27: New player protection period

At this time.

Xiao Weiqing spoke up, "Are all these Dragon Fish Platforms the same? Is there any particular significance to their locations?"

Jiang Peng said, "Most of them in this area are the same. There's no real difference between the Dragon Fish Platforms themselves, but the terrain varies slightly. You'll have to figure that out for yourselves."

"Dragon Fish are very cunning; they'll only come over if you attract them with Spiritual Qi."

"Fishing for Dragon Fish is a comprehensive test of your strength. Since this is your first time, whatever you do, don't be in a hurry."

"It's perfectly normal to have no harvest for the first day or two. You'll get used to it after being played by the Dragon Fish a few times."

"Take it slow."

After saying that, the two of them turned and left.

Leaving the group behind.

Then, more and more new Trainees began to arrive one after another.

Qin Tian said, "Let's begin."

Subsequently, everyone began choosing their Dragon Fish Platforms.

Xiao Weiqing walked five hundred meters and picked an empty Dragon Fish Platform to step onto.

The others also scattered, beginning to board their respective Dragon Fish Platforms.

After Xiao Weiqing boarded the platform, he saw only a few stone benches and a hole nearby that looked like a deep well.

Any fish caught could be thrown directly into it; it was connected to the place where Dragon Fish were processed, and points would be awarded based on the size of the fish.

He unfolded the fishing rod; it looked no different from an ordinary one.

However.

The moment Xiao Weiqing channeled Spiritual Qi into it, the difference became apparent.

He could clearly feel the front of the rod absorbing his Spiritual Qi.

It was the hook.

A moment later.

A ball of Spiritual Qi condensed at the hook.

Xiao Weiqing sensed it carefully; it had consumed roughly 1/30th of his Spiritual Qi.

"That's acceptable."

Xiao Weiqing wasn't much of a fisherman, but he had seen those who always went home empty-handed; even if they couldn't catch a fish, they could swing their rods like pros.

He followed suit, imitating their movements.

"Away you go!"

The hook fell into the river's surface.

Next was the need for patience.

"Haha... I caught one!" Zhang Dawei laughed loudly from the side.

"Hmm? Caught one already?" Xiao Weiqing turned his head to look to the right.

Standing on a Dragon Fish Platform two meters away was indeed Zhang Dawei.

At this moment.

Zhang Dawei was constantly pulling at the fishing rod.

Judging by the bend of the rod, the fish wasn't small.

As expected.

Before long.

A Dragon Fish was pulled up, flopping and jumping about.

Zhang Dawei hurriedly unhooked the Dragon Fish and stuffed it into the hole on the Dragon Fish Platform.

"Brother Qing, I caught a fish! One foot four inches, it gave 18 points, hehe..."

"Not bad, keep it up."

Seeing that lively Dragon Fish, Xiao Weiqing thought to himself, 'It seems it's not that difficult.'

Ten minutes later.

"Wow, I caught one too!"

"Brother Qing, look!"

Despite Wei Lan's small stature, she was quite strong. She held up a one-foot-five Dragon Fish in one hand and waved at Xiao Weiqing.

Xiao Weiqing nodded.

"Not bad, keep going."

A period of calm followed.

Half an hour later.

"Haha, here comes another one! Such great strength, it's definitely bigger than the last one!"

Zhang Dawei's fishing rod was bent to an exaggerated degree.

"Brother Qing, one foot eight inches! Even bigger than the last!"

Xiao Weiqing maintained his smile.

"Not bad, keep going."

A while later.

"Brother Qing, a Dragon Fish! A Dragon Fish! Look!"

From ten meters away, Wei Lan was holding a Dragon Fish nearly half as tall as a person and waving at Xiao Weiqing. "Can you take a photo for me?"

"Sure."

Xiao Weiqing tapped his Wristband and took a photo for Wei Lan.

"Not bad, keep it up."

By now, Xiao Weiqing was starting to feel a bit frustrated. He lifted the hook and threw it out again.

Twice.

Three times... countless times.

Xiao Weiqing felt like he was hallucinating, having repeated the same actions for the past hour.

"No, this won't do."

"I won't end up going home empty-handed this morning, will I?"

Xiao Weiqing felt a sense of unease as he saw the sun reach its zenith; it was almost noon.

He could see shadows in the water swimming past his hook, but they just wouldn't bite. Just maintaining that ball of Spiritual Qi had cost him a lot of energy, and the Spiritual Qi in his divine palace was mostly depleted.

