After all, Windsor was only Level 4 and Gu Ning Level 3—how could they fight an Level 8 purple sea beast? Wang Mu silently cursed Gu Ning; if he hadn't killed Noxina, they might've had a chance to survive. Now, they could only await death.
Windsor knew nothing of Gu Ning's worries or Wang Mu's despair. She was consumed by rage—she'd failed to protect her lord, who'd been injured saving her. She went into a frenzy.
Firing two light arrows at the Frost Ice Fox, she watched it raise an Ice Shield to block them. The fox retaliated with Freeze, encasing Windsor in spreading ice. She channeled light elements to resist, then hit it with Confusion and two Entanglements.
The fox staggered from the mental干扰 (interference), caught in the light ropes. It struggled violently but couldn't break free—Windsor's base Strength of 40, boosted 30% by her Scepter of Light (12 points) and another 30% by Entanglement, gave her a binding power of nearly 68. The fox was trapped.
In seconds, Windsor unleashed a barrage of light arrows, killing the fox. A purple glow signaled a loot drop. Ignoring it, she rushed to Gu Ning, tearfully healing his wound with a Cure spell. "I'm sorry, my lord! I failed you..."
Gu Ning stared in awe at her seamless combo. He knew Windsor was strong, but hadn't expected her to dispatch the fox so decisively. Her new skills had clearly boosted her combat power.
He stroked her hair reassuringly. "It's just a scratch. Worse if it hit you." He wasn't about to miss a chance to raise Affinity.
Windsor still blamed herself, but his gentle gaze silenced her. She vowed to be more vigilant.
Once healed, Gu Ning collected the fox's Skill Stone without checking it, then turned to Wang Mu—who'd been stunned into near-delirium by Windsor's display.
"Big shot! Take whatever you want—just spare me!" Wang Mu blurted.
"I want that Flour Producer blueprint you had earlier. Name your price." Gu Ning had noticed the图纸 (blueprint) before the fox attack.
"Just take it! No need to pay—"
"Name. Your. Price." Gu Ning insisted. He needed Wang Mu to spread word of their interaction: showing both strength (killing Noxina and the fox) and fairness (trading rather than looting) would deter trouble and attract future deals.
Wang Mu guessed the Noxina killing was personal vendetta, not random violence. "100 white stones?" The blueprint was worth more, but building it was costly for his low level.
Gu Ning agreed instantly, paying over market value to make a statement.
With half an hour left in the Demon Realm, Gu Ning let Wang Mu tag along for extra loot, deepening the man's awe of his power. By portal time, Wang Mu bid farewell reverently, grateful for the windfall and convinced Noxina must've provoked Gu Ning.
Back at his starting海域 (sea area), Gu Ning inspected the Skill Stone:
Freeze (Purple): Inflicts freezing damage. Users gain 40% Strength boost during casting.
Purple skills are insane. The percentage boost would only grow more potent as his stats rose.
Next, he spent white stones upgrading his boat:
Wooden Boat
Level: 4 (20m L, 9m W)
Facilities: Cabin, Toilet, Bedroom, Warehouse, Fishing Gallery
Power: None
Tech: Ship Drainage Tech (Lv1)
Special: None
New additions: Warehouse, Bedroom, and a 1.5m-wide Fishing Gallery with a rain-sheltering overhang. The main cabin expanded, with side rooms for storage and sleeping.
Next upgrade required: 500 Wood, 800 Iron Nails, 50 Copper Ingots.
He had the materials, but his mount Xiaolan was already straining to pull the boat. Fix the propulsion problem first.