Chapter 64: The Fishing Cultivation Path

Chapter 64: The Fishing Cultivation Path

The reward for completing the Yuntian Domain Node purification mission sent waves of excitement through the player community.

The reward list mentioned an independent farming space—a mini-game seamlessly integrated into the main game. However, only players who ranked high in Contribution could access it.

By consulting the in-game Guide, players learned that planting seeds in this Spirit Farming Minigame allowed them to grow rare medicinal plants rapidly. Once matured, these plants could be harvested and replanted, creating a steady cycle.

In essence, this was a mini Sacrificial Power production pool. While the output wasn’t massive, the key advantage was that this Sacrificial Power came without the need for hunting or resource extraction. It was passive income—money earned while doing nothing but waiting.

Unfortunately, the Corrosion Core controlling Yuntian was exceptionally strong, commanding swarms of corrupted plants at levels 30-45. At their current strength, most players couldn’t hope to conquer it.

Yet some inventive players found a workaround. While they couldn’t seize control of the domain, they could still earn Contribution by dealing damage to the boss. This opened a new strategy for lower-level players.

While the main forces focused on grinding levels, weaker players carved their own path, competing fiercely for Contribution points early on. The purification leaderboard quickly became a battleground for low-level players.

…

6 PM.

Wu Quan stumbled home after a grueling day at work.

The moment he opened the door, a hearty dinner awaited him on the table. The robot butler greeted him cheerfully, asking if he needed anything else. Ignoring the robot, Wu tossed his workbag onto the sofa and washed his hands before devouring the meal.

After dinner, he pulled out his phone. The first messages he saw were from his mother—yet another marriage ultimatum.

Mom: “You’re turning 30 and still no girlfriend! Don’t you care? I’m dying to hold my grandchild! (angry.jpg)”
Mom: “Why won’t you reply? How did the girl Auntie Wang introduced you to seem? Any chemistry?”
Mom: “(Mom’s heart breaking.jpg) Are you… into guys? Is that why you’re still single?”

Wu scrolled through the barrage of messages, then set his phone down without responding. He ordered the robot butler to clear the dishes, then walked toward his Gaming Pod.

Since acquiring his copy of Darklands, this machine had become his sanctuary. It was his only source of joy after work.

He played from 8 PM until 9 AM the next day, sleeping in the Pod while logged in. But his approach to the game was unique. Hunting, gathering, exploring—these activities felt too tiring and uninspiring.

Years ago, he’d been a hardcore gamer, but as he aged, his enthusiasm mellowed. He no longer enjoyed the stress of competition. All he wanted was something relaxing.

For Wu, that “something” was fishing.

Even before Darklands, he’d been an avid angler. On weekends, he’d pack his gear and head to scenic spots—lakes, rivers, reservoirs, or the coast.

To him, fishing was pure stress relief. He’d lose himself in nature, far from urban chaos, soaking in sunlight and fresh air while listening to waves gently lapping the shore. The breeze against his face, the connection with the natural world—it all melted away his workday worries.

The only problem? He almost never caught anything.

Cloudhaven City, where he lived, bordered the sea. Decades ago, the area had been hit by mutagenic warheads during the Mechanical Wars. Though the pollution was gone, most fish had mutated, making them nearly impossible to catch.

Lately, they’d become even smarter. They refused bait—no fishmeal, no sweet lures, no grains or synthetic baits. Nothing worked.

Sometimes he even joked about ordering takeout through the “Bao Le Me” app, tossing it into the water, and letting the fish order their own doom.

Frustrated, he turned to virtual reality. When Darklands launched, its promise of hyper-realistic immersion caught his attention. If any game captured the tranquility of fishing, it would be this one.

The catch? Game access was brutally exclusive. Even money couldn’t guarantee entry—slots were awarded in rare registration windows with near-zero odds. Wu hadn’t expected to play for years.

But fortune smiled. Years ago, he’d joined a top-tier gaming guild. When a cracked version of Darklands circulated there, he jumped at the chance.

The game’s realism stunned him. His excitement for its fishing mechanics soared.

For weeks, he scoured the virtual world for the perfect spot. Finally, a week ago, he found “The Holy Grail of Fishing Holes”—a secluded lake west of Dizhong Village and south of Spirit Forge Valley. The area teemed with fish, and hostile monsters were rare.

But fishing here wasn’t simple. He needed gear, bait, and above all, physical strength.

Even the weakest monsters in Darklands had bodies far superior to humans. Without leveling up, he’d never wrestle a fish ashore.

The fish here bit the hook constantly, but a bite wasn’t a catch. Landing them was the real challenge.

His Gargoyle avatar started at level 1. When a fish tugged the line, it could drag him into the water and devour him whole. The hunter could easily become the hunted.

So he joined the main groups hunting in Crimson Plains and Ancient Battlefields, grinding his Gargoyle to level 12. The process was unexpectedly enjoyable—the thrill of each level-up, the physical enhancements, the immersion.