Zhang Dawei had already stopped fishing. After catching his third Dragon Fish, his Spiritual Qi was basically bottomed out; he didn't have enough Spiritual Qi to sustain himself for so long.

One must know that when a Dragon Fish is caught, the Spiritual Qi isn't returned to you. Even in death, they will swallow the Spiritual Qi, choosing to die with a full stomach.

On the other side.

Wei Lan was full of energy, with no intention of stopping. She didn't show even a hint of fatigue and looked very excited, as if she had encountered something fun.

She had already pulled up four Dragon Fish.

Xiao Weiqing couldn't quite figure it out. Whether it was her movements or her technique, Wei Lan looked more like a rookie than he did.

He had seen with his own eyes that Wei Lan just tossed the hook right at her feet—how the hell could that pull up a Dragon Fish?

Feeling lost, Xiao Weiqing opened his Wristband and entered the Anqiu City group chat.

The group was filled with various photos.

Zhang Dawei had also posted his harvest in the group.

Li Fangnan: "Zhang Dawei, where did you catch that?"

Zhang Dawei: "It's not that big, just one foot five."

"Who's asking how big the fish is? I'm asking where you caught it!"

Zhang Dawei: "What? You're asking how big the second one is? Not big, only one foot eight."

"Li Fangnan, mine isn't big either, just one foot six." Someone else showed off their harvest.

Li Fangnan: "Damn it!"

Many people in the group were showing off the Dragon Fish they had caught.

However, the vast majority were like Xiao Weiqing, belonging to the silent faction.

He closed the Wristband.

"I don't believe this."

The Spiritual Qi from before was just like chumming the water; the big ones must be coming later, Xiao Weiqing comforted himself.

He continued to maintain the Spiritual Qi ball, his eyes fixed on the river's surface.

Finally, hard work paid off.

"It's here."

Through the rod, Xiao Weiqing felt a chunk of his Spiritual Qi ball vanish into thin air.

Judging by the shadow under the water, a Dragon Fish was about to take the bait.

"Don't rush."

Xiao Weiqing hurriedly replenished the Spiritual Qi and continued to lure the Dragon Fish.

As expected.

The next second.

He felt the force on the rod.

Xiao Weiqing reached out and lifted the rod, and a Dragon Fish instantly surfaced from the river.

He quickly pulled it up and unhooked it.

"Wow, Brother Qing, you caught a Dragon Fish! This Dragon Fish of yours is so cute."

Xiao Weiqing: "..."

"Hmph!"

Hearing this.

Xiao Weiqing glared at Wei Lan.

Wei Lan stuck out her tongue and went back to focusing on the river.

Next, Xiao Weiqing stuffed the Dragon Fish into the hole, and his Wristband immediately received a message.

"Area C-4, Dragon Fish Platform No. 1122, one Dragon Fish, length 1.1 feet, 12 points obtained."

What's wrong with one foot one?

Is a one-foot-one fish not a Dragon Fish?

What's wrong with 12 points?

At least he wouldn't have to feed the Dragon Fish fry with his own body tomorrow.

In the Anqiu City group, there were still many people who hadn't even touched a Dragon Fish yet.

Besides.

There was still the whole afternoon; who would emerge victorious in the end was still up in the air.

In a pavilion not far from Anqiu City, Jiang Peng and Wang Fu were watching everyone fishing through surveillance screens.

Wang Fu smiled and said, "Not bad at all. I thought at least half of them would go home empty-handed."

"This batch of Trainees just arrived today. The Dragon Fish over three feet long don't know a big meal has arrived yet, which is why the ones under three feet were able to take advantage."

"By this afternoon, the Dragon Fish over three feet will know. When they all come out, the Spiritual Qi of these ten thousand Trainees will just be snacks to them."

"It's very difficult to catch a Dragon Fish over three feet with a 10-meter rod. By then, they'll enter a vicious cycle."

"The real test will be tomorrow when they change their rods. With their level of Spiritual Qi, if they can manage ten casts a day, they'll be doing well."

"Not to mention actually pulling the Dragon Fish up."

Wang Fu nodded.

By then, these Trainees will realize that rather than fishing for Dragon Fish, they'd get more points by going to feed the Dragon Fish fry.

The Dragon Fish here have been fighting long-term battles with the senior Trainees and have grown extremely cunning. Those that weren't cunning have already become meals on a plate.