Chapter 118: The Belly of the Golden Fish
Sorcerer Handbook: Culinary Arts Archive: Mastery of Common Recipes
Sorcerer Handbook: Cat Care Diary: Mastery of Cat Care, Mastery of Scooping Litter
Sorcerer Handbook: Fishing Secrets: Mastery of Identifying Unknown Objects
Wow, this fishing sorcerer has practiced identifying unknown objects to mastery just from fishing up all kinds of weird things from the river But judging by his frequent empty catches, he clearly doesnt have the Fishing Mastery skill.
But hes very skilled at fishing for people. Sonya unceremoniously plopped down on the sandy ground, her face flushed as she panted lightly, the corners of her lips curving up slightly, seeming to complain and get excited at the same time, He almost killed me just now.
The fishing sorcerer used a very strange fishing rod weapon, combining the abilities of a long spear and bola, adept at both long range and close combat. He was a very rare one-wing sorcerer skilled at group combat, able to hold his own against Ashe and Sonya at the same time.
He even pulled a trick, feinting an attack at Ashe to draw out his defensive reaction, then immediately turning to assassinate Sonyas unprotected back. At that time Sonya was still dealing with his frontal fishing rod assault, and though she noticed the backstab, she had no way to evade it.
If Ashe had not quickly cast Sword Aegis over Sonya, they might have already been forced out of the virtual world. Even after avoiding that lethal trap, they still spent tremendous effort before finally killing the fishing sorcerer. Ashe sustained countless minor injuries, while Sonya had half her hand pierced through. Fortunately they could quickly recover soul energy in the virtual world, otherwise the fishing sorcerer would have easily killed them in reality.
Other than the inability to actually fish, the fishing sorcerer was flawless as a one-wing sorcerer.
Ashe watched as the sorcerer handbook dissipated into wisps of smoke and the legacy isle rumbled as it sank. Looking at Sonya still resting on the ground, he noticed her body was nearly half transparent, indicating massive soul energy expenditure. He reached out a hand and said, Lets call it a night.
Sonya glanced at him and took his hand to stand up. I should still have one more fight in me.
But Im tired and dont want to keep battling.
Ashe laughed and shook his head, sitting down on the boat and stretching lazily. No need to force yourself. Dying in the virtual world would actually impede our prison break tomorrow. Lets sail a while longer before logging off.
After all, trying to find the golden fish in one night was an extremely unrealistic wish to begin with. Not achieving it is normal if we did succeed, Id have to suspect the Four Pillars were really blessing me. Ashe complained jokingly, Its all because you mentioned the golden fish, now my hopes are too high and the disappointment is greater. Swordswoman, you have to take full responsibility this time!
Hearing the observer make such an absurd accusation, Sonya wasnt angry at all.
She sat on the small boat, legs crossed, the plump and straight thighs squeezed together in an alluring line. Her elbow on her knee and petite hand supporting her chin, she gazed steadily at the observer.
Tonight she wore a black vest and deep red ultra mini skirt, little boots with thigh highs, even some black garter-like decorations on her legs, fashionable and sexy yet retaining a youthful flair, adding a touch of dazzling color to the grey virtual world.
Seeing the swordswoman silent, Ashe grew a little afraid. Sorry, I got too arrogant. Oh, let me tell you a joke, once there was a little white bunny who met a bear that was having diarrhea
Shush, Im thinking.
Thinking about what?
Thinking about intel on the golden fish. Sonya said calmly, Organizing the information we have to see if we can uncover the truth about the golden fish.
Ashe waved his hand dismissively, Dont waste your efforts. So many sorcerers have searched for so many years and found nothing. Are they less talented than us, trained less hard than us? But even they have to follow proper progression, first raise their factions domains before accessing higher virtual planes. For us to expect a miracle like the golden fish is simply unrealistic
But seeking miracles is exactly why sorcerers exist!
Sonya tilted her head and smiled, Anyway weve got nothing better to do, so just keep me company and think with me about how to find the golden fish.
Ashe pursed his lips, then tapped the Virtual World Map to set the boat sailing towards a safe zone. Leaning against the hull with folded arms, he said, Seeing how beautifully youre dressed tonight, Ill follow you.
Thanks! Sonya responded crisply, Lets organize the new intel first.
Ashe nodded, Of the three sorcerer projections we defeated earlier, two of their handbooks mentioned the golden fish: the culinary sorcerer wanted to take a bite of the golden fishs meat, while the fishing sorcerer believed the golden fish could be caught.
