Volume One: Youths Meet in Their Humble Beginnings Chapter Forty-Six: Fishing at Sea, Only the Willing Take the Bait

Again and again, the Dao resonance spread outward from Li Yu as its center. The sea they occupied was already boiling with chaos; beneath the undulating currents, countless creatures lurked in the depths, eyes fixed upon the boat, waiting for a chance to overturn it and devour the source of disturbance—Li Yu, whom they perceived as a delectable prize. If not for the myriad restrictions placed upon the Daoist’s vessel, they would hardly be able to sit calmly upon it now, one reciting scriptures, the other fishing.

The Daoist’s fishing rod was lowered into the water. While sensing the Dao resonance in search of the final opportunity for breakthrough, he still devoted a portion of his attention to the rod. He was waiting—for a spiritual creature worthy of such painstaking effort, and also for a token that would enable Li Yu to cultivate in the future.

He had Li Yu recite the Scripture of Heavenly Illumination, using the Dao resonance provoked by Li Yu as bait to lure the spiritual creatures from the depths.

His efforts were not in vain. Not far off, two fish darted toward them at astonishing speed. One was entirely ink-black, yet its eyes shone with a pure white radiance, as if filled with infinite light and heat. The other was pure white, but its eyes were as deep and dark as the most profound night.

As the two fish approached, all surrounding creatures scattered in fear and awe, as if these two commanded absolute respect. The fish kept a cautious distance from the Daoist, their gazes tinged with wariness, but more so with curiosity and scrutiny. For them, that wariness was but an instinctive response to danger, yet from the imprint upon their souls, they believed themselves to be the highest order of beings. Only the Nether Beast in the sea was their equal; no other creature was worthy of their attention.

Their curiosity was perhaps about why this strange being before them had come here and what caused the peculiar resonance that drew them near. Yet such curiosity was quickly dispelled, for they sensed the approach of the one creature they truly feared—the Nether Beast. In an instant, the two fish fused into one, becoming a hazy gray form, preparing to leap from the water and swallow the entire boat. No matter what oddities the Daoist and his companion possessed, once inside its belly, they would never escape.

But unexpectedly, as they broke the surface, they did not emerge triumphantly, but instead bit onto the Daoist’s fishing rod. Even more bizarre, the hook was nothing but a jade bead.

Realizing they had encountered a formidable opponent, the fish tried to release their grip and flee, but the jade bead clung to their mouths, impossible to dislodge, and their strength faded as if sinking into the sea.

Seeing this, the Daoist was greatly relieved and smiled, saying, “Done.”

He lifted the fish, and they thought that once he removed the jade bead, their powers would return and they could devour both the Daoist and the odd child beside him. Yet the Daoist simply detached the bead and placed both fish and bead in the fishing basket.

Observing their defeated expressions, the Daoist teased, “Did you really think I was that foolish? I’m not like you. Keep staring and I’ll roast you for my apprentice.”

He then sealed the mouth of the basket, finally at ease.

The creatures lurking in the shadows, witnessing how easily the Daoist subdued the fish they feared, immediately quashed all rebellious thoughts. Yet as they sensed the approach of the other ocean overlord, the Nether Beast, their forbidden ambitions began to stir once more. The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind; or the snipe and clam struggle, and the fisherman profits. They believed themselves to be the oriole or the fisherman, but whether from the Daoist’s perspective or the Nether Beast’s, they were destined to be mere cannon fodder. In the face of absolute power, when gods clash, the little devils suffer—an eternal truth.

In the distance, an ink-black silhouette surged beneath the waves like a moving mountain. All lurking creatures had already fled, leaving only the Daoist and the beast for a confrontation.

The Nether Beast was more cunning than the two fish. It waited, like a hunting hawk, for the perfect moment to strike.

It transmitted its thoughts to the Daoist: “I knew it was you. In these seas, only you and those two fool fish can stir up such trouble, human.”

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The Daoist replied in kind, laughing, “I dare not claim such greatness. I’m neither as big as you nor as foolish as those two fish. I can hardly compare.”

The Nether Beast and the Daoist were old adversaries, having clashed openly and covertly more than ten times. Each time, the Daoist relied on his agility and Daoist arts to escape the beast’s counterattacks. The Nether Beast always simmered with resentment—it could neither defeat nor rid itself of this persistent nuisance.

Li Yu finished reciting the Scripture of Heavenly Illumination, awakening from his contemplation as the last word left his lips.

