Chapter 304: The Struggling Student Has Many Stationery
Chapter 304: The Struggling Student Has Many Stationery
The final two auction items were a third-grade cultivation technique and a fourth-grade magical artifact, neither of which particularly piqued Lu Chen's interest. He remained a detached observer as the other cultivators eagerly bid against each other.
As the auction drew to a close, Lu Chen paid 3,800 spirit stones to the Aurora Chamber of Commerce in exchange for the Rock-Armored Turtle Egg and the Primordial Heavy Water. He then departed with Song Yun in tow.
"Landlord Lu, please wait!"
Suddenly, a familiar voice called out from behind. Turning around, Lu Chen spotted the lazy young man from Lishan Sect, Stone Zhong, standing not far away, accompanied by a sharp-looking female cultivator.
"Landlord Lu, why wait for another day? Why not join me today for some sea fishing?" Stone Zhong enthusiastically invited.
Lu Chen couldn't help but raise his eyebrows.
As he had exited the auction house, he had imagined several scenarios: perhaps the Aurora Chamber of Commerce would try to cheat him, or Ning Deshan would set an ambush somewhere, or other cultivators with nefarious intentions would band together to rob him of the Primordial Heavy Water…
But he had never expected Stone Zhong to invite him to fish for sea creatures in the Boundless Sea.
Lu Chen pondered this turn of events.
He, Stone Zhong, and the sharp-looking female cultivator beside him were all sent by their sects to guard this place, and they had no conflicts of interest. In a sense, they were even on the same side.
It was rare to find traces of third-grade sea beasts in the coastal areas of the Boundless Sea. With the Star-Falling Sword Talisman and several other fourth-grade sword talismans at his disposal, along with a variety of magical artifacts and treasures, Lu Chen was confident he could handle any joint attack from the two of them.
"Alright, then I'll accompany you, Stone." Lu Chen readily agreed, curious about the varieties of sea beasts, fish, and spiritual plants that could be found in the Boundless Sea.
He instructed Song Yun, "I'm going to an island with Stone from Mount Li to fish for sea creatures. Go back to Kongming Island by yourself, and be careful on the way."
"Yes, Landlord Lu!" Song Yun replied respectfully.
Lu Chen and the sharp-looking female cultivator, whose name was Zhou Bingyu, according to Stone Zhong, boarded the latter's third-grade flying boat artifact.
The flying boat sped forward like an arrow, swiftly heading toward their destination.
During the journey, Lu Chen learned from Stone Zhong that Zhou Bingyu was also a disciple from a sect.
Soon enough, the flying boat came to a halt above a secluded island.
"We've arrived, Landlord Lu," Stone Zhong announced.
"Since I arrived in the Boundless Sea, I've been searching the nearby islands, and finally, I've found this excellent little island," he continued, his usually lazy demeanor replaced with enthusiasm as he spoke about fishing. "This island is called Changfeng Island, and it's surrounded by a diverse array of sea beasts and fish. You can even find spiritually-charged fish like the dragon carp here. It's a natural paradise for fishing."
"Stone seems to have quite the hobby," Lu Chen remarked as he surveyed the small island.
"What can I say? Being stationed on this dreary island can get boring, so I have to find ways to entertain myself," Stone Zhong replied with a shrug, his words carrying a hint of the arrogance and superiority unique to cultivators from prominent sects.
Lu Chen, however, didn't share this sentiment. He had kept to himself, never venturing out to meet other Foundation Establishment cultivators in the archipelago.
"Landlord Lu, come and let me show you my treasures," Stone Zhong said, clearly recognizing a fellow enthusiast in Lu Chen due to their similar backgrounds and ages. He took out more than ten fishing rods from his storage bag.
"These fishing rods are made from spiritual wood, combining hardness and flexibility, allowing me to handle sea creatures of different grades and varieties," he explained, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
Lu Chen examined them with interest and was surprised to find that one of the rods was made from Copper-Bone Bamboo, a second-grade spiritual plant that he had cultivated himself a long time ago.
"It's not just the rods, but also the fishing lines that are extraordinary," Stone Zhong continued. "They are made from silk produced by various spiders, silkworms, and insect demons, and then refined through special processes."
He pointed to an almost invisible pale red silk line and said, "This line, made from the blood silk of a third-grade Blood Jade Spider, is so strong that even a force of ten thousand pounds won't break it."
"And these fish hooks are also special. They are forged from various spiritual iron ores and inscribed with runes that conceal their aura. When they are in the deep sea, the runes can be activated to greatly reduce their presence, making it easier to lure and hook the sea beasts and fish."
"After all, those creatures are demon beasts with a certain level of intelligence. If we don't take these measures, they might sense the trap."
Stone Zhong then turned to the assortment of bait on display. "...and these are the various types of bait we use."
While Stone Zhong enthusiastically introduced his collection to Lu Chen, Zhou Bingyu, familiar with his hobby, had already found a secluded corner to meditate and cultivate.
Lu Chen surveyed the array of fishing gear laid out before him, and a phrase popped into his mind: "The struggling student has many stationery."
He casually selected the Copper-Bone Bamboo rod and, with a swift movement, leaped onto a tall building on the island.
To ensure the best fishing spots, Stone Zhong had even ordered his subordinates to construct tall wooden towers in various locations on the island.
"Sorry, Fellow Daoist Lu, but this spot is taken!" came a voice from below. "This tower is my usual spot. Please find another place."
Stone Zhong was in the midst of preparing his bait and called out to Lu Chen.
Unfazed, Lu Chen, with his rod in hand, glided through the air like a wisp of light and settled on a distant tower within a few breaths.
"Nice movement!" exclaimed the sharp-eyed female cultivator below, impressed by Lu Chen's agility.
Even though Lu Chen was an inner disciple of the Celestial Sword Sect, Zhou Bingyu couldn't help but hold a slight disdain for him due to his identity as a spiritual herbologist. However, witnessing his graceful movement, that hint of disdain vanished.
Lu Chen sat on a dull yellow wooden chair, setting down his Copper-Bone Bamboo rod and preparing his bait.
It was evident that Stone Zhong had put a lot of effort into cultivating the right bait.
A white jade box was divided into several sections, each containing different types of bait made from demon beast meat, spiritual plants, and fruits. Lu Chen even spotted several live insects confined within designated areas by restraining runes.
He took out a ball of meat made from various demon beasts, securely hooked it onto the fishing line, and with a thought, the Copper-Bone Bamboo rod swiftly extended, dropping the bait into the tumultuous sea.
"It would be great if I could get a white light orb every time I catch a sea fish," Lu Chen mused, his spiritual sense monitoring the movement of the bait while his mind wandered.
"Then I could truly be the biggest fishing enthusiast in the cultivation world."
"Hmm? Something's biting already? Could this be the legendary newbie gift pack?" he wondered, sensing slight movement from the bait deep in the sea. With a nudge of his spiritual sense, he confirmed that a first-grade sea fish was nibbling on the bait.
(End of Chapter)
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