Qingyu Islands – The Li Clan's Ancestral Waters
The morning sun had just risen beyond the cloud-covered horizon, casting a golden hue across the mist-veiled lakes. Though dawn had barely broken, the Li clan's members were already hard at work, bustling toward their respective fish ponds.
A small, nimble boat glided silently through the fog. Ripples shimmered like molten gold in its wake. Sitting atop the vessel was a youth no older than seventeen—upright in posture, features refined, and clad in simple robes that failed to conceal his innate presence.
Li Quanqing sat cross-legged, his boat propelled not by oars but by surging spiritual energy. With effortless control, he rode the wind and waves, the vessel darting across the water like a spirit beast born to it.
Hundreds of fishing boats scattered across the surface in quiet competition. The cool mist in the air invigorated the hardworking clansmen. Ahead, a wide spread of lotus flowers emerged—some pink, others white—blossoming in graceful formation. Dewdrops sparkled on verdant lotus leaves, and beneath their cover, fish flickered through the clear waters.
"Brother Qing, you're up early again!"
A nearby boat approached. At its helm sat an elderly man in a straw coat and conical hat, his white beard rustling in the breeze. A purple clay kettle steamed gently atop a small stove beside him.
Li Quanqing smiled and held up a bundle of dried rations. "Good morning, Uncle Nineteen. I meditated through the night. Since I couldn't sleep, I thought I'd come out early."
The old fisherman, Li Kunshui, was two generations his senior and a cultivator at the fifth level of Qi Refining.
"Diligent, aren't you? If only that rascal grandson of mine had half your discipline… He needs a solid thrashing," the old man muttered, knocking his jade pipe against the side of the boat. The gong, worn from years of use, echoed with a dull thud.
"You've changed a lot this past year, Brother Qing," Li Kunshui exhaled a puff of smoke, his weathered face softening. "But I suppose that's to be expected, given what happened."
Li Quanqing simply smiled, saying nothing.
In truth, he was a transmigrator.
His current body's parents had died in a tragic accident, and the overwhelming grief claimed the boy's life—leaving an empty vessel that Li Quanqing, from another world, now inhabited.
A sudden splash interrupted his thoughts.
The boat came to a halt in front of a large square pond nearly twenty acres wide, ringed with lotus blossoms.
Bingsi District, Fish Pond No. 13.
Li Quanqing pulled out a jade token and channeled his spiritual energy into it. Instantly, glowing runes lit up on the surrounding lotus plants, revealing a vast formation spanning the entire pond.
These lotus flowers weren't ordinary flora—they were the foundation of an intricate spiritual array. The formation kept the spiritual fish from escaping and gathered spiritual energy from the surrounding area into the pond.
One lotus flower bloomed into a broad platform. With a step, Li Quanqing boarded it and drifted gently into the array.
Suddenly, the water churned. Several massive green carps surfaced and launched streams of water like arrows.
Snap! Snap!
Each jet was as thick as a thumb—enough to knock a mortal clean off a boat. Yet the lotus platform's protective barrier flared to life, deflecting every attack.
"Stubborn things. No dinner for you."
With a shake of his head, Li Quanqing formed a hand seal.
Water Control Technique!
Streams of water coiled into rope-like tendrils, wrapping around the aggressive carps. With a splash, he hurled them back into deeper waters.
These creatures weren't true spirit beasts, but neither were they mundane. Though they hovered between beast and demon, years of nourishment in spiritual waters had made them strong—and their meat rich in essence. Cultivators in the early Qi Refining realm coveted their flesh for stews and broths.
The lotus platform drifted deeper into the pond, revealing how the formation divided the space into two sections: one for mature black carps, and another for fry and juveniles.
"Time for breakfast, little ones."
Li Quanqing cast a handful of special bait into the nursery pond. It shimmered on the surface, releasing a strong, enticing aroma.
The water churned as fry darted up, battling each other for food.
Li Quanqing observed closely—then his eyes lit up.
A particular black carp, nearly half a foot long, swam with commanding presence. Its scales gleamed, its fins sliced through water with power, and it dominated the feeding frenzy.
But what truly caught his attention was the glowing white orb hovering just above its head—visible only to him.
"There you are."
With a flick of his fingers, a tendril of water seized the young carp mid-air. Helpless out of the water, the fish could only writhe.
Li Quanqing reached out and touched the orb. It burst, releasing wisps of white light that seeped into his body.
[You have harvested a mature black carp. Reward: 1 Spiritual Energy Ball.]
A glowing orb of pure energy emerged in his meridians. Channeling his cultivation technique—Golden Water Art—he refined it into pristine spiritual essence and guided it into his dantian.
The surge in cultivation was exhilarating.
This was the golden finger he'd awakened after transmigrating: whenever he raised a creature to maturity, capable of reproducing, he would be rewarded with a spiritual boon.
One effort, double the return.
"Well then, time for the grown-up pond."
He tossed the carp into the adult section, watching it vanish into the depths. Then he scanned the fry once more, eyes hunting for glowing orbs.
[You have harvested a mature black carp. Reward: 1 Spiritual Energy Ball.]
[You have harvested a mature black carp. Reward: 1 Spiritual Energy Ball.]
[You have harvested a mature black carp. Reward: 1 Spiritual Energy Ball.]
Three more! Each wave of energy filled his body with a delightful buzz.
At this rate, he'd reach the third stage of Qi Refining within a month. Among the Li clan's younger generation, that would make him a rising star.
As if annoyed by his rapid harvest, a thick-scaled black carp leapt from the water, launching a barrage of water arrows.
But Li Quanqing only grinned.
This one also had a glowing orb above its head.
"You dare spit at me? Come here!"
Another flick, another catch.
[You have harvested a mature black carp. Reward: 1 Water Control Experience Point.]
Not all rewards were energy balls. Occasionally, he received experience directly. Twice before, such rewards had dramatically improved his spell proficiency.
The white light entered his mind. Text, diagrams, and spell constructs unfolded, imprinting themselves effortlessly into his memory.
Li Quanqing no longer needed hand seals.
He pointed with a casual gesture. The water around him surged with life, forming shapes, tools, and creatures at his whim.
Water Control Technique – Mastered.
With a roar, he conjured a massive carp from the water itself. It splashed into the pond with startling realism, scattering fry in all directions.
Mud and silt clouded the water as the platform drifted over the panicked nursery. The remaining fry floated to the surface, eyes wide and bubbling with dissatisfaction.
After confirming no new light orbs were present, Li Quanqing turned his attention to the adult pond for feeding.
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The Li family generation names: Changqing, Chengzong, Kunyu, Quanjin, Yongan, Jishi, Zude, Wanqing.
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