Endless Ocean: Survival Begins with a Dugout Canoe-Chapter 49 - 47: Treasure Ship of the Deep Sea

Buildings from the Land Era, battered by decades of seawater corrosion and deep-sea pressure, were now dilapidated beyond recognition. Their steel frames were twisted and warped, and the once-sturdy concrete structures had collapsed into rubble.

Coral skeletons grew in thickets upon the remains of a bygone civilization.

A different kind of silent life left its mark on the utter stillness.

’Judging by the architecture and the coordinates, this must be the undersea ruins of a sunken coastal city from the Lighthouse Country.’

’In just a few short decades, the pride of a civilization has become a deep-sea specimen.’

Shi Ming didn’t venture into the ruins of the underwater city.

’There wouldn’t be any good treasures in ruins like these.’

When the Great Flood Era began, coastal cities were the first to fall. Their inhabitants had long since moved their fortunes and valuables inland.

Time was limited, and delays could breed disaster. His first priority was finding the sunken Yellowstone.

That was where the truly captivating treasures were.

As far as he could see, three or four shipwrecks littered the seabed. Judging by their type and size, however, they were just ordinary vessels or smaller, independent boats. Shi Ming guessed they had simply been passing through the area and were corroded by the Mist Jellyfish before sinking.

Their hulls were severely damaged, the interiors laid bare. As he got closer, he could see small, glowing fish swimming through them.

He also spotted what looked like a sleeping eye beneath a massive coral skeleton.

’Thankfully, my vessel is small and quiet. It won’t disturb any strange creatures.’

He carefully piloted the vessel, gliding slowly above the forest of steel, his attention focused on scanning the large objects below.

SWOOSH!

A creature like a ribbonfish shot toward Shi Ming like an arrow, bypassed the Golden Ship’s air barrier, and aimed straight for his head.

With a backhand swing of his saber, Shi Ming cut the "ribbonfish" in two. The pieces fell into the vessel.

In its submerged mode, the Golden Ship’s shield wasn’t solid. It could keep out the seawater but not living creatures. He had already dealt with several similar attacks, all of which Shi Ming handled with ease.

The canoe’s cockpit was already piled with the corpses of various sea creatures.

Shi Ming stored the corpses in his system warehouse.

’These sea creatures aren’t sea beasts and don’t have any powerful awakened energy, but they might have other uses.’

After about thirty more minutes of silent travel, Shi Ming finally found something.

’Oh? A massive wreck over there? The Yellowstone?’

The Golden Ship turned as nimbly as a fish, heading for a shallow trench.

A colossal, majestic ship lay there at an angle, utterly silent.

Compared to the other wrecks, this one’s surface hadn’t suffered much corrosion from the seabed or water pressure. It was still in relatively pristine condition, save for a thick layer of sediment caked onto its hull.

It was just like the canoe Shi Ming had found beached for decades.

The corrosion resistance of a Golden Ship was extremely strong.

That was how Shi Ming had identified his target at first glance.

He suppressed his joy, knowing he had to be more cautious than ever at a time like this. One careless mistake, one sneak attack from a deep-sea creature, and he could snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

Shi Ming gripped his saber tightly.

As his Golden Ship drew near, he saw the engraved emblem of America and the Lighthouse insignia on the hull.

It was the Yellowstone, no doubt about it.

This sunken treasure, sought by countless people for years, was finally his to find.

"I will let you see the light of day again."

If Shi Ming’s system warehouse were large enough, he would have simply stored the entire ship and taken it to the surface to explore at his leisure. Unfortunately, his warehouse could only hold a few canoes.

His small vessel slipped silently toward the majestic behemoth. Corals and various ribbon-like plants growing on its deck and steel frame swayed, as if welcoming a long-awaited visitor. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Just then, a sound like something tearing shattered the silence.

SCREEECH—

The canoe-like Golden Ship shuddered violently. A glowing, bone-spurred tentacle, like a thorny vine, had instantly wrapped around the vessel’s stern, its powerful force fighting against the canoe’s own propulsion!

’Not good!’

Shi Ming swung his saber, but it was intercepted by another spurred tentacle. The heavy impact sent him staggering backward.

He managed to steady himself and finally saw the owner of the tentacles—a massive cuttlefish. It writhed grotesquely, waving its spurred appendages and spraying thick ink that clouded the surrounding water.

Shi Ming narrowed his eyes.

The murky water didn’t bother him. His night vision didn’t rely on normal sight.

’There’s one very effective way to deal with creatures like this underwater.’

’Ram it!’

He adjusted the Golden Ship’s direction and gunned the engine to maximum power.

WHOOSH! The Golden Ship shot forward like a cannonball, smashing through the barrier of eight spurred tentacles and ramming violently into the ink-spewing cuttlefish. Gripping his saber, Shi Ming used the moment of impact to viciously plunge the meter-long blade into the sea beast’s head.

In the deep sea, a high-speed submersible like the Golden Ship was the best weapon.

The cuttlefish’s body flew backward, slamming into one of the Yellowstone’s metal masts, which then slowly toppled over.

The toppling mast crashed against the hull, shaking loose a cloud of rust and sediment.

THUD.

RUMBLE—

Dozens of cuttlefish, startled by the noise, swarmed out from all over the ship’s hull. They were of all sizes, their tentacles bristling like bone spurs. After writhing for a moment, they all surged toward Shi Ming!

He had cut one down, only for dozens more to take its place!

FUCK!

Thankfully, his Golden Ship was small and nimble. Under Shi Ming’s control, he thrillingly dodged one squid attack after another. Even so, a cold, slimy, boned tentacle managed to wrap around his waist. Its grip was so tight that for a moment, Shi Ming couldn’t breathe.

Arm of Power!

The spurred tentacle around Shi Ming’s waist instantly snapped. The pressure vanished. The severed limb twitched violently as it fell, then quickly went limp.

’This isn’t a long-term solution. A dozen or so of what look like D-rank sea beasts could wear me down with sheer numbers.’

’And that’s not to mention what other sea beasts might be lurking inside this wreck.’

Shi Ming gripped his saber,

his mind racing to find a solution.

’I’m here for treasure, not to fight sea beasts. I’m not a tourist, and I’m not a deserter.’

’That’s it! I’ll try that!’

His nimble Golden Ship weaved through the dozen squids. Drawing on his knowledge of large vessels, Shi Ming fought and searched at the same time, quickly locating the Yellowstone’s bridge.

With a burst of speed, the canoe rammed open the half-closed bridge door.

A golden key appeared from Shi Ming’s warehouse. He then forcefully jammed it into a heavily corroded port.