Fishing All Things

"Give it a try?" Qin Feng even doubted that he had heard correctly. "Brother Xu, I thought you were absolutely confident, but I didn't expect you weren't. If you're just going to give it a try, forget it. I've tried many times and I've never caught a fish."

As he said this, Qin Feng even wiped away a tear. Although he didn't actually cry, this gesture seemed to be a habit he had developed, and he used it quite skillfully.

Judging from this, he probably cried because he was so sad and upset when he didn't catch any fish.

For a seasoned angler, the most frustrating thing is not catching any fish. Even catching a couple of loaches would be great, but Qin Feng has never caught a single loach, let alone a single weed, since he learned to fish.

Tragic, utterly tragic.

I thought Xu Bai had a method too, but it turns out he was just trying it out.

Seeing Qin Feng's sorrowful appearance, Xu Bai tried hard to restrain himself from laughing out loud so as not to spoil the solemn occasion. He then patted Qin Feng's shoulder in a serious manner.

"Brother Qin, everything is learned through trial and error. If you don't try, you'll never get any results."

If Xu Bai wanted Qin Feng's contribution, he would have to help Qin Feng solve his fishing problem. He thought he should first see where the problem lay.

He had heard a lot about this in his previous life and had also dabbled in it online. Many of these fishing buddies often came back empty-handed, but that didn't mean they had never caught anything.

On fishing forums, there's a term called "newbie protection period," which means that if someone is a beginner at fishing, they can catch fish no matter what rod or line they're given. But Qin Feng clearly didn't even have a newbie protection period.

Xu Bai felt that something was definitely going on here.

Qin Feng hesitated for a moment, then said, "Okay, you say I believe you, so what should I do next?"

As the saying goes, you might as well try anything, even if it's a dead horse.

Having already reached Qin Feng's level, he no longer cared about anything else; as long as it could help him solve the problem, that was the best solution.

He recalled that many years ago, a junior apprentice who had just started his training found him and saw him fishing by the pond. The junior apprentice expressed great admiration and said he wanted to keep him company.

He was especially happy at the time because someone shared his interests, so he patiently taught this junior brother how to fish.

They fished all day long, and the junior's basket was overflowing, while his remained empty.

In a word, it was terrible.

He didn't know how he got back; his mind was buzzing.

Xu Bai is now his lifeline, and regardless of whether this lifeline works or not, he'll give it a try first.

Xu Bai pointed to the lake. "You fish here for a bit more, I'll go down and take a look."

Qin Feng didn't say much, and followed Xu Bai's instructions to cast his line again.

The fishing hook fell into the water, causing ripples on the lake surface, which quickly returned to calm.

After the fishhook fell into the water, Xu Bai jumped directly into the lake.

The skill "Water Adaptation Method" has been integrated into the entire skill set, making him even more agile in water than on land.

"So many fish?"

When Xu Bai entered the water, he saw that it was full of fish. The fish were swimming happily and leisurely in the water.

If other seasoned anglers knew about this level of fish population, they'd probably go crazy and rush over to fish.

The problem is that with so many fish, Qin Feng is the only one fishing here, yet he hasn't caught a single one. That's quite interesting.

Xu Bai did not doubt Qin Feng's skills. After all, people in this line of work are usually skilled. Besides, as someone in the industry, it's impossible for him not to catch anything by learning ordinary fishing techniques.

"The problem isn't with the fish; the problem lies with Qin Feng."

After a moment's thought, Xu Bai looked down at the lake.

In the clear lake water, he saw a fishhook submerged in the water, surrounded by fish, but not a single fish took the bait on the hook.

The fish swam around the hook, but didn't want to take the bait.

"That shouldn't be the case. Let's get closer and take a look."

Xu Bai made a decision and wanted to get closer to the fishhook to see what was going on.

As he approached the fishing hook, the surrounding fish were startled and swam to the side, but Xu Bai managed to grab one of them.

"They say you have to force yourself on someone, so I'll try to force myself on them and see if it works."

Xu Bai felt that he needed to take a more unconventional approach and not follow the conventional methods.

The more off-road the route, the better the results.

He hung the fish directly on the hook to see how it would turn out.

At that moment, something unusual happened.

"Holy crap?"

Xu Bai swam back quickly, retreating several meters, and looked at the fish on the hook.

As if possessed by a spirit, the fish even opened its mouth so quickly that the corners of its mouth were torn, and it escaped from the fishhook.

If fish could have expressions, Xu Bai believed that their expression at this moment would definitely be one of disdain, as if the fishhook was not good enough for them.

