Fishing in the game could increase a player's concentration, nurture the body and mind, and sometimes even enhance comprehension.
Wang Mu wanted to improve his concentration; otherwise, if he encountered situations similar to the one with Yan Qingwu, he might easily give himself away.
"They say that in Yunlai Creek, there is a rare kind of fish called the Jinlong Carp."
"If you can catch this kind of fish, you'll have enormous good fortune."
Uncle Tie Niu spoke with enthusiasm. "It's just that I don't have the patience. I'm all brawn and no brain; I can't keep my mind still."
Wang Mu was also very interested. The game indeed had many fish species, not all merely for eating, and this particular catch would bring good fortune. Indeed, it was very Immortal.
So, the next day, Wang Mu found Grandpa Yu in the village. He was the same fishing elder Wang Mu had met on the first day after he transmigrated.
His real name was Yu Li, eighty-six years old, fishing since the age of twenty, continuing his father's occupation—a lineage of fishermen at Yunlai Creek.
Yunlai Creek flowed gently down from Gu Yun Mountain.
Since Gu Yun Mountain was an Immortal Mountain, naturally, most of the fish in the creek were not ordinary.
Sometimes, even disciples of the Immortal Sects would personally come down to trade for some special fish species with Grandpa Yu, which was considered an honor. This implied that even those Immortal Sect disciples couldn't necessarily catch all the fish in Yunlai Creek.
"Mu Guy, you want to learn fishing? Have you gotten the hang of chopping trees?"
Grandpa Yu, wearing his bamboo hat, looked just as he had at their first meeting, holding a bamboo rod, facing the creek, his eyes lowered in a light doze.
"Yes, Uncle Tie Niu said there's nothing more he can teach me."
"All right then." Grandpa Yu stretched out his hand, pointing to a bamboo rod beside him. "If you can stick with it for half a year, you'll have some strength too, enough not to be dragged into the creek by these fish and become their food."
"But fishing is all about patience; you mustn't have any stray thoughts in your mind. Otherwise, even fish that are hooked can escape in an instant."
"You also need to be constantly perceptive... and comprehension is even more crucial."
"It's not that simple."
Wang Mu looked at the fishing rod; it seemed to have quite a history.
"Take the rod, find yourself a spot to set up a platform, and first get a feel for Yunlai Creek."
Wang Mu nodded, found some wooden poles, built a fishing platform by the bank, and after securing it, stepped onto it, sat down, and took out the fishing rod.
"I fish without bait; may those who are willing bite."
"You're a beginner. Here's a bag of bait; take it and use it."
The bait was made from rice worm powder, colorless and tasteless to humans, but quite attractive to fish. Exactly how it worked, Wang Mu wasn't sure.
As for Grandpa Yu's bait-less fishing, that was somewhat metaphysical. Considering this wasn't a normal world, Wang Mu could understand.
It's been half a year since I transmigrated, and I'm only starting to fish now. In an Immortal World, other transmigrators would probably have already reached a state where they 'kill gods if gods block them, kill Buddhas if Buddhas block them.' Or perhaps they'd have swallowed a Golden Core and proclaimed, 'My fate is mine to control, not heaven's!' At the very least, they would have grasped Qi Refining and Foundation Building with ease...
Wang Mu kneaded the bait powder into a ball and attached it to the hook on the bamboo rod. The rod was crafted and polished from the wood of the Purple Shuo Tree, flexible yet firm.
He cast the bait, then, emulating Grandpa Yu, held the rod and quietly waited.
After two hours, Wang Mu began to grow slightly impatient. Unlike chopping, which involved constant movement, fishing was different. Now, with the deep silence around him, no one nearby, and only the occasional breeze stirring, the longer this state persisted, the harder it became to stay composed. Distractions kept creeping into his mind.
At that moment, the fishing line twitched slightly.
Wang Mu instinctively jerked the rod, felt a brief resistance, and then it slackened.
The fish had gotten away.
Grandpa Yu, who was nearby, noticed and wasn't surprised. He simply smiled slightly and said, "Your mind is too cluttered, not focused enough."
"These fish are extraordinary; you can't catch them with stray thoughts in your head."
"Take a few more days to adapt."
"If you want to reel in fish from Yunlai Creek, without putting in a few months of work, you won't even be able to touch their tails."
Wang Mu reflected thoughtfully. Indeed, it is a bit difficult. These fish aren't ordinary.
However...
[Action points: 1]
[Cultivation: Chopping (10) Fishing (+)]
With a thought, Wang Mu consumed an action point and added it to the fishing category.
The next instant, Wang Mu's gaze intensified as he swung the fishing rod again. His whole body became still, like an old monk in meditation. His mind was wholly focused on the surface of the creek, unmoved by external distractions, as if there was nothing in his eyes but fishing.
One hour later.
Wang Mu's eyes twitched; he sensed something. He lightly lifted the bamboo rod in his hand, feeling a strong force in his grasp. Yet he did not pull with brute force. Instead, he adopted a rhythm: pulling gently when the fish struggled and more firmly when it eased. This exchange lasted only a few breaths.
SPLASH!
A plump Little White Carp flew up!
It was over a meter long and looked to be at least several dozen pounds!
Wang Mu swung the fishing line in his hand, guiding the Little White Carp into the prepared bamboo basket.
"Hmm?"
Yu Li, standing beside him, was taken aback by this scene.
The Little White Carp was the most common and supposedly easiest fish to catch in Yunlai Creek. However, while it was said to be the easiest to catch, it was actually quite slippery and not easy at all.
This... It must be luck, definitely luck! The last one slipped away, and he caught this one straight away? It even looked somewhat smooth. Does this kid have such high talent for fishing too? Yu Li pondered.
Not much later, another plump fish was lifted from Wang Mu's hook.
And this time... His movements are even more skilled than before!
Yu Li was astonished. He reeled in his line, watching.
Four hours later, Wang Mu remained motionless, not even blinking. This poise made Yu Li feel somewhat embarrassed. He recalled how when he first started fishing, it had taken him several months to reach such a meditative state.
Suddenly, there was a slight movement on the water's surface. This time, the ripples were bigger than before, and there was even a faint red glow...
"Eh, what's this..."
Seeing this, Yu Li immediately looked toward Wang Mu.
At that moment, Wang Mu was highly concentrated, pulling a massive force out from the water. Whenever Wang Mu exerted strength, he felt an unexplainable burning sensation, and a sense of panic inexplicably rose from the depths of his heart.
What the heck is this? Wang Mu was startled inwardly.
But he quickly calmed his mind, suppressing the sense of panic as he continued to struggle with the fish in the water. He was thankful he had been chopping trees for half a year; otherwise, with that pull, he would likely have been dragged into the water by this fish!
After struggling for an hour, the fish drew nearer. Wang Mu forcefully jerked the rod, and a giant, crimson fish was pulled from the water...
Wang Mu was stunned. What kind of fish is this? It looks so majestic!
This fish was at least two meters long and weighed over a hundred pounds. It had crimson eyes and two long, red whiskers. Its tail was shaped like a pair of scissors, its scales shimmered with a faint red light, and its belly pulsed intermittently with a glow like a volcanic eruption...
Yu Li, beside him, was dumbfounded. "Red Bream!"
This kid caught one of these on his first try?