Qi Ruming stared at the enormous fish, his mouth hanging wide open.
This was the Red Spirit Fish he had dreamed of catching.
The water in this deep pool was icy cold. It harmed not only the body, but the soul as well.
Even cultivators would be injured if they entered it.
Yet the Spirit Fish inside weren't afraid of it.
That was why eating them was so beneficial to cultivators.
Most importantly, these Spirit Fish tasted delicious. Even simply boiled in clear water, they were so good they'd make your teeth ache.
As the huge fish landed on the shore, Qi Ruming finally came to his senses. He darted over and gathered it in his arms.
Smack, smack, smack...
The fish thrashed its tail, slapping him back and forth across the face, but he just laughed uproariously.
Lin Chen shook his head. "It's just a fish. Is it really worth all that?"
He baited the hook again and cast his line.
This time, it happened even faster. Before the bobber had settled, it suddenly plunged beneath the water.
"That's a fierce bite!"
Power surged into Lin Chen's arms as he yanked hard.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...
The fishing line went taut, letting out a sharp whistling sound as it cut through the air.
"This one's even bigger!"
Feeling the pull on the fishing rod, Lin Chen immediately judged the fish's size.
Fortunately, the rod was a Magic Artifact made by Qi Ruming.
Otherwise, it would've snapped long ago.
Lin Chen circulated his spiritual power, slowly channeling it into the fishing rod to make it more resilient and give it greater spring.
"Up!"
A huge black fish writhed as it was flung onto the shore.
"Good heavens! It's the Black Bream King! Lin Chen, watch out—don't let it prick you!"
Qi Ruming shouted. He snatched up the landing net beside him, trapped the Black Bream King with a swift motion, and slammed it hard onto the shore.
Clang... crack...
The Black Bream King struggled desperately, smashing the stones on the ground with its tail.
Lin Chen swung the fishing rod, striking it on the head with a smack. Only then did it settle down.
"Good heavens! The Black Bream King! I've spent two years trying to catch it, but never managed to. And today it came up so easily! Hahaha..."
Qi Ruming hugged the Red Spirit Fish in his left arm and the Black Bream King in his right, grinning from ear to ear.
"Third Senior Brother, let's head back. Two fish are enough for us to eat."
"Hahaha... Lin Chen, take the Red Spirit Fish back first. I'm going to take the Black Bream King out for a spin."
Lin Chen knew anglers all too well. This was perfectly normal behavior.
He nodded in agreement at once.
"If I don't show it off for a couple of hours, catching that huge fish would've been a waste."
The two parted ways. Lin Chen picked up the fishing rod again and caught a few more big fish.
Only then did he return to the mountaintop.
He put away the fishing gear and began preparing the Spirit Fish.
Half an hour later, a fragrant feast of fish dishes was ready.
The aroma was lighter and sweeter than the smell of meat, tantalizing the appetite.
Soon, the three members of the master-and-disciple group arrived right on time. The only one missing was Qi Ruming.
"Where did Third Senior Brother go?" Zhao Qingshan asked, puzzled.
That guy was usually the most eager to eat. How could he be late today?
"He probably won't be back until tonight..." Lin Chen smiled and recounted what had happened while they were fishing.
Everyone burst into laughter.
They all praised the meal to the skies.
The Spirit Fish tasted absolutely wonderful.
After the meal, Zhao Qingshan beckoned Lin Chen over and said,
"Lin Chen, your Devouring Talent is certainly powerful, but don't get greedy and push ahead recklessly."
"Understood, Sect Leader." Lin Chen nodded.
He had paid the price that morning.
Even now, he still hadn't fully mastered his strength.
The fingerprints on the pots and bowls were proof enough.
What normal person could squeeze dents into a Magic Artifact?
Fortunately, the materials were unusual. The marks would recover after a while.
"Good. For now, get used to the strength you already have. You can continue advancing once you're able to control it completely."
Ahem!
At this point, Zhao Qingshan cleared his throat. "How is your cultivation of the Soul Forging Art going? If there's anything you don't understand, you can tell me."
Lin Chen knew Zhao Qingshan was testing him.
Since he had already boasted that his comprehension was heaven-defying, there was no need to keep it hidden.
He might have to be more modest in front of outsiders.
But in front of the Sect Leader, there was no need at all.
After observing everyone on Sect Leader Peak over the past few days, he trusted every one of them.
So he pretended to think it over. A few moments later, he spoke.
"I read through the Sect Leader's notes in detail and studied the entire Soul Forging Art. But no matter how I try to understand it, I still feel like I'm lost in the clouds, with nothing above me and nothing below."
Hearing that answer, Zhao Qingshan nodded slightly.
It wasn't just Lin Chen. He felt the same way.
But for Lin Chen to say it meant his comprehension really was extraordinary.