"Is this the legendary chosen one? Born with a complete aversion to fishing?"

Xu Bai watched the fish, now free of the hook, swim away, completely speechless.

He felt he didn't need to try anymore; if there was one, there would definitely be two, and the rest would probably follow the same pattern. It was impossible to artificially hook the fish up.

"Qin Feng might not be so simple..." Xu Bai thought to himself, stroking his chin as he sat in the water.

It's understandable to not catch a fish, but it's quite strange when a fish comes off the hook on its own.

Xu Bai swam to the fishhook, pinched it with his hand, and tried to inject his True Yuan Power into it. When he injected his True Yuan Power, he carefully sensed it and found that the fishhook was just an ordinary fishhook with nothing unusual about it.

Now Xu Bai has ruled out another possibility: the problem is definitely not with the fishhook.

He surged upwards, quickly breaking out of the water and landing on the shore.

When Qin Feng saw Xu Bai come out, still holding his fishing rod, he asked eagerly, "Brother Xu, have you found anything?"

Xu Bai nodded and recounted what had happened in the water.

After listening, Qin Feng said dejectedly, "Maybe I'm really not cut out for this. Even God isn't on my side. You help me put the fish on the hook, and it still gets away. This is just too unbelievable."

Feeling down makes you feel terrible.

This is like someone feeding you food, but you can't open your mouth to eat it. This feeling is a million times worse than not being able to catch a fish.

Xu Bai patted Qin Feng on the shoulder and comforted him, "Brother Qin, don't be discouraged. We can solve this from other aspects. Who taught you how to fish?"

The problem isn't with the fish, so it's with Qin Feng.

Qin Feng did not improve despite Xu Bai's comforting words; he remained depressed and subconsciously replied, "It's just an ordinary fishing book. I've read it countless times and know it by heart, but I still can't catch any fish."

"Oh, by the way, I bought that book at the market. The old man who sold it to me was quite strange. He said that although he was just an old fisherman, he used to be Saviors..."

"It's strange, I never liked fishing before, but after reading that book, I became obsessed with it."

Saviors? Xu Bai was slightly taken aback. It seemed that besides helping Qin Feng solve his problem, there was another clue.

The Saviors are the former Golden Finger who was dispersed to deal with the Supreme Saint.

Xu Bai frowned and said, "This sounds very strange. Didn't you suspect anything back then?"

Qin Feng said helplessly, "I had my doubts, but that old man was just an ordinary person and didn't have the skills of someone in the industry. I just thought he was bragging."

"And when I heard that the book was for fishing and that it wasn't expensive, I bought it."

Xu Bai, his face full of black lines, said, "Brother Qin, think about it carefully. If someone at the Extraordinary Rank 9 wants to hide their strength, can you tell?"

"Extraordinary Rank 9?" Qin Feng shook his head in disbelief. "Impossible. Why would a Extraordinary Rank 9 come looking for me? I didn't offend him, and I didn't have that kind of strength back then."

Xu Bai felt there was no need to continue the conversation; the more he explained, the more complicated things would become. He could only change the subject and said, "Let me see that book."

Now that the clues have been found, the problem lies in that book. Xu Bai will take a look at what's inside.

Back then, the strongest beings in the world, together with countless broken worlds, created a cheat system, which they then distributed into countless types, bestowing upon that group of people.

Later, after the resources of that world were depleted, these Saviors became educators. Xu Bai felt that giving this book to Qin Feng must have a deeper meaning, but he would have to read it to find out what it was.

Qin Feng knew that Xu Bai must have something he couldn't say because he hadn't explained it to him.

Without asking any further questions, he took out a worn-out book from his pocket.

"I read it every day, trying to figure out exactly where the problem lies. I've read this book countless times."

Xu Bai took it and looked at the rapidly increasing golden progress bar, raising his eyebrows slightly.

Judging from Xu Bai's newly upgraded cheat ability, this progress bar won't take long.

He really didn't expect that the fishing book would have a hidden progress bar; it was a lucky accident.

Xu Bai didn't speak, but carefully flipped through the book. It was indeed just a simple method of fishing, so simple that even an ordinary person could learn it.

Judging from its appearance, it could never be a book written by someone in the industry.

But the progress bar on the book vividly tells him that there's something hidden inside.

Xu Bai checked each piece of paper. These yellowed papers had no problems, and the words on them were also fine. However, the solution he had just found was based on visual inspection.

As his True Yuan Power surged, his divine soul expanded, enveloping the book. Soon, Xu Bai understood the book's mysteries.

This book actually contains a faint trace of divine soul power, which is impossible for anyone who is not skilled in the arts of the divine soul to detect.

