An orange sun hung in the sky.

Scorching heat radiated across the land.

The incessant, grating chirping of cicadas filled the air.

An occasional wisp of breeze brought no sense of coolness.

“Summer is so unfriendly to Wood Spirit Roots.” Jiang Chen slumped in a wooden chair by the doorway, his face a picture of utter despair.

He wasn’t afraid of the cold in winter, yet he dreaded the heat as soon as summer arrived.

The higher the temperature, the more listless he felt.

It wasn’t just him.

Even the little yellow dog and the pearl chicken were listless.

They all huddled in dark corners, not daring to step outside.

Just then, a communication talisman in his small storage pouch vibrated.

Jiang Chen took it out and saw it was from Jin Fugui.

“So, are you coming or not?”

“I’d like to, but I don’t have any fishing gear.”

“Wait at the fork in the road near the core management area. I’ll be there shortly.”

Having nothing better to do, Jiang Chen accepted Jin Fugui’s invitation.

Although his fishing skills weren’t great, he was curious about what kind of fish they might catch.

But before going, he first packed two jin of Spirit Wine.

Then he went to the Tier-2 Spirit Farm and picked a half-ripe watermelon.

“It’s a bit far, so I won’t take you guys. Rest well at home.” Jiang Chen placed a bamboo hat on his head and set off toward the fork in the road near the core management area.

Under the intense heat, he unconsciously quickened his pace.

He saw hardly anyone along the way; almost everyone was hiding indoors to escape the sun.

The fork in the road was the same place where he had rented a Paper Crane last time when heading to the Red Leaf Valley market.

Finally, a thump-thump-thump vibration sound came from not far away.

Jiang Chen glanced sideways and saw a camel galloping toward him.

Perched between the humps, Jin Fugui waved excitedly. “Sorry for the wait!”

“You finally made it.” Jiang Chen sighed with relief.

Soon, the camel stopped before him, then slightly lowered its body.

Seeing this, Jiang Chen immediately climbed onto its back.

Instantly, the camel’s hooves pounded wildly as it sped off.

To be honest, it was quite fast.

But it also kicked up a lot of dust.

Jiang Chen had to pull his hat down lower to avoid getting his face dirty.

Then, Jin Fugui spoke up. “You’re so young. Why do you stay cooped up in the Spirit Farm all day? You should come out more often, take a stroll, have some fun.”

Jiang Chen shrugged upon hearing this. “I’m just a bit of a homebody.”

“Homebody? You like houses?” Jin Fugui looked confused.

Jiang Chen blinked, then explained. “Well, I just joined the core Spirit Farm. I don’t dare let my guard down. I’m worried about not meeting the yield and failing my tasks.”

Jin Fugui nodded slightly. “Understandable. I was the same when I first joined Beast Mountain.”

The two chatted idly back and forth.

Before they knew it, half a shichen had passed—about an hour.

The scenery ahead gradually changed.

To the left was a lush forest.

To the right was a sparkling river.

There were already quite a few anglers here.

In the height of summer, under the blazing sun, they sat silently and steadfastly by their fishing spots without a word.

“Too many people here. Let’s go further ahead.” Jin Fugui didn’t stop here.

Therefore, after proceeding another few hundred meters, they reached a leftward bend.

No one could be seen here anymore.

If there were any, they were on the opposite bank of the river.

At this point, Jin Fugui controlled the camel, gradually slowing its pace.

Soon after, they stopped under a shady tree.

The two jumped down from between the humps one after another.

As Jin Fugui pulled items from his small storage pouch, he said, “If you don’t feel like fishing, you can go for a swim.”

“There’s nothing… strange in this river, is there?” Jiang Chen couldn’t help but recall the Mystic Tortoise’s companion beast he had seen at Rain Pavilion before—that hundred-zhang-long yellow Flying Serpent.

Regarding this, Jin Fugui said with a mysterious look: “Except for spring water, all streams and rivers in the Spirit Farms originate from that black lake at Rain Pavilion.”

Jiang Chen raised an eyebrow. “Are you saying there really is something?”

Jin Fugui took a few steps closer to the riverbank to pick a fishing spot and then said: “I’ve heard others say that black coffins once drifted down this river. Blood seeping from their cracks killed all life in the water. Even an Immortal Elder was alarmed at that time.”

This piqued Jiang Chen’s interest even more. He couldn’t help but lean closer and asked curiously: “So that means people were here even before our Cloud Sea Sect?”

“Seems like it.” Jin Fugui wasn’t very clear either.

After all, that was thousands or even tens of thousands of years ago.

He was just an official disciple who had joined Beast Mountain only a few years prior.

All his information came second-hand from others.

“Maybe we should just go back. What if there really is danger?” Jiang Chen thought to himself.

“So are you fishing or not?” Jin Fugui had everything set up. He turned his head and saw Jiang Chen hadn’t moved yet.

“Uh… yes.” After some thought, Jiang Chen finally dismissed the idea of leaving.

It wasn’t easy getting out for once.

And it was upon a friend’s invitation.

He didn’t want to spoil his friend’s mood.

So he found a spot nearby.

The hook, line, rod, and bait were all provided by Jin Fugui.

Jiang Chen then took out the Tier-2 Spirit Wine and a half-ripe watermelon.

“Spirit Wine!” Jin Fugui’s eyes lit up.

He had been craving this stuff.

The one jin he took back last time was long finished.

Just as he was pondering what excuse to use to get more, Jiang Chen had brought it on his own initiative.

Jiang Chen chuckled lightly. “Fishing alone is too dull.”

Next, the two fished while drinking wine.

As a result, they didn’t catch any fish but drank down most of the wine instead.

Meanwhile, an angler on the opposite bank was reeling them in one after another with quite a bountiful haul.

After a while, Jin Fugui said with flushed cheeks: “Something’s off. Why are all the fish over there?”

Seeing this, Jiang Chen pondered: “That person seems to be using some method.”

Although this river wasn’t turbulent, it wasn’t calm either.

Yet only that spot opposite them had not even a single ripple.

It was as calm as a mirror—clearly, something was amiss.

“What’s even the point of fishing then!” Jin Fugui’s tipsiness flared up. In anger, he flung his hand, splashing out what remained of his half-cup of Spirit Wine into the water.

A miraculous scene unfolded.

Originally they hadn’t had a single bite on their side, but almost instantly after the Spirit Wine mixed into the water, both their fishing rods trembled simultaneously, and their lines tightened instantly.

“A bite?” Jiang Chen and Jin Fugui exchanged glances, both utterly astonished.

Soon after, two plump silver carp were hauled out of the water onto the shore!

Next thing they knew—as if breaking some curse—fish came biting one after another for them!

“What is going on?” On the opposite bank, Mo Yu stared dumbfoundedly!

He used the “Water Lock” technique, stopping the flow before him, then scattered pre-prepared bait over the area…

Yet never expected since those two appeared across the way…

His own catches grew fewer by the minute…

Now ten minutes passed without a single nibble…

But those two across the way couldn’t stop reeling them in!!!

In just a short while, they’d already caught dozens of silver carp!!!