Chapter 593 The Feast

Xia Nan was quite satisfied with his newly acquired feat, [Layered Waves].

Although it was just a rough text description on the Attribute Panel, it was still a special ability he had naturally acquired after maxing out [Heavy Tide] and reaching Level 2 in [Gravity Control].

The feat perfectly complemented his combat style.

After studying the panel's explanation of the feat a few times, he grasped its specific applications.

In short, as long as he imbued every attack with [Heavy Tide] while fighting a single enemy, the effects of the [Layered Waves] feat would stack, gradually enhancing his Strength and attack speed.

Its primary use case was for one-on-one elite boss battles, similar to his recent fight against the Bloodskin Shark Beast.

To some extent, with the bonus of this feat, Xia Nan would only grow fiercer as the fight dragged on, his overall combat power steadily rising the longer a battle lasted.

However, a few details still needed confirming.

For example, would the "gravity vortex" left on an enemy by a [Layered Waves] attack dissipate if he temporarily switched targets?

When facing a group of enemies, if he used area-of-effect combat techniques like [Spinning Slash] and [Fang Hunt] to strike multiple foes simultaneously, would a gravity vortex be left on every single target he hit?

Naturally, the ever-concise Attribute Panel didn't explain such specific details regarding the feat's usage.

Xia Nan would have to confirm them one by one through daily practice and actual combat, deepening his understanding of the feat to better integrate it with his style.

Of course, all of that was for later.

Having finally pushed [Gravity Control] to Level 2 and acquired a new feat and Battle Posture, he naturally wanted to immediately test out the specific changes.

But right now, he was still recovering from severe injuries sustained in the intense battle. His body was weak, and the mental energy he had overdrawn to control gravity at such high intensity had yet to fully replenish.

Let alone unleashing [Gravity Control], even thinking a little too hard made him feel exhausted and drowsy.

Detailed testing of his changed abilities would have to wait a while longer.

As for now—

With nothing else to do while trapped on Stodd Island, Xia Nan planned to use this idle time to figure out his next steps.

In the short term, his goal was obviously to heal his injuries as quickly as possible, then find an opportunity with his teammates to break through the fishmen's encirclement.

Once they returned to Barracuda Bay, he would carefully sort through the gains from this journey, including the loot taken from the fishmen and other adventurers.

Yes—he also needed to find a reliable blacksmith to repair or replace his enchanted gear that had been ruined or damaged during the fighting.

That would likely cost a small fortune. Given Xia Nan's current combat intensity, ordinary mundane equipment wouldn't last more than a few exchanges against powerful enemies; enchanted gear was a must.

Of course, the exact quality and tier of the equipment would depend on the actual circumstances.

But considering the hefty sum of gold coins he was guaranteed to earn from this mission, even if he spent the majority of it forging new gear, he figured he would still have a clear surplus.

Therefore, Xia Nan wasn't worried about his finances.

Next, looking at his long-term goals.

His ultimate purpose for coming to the Southern Archipelagos—the [Dream Weaving Corridor] key—was now in his hands. This journey could be considered a complete success, allowing Xia Nan to fulfill the milestone plan he had set earlier.

With that as a baseline, his next objective was to find a combat technique that suited his fighting style, ideally one that could integrate into his [Hunting Arc] Battle Posture, continuing to elevate his strength.

Along the way, he would gather information about secret realms, using them to absorb and stockpile energy for the [Dream Weaving Corridor].

Finally, now that his Class Level had reached Level 4, it was time to consider a secondary class.

Whether it was fate-related combat techniques or large-scale rituals used for deterrence, he could start preparing for them.

Pondering this, something suddenly came to mind.

Xia Nan set down his teacup. His gaze instinctively flicked to Lorraine, who was puffing on a cigarette beside him, and then to Ellison, who was mixing colors on a canvas found in the mansion's study a short distance away.

After a moment's thought, he reached into his coat and pulled out the [Dream Weaving Corridor] key he had forcibly torn from the Shark Beast's chest right before he passed out.

He had never been the sneaky type. If he found a piece of useful gear that perfectly suited him after a battle, he would straightforwardly express his thoughts to his teammates, even if it meant making up the price difference or giving up his claim on other loot.

Right now, the key was undeniably his personal spoil of war.

Even if Xia Nan said nothing and just kept it in his pocket all the way back to Barracuda Bay, no one here would voice a single word of criticism.

