Treasure Hunting System： The Ocean Conquerer

If the Land of Spirits were considered a country, it could basically be called a religious nation. The organization handling daily affairs is the Church. The person in charge of the Emerald Fortress is called the Gardener, a position somewhat like that of a Bishop. The elderly woman in religious attire encountered earlier was the Gardener of this Island. During the defensive battle, Alka and the others confirmed that she was indeed in the Fifth Stage. Her strength was undeniably powerful.

Following this line of reasoning, the one overseeing the entire Land of Spirits, known as the Great Gardener, would have to be an existence possessing at least Sixth Stage strength. Possibly even higher. After all, this place was the Sea of Moisture, where all manner of demons and spirits dwelled. The fact that the believers of the Flower Fairy could live quite peacefully in this area, and even had the capability to undertake actions to revive their fallen Divine, indicated they possessed enough strength to fend off external threats.

Many forces were interested in this Sea of Moisture area. Not to mention, this eerie place had become a hideout for criminals from several nearby Landmark Islands to the east, full of treasure spots, hiding places, and dwelling areas. Without considerable strength, they couldn’t protect the safety of this place.

This was evident from the strength of some soldiers on the Island. In the battle, Alka and the others had seen at least thirty soldiers with strength above the Third Stage, most holding minor positions. They had also spotted several people with Fourth Stage strength.

Alka and the others followed Chadite to explore the surrounding terrain. Along the way, they encountered several soldiers who had fought alongside them. These soldiers would smile and greet them. But if you asked who among their group was the most popular, it would definitely be Matilda. After all, who wouldn’t like a doctor who could quickly heal wounds?

The Island wasn’t very large overall. The most noticeable structure was the giant flower at the island’s center. The colossal flower structure stood seven or eight meters tall, and its tightly closed heart alone was as large as a person. The entire flower emitted a faint glow. It was clear that this was certainly related to the Flower Fairy.

However, since the Island wasn’t big, they quickly surveyed the terrain. Chadite had, after all, already begun surveying during the battle. After completing their detection, they boarded the Flying Swallow and began to move slowly around the area. The circle Alka had drawn also included a large swamp region.

The swamp around the Island wasn’t endless like the previous areas; instead, it had a type of tree. These trees didn’t grow in soil but within the tangled vines of the saltwater swamp. Their roots were extraordinarily developed, entwining the underlying vines and binding them firmly. Moreover, the roots of the trees also entangled one another. This resulted in these trees growing in large patches, and their trunks looked as if they were formed by tightly twisted gray vines.

These trees gathered in clumps, becoming the only noticeable feature in the surrounding swamp. Far in the distance, a large grove of such trees could even be seen. These small groves were surrounded by rich plant life and some fish, seemingly good spots for fishing. This was because their roots pierced the vines, creating large holes leading to deeper waters. Yet, they didn’t make their surroundings too fragile; the area remained stable.

Chadite, who was on the boat spreading silver waves downward to probe her surroundings, suddenly said, ”Something is hidden beneath this swamp.”

Upon hearing this, the three nearby immediately turned to look at her. Chadite closed her eyes. The silver waves emanating from her were no longer hidden; they became clearly visible as they spread downwards, probing the waters. These waves penetrated the surface and the matted vines that formed their footing, exploring deeper still.

”It must be some kind of stone building,” she continued. ”The ruins of these buildings, entwined with plants, have merged with the entire swamp, becoming one with it.”

”Pororo,” Alka called out as soon as he heard this.

Pororo nodded, squatted on the spot, and pushed hard against the vines he stood on. He found a relatively weak spot and, with a strong push, tore open a rupture. The vines in this weaker area were not densely interwoven and were easily torn apart, creating an opening. Pororo dived directly through the hole.

As soon as Pororo dived underwater, he noticed the difference in this area. Pieces of man-made stone rubble hung suspended in the water around him. These ruins were entwined by plant vines, which held them drifting in the Ocean. Many seaweeds, mosses, and corals were attached to these plants. All kinds of fish swam around; this place had clearly become a haven for marine life.

Moreover, underwater, Pororo could see more, and with greater clarity. The area of these ruins was far from small; it could even be described as vast. Besides the pile of bound stones before him, there were many places where the vines were unusually thick, with countless tendrils hanging down into the sea. These tendrils descended tens, even dozens, of meters into the depths. He could see them hanging thickly below, still binding countless stone ruins.