2: Devour, Evolution

Deep within the icy cave, the last shred of the Spiritual Carp's flesh was completely devoured.

The warm current did not immediately subside; instead, it surged and crashed within Gao De's body like boiling water. The muscles beneath his scales twitched slightly, and his bones emitted extremely faint “crackling” sounds. The two golden lines clinging to his body also seemed to brighten by an imperceptible amount.

[Devoured: Spiritual Carp (Unranked).]

[Gained Bloodline Energy: +0.3%]

[Current Dragon Fish Bloodline: 2.3%]

[Skill “Water Arrow Technique” proficiency increased.]

[Talent “Breath Concealment (Green)” effect slightly enhanced.]

The information stream provided cold and accurate feedback on his gains.

But Gao De’s current feelings were far beyond what these few lines of data could summarize.

In addition to the increase in strength, an extremely faint but incredibly clear sense of “靈動” (Spiritual Agility) began to sprout in his perception. The surrounding water was no longer just water; it seemed to have come alive, transmitting more distant, more detailed information—the jump of a water flea fifty feet away, the wriggling of some worm deep in the mud, and even… he could vaguely sense the almost negligible vitality emanating from the roots of the weeping willow above the water’s surface.

Is this the雏形 (Rudiment) of Spiritual Sense?

True Spiritual Sense can only be born by a Great Demon of the Second Rank.

However, along with this faint “Spiritual Perception,” an even sharper, more unbearable hunger grew.

Devouring the Spiritual Carp was like throwing a spark into a pile of dry kindling. The Dragon Fish Bloodline was completely activated by this burst of “spiritual essence,” letting out an even more violent roar: more is needed! Purer energy!

Ordinary Crucian Carp and small shrimp now felt like chewing wax in his perception, no longer bringing any satisfaction. His gaze involuntarily turned outside the cave, towards the seemingly calm but actually turbulent pond.

There, there were other “Spiritual Opportunities.”

The black fish of the same species he had targeted, now in his eyes, was no longer just an intruder or an energy packet, but a moving “supplement” emitting an alluring aura. The fact that it could grow to such a size in this pond with relatively rich (though very slight) Spiritual Qi meant it must have accumulated some Spiritual Charm within its body.

Must eat it!

Gao De forcefully suppressed the urge to rush out immediately. His human rationality was frantically warning him: the two Cultivators just now, especially the one named Wang Jue, had perception abilities far beyond imagination. Had the subtle Spiritual Qi fluctuations and bloody smell caused by his recent devouring of the Spiritual Carp been detected? Were they perhaps hiding in the dark, observing all abnormalities in the pond?

“Water Purification”... this term hung over his head like the Sword of Damocles.

He couldn't get away with luck and the other party's oversight like before. He needed to be more cautious, more concealed.

[Breath Concealment (Green)].

This talent was his only reliance at the moment.

Gao De concentrated, trying to actively guide and control this talent. He was no longer just passively hiding in the shadows but attempted to converge and compress his own aura, blood flow, and even that nascent faint Spiritual Perception as much as possible, merging them with the surrounding water currents, mud, and the breathing of aquatic plants.

The process was difficult. Fish brains are simple; when focused on one thing, it's easy to overlook others. He had to divide his attention, maintaining his posture with one part and fully operating “Breath Concealment” with the other.

Gradually, the blackness of his body seemed to deepen, and even the two golden lines completely disappeared. He lay prone in the shadows of the cave entrance, like a moss-covered rock, without the slightest hint of life escaping.

He waited patiently.

Time passed little by little; the sun set, the moon rose, and the pond was enveloped in hazy moonlight.

The target black fish finally swayed leisurely into the waters near Gao De's cave. It seemed to be searching for something, vigilantly scanning its surroundings.

Now!

Gao De did not pounce, nor did he use the more conspicuous Water Arrow Technique.

He merely opened his mouth slightly.

An extremely condensed water arrow, almost completely merged with the dim surrounding water currents, shot out silently. This water arrow was thinner than before, but faster and more penetrating!

“Puff!”

A faint muffled sound.

The water arrow accurately hit below the target black fish's lateral gill, directly piercing a small hole.

The black fish's body stiffened abruptly. The intense pain made it want to struggle wildly, but the wound in its gill quickly sapped its strength, leaving it to twist weakly and sink to the bottom.

Gao De moved.

His movements were no longer the swift and wild ones he used when preying on Crucian Carp before, but rather ghostly, slippery, and rapid. His black figure cut an almost invisible trajectory through the water, instantly arriving beside the sinking black fish.

His jaws opened, without hesitation, and accurately bit the opponent's head.

“Crunch...”

The faint sound of bones breaking was swallowed by the water.

Devouring began.

The warm current surged again; although far less intense than that from the Spiritual Carp, it was still several times purer than that from ordinary fish.

[Devoured: Mutated Black Fish (Mortal Grade Low Grade).]

[Gained Bloodline Energy: +0.15%]

[Current Dragon Fish Bloodline: 2.45%]

[Talent “Hard Scales (White)” effect slightly enhanced.]

Effective!

Gao De was invigorated. Hunting these pond creatures containing Spiritual Charm was his only way to quickly increase his strength currently!

However, just as he was digesting this gain and preparing to return to the cave to continue lurking—

A sudden change occurred!

An extremely subtle yet distinctly malicious fluctuation came from a dense patch of aquatic plants not far away.

Gao De instantly became alert, his body instinctively re-entering the “Breath Concealment” state, shrinking back into the cave's shadow, leaving only a pair of cold fish eyes to peer out.

The aquatic plants swayed slightly, and a figure slowly swam out.

It was a... Crucian Carp?

But it was definitely not an ordinary Crucian Carp. Its body was a full size larger than a regular Crucian Carp, and its scales displayed an unhealthy dark red, as if steeped in blood. Most striking were its eyes—muddy and filled with brutality and greed, fixed intently on the spot where Gao De had just finished devouring, where some bloody smell still lingered.

The aura emanating from this Crucian Carp made Gao De feel a hint of threat.

It wasn't the pressure of a Cultivator, but another kind of... chaotic, primitive, yet with a hint of a “spiritual essence” like fluctuation.

It was Demonic Qi!

Although extremely faint and far less pure than that of the Spiritual Carp, it was indeed Demonic Qi!

This Crucian Carp had also embarked on the path to evolution, and from the looks of it, it was a bloodier, more chaotic path!

The Dark Red Crucian Carp circled a few times in place, greedily sucking in the residual blood in the water. Then, its muddy, brutal eyes suddenly turned towards the direction of Gao De’s hidden cave.

It seemed... to have detected something.

Gao De’s heart sank.

This pond was far more complex and dangerous than he had imagined.

Not only were there regular cleanings by Cultivators from the shore, but beneath the water's surface, competitors were already emerging, preying on each other and vying for evolutionary resources!

His path to dragon transformation, before even leaving this small pond, was already surrounded by powerful enemies.

Gao De stared at the malicious Dark Red Crucian Carp, and cold killing intent condensed in his heart.

This pond can only have one king.

And all competitors will be... his sustenance on the path to evolution!