Its hard to say whether the former was overly bold, daring to covet such a great existence in the virtual world, or if the latter was deranged, still obsessed with fishing even after entering the virtual plane.
Although the culinary sorcerer pursued it for years until death without tasting so much as the golden fishs crap, let alone its meat, he did gain something he once reached the Fortune Telling Isle.
This shows how Ashes ability to barrier-free read sorcerer handbooks will become more and more important in the future.
Earlier they could only access some low-level sorcerer handbooks, naturally yielding little benefit since insignificant sorcerers led meaningless lives.
But when they reach the core regions of the Sea of Knowledge and encounter powerful sorcerer projections, the handbook insights will increase exponentially.
Because its not just that they have serendipities in the virtual world, other sorcerers also have fortunate moments blessed by the virtual plane.
Whats more miraculous is that the virtual worlds serendipities are not necessarily non-reproducible.
Reading the handbooks is like obtaining other sorcerers exploration notes and even intelligence gains in the virtual world. The Whirlpool Venom is the best example if not for Ashe happening to read that handbook and learning the rapid leveling up tricks, they might still be Silver Half-Wings now.
Like us, he also asked the virtual world about the golden fish: Can I eat the golden fishs meat in the Sea of Knowledge? The answer was No.
We can conclude: the golden fish does not exist in the Sea of Knowledge in physical form.
The fishing sorcerer believed the golden fish was hiding in the sea, so he persisted in fishing the virtual world for over a decade. But other than the occasional knowledge creatures like Mud Dragons and Slash Dragons, he found no traces of the golden fish. He also dove into the Sea of Knowledge, but it was pitch black down there and he quickly died.
Here we can also conclude: we cant dive into the Sea of Knowledge to search for the golden fish.
Sonya pondered, And our previous intel was that the golden fish can be seen without triggering any rituals, that it floats on the seas surface.
Ashe counted on his fingers, The golden fish is on the seas surface, not a physical entity, and can be directly seen Ah, I know what the golden fish is!
Huh?
See how this white fog fits all the characteristics on the seas surface, inedible, directly visible. The only problem is it doesnt look capable of carrying a whole continent. Ashe gazed at the dense white fog enshrouding their boat.
Be serious!
I am serious! Ashe leaned lazily against the boat, looking at Sonya and suddenly smiling, Dont worry, even without the golden arcane energy I wont just die during the prison breakprobably.
Sonyas blinkered, Who cares about you, I just want to see the landscapes of the Isle of Time as soon as possible. Stuck in the Sea of Knowledge, my arcane energy cant grow at all.
Alright alright, I think too much. Ashe was in a good mood. Oh right, what did you do during your one hour break tonight?
Went drinking with Senior Leone.
That Leone senior who beat you badly last time?
What beat me badly, I clearly won! And that whole affair was your fault to begin with, you insisted I fight her! You dare to say-
Oh, youre old enough to drink now?
Well, youre really Of course Im legal age. She told me lots of adventure stories about exploring the Abyss, very interesting.
Do tell.
Like theres a very rare shadow ghoul thats insubstantial, uses soul attacks, extremely tricky to deal with, but its weakness is obvious shine any light to reveal its shadow then attack the shadow, and its main body will also be heavily injured.
Theres also the super creepy Eyeball Hunter whose body is extremely sturdy. When someone looks at it, it will stand utterly still, but the moment you look away, it will swiftly approach and pierce the sorcerers eyes. Leones team saw one once, fortunately they were far enough to flee in time.
The most dangerous monster in the shallow Abyss is the Devourer, its colossal in size and disguises its stomach as an ordinary cave. The moment a sorcerer steps in, it seals the cave which is its stomach and releases potent gastric acid. Idle Silver-rank sorcerers would have great difficulty piercing its stomach sac, only able to watch helplessly as they dissolve away
Sonya seemed excited and bright-eyed recounting these scary Abyss stories. Ashe was originally listening benevolently to the little cutie narrating her school adventures, but his expression gradually changed, even bolting upright in shock.
You just said theres a monster that disguises its stomach as a cave?
Yeah, the Devourer, why, have you seen it before?
I think I may have seen something similar.
Sonya blinked. Similar?
Ashe looked up at the sky obscured by white fog.
What if were inside the belly of the golden fish?
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