Chapter 24: Dragon Fishing
Chapter 24: Dragon Fishing
It’s a big one!
From the immense struggle, Li Hao immediately sensed that whatever was in the water was no small catch. His heart pounded with a mix of excitement and caution. He didn’t yank the fishing line hard, as that could easily cause the hook to slip out of the creature’s mouth. Instead, he tightened the line and then gently eased it, repeating the process to maintain control.
Suddenly, the calm, dark surface of the water erupted into a tumultuous wave, spreading out in a circle with a diameter of nearly ten meters.
Li Hao could vaguely make out a massive black shadow gradually being pulled from the depths, thrashing violently as it neared the surface.
The shadow was fearsome, about seven or eight meters long. Its struggles sent waves rippling outward, reaching even farther.
Li Hao tightened the line, using the same method of alternating tension and relaxation to slowly guide the massive shadow toward the shore.
The creature in the water seemed to sense something, and in an instant, it leaped out of the water, revealing a flat, enormous fish head filled with sharp teeth, like countless sharpened bamboo spikes.
Its emerald green eyes glared at Li Hao on the fishing platform with a vicious and cruel expression. When it saw that he was just a child, no more than seven or eight years old, the ferocity in its eyes turned to anger.
"You ignorant brat, how dare you fish for Grandpa Catfish!"
The Fish Demon spoke in a sharp, grating voice. Instead of continuing to struggle, it suddenly swam rapidly toward the shore, and the previously taut fishing line instantly went slack in the water.
"Watch me eat you!!"
In the span of a few seconds, the Fish Demon closed the distance of several hundred meters, surging through the waves. It leaped from the water, aiming to swallow Li Hao whole, and charged toward the fishing platform, which was a few meters above the water.
As the Fish Demon landed on the shore, a message appeared before Li Hao’s eyes:
【Fishing Experience +68】
【Fishing Art advanced to 1st Rank】
At the same time, a wealth of fishing techniques flooded his mind.
But Li Hao couldn’t afford to focus on absorbing this new knowledge. He tensed his scalp, concentrating his thoughts on the present situation.
The foul, monstrous mouth was now just inches away, and he could even see the trembling pink flesh in the Fish Demon’s throat.
This was Li Hao’s first encounter with a real enemy. He was both startled and nervous, especially because the Fish Demon looked truly terrifying. However, in his eyes, its movements were as slow as a tortoise.
In the Rain Listening Pavilion, he had practiced Eye Strengthening Techniques, accumulating three different methods.
These techniques complemented each other, filling in the gaps and enhancing his vision to a level far beyond what Force Mastery could offer.
He bit his tongue to quickly calm down, then sidestepped and bent over. Li Hao reached out, grabbed one of the Fish Demon’s sharp teeth, and with a swift turn, he swung it around!
All of this happened in an instant, the entire movement fluid and seamless.
With a loud thud, the Fish Demon crashed into the mountainside dozens of meters behind the shore, its tail thrashing and pounding the ground.
"What, what kind of monster are you?!"
The Fish Demon, dazed and disoriented, let out a trembling, terrified voice.
It wriggled slightly, and years of cultivation allowed it to sense the shadow of death in this moment. The child before it, with his tender, white skin, was terrifying. He couldn’t possibly be human; he must be the descendant of some Great Demon.
Li Hao was taken aback by the Fish Demon’s words and couldn’t help but laugh.
However, to prevent the Fish Demon from using any unknown abilities, he decided to end the fight quickly and charged forward.
Puff!
Suddenly, the Fish Demon’s gills bulged, and a mouthful of black, foul-smelling mud spewed out like poisonous arrows.
Li Hao, anticipating an unknown attack, quickly dodged the mud. He then pushed off with his feet, rapidly closing the distance.
"Please, spare me…"
The Fish Demon, terrified, tried to beg for mercy, but Li Hao’s fist was already in motion, striking the Fish Demon’s forehead.
The sheer force of the impact made the Fish Demon’s body shudder violently. Its skull caved in with a sickening crack, and green brain matter splattered out. Li Hao couldn’t avoid it entirely and was splattered with the foul-smelling substance.
The intense stench made him feel nauseous.
No wonder the old man always smelled of fish. After years of fishing, such things were inevitable.
The Fish Demon’s tail continued to tremble and beat against the ground, but the movements were now weak and sporadic, more like nervous twitches.
