Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: A Cunning Plan
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“I can’t do this without Xiao Hei!”
Half a month passed, and Chen Jianghe had figured out the biting pattern of these fry. The moment they felt the slightest hunger, they would start eating each other.
The problem was, these fry didn't eat at the same time; their feeding was completely erratic.
A hungry fry would lunge at one that had already eaten, tearing at it viciously as if wanting to devour its own kind in a single bite.
What was even more absurd was that they wouldn't eat the small fish and shrimp in the lake, seemingly looking down on them.
“Feeding them every day and trying to stop them from biting each other… where's the time to cultivate?”
He understood that if he could just get the fry to eat together on a regular schedule, he could prevent the cannibalism.
But how was he supposed to control them so methodically?
These fry were brimming with aggression and showed no signs of intelligence, leaving a Fishery Farmer like him, who had rarely dealt with Azure Fish, at a complete loss.
The only solution was for Xiao Hei to arrive.
Another half-month went by.
Chen Jianghe stood at the bow of his boat, took out a bag of rice bran, tore it open, and scattered it along the side of the boat from bow to stern.
His first time feeding the young Azure Fish had taught him a lesson.
Scattering the bran in one spot would cause the hungry fry to collide and fight for food, greatly increasing the chances of accidental injuries.
That first time, three fry had gone belly-up during the feeding frenzy, a sight that had pained Chen Jianghe for a long time.
Three dead right after he took over, and there were still three long years to go!
After feeding the fish, he didn't dare to linger. He immediately steered the boat out of the inner waters and headed for Port Number One.
On his way there, he didn't stop at Waterway 512, as there were other fishing boats along the route.
Once at the port, he bought a month's worth of supplies, then immediately left and headed back via Waterway 512.
By this time, there were far fewer fishing boats, and the waterway was nearly empty.
Fishery Farmers who came to port, even if they had no errands, liked to wander around for a while and enjoy the lively atmosphere. Some were looking for entertainment, so most didn't leave until after three in the afternoon.
Arriving at the waterway outside Zone 512, he glanced over at the water and saw that a new junior Fishery Farmer had indeed moved in.
Even with the Yun Clan's unstable situation, teetering on the brink, they were never short on junior Fishery Farmers. Life for low-level cultivators was simply too harsh.
Those junior Fishery Farmers who had been tricked into leaving by the brokers had all lived comfortable lives on Mirror Moon Lake for too long, forgetting the hardships of the bottom rung.
*Splash~*
Chen Jianghe formed a seal for a water-repelling spell, leaped off the bow, and dove to the lakebed. Using his spiritual sense, he sent a message to Xiao Hei through the spirit turtle imprint on his spiritual platform.
He spotted Xiao Hei soon after.
Without a word, he brought Xiao Hei to the surface, peeked out to look around, then grabbed one of its claws and leaped onto the boat.
The hundred-foot black-canopied boat glided along the waterway, heading toward the inner waters.
They arrived at Zone C-12.
*Plonk!* Xiao Hei dropped into the water.
Chen Jianghe followed suit, jumping into the lake and diving to the bottom with Xiao Hei.
The lakebed in the inner waters was much more beautiful than in the outer waters, with a far greater variety of aquatic species.
In the deep blue water, green water-lilies trailed shimmering pearls of light. Jade-white koi swam by with glowing beads in their mouths, and transparent jellyfish opened their bells, startling up star-like flecks of phosphorescence.
“Ooh~ ooh~ ooh~”
Xiao Hei cried out in excitement, expressing its delight at entering this 'immortal realm'. It paddled its four legs, rolled about in the water, and blew multi-colored bubbles from its mouth.
Chen Jianghe watched quietly, letting Xiao Hei play joyfully.
After a moment, Xiao Hei swam up to Chen Jianghe, stretched out its massive head, and bobbed it vigorously in the water.
It seemed to be thanking Chen Jianghe.
“I told you, as long as you work hard and take good care of the fish, we could come to the inner waters.”
“From now on, you just need to raise these young Azure Fish well, and our future will be even better. We'll go to places with even more abundant spiritual energy.”
