Ocean Lords: Start Harvesting Double from Dice Rolls Chapter 623 - 317: [Ancient Holy Dragon Stone]

The Fisherman fixed his gaze on Fang Yu standing before him, his deeply lined face displaying a timeless serenity that made one ponder how many eras he had endured in this world. The etchings on his features and the profound depth in his eyes hinted at innumerable years of existence.

Even as Fang Yu directly revealed the Fisherman’s schemes, the old man betrayed no flicker of emotion like an ordinary individual would.

No trace of fury or evasion surfaced.

He appeared well-versed in the intrigues and cravings of mankind, addressing Fang Yu in a steady voice:

"You should be careful; Yuanqi has his eyes on you."

"Protect your ship."

His words emerged in a hushed tone, raspy and parched like that of a wanderer lost in the sands for days without a drop to drink, resembling the harsh grind of rusted metal edges.

Fang Yu remained unmoved by the Fisherman’s rough timbre, instead eyeing him with keen interest:

"Who is Yuanqi?"

"He is what you call... the embodiment of the Alchemy Era Leader."

Hearing this from the Fisherman, surprise flashed across Fang Yu’s face.

Thus, the Alchemy Leader went by Yuanqi? It marked the first occasion he had encountered that name.

Notwithstanding the Fisherman’s caution, Fang Yu dismissed it with a casual shrug.

True, he had seized three pages of the Ocean Scripture from Yuanqi, making it inevitable that the man would set his sights on him. The old man’s heads-up felt redundant.

"That’s not what you think."

The Fisherman shot Fang Yu a knowing look, as if deciphering his mind from that very expression.

"It’s not about the Ocean Scripture but something else within you."

Locking eyes calmly with Fang Yu, the Fisherman continued: "His stance at the Peacekeeping Council was odd. If it were just about the Ocean Scripture, he wouldn’t have reacted that way."

"There’s something about you that greatly interests him."

A jolt ran through Fang Yu at the Fisherman’s revelation, prompting him to knit his brows.

Something about him piqued Yuanqi’s curiosity?

If not the Ocean Scripture, what else could it be?

What other possession did he hold that might captivate a figure of such stature, besides the Ocean Scripture? Was there more?

"Hmm?"

Suddenly, Fang Yu’s features changed as a memory surfaced—he had deployed a unique skill in his clashes with Yuanqi.

The [Negation] talent!

He had nullified Yuanqi’s capture of him, turning the powerful man’s efforts to naught.

Fang Yu had experimented with his comrades, finding that upon activating the talent, they forgot the negated events or words, merely recalling his use of a secret weapon to slip away from Yuanqi.

Breaking free from such a powerhouse proved immensely challenging, though not utterly impossible with rare artifacts.

Back then, all believed he clutched some lifesaving treasure, narrowly fleeing with his life.

Only Yuanqi...

Likely owing to his superior realm and might, Yuanqi hadn’t been wholly fooled by the talent, detecting an anomaly.

Did Yuanqi covet his talent?

Fang Yu’s face grew taut, his forehead creasing faintly.

"Be extra careful these days; he may act against you."

The Fisherman’s gravelly words lingered in the air, drawing a soft laugh from Fang Yu.

"Why are you laughing?"

The Fisherman eyed Fang Yu steadily.

With a grin, Fang Yu met the Fisherman’s gaze and stated plainly: "Since Yuanqi has targeted me, shouldn’t you find a way to help me escape from danger?"

"If you fancy my ship, we can have a showdown in the future; that’s fine, let’s rely on our own abilities."

Fang Yu declared boldly: "But if you truly treat my ship as your possession, then when others of similar caliber focus on me, wouldn’t they essentially be targeting your personal property?"

"It’s you who should be troubled about not being found by Yuanqi; caution is yours, not mine."

"At worst, let him capture me, but you’d lose a promising ship, right?"

"If I’m not mistaken, you’re waiting for me to upgrade the ship before targeting me, correct? Right now, my ship can’t withstand your power."

Fang Yu laughed, opening his palms in a fearless display.

Faced with Fang Yu’s demeanor, the Fisherman’s brows furrowed ever so slightly.

After a brief pause, he conceded with a nod: "You do have a point; if Yuanqi acts against you, the one to stop him should indeed be me."

"However... I can block Yuanqi, but his forces and subordinates are beyond my intervention, lest I breach the rules of the Peacekeeping Council."

"If his subordinates come knocking, you have to handle that yourself."

The Fisherman murmured gently.

"Alright then!"

Relief washed over Fang Yu then; he chuckled and thrust out his hand toward the Fisherman in an insistent demand.

"Since that’s the case, hand them over!"

The Fisherman blinked in surprise: "Hand over what?"

"Of course, the perks, the treasure!"

Fang Yu stated bluntly: "Given your interest in my ship, we'll face off against each other down the line."

"Yet in the meantime, you surely hope for my ship to advance as far as it can, don't you?"

"Hand over any treasures capable of strengthening the ship, so I can perform the upgrades."

"Oh, and I'm getting ready for the ship's Extraordinary Transformation, essential for its future power and depending completely on how well this transformation goes."