Chapter 181 Night
By midnight, after consuming a large pile of materials, Li Wen could finally stably refine high-quality healing potions without any errors.
According to the definition of the Roland United Kingdom Alchemy Association, this was already the standard that a qualified Potion Master should reach.
The quality of potions would have a huge difference in upper and lower limits based on factors such as materials, processing methods, and refining techniques. This would be divided into the difference between perfect, high-quality, and ordinary potions. In the same type of potion, perfect quality potions always had 30% to 50% higher efficacy than ordinary potions, and for some types of potions, this number was even larger.
Li Wen’s requirement was to be able to refine Blue Potion of perfect quality, or barely be able to refine Exquisite Grade, which was Violet Grade.
As of now, she was still a long way from this goal.
Just as Li Wen was about to continue, she suddenly tilted her head, appearing to be listening intently.
Outside… when did it become so quiet?
The continuous torrential rain, the roaring strong winds and lightning, the surging waves and tides, they all seemed to have quietly disappeared at some unknown moment, leaving behind a stillness like death.
Li Wen couldn’t even feel the rocking and swaying of the ship as it sailed on the sea. It was as if it had drifted to a perfectly calm water surface and stopped, with no further movement. Such an atmosphere was enough to make one’s hair stand on end.
No, if you listen carefully, there are still some slight movements.
It sounded like the subtle sound of snakes slithering, their slimy bodies with scales rubbing against the damp and rough deck, leaving behind a trail of cold and viscous paths. Li Wen could already imagine this scene.
Was the old sailor’s experience true?
Somewhat surprised, Li Wen pondered. Given her current situation, it seemed to fit the development of that story perfectly, except… there was no beautiful and melodious singing.
Twin-tailed Mermaids were aquatic monsters. They were humanoid but not human, similar in size to humans, with hands that resembled human hands but with webbed palms or claws, covered in fine, slippery scales, and with lower bodies resembling split fish tails, hence the name “Twin-tailed Mermaids.” Some said they were terrifying in appearance but weak in strength, so they would emit beautiful but illogical songs to attract and confuse prey, eventually eating the prey that had fallen asleep due to the songs.
But the reality was that Twin-tailed Mermaids were creatures that acted in groups – a very common occurrence in the ocean. Their sharp and hard claws could cut through metal, their layered teeth could chew conches and reef rocks like beans, and if they acted in groups, their strength was enough to overturn ships from the bottom, turning all living beings on board into food.
If it were truly Twin-tailed Mermaids causing trouble, then staying on the ship would not be much safer. From the moment they were targeted, even Transcendent beings would have a hard time surviving.
Li Wen immediately shook her head. If there were Twin-tailed Mermaids, they would have already started hunting, and they did not possess overly powerful magical abilities. Things like changing the weather or calming the furious and unpredictable ocean were impossible for them.
Could it be a Transcendent being playing tricks?
Thinking this, Li Wen pushed open the room door.
There was no light outside the door. The usually lit candle lamp had been extinguished. The corridor was as quiet as a cemetery, and she could only feel her heartbeat and breathing.
Li Wen took out a candle she usually used as a spellcasting material and lit it. Directly opposite her room was Moria’s residence, so she went forward and knocked on the door. With such an abnormal situation, the Eldest Son of the Holy See could not possibly not notice what was happening.
However, strangely, there was no reaction from inside the room, as if no one was inside at all.
The girl raised her eyebrows and tried to push the door open, which she did with ease. The door was not locked.
The room was empty, just as she had expected. There was no one there.
The air was filled with a cold aura similar to the corridor. Li Wen carefully observed the room and noticed that the ventilation window was opened a tiny crack. The bedding on the bed was neatly folded. She went to touch it and felt only coldness, indicating that Moria had not slept there, and he might not have even spent much time in this room.
Li Wen then walked to the windowsill. A layer of thick dust had accumulated on it. Only the area beneath the opened gap was exceptionally clean, just a little damp. The window had been opened recently, she concluded.
Since Moria himself was not in his room, where could he be?
Thinking this, Li Wen left the room and saw the beautiful, doll-like, and unfathomable blond girl again in the corridor.
Princess Victoria blinked her eyes. A subtle smile appeared on her exquisite little face. She whispered, “If I remember correctly, this should be Mr. Moria’s room?”
“Are you looking for him?” The girl’s expression did not change.
“No, I’m looking for you two,” the princess explained with a shallow smile. She was wearing a pure white nightgown with a gray coat over it, looking soft and pitiable, so she spoke in a soft and pitiable tone, “Miss Mephistopheles must also have noticed the strangeness tonight. If some unknown monster had secretly infiltrated the ship, a person like me, with no ability to resist, could only rely on the two of you. After all, on this ship, you are the only ones I can trust.”
Li Wen didn’t believe a single word of the princess’s statement.
She silently walked towards the upper deck of the ship. Halfway up, she finally spoke, “Then you’d better follow closely, lest you die inexplicably.”
The blond princess chuckled happily and followed with light steps.
During this time, Li Wen knocked on several more doors, but there was no response. It was unclear whether no one lived inside, or if they were all not in their rooms like Moria.
When the two reached the upper cabin, they saw collapsed barrels, tables, and chairs, broken bottles, snapped wooden sticks, and a mess of various clutter all over the floor.
It seemed a conflict had broken out here. Li Wen bent down and picked up a piece of glass shard. It was stained with dried blood. Judging by the degree of drying, it had happened at least three or four hours ago.
That was exactly when the storm was at its fiercest. If there had been a fierce fight, it would have been covered by the sound of the waves and the wind and rain.
It was truly a good opportunity.
Li Wen said nothing. After tidying her cloak, she walked out of the cabin. She hadn’t encountered a single person along the way. Either everyone on the ship had suddenly disappeared at a certain moment, or… she and Victoria had both been caught in some illusion or magical field.