Upon awakening, he sensed the perilous situation. The Daoist and the Nether Beast were both alert, for as soon as Li Yu stopped reciting, the Dao resonance vanished.

“Don’t move. That’s the Nether Beast. Don’t be fooled by its physical form; it is truly formless. If it finds the opportunity, it can silently devour you,” the Daoist warned Li Yu with utmost caution.

The two sides remained locked in stalemate. Yet at that moment, the Daoist sensed two powerful auras approaching from afar. Though anxious, he knew it was not yet time to strike. He trusted the Nether Beast had sensed these impending changes as well. Now, they gambled on who would act first.

The Nether Beast became visibly agitated. It sensed that the newcomers were human, and understood, even if not a man itself, the principle that those unlike oneself are not to be trusted. Fearing they might join forces against it, it decided to gamble—before the two arrived, it would try to devour the Daoist.

The Nether Beast burst from the water, splitting into six forms, attacking the Daoist from all directions. Knowing the Daoist’s strength and the urgency, it unleashed its strongest art—Shadow Devouring.

The Daoist faced the six attacking shadows with no fear, only a faint smile. Shadow Devouring allowed the Nether Beast to divide itself, each part capable of devouring soul, spiritual power, magic, and energy. Such talent defied the heavens; it meant all attacks in the cultivation world could not harm it, while it could pass through them and strike at its foes.

The Daoist had suffered from this art before, during his first encounter with the Nether Beast. If not for the jade hairpin his master left him, which shielded him with a protective barrier, he would have perished in the beast’s belly.

But after that first setback, he refined his Daoist arts, gained insight into his own Dao from the Nether Beast, and perfected his path, reaching the final step. He now possessed the strength and status to converse with the beast. Even without the hairpin, he could escape its grasp.

This time, however, he sought not merely escape, but to seal the Nether Beast.

He hadn’t planned this originally, but once he discovered Li Yu could provoke Dao resonance, he began plotting. When Li Yu recited the scripture that resonated with the ocean’s Nether Dao, he realized his plan might succeed.

A fierce light burned in the Daoist’s eyes, so intense as to scorch the Nether Beast. The beast thought, “Something’s wrong—he’s up to something.”

Indeed, the Daoist was waiting for Shadow Devouring, as his sealing art was most effective when the beast used this move. Though its strongest, it was also when its defenses were weakest.

The Daoist swiftly formed seals with his hands, channeling his own blood as a guide. His hair and robes stirred without wind, and to Li Yu, he seemed ready to ascend on the spot.

Seeing danger, the Nether Beast tried to retreat to the sea, but all the waters had become a hard mirror, impossible to penetrate even with its formless, innate powers.

It realized it had been duped. From the moment Dao resonance spread, everything had been within the Daoist’s calculations. The Daoist, with planning and intention, had trapped it.

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Scriptures flickered upon the water’s surface, beautiful to the Nether Beast but also filled with danger.

The surrounding space was sealed by these strange scriptures, preventing its escape. Soon, the Daoist’s ritual was complete. He shouted, “Seal!”

His voice echoed through every confined space of the ocean, and with this resounding “Seal,” the scattered scriptures emerged, transforming under his spell into sharp swords of flowing light. The Nether Beast, surrounded by these blades, showed fear for the first time.

It realized the Daoist had found a way to subdue it.

The Daoist slashed forward with his finger, and the swords of light shot toward the Nether Beast like arrows. The six forms tried to merge, but in this space sealed by strange scriptures, even that was impossible.

It could only watch as the swords pierced its body—“thud.” Each stab made its heart tremble. When all the swords had entered, it expected annihilation and prepared to fight the Daoist to the death if needed.

But the anticipated destruction did not come. Instead, its body regained normal movement. Confused and delighted, it muttered, “Thunder without rain?”

It was the first time the Daoist heard it speak in human tongue, and he mocked, “So you do speak human language!”

After confirming its health, the Nether Beast responded with disdain, “So what if I can? The humans I devoured weren’t eaten for nothing. Not only can I absorb their spiritual power, I can also steal their intelligence. Next, let me see how delicious your power and wisdom are!”

It prepared to attack again, but the Daoist shook his head, “You ask for trouble.”

No sooner had he spoken than the Nether Beast felt stabbing pain within, not only in its flesh but deep in its soul.

It immediately realized the Daoist had placed a seal or restriction inside it. Unless it could remove it, it would forever be subject to him. With a vicious glare, it snarled, “You old priest, just wait!” Then it fled like a gust of wind.

The Daoist scoffed, “Quick to run, aren’t you?”