Cultivation: From Poor Peasant to Celestial Lord

Chapter 20: Chapter 20: Monstrous Fish

The bell signaling the end of classes rang, shattering the afternoon’s tranquility.

Chu Bai packed his things. He didn’t linger at the academy or exchange pleasantries with his classmates, instead heading straight for the ferry crossing outside the city.

The sun was setting, its golden-red afterglow spilling across the water, draping the sparkling Sanmu River in a magnificent, sunset-colored cloak.

At the crossing, a few slightly worn-out fishing boats bobbed gently with the waves. A dark-skinned old fisherman, his face a roadmap of deep-creased wrinkles, sat at the bow of one, puffing away on his long-stemmed pipe. His weathered face was hazy in the swirling smoke.

Chu Bai walked up, cupped his hands in a fist, and asked politely, "Old Sir, I’d like to rent a boat."

The old fisherman squinted, sizing Chu Bai up through the smoke. Seeing a refined-looking scholar in a long cyan robe, he couldn’t help but feel a bit surprised.

"Young man, why rent a boat at this hour? It’s about to get dark. The scenery on this river is nice, but it’s not exactly safe. Especially at night. It gets real spooky."

"I enjoy the night scenery and wanted to compose some poetry and paint on the river. And maybe... catch a few fresh fish for a taste." Chu Bai’s expression didn’t change as he casually made up an excuse. He took out a string of copper coins he had prepared earlier and offered it. "This is thirty cents. I’d like to rent that small sampan of yours for a few days. I won’t go into deep water, just cruise around the reed marshes here. I won’t go far."

Upon seeing the string of copper coins, the old fisherman’s cloudy eyes instantly brightened.

Thirty cents was no small sum. It was extra income, after all.

"All right, then. As long as you don’t go out to the deep water in the middle of the river, there shouldn’t be any trouble." The old fisherman took the money and weighed it in his hand, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. He then tapped his pipe bowl,

"You can take that small one. The hull was just freshly sealed with tung oil, so it’s very steady. But let me give you fair warning: if you encounter anything strange, or hear any odd noises, don’t get curious. Just make a run for the shore."

"Thank you for the warning, Old Sir. I understand."

Chu Bai nodded, untied the rope from the wooden post, and hopped onto the small sampan.

He grasped the oars with both hands and, with a gentle push, the boat slowly departed from the dock.

As night fell, a light mist rose from the river’s surface, blurring the moonlight into a hazy glow. All around was silent, save for the SPLASH of the oars breaking the water and the occasional croak of a frog.

Contrary to what he’d told the old fisherman, Chu Bai didn’t just linger around the reed marshes. Instead, he worked the oars, following the current and slowly rowing toward the river cove that he remembered having the densest Spiritual Qi.

About a double-hour later, he reached the center of the cove.

The current here was gentle, and the cove, surrounded by tall reeds, was extremely secluded.

"Such dense Water Spiritual Qi!"

The moment he stopped the boat, Chu Bai could feel that the surrounding air was so humid it felt like water could drip from it.

Compared to the shore, the Spiritual Energy Density here was at least thirty percent higher. Moreover, the unique "Purifying Spirit Flow" was extremely active, seeping into his pores without any conscious effort to guide it.

Chu Bai was delighted. He put away the oars and sat cross-legged at the bow.

As the small boat bobbed, he adjusted his breathing and quickly entered a state of Meditation.

The keen perception granted by his "Nourishing and Exquisite" Fate Chart allowed him to clearly capture every wisp of Spiritual Qi’s flow.

Wisps of cool, pure Water Spiritual Qi surged through his meridians and into his Dantian, merging with the Pure Qi within his body. The pleasant sensation almost made him moan aloud.

’If I could cultivate here every night, my progress definitely wouldn’t be slow, even without the nourishment of meat!’

’Tonight, I should be able to accumulate at least half a wisp more Spiritual Qi!’

The night deepened, and the mist on the river grew thicker, nearly enveloping the small boat completely.

Just as Chu Bai was immersed in the pleasure of cultivation, a sudden, inexplicable sense of alarm welled up in his heart without warning.

"Hm?"

Chu Bai’s eyes snapped open, his brow tightly furrowed.

The new Fate Chart brought not only an increase in cultivation speed but also an extremely keen awareness of his surroundings. At this moment, he sensed a profoundly dangerous presence approaching.

Beneath the once-calm surface, an extremely subtle undercurrent seemed to be surging rapidly.

Unlike a natural current, this one had a strong sense of purpose, as if some colossal creature was rapidly ascending from the deep, heading straight for his little boat!

’Something’s coming up!’

Chu Bai’s heart tightened. He immediately stopped cultivating and instinctively reached for the oar beside him.

Almost at the exact moment he grabbed the oar, the calm water near the boat suddenly exploded.

A deep, muffled BOOM, like a heavy hammer striking a drum.

A violent impact struck the bottom of the boat. The entire vessel was thrown up as if by a massive wave, tilting sharply to the right and nearly capsizing.

’Such incredible strength!’

Chu Bai clung tightly to the gunwale. Using the solid footwork he had honed while sparring at the Zhao Mansion, he planted his legs to the deck like roots. His body swayed violently with the boat’s rocking, but he managed to force himself to remain stable.

By the hazy moonlight, he finally got a clear look at his attacker.

As the spray settled, a monstrous fish, at least half the size of a man, leaped from the water.

Its body was covered in blue-black scales like iron armor, which glinted coldly in the moonlight.

