Endless Ocean: Survival Begins with a Dugout Canoe

Chapter 339 - 332: Tutankhamun’s Golden Mask

In a research lab specially built by Black Gold and shielded against Spiritual Power probes, Shi Ming sat at the head of the table, sharing his ’plan’ with the scientists.

"So, that’s the plan."

"The Nameless Cocoon’s Spiritual Power and Defense Power far exceed those of an ordinary S-rank Sea Beast. The only way to kill it is to overwhelm it with a higher tier of power, obliterating it with irresistible force. And while the success rate is ’only’ 99%—not a guaranteed 100%—Black Gold won’t need to risk evacuating the Sealed Prison until you see its corpse."

"As long as the Sealed Prison remains, there isn’t a shred of risk for the one million people on this ship."

Shi Ming finished sharing his plan.

Of course, the plan was a complete fabrication.

The plan’s success rate wasn’t 99%, but an unquestionable 100%.

Shi Ming had secretly resolved the Nameless Cocoon problem long ago. He had even won over Ah Jian. Although Black Gold, the ship at the center of it all, had been kept in the dark, it was one of the ultimate beneficiaries. It had merely wasted some time and the resources required to maintain the Sealed Prison.

Now, all Shi Ming had to do was have Ah Jian split off a clone and hand it over to Black Gold. This would achieve a triple win and finally put the "Black Gold suppressing the Nameless Cocoon" saga to rest, saving everyone from wasting any more energy on it.

That would be killing three birds with one stone!

Black Gold would get rid of a burden and gain a clone.

Shi Ming would achieve his goal.

No one would be after Ah Jian anymore.

No losers! Everyone’s a winner!

...

Shi Ming didn’t put on the airs of a Saint Hall Level Awakener at all, but the scientists from Black Gold couldn’t help but feel a little ill at ease.

That was to be expected.

But as the exchange and discussion deepened, the awkwardness among the scholars gradually disappeared, making the meeting feel like a normal academic seminar.

"This plan is indeed feasible!"

The sea beast research expert, Abdu, after much deliberation, was the first to stand up and agree.

"Currently, that brute is already in a dormant state, completely powerless to resist. Attacking it with Mr. Ming’s methods will surely result in its obliteration. Even a legendary creature like the Great Black Heaven Dragon died at Mr. Ming’s hands. A tiny, lower-ranked insect is nothing to worry about."

"Indeed."

"I second that!"

The mood in the research lab was exuberant, but Ah Jian grew furious. ’How dare these humans call me a "brute," "lower-ranked," and "nothing to worry about" right in front of my master!’

’Simply outrageous!’

Shi Ming pacified the furious Ah Jian.

He then stated his request to Black Gold.

"Once Black Gold’s current trouble is resolved, I hope to borrow its artifact, the Sealed Prison, to deal with another peculiar sea beast that needs to be sealed."

He didn’t say which sea beast it was.

And the scientists from Black Gold didn’t ask.

’Given Shi Ming’s power, if he needs other methods to assist him, then even if his target isn’t a Holy Hall-level Sea Beast, it must be an extremely high-ranking S-rank one. Sea creatures exist in a system of checks and balances, like a game of Beast Fighting Chess. It was perfectly normal that some powerful sea beasts required special tactics to defeat.’

"Stone Patrol Envoy has the welfare of the world at heart."

"If the Nameless Cocoon dies, the Sealed Prison will have no use. It can be put to better use in the Stone Patrol Envoy’s hands. When the time comes, we will gift this artifact to the Patrol Envoy. There’s no need to return it. Just consider it a small contribution from Black Gold to the people of the Endless Ocean."

Xivier said.

This was a decision Black Gold had agreed upon long ago.

Shi Ming did not decline.

"By the way, Stone Patrol Envoy, we have another question. Regarding the Abyss Lord deep in the Sea of Boiling, which you hinted at during the Sea Beast Flesh and Blood trade meet in the Sea of Soaring Dragons—we were wondering if you had any further intelligence you could share. That way, we could be better prepared."

Shi Ming didn’t reveal much information about the Abyss Lord.

He only said it was extremely dangerous, that its main body was in the Sea of Boiling, but its malevolent reach could touch every corner of Africa.

He wasn’t holding back out of selfishness.

It was because this sea beast was about to die.

There was no need to say too much beforehand, or it could easily cause unnecessary complications. The people from Black Gold just needed to stay away from the Sea of Boiling during this time, take care of their own protection, and simply lie low.

The meeting ended.

Shi Ming went to make his final "preparations" for killing the Nameless Cocoon.

The many high-level executives and scientists of Black Gold could barely contain their excitement. As they saw it, most powerful figures in the Endless Ocean only ever looked out for themselves—most factions wouldn’t even share information about their Awakeneds’ skills with one another, let alone meddle in others’ business. Only Shi Ming truly lived up to the ideal that "the accomplished should benefit all."

If everyone watched out for and helped each other, what was there to fear from the sea beasts?

...

"Stone Patrol Envoy, esteemed Descendant of the Dragon."

Shi Ming met Ah Bu.

This old captain, Ah Bu, formerly of the ship *Obelisk*, had now retired and passed his ship down to his daughter.

This time, he had been asked by Ptolemy to serve as a mediator.

Originally, Nia felt that every leader needed to pay the price for their own decisions.

Ptolemy had previously allowed Jia Fang to persecute other Awakened, then allied with powers like Lighthouse and the Black Society to ambush and kill Shi Ming—a man who had done them a great service. Having failed, they naturally had to pay the price. When a person or a faction starts persecuting innocents, they deserve no sympathy when they face the same persecution themselves.

But Ah Bu couldn’t bear to see his home ship, the *Pharaoh*, suffer the same fate as the Black Society.

And so, he was willing to serve as a mediator.

And he brought Ptolemy’s tokens of apology.

1. The *Pharaoh*’s greatest treasure, Tutankhamun’s Golden Mask.

2. The entire collected fortune of the Ptolemy Clan.

"Captain Ah Bu, you call this sincerity?"

From Shi Ming’s current standpoint, the entire collected fortune of the Ptolemy Clan was of little consequence to him. Tutankhamun’s Golden Mask, ranked 54th on the artifact list, held a certain allure, but that was the extent of it.

[54]

[Tutankhamun’s Golden Mask, a mask that hides the secrets of the ancient Death Empire.]

Information from the *Endless Ocean Artifact Compendium (Volume 1)* stated that a living person wearing it could walk through the silent kingdoms of the dead, completely concealing their aura of life. They could maintain their current state and survive indefinitely, without any need for air, food, or energy.

Among the Seven Holy Halls, there was one Source named "Death."

Shi Ming suspected there might be a connection between them.

"Captain Ah Bu, go tell your Ptolemy."

"Getting my forgiveness is also very simple."

"The gains I received from the Moon Shadow back then far exceed the value of a single Tutankhamun’s Golden Mask. Out of respect for you, I can give Ptolemy a chance. Besides Tutankhamun’s Golden Mask, he must provide 20,000 Pure Dome Crystals, not one less."

"He can pay in installments, just like Lighthouse."

"If he’s unwilling, then the *Pharaoh*’s Sailing Star can be used as a substitute."