Of course, the spiritual power in this book is not meant to harm people, but rather to allow those who carry this book for a long time to subconsciously learn its contents.

If the divine soul power in this book were harmful, Qin Feng would probably be able to detect it. But since it's used to help him cultivate, Qin Feng has no way of detecting it.

"Brother Qin, please wait a moment." Xu Bai did not explain the problem, but asked Qin Feng to wait.

Given the current progress of his cheat ability, the progress bar in this book shouldn't be too difficult for him.

Qingfeng turned back to fishing, while Xu Bai stared intently at the book. After a while, the progress bar finally filled up, and he gained a skill.

[Fishing All Things: Extraordinary Tier 9 (Max Level)]

Xu Bai watched as the pale blue text transformed into information and entered his mind. When he had absorbed all the text, he finally understood the reason.

The reason Qin Feng couldn't catch any fish was because the fishing methods described in this book weren't actually for catching fish.

According to the skill explanation in this book, if you master the skill of Fishing All Things to the highest level, then what you catch will not be fish, but treasures hidden in various places.

The moment the fishing hook is cast, the process begins. The reason why fish don't take the bait is because they are not worthy of being hooked.

As for why Qin Feng didn't catch any, it's because Qin Feng only subconsciously learned the skill under the influence of divine soul power, and didn't actually raise it to a very high level.

Xu Bai told Qin Feng what had happened.

Qin Feng was stunned, but he realized that he seemed to have been tricked by the old fisherman.

"So, does that mean I can catch fish if I don't take this book?"

"That should be true." Xu Bai pondered, "You only became interested in fishing after you studied this book."

Qin Feng nodded.

Xu Bai continued, "In short, it wasn't you who became interested in fishing, but this book that sparked your interest. Now, Brother Qin, do you understand?"

The message was so clear that Qin Feng understood.

"For now, all I can do is keep carrying this book and let the divine power within it influence me. Maybe I can catch something, even if it's not a fish," Qin Feng asked.

Xu Bai nodded and said, "To be specific, it's like this: once you reach a certain level, you can also catch fish, but you need specific cultivation methods."

As he spoke, Xu Bai pointed to himself, implying that he possessed a cultivation method.

Qin Feng was overjoyed and said, "Brother Xu, as long as you tell me the cultivation method, all the contributions will be yours!"

This was exactly what Xu Bai wanted. He didn't hold back and told Qin Feng the cultivation method for the skill of Fishing All Things.

At their level, their memory is naturally excellent, and they can memorize things with ease.

"Brother Xu, let's go find the Sect Leader. I'll help you pass on the contribution." Qin Feng was overjoyed and pulled Xu Bai to leave.

Xu Bai, of course, did not refuse.

But before they could take two steps, a voice rang out.

"No need, I'm right here. You can just transfer it to Xu Bai."

Gu Yao suddenly appeared in front of Xu Bai and spoke calmly.

Qin Feng was slightly surprised, but to avoid further trouble, he didn't waste any words and immediately offered to transfer his contribution to Xu Bai so that he could focus on cultivating the fishing technique.

Gu Yao did not object this time and nodded in agreement, but her gaze turned to Xu Bai.

Xu Bai said with great interest, "Mother-in-law, I think you need to give me an explanation for this."

He came to help Qin Feng solve his fishing problem, which was fine in itself, but now that Gu Yao has suddenly appeared, as if she's been guarding him here, there's a lot more to it than meets the eye.

"Come with me, and I'll tell you." Gu Yao swayed slightly upon hearing the title "Mother-in-law," seemingly quite pleased with it, and turned to lead the way.

Xu Bai didn't waste any words and silently followed behind.

The two left the woods and finally found a secluded corner.

Xu Bai looked around and noticed a monument standing not far away.

It was just an ordinary grave, with no words on the tombstone.

A powerful sword intent flowed around Gu Yao, sealing off the surroundings and preventing outsiders from seeing what was happening inside.

"Is this the monument to the old fisherman?" Xu Bai pondered for a moment, then realized the connection and asked.

Gu Yao nodded and said, "Not long after Qin Feng obtained that book, this old man found me and told me some secrets."

"What does this have to do with me?" Xu Bai frowned.

Gu Yao shook her head and said, "I don't know. He told me that there were many people like him, but as time went by, most of them have died."

"One of them was skilled in divination and predicted that the foreshadowing here might have an impact on the future."

Foreshadowing?

Xu Bai pondered for a moment and asked, "What foreshadowing?"

