Chapter 388: Sudden Incident

A Treasure Fish is naturally heavier than a regular fish of the same size.

For instance, on the night of the full moon alone, the six Treasure Fish and two Treasure Snakes he had caught in one fell swoop weighed a combined total of over a hundred pounds.

This was no challenge for him at all.

Therefore, he was more interested in learning the quota for High Tier Treasure Fish so he could choose the most cost-effective option.

“Ordinary disciples must turn in one hundred pounds of Tier One Treasure Fish or ten pounds of Tier Two Treasure Fish every month…”

Lü Qinyi paused for a moment before adding,

“As for Tier Three, don’t even think about it. They won’t appear in any of the waters you’re allowed to enter… If you do happen to run into one, just remember one thing: run as fast as you possibly can.”

Chen Cheng nodded.

‘Ten pounds of Tier Two Treasure Fish per month. A larger one could fulfill the entire month’s quota. That’s not a bad option.’

Besides, he remembered the last few pages of the Fishing Pavilion’s resource ledger listed Tier Three Treasure Fish, but the column for their redemption price simply read “Not Redeemable.”

‘Was it because the redemption price was too outrageous? Or was it because they were simply impossible to catch…?’

But judging from the hand-drawn illustrations in the ledger, those Tier Three Treasure Fish were clearly not to be trifled with. Coupled with their extreme rarity, it made sense that they weren’t redeemable.

“…Don’t worry.”

Seeing Chen Cheng’s silence, Lü Qinyi added reassuringly,

“One hundred pounds of Tier One Treasure Fish is a nearly impossible task for a new disciple.”

“That’s why the first three months are considered an adjustment period for new disciples. There’s no quota, so any Treasure Fish you manage to catch are all yours.”

“If you’re tight on cash, you can bring Treasure Fish and Treasure Medicine here to the General Affairs Hall to exchange for money or Military Merit. Just know that the Hall’s buyback price is thirty percent lower than the redemption price.”

“If you don’t think that’s a good deal, you can also take them to Yunlei City to sell. Just be warned, the journey there and back can be dangerous. You should pick your time carefully and preferably travel with other sect members.”

“Understood.”

Chen Cheng nodded, his mind already running the calculations.

‘A hundred pounds of Tier One Treasure Fish a month might be an impossible task for an ordinary Fishing Pavilion newcomer.’

‘But for him, a thousand pounds a month would be no problem at all.’

‘Ordinary Fishing Pavilion newcomers had to spend their first three months learning to read lips and practicing Underwater Techniques.’

‘That was probably a major reason why the Fishing Pavilion had so few members.’

‘Unlike the Medicine Pavilion or the Hunting Pavilion, where newcomers could get the hang of things quickly.’

But Chen Cheng was different.

He didn’t need to adapt to anything at all.

For him, this three-month adjustment period could be summed up in two words…

Pure profit!

…

After leaving the Fishing Pavilion, Chen Cheng had planned to find Ning Chong at the Fist Pavilion and warn him about Dong Chuo.

But halfway there, he was informed that ordinary disciples were forbidden from freely entering the areas of other Pavilions.

‘Chen Cheng couldn’t believe it. Even an ordinary disciple’s freedom of movement was this restricted…’

His only option now was to ask Li Wenrou to pass on the message for him.

The only problem was that Li Wenrou had accepted a mission to clear out an Evil Cult stronghold and there was no telling when she’d be back.

Fortunately, however, Dong Chuo was using a slow-acting poison.

After some careful consideration, Chen Cheng wasn’t as worried.

In his view, as long as he didn’t do anything to tip his hand, Dong Chuo wouldn’t suddenly drop all pretenses.

This meant that he and Ning Chong should be safe for the time being.

As the sun began to set, Chen Cheng ate his Golden Carp Soup while diligently memorizing the Sea Marsh Water Map.

He paid special attention to the dangerous areas marked in red, burning them into his memory.

‘Until he was strong enough, he wouldn’t dare take a single step into those zones.’

After eating and drinking his fill, he gathered all his pre-prepared equipment and ample resources, then quietly slipped into the Sea Marsh just before sunset.

This time, he chose a completely different route from the night of the full moon. Avoiding all the restricted zones, he swam out as far as he could.

The sun set and the moon rose.

‘Moon Breath, activate!’

He had already swum a great distance without seeing so much as a shadow of a Treasure Fish.

But not long after he activated his Moon Breath Characteristic, the first pull of Mental Gravity appeared.

The pull came from a hundred meters ahead.

‘This meant that on a night without a full moon, the perception range of his Profound Breath Inspiration was only a hundred meters.’

‘A far cry from the three hundred meters he got on the night of the full moon.’

‘He wondered if the range would increase after his Endless Moon Breath achieved Limit-Breaking.’

At this thought, Chen Cheng couldn’t help but recall the Limit-Breaking Condition for Endless Moon Breath: offering the Moon Marrow.

‘To this day, he still had no idea what Moon Marrow even was.’

‘His only clue was that Ye Yang had taken it to the Northern Territory.’

‘And the people of the Red Moon Sect were undoubtedly looking for Ye Yang as well.’

‘Getting his hands on the Moon Marrow would be next to impossible.’

Composing himself, Chen Cheng refocused his attention on the Mental Gravity. He was surprised to find that the pull was pointing toward the surface of the water.

This was the first time he’d encountered such a thing. Growing more cautious, he slowed his pace considerably, inching his way forward.

Under the moonlight, he could clearly see a corpse floating on the surface of the water ahead.

The corpse was clad in the tight-fitting leather uniform of a Fishing Pavilion disciple.

A Fish Spear was lodged straight through its heart—the fatal wound.

Nearby, a Golden-tailed Eel as thick as a man’s arm was greedily devouring the corpse’s flesh.

‘Sect infighting? Or an outside enemy?’

Chen Cheng didn’t approach recklessly. He remained hidden among the aquatic plants, pushing all his senses to their limit as he repeatedly scanned his surroundings to confirm he was alone.

SWOOSH—!

With a powerful kick of his legs, Chen Cheng shot toward the surface like an arrow loosed from a bow.

The water exploded beneath his feet, sending out rings of white bubbles that were quickly swallowed by the dark current.