Chapter 004: System Bonding—The Auspicious Dragon-Subduing Fishing Rod!-Pesca nos Céus: Você chama isso de alma marcial amarela?(Glorioso, não é tolo.)

Chapter 004

“You… you…” Zhu Kai was at a loss for words, as the tip of Yu Le’s extended fishing rod was pressing against his forehead.

It looked less like a fishing rod and more like a sharp sword!

At that moment, after a single tug, Zhu Kai felt breathless and chest-tightened, the pain causing cold sweat to break out all over him.

Yu Le said calmly, “Don’t take advantage of kindness; fortune turns like the wheel of fate.”

“Brother Wang, shall we leave together?”

Brother Wang swallowed hard upon hearing this, then hurriedly followed with quick steps, “Let’s go, let’s go together!”

Ignoring the various stares from the other anglers, Yu Le led Old Wang away from the fishing grounds, under Zhu Kai’s fearful gaze as he lay motionless on the ground.

“He’s at least a fifth-rank Rock Realm cultivator!” Zhu Kai whispered, trembling with lingering fear after Yu Le had left.

The surrounding crowd instantly erupted into whispers, reflecting on whether they had ever offended Yu Le and contemplating whether to apologize if he returned.

Unfortunately, Yu Le had already fulfilled his purpose at this fishing spot and was unlikely to come back.

Old Wang, walking alongside Yu Le, chattered nonstop in amazement at Yu Le’s strength.

Yu Le remained silent, lost in thought, recalling the underwater scene just moments ago.

Indeed, as Zhu Kai had said, even a third-rank Rock Realm cultivator like himself would have faced a near-death struggle fighting that phoenix-tailed red carp after falling into the water, let alone Yu Le, who was originally only a second-rank Rock Realm.

Yu Le had nearly died.

Fortunately, the system recognized that Yu Le, clutching the phoenix-tailed red carp, had completed the target of catching the one hundredth fish. Without hesitation, it stripped the spiritual core from the carp’s head, ending its life.

Now, this phoenix-tailed red carp, having lost its core, was as valueless as the other fish Yu Le had caught over the past six months.

Under such circumstances, even if Zhu Kai offered market price, Yu Le wouldn’t sell it.

Naturally, none of this was to be disclosed to outsiders.

Refusing Zhu Kai’s request was a way to teach him a lesson and, in a way, repay his “hospitality” in this fishing ground.

The ten or so minutes Zhu Kai and the others waited onshore were not spent with the carp feasting underwater, but rather with Yu Le successfully linking to the system and assimilating the gains.

At that moment, Yu Le heard the notification from the “Multiverse Fishing System” ring in his ear.

[ Ding! Congratulations, host Yu Le, on completing the binding task. The level-four fishing ground within the current world’s rules has been unlocked. Newbie gift pack issued. ]

[ Would you like to open the newbie gift pack? ]

[ Ding! Newbie gift pack successfully opened. Reward one: Yu Le’s own yellow-grade destiny weapon, “Coiling Dragon Rod,” has advanced to a growth-type heaven-grade destiny weapon, “Ruyi Hidden Dragon Rod.” Reward two: one free fishing opportunity at a heaven-grade fishing ground, along with heaven-grade bait. ]

After holding back his emotions for so long, Yu Le now walked with a barely concealed smile curling at his lips.

Growth-type, heaven-grade destiny weapon!

Heaven-grade destiny weapons were the highest tier of destiny weapons in this world. What was once a yellow-grade fishing rod had now been completely transformed.

Besides the toughness expected of a heaven-grade rod, the keyword “Ruyi” meant that the rod could lengthen or shorten according to the wielder’s will, with the overall quality adjusting proportionally!

It could shrink as small as an embroidery needle or extend to the maximum length and weight the user could bear, which was determined by their cultivation level.

“This is just like the Great Sage’s Ruyi Jingu Bang!” Yu Le was very pleased. Along with the weapon’s advancement, he himself gained great benefits.

Since his weapon advanced from yellow-grade to heaven-grade, Yu Le’s physical strength had surged dramatically, a direct feedback from the power of the destiny weapon.

Zhu Kai had misjudged him. Yu Le’s physical strength had skyrocketed; no longer just a fifth-rank Rock Realm, without system detection, Yu Le estimated he was at least sixth-rank now.

The first stage of cultivation, Rock Realm, consisted of nine ranks, focusing on external training of flesh and mastering bright energy.

One rank equated to the strength of one stone, with nine stones marking the peak of the Rock Realm.

The meaning: as solid as rock!

Beyond the Rock Realm lay realms unknown to someone like Yu Le, a lower-middle class individual. Besides the power feedback he had received upon awakening his destiny weapon, he had no idea how to properly cultivate further.

Starting the cultivation path was both simple and difficult—it all depended on whether one had enough money.

Yu Le had yet to claim the second reward in the newbie gift pack; currently, he was heading toward the trading market with Old Wang.

“Growth-type means the Coiling Dragon Rod has advanced to a heaven-grade weapon, but it’s still not the highest level? If heaven-grade isn’t the top, then what could be above it?” Yu Le’s heart burned with anticipation.

Upon entering the trading market, Yu Le opened a one-time-use spirit ball and, just like the anglers of his previous life, paraded his catch openly—not to boast, but to sell at the best price.

The trading market was filled with spirit beast dealers. Upon seeing the distinctive phoenix tail, their eyes gleamed as they approached to ask the price and inspect the fish. But after examining it, many shook their heads in disappointment and left.

They had naturally noticed that the spiritual core of this third-rank spirit fish—the phoenix-tailed red carp—had been removed.

Without its core, the spirit beast’s value was reduced to that of mere meat.

Yu Le paid no mind, hearing no satisfactory offers, and walked straight to a familiar stall.

This didn’t look like a trading stall—it was more like a butcher’s shop!

“Yo, Little Yu, what good stuff have you brought me today?”

With a clatter, Yu Le tossed the headless phoenix-tailed red carp onto the chopping block. “Brother Hu, can you give me a friend’s price?”

Old Hu, dressed like a butcher, lit up at the sight. “Good stuff! Selling just the meat again?”

“Yeah!” Yu Le nodded.

Spirit fish or beasts without their cores lose at least ninety percent of their value and are usually not accepted by most dealers.

But this stall was different—it specialized in supplying high-end restaurants with various spirit beast meats.

After some bargaining, the phoenix-tailed red carp sold for a high price of eighteen thousand.

Even as just the fish’s body, it was still a third-rank spirit fish!

“Thanks, Brother Hu.” Yu Le knew this was already a loyal customer discount.

Old Hu swiftly butchered the fish without looking up. “Next time you get something good, remember to come see me!”

Yu Le nodded, then spent two thousand buying the cheapest two cigarettes in this world, and selected three thousand from his stack of money. Handing the cigarettes and the money to Old Wang, he said,

“Brother Wang, thanks for taking care of me.”

“Oh, Little Yu, you don’t have to be so formal!” Old Wang beamed with joy. Including the spirit ball, Yu Le had borrowed just over two thousand from him, so this time he had made a profit.

Taking this small fortune home, Old Wang was sure he could celebrate tonight!

Safely storing the remaining thirteen thousand in savings, Yu Le bid farewell to Old Wang and headed back toward his once-cozy little home.