The Asura Field

Sea God Island, on the beach.

Lin Yuan sat on Reef Rock, fishing. His float bobbed gently on the water, and two familiar voices came from behind him.

"Lin Yuan!"

"You lied to us!"

Lin Yuan turned. Xiao Ruoxue and Shui Bing'er stood on the beach, dusty and travel-worn. They had clearly come a long way.

Xiao Ruoxue carried a sword on her back, her face tanned a shade darker. Shui Bing'er held a basket containing two live fish.

Lin Yuan said, "How did you find this place?"

Xiao Ruoxue said, "A fisherman at Star Luo Harbor told us a strange man with a fishing rod had gone to sea, heading toward Sea God Island."

Shui Bing'er said, "We rented a boat and drifted at sea for half a month."

Lin Yuan looked at their sun-darkened faces. After two seconds of silence, he said, "Give me the fish."

Shui Bing'er handed him the basket. Lin Yuan took it to the water's edge and released both fish into the sea.

Shui Bing'er grew anxious. "Those were to help you regain your strength!"

"Sea God Island isn't short of fish. You two need them more." Lin Yuan returned the basket to Shui Bing'er, took two Sea-Blue Beads from his clothes, and handed them one each. "A local specialty. Soak them in water and drink it. It'll restore your energy."

Xiao Ruoxue took her bead and glanced at him. "You've been doing well here?"

"Well enough."

"Has anyone been looking after you?"

Before Lin Yuan could answer, a voice came from behind him.

"Lin Yuan, Sea Horse Douluo asked me to come about your Third Trial..."

Hu Liena stood ten paces away in white Spirit Hall fighting clothes, a scroll in her hand. She saw the two women on the beach and stopped.

Xiao Ruoxue and Shui Bing'er turned at the same time.

Xiao Ruoxue put a hand on her sword hilt. "Someone from Spirit Hall?"

Hu Liena's gaze swept over the two women before settling on Lin Yuan. "You have guests?"

Lin Yuan said, "We're all fishing friends."

All three women spoke at once. "Who's fishing friends with her?"

Then they glared at one another.

Ma Hongjun happened to pass by. At the sight, he quietly pulled out some sunflower seeds and crouched behind Reef Rock. Oscar joined him. "What's going on?"

Ma Hongjun said, "An Asura field. Quiet. Watch the show."

Ning Rongrong crouched on the other side. "Lin Yuan's in trouble."

Zhu Zhuqing stood at the back and watched calmly for a while, then turned and left.

Ning Rongrong called after her. "Zhu Zhuqing! You're not watching?"

Zhu Zhuqing did not look back. "Not interested."

But she was heading toward Lin Yuan's dormitory.

Lin Yuan looked at the three women and rested his Fishing Rod on his shoulder. "Why are you all standing? Sit down."

Xiao Ruoxue remained standing, her eyes fixed on Hu Liena. "What's the saintess of Spirit Hall doing on Sea God Island?"

Hu Liena's expression did not change. "Carrying out a mission."

"What mission?"

"One that has nothing to do with Sea God Island." Hu Liena looked at Lin Yuan. "Sea Horse Douluo asked me to tell you that the record of your Third Trial's Tidal Body Tempering needs to be filed. Sign it."

Lin Yuan took the document, glanced over it, signed his name, and handed it back.

Hu Liena took it and turned to leave.

Shui Bing'er suddenly spoke. "Wait."

Hu Liena stopped.

Shui Bing'er looked at her. "Did you really come to Sea God Island just to deliver a document?"

Hu Liena was silent for two seconds. "What are you implying?"

"I'm not implying anything." Shui Bing'er walked over to Lin Yuan and stood beside him. "I'm just reminding you that people from Spirit Hall aren't welcome on Sea God Island."

Hu Liena turned to Lin Yuan. "Does she speak for the island?"

Lin Yuan sighed. "Could you three stop going for each other's throats the moment you meet?"

All three women spoke at once. "Who's going for anyone's throat?"

Then they glared at one another again.

Behind Reef Rock, Ma Hongjun cracked sunflower seeds at a furious pace. "Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant."

Oscar asked, "Who do you think Lin Yuan will choose in the end?"

Ma Hongjun thought for a moment. "I bet he won't choose any of them."

"Why?"

"Because he's a fisherman." Ma Hongjun spat out a seed shell. "Fishermen are only interested in fish."

Ning Rongrong leaned closer. "Then why does he attract so many women?"

Ma Hongjun glanced at her. "Go ask him."

Ning Rongrong thought about it, then shook her head. "Forget it. I'll just watch."

That night, in the waters off Sea God Island.

Three Spirit Hall Warships appeared on the horizon. Two Soul Douluo stood at the bow, with fifty Soul Masters behind them.

Spirit Hall's emblem was embroidered on the Warships' mainsails, glaringly conspicuous in the moonlight.

Sea Horse Douluo stood before the Sacred Pillar, his expression grave.

"Sea God Island doesn't take part in the mainland's conflicts. But they've come to attack us, and we can't leave it unanswered."

Dai Mubai activated Martial Soul Possession. "Then we fight!"

Zhu Zhuqing appeared silently beside him. Her Hell Spirit Cat possessed her, and a cold gleam shone along her claws.

Oscar and Ning Rongrong stood together. Ma Hongjun clenched his fists.

Sea Horse Douluo looked at Lin Yuan. "What do you say?"