But on the other hand, after learning that Ellison and Lorraine were Lyle Morton's children, he was keenly aware that the metal ring in his hand was one of the few remaining relics their father had left in this world.

After fighting side-by-side multiple times, Xia Nan already viewed the members of the Blade of Vengeance Squad as friends he could trust with his back.

Out of both emotion and reason, he felt he shouldn't hide this from them.

"You didn't actually have to tell us," Lorraine said.

Surprised by Xia Nan's candor, she rolled the metal ring between her fingers to examine it briefly, then smiled without a trace of reluctance and handed the key back to him.

To his surprise, after Xia Nan frankly explained the situation, both Lorraine and Ellison took it entirely in stride.

On one hand, it came down to the unspoken rules of adventurers and the regulations of the Blade of Vengeance Squad.

Having made the greatest contribution in the battle, Xia Nan rightfully held the authority to distribute the spoils.

If he wanted to keep something, he could just take it. It was completely justified, and there was no need to consult with them.

On the other hand, it was true that their father, Lyle Morton, had become an obsession for the two of them over the years.

But now, the culprit behind his death, "Algae Scale" Dodd, had been used as a sacrifice in the fishmen's sacrificial ritual, his corpse destroyed. The hatred associated with him had finally come to an end.

While the two wouldn't say their obsession had instantly vanished, they felt largely relieved and wouldn't harbor hard feelings over one or two so-called relics of their father.

Moreover, Xia Nan was the "chief culprit" who had directly ruined Dodd's advancement ritual, indirectly causing his death.

Taking both into account, even knowing that this metal ring was a relic left by their father, neither of them harbored any hidden resentment—especially when Xia Nan had deliberately brought it up when he could have easily kept it a secret.

"So the reason you came to the Southern Archipelagos from the inland was for this?" Ellison asked casually, mixing paints nearby.

Having spent so much time together, even though Xia Nan had never explicitly stated why he had traveled over mountains and rivers from Cloudclimb Province to the sea, none of them were fools. They all had their guesses.

Now, things were clear.

However, as veteran adventurers with years of experience, they knew what to ask and what to leave alone. They didn't pry any further, simply maintaining the unique unspoken understanding shared among adventurers.

Similarly, while Xia Nan was honest, he wasn't completely naive.

He could explain the metal ring's origins to the two of them, but he wouldn't reveal the existence of the [Dream Weaving Corridor] to anyone. Its exaggerated ability to enhance combat technique proficiency was truly frightening to ordinary adventurers. If others found out, it would easily invite trouble.

Seeing Lorraine and Ellison's attitude after he explained the situation, Xia Nan let go of his last shred of hesitation and carefully examined the metal ring.

Its overall style was identical to the [Dream Weaving Corridor] terminal. The surface had no special decorative patterns, nor were there any visible seams or inlays; it was forged as a single piece of exquisitely textured silver-white metal.

At first glance, it appeared remarkably ordinary. Yet even a rustic farmer with zero knowledge of the Transcendent Tier, if looking closely, would notice a unique alien style entirely different from any item in this world.

He pinched it between his fingers and rubbed the surface, feeling a warm, smooth texture against his skin.

On his right ring finger, the [Dream Weaving Corridor] terminal, disguised as a Silver Ring, had previously vibrated violently at the key's appearance. Now, it was motionless on the surface, no longer as active, yet a wave of urgent, searing heat radiated from the inside of the ring pressed against his skin.

Looking at the metal ring in his hand—several sizes larger than a thumb ring but noticeably narrower than a bracelet—Xia Nan suddenly felt an invisible, magnetic attraction pulling from the [Dream Weaving Corridor] terminal on his right ring finger.

Since he was already studying how to use the key, he naturally brought them close, slipping the metal ring onto the very same finger wearing the terminal's Silver Ring.

"Ding."

"..."

"Buzz—"

A powerful, invisible force suddenly erupted between the two silver rings.

Xia Nan instinctively let go.

The metal ring, which would have been too loose even on his thumb, seemed to awaken. Spinning slowly, it rapidly shrank in size.

Finally, with a crisp metallic clink, it merged perfectly with the terminal.

It transformed into a flawless, silver-white double-banded ring with an even more intricate design, appearing as though two rings were interlocking and overlapping in an "X" shape, refracting an alien metallic luster.

It automatically expanded and contracted to adjust its size, settling tightly against the skin of Xia Nan's ring finger at the most comfortable diameter without hindering his daily movements.

