Global Era of Star trekking

The result of this was a significant increase in Cangqiong's scanning speed. In just half a month, it had covered over three-quarters of the entire Central Great Swamp, with less than a quarter of the area left unexplored.

Moreover, in this half-month, he had gained a considerable number of qualified deep water clam pearls. Now, with the 300-year pearls he had collected, he had reached a total of 30.

There were also 10 pearls of the 500-year variety.

4 pearls of 700 years.

And 2 pearls of 900 years.

The only regret was that he still hadn't found any deep water clam pearls that were over a thousand years old.

About this, Song Chi had some speculation. It was very likely that some people from the Song Family Clan had beaten him to it, taking those thousand-year pearls away with special warship components after having roamed the Northern Region seabed.

Otherwise, with so many swamps in the Northern Region, so vast and extensive, it would be unreasonable not to find even a single thousand-year pearl.

Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle!

Ahead, the water currents were violently split apart, and numerous bubbles surfaced before a massive black serpentine tail swooped across horizontally.

Indeed, Cangqiong was currently in the midst of battle, facing the consequences of recklessly traversing the bottom of the Central Great Swamp—the inevitable confrontations with Third Rank Blackwater Xuan Snakes.

Fortunately, the number of Third Rank Blackwater Xuan Snakes lurking in the Northern Region's swamps had greatly decreased, thanks to the conscription efforts of the Soul Spirit Clan. Otherwise, with all the commotion, the Central Great Swamp would have long been in an uproar.

Without taking control of Cangqiong to avoid it, Song Chi, who had already fought many times over the past half-month, knew all too well that an ordinary Third Rank Peak Blackwater Xuan Snake could not inflict much damage on the Neutron Star Core Armor of "Red Quality."

After a battle, at most, the armor would sustain 5% or 6% damage, and it would take less than half a minute to return to its peak condition.

At the bow, the Pure Yang Sword Beam Cannon roared again.
Your journey continues with empire

The next moment, the Blackwater Xuan Snake, which had already been struck by two cannon shots, was dead for good. Its kilometer-long body sank into the tens of thousands of meters deep water, never to make a sound again.

Watching the body slowly sink, Song Chi couldn't help but feel it was a pity. During the past half-month, Cangqiong had killed no fewer than eight Third Rank Blackwater Xuan Snakes, but other than providing a few strands of Second-Rank Floating Land Origin, these snake corpses had no other value.

It was difficult for them to condense energy crystals within their bodies, nor did they have insect race-like delicacies. Aside from being used to feed some carnivorous captive creatures, it seemed they really had no other use.

Given the current situation of Cangqiong, it was obviously not feasible to tow these corpses directly to the Western Region's Merit Hall for merit exchange.

Therefore, Song Chi could only watch helplessly as these snake corpses sank to the bottom of the water.

This inevitably made him feel regretful.

Third Rank creatures were not considered Low Rank beings in the Shattered Starry Sea. Generally, they needed at least several decades or even a hundred years to grow to such a level.

Compared to this growth time, the yield of just a strand of Second-Rank Floating Land Origin seemed inequitable, leaving Song Chi feeling somewhat dissatisfied.

But he was well aware that this was reality. The Starry Sea was vast, and the variety of different alien races was endless.

Apart from those with special innate gifts, the value of most alien races was simple. Other than being enslaved as cannon fodder, they would be used to feed other potentially more viable creatures, which was not surprising.

After dealing with the Blackwater Xuan Snake, Cangqiong continued to advance forward.

Minutes later, deep within tens of thousands of meters at the bottom of the swamp, Song Chi's expression suddenly lit up with immense joy inside the main control room of Cangqiong. Just a moment ago, his ears had picked up a prompt from the semi-automatic onboard intelligence.

[Ten thousand meters ahead, life energy fluctuations resembling deep water clams have been detected, estimated to be over 3000 years old.]

No wonder Song Chi was thrilled; a 3000-year-old deep water clam had a not insignificant chance of nurturing pearls over a thousand years old.

However, amidst his delight, Song Chi was also puzzled. According to the Silver III Generation Super-wave Magical Energy Detection Radar, the region where the clam was active was only a few dozen meters deep within the mud layer.

Logically, such a depth was entirely within reach of whatever unknown party had beaten him to this part of the seabed.

"Why didn't they take this clam as well?"

Song Chi pondered rapidly, but he didn't have to think too long as a slight tremble was felt from the Ancestral Aperture between his eyebrows.

[The mission ends here. All clan members are advised to leave the Soul Spirit Floating Land within the next three days!]

...

Were these three top-priority messages issued by the First Direct Lineage's United Front Department as an evacuation notice?

This message also completely affirmed the inklings in the depths of Song Chi's mind.

He didn't ponder any longer. The engines of Cangqiong restarted, and its powerful thrust propelled the warship forward.

Although the scorching flames of its tail were covered by the Void Membrane, the steaming bubbles created in the water due to the high temperature were clearly visible, leaving a long trail of bubbles behind Cangqiong.

Seconds later, Cangqiong reached the location indicated by the Magic Energy Detection Radar, where the 3000-year-old deep water clam was found.

Nearby a massive coral reef, the clam was nestled among the sand and mud. As Cangqiong drew closer, a traction beam shot out from the warship, shining directly on the upper layer of the mud where the deep water clam resided.

As time passed, the mud layer was gradually cleared, and just as they were about to reach the 3000-year-old clam, Song Chi's eyes brimmed with deep anticipation.