperial ban. Even brief contact gets you sent to imperial prison for isolation, while long-term possession leads to complete elimination by the empire."
"Not just killed—utterly eradicated. Such relics are too dangerous. A single derivative could destroy an entire city. If mishandled, they even have the potential to destroy the empire itself."
"Lin Ye, you must never touch such items."
Ayla spoke with utmost seriousness, having been raised with such teachings.
"I understand."
Lin Ye nodded in agreement while stroking the snail shell.
After opening the chest, Lin Ye prepared to return across the stagnant water—the Red Blade still lay on the floor over there.
Though Lin Ye worried about the deep-water tentacles, their return journey proved unexpectedly smooth, with only some mutated bighead fish attempting to attack them.
"Do you enjoy eating fish?"
Looking at the convulsing mutated bighead fish on the floor, Ayla suddenly asked.
"Not particularly. I don't like troublesome foods to eat."
Even if he did eat fish, Lin Ye wouldn't consider these mutated varieties.
"I quite enjoy it. We have many boneless fish varieties where I'm from. I'll bring some next time I come."
Ayla's tone grew subdued. With only one minute left before the system mission ended, it was time for her to return home.
"...That works. I'll bring some side dishes. We can make fish head hotpot here."
The red maze was vast, and Lin Ye doubted they'd encounter each other again.
Still, he would keep his promise.
"Does this count as exchanging gifts?"
Ayla didn't know what hotpot was, but she didn't ask—some things didn't require excessive explanation.
"Of course. I wouldn't eat food from strangers."
After dealing with the still-mutating organs inside, Lin Ye stored the fish-headed man's corpse.
"Then, goodbye."
Ayla slightly lifted her skirt hem, offering a serene smile.
Lin Ye canceled his skill, stood up, and returned the gesture. As the countdown ended, both vanished simultaneously from their spots.
................................
Returning to the shelter, Lin Ye fed Little Black some fresh fish corpses and organized various materials before examining each item's system information.
【Sturdy Thigh Bone】
【Third-tier spiritual energy item. When striking enemy weak points, produces crushing and shattering effects】
【Note: This is a merciful weapon—enemies won't even feel pain】
"That certainly doesn't hurt them. No issues there."
Lin Ye swung the thigh bone, finding it similar to swinging a baseball bat, though he'd never actually used one.
Setting aside the thigh bone, Lin Ye carefully extracted the stagnant water area liquid stored within the mutated fish corpses and checked its system information.
【Accelerates biological mutation】
【Note: Consumption prohibited】
Though Lin Ye had suspected as much, seeing the words "deactivated" still made him feel a certain pressure emanating from the Red Sea.
"Lin Ye, you must never come into contact with such items."
'Never mind—this isn't something to ponder now.'
Lin Ye took out the red book from his loot space. Its title read "Red Sea Shallows Survival Guide."
【Red Sea Shallows Survival Guide】
【A book explaining how to survive in the Red Sea shallows, filled with mad ravings and several practical Red Sea survival techniques】
【Note: Reading prohibited for those with insufficient mental energy】
"What kind of nonsense is this?"
Lin Ye promptly stored the book deep in the basement. He didn't want to see this book for quite some time.