“When that day comes, you'll be eating Spirit Accumulating Pills like candy, and you'll probably think they're not even good enough.”
As Chen Jianghe painted this beautiful picture of the future for Xiao Hei, even he himself felt a sense of longing, his eyes filled with anticipation.
“Scree~ scree~”
Xiao Hei cried out urgently, shaking its head frantically.
“Don't worry. Work hard, and in three years, I'll reward you with a Spirit Accumulating Pill,” Chen Jianghe said, feeling a bit helpless.
It was about to advance and become a spirit beast, so why couldn't it appreciate a grander vision?
All it thinks about are small rewards.
How boring.
“Ooh~ ooh~ ooh~”
Xiao Hei's mood changed in a flash. It circled Chen Jianghe joyfully.
“Xiao Hei, you need to listen carefully to what I'm about to say and remember it well. You absolutely cannot make any mistakes.”
Chen Jianghe explained the requirements for raising the young Azure Fish to Xiao Hei, especially emphasizing the matter of the spirit rice. He specifically warned Xiao Hei not to fight with the young Azure Fish for food.
Yun San had mentioned before that the spirit rice was only for feeding the young Azure Fish. It couldn't be eaten secretly or fed to one's own spirit beast, otherwise the punishment would be severe.
The spiritual energy in the inner waters was abundant; Xiao Hei would likely advance to become a spirit beast in less than a year.
There was no need at all to fight for the spirit rice and attract unnecessary trouble.
Xiao Hei nodded its head, indicating it understood the rules.
Chen Jianghe was quite confident in Xiao Hei. After working for so many years, Xiao Hei had become a veteran of the working world—a seasoned employee turtle.
Surfacing, he leaped onto the fishing boat.
Now that he had Xiao Hei, he no longer had to worry about raising the young Azure Fish and finally had time to practice his Water Escape Art.
Currently, each time he used the Water Escape Art, he could only travel a few hundred meters, far from the maximum potential for the third level of Qi Refining.
The Water Escape Art was his only means of survival.
He had to master it to perfection. A single use absolutely had to carry him at least a kilometer away.
“Water hide my body, water shift my form, water mother of all spirits…”
——
Lakeheart Island.
Yun Clan Ancestral Hall.
The ancestral hall, built from gray-green stone blocks, stood majestically. Ebony beams supported nine-tiered flying eaves, their glazed dragon-fish ornaments glinting coldly in the twilight. Pillars carved from single blocks of white marble, depicting coiling dragons, were imbued with the warmth of a hundred years of incense.
The lapis lazuli floor reflected the rosewood ancestral tablets.
Sunlight slanted in through the intricate latticed windows, illuminating motes of dust that gathered like fine golden sand before the portraits of the ancestors.
Yun Bufan was led into the ancestral hall by the Fifth Elder, and they proceeded to the rear chamber.
“Father, greetings, Elders.”
Seated in the chamber was Yun Bufan's father, Yun Xiaotian, the current head of the Yun Clan, along with four other elders.
Second Elder Yun Zhongbo, Fourth Elder Yun Zhongwei, Sixth Elder Yun Zhonghui, and Seventh Elder Yun Zhongyong.
“Bufan, if you have any questions, you can ask your father.” Fifth Elder Yun Zhonghou went to his designated seat and sat down.
“Father, why did you have the Fifth Elder announce that I could achieve Foundation Establishment within ten years?” Yun Bufan asked, confused.
Although he was on the verge of breaking through to the eighth level of Qi Refining, he had no confidence he could achieve Foundation Establishment within ten years.
Unless he had a Foundation Establishment Pill.
But the Foundation Establishment Pill had already been stolen by the White Clan of Qiyun Mountain, and our own ancestor was severely injured.
“Because we believe you can achieve Foundation Establishment within ten years,” Yun Xiaotian said, his eyes filled with gratification and his tone firm.
Yun Bufan was stunned for a moment, then a possibility dawned on him.
“Father, the Foundation Establishment Pill the ancestor bought… it wasn't stolen!”
“Then the ancestor's injuries?”