Lin Yuan stood on Reef Rock, watching the Spirit Hall Warships out at sea. He drew out his Fishing Rod.

Hu Liena stood beside him, her expression troubled. "I didn't know they were coming."

Lin Yuan glanced at her. "Whose side are you on?"

Hu Liena was silent for three seconds. "My own."

Lin Yuan smiled. "Fine. Then watch."

He cast his line. It flew across the water and hooked a Spirit Hall Warship's Anchor. With one tug, the Anchor came loose, and the Warship pitched violently in the waves.

His second cast hooked another Warship's Ship's Wheel. He yanked it crooked, sending the vessel out of control and into the first. The two ships collided, spraying splinters.

On his third cast, Lin Yuan did not hook a ship. He sent his hook down toward the seabed, and the aura of the Ten Headed Fierce Yang Serpent spread from it.

The sea began to churn from below.

[Ding! Sea Soul Beasts have answered the summons. Number: 372. Species: 27. Assessment: Host, you've called over every Sea Soul Beast around Sea God Island.]

More than three hundred Sea Soul Beasts surged up from the depths and circled the Spirit Hall Warships.

There were giant octopuses, electric eels, and sea turtles larger than the ships.

The Soul Masters aboard the Warships were frightened out of their wits. They scrambled over one another to jump into the sea and escape.

The two Soul Douluo tried to fight back. One had only just released his Soul Rings when Xiao Bai rose halfway out of the water and slammed him into the sea with her tail.

The other Soul Douluo turned to flee, but a sea snake wrapped around his ankle and left him dangling upside down.

The Spirit Hall fleet was utterly defeated.

Sea Horse Douluo stood before the Sacred Pillar, looking at the Spirit Hall Soul Masters floating on the water. Then he looked at Lin Yuan.

"You... you used Sea Soul Beasts as a Soul Skill?"

"Not a Soul Skill. Just friends helping out."

Hu Liena stood on Reef Rock, watching the Spirit Hall Soul Masters trapped among the Sea Soul Beasts. Her expression was more conflicted than ever.

"Lin Yuan."

"Mm?"

"Do you realize that what you just did amounts to declaring war on Spirit Hall?"

Lin Yuan turned to her. "They came here first."

Hu Liena was silent for a long time.

Then she took a token from her clothes: the Saintess Token of Spirit Hall, cast in gold and engraved with its emblem.

She gripped it and stared at it for three seconds. Then she threw it into the sea.

"I'll go back and tell them you're not someone to mess with."

She turned and walked away. After a few steps, she faltered, but she did not look back and kept going.

Xiao Ruoxue stood on the beach, watching Hu Liena's retreating figure. "She was crying," she said softly.

Beside her, Shui Bing'er did not argue with Xiao Ruoxue for once.

Lin Yuan watched the waves churning on the surface and the enormous dark shape swimming slowly beneath them.

"Xiao Bai."

Xiao Bai poked her head out of the water, a trace of impatience on her shark face. "What?"

"Someone wants to kill you."

Xiao Bai froze. "Who?"

"Spirit Hall. Next time, they won't send only Soul Douluo."

Xiao Bai was silent for two seconds. "What are you going to do?"

Lin Yuan planted his Fishing Rod in Reef Rock and looked toward the last sliver of sunset on the distant horizon.

"Hook them so hard their souls scatter."

The system notification sounded again:

[Ding! Harem route updated.]

[Xiao Ruoxue: Affection 85. Current relationship: More than friends; confirmed addition.]

[Shui Bing'er: Affection 85. Current relationship: More than friends; confirmed addition.]

[Hu Liena: Affection 80. Current relationship: More than friends; breaking with her faction.]

[Zhu Zhuqing: Affection 60. Current relationship: Watching quietly; no declaration.]

[Assessment: Host, all four fish are in your baited spot, but you haven't reeled in a single one.]

Lin Yuan looked at the system panel and was silent for two seconds.

"What's the rush?"

"You have to play a fish slowly. Pull the line too tight, and it'll snap."

He turned toward the island. Xiao Ruoxue and Shui Bing'er followed, one on either side.

Xiao Ruoxue suddenly asked, "Will Hu Liena come back?"

Lin Yuan thought for a moment. "She will."

"How do you know?"

"She threw away the token, but not the bead I gave her."

Shui Bing'er glanced at him. "When did you give her a bead?"

"At the exit to Hell Road. I slipped it into her hand when she left."

Xiao Ruoxue and Shui Bing'er stopped at the same time.

Lin Yuan looked back. "What?"

Xiao Ruoxue stared at him. "How many people have you given beads to?"

Lin Yuan thought for a moment. "I haven't counted."

The two women exchanged a glance, snorted in unison, and quickened their pace ahead of him.

Lin Yuan stood where he was, watching their backs, and sighed.

"System."

"Mm."

"Did I dig myself into a hole?"

The system was silent for two seconds.

[Answer: Host, you're not digging a hole. You're baiting a fishing spot. Bait enough spots, and the fish will come. But beware: too much bait can scatter them all.]

Lin Yuan rested his Fishing Rod on his shoulder and followed them.

"Then I'll take it slowly."

"Sooner or later, every fish in this sea will bite my hook."

Far out at sea, Xiao Bai surfaced and looked at the four figures on shore. A strange smile spread across her shark face.

"That fisherman's going to die at the hands of his fish one day."

She flicked her tail and dived into the deep.