Chapter 21: Map Upgrade! A Man's Fuel Station!

The water of the bay’s tidal flats was notoriously murky, difficult to filter or settle due to its connection with the sea and with almost zero visibility. Yet, before his eyes, it had become crystal clear. He knew the Atlantis Blessing Stone possessed the power to purify water, rendering it transparent. He’d seen it with the cultivation ponds: after a single night’s rest, the water would be clear to the bottom. But this bay’s tidal flats were nothing like those ponds. He had not anticipated the sheer potency of the Atlantis Blessing Stone.

China’s top seaside resorts were famous for their mirror-like waters, reflecting the sky and clouds with pristine clarity. The water there was indeed transparent, but now, under the influence of the Atlantis Blessing Stone, his five hundred-acre bay seemed to surpass even that. Climbing onto his inflatable raft, he released the seafood fry into the water and, through its brilliant clarity, could see fish swimming deep below. These were the original inhabitants of the bay, enclosed within when the net barriers were set up.

A five-hundred-acre, seamlessly clear bay was far more breathtaking than the previously partitioned two-acre cultivation ponds. Moreover, as he approached the stake-lined borders and netted areas at the periphery, he was once again struck by disbelief. Parts of the water outside the net barriers had been purified by the Atlantis Blessing Stone as well, but that wasn’t the most remarkable thing—rather, it was the throngs of fish gathering outside the net. He even saw some fish ramming themselves against the net, desperate to enter this inner sanctum.

He stared in astonishment. Usually, one only hears of fish trying to escape to the open sea, not eager to throw themselves into captivity. Then, realization dawned. The Atlantis Blessing Stone tuned the water to the optimal environment for marine life. Compared to the surrounding areas, the fish were instinctively drawn to the water conditioned by the stone. It was like a person fleeing from a dusty place to one with clean air; fish, too, would seek out such refuge.

He gazed at the net barrier in amazement. What need was there for the net at all? Even if he released new species cultivated with the Atlantis Blessing Stone into this area, they probably wouldn’t want to swim out. This was an unexpected delight. Watching the gathering fish outside the nets, he quickly returned to the shrimp farm, fetched a special pair of scissors, and paddled his raft along the net, cutting holes at intervals to allow the attracted sea creatures entry. When opportunity swims to your door, why refuse it?

At one spot, he had barely cut an opening before two fish darted through. With time, surely many fish from the surrounding bays would make their way into his five-hundred-acre haven. The anglers fishing nearby would probably be heartbroken. He mused that, in the future, he might take up fishing for fun himself. Once enough fish and seafood had gathered, he could net them at will. Wild sea fish were said to be more nutritious and fetched higher prices!

Seated on his raft, Chu Lin observed the net’s interior once more. Any fish that came near the holes he had cut would inevitably swim inside—he even spotted several large specimens, the kind that would make any hobbyist angler boast for days. Someday, he’d net them all.

That night, as usual, Chu Lin prepared a private sea cucumber feast for himself. A delicacy that enhanced physical health was surely worth eating daily. After dinner, he waited for the night’s batch of fresh prawns, planning to select some berried females to release into the bay. When the refresh time arrived, the game’s notifications sounded promptly—only this time, there was more than one.

"Atlantis Map successfully upgraded, area expanded!"
"Atlantis Map upgraded to level 2, a new regular spawn: oysters!"
"Atlantis Map is now level 2, two regular animals may now spawn, animals have refreshed!"

Upon seeing these three messages, Chu Lin’s face lit up with delight. Finally, an upgrade! He hadn’t expected the second spawn to be oysters. Entering the Atlantis Map, he immediately noticed the map had grown significantly. Most importantly, in addition to the usual area for prawns, he now found a new region teeming with shelled creatures—oysters, unmistakably. And these were no ordinary oysters; each one was as large as a king oyster, clearly boasting a size +1 attribute. However, their numbers seemed low; counting carefully, he found only about a hundred and fifty.

This was a slight disappointment. Oysters were a staple at barbecue stalls, restaurants, and open-air eateries, but wholesale, they weren’t worth much. In Min City, a normal oyster cost just over a yuan, the *Mountain Oysters could sell for three. Even king oysters only fetched a dozen or so yuan apiece. Selling a hundred and fifty oysters at those prices would barely bring in two thousand yuan.

But as he picked one up to check its remarks, his expression grew even more animated.

"Atlantis Oyster: Quality 1
Note: This oyster, produced by the Atlantis Map, not only grows quickly and tastes far superior to ordinary oysters but also possesses extraordinary effects:
Size +1, Texture +1, Flavor +1, Kidney Nourishment +1!"

Four attributes! The size was evident enough, and the improved taste and freshness had already been demonstrated with the prawns. But that fourth attribute—Kidney Nourishment +1—made him blurt out involuntarily: "A man’s energy station!" So oysters really had this effect? Though he was only twenty-three, young and vigorous, he couldn’t help but think this was truly excellent. After all, if you’re already strong, a little more can’t hurt.

If the wider male population learned of this, many would surely inquire "for a friend." His eyes gleamed with opportunity. Since the Atlantis oyster’s unique property was Kidney Nourishment +1, there was no way he’d sell it at the same price as an ordinary oyster. Regular oysters were cheap, but with this attribute, everything changed. Was this just an oyster? No, it was fuel for men! And as everyone knows, fuel is expensive.

He could market it as the "Energy Oyster," at a premium, positioning it as a luxury delicacy. With this attribute, demand was certain; in fact, it should be so exclusive that people would crave it but be unable to easily obtain it.

With this in mind, Chu Lin immediately took several oysters out of the game. Before deciding on their price, he needed to personally experience this "energy boost." The size, texture, and flavor enhancements would be obvious, but surely, the new attribute would make itself felt as well.