The normal fishing process involved extending mental tentacles into the water, locating a soul spirit fish, swiftly wrapping around it, only for it to break free—leaving the angler empty-handed!
This cycle repeated until one encountered a particularly dim-witted fish, or until the repeated failures honed the technique enough for success.
Take the two fellows from Black Horn, for example. They had been camped here for five days and had finally reeled in two fish.
That alone earned them the respect of the other anglers, with even those who hadn’t caught anything coming over to pick their brains.
It made the pair all the prouder.
Luck played a part, sure, but their haul already surpassed most of the others present.
Even the students from the Technique Refining Division had mostly empty baskets. Only a handful—those whose divine souls had reached the Manifestation Mid Realm—managed three or four fish.
The two Technique Refining instructors had even praised them.
But Yan Zhen’s fishing process was something else entirely.
He extended his mental tentacles, spotted a soul spirit fish, then struck with a lightning whip. Zap! Just like that, the first one was hooked.
Beside him, Zi Xunyi coated her mental tentacles with Jade Firmament Purple Dome Flame. When she found a soul spirit fish, the purple fire morphed into claws and snatched it up.
Less than the time it took to brew a cup of tea after they sat down, the pair simultaneously reeled in their first catches and deposited them into their prepared fish baskets.
That blazing speed immediately drew eyes. The onlookers muttered about their insane luck.
Then, to everyone’s astonishment, another cup of tea later, they each landed a second fish.
Not just the bystanders—even the students farther off and the two Technique Refining instructors noticed Yan Zhen and Zi Xunyi. They whispered that the couple’s luck was downright otherworldly.
Another cup of tea passed, and a third soul spirit fish came up. At last, people’s expressions shifted. They realized this went beyond mere luck.
The two instructors glanced at Zi Xunyi and vaguely recognized her. A flicker of surprise crossed their faces, but her success didn’t shock them. After all, this wasn’t her first time. On her previous visit, she had fished up eight in one go, stunning everyone and earning worship from the Technique Refining students as the Fishing Goddess.
The others recalled the Fishing Goddess moniker too, quickly identifying Zi Xunyi. Admiration lit their faces. Then their gazes turned to the man beside her.
A Six-Star Mystic Master in cultivation, yet his divine soul had reached the Manifestation Mid-Phase Realm. Impressive, indeed.
Yan Zhen was cloaked and hooded against the wind and snow, so his features weren’t clear. He had only joined the Inner Academy a month ago. True, he had two feats of punching above his weight under his belt, giving him some fame—many students knew him—but plenty didn’t, and speculation about his identity buzzed.
Soon, someone deduced who he was from the pure green beauty and pink-haired little lolita at his side. Others swiftly spread the tale of his exploits.
The two from Black Horn exchanged a glint-eyed glance, already scheming.
Under the crowd’s watchful eyes, two quarters of an hour later, Yan Zhen and Zi Xunyi reeled in their fourth soul spirit fish each.
Half a watch later, their fifth.
Another full watch, and they had their sixth.
…
…
…
The pace slowed after that. By the end of the day, the pair had successfully caught ten soul spirit fish each.
Ten per person was the limit—no more allowed.
These were the academy’s shared resources, after all. One couldn’t hog them all; others needed a share. That was the difference between academies and sects.
After a full day of it, Yan Zhen and Zi Xunyi were exhausted. The waters of Ice Lake eroded spiritual power, after all.
The other students could only fish for half a session before dizziness set in, forcing them to rest and recover their spirits.
The pair swallowed pre-prepared pills, meditated to recuperate, and spent the rest of the half-day restoring themselves to peak condition.
Once they stirred, a bunch of the anglers swarmed over, offering to buy soul spirit fish.
Yan Zhen and Zi Xunyi politely declined.
Soul spirit fish weren’t true fish but manifestations akin to lava beasts—essentially yin sources.
For Manifest Realm soul cultivators, refining one equaled three months of training. It gave a real edge over the competition.
Divine soul cultivation hinged on epiphanies, which were rare and unpredictable, so steady, grounded effort was the surer path.
Though Yan Zhen and Zi Xunyi’s realms were higher, soul spirit fish still held value. Refining ten would save months of toil.
With the fish secured, Yan Zhen secretly filled a gourd with Ice Lake water. Then he roused the soundly sleeping Long Ying and the eyes-closed Huangfu Wenqing. The four strolled leisurely back.
As they reached the pine forest, the Black Horn crew predictably encircled them.
Yan Zhen was actually surprised—they were bold. He had figured they would balk with Zi Xunyi there, wary of her strength. He hadn’t expected such guts.
Evidently, they were among those who doubted her prowess.
And so—
Three Mystic Generals and nine Mystic Masters, a dozen in total, were all laid out flat in under the time for a cup of tea.
Half the credit went to Long Ying. The loli dragon girl threw herself into the fray to shine, basically one-punching kids. The other three barely had to lift a finger.
Pity the secret realm forbade looting academy cards or points—it would’ve messed with deductions on exit. Otherwise, Yan Zhen would’ve struck it rich.
Leaving the Black Horn thugs behind, the four reached the pine woods dividing the Inner Ring from the Outer Ring. They picked a nearby pine and leaped onto its crown, which made for a cozy perch.
“Wenqing, your divine soul strength should be enough to manifest spiritual power by now. Want to try refining a soul spirit fish?”
“How does one even refine it?”
“Just use mystic power. The fish dissolves into pure yin source on contact. That’s why we fish with mental tentacles.”
“Ah, got it… Well, I won’t stand on ceremony then.”
Huangfu Wenqing secretly thrilled. Another gift from him—and a precious soul spirit fish, no less.
“I’d planned to refine soul spirit fish to advance my divine soul,” Yan Zhen said, “but it broke through unexpectedly before. One or two less won’t matter much.” He fished another from the basket. “Long Ying, here’s one for you. You can eat it raw—no fishy taste, and the texture’s great.”
Long Ying beamed sweetly.
“Thanks, Yan Zhen Zhen. I won’t hold back—nom!”
She popped a fish straight into her mouth, its tail flapping outside like a happy puppy’s.
Yan Zhen’s mouth twitched. His mind flashed to another loli dragon girl chomping a cicada off a tree. Put them together, and they’d be thick as thieves.
He offered one to Zi Xunyi next, but she shook her head.
“I have my own. Keep it.”
He insisted. “Can’t play favorites.”
She accepted with a sigh. As a soul cultivator, she never had enough treasures like soul spirit fish for strengthening the divine soul.
Yan Zhen first guided Huangfu Wenqing in manifesting her spiritual power. Once successful, he turned to refining his own fish. His Evil Spirit Dragon Breath Flame, in the form of a little dragon, swallowed the lot in one gulp, then retreated to his sea of consciousness. There, it scattered the pure yin source, bolstering Yan Zhen’s divine soul.
A day later, he had refined all the yin source. His divine soul had clearly strengthened.
But advancing from Manifestation Mid to the Nether Realm was a major metamorphosis—not easily achieved.
Yan Zhen roused the three women and sent them ahead out of the secret realm. He would spend the remaining seven days completing the forging of his sword!