Gu Yao glanced at Xu Bai: "If you master the fishing book to its highest level, you'll catch some really good treasures. But if you tamper with this book a little, will you catch what these people are hiding?" Xu Bai remained expressionless, but his heart was churning with shock.

He noticed the meaning behind Gu Yao's words, especially the phrase "this group of people".

It means that you can catch the things that the Saviors have hidden, and these things are all treasures.

The world has evolved from its initial state of resource depletion to its current prosperity, and many professions have actually originated from the Saviors.

Thinking about it this way, everything they left behind must be treasures.

Xu Bai was somewhat tempted. He had already mastered this skill to the maximum level and really wanted to try fishing.

Gu Yao seemed to sense Xu Bai's interest and said, "What, you're already tempted? Before that, there's something I want to remind you of."

Xu Bai asked, "What is it?"

"Do you really believe that someone in the Extraordinary Rank 9 fortune-telling profession can predict the future, and with such precision?" Gu Yao asked.

Xu Bai frowned, thought for a while, and then shook his head.

The realm of the Extraordinary Rank 9 is indeed the peak below the Saintly Realm, but Xu Bai really doesn't believe that it can predict the future. Even if it could, it couldn't be so accurate.

Gu Yao raised a finger and continued, "Although I don't understand what the Saviors are, these guys are playing a big game. Have you ever thought that this is just one of their plans?"

At this point, Gu Yao paused slightly, then uttered three more words.

"Cast a wide net."

Xu Bai stroked his chin. "That's possible."

If someone who can tell fortunes can foresee the vague future, and then casts a wide net in places where things might happen, they might actually catch something.

And sure enough, I encountered it myself.

Gu Yao then asked, "Have you considered their motives? Are they good or bad?"

Xu Bai pondered for a moment and said, "I don't know."

He knew perfectly well whether it was good or bad; these Saviors were casting a wide net, just waiting for him.

But he couldn't say these things. If he did, it might connect Gu Yao with the Giant Eye and create other variables.

Gu Yao sighed and said, "You must know something, but you didn't tell me. I didn't ask you to deliberately get close to Qin Feng. You did all of this yourself, so I kept an eye on things and watched from the side."

"Heh... Saviors, those three words carry considerable weight. It seems the world has suffered some kind of calamity. Take this plaque. You can enter the Ancient Moon Sword Sect's treasure vault anytime and see whatever you want. Qin Feng's contribution is no longer needed."

A token flew from Gu Yao's hand and landed in Xu Bai's hand.

Xu Bai was slightly taken aback.

Gu Yao turned around and left, leaving behind a single sentence before departing.

"I hope that in the event of a major disaster, you can protect Chu Yu and safeguard the safety of the Ancient Moon Sword Sect."

Watching Gu Yao's departing figure, Xu Bai didn't say anything, but turned to examine the token in his hand.

disaster?

It was indeed a disaster, and a pretty big one at that.

He knew that Gu Yao was doing all this to find out some information, but he didn't say it, and Gu Yao didn't know either. However, Gu Yao knew that a major disaster was about to happen, so she gave him the token, hoping that he could stop the disaster.

Can it be stopped? Xu Bai didn't know; he knew he could only try his best.

He bears a responsibility to save the world, but more importantly, he also lives in this world, and if the world is truly destroyed by the Supreme Saint, he himself will not survive.

With that thought in mind, Xu Bai left the dense forest and headed towards the Ancient Moon Sword Sect.

He had already made his plans: first, he would grind through all the treasures of the Ancient Moon Sword Sect, and then try out the Fishing All Things skill to see if he could catch anything useful.

Along the way, he found a disciple of the Ancient Moon Sword Sect and, after asking for directions, went to the Ancient Moon Sword Sect's treasury. With the token in his hand, no one stopped him, and he entered smoothly.

When Xu Bai pushed open the door to the Ancient Moon Sword Sect Sect's treasure vault, he was so overwhelmed by the vast space before him and the countless treasures within it that he could hardly open his eyes.

The contents here are in no way inferior to the treasure trove of the Great Chu Kingdom's imperial palace.

As expected of the Ancient Moon Sword Sect, which has stood at the top of the power rankings for a long time, there is so much to learn here.

Before Xu Bai's eyes were nothing but golden progress bars.

He rubbed his hands together, closed the door behind him, and then walked toward the progress bars.

It took about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn to fill the space in front of him, and the top of the pile was so high that one couldn't see it when looking up.

These were all books with progress bars, and he found them all and piled them up in front of him.

"This time, I should be able to attain sainthood!"

Xu Bai, Xu Bai picked up one of the books and started working on it...