Pale Continent, Colorful Mist Coast.
Three kilometers east of the Teleportation Array.
Under the night sky, two players sat on the white sandy beach, chatting.
The salty sea breeze, the sound of waves breaking on the shore, and the seabirds calling in the distance made the place feel incredibly peaceful.
A newly lit bonfire blazed in front of them, the wood crackling as it burned.
One of them was snapping branches and adding them to the fire to keep it going.
Freshly caught crabs were skewered on an iron rod propped up in front of them. Their shells gradually turned red in the flames, releasing an enticing aroma that mingled with the smoky scent of burning wood and made their mouths water.
They were monsters known as Golden Pincer Crabs.
Their hunting level was 0, but they tasted incredible. Eating one could grant around 0.5 points of Body Refining Experience, depending on the crab's size.
Once caught, they could be sold at the Trading House for more than 3 points of Sacrificial Power. They were often in short supply, and their price was clearly trending upward.
Ever since the Colorful Mist Coast had opened, Golden Pincer Crabs had been caught in droves. They were a rare delicacy in players' eyes.
Roasting crabs on the beach had become a popular leisure activity.
Plenty of players spent their days fighting tooth and nail in Emperor's Tomb Mountain Range against the Insect Tide and Black Tide, then came to the Colorful Mist Coast at night to relax. They believed in balancing hard work with rest.
"This feels awful. I shouldn't have logged in today. You know how crushed I was when I heard the news..."
Jiang Cheng turned the iron rod, which he had fashioned from a weapon fragment, flipping the roasting crabs