Chapter 233

Chapter 233: Taming the Great Fish

Though Fang Lie remained humble, Mao San and Gou Si appeared thoroughly energized, their faces flushed with excitement.

Mao San blurted out, "Master, you’re too modest! Everyone knows of your legendary battles now – the Thousand Cuts of Luanhua Island, the crushing of Han Xuan Palace, even slaying Immortal Han Xuan himself! You made the Four Seas Alliance kneel and beg forgiveness!"

Gou Si chimed in, "Your deeds echo across ten thousand leagues! Major powers have stamped you ‘untouchable’ in their records. Not even Fire Tribulation Immortals or Thunder Tribulation Immortals command such awe!"

"Merely fleeting reputation," Fang Lie replied with practiced modesty.

"This is solid achievement, not empty fame!" Mao San insisted. "Since your rise, our estate’s become tranquil as still water. Every visiting Cultivator minds their manners."

"The Four Seas Alliance rebuilt Mo Fang Shop brick by brick," Gou Si added. "Returned every stolen item – even Purple Beard’s magnetic orbs and our shop armor. Now they’re dumping shiploads of alchemy materials – warehouses bursting at the seams! We’ve built three new storehouses and still need more. What orders, Master?"

"Keep expanding storage," Fang Lie decided. "More low-grade materials will come. Guard them well – not a single leaf must spoil."

"But Master," Mao San ventured, "these are mostly first and second-rank weeds, barely any third-rank scraps. Why hoard worthless trinkets?"

"I have plans," Fang Lie waved dismissively. "Store them properly. I’ll tend to them shortly."

As Gou Si opened his mouth to speak, Fang Lie anticipated: "Hire more hands if needed, but vet them thoroughly. Let one spy slip through…" His gaze hardened. "…and the White Jade Divine Fish secret dies with you."

"Rest assured!" Mao San thumped his chest. "Only we two tend the Divine Fish. Others don’t even know which pond they’re in!"

"Good." Fang Lie’s expression softened. "Our estate prospers through your service. Expect spirit pills, stones, and advanced Dao magic. The Divine Fish shall cleanse your spiritual roots. Serve well, and Golden Pool breakthroughs await – perhaps even Purple Palace ascension."

The two men dropped to their knees, trembling. "Our lives are yours!" they chorused. "Break this oath, may heaven’s lightning strike us!"

Fang Lie produced two Sumeru Bags. "Take these. They hold cultivation resources worth millions."

The servants gaped at the fortune – enough to buy their ancestral villages. With shaking hands, they accepted the bags, loyalty cemented beyond doubt.

"Now gather these materials for the Purple Tower." Fang Lie handed them a list. Without question, they scurried off.

Within hours, Mao San returned with bulging Sumeru Bags. "Gou Si’s still sorting the rest. These should suffice for now."

Fang Lie scanned the contents – mountains of spirit herbs, demon beast bones, and glistening Demon Pills. All ingredients for Healing Spirit Pills. "Send the remainder tomorrow," he ordered.

Alone now, Fang Lie raised a finger. Seven-hued Nirvana True Fire blossomed in the void. Another gesture sent Sumeru Bags spilling their contents – herbs streaming into the flames, reducing to shimmering Spirit Liquid that flowed into waiting Jade Bottles.

His enhanced cultivation made quick work of the task. By nightfall, even the mountain-high materials had been purified, ready for their hidden purpose.

Fang Lie refined all the low-grade herbs from several Sumeru Bags into essence liquid, storing them in pre-prepared Jade Bottles. He ended up with about a dozen bottles of Spirit Liquid, enough to produce thousands of Healing Spirit Pills. Many materials here came from demon beasts containing powerful blood energy, making these pills twice as potent as the Mo Sect’s herb-only versions – truly premium goods.

After completing the refining, Fang Lie glanced at the night sky where the moon hung directly overhead. Remembering something urgent, he flew from the Purple Tower to the White Jade Divine Fish’s cave. The boiling large lake remained unchanged. Activating his Earth Eye Divine Skill, he spotted several additional fish. Through this divine skill, he saw the lake’s bottomless pit remained invisible even to his powers, only revealing occasional fish emerging from below.

Squinting, Fang Lei reasoned: "Cattle follow grass, demon army follow Spiritual Energy. This place connects to Qingyu Island’s ground veins with rich Spiritual Energy, hence the fish. If I enhance the energy quality here…" His palm suddenly produced a water-element small spirit pearl. With a finger gesture, he shattered its seal.

The blue pearl emitted pure water-element Spiritual Energy. Excited fish swarmed around it, splashing vigorously. A magnificent one-zhang-long specimen leaped from the water, wagging its tail obsequiously. Fang Lie found this intriguing – these second-rank Low-Level Beasts normally lacked personal divine skills, being no smarter than livestock. Yet this one showed budding intelligence.

"You’ve got fate with me," Fang Lie declared. "I’ll give this pearl if you work for me!" The fish wagged enthusiastically. Chuckling, Fang Lie secretly smeared the pearl before flicking it over. The fish swallowed it instantly, then arrogantly swam toward the bottom hole as if escaping debt.

"Lucky I prepared," Fang Lie muttered before commanding: "Burn!" The fish suddenly convulsed as Ever-Burning Flame ignited Blood Ink smeared inside it. Though adapted to boiling water, its internal organs couldn’t withstand internal fire. The thrashing fish rushed back, pleading through gestures.

Stopping the flames, Fang Lie taunted: "You’re no match for me. I could kill you from anywhere. Obey or die." The trembling fish nodded frantically.

"Good! Bring me 100 White Jade Divine Fish monthly – catch or trick them. Fail, and you burn." With magic, Fang Lie immobilized other fish and floated them into his Herb Garden’s adjustable volcanic lake set to boiling. Leaving without another glance, he knew the threatened fish would comply.