Chapter 705 - 281: Fish King

With a practiced flick of his wrist, Chen Qing’s bamboo rod instantly bent into a heart-stopping arc. The line went taut, making a faint sound as it sliced through the water.

He didn’t rush to yank it in. Instead, he skillfully applied a gentle force, lightly tugging in the direction the creature struggled. After a few rounds of this, a Blue Crystal Carp, its entire body a deep blue and its scales glinting like gemstones in the sunlight, was pulled from the water. It thrashed violently in the air, flinging droplets everywhere.

"It’s a Blue Crystal Carp! Look at its color, it must be at least five years old!"

A disciple with a keen eye called out in a low voice from nearby, his tone filled with envy.

Chen Qing’s expression remained neutral as he placed the fish into his specially made basket.

The Emerald Waves Pool was truly something else. While it was already a rare feat for ordinary disciples to catch a Treasure Fish that was two or three years old, he had managed such a haul right after casting his line. The Star Vortex Dragon-Attracting Technique was to thank for that.

He cast his line into the water again and continued to circulate the Secret Technique.

In less than an hour, he successively caught a fine, aged Silver Line Cod and an extremely rare Red-Scaled Carp, both of them squirming with life.

This time, the gazes of all the nearby anglers were drawn to him.

Everyone looked at the priceless Treasure Fish in his basket, then back at their own motionless floats that hadn’t stirred in ages. The envy in their eyes was practically overflowing.

"Brother Chen’s fishing skill is simply divine!"

"Yeah, we’ve been sitting here bored for half the day and haven’t seen so much as a scale, but Brother Chen is already on his third prized catch!"

The low murmurs of discussion rose, filled with amazement.

Chen Qing seemed oblivious to the discussions around him, his entire Heart and Spirit immersed in sensing what was beneath the water.

He could faintly sense that, in the profound depths of the Emerald Waves Pool, there seemed to be a hidden life force far larger and more condensed than that of any ordinary Treasure Fish.

If he hadn’t been cultivating the Star Vortex Dragon-Attracting Technique, which had greatly enhanced his Spiritual Sense, he would never have been able to detect it.

’So there really is another world beneath this pool...’

he mused to himself.

Just as the thought crossed his mind, the feeling from the fishing rod in his hand changed abruptly!

It was no longer the familiar tug of a fish biting the hook, but a heavy, stagnant sensation!

At the same time, the immense life force he had been sensing with his Secret Technique suddenly became sharp and active!

BZZZMM—

Without any warning, the previously calm surface of the Emerald Waves Pool began to tremble. Centered on Chen Qing’s fishing line, ripples spread out silently, and the water’s color seemed to grow deeper and more profound.

"Hm? What’s going on?"

"Why is the pool water moving on its own?"

This strange phenomenon immediately caught the attention of everyone by the pool.

A few Stewards who were also fishing and an Elder with a full head of white hair and a white beard were the first to notice something was wrong. They shot to their feet, their sharp gazes sweeping over the center of the pool, sensing the majestic, heart-pounding aura that was gradually spreading out.

"This aura... it’s as deep as an abyss, and uncommonly vibrant..."

The white-haired Elder’s expression changed abruptly, and he cried out in shock, "It’s the Fish King! The Fish King of Emerald Waves Pool has been lured out!"

"What?! The Fish King?"

"There’s really a Fish King in Emerald Waves Pool? I thought legends said they only existed in deep-sea realms overseas!"

The Elder’s words were like a drop of cold water in boiling oil, instantly sending the entire shore of Emerald Waves Pool into an uproar.

All the disciples were dumbfounded, staring at the pool in disbelief.

A Fish King—it was a unique specimen among Treasure Fish that had spent countless years absorbing the essence of heaven and earth. Its entire body was a treasure, its value immeasurable, and it was notoriously difficult to catch.

They had never imagined that one was hidden right here, in the Emerald Waves Pool of the Sect’s Inner Courtyard!

Involuntarily, everyone’s gazes focused on Chen Qing.

The source of that heart-pounding aura was the very patch of water his fishing rod pointed to!

"It’s Brother Chen! He’s fishing for the Fish King!"

"Heavens! He actually managed to lure out the Fish King!"

At that moment, Chen Qing was completely focused, his entire mind concentrated on the fishing rod in his hands and the presence under the water.

