Saltwater Swamp

However, after this round.

Evan also gained a general understanding of the prices at the Crow Market, so he wouldn't be completely clueless and get ripped off without knowing.

One thing to note is that the common currency used for transactions in the Crow Market is the same as outside, using Gold Lions and Silver Bulls. This is because high-purity gold, silver, and other precious metals are themselves valuable spellcasting materials and are also very useful for transcendents.

"Fortunately, I still have some Gold Lions."

Purchasing the Blue Flag Demon Shark's transcendent characteristics didn't cost Evan any money himself. He now has gold notes worth over three thousand Gold Lions in his pocket, which is a fortune that could keep an ordinary person worry-free for life, as long as he doesn't spend it recklessly.

However, Evan was somewhat disappointed that the level of items sold here didn't seem very high, and most of the transcendents in the market were also of very ordinary strength.

When Evan activated his own Spirit Power attribute, the Data Vision also updated accordingly. Although it couldn't instantly determine the strength of others' Spirit Power, based on Evan's own senses, he could still make a rough judgment.

Apprentice-level Tier 1 transcendents accounted for 99.9% of the people here, and there were very few Knight-class individuals like himself. Most of them were on the path of magic-oriented professions that had already activated their Spirit Power.

But for Evan, who was already a Formal Knight, most of these people were weaklings.

As apprentice-level wizards, they could cast spells and perform rituals using potions or pre-prepared witchcraft tools, which excelled in unpredictability.

However, in sudden combat, their actual direct offensive power might not even be as high as that of an ordinary sailor wielding a Musket.

This was also the awkwardness of magic-oriented apprentice-level professions. Ninety-nine percent of the unlucky ones captured and executed by the church were at this level.

If Evan hadn't taken on two professions, this would also be the problem he would face.

Having scanned the stalls once, Evan turned his attention to the areas around the Crow Market that were clearly shops.

Just as merchants with long-term fixed assets outside gave people a more reliable feeling than roadside stalls, his intuition told him that there should be more high-end things inside.

But when he casually walked into the first shop, the scene inside made him slightly stunned.

This shop was actually a divination hut.

And "Zorro," who hadn't been seen since entering the Crow Market, was now sitting openly behind a table with a crystal ball on it, acting as a fortune teller.

A red curtain with gold tassels was drawn in front of him, and the green smoke formed by incense curled up like clouds and mist, creating an atmosphere so mysterious and unpredictable that even among wizards, it was considered intense, making people involuntarily hold their breath.

Moreover, "Zorro's" attire had changed again. His face was completely covered by a silver mask inlaid with white crystals, and he was wearing a white robe with various ornaments hanging on his body, making him look very androgynous.

In the deliberately created sense of mystery, strangers couldn't even tell if he was male or female, old or young.

"'Zorro' is actually a fortune teller?!"

This discovery was somewhat unexpected to Evan, but it also explained why he was able to learn about Leon's Diary hidden on the supply ship without the quartermaster's knowledge.

Moreover, whether in the fantasy works of his previous life or in his understanding of the transcendent world in this life, diviners of the prophecy school were not known for their combat prowess.

No wonder he didn't use any witchcraft methods during the battle that night.

"Welcome, guest! Would you like a divination?" A very androgynous voice, indistinguishable in gender, sounded. Whether it was Evan's illusion or not, he always felt that his words contained a very strong sense of anticipation.

"As long as it directly points to something or someone no higher than Tier 1, my divination is very effective." Seeing Evan's hesitation, "Zorro" added.

"Alright, then help me take a look." Evan really had something he needed reliable information on. For the sake of a "familiar face," Evan didn't mind giving "Zorro" a chance.

The Crow Market was indeed a gathering place for magic-oriented professions. When collecting herbs before, Evan had already collected the Birdsong Potion after just one round, and the Whale Potion, which could enhance a knight's digestion and absorption abilities, was only missing one ingredient.

But it was this last ingredient, the Saltwater Crocodile's scales, that couldn't be found in the market. Perhaps he could find the answer here with "Zorro," and even if something went wrong, it wouldn't matter, he could just go somewhere else to look.

Following "Zorro's" guidance, Evan sat down opposite him.

"You don't need to tell me what you need.

Please look at my crystal ball and imagine your question. The more detailed and profound, the better the effect.

Afterward, I will tell you the answer."

In "Zorro's" calm tone, Evan stared at the crystal ball on his desk, placed on a piece of oak heartwood, and tried to imagine the shape, texture, and function of the Saltwater Crocodile scales.

"Alright. Five kilometers northeast, you can find what you're looking for."

Evan was quickly awakened by "Zorro's" voice, instantly breaking free from the meditation-like state.

Just now, Evan felt his senses become entangled with the crystal ball for a moment, even causing him to lose his focus briefly. Fortunately, "Zorro" had no malicious intent, otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

A slight cold sweat broke out on his back.

After hastily paying the divination fee, the startled Evan didn't chat with "Zorro" any further, turning around and fleeing the divination shop.

