Chapter 856: The Supreme Treasure Fishing Pond
Chapter 856: The Supreme Treasure Fishing Pond
“Fish bite the bait because they want to eat. But what is it that these orbs of light desire?”
Suspended above the endless, star-strewn expanse, Ji Shaoli mulled over the question.
“From the fleeting glimpses I've had, I can tell that these orbs of light contain things like artifacts, cultivation techniques, divine abilities, or even combat experience.”
“...”
“This fishing pond... perhaps it's an immortal artifact designed to dispense rewards, but only to those who meet a certain requirement.”
His gaze swept across the orbs of white, green, blue, purple, and orange, a thoughtful expression on his face.
“The more valuable the item, the higher its tier. And the higher the tier, the more difficult it is to attract them.”
“But right now, I am nothing but a remnant of consciousness. Even catching one of the white orbs is entirely a matter of luck, let alone the higher-tiered ones.”
And his luck, it seemed, was abysmal.
After a long while, not a single white orb had been drawn to him.
It also seemed there was a time limit in this starry expanse.
The surrounding starlight gradually dimmed, and like ripples fading on water, the scene dissolved, returning Ji Shaoli to the real world.
This fishing attempt had ended with an empty hook!
Frustrated, Ji Shaoli immediately prepared to cast his line again, only to remember with a sigh that he could only channel the power of the starry fishing pond once a day.
He could only take a deep breath and wait for the next day.
For the next ten days, Ji Shaoli cast his line once each day.
In total, he only managed to catch six orbs of light.
Five white, and one blue.
The white orbs contained nothing more than common ores and spiritual herbs.
They were of little value.
The blue orb, however, yielded a jade slip.
“The *Taikang Gengjin Sword Qi*?”
Ji Shaoli carefully read the contents of the jade slip.
“Just as I thought, this isn't from the Xuanhuang Realm.”
The *Taikang Gengjin Sword Qi* was a technique from the Divine Sword Sect of the Taiyi Realm.
The Taiyi Realm was quite similar to the Xuanhuang Realm in many ways.
However, it had five great cultivators who, upon reaching the pinnacle of their practice, did not ascend to the Immortal World but instead transformed their bodies into the Dao itself.
They merged with the Heavenly Dao of the Taiyi Realm and were known by its cultivators as the Five Imperial Sovereigns of Taiyi.
Taikang was one of these five sovereigns.
“By borrowing the power of the Imperial Sovereign Taikang, one can cultivate this sword art all the way to the Dao Integration realm?”
“So why is it only blue-tier?”
After reading the entire jade slip, Ji Shaoli couldn't help but feel a little baffled.
It was only when he tried to cultivate the *Taikang Gengjin Sword Qi* that he understood.
It was a classic case of adapting to local conditions.
This sword art was specifically created for the unique circumstances of the Taiyi Realm. Its essential requirement was the power of the Imperial Sovereign Taikang.
But in the Xuanhuang Realm, no such entity as “Taikang” existed.
Therefore, the technique was impossible to practice here.
If not for its potential to reach the Dao Integration realm, it would have likely been relegated to the white tier.
“So this fishing platform can re-evaluate an item's worth based on its current environment?” Ji Shaoli marveled inwardly.
Although it was practically worthless to him, Ji Shaoli wasn't angry.
He had spent the last ten days observing Zhong Shentong's fishing process.
Having discovered the fishing platform long before him, Zhong Shentong seemed to have mastered certain tricks.
In ten attempts, not a single one of his casts was empty.
Even though he only caught eight white and two blue orbs, it was still a far better result than Ji Shaoli's!
After some thought, Ji Shaoli decided he wouldn't waste any more time.
That day, after Zhong Shentong had eaten and drunk his fill and was about to take his afternoon nap...
...his expression suddenly changed.
A golden dome of light had descended, enveloping the entire small temple, including the fishing pond.
Countless bolts of lightning, like golden serpents, were crackling into existence in the sky above.
It looked as if they would strike down at any moment.
“Master!” the young Daoist child, who was washing the dishes, cried out, his face pale with fright.
“Liuli, get behind me!” Zhong Shentong exclaimed, grabbing the child and pulling him behind his back.
At the same time, he produced a small command flag and plunged it into the ground.
An earthen-yellow energy erupted, forming a sphere that enveloped them both.
“Which fellow Daoist is this? Would you be willing to show yourself?”
“Perhaps there has been some misunderstanding!”
Zhong Shentong called out in a loud voice.
But Ji Shaoli could see clearly that despite his words, Zhong Shentong had discreetly taken out a small wooden sword.
Even though his cultivation realm was higher, Ji Shaoli felt a faint yet deadly sense of crisis emanating from that little sword.
Ji Shaoli did not reveal himself. Instead, his voice echoed coolly, “Friend Zhong, if you don't want the secret of this fishing pond to become common knowledge...”
“...I advise you not to resist.”
“Truth be told, I have no ill intentions.”
“I'm just a fellow fisherman, immensely curious about this place!”
At these words, Zhong Shentong’s composure completely shattered.
His greatest secret was exposed. Panic flared in Zhong Shentong's heart.
His expression shifted rapidly, but in the end, he put the wooden sword away.
“If that’s the case, then please show yourself! What’s the point of hiding in the shadows?” he demanded in a low voice.
“Heh, who knows how many treasures you’ve fished out of that pond, my friend. It pays to be cautious,” Ji Shaoli replied, unmoved by the plea.
He then asked for the method to catch the higher-quality orbs of light.
“And don't even think about lying to me. I’ve seen everything you’ve caught these past ten days,” Ji Shaoli added, his tone laced with mockery.
Zhong Shentong's heart sank completely.
His opponent had been watching him for days, seeing almost everything.
And he hadn't suspected a thing.
It was proof that the other party's strength far surpassed his own.
To possess such overwhelming power and yet still be so cautious...
Zhong Shentong couldn't help but curse inwardly.
Left with no choice, he began to share the insights he had gathered.
“The more times you cast your line from the fishing platform, the stronger the connection you form with it.”
“There might have been a way to strengthen the connection more directly in the past. But now, it's just a matter of patient effort, building it up over time and with repetition.”
“Once the connection is strong enough, you can use your own intent as bait to attract the surrounding orbs of light.”
“The orbs seem to possess a consciousness of their own and can perceive the content within the bait of your intent.”
“...”
Zhong Shentong explained everything honestly.
Ji Shaoli listened intently, discerning the truth from falsehood in his words.
“You don't have to worry about me deceiving you. You can try it for yourself and you'll know.”
“From the day I discovered the secret of this fishing pond, I knew I couldn't keep it to myself forever.”
Zhong Shentong let out a long sigh.
“It's just a pity that this pond seems to be one with heaven and earth, fixed in this very spot. It's impossible to move or take it away.”
“Otherwise...”
Zhong Shentong trailed off, his voice filled with resignation.
“I only ask that you spare Liuli's life. If you must kill someone, kill me,” he pleaded.
At that moment, Ji Shaoli finally revealed his form.
“Heh, you should probably put that treasure away, Friend Zhong.”
“I have no intention of monopolizing this secret place for myself.”
Hearing this, Zhong Shentong's face filled with suspicion.
Nevertheless, he kept his hand clenched around a purple-gold gourd, not letting go.
(End of Chapter)
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