Slap, slap, slap!
As if it had sensed Hong Ming's aggressively predatory gaze, the Azure Dragon Fish thrashed violently.
Hong Ming, however, had no time to pay it any mind. He began to ponder.
Which one should he choose?
All of them?
He couldn't afford that!
Hong Ming glanced at the panel. After three days of diligently training, he had accumulated five points of fate.
He then turned his attention to the four traits and weighed them carefully before deciding. "I'll still choose Breathing and Exhalation."
He had already solidified Water Proficiency, so he could ignore it.
Super Bite Force wouldn't be much use, so there was no need to waste fate on solidifying it.
Clam-Seeking Spiritual Sense and Clam Harvesting Expert overlapped. The latter might not be as good as the former, but it would do for him.
Right now, the most important thing was to improve his cultivation progress, and Breathing and Exhalation was just what he needed.
After making his choice, Hong Ming communicated with the panel and solidified the trait.
[Consumed 5 Fate. Successfully stacked the "Breathing and Exhalation" trait.]
Hearing the voice in his mind, Hong Ming immediately checked the trait's change.
[Breathing and Exhalation (Level 1 · Gold)]
The trait's level had risen, advancing from its original green grade to gold!
The change in color meant its effect had grown stronger.
In an instant, Hong Ming felt an urge to test the effect again, eager to give it a try, but he quickly suppressed it.
Now wasn't the time. He would deal with the Azure Dragon Fish first!
Hong Ming had already gone over what to do with the Azure Dragon Fish after catching it countless times in his mind.
He had no intention of selling it at the Fishery Market. That would draw too much attention and might invite trouble.
The best option now was to eat it himself. He also wanted to take this opportunity to taste the effects of a Treasure Fish.
There was no problem preparing the Treasure Fish aboard the boat, but cooking it was another matter. That would bring unnecessary trouble.
Hong Ming had already made up his mind. He rowed his boat to a remote reed marsh, slipped deep inside, and moored it.
After observing his surroundings for a long while, he began preparing the Azure Dragon Fish.
The Azure Dragon Fish was only as big as a palm and looked much like a crucian carp. Its scales were relatively hard.
Its tail was covered in pale blue scales, as though flecked with light. When it thrashed, a faint blue glow flickered across it. That was how the Azure Dragon Fish got its name.
Judging by its appearance, Hong Ming reckoned that this one hadn't reached adulthood. It was probably a Treasure Fish of seven or eight years.
An adult Azure Dragon Fish would be at least ten years old, half the length of an arm, with a much deeper blue tail.
Preparing it was no different from preparing an ordinary fish. Hong Ming soon did it with practiced ease, then put it in a pot of water to boil.
The finest ingredients often called for the simplest cooking methods. Nothing described a Treasure Fish like the Azure Dragon Fish better.
Hong Ming added no more than a little coarse salt, without adding any other seasonings. Then he sat at the bow, watching his surroundings while keeping an eye on the pot.
After about half an incense stick's time, the water boiled. Steam carried a faint, delicate fragrance to the tip of Hong Ming's nose, stirring his appetite.
It was as if countless little hands had reached out from his stomach, crawled up his throat, and tried to grab that delicious morsel.
Hong Ming endured the unbearable, clawing hunger and waited a little longer. Only then did he pick up a bowl, lift out a piece of fish, and put it in his mouth.
The instant it touched his tongue, a burst of savory flavor shot straight to the crown of his head, leaving Hong Ming feeling more alert.
He gave it a gentle press with his tongue, and the fish melted like cotton candy, dissolving into a rich, clean sweetness.
Then, without the slightest trace of fishiness, it slid slowly down his throat, releasing a warmth like the soft spring rain soaking the earth.
The warmth flowed through all his limbs and bones, as if immense energy had been poured into his body, driving away the lingering aches and fatigue from his past martial training.
It was as though gentle hands were stroking and kneading him, loosening the muscles and bones throughout his body without a sound.
Even every pore seemed to come alive, bringing a refreshing, indescribable sense of ease.
After his first taste of Treasure Fish, Hong Ming felt an indescribable comfort throughout his body. He eagerly picked up a second piece.
The Azure Dragon Fish had few bones and plenty of meat, making it easy for Hong Ming to eat. Wisps of white steam billowed from the back of his head.
Before long, Hong Ming had eaten the entire Azure Dragon Fish, even drinking the broth.
The potent medicinal effect—comparable to taking five doses of Blood-Qi Medicine—rampaged through his body, leaving him unbearably hot.
When he could no longer stand it, Hong Ming went to the bow. He widened his stance, legs as firmly rooted as if they had grown into the ground, and slowly began the form.
[Coiling Dragon Stake +10] [Coiling Dragon Stake +9] [Coiling Dragon Stake +11] [...]
The voices in his mind rose and fell in a delightful chorus.
These were higher numbers than he had ever seen!
Almost every time, he gained an average of ten experience points—about twice as much as before.
Hong Ming practiced the Coiling Dragon Stake five times in a row before the strange feeling in his body began to ease.
But the medicinal effects of the Treasure Fish wouldn't be used up so easily. They still lingered inside him, slowly being digested.
At the very least, for the next several days, Hong Ming wouldn't need to worry about running out of Blood-Qi Medicine.
The Treasure Fish inside him alone would be enough to sustain the highest-intensity training every day.
[Coiling Dragon Stake (Entry Level 276/500)]
Taking a rest, Hong Ming glanced at his progress and immediately broke into a broad smile.
"At this rate, I'll have Inner Force within three days and become a Bright Force martial artist!"
All told, it would take less than twenty days, far less than the time limit set by his Fate Grid.
It was as if a great weight had been lifted from Hong Ming's heart. His expression relaxed.
He had gained even more from this than he'd imagined.
It was the combined effects of the Treasure Fish and the trait that had doubled his cultivation speed, compressing the timeline to just three days.
"Time to head back!"
After resolving his biggest worry, Hong Ming tidied up quickly and returned.
After returning the boat, he passed through the Fishery Market and took another look around.
The torrential rain had just stopped, and the market stalls were scattered. He didn't find any useful traits there.
He glanced at the sky, now dark once more, and didn't waste any more time. He hurried back to the Military Town.
He was in luck. Not long after he arrived, rain poured down in dense curtains, blanketing the whole world.
Hong Ming found a pavilion and planned to train there.
He had been training for a while when he suddenly heard hurried footsteps approaching, accompanied by a question: "Hong Ming, have you seen Qin Hao?"
Hong Ming recognized the newcomer. His name was Zhang Tao, and like Qin Hao, he was a pageboy.
"No." Hong Ming shook his head.
He had spent this time focused on training and had barely spoken with Qin Hao.
He noticed the anger hidden in Zhang Tao's eyes and asked, his expression shifting slightly, "What happened?"
"Nothing. If you see him, remember to tell me. I have something important to discuss with him!" Zhang Tao replied impatiently.
Then he strode past Hong Ming without looking back. Every step seemed to brim with impatience and anger.
"Did Qin Hao offend Zhang Tao?"
Hong Ming pondered it, feeling a little puzzled.
Qin Hao rarely fell out with anyone. He didn't seem like the sort to provoke Zhang Tao.
Hong Ming didn't think much more of it. If he saw Qin Hao later, he would remind him.
After the interruption, he continued training. To his surprise, he encountered several more people looking for Qin Hao.
From them, Hong Ming learned what had happened. "Qin Hao caught a Treasure Fish?!"
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