Lu Xuan sat by the riverbank, his eyelids lowered like an old monk in meditation, quietly watching the fishing float drift over the deep, shadowy river.
A cultivator's Spiritual Sense could not enter the True River, but his mind was unaffected. He could focus it upon the bait below, allowing him to promptly detect information about any spirit fish or other strange creatures that bit the hook.
As time passed, more and more cultivators arrived to fish ahead of the spirit tide's eruption. Most of the later arrivals were Rogue Cultivators, scouring the area for whatever fringe spots they could find.
"The difference in fishing grounds between them and the disciples of those great sects is far too obvious."
Lu Xuan swept his Spiritual Sense along the riverbank and could not help sighing inwardly.
Among the Rogue Cultivators, there was one cultivator every three to five zhang, whereas in the territories claimed by the great sects, the gaps between cultivators were enormous, averaging more than ten zhang.
"Nothing to be done about it. It's not as though I can reveal my identity as a Sword Sect disciple and go fight people for territory, can I?"
Lu Xuan shook his head. If other fellow disciples had been present, that might have been worth trying. But he was all alone now, and on someone else's turf. He might have had some chance competing with minor sects and small cultivation families, but trying that in the areas of the Taiyi Dao Sect or Fangcun Palace would be nothing but a fool's dream.
Fortunately, he possessed the special ability to understand spirit fish and strange creatures, so he did not care much about his position.
"As long as I can prepare bait specifically for them, I can draw over whichever spirit fish I want."