At the same time, the emotionless, mechanical notification tone unique to the [Dream Weaving Corridor] terminal echoed in his mind.

"[Dream Weaving Corridor] key detected. Verifying serial number—"

"Verification successful!"

"Scanning biological signatures. Attempting to merge neural roaming terminal—"

"36%—75%—99%—Merge successful!"

"Key activated!"

"Dream Weaver, welcome!"

'Finally...'

His long journey all the way here alone from Rivervale Town had not been in vain.

After spending several entire months, Xia Nan had finally obtained the key to the [Dream Weaving Corridor]!

This meant that from now on, his only limitation when activating the [Dream Weaving Corridor] terminal would be whether it had enough stored energy.

He would no longer need to worry about figuring out the key, nor would he have to consume precious items like the [Fate Coin] to input a dynamic key.

Foreseeably, with this moment as a turning point, Xia Nan's Class Level would rapidly soar at a terrifying speed far exceeding that of ordinary adventurers in this world.

Leaning back against the soft sofa, he breathed a sigh of relief.

At that exact moment, accompanied by a flurry of rapid yet inexplicably steady footsteps, the halfling Alton—who had been in the kitchen ever since Xia Nan woke up—waddled into the living room. He was carrying a massive iron pot nearly half his size, leaving only his fine leather boots visible as he walked.

Sweet and rich—

A scent that was incredibly familiar yet never tiring—and in fact, even more enticing than usual—wafted out from the gap under the lid. It permeated the air, eventually drifting into everyone's noses with each breath they took.

Xia Nan's eyes lit up.

He stood up and helped the little guy take the iron pot, setting it firmly on the table before lifting the lid.

As a fragrant cloud of steam rose—looking almost like materialized milky vapor—a pot of creamy mushroom soup was revealed. It exuded an inexplicable warmth, its thick, velvety texture and soft white color incredibly mouthwatering.

Alton seemed quite satisfied with Xia Nan's reaction.

The little guy put his hands on his hips and tilted his round, blunt chin up slightly, displaying a touch of pride that wasn't the least bit annoying.

"Hehe! I didn't expect the kitchen to be so well-stocked, so I stewed a pot of creamy mushroom soup!"

"I specifically asked the chef at the Three-Legged Sea Dog Tavern for advice before, and I used their secret recipe. It's guaranteed to be delicious!"

"Try it! Hurry and try it!"

Alton had cooked a massive pot, enough for everyone present to enjoy a large, hearty bowl. That included Sarissa upstairs, who had suffered the most severe injuries but was now out of danger and resting quietly.

Having exhausted their stamina through multiple battles, the squad members were famished. Smelling such a rich aroma, the atmosphere in the room instantly livened up.

Hum—

Suddenly, a soft yet bright light shone from the side.

Sensing the magical particles in the air faintly rippling and turning active, Xia Nan instinctively turned to look out the window.

Without him noticing, night had already fallen.

A bright moon hung high in the sky. Its silver-white glow carried a faint touch of serene blue, and a soft, gorgeous halo rippled outward from its edges, blending in layers. It looked like a flower bud formed of pure moonlight, slowly blooming against the backdrop of the tranquil night sky.

It was as if someone had sprinkled finely ground mother-of-pearl powder across the heavens. Amidst the shifting river of stars, a ribbon-like, shimmering blue aurora unfurled and spread, transforming into vibrant bands of light that flowed and cascaded like an upside-down river across the firmament.

Out in the garden, as if resonating with the active magical particles in the air, the vines, meadows, and flowers that had been cloaked in darkness were all dyed a soft, serene blue by the moonlight. They radiated a warm, gentle luminescence in the quiet night, driving away the gloom.

A silent realization dawned on Xia Nan.

'The Lunar Tide Banquet is here.'

When he had first heard of this festival, he had assumed it would be some grand, magnificent, and vibrant large-scale evening gala.

But looking at it now—

His gaze swept over Lorraine's half-smoked cigarette, Ellison's fishing rod leaning against the wall, and the Tabaxi Sasha's long tail, whose bald patches were currently being touched up with brown paint...

In his ears rang the banter between the barbarian Aken and Sasha, mingling with the halfling Alton's involuntary chuckles as he basked in his friends' praises.

Xia Nan scooped up a spoonful of the creamy mushroom soup and brought it to his mouth.

Feeling the sweet, rich creaminess bursting on his tongue, his eyes involuntarily narrowed in enjoyment.

"This isn't bad at all."