Walking in the market outside, Evan suddenly remembered that in his panic, he hadn't had time to ask "Zorro" if he could divine the whereabouts of his sister, Anita.

However, now that he knew there was such a magical person among his acquaintances, Evan believed it wouldn't be difficult to find him next time he wanted to.

"Strange, why does this person feel a bit familiar?" Watching Evan's back, "Zorro" also had a inexplicable sense of familiarity towards him.

However, just as he himself had said, his current divination ability could not affect targets whose strength exceeded Level 1, and Evan, in addition to being a Wizard Apprentice, was a Level 2 Extraordinary Knight.

Early the next morning, Evan prepared a map, dry food, and necessary equipment, and set off for the destination divined by "Zorro".

The "Whale Potion" could greatly accelerate Evan's extraordinary transformation speed. Originally, he just didn't want to expose himself, so he hadn't started collecting the materials. Now, by a twist of fate, he was only one step away from his goal, and Evan didn't want to waste any more time.

Therefore, after learning the location of the last material, he couldn't wait to set off directly.

The map showed that five kilometers northeast of the harbor was a swampy area not far to the north.

Because the terrain was low-lying and often caused seawater backflow, coupled with various creatures inhabiting it, it had become a complex Saltwater Swamp over the years.

The swamp was home to various swamp creatures, water birds, leeches, poisonous insects, water snakes, fish, and naturally, the Saltwater Crocodiles that Evan needed.

Evan wasn't sure if "Zorro" knew this.

But considering that he hadn't explicitly told him what he needed, being able to reach such a conclusion proved that he indeed had some skills compared to those "masters" from his previous life.

Although this area was already an undeveloped wilderness, fortunately, the map he bought from the Crow Market indicated that the danger here wasn't too great, and it should be more than enough for a Formal Knight to handle.

"Splash—"

Evan was very grateful that he had prepared a pair of high-top leather boots, which allowed him to avoid intimate contact with the stinky mud and dirty water that harbored countless bacteria and parasites.

The terrain in the swamp was truly indescribable. Places that looked like flat ground might be mud, and places that seemed to have water could actually be stepped on firmly. Even with the enhanced senses provided by his mental power, Evan still fell for it several times.

Not to mention the extremely well-camouflaged pythons, the annoying swarms of flying insects, and the poisonous thorns, dangerous things were everywhere in this swamp.

"They're too good at hiding!"

After venturing deep into the Saltwater Swamp for nearly two hours, the continuous land had almost disappeared, leaving only patches of low-lying land islands and dense aquatic plants protruding from the continuous water waves.

Here, Evan finally found traces of Saltwater Crocodiles crawling on a patch of mud.

With the initial clues, the rest was easy.

With the help of Data Vision, Evan's tracking ability was no weaker than any experienced hunter, finding these guys was only a matter of time.

Searching for more than ten minutes.

Soon, Evan found several Saltwater Crocodiles basking lazily in the sun on a sandy area protruding from the water. Moreover, they carried forward the excellent tradition of animals in the fantasy world, each of them was very huge!

Looking at their tree trunk-like bodies, thick scales, and sharp teeth longer than daggers, Evan didn't think it was a good idea to fight these big guys bare-handed while in the transformation period.

Fortunately, the difference between humans and animals is knowing how to use wisdom and tools.

He took a plump water bird hunted on the road from his belt, hid a barbed hook with four prongs in its belly, tied it firmly with a strong rope, and threw it far away to the group of crocodiles.

Splash—

Water splashed everywhere, the free food caused a scramble among them.

Unfortunately, in the process of scrambling, the water bird was also torn apart, and the hook fell out directly.

The first attempt failed.

Having been mentally prepared, Evan went to hunt another water bird again, repeating the same trick. Taking advantage of a crocodile being alone, he threw it directly to its mouth, and then the gluttonous big guy opened its mouth without thinking and took a bite.

Crack!

How amazing is the bite force of a crocodile? The upper and lower jaws were directly pierced through under the huge force.

Evan couldn't help but shrink his neck: "This must hurt!"

"Aww—"

"Roar—"

It was simply heartbreaking and tearful for those who heard it, the severe pain made it struggle and roll, sand, dead branches and leaves, and gravel scattered under the huge force of its limbs and tail.

Then the hunter Evan exited, and the fisherman Evan appeared.

He constantly controlled the rope in his hand, neither loosening it too much to allow it to escape his sight, nor tightening it too much to give it a chance to break the rope.

This was a contest of patience.

Finally...

After more than half an hour of stalemate between the two sides, as the crocodile used the "death roll" due to excessive pain, this big guy finally floated in the water without any movement.

Heave-ho—

He dragged it ashore with force, took out a sharp dagger, and scraped enough scales from his prey bit by bit.

Evan breathed a sigh of relief, even though he had surpassed the limits of human beings, and his various attributes were still in a rapid improvement period, it was indeed a bit difficult to stalemate with this big guy for so long.

But the victor, in the end, was himself.