Human-Bait Fish Sashimi

Beautiful singing voices rose from the river, plaintive and sorrowful.

Everyone who watched felt refreshed and delighted.

As the song ended, the River Merfolk moved even closer to the transport boat, almost touching its hull. However, because the transport boat was too tall, they were unable to climb aboard.

The androgynous River Merfolk lingered beneath the boat with resentful eyes, reluctant to leave.

At this moment, a celestial being on the ship, facing the three Refining Qi Immortal cultivator, boldly asked:

"May I ask, Immortal Master, what are these River Merfolk doing? Are they perhaps trying to walk right into a trap?"

One of the middle-aged Qi Refining Qi Immortal cultivator smiled and said, "He's seeking a mate and deliberately trying to seduce you."

Among them was Immortal cultivator who pointed to the River Merfolk below the boat. "Although these River Merfolk can reproduce on their own, they love to mate with other races in order to extract their essence for raising their offspring."

In any section of the river where the River Merfolk exists, passing ships, especially those belonging to ordinary people, are easily lured in. Often, everyone on board, regardless of gender, will be drained of their life force and reduced to a skeleton before dying.

Upon hearing these words, the curious crowd turned pale with surprise, and many even instinctively took a half-step back.

Seeing the change in expression on the faces of the more than one hundred immortal beings on the ship, the middle-aged Refining Qi Immortal cultivator smiled and said:

"However, the River Merfolk is also highly nourishing. It is said that its flesh not only contains Spiritual Qi, but if one can refine medicine and consume it, it can also increase one's chances of Refining Qi."

Upon hearing this, the immortal beings, whose expressions had varied, all perked up and fixed their gazes on the river River Merfolk in the river.

Refining Qi! That was their biggest purpose in joining the sect on this trip.

Fang Shu landed in the crowd, and like everyone else, he was tempted.

Spiritual flesh that can increase the chances of Refining Qi is extremely rare; he had never even heard of it in Guling Town.

Suddenly, someone whispered beside me:

"Fellow Daoist, is what the immortals on the ship said true? Don't you also know about these River Merfolk?"

Fang Shu looked up and saw that it was the immortal seed Wu Dan, whose eyes were gleaming with a look of eager anticipation.

Upon hearing this, Er Daiyuan hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "It is indeed rumored that the River Merfolk is a highly nourishing food, with the effects of nourishing yin and yang. After consuming it, one can increase their water-manipulation ability and spirituality."

The claim that it can increase the chances of Refining Qi is probably true.

Upon hearing this, the immortal named Wu Dan's breathing immediately became heavy.

Amidst the growing restlessness among the people on the ship, the few Refining Qi Immortal cultivator suddenly spoke up again:

"River Merfolk) is a rare and precious creature. Our cultivation is too high; if we were to enter the water, we would frighten them away. If you can help us retrieve a few River Merfolk, you will surely be rewarded!"

The already restless immortal beings were even more eager to try.

However, since the River Merfolk could drain a person dry and turn them into a skeleton, those interested immortals still hesitated and dared not act rashly.

Fang Shu watched from the Fang Shu, when he suddenly remembered the lesson he learned from the last time they were on the boat: Yin Xiaojian's life force had been drained by the Toad Granny.

So he completely suppressed his feelings and kept quiet, not uttering a single word.

Seeing this, the middle-aged Refining Qi Immortal cultivator spoke up again:

"Please rest assured, everyone, these River Merfolk will not harm anyone."

Furthermore, all three of us can swear that if that person dares to seriously injure you or endanger your lives, we will certainly take action to slay the demon!

These words made the immortal beings, who were already bored on the boat, completely unable to contain themselves.

"Since the Immortal has already sworn an oath, he will intervene as long as the Immortal is severely injured! This is feasible!"

"Even mortal widows and widowers dare to keep these creatures. How could we, Immortal cultivator have undergone three tribulations, be afraid of them? At most, we'll just have a little of our essence drained."

Wu Dan, standing in front of Fang Shu and the others, excitedly said:

"Fellow Daoists, would you like to join me in the water?"

Er Daiyuan and the others were somewhat tempted. However, they had all finally managed to board the Immortal Sect's ship and were about to join the sect, so they didn't want any trouble to arise.

