A Treasure Fish Appears

"Did our Training Camp hire any servants?"

"I don't think so. Why do you ask?"

"Then that's strange. While I was training just now, someone handed me a sweat towel. I thought he was a servant."

"..."

Hong Ming had no idea that his kind deed had somehow been labeled as servant work.

He did not care in the slightest. Taking advantage of the opportunity, he searched everywhere for Breathing and Exhalation entries.

The four points of fortune he had only just accumulated were rapidly drained by the repeated solidifications, soon reduced to zero as they stacked into a new entry:

[Entry: Breathing and Exhalation (Level 1 · Azure)]

What was new was not the entry's name, but its rank—it had risen from Level 1 White to Level 1 Azure!

After many days of exploration, Hong Ming had long learned that entries possessed not only numerical ranks, but color ranks as well.

The numerical ranks needed no explanation. There were three color ranks in total: White, Azure, and Gold.

White was the lowest rank, Azure came next, and Gold was the highest.

Previously, he had not understood why entries had ranks at all.

Only after raising Breathing and Exhalation from White to Azure this time did realization suddenly dawn on him.

So the true meaning behind entry ranks was that they could be upgraded, enhancing their effects!

"It really eats up fortune, though!"

Staring at his empty fortune bar, Hong Ming silently offered his assessment.

Upgrading entries could certainly broaden their applications, but it also demanded a great deal of fortune.

He felt that the fortune he had painstakingly gathered had been hollowed out in the blink of an eye.

Shaking his head slightly, Hong Ming did not dwell on it further. No matter what, the fact that entries could be upgraded was beneficial to his training.

He steadied his mind, assumed his stance, and slowly began moving through the various forms of the Coiling Dragon Stake.

There was no fatigue, no stiffness. His breathing flowed smoothly, his movements drifted like clouds and ran like water, and every gesture carried a hint of natural perfection.

[Coiling Dragon Stake +3]

[Coiling Dragon Stake +4]

As Hong Ming practiced, notification chimes rang out in his mind one after another.

It was utterly wonderful!

Encouraged, Hong Ming trained with ever greater enthusiasm.

Only after exhausting himself completely did he reluctantly stop. There was not a trace of weariness on his face, only the joy of a bountiful harvest!

Compared to White entries, Azure entries were absurdly powerful.

Previously, each time he practiced the Coiling Dragon Stake, even without making any mistakes, the most he could gain was two experience points.

Now, even if he made mistakes, he could still gain two experience points.

If he made no mistakes, the gain would be even greater, directly doubling to four experience points!

Now, each complete practice of the Coiling Dragon Stake consistently earned him somewhere between three and four experience points.

And that was equivalent to the effect of taking two doses of Blood-Qi Medicine every day before!

Such a high standard and such rapid progress were truly inconceivable.

Hong Ming could not help but look forward to it. An Azure entry alone was already this effective—what about a Gold entry?

And if he could raise an entry's rank to Level 2, what splendor would that bring?

"I still need to accumulate more fortune!"

Hong Ming turned all his expectations into the most primal motivation. After resting briefly, he lowered his head and resumed his grueling practice.

He became so absorbed in training that he arrived at Number Nine Clam Lake half an hour late.

Fortunately, the Clam Lake imposed no time restrictions on the Clam Harvesters' work. Moreover, he had already completed his apprenticeship, so he could come and work whenever he pleased.

Perhaps because his training had gone so well, his afternoon clam-gathering work was far from promising.

Hong Ming gathered clams for half an incense stick's time, yet did not even obtain half of his usual harvest. He only found a few small Pearl Clams.

He changed locations several times in a row, yet the same thing happened each time. This left him wondering, "Could they have all been gathered by someone else?"

It was not impossible. Number Nine Clam Lake was large, but there were no shortage of Clam Harvesters. Even the most remote nooks and crannies had probably been visited.

But the problem was that his current gathering spot was rather special. It lay in the inner area and was exceptionally secluded.

