182: Chapter 182 Lin Tian's Private Fishpond

Lin Tian spent another few days as captain at the fishery, punting his bamboo raft to patrol the fish ponds every morning, scheduling shifts for his team members, and handling various chores, big and small, within the team.

He had been doing these official duties for over half a year and was already well-acquainted with them, able to keep No. 7 Fish Pond in perfect order with his eyes closed. But no matter how well he managed it, official duties were still official duties—at least four hours every day were taken up by patrols and chores, and if a Vicious Beast attacked or a team member requested leave,

that time would double.

After his Breakthrough to the fifth grade, there was still massive room for improvement in all his martial arts. His Shadow Movement Technique and Beast Taming Technique had only just reached mastery, while his Purple Qi Diagram, Xiaguang Sword Technique, and Dragon Roar Iron Shirt required a vast amount of time to polish,

not to mention he also had a private fishery hidden in the Primeval Lake that he needed to check on regularly.

A captain had to patrol the ponds, but an Elder did not. Ordinary team members received one Treasure Fish a month, captains received two, and Elders received four. Lin Tian calculated this account over and over in his mind.

Four Treasure Fish, combined with the Medicinal Pills he had on hand, would allow his cultivation speed to reach a whole new level.

That evening, he changed into a clean robe and walked toward the bamboo building surrounded by a bamboo forest to the east.

In the main hall of the bamboo building, green smoke curled from a bronze incense burner. Field Master Zhou was sitting cross-legged on a futon, reading a newly delivered Sect Gazette. Hearing footsteps, he looked up, his gaze landing on Lin Tian, and nodded slightly in greeting.

His impression of this young man was not particularly deep—he only remembered that he had been recommended by Peak Master Su Hanyan, had won the position of Team 7's captain on the arena stage, and had performed well when entering the mountains to investigate the Demonic Sect half a year ago, and that was all.

In the eyes of the old Fishery Master who had worked at Yunhai Fishery his entire life, for a Disciple who had entered the Sect less than three years ago to become a captain was already an exceptional exception.

"Fishery Master, this Disciple has a matter to report," Lin Tian said, cupping his fists in a salute. "I have recently broken through to the Fifth-Grade Transformation Realm and would like to apply to you for promotion to the position of Elder."

The Sect Gazette in Field Master Zhou's hand froze in mid-air as he looked up to size Lin Tian up.

He remembered clearly that when this kid was competing for the captaincy on the arena stage half a year ago, he was only at the fourth-grade Late Stage. To break through from the fourth-grade Late Stage to the Fifth-Grade Transformation Realm in just half a year?

Having stayed at Yunhai Fishery for decades, he had seen countless Genius Disciples. The hurdle from the fourth-grade Late Stage to the fifth grade usually took ordinary people three to five years, and even those with good talent would need one or two years. Half a year—

few in the entire Seven Peaks of the Qixia Sect could match this speed. He put down the Sect Gazette, his tone carrying a hint of obvious doubt: "You broke through to the fifth grade? In half a year?"

Lin Tian said nothing more, simply extending his right index finger. The brand-new Transformed Force in his Dantian surged along his Meridians to his fingertip, where a faint azure glow silently lit up.

Immediately following that, his entire body's aura was no longer restrained—the unique charm of the Transcendent realm spread out. It was not the simple Dark Force fluctuations of the Dark Realm, but a harmonious and solid pressure born from the fusion of light and dark.

Field Master Zhou's face changed. He stood up, walked over to Lin Tian, placed his finger on Lin Tian's wrist pulse, and sent a trace of Internal Energy inside.

After a few breaths, he withdrew his finger, the doubt on his face replaced by an undisguised shock. The Qi Sea inside the other's body had more than doubled compared to when he was at the fourth grade, and the Internal Energy flowing through his Meridians was no longer pure Dark Force, but Transformed Force after the blending of light and dark.

This kid had really broken through—half a year, Fifth-Grade Transformation Realm. This kind of cultivation speed was probably something even the Sect Master back in the day could not surpass.

"Good, good," Field Master Zhou said "good" twice in succession before returning to sit on the futon. "Lin Tian, you Cultivate so quickly, do you have some unique method?"

Lin Tian had already prepared his explanation. The relationship between him and Peak Master Su Hanyan was very subtle—to outsiders, Peak Master Su Hanyan had gone from treating him like dirt to cultivating him with focus, and this transition had happened too quickly and too completely.

But it was precisely this incomprehensible contrast that made the perfect shield. "This Disciple dare not take the credit; it is truly all thanks to Peak Master Su. If not for Peak Master Su's guidance and cultivation along the way, it would have been absolutely impossible for this Disciple to break through to the Transcendent realm within half a year."

Field Master Zhou nodded in sudden realization. Peak Master Su Hanyan, the Peak Master of Zixia Peak, an expert above the fifth grade, and the youngest Peak Master in the entire Qixia Sect.

He remembered that it was Peak Master Su Hanyan who had personally written the recommendation letter to stuff Lin Tian into Yunhai Fishery, and later she had specially written another recommendation letter for Lin Tian to become captain.

If Peak Master Su Hanyan really poured all her resources into supporting this Disciple, supplying Medicinal Pills, Cultivation Techniques, Spirit Medicines, and Treasure Fish without limit, combined with her personal guidance, breaking through from the fourth-grade Late Stage to the fifth grade in half a year, though still incredibly fast, at least made sense. These two shared a deep relationship.

Thinking of this, Field Master Zhou's gaze toward Lin Tian grew even warmer. A young man with a Peak Master fully backing him, whose talent was also so astonishing,

had a limitless future. He laughed and patted his knees: "No problem, your cultivation is enough for promotion to Elder. However, the position of Elder is different from that of a captain; it requires approval from the Sect. I will immediately draft the documents to report to the Sect. You go back first and wait for the news."

Lin Tian cupped his fists and took his leave. As he walked out of the bamboo building, a layer of shattered gold from the setting sun was spread across the lake's surface, and in the distance, a Treasure Fish leaped out of the water, kicking up a spray before falling back in.

Returning to his bamboo hut at No. 7 Fish Pond, he shut the door tightly and spread out a sheet of letter paper under the oil lamp. Dipping his brush in ink, he wrote a letter to Peak Master Su Hanyan by the flickering lamplight: Cultivation has broken through to the Fifth-Grade Transformation Realm, currently applying to the fishery for promotion to the position of Elder. He wrote very briefly, without pleas or pleasantries, simply stating a fact and the process currently undergoing.

He sealed the letter and tied it to the leg of a carrier pigeon used by the fishery to send gazettes to the Qixia Sect. The grey-feathered carrier pigeon fluttered up into the night sky, flapping its wings as it flew toward the Qixia Sect.

At the same time, Field Master Zhou's document was also delivered posthaste to the Qixia Sect's Council of Elders. Lin Tian blew out the oil lamp, sat cross-legged on the futon, closed his eyes, and began his cultivation for the night. Everything that needed to be done was done; now he just had to wait for the news.

With Field Master Zhou's document, Peak Master Su Hanyan's influence, and his own solid fifth-grade cultivation, there should be no issues with the Elder position.