Chapter 89: Fishing Lake In The Sky, King Swallowing The Sky

The old ghost was taken aback and gasped, "This is truly remarkable! Absolutely incredible! Even setting aside your clan leader, if your family continues to prosper for another few hundred or even a thousand years, it will undoubtedly rise to become one of the most formidable forces in the universe!"

Several individuals with extraordinary talents had already emerged within the family, each more impressive than the last. The future seemed bright, and the potential for greatness loomed large. Perhaps, in time, the mysterious clan leader would produce even more people with unique physiques. Could it be that, one day, every member of the clan would possess a special constitution?

Just the thought of this sent shivers through the old ghost's body. He could barely contain his excitement.

"Old Ghost, I've got an idea. I wonder if it's feasible," Xian Yan said thoughtfully.

"What idea do you have?" the old ghost asked, intrigued.

"I've been thinking… I want to go out and gain some experience. Whether it's the 'Burning Technique' you taught me or my special natal flame, the 'Golden Emperor Dragon Flame,' both require consuming strange fires to increase my strength. So, I'd like to travel and collect different types of fires to strengthen myself."

While Xian Yan knew he wasn't yet capable of absorbing Emperor-level fires, he could still take in some of the lower-level strange fires. This would help him build a solid foundation while allowing him to quickly enhance his strength.

The old ghost nodded in approval. "Although the family provides an abundance of resources, it's good for young people to go out and experience the world. Seeing more, learning more—there's no harm in that!"

Xian Yan's face lit up. "Since you approve, Master, I'll make the necessary preparations and head out as soon as possible!"

The old ghost raised an eyebrow. "But won't you need to get permission from your clan leader first?"

"Ah, Master, you might not know, but the family encourages its members to go out and gain experience. We only need to register before leaving."

"Very well, in that case, you may go," the old ghost said, reclining in his chair with a satisfied sigh. "As for me, I'll be staying here at the Xian family, enjoying a peaceful retirement."

The old ghost had worked tirelessly throughout his life. Now that he had a promising disciple like Xian Yan, it was finally time for him to relax and enjoy life. Plus, as the chief alchemist of the Xian family, his benefits were more than generous. He couldn't think of a better place to retire.

Xian Yan smiled earnestly. "Master, please take good care of yourself while I'm away. I'll go out, make a name for myself, and return with great accomplishments!"

After saying his farewells to the clan leader, elders, and his friends like Xian Yue, Xian Yan left the family behind and ventured into the vast Feihua Mountains. His journey, however, took him in the opposite direction of Xian Zhan. He headed into uncharted territory, his path uncertain but full of potential.

With a casual flick of his hand, Xian Yue placed the Eye Technique and Soul Secret Technique that he had created into the family's Sutra Pavilion. Crafting such techniques was child's play for someone of his caliber.

Just as he finished, a familiar voice echoed in his mind.

[Congratulations, host! You have successfully signed in today and obtained a rare treasure: Zhutian Fishing Lake!]

Xian Yue's eyes lit up with excitement. "A fishing lake?" he mused, his interest piqued. Upon closer inspection, his face broke into a wide grin. This lake had an extraordinary ability—it could fish from across the universe!

"Now, this is something special! The system must have known I enjoy fishing and gifted me with this incredible treasure!"

Eager to explore this new gift, Xian Yue quickly found an open spot in the courtyard and placed the Zhutian Fishing Lake there. Despite his efforts to compress its size, the lake still occupied more than ten acres of land, its vastness impressive.

At first glance, Zhutian Fishing Lake looked like an ordinary body of water. Its surface shimmered in the sunlight, but Xian Yue could sense the hidden depths. Each drop of water contained an entire universe, an awe-inspiring realization.

"Now this is a proper fishing lake for a God Emperor!" Xian Yue chuckled.

With a flick of his divine power, he conjured a fishing rod, complete with all the necessary components, and cast his line into the lake. After a brief moment, he felt a tug on the line.

Smiling, Xian Yue gave a strong pull, and out from the water emerged a golden, plump carp.

"Who dares to scheme against me, the Sky-Swallowing King?" the carp roared, its voice filled with fury.

The carp had been meditating in its cave, cultivating its power, when suddenly, a mysterious object emitting a strong aura of Dao had appeared in the sky. Instantly, a battle erupted among the powerful beings of its world, each one vying for the treasure. Using its unique ability to "swallow the sky," the carp had managed to consume the treasure, only to find itself hooked and dragged toward an unknown place.

The sensation was eerily familiar, like the time it had been caught and hung up by humans when it was a much weaker creature. It didn't take long for the Sky-Swallowing King to realize it had fallen into a trap.

But despite its current predicament, the carp remained calm. It was no longer the weak creature it once was. Now, as the ruler of its domain, it believed it could break free with ease.

That is, until it couldn't.

Panic began to set in when the carp realized that no matter how hard it struggled, it couldn't remove the hook from its mouth. Eventually, it was forced to accept that it was being reeled in by an unknown power.

"Oh? A carp with spiritual intelligence?" Xian Yue remarked with mild surprise as he inspected the struggling creature.

He casually removed the hook from the carp's mouth and held it up, examining it closely. "Such a fat fish... should I steam it or braise it? Braised fish usually tastes better, right?"

Suddenly, Xian Yue noticed something unusual about the carp. Growing from its head was a pair of small, golden antlers.

"Hmm? This isn't just any ordinary carp—this is a dragon carp!" Xian Yue exclaimed, his surprise growing.

"Senior! Please, wait!" the Sky-Swallowing King pleaded, sensing the danger. "Carp meat doesn't taste that good!"

The once-proud Sky-Swallowing King was now begging for mercy. Despite all its power, it couldn't free itself from Xian Yue's grip. This could only mean one thing: Xian Yue was far stronger than the carp had imagined.

"Is that so? Then tell me, how should I cook you?" Xian Yue asked, holding the dragon carp by its tail.

"Cook me? No, no! I wouldn't be of any use to you as a meal!" the Sky-Swallowing King stammered, desperately trying to avoid its fate.

"Let you go?" Xian Yue raised an eyebrow. "That won't do. You're the first fish I've caught from the Zhutian Fishing Lake. How could I possibly let you go empty-handed? Besides, don't you know the saying: 'A fisherman never returns empty-handed'?"

The dragon carp's heart sank.

"But," Xian Yue continued, his tone softening, "since you're quite a unique specimen, I suppose I'll keep you as a pet."

With that, Xian Yue stood up and carried the dragon carp over to a nearby pond, tossing it into the water with a casual flick of his wrist.

The carp splashed down into the pond, joining the other fish already swimming there. Xian Yue watched with satisfaction. Most of the fish in the pond were ordinary, so having a rare dragon carp among them was a welcome addition.

Just then, a golden bird with a wingspan of about one meter swooped down from the sky and landed beside Xian Yue. It chirped in a voice resembling that of a young girl, "Nihuang greets her master!"

Xian Yue nodded in acknowledgment. This bird, Nihuang, had been with him for a while. As her cultivation grew, so did her size. Now, she was much larger than when he first found her.

Xian Yue gestured toward the pond. "I found you a companion," he said, referring to the dragon carp.

"Companion?" Nihuang eyed the carp curiously. "It looks... delicious."

"Let's keep him around for a while. If he causes trouble, then maybe we'll consider roasting him," Xian Yue chuckled.

Nihuang gave the carp one last glance before flapping her wings and flying off. Meanwhile, Xian Yue turned his attention back to the Zhutian Fishing Lake, eager to see what other surprises it might hold.