But his original goal never wavered. Now, with his stats sufficiently boosted, it was time to pursue his true passion.

Changing into his gaming suit, he slid into the Pod and activated it.

Nutrient fluid surged around him. Neural tubes connected automatically. Darkness enveloped him.

…

Dizhong Mountain Range, Tortoiseshell Lake.

The lake shimmered under moonlight, its crystal-clear surface rippling under a breeze. Willow branches brushed the water, their leaves casting shifting shadows. Reed-like plants swayed nearby, their reflections blending with the starry sky into a living painting.

On the shore, wildflowers bloomed in vibrant hues. Wu sat on a simple wooden platform, surrounded by their fragrance.

He attached homemade bait—a paste of meat scraps mixed with water from his Offering Ration Can—to his handcrafted hook. With a practiced flick, he cast his line. The Iron Shellworm silk thread sliced through the air, landing with a soft plop.

He leaned back in his woven chair, rod in hand. The in-game forum floated on his Hud, while the guild chat minimized to a corner of his vision.

A breeze brushed his face. He sighed in contentment.

Suddenly, the rod trembled.

Heart racing, Wu tensed. The fish tugged again, the line snapping taut like a bowstring. A surge of brute force jolted his arms. He gripped the rod, muscles straining.

The fish thrashed violently. Wu stood, bracing himself.

With a mighty splash, a massive shape leapt from the water—a giant fish, its crimson scales gleaming under the pale moonlight.

“Gotcha!”

Wu yanked hard. With no footing in midair, the fish soared toward shore.

Thud!

It crashed into the flowers, thrashing wildly, its tail whipping sprays of water.

Wu pulled up its data profile:

【Red-Scaled Fish (Monster)】
Hunting Level: 4
Description: A weak aquatic monster unique to Dizhong Mountain Range. Herbivorous, but turns aggressive when starving.
Guide Note: Highly valuable for consumption. Killing it grants two options: automatic decomposition into “Red-Scaled Fish Meat” stored in your spatial pouch, or a traditional kill for Evolution Points and Sacrificial Power.

Wu burst out laughing, the first fish he’d ever caught in-game. Grinning, he activated the screenshot function, posing with the flopping fish before sending it to the guild chat. Sharing the thrill of the catch was half the fun.

Then he pulled out a short axe from his pouch and finished the fish.

A prompt flashed:

【Red-Scaled Fish Meat x3】
Food Quality: 2
Effect: Satiates hunger. Consuming one piece grants 30 Body Tempering Experience Points.

He blinked in surprise. Three portions meant 90 Body Tempering XP. At the current Sacrificial Power cost for Body Tempering upgrades, that was 90 points—far more than killing a level 4 Malevolent Spirit would yield.

The only downside? Choosing decomposition forfeited Evolution Points and Sacrificial Power. Plus, fishing took time—enough to kill several monsters.

Still, Wu felt exhilarated.

Fishing could make him stronger.

Killing aquatic monsters gave Evolution Points, while their meat fueled Body Tempering. This opened endless possibilities. Strength was vital in Monster World. With this discovery, every river, lake, and ocean in the game could become his personal fishing ground.

He picked up the fish meat, storing two portions in his spatial pouch. Holding the last piece to his nose, he inhaled its faint fragrance.

Though he’d never eaten raw meat in real life, he took a bite.

The moment it touched his tongue, his eyes widened.

This was unlike any flavor he’d known. The flesh was tender and fresh, infused with a crisp, almost spiritual vitality—like morning dew on young leaves or mountain spring water.

As he chewed, the taste deepened, invigorating his senses. Every pore seemed to sing with joy.

“Wu—this is amazing!”

The spiritually-infused meat utterly captivated him. He devoured the piece in his hand, then impulsively ate the other two portions stored away.

While gaining 90 Body Tempering XP, he felt a pang of regret.

“Too good… Why even save this?”

Satiated but eager for more, he mused, “I wonder how grilled fish tastes.”

He bought a torch from the in-game store, planting it near his platform. Sitting back down, he cast his line again, hope glinting in his eyes.

Before resuming, he drafted a forum post:

【Fishing Guide: Unlocking Aquatic Power in Monster World】

Over these weeks, he’d learned a truth: no niche thrived alone. Progress required collective effort.

The Arms Dealers’ Guild grew only because weapon-enthusiasts collaborated. Stellar Vein combos flourished through players’ shared experiments.

Now, as a lone fishing enthusiast, he wanted to build a community.

Crafting baits, choosing lines, forging rods—these challenges were too vast for one player.

He needed others to join, to innovate, to push the limits of this “fishing” path together.

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(Translator’s note: Adjusted terms like "Sacrificial Power" and "Body Tempering" for consistency. Ensured game-specific jargon flows naturally while preserving core mechanics and character voice.)(End of Chapter)

Chapter end