[King of Sea Beasts: You can control marine creatures within a radius of 10 kilometers or communicate with them. Only exceptionally powerful sea creatures can resist this ability.]
[Heavy as the Abyss: This scimitar appears lightweight but is actually very heavy. This characteristic gives it a 35% chance to crush or destroy its target, resulting in an instant-kill effect, which only very powerful enemies or high-grade items can resist.]
...
[Epic Layer (0.01% drop rate):]
[Sea Godās Eye (Epic)]
[This necklace holds great power. When you wear it, you can control an entire ocean at will, like a true Sea God overlooking their domain.]
"Finally, an epic reward... It was worth being tormented for several months."
After quickly and skillfully reading through the reward list this time, Wang Zhifan felt a bit relieved, because he realized that his nearly three months in the sea prison were not in vain, and heās finally gained another piece of epic equipment.
"Iāll just choose the Sea Godās Eye, Ocean Messenger, and the Multi-Masted Ship. Even though these choices might overlap significantly in terms of functionality, the rare-grade items donāt really measure up to the ones above."
Strictly speaking, Wang Zhifan should have carefully considered his reward choices this time, since the epic reward Sea Godās Eye covers a wide range of functions that overlap with the two excellent-grade rewards below it. He could have optimized his choices significantly, but he didnāt hesitate much and gave up, because he wasnāt willing to discard the excellent for the lesser rare.
Once his choices were made, Wang Zhifan squatted down and transferred the treasure chest that appeared beside him into his personal space without opening it here, particularly because there were two other players nearby.
These two had also received the instance settlement information and had opened their chests, storing the rewards in their own personal spaces, but neither chose to leave the instance immediately. Instead, they walked quickly to Wang Zhifanās side, or rather towards the tall fruit tree beside him.
"Hey, big brother! Iāve always been called a master, but today I feel like Iāve met a true master! Your strength is something Iāve never seen before!"
A player with long disheveled hair and stubble came to Wang Zhifanās side, reaching out to pluck the sea-blue fruit from the tree while expressing admiration and relief to Wang Zhifan, who had just secured his chest.
"Thanks for leading us through the quest, mastermind! I actually got a rare drop! Thanks so much for your help!"
Another male player of the Assassin class also spoke to Wang Zhifan, reaching out for the Sea God Forbidden Fruit, now unguarded.
However, before Wang Zhifan could respond, something unexpected happened, and both shouted in surprise.
"Whatās going on! Why canāt I touch these fruits?!"
"These fruits are fake!"
It turned out that when they reached to pick the forbidden fruit, they came up empty-handed. Although their hands reached the position of the fruit, the fruit seemed to turn into phantoms, impossible to pluck, which was very eerie.
"The forbidden fruit is real, or else this instance would not settle."
Seeing this, Wang Zhifan told them with some exasperation, tossing up the sea-blue fruit he had just picked.
This scene left the two fruit-picking players dumbfounded. They looked at each other and then at the fruit in Wang Zhifanās hand and the unpluckable ones on the tree, feeling puzzled.
"It should be because you didnāt defeat the Forbidden Fruit Guard. The fruitās description says you must pass the test to obtain it."
Wang Zhifan quickly pointed out the key issue, explaining it to them.
"Forget it, Iām not a devotee of the Sea God. I donāt want to risk divine punishment."
The assassin player, after hearing Wang Zhifan, consoled himself with this and quickly vanished from the instance, seemingly satisfied with the rare reward he had received.
"Brother, can I take a look at the fruit in your hand?"
The long-haired bearded player didnāt immediately give up, shifting his target to the fruit in Wang Zhifanās hand.
Wang Zhifan was also curious whether the fruit he picked could be used by others, or rather he was curious about the effect of divine punishment, so he immediately handed the forbidden fruit to this scruffy player.
"Damn... even plucked ones canāt be touched!"
As this playerās fingers passed through the forbidden fruit as if touching a phantom, he was at once resigned, as reality was too harsh, unable even to touch the fruit without defeating the Forbidden Fruit Guard.
"Brother, are you interested in adding me as a friend? I think Iām quite capable, and we could team up for quests in the future."
The scruffy player continued to propose to Wang Zhifan, clearly showing interest in Wang Zhifanās formidable power.
"My friend list is full; maybe some other time."
Wang Zhifan immediately responded, and then his form disappeared into the air.
"Ah...never thought Iād be in the position of asking for friendships, yet even getting turned down... Thereās really hidden talent among players. I really canāt slack off anymore..."
Having said this, the scruffy player also vanished from the original spot.
On the other side, outside Forbidden Fruit Island, aboard the Great Horned Shark Sea Ship, Wang Zhifanās figure appeared. Just before, his figure hadnāt left the instance but returned to the sea ship via Dream Traversing Vision, where he had left a doppelgƤnger before setting out, both to protect Chen Ming and others and for ease of movement.
When he appeared on deck, he could see Chen Ming and Chen Can hadnāt left the instance yet. They were discussing the equipment theyād obtained and the so-called forbidden fruit.
"Big brother, I got lucky this time and got a rare-grade musket. Sell it to me for a million."
"Hehe... Do you think Iām a fool? I donāt lack rare-grade weapons. Iād have to see its attributes first to decide if I want it."
"Why hasnāt Fan returned yet? Did he go back first? Letās not dawdle then."
"Donāt rush, Fan wonāt run off without a word... see, heās here already."
Approaching the two waiting companions, Wang Zhifan walked over and showed them a sea-blue fruit.
"This is the Sea God Forbidden Fruit, the thing that kept us occupied for three months."
As soon as he spoke, Chen Ming exclaimed:
"Fan, if this thing grants the Sea Godās Blessing when eaten, sell it to me if you donāt want to eat it!"
Clearly, Chen Ming had seen the item description and was attracted by its function.
"Haha, are you a Sea God devotee? Arenāt you afraid of divine punishment?"
Wang Zhifan immediately mocked.
"I can take it back home to eat!"
Chen Ming, with a quick turn of his eyes, offered a solution.
"Thatās not possible, this thing canāt be stored in personal space and canāt be taken away... and you canāt touch it either."
Wang Zhifan then handed the fruit to the two for them to touch, verifying its peculiar illusory properties.
"It really is... Fan, are you going to eat it or not?"
Observing quietly for several seconds, Chen Can asked with some envy, clearly interested in such a mystical item but unable to possess it.
"I havenāt decided yet... If you two have nothing else, you can head back first. Iāll wrap up a few things and return."
Wang Zhifan then instructed them.
"Alright, Fan, weāll head back first then."
Chen Ming and Chen Can did not dawdle and chose to leave after hearing him speak, also aware that Wang Zhifan had been looking after them all along, and they left to ease his burden.
"The so-called instance world... it must be real worlds, I need to prepare, because we might return again."
After the two left, Wang Zhifan pondered to himself during the still remaining little stay time.