Chapter 784 - 144: Lamp Bulb Seaweed
"Is that dog still following us?"
"No, it’s been left far behind, completely out of sight."
"That’s good."
Although not saving it is somewhat cruel, they’re not members of an animal protection society. On this Water Planet where they can’t ensure their own survival, not eating dog meat is already the greatest mercy.
Han Zhan withdrew his thoughts and looked again at the drizzly ocean.
The daytime ocean is much calmer compared to nighttime, with some waves, but nothing to worry about.
The only annoying thing is the weather.
The continuous rainy days inevitably dampen one’s spirits.
"What do you think, since the Water Planet has been transformed into a virtual game planet, what would be its main storyline?"
Li Lingzhen asked while reaching for the table.
"Finding the Pirate King’s treasure, reaching the end of the legendary Great Sea Route?" Han Zhan said, almost blurting it out.
After saying it, he too reached for the table.
"I don’t think so. Our current priority should be to find a new supply port and then spend a wave."
As the second mate, Shang Siteng, acting as the accountant for the "Gray Sparrow," calculated after speaking. They currently have six hundred and fifty-five water coins, which should be enough to stock up well.
After she spoke, she also reached for the table.
"Hey, hey, hey, leave me some!"
Nuannuan said angrily.
On the table was a plate of millet puffs, one of Xia Youwei’s innovative dishes, a small snack.
"Millet puffs (spicy flavor): slightly increase fullness, relax the spirit — a must-have small snack for sailing adventures."
"Hunger Value +0.1, Spiritual Value +0.5"
Hmm, a very slight replenishment, better than nothing.
The main issue is that everyone is really tired of egg fried rice, and needs a break.
"Where’s Youwei?"
"She’s still busy in the kitchen, with Xiao Zao together, since there’s nothing else to do."
Gongyang Jin replied.
Just as they were talking about them, Xia Youwei and Feng Xiaozao appeared in the helm room.
"Ah Zhan, we discovered something in the water!"
Xia Youwei immediately announced.
Her words instantly tightened the relaxed strings in everyone’s hearts.
"Another monster?" Han Zhan asked sternly.
Nuannuan and Jiang Lingling were also standing, preparing to go to the deck, load ammunition, and get ready to face an enemy.
Feng Xiaozao waved her hand, "No need to be so tense, this time the discovery is not an enemy."
"Not an enemy?" Hearing this, Han Zhan and the other Contracted Spirit Girls looked at each other.
"Let’s have Youwei explain."
After saying that, Feng Xiaozao turned her head to Xia Youwei, who then cleared her throat and explained:
"Here’s the situation."
"Xiao Zao and I were in the kitchen researching various methods of cooking rice and eggs. Different combinations of ingredients lead to different value changes."
"Just like egg fried rice, cooking it with one hundred grams of rice and one hundred grams of eggs, versus one hundred grams of rice and one gram of eggs — both are called egg fried rice, but the Hunger Value and Spiritual Value gained are highly different."
"So, we need constant experimentation to find the most cost-effective combination."
Hearing this, Han Zhan nodded lightly.
Unexpectedly, Youwei and Xiao Zao analyzed the culinary task in such detail, even he overlooked these details.
Xia Youwei continued, "The ’Gray Sparrow’s’ kitchen is located on the second floor of the cabin, at a deeper draft, allowing us to see below the ocean’s surface through the portholes."
"Since there’s no fine rain interfering with the view, we saw an amber light, different from the ocean color, not far from the ’Gray Sparrow,’ very distinct."
At this point, she paused.
For some reason, Han Zhan noticed "excitement" in Xia Youwei’s eyes.
"It’s an ingredient!" Xia Youwei’s next words were decisive and certain.
Her words ignited the helm room.
"What? Ingredient?"
"Are you sure it’s food?"
"Where’s the food, which direction is it?"
The girls all asked eagerly.
The reason was simple — they didn’t want to continue eating egg fried rice, or rather, they wished to pair some other dishes with the egg fried rice.
"Are you sure it’s food?" Han Zhan, unlike them, asked calmly.
"I am sure!" Xia Youwei nodded earnestly.
Afraid Han Zhan wouldn’t believe her, she took out a thick book.
This book’s pages were frighteningly yellow, with scarred holes from erosion, as if flipping any page would cause it to disintegrate.
"I found this ’recipe’ in the kitchen, recording many edible plants growing in the Water Planet sea, including the orange light."
"It’s called Lamp Bulb Seaweed, a plant floating in the sea. It has no fixed growth location and typically floats according to ocean currents, randomly appearing throughout the Water Planet sea."
"The Lamp Bulb Seaweed resembles kelp in appearance, and after three years, it bears a glowing round fruit underwater, named so due to its bulb-like shape."
"It emits orange light to lure sea creatures to swallow it, carrying its seeds elsewhere to germinate."
"Once peeled, the Lamp Bulb Seaweed’s fruits contain an orangish fluid-like substance, called Lamp Bulb Soup."
"The recipe records that its taste is akin to soda, but drinking too much induces deep sleep."
Xia Youwei provided a complete description of "Lamp Bulb Seaweed" in one breath.
Evidently, she’s devoted substantial effort to quickly fulfill her role as the "Gray Sparrow’s" chef.
"Didn’t Ah Zhan say that food tainted by seawater gets cursed with an Evil Curse, unfit for consumption?"
"Without resolving that final one percent of Evil Curse, are we really going to risk trying it?"
"No, no," Xia Youwei shook her head, "It isn’t like that."
"Though Lamp Bulb Seaweed grows in the sea, its fruits’ interior, and the fluid aren’t directly exposed to seawater."
"Thus, the recipe clearly indicates that the Lamp Bulb Seaweed’s fruit is a delicious food, without worrying about the Evil Curse!"
After Xia Youwei’s words, everyone’s eyes lit up.
"What are we waiting for?"
"Youwei, tell us the direction of the Lamp Bulb Water Grass you spotted just now."
"Xiao Jin, you’re responsible for controlling the ’Gray Sparrow’s’ direction, and slowing its speed."
"Everyone else, check the grocery hold, see if there’s a net, hook, or any tools, something to harvest the Lamp Bulb Water Grass."
"I’ll grab those two wooden barrels to store the pulp!"
Han Zhan swiftly instructed.