Amidst the commotion, only a few of the immortal beings on the ship mustered their courage and ventured out.

They bowed to the Refining Qi Immortal cultivator: "Greetings, Three Immortal Masters!"

The Refining Qi Immortal cultivator replied, "Good! Go into the water without worry."

After some encouragement...

Fang Shu's cheap roommate Wu Dan, even turned his head to look at Fang Shu and the others, and laughed:

"Gentlemen, although my name is Wu Dan, can I still be considered courageous?"

The reason this person went into the water was actually because of his grades and strength. He ranked last in the Spring Examination of Guling Town, and now he wanted to show off and gain some benefits to improve his cultivation.

Thump!

Soon, several immortal beings removed their robes and jumped into the river.

They were all at the third Bandit Cultivator. Although they could not walk on water, they could still reach knee level with the water as if walking on flat ground. After jumping into the water, they immediately circled around the River Merfolk, looking quite harmonious.

The previously melancholy River Merfolk began to sing again, drawing circles on the river's surface as they circled the diving immortals.

These creatures, resembling both humans and fish, are all graceful and dance-like, a truly delightful sight.

Fang Shu and the others on the ship also found it amusing and smiled.

Among the crowd, the three Refining Qi Immortal cultivator exchanged glances and smiles appeared on their faces.

Just as the River Merfolk were dancing most intensely, a surge of spiritual pressure appeared on the river surface, startling Fang Shu and the others on the boat.

Immediately afterwards, screams came from the river.

"Ahh!"

Wu Dan and the others looked anxious and panicked, as if they had encountered something terrible, and frantically scrambled towards the giant ship.

"Help! Help!" and cries for help rang out.

This scene terrified the immortals on the ship.

However, the three Refining Qi Immortal cultivator who had just been kindly persuading everyone and even made oaths were still just smiling and standing by with their hands in their sleeves.

Despite the surprised and suspicious looks from Fang Shu and the others, the three remained calm and pointed to the river, saying:

"So that you may all know that demons are treacherous and should not be approached lightly."

"Haha, consider this lesson a free one from us seniors."

Only when blood began to splatter on the river surface did the three Refining Qi Immortal cultivator speak:

"It's time to act. If someone dies, the immortal seed will be destroyed for nothing, and we'll all suffer the consequences."

Whoosh!

The three Refining Qi Immortal cultivator looked pleased and leaped into the river. They walked on the water with ease and composure.

As soon as the Refining Qi Immortal cultivator approached, the beautiful River Merfolk were indeed startled and immediately darted into the water.

However, several River Merfolk, their mouths and faces stained with blood, lingered and did not leave.

This scene proves that the three Refining Qi Immortal cultivator were not lying; River Merfolk was indeed afraid of them.

Those aquatic plants, on the other hand, have become materials for "fishing and baiting".

With Wu Dan and the others holding them back, the three Immortal cultivator stretched out their hands, rescuing people while catching several River Merfolk and returning nimbly, leaving none behind.

Seeing that no one had died, the expressions of the people on the ship, including Fang Shu, improved slightly.

However, for Wu Dan and the other immortal beings who went into the water, their faces were deathly pale and ashen, showing no sign of relief at surviving the ordeal.

Because their groins were all covered in blood, and severed tendons could be seen through the holes in their robes.

After some persuasion from their roommates, Fang Shu stepped forward to help, and immediately discovered that their roommate Wu Dan, though brave, was now completely impotent.

This fellow's two external kidneys, along with his genitals, had all vanished without a trace.

Fortunately, such injuries are not considered serious for a Three Tribulation Immortal cultivator and will not endanger his life.

What surprised Fang Shu and the others even more was that the three Refining Qi Immortal cultivator were already sitting on the ground.

They laughed and exclaimed:

"Haha, alchemy? That's a waste."

"This kind of spiritual flesh should be made into sashimi; only then will it taste delicious."

The three of them, oblivious to everyone else, placed the five- or six-foot-long River Merfolk on the deck. Instead of killing them first, they used their fingernails to slice open the fish tails of these monsters and eat the flesh of the tails while they were still alive.

Before long, the several River Merfolk, having shed their human forms, revealed their Root Bone remains, delicate and exquisite, having been completely devoured.