To ensure it wasn’t faking its death, Li Hao delivered two more punches. When the Fish Demon’s head was caved in, and brain matter gushed out, he finally stepped back, leaving the Fish Demon’s side.
He thought to himself that next time he came fishing, he would need to bring a sword.
Otherwise, if he encountered a more powerful creature, he might end up as bait instead of the fisher.
Of course, with Li Muxiu by his side, Li Hao was unlikely to be in any real danger. The Golden Talisman given to him by the old man hadn't even been triggered yet.
However, Li Hao didn't like relying on others for everything.
After dealing with the Fish Demon, Li Hao reflected on the various pieces of information that had flooded his mind. Numerous fishing techniques emerged, making him feel as if he had been fishing for over a decade.
Observing Water, Measuring Line, Hidden Hook, and more... These techniques were now clear in his mind. Li Hao went to the fishing platform, tidied up his fishing rod and the tangled line, and baited the hook once again. This time, his movements were more practiced, and he deftly wrapped the bait around the hook with a gentle rub and press.
He gazed at the Black Lake, which had once been pitch-black. Now, he could see subtle changes in the water. He could discern the faint currents and see to a depth of about seven or eight meters. The ripples on the surface, after the water had calmed, appeared as patterns to him, revealing the direction of the underwater currents.
Through these currents, Li Hao formed a judgment. Something was moving in the water, some distance away.
This fishing platform had already seen two major disturbances, so there was likely nothing substantial left nearby. The heavier creatures had probably fled.
Li Hao decided not to wait here, but to take the initiative.
He carried his rod and walked along the shore, occasionally glancing at the water. By observing the underwater currents, he could determine the direction of his prey.
After walking about a kilometer, Li Hao stopped at a spot that resembled a bay. He chose a solid platform and cast his line.
This time, despite the vigorous swing, the heavy hook only created a small ripple when it hit the water, without the usual tinkling sound.
The line was slowly pulled down by the hook, sinking into the depths.
Li Hao crouched slightly, waiting patiently.
After just a few minutes, the float began to move.
Li Hao wasn't surprised. This hook had essentially delivered the bait right to the creature's doorstep.
With a swift motion, the float was swallowed by the water. Ah, such an impatient creature.
Li Hao chuckled and yanked the rod sharply. A tremendous force came from the line, but Li Hao immediately gauged that it was about two thousand pounds, likely a Force Mastery Fish Demon. Its intelligence hadn't fully developed, which explained why the disturbance it caused could be faintly detected from a kilometer away.
He chose to reel in with a firm grip, pulling gently.
The rod swayed from side to side, and each tug made the hook grip the creature more securely, preventing it from escaping.
After about seven minutes, Li Hao had dragged the exhausted Fish Demon out of the lake.
【Fishing Experience +23】
The Fish Demon, once on land, lunged at Li Hao fiercely but was quickly punched to death and thrown onto the hill behind him.
He then baited the hook again and continued fishing.
There were still things in the water.
...
...
"This Old Dragon is quite cunning, not showing any trace of itself."
In the sky above Monster Lake, Li Muxiu's figure was hidden high above. He didn't have a fishing rod, only a nearly transparent line that dangled vertically into the water.
His fishing skills had long since mastered Line Sensing, allowing him to perceive the situation underwater through the movements of the line. This technique was as effective as a Soul Search, revealing the underwater environment with clarity.
He had cast his line as discreetly as possible, but the Old Dragon remained completely still.
The small Fish Demon that Li Hao had caught earlier had been eaten by another Fish Demon. The big fish ate the small fish.
But his goal wasn't to catch fish; it was to catch a dragon!
"Never mind, it seems the Old Dragon is sound asleep today. In this three-thousand-li Black Lake, who knows where it's hiding."
Li Muxiu shook his head slightly and surveyed the vast expanse of the lake, which stretched as far as the eye could see.
He sighed, reeled in his line, and pulled out a Fish Demon that was over ten meters long, covered in sharp spines. This was the bait he had used to try to catch the dragon.
With a flick of his fingers, the Fish Demon's body shrank, transforming into a small black-spotted fish, which he tossed into his fish basket.
"I wonder if that young one has had any success. I hope he hasn't lost his patience and caught nothing."
Li Muxiu muttered, picked up his fish basket, and flew back in the direction he had come from.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
