Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Advanced Fishery Farmer
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Leaving the Welcome Inn, Chen Jianghe returned to his fishing boat.
He had just taken a Spirit Accumulating Pill, so he wasn't in desperate need of spirit stones. Besides, he was about to enter the inner waters, where his salary for the coming year would likely be even higher.
That was why he hadn't accepted the five spirit stones Yu Daniu offered, taking only the single stone he was owed.
"One spirit stone and fifteen grains of spirit sand left."
After the Yun Clan collected the fish, he had one spirit stone and one hundred twenty-four grains of spirit sand. Buying the Spirit Accumulating Pill had cost him one spirit stone and one hundred five grains.
Today's little celebration had cost him another four grains.
"That large azure fish really wasn't something a Qi Refining novice should be eating."
A single three-jin braised azure fish was worth a full three grains of spirit sand—as much as four months of his usual living expenses.
He pushed these trivial matters from his mind.
Chen Jianghe turned his thoughts to his impending move to the inner waters. The advanced fishery farmers also raised azure fish, but they were Small Azure Fish.
He had no clear idea of the specific cultivation methods.
He would have to wait until he arrived in the inner waters and follow the Yun Clan's instructions.
With Xiao Hei around, his 'cultivation talent' was quite remarkable.
"Xiao Hei is still in Water Region 512. How am I supposed to bring him to the inner waters?" Chen Jianghe felt this was a difficult problem.
Returning to Water Region 512 now to bring Xiao Hei with him was out of the question. Xiao Hei hadn't yet reached the first rank, and the abundant spiritual energy in its body couldn't be contained. It would surely be discovered.
That would undoubtedly lead to unnecessary trouble.
After all, his annual salary had a perfectly accounted-for destination on the surface. There was no way he could spare spirit stones to help a Black Crystal Mystic Turtle awaken its intelligence and cultivate.
Since he couldn't take Xiao Hei with him now, his only option was to wait until he was settled in the inner waters and then find a time to return to Water Region 512.
"Once I move to the inner waters, another junior fishery farmer will surely be assigned to Water Region 512. Since farmers are forbidden from entering each other's territories, I have to get Xiao Hei to leave the area first."
With this thought, Chen Jianghe steered his boat back to Water Region 512 that very night. For now, the territory was still his.
Upon arriving at Water Region 512,
he performed a water-repelling incantation and leaped into the lake, diving deep.
In no time, he saw Xiao Hei swimming toward him, as if it had sensed his presence.
"*Wuuu~ wuuu~ wuuu~*"
Xiao Hei let out joyous cries, blowing a stream of colorful bubbles.
"Xiao Hei, we're moving. We're going to a place with much denser spiritual energy to cultivate. It will help you quickly advance to a spirit beast."
Chen Jianghe focused his spiritual sense inward, conveying the message to Xiao Hei through the spirit turtle mark on his spiritual platform.
"*...Wuu wuu~*"
Xiao Hei froze for a moment, then cried out excitedly toward a specific direction, as if asking Chen Jianghe where they were moving.
The direction its head was thrusting was precisely toward the inner waters.
"That's right. We're moving to the inner waters. The spiritual energy there is extremely rich, which will be very beneficial for both of our cultivation."
Chen Jianghe wasn't surprised that Xiao Hei could guess their destination. As a half-step spirit beast of the outer waters, it would naturally know that the spiritual energy in the inner waters was far more abundant.
"You need to burrow deep into the silt, pass through the barrier of aquatic grass, and hide at the bottom of the lake channel. I'll come for you in a month."
"*Wuu~ wuu wuu~*"
Xiao Hei nodded its head frantically.
After giving his instructions, Chen Jianghe returned to the surface. To avoid attracting attention, he planned to stay in Water Region 512 for two days before heading to the port.
Xiao Hei swam joyfully toward a massive coral rock on the lakebed. Beneath it was a conspicuous mound of earth, with a few tender shoots of water grass growing on top.
Using all four claws, it dug away the mound.