Its dorsal fin was as sharp as a razor, and its gaping maw was filled with serrated fangs. Its eyes, which glowed with a faint green light, were full of bloodthirsty ferocity and a heart-stopping Evil Qi.

"This... Is this a River Demon that’s become a Spirit Monster?!"

Chu Bai’s pupils contracted violently. He felt a chill shoot up from the soles of his feet straight to his Skull Cap.

The legends of the Sanmu River were actually true! There really were Spirit Monsters in this river!

’It’s trying to capsize the boat!’

Chu Bai understood instantly.

This monster fish had clearly attacked passing boats before. It was extremely clever, knowing that in the water, it was the apex predator. As long as it knocked its prey into the river, the situation would be hopeless!

"Faster!!"

Chu Bai roared, no longer caring about cultivation or Spiritual Qi.

At that moment, only one thought dominated his mind—Escape! Get to shore!

He snatched up the oar and paddled desperately toward the bank.

The muscles in his arms bulged and veins popped as the explosive power from his "Nourishing and Exquisite" Fate Chart was pushed to its absolute limit.

He swung the hardwood oar so fast it was almost a blur, each stroke kicking up a huge spray of water and propelling the small boat toward the shore like an arrow released from a bowstring.

Its first attack having missed, the monster fish did not give up. It was as agile as a phantom in the water. With a flick of its tail, it charged again, ramming viciously into the side of the boat.

THUD! THUD!

The boat shook violently, groaning under the strain as if it would fall apart at any moment. Each impact made Chu Bai’s heart skip a beat, and the immense force traveled up through the hull, making his arms go numb.

It was a race between life and death!

The monster fish was incredibly fast in the water, but the small boat wasn’t too far from the shore. Combined with Chu Bai’s astonishing explosive strength, he managed to reach the shallows despite the fish’s repeated rammings.

"Made it!"

Looking at the reed marsh just a stone’s throw away, a ruthless glint flashed in Chu Bai’s eyes.

SCREEE—

Carried by its final momentum, the boat shot onto the muddy shallows. The hull scraped against sand and gravel with a piercing shriek before finally running aground, motionless.

Without a second thought, Chu Bai grabbed the oar and prepared to jump from the boat to escape.

However, the monster fish, its eyes red with bloodlust, had no intention of letting its prey get away.

Using the force from its final charge, it leaped high out of the shallow water. Its massive body tore through the air, its gaping, fang-filled maw opening wide as it lunged at Chu Bai on the boat, bringing with it a foul, gusting wind!

The lunge was terrifyingly ferocious!

If that bite landed, even with Chu Bai’s strong physique, a huge chunk of his flesh would be torn off, and he might even be killed instantly!

"You’re courting death!"

With no room to retreat, the panic in Chu Bai’s eyes vanished, replaced by the grim determination and ruthlessness of a cornered man.

He didn’t turn to run. Instead, he planted his feet, one in front of the other, gripped the oar with both hands as if it were a spear, and thrust it violently into the monster fish’s gaping mouth!

The hardwood oar was instantly shattered by the creature’s terrifying bite force, sending splinters flying.

But that brief obstruction was enough. The monster fish’s lunge faltered, and it crashed heavily onto the deck of the boat.

THUMP!

The boat sank sharply under the weight. Out of the water, the monster fish was still ferocious, thrashing its tail and trying to lunge, but its movements were severely restricted, lacking their earlier agility.

Chu Bai seized the opportunity to leap off the boat. From a pile of rubble on the shore, he snatched up a jagged, head-sized river stone.

"You were the boss in the water, but now that you’re on land, I’ll send you to your grave!"

Chu Bai roared, sidestepping nimbly to dodge a powerful tail whip from the fish, then raised the stone high.

At this moment, the power-generation techniques he had honed as a sparring partner at the Zhao Mansion played a crucial role. With his stance and waist unified, he channeled all his strength into his arms and brought the stone crashing down!

CRACK!

With a dull thud, the monster fish’s head caved in slightly. Its body convulsed violently as it let out a grating shriek.

Chu Bai, like a man possessed, didn’t dare to stop.

CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!

He smashed it again and again, tirelessly.

Each blow was accompanied by the sound of shattering bone and splattering Flesh and Blood.

He didn’t stop until the monster fish’s head was completely obliterated and it had stopped moving, its body only twitching faintly from lingering nerve reflexes. Only then did he collapse to the ground, exhausted.

"Hah... hah..."

Chu Bai gasped for breath, his entire body soaked in cold sweat and splattered fish blood, reeking of a foul stench. His hands trembled slightly from the excessive force, and the web between his thumb and forefinger had split open and was bleeding.

After calming himself slightly, Chu Bai’s gaze fell upon the corpse of the dead monster fish.

Even with its head smashed in, its blue-black scales still held a metallic sheen and radiated a faint, ferocious Evil Qi.

"This thing had boundless strength, and its Scale Armor was like iron... It’s clearly no ordinary creature."

Chu Bai reached out and gently stroked the hard scales, and a thought stirred in his mind.

’Could it be... that this has already transformed into a Demon Beast?’

If it was a Demon Beast, then its Scale Armor, its mouthful of sharp teeth, and even its Flesh and Blood that contained Spiritual Qi... wouldn’t that all be a huge windfall?

At this thought, the exhaustion in Chu Bai’s eyes instantly vanished, replaced by a glint of excitement.

Fortune favors the bold. The ancients truly did not lie!