He could feel that the hook hadn’t been swallowed. Rather, attracted by the bait and the True Astral aura he had condensed with the Star Vortex Dragon-Attracting Technique, the Fish King was holding it in some way. An immense force was coming from the depths, trying to break free.

’Star Vortex Dragon-Attraction... the intent is to lure, not to brute-force a catch...’

The key principles of the Secret Technique flashed through Chen Qing’s mind.

He knew full well that when facing such a Spiritual Object, pulling with brute force would only be counterproductive. It might even damage his fishing gear and allow the creature to escape.

He took a deep breath. The True Astral in his body began to circulate silently, but he didn’t let it erupt. Instead, using the unique method described in the Star Vortex Dragon-Attracting Technique, he transformed his True Astral into a continuous, sticky, and coiling force that he channeled down the fishing line.

At the same time, he carefully adjusted the frequency and fluctuations of his True Astral, simulating a kind of Spirit Charm, as if engaged in a silent dialogue and contest of strength with the Fish King below.

The vibrations under the water grew more intense. From time to time, a colossal shadow could be seen flashing past in the depths, stirring up turbulent undercurrents.

The bamboo rod in Chen Qing’s hands emitted a creaking sound as if on the verge of breaking. Had he not been secretly reinforcing it with his True Astral, it would have snapped long ago.

His feet were planted on the bank as if rooted to the spot, his body swaying slightly with the immense force from the water as he absorbed wave after wave of impact.

This scene made the hearts of the surrounding crowd pound in their chests; they didn’t even dare to breathe too loudly.

The few Stewards and the Elder looked particularly grave, their hearts pounding with tension.

If Chen Qing hadn’t cultivated a Hard Skill, he probably wouldn’t be able to withstand the Fish King’s power at all!

「Time passed bit by bit.」

Fine beads of sweat had appeared on Chen Qing’s forehead.

He sensed that the struggling force under the water was beginning to show a trace of fatigue.

’Now’s the time!’

A sharp glint flashed in Chen Qing’s eyes. The True Astral within him changed in an instant, shifting from its previous gentleness to an upward-pulling force!

Star Vortex Dragon-Attracting Technique—Dragon Head-Raising!

"Rise!"

He let out a low cry and gave his wrist a sharp flick!

It wasn’t a hard yank, but a skillful combination of vibrating and lifting!

SPLASH—!!!

A massive column of water shot into the sky, refracting a brilliant rainbow in the sunlight!

Along with the column of water, a colossal creature was forcefully pulled from the surface!

It was a unique specimen, its body far larger than any ordinary Treasure Fish. It was covered in dark golden scales, each one the size of a baby’s palm and shimmering with a crimson luster at the edges. On its head was a faint, small bulge, as if it were on the verge of transforming into a Flood Dragon.

It thrashed its body violently in the air, sending a spray of water everywhere. An incredibly rich life force and Spiritual Qi instantly filled the air, invigorating everyone present!

"A forty-five-year-old ’Golden Scale Red Shadow Trout’! It really is a Fish King!"

The white-haired Elder’s voice trembled, filled with excitement and disbelief.

The shore of Emerald Waves Pool fell into a dead silence, which was then broken by a thunderous uproar of shock and amazement!

"He caught it! Brother Chen caught the Fish King!"

"Forty-five years old! Heavens! How many Contribution Points is that worth?"

"Contribution Points? A Spiritual Object like this is priceless! It’s immensely beneficial for one’s Cultivation!"

Looking at the brilliantly shining Fish King in his basket, Chen Qing couldn’t help but finally break into an excited smile.

This was the greatest catch of his entire fishing career!

He silently marveled at the power of the Star Vortex Dragon-Attracting Technique that Gu Sitong had given him. Without this Secret Technique, it would have been absolutely impossible to lure out and catch the Fish King hidden in the depths of the pool.

He quickly began to calculate in his mind. The fish’s head was where the Spiritual Qi was most abundant and the meat most delicious; it would be perfect as a show of respect for his master, Luo Zhixian.

The body was rich in Spiritual Qi, and its flesh was highly nourishing—perfect for his own Cultivation and for solidifying his foundation.

As for the other, smaller fish, he could give them to Shen Xiuyong to help him recuperate.

It wasn’t that he was being stingy with Shen Xiuyong, but with the latter’s current level of Cultivation, consuming the Fish King would likely be too much for his body to handle. It would be a waste of this Heaven and Earth Spiritual Object.