"*Wuu wuu~* (Father, Father)"
"*Hisss...*"
The old turtle, slumbering within its millstone-sized shell, was suddenly roused by Xiao Hei. It awoke in a foul mood and immediately swatted the young turtle with a claw.
Xiao Hei was sent flying several meters, but it wasn't angry. It just bubbled with joy and excitement.
"*I'm moving, Father! I'm going to the Immortal Domain! Do you know? The legendary Immortal Domain where the immortal fish live!*"
Xiao Hei told the old turtle excitedly.
"*Hisss!*"
The old turtle, still groggy and grumpy from being woken, was suddenly wide awake, its spirits roused.
"*The Immortal Domain? You're going to the Immortal Domain passed down in the legends of the Azure-Scaled Fish ancestors!*"
"*Mhm, mhm.*"
Xiao Hei nodded solemnly.
"*Are you crazy? The Immortal Domain is protected by a barrier! We can't get in. Anyone who tries to force their way through will be obliterated into pulp by the immortal light!*"
"*Wuu wuu~*"
Xiao Hei told the old turtle it had a way to enter the Immortal Domain safely. It promised that once it became powerful from cultivating there, it would definitely come back to visit.
It didn't tell its father about the two-legged beast.
That was its own secret.
---
As the morning mist descended upon the lake, a sliver of crimson gold bled into the sky. A light haze drifted over the duckweed, turning the black-canopied boats into silhouettes. Dew clung to the banners, refracting the light into a glassy halo.
A hundred-zhang-long vessel sailed through the lake channel, where the mist hung like a silken veil. The nascent sun melted the lake's surface into shards of gold. At the bow, a white egret folded its wings, the dewdrops on its wingtips steaming into a seven-colored haze in the dawn's first light.
Chen Jianghe and thirty-four other junior fishery farmers stood on the deck, looking at Yun Bufan, who stood in the gentle breeze.
"From this day forward, you are all advanced fishery farmers of the Yun Clan. I hope you will prove capable and become pillars of our clan in the future."
Yun Bufan's gaze swept over each person as he said sternly, "I was the one who proposed to the clan that we select the best from the junior ranks to be promoted. Do not disappoint me. Work hard and seize this opportunity for your own futures."
"Thank you, Young Master Yun."
The thirty-five fishery farmers thanked him in unison, their voices so loud they startled the egret resting on the bow into flight.
"Mm."
Yun Bufan nodded and beckoned to an attendant. "Explain to them what the advanced fishery farmers will be doing."
"Yes, Young Master."
Yun Bufan turned and entered the cabin, leaving the task of explaining the job description to his attendant.
But none of the farmers present dared to underestimate this attendant.
Judging by the fluctuations of spiritual power emanating from him, his cultivation had reached the late stage of Qi Refining.
"I am Yun San, Young Master Bufan's attendant. I will now explain what is required of an advanced fishery farmer and what you need to be aware of while living in the inner waters."
Though Yun San was small and slender, his words carried a faint, chilling aura of hostility.
"Advanced fishery farmers are required to raise Small Azure Fish. The so-called 'fry' for these Small Azure Fish are actually Large Azure Fish weighing over four and a half jin.
"A Large Azure Fish of this weight already contains a significant amount of spiritual energy. Your job is to make them contain this spiritual energy and transform them into Small Azure Fish weighing less than one jin. In other words, you will be raising Large Azure Fish into first-rank spirit beasts."
A stir went through the crowd at his words.
Large Azure Fish were known to be bad-tempered and possessed a thick, hostile energy. They even fought and cannibalized their own kind.
With their low intelligence, how could they possibly be raised into spirit beasts?
"The feed you will use is Immortal Spirit Rice, which can dispel the hostile energy of the Large Azure Fish and enhance their intelligence.
"But you must remember this: Immortal Spirit Rice is to be fed only to the Large Azure Fish. If anyone is discovered eating it themselves, or secretly feeding it to their own spirit beasts, their Dantian will be crippled, and they will be expelled from Mirror Moon Lake."