Candle Island was now basically on the right track.
The speed at which the players collected Wax Oil was also rapidly increasing, much to Luo Ge’s satisfaction.
’These dedicated grinders are the real deal!’
’If these were just simple-minded puppets, I’m afraid I’d be struggling to even get Anchor Island established...’
[Spirit Candle]
[Tier: Residual Ash]
[Remaining Wax Oil: 532]
[Spirit Candle Building: Spirit Fire Port (Buildable)]
[Anchored Island: Candle Island (Small, Isolated Island)]
[Summoned Candle Spirits: 7]
After glancing at the Wax Oil accumulated within the Spirit Candle, Luo Ge exhaled softly and slowly opened his eyes.
’Now I can build the first Spirit Candle Building: the Spirit Fire Port!’
The vast majority of this Wax Oil came from the players. Li Miao and Faraway had contributed the most, while Brother Yu and the other players accounted for the rest.
The special quests and mystery shop incentives Luo Ge issued also played an indispensable role.
After checking the construction requirements for the Spirit Fire Port, Luo Ge’s body slowly coalesced.
"...Candlekeeper?"
This came as a surprise to Brother Mangzi, who was regenerating health beside the Spirit Candle. ’How did this guy suddenly pop out of the Spirit Candle again?’
Luo Ge said nothing, merely giving him a slight nod before continuing toward the cave entrance.
Brother Mangzi scratched his head. Just as he was wondering what the Candlekeeper was up to, a message suddenly popped up in his field of vision.
[Attention: A game update is imminent. You will be temporarily disconnected shortly. All players, please cease your current actions and return to the Spirit Candle.]
[Attention...]
"An update?"
Upon seeing the notice, the players’ eyes lit up. They stopped what they were doing, their reactions a mix of surprise and delight.
They didn’t dally; those in combat ended their fights, those fishing reeled in their rods, and everyone quickly returned to the Spirit Candle.
As they returned to the cave, they naturally spotted the Candlekeeper heading out, which they couldn’t help but find odd.
’What’s the Candlekeeper up to?’
...
After gathering all the players, Luo Ge temporarily revoked their ability to act.
A vague message from the Spirit Candle had informed him that constructing the Spirit Fire Port might cause a major disturbance.
Although it was only a possibility, Luo Ge decided to have the players lie low for a while to avoid any potential accidents. Besides, he could always use the update as an excuse.
After surveying the environment at the island’s edge, Luo Ge chose a relatively calm spot where the water was shallow.
’This is the spot.’
Having confirmed the location, Luo Ge began to commune with the power of the Spirit Candle.
[Island Anchored. Consume 500 Wax Oil to construct Spirit Candle Building: Spirit Fire Port.]
[Confirm Construction?]
With a mere thought, the five hundred units of Wax Oil stored in the Spirit Candle began to slowly vanish.
In its place, the Power of the Spirit Candle appeared before him, flowing like a creek of faintly burning blue flames.
The power gathered at Luo Ge’s feet and surged toward the shore. As if sentient, it began to extend, spread, and interlace on its own... until it had gradually outlined the shape of a small pier.
The ethereal blue flames gradually dissipated.
The wax slowly cooled.
WHOOSH!
At the very end of the small pier, where it extended out into the sea, a black-and-white flame suddenly flared to life!
RUMBLE!
At the same time, Luo Ge suddenly felt a tremor.
This tremor wasn’t like an earthquake; it was more like... space itself was vibrating!
"This is..."
As if sensing something, Luo Ge walked to the end of the port and stared at the black-and-white flame.
Looking closely at the strange flame, he could see it came from a candle somewhat similar to the Spirit Candle. However, within the bright flame at its tip, dim and blurry images of different scenes drifted past.
There were ruined ancient castles, strange and rotten skeletons, and lurching monsters...
Beside it on the water’s surface, a row of small, wax-white rafts was neatly arranged, each with a Rootless Fire burning in its center.
[Spirit Fire Port Constructed!]
[Spirit Fire Port · Tier One (Cannot be upgraded yet)]
[Functions: Traction Fire, Spirit Fire Raft.]
[Traction Fire: Pulls fragments from the chaos, constructing unstable passages to new fragmented regions.]
’Pulling fragments from the chaos?’
’It seems the places I’ve been sensing aren’t just islands, but perhaps... fragments of space?’
Luo Ge’s brow furrowed slightly as he pondered for a moment.
There were no answers to be found for now.
Since the players couldn’t use this function anyway, Luo Ge stopped dwelling on it and turned his attention to the [Spirit Fire Raft].
[Spirit Fire Raft: Consume Wax Oil at the Spirit Fire Port to create Spirit Fire Rafts, allowing a Candle Spirit to travel to oceanic areas beyond the island.]
Luo Ge looked at the row of Spirit Fire Rafts and received detailed information from the Spirit Candle.
[Spirit Fire Raft]
[Type: Spirit Candle Creation]
[Effect: Allows a Candle Spirit to travel within a certain radius on water.]
[Explanation: Slow sailing speed. Extremely low defense.]
’So this solves the problem of a Candle Spirit Body not being able to survive in the ocean for long...’
Luo Ge breathed a sigh of relief. The result was more or less what he had expected.
Previously, after anchoring the island and gaining access to the coastal waters, he had been wondering about the conditions in the ocean surrounding Candle Island.
But the inability of a Candle Spirit Body to survive long in the ocean was a fundamental flaw, completely preventing the players from exploring it.
This problem vexed not only the players, but him as well.
His situation was no different from the players’—if they couldn’t survive in the water, neither could he.
The very environment of this world also seemed to be affected, locked in a fixed state that severely limited the players’ agency.
Otherwise, the players would have built their own rafts and set out to sea long ago...
Fortunately, with the appearance of the Spirit Fire Port, this problem was finally solved.
Players could now take the Spirit Fire Rafts out to sea and begin exploring the ocean!
’First, let’s check out this Traction Fire.’
Luo Ge didn’t immediately try out the Spirit Fire Rafts.
Compared to the ocean, exploring on land was clearly much easier for the players.
However, after a moment, Luo Ge turned away with a sense of resignation.
The reason was simple: using the Traction Fire required Wax Oil.
The Spirit Fire Rafts also required Wax Oil.
’I should have saved up more Wax Oil before building the Spirit Fire Port...’
’Now I have all these new toys in front of me, but no way to try them out.’
’Oh well. I’ll let the players back online. I have to rely on them to farm Wax Oil for me anyway.’
With a soft sigh, Luo Ge headed back toward the cave.
As he walked, he considered how to word the upcoming announcement for the players.
For them, the biggest reward from the opening of the Spirit Fire Port would surely be the ability to go to sea.
He wondered how the players would react, and what they would do with the Spirit Fire Rafts...