Treasure Hunting System： The Ocean Conquerer

Chapter 714: Chapter 321 Dream Realm Stage 5

The starry curtain once again descended, obscuring the sky where the scorching sun perpetually hung.

Bright daylight instantly gave way to a night illuminated only by Starlight.

The inn on the island was located amidst the largest cluster of greenhouses.

Jason and his companion had already returned; Juanlu was busy outside.

Because of the greenhouses, the kitchens here were mostly built separate from the main buildings.

”Smelling this floral scent for so long is really getting uncomfortable,” Jason said, rubbing his nose.

The floral fragrance in the hall was now exceptionally strong, quite unlike the delicate scent present when they first entered. This was because Simon and Matilda appeared to be conducting some kind of purification experiment—extracting essence from various flower-based ingredients. It wasn’t an experiment they had planned; Juanlu had just asked them to do it.

As he spoke, Jason suddenly raised his hand, catching a small figure that flew towards him.

”Be careful,” he chided gently. ”Playing too recklessly isn’t good.”

Saying this, he placed the small figure on the table.

The Puppet Girl giggled and quickly scampered off.

Watching this, Jason could only shake his head helplessly.

At this time, Puppet Girls were scattered throughout the hall, each engrossed in her own activity. Some were reading, while others examined the peculiar furniture-plants. A few stood beside Simon and Matilda, observing their experiment and occasionally lending a hand. And, of course, there were mischievous ones like the recent flyer, engaging in various daring games. Thanks to the sturdy construction of their puppet bodies, these games posed no real danger to them.

”What are you all doing?” A heavy voice, tinged with seriousness, suddenly cut in.

It was Ling, dressed in a maid outfit.

The frolicking, mischievous Puppet Girls instantly froze. Then, with reluctance, they began to tidy up the mess they had made in the room.

Watching this unfold, Julia smiled, glancing at San who was asleep, his head resting on her shoulder.

”Oh, you’re back.”

Hearing the voice, Julia looked up. Alka and three others were walking in through the doorway. Julia gave them a quick glance. Seeing they had changed into local attire and showed no signs of injury or labored breathing, she looked away. Their trouser cuffs and sleeves were damp, however—an unavoidable consequence of their outing.

”Ah, I’m exhausted,” Alka said, heading to her room.

The others also went to their respective rooms to change and wash off the grime before reconvening in the hall.

Chadite found a spot, took out her tools, and began drawing her map; no one disturbed her.

Simon and Matilda had also finished their purification work and were now resting in the hall. Matilda handed a cup of water to Pororo.

Alka looked at Jason and asked, ”Well? Did you find anyone selling Gemstones? Ulu Liwus gave us quite an earful outside today; she’s really not happy.”

Hearing this, Jason looked a bit helpless but still produced a Gemstone, flicking it in the air to show he had managed to buy one.

Then he said, ”The Blooming Festival is just a week away. When are we going to make our move?”

”I don’t know. Let’s look at the map first,” Alka replied. ”This is definitely going to take some time.”

At least, that was Alka’s assessment, especially if they were to obtain this orange, Scepter-level Treasure.

Jason nodded and then added, ”The surroundings here aren’t safe. I saw something today—the island must have a place where wanted posters are displayed.”

”I saw quite a few fugitives there. And it’s not just them; we’ve seen wanted posters for many of these same fugitives back on Gemini Island. These guys are hiding around the Land of Spirits, lurking in various parts of the swamp.”

Alka nodded; she had anticipated as much. They must be in that vast stretch of forest not far away, she concluded.

During their reconnaissance today, they had managed to get a good understanding of the surrounding terrain. About six to nine miles from the Land of Fragrance, there was a large forest composed of swamp trees. That was the perfect hiding place. Indeed, they had also spotted numerous guards patrolling that area from time to time.

”However, this area of the Land of Spirits should be relatively safe; it’s considered the safest of the three zones, after all,” Simon remarked.

And he was right.

Among the three regions, the Life and Death Boundary was undoubtedly the most dangerous. That place was avoided by everyone—whether they were ordinary people like Alka’s group, or various cultists and criminals. The danger there stemmed purely from the harsh environment and the local undead creatures.

The second most dangerous was the Giant Wood Habitat, which covered half the Sea of Moisture. That region was pure chaos, home to indigenous tribes, conflicting faiths, and all sorts of fugitive cultists. It was a truly lawless zone. Most shipwrecks and the dire rumors about the Sea of Moisture originated from this particular area.

In contrast, if one was near the Life and Death Boundary, merely steering clear as they approached the Sea of Moisture generally ensured a high chance of survival. Of course, accidentally encountering a Ghost Ship was simply a matter of bad luck. But if one ventured into the Giant Wood Habitat, there was little that could be done to guarantee safety. Due to the rampant chaos, pirates were abundant. Moreover, it wasn’t just pirates; the fugitive cultists there also had their own ships.