Only someone like him, who possessed the Water Proficiency entry, dared come here and face the turbulent underwater currents without fear.

Any ordinary Clam Harvester would have long since listed this place as forbidden ground. Even veterans would not take such a risk unless absolutely necessary.

Logically speaking, such a bizarre situation of finding nothing at all should not have occurred.

For a moment, Hong Ming was somewhat at a loss. After thinking it over, he decided not to waste any more time here.

Just as he was about to head back, an inexplicable ripple suddenly slipped over his body along the icy current, instantly drawing his attention.

He turned his head, but before his gaze could catch the source of the disturbance, he saw a blurry streak of azure light flash before his eyes.

Like a sharp arrow, the azure light tore through all resistance in the water, bursting forth with startling speed and leaving behind a faint afterimage.

The afterimage vanished in the blink of an eye!

"Was that... an Azure Dragon Fish?"

Hong Ming's pupils contracted slightly as he froze in place.

He had not seen clearly what the afterimage actually was, but he recognized that streak of azure light.

That was a trait unique to the Azure Dragon Fish!

The Azure Dragon Fish was no ordinary fish. It was a Treasure Fish.

What was a Treasure Fish?

Those different from ordinary people were martial artists; those different from ordinary fish were Treasure Fish!

Unlike ordinary fish, Treasure Fish not only lived long lives, but were also formidable. Their flesh contained pure medicinal potency.

When ordinary people consumed them, they could strengthen their foundations, nourish their vitality, and fortify their bodies. When martial artists consumed them, they could replenish their qi and blood and advance their cultivation.

Within Clear River City, Treasure Fish had always been priceless despite being sought after. An adult Azure Dragon Fish could even sell for ten taels, or perhaps dozens of taels—a sky-high price!

If an ordinary fisherman or Clam Harvester managed to catch a Treasure Fish, they would never have to worry for the rest of their life.

Hong Ming had never expected that Number Nine Clam Lake hid such a treasure!

"No wonder the undercurrents here are so turbulent, so few people come, and yet there are hardly any Pearl Clams!"

The earlier anomaly had now been explained.

It was not that there were no Pearl Clams here, nor that they had all been gathered. They had all gone into the Azure Dragon Fish's belly.

Azure Dragon Fish fed on Pearl Clams and could be called one of their natural enemies. With one here, it was perfectly normal for there to be no Pearl Clams.

Once he confirmed that it was an Azure Dragon Fish, Hong Ming immediately cast the Pearl Clams to the back of his mind.

This was a Treasure Fish!

If he could catch it, whether he sold it or used it himself, it would bring him unimaginable benefits.

Relying on Water Proficiency, Hong Ming hurriedly gave chase.

Yet one step late meant every step late. He did not even know where the Azure Dragon Fish had gone, much less how to search for it.

Besides, even if he found it, he might not be able to catch it.

Treasure Fish were not so easily caught, especially an Azure Dragon Fish, which was renowned for its speed.

Although he possessed the Water Proficiency entry, speed was still beyond his reach.

"Unless I can further enhance Water Proficiency."

Hong Ming's thoughts raced. The method was easy enough to think of, but not easy to accomplish.

There were two major difficulties. First, Water Proficiency could not be upgraded. Second, he could not guarantee that he would find the Azure Dragon Fish again.

Hong Ming shook his head slightly, deep regret filling his heart. Having missed it this time, he feared he would never encounter it again.

After searching for a long while with no results, Hong Ming finally chose to give up. He changed locations and returned to lavishing his favor upon Pearl Clams.

Turning grief and indignation into motivation, he finally began to see some results, gathering quite a few small Pearl Clams.

An hour later, Hong Ming came ashore. After selling his haul, he had about forty copper coins in hand.

After returning to the Military Town, he first went to the apothecary and spent money on Blood-Qi Medicine. Then he went to the training ground and devoted himself to cultivation.

After training for two hours, Hong Ming went to sleep, and his day came to an end.

The next day, early in the morning.

Qin Hao came to find him on his own initiative, bringing Hong Ming some good news.