To be honest, although Zhao Qingshan knew the Soul Forging Art wasn't complete, he had no idea what was missing.
In truth, Lin Chen could answer that question.
He had already used the system to complete all three volumes of the Soul Forging Art—the upper, middle, and lower.
The only reason Zhao Qingshan had managed to cultivate the middle volume successfully was that his cultivation had reached the required level.
He had already opened his Sea of Consciousness.
That was precisely what the upper volume taught cultivators to do.
In other words, it was the step Lin Chen had completed.
The reason Zhao Qingshan had found it difficult to make further progress was simply that he didn't have the lower volume.
Furthermore, the complete Soul Forging Art wasn't a high-level Spirit Rank art.
It was a top-tier Profound Rank art, perhaps even comparable to Earth Rank soul-cultivation arts.
Zhao Qingshan furrowed his brows, deep in thought.
He had already awakened his spiritual perception and immediately understood what Lin Chen meant. He hurriedly asked,
"Are you saying this spirit art is incomplete?"
Lin Chen nodded. "Sect Leader, I don't know if I'm right, but the Soul Forging Art should have three volumes—the upper, middle, and lower. This is only the middle volume."
"What?"
Zhao Qingshan was stunned. "Tell me what you think."
"Sect Leader."
Lin Chen said, "Have you ever wondered why you were able to cultivate it?"
"Because my cultivation was sufficient, and I opened my Sea of Consciousness ahead of time?" Zhao Qingshan answered, following Lin Chen's lead.
Lin Chen cupped his hands. "Exactly. So I suspect that opening the Sea of Consciousness is the foundation for cultivating the middle volume.
"The upper volume would naturally teach cultivators how to open their Sea of Consciousness..."
"That's not right!" Zhao Qingshan objected. "The Sea of Consciousness opens naturally as one's cultivation advances. There's no need to—"
He suddenly stopped, then stared at Lin Chen in shock.
"Are you saying the upper volume of this art can let cultivators open their Sea of Consciousness ahead of time?"
Lin Chen gave a slight nod.
In truth, he no longer needed to answer the question.
Zhao Qingshan had once delved deeply into cultivating the Soul Forging Art. He knew every part of it by heart.
He had simply lacked anyone to point things out, leaving him trapped inside his own thinking.
Now, Lin Chen's words had instantly helped him break free.
Looking back at his past cultivation, he suddenly understood.
The more Zhao Qingshan thought about it, the more excited he became. "He wouldn't dare hope for the lower volume. But if we can really deduce the upper volume, the Soul Forging Art will become a Profound Rank art—a true inheritance."
Seeing Zhao Qingshan's excitement, Lin Chen changed his mind.
Originally, he had planned to reveal all three complete volumes of the Soul Forging Art.
Now it seemed completely unnecessary. He only needed to reveal part of the upper volume.
That would prove his heaven-defying comprehension without going too far.
After all, his cultivation level was right there for everyone to see!
There were many things about his cultivation that he couldn't explain at all.
Even so, he would be helping the Sect Leader out of a pressing bind.
That way, the two of them could discuss it together, strengthen their master-disciple bond, and draw on Zhao Qingshan's wisdom to gain experience.
That was the plan!
Lin Chen made up his mind and cupped his hands again. "Sect Leader, I've summarized some insights from my cultivation. I don't know if they're correct, so I hope you'll point out any mistakes..."
Lin Chen then picked out key parts of the upper volume and explained them.
As for the details, they could be filled in by carefully studying them over time.
As Zhao Qingshan listened to his explanation, his expression grew more and more serious. Even the other three senior brothers and sisters quietly came over.
They had all cultivated this art before. Now, listening to Lin Chen explain it, they found that even the parts they had struggled to understand were gradually falling into place.
For a while, all four master and disciples were immersed in it.
Lin Chen spoke with such confidence that he sounded like he was expounding on the Dao.
Through explaining it all, Lin Chen himself also reached a new level.
His understanding of the Soul Forging Art deepened.
Zhao Qingshan asked question after question, each one hitting a key point.
Lin Chen answered some and pretended not to know others.
This discussion lasted a full day and night.
By the time they came back to themselves, dawn had broken.
All four of them looked full of energy.
Zhao Qingshan was beaming. "I'll go back and write everything down. If we can truly decipher the upper volume, it'll greatly benefit the Green Mountain Sect."
At this point, he looked at Lin Chen. "Lin Chen, if we succeed, you'll deserve the greatest credit. I'll make sure you receive a generous reward in Spirit Stones."
"Master, First Senior Brother, Second Senior Sister, Lin Chen, what are you all doing?"
Just then, Qi Ruming came up the mountain with the Black Bream King slung over his back.
Who could've guessed he'd been out for a full day and night?
The fish must've gone rotten by now, right?
Before you continue