Chapter 77: Chapter 77: Who Says the Fish Race Has No Foundation Establishment?

Translator: 549690339

“Outrageous! This is simply outrageous!”

Below a cliffside waterfall, the Aquatic Tribe’s Foundation Establishment cultivator Ruolin, holding a small fish in his hands, burst into an indignant rage after perusing the memories of the fish.

“How dare the Human Race openly violate the peace treaty! Using bewitching spells, to come, deceive! To attack by stealth! Our younglings of the Aquatic Tribe! The burgeoning life force of our future!”

“Aquatic Tribe” broadly refers to all demon races that live in the water. However, it generally represents only those living in freshwater. Sea monsters, due to their vast numbers, are separately categorized as the “Sea Tribe.”

Ruolin first tossed the little fish back into the water, fuming, “If this fish hadn’t been too small to grab the hook, I fear it wouldn’t have made it back…”

“Damn it!”

With a casual flick of his hand, Ruolin unleashed a powerful spell that instantly sliced away a large swath of the ancient trees surrounding the waterfall!

“Although the Freshwater Fish Tribe has been weak in recent years, it doesn’t mean you can bully us like this! It was one thing when you preyed on the foolish little fish, but now you’re using bewitching spells to target the smart and brave fish for your consumption! If this continues, who among us will be able to awaken their intelligence and transform into monsters!? What a heinous plan to cut off our lineage!”

The more Ruolin thought, the angrier he got.

If humans were fishing normally, he wouldn’t concern himself with it.

There are numerous fish in the world, and of these vast numbers, only one in ten thousand might awaken intelligence and transform into monsters.

These fish are extremely brave and intelligent and would never normally be caught by humans.

So even if human fishing increased, it actually wouldn’t affect the existence of the Freshwater Fish Tribe at its core.

Moreover, in recent years, the Human Race had voluntarily imposed fishing bans to help the Aquatic Tribe recover and regain their strength, marking the best period of relations between the two races.

But now, Ruolin understood.

The fishing ban was nothing but a cunning ruse by the deceitful Human Race!

Their goal was to use this sinister bewitching method to ensnare all the young with the potential to awaken intelligence and transform, in one fell swoop!

To eradicate the future of the Freshwater Fish Tribe at its roots!

Fine, fine, fine, so this is how you want to play? Don’t blame me, Ruolin, for being unprincipled if you are unkind!

I want to see just how many strange talismans you have up your sleeve!

Ruolin dived into the water, transforming into a black carp with a flash, darting away at incredible speed.

After the Five Great Immortal Sects took control of the world, to maintain enduring peace between the Human Race and the various demon races, territories were divided based on actual distribution for both humans and demon races.

For instance, Liu Qing’s hometown, Mount Tian.

Officially, it’s the “Mount Tian Demon Race Nature Reserve.”

It is currently the largest settlement area for land demon races as well as the strongest and most well-preserved in terms of power.

The ocean demon races collectively referred to as the Sea Tribe reside in various marine areas and the deep sea. Since the Human Race has limited exposure to the seas, the Sea Tribe and humans have remained uninvolved with one another.

Compared to the ocean demon races, however, the Freshwater Fish Tribe has suffered much more.

The area of freshwater is inherently incomparable to that of the ocean, and the waters are shallower, leading to unavoidable conflicts with the Human Race without any depth to buffer them. Therefore, the Freshwater Fish Tribe has always had it rough, significantly weaker in strength than their oceanic distant relatives.

Of course, this is a general statement. Individually speaking, there are powerful entities in the Freshwater Fish Tribe.

Apart from the protected demon races within the “reserves,” there are also quite a few demon races with status legally residing in the human territories.

The most famous among them are the guardian beasts of some sects or the dragon fish bred by royal palaces.

These demon races have lived alongside humans for a long time, eventually turning legitimate, not only enjoying human rights but, upon reaching the Nascent Soul Stage and attaining full transformation, even legally marrying into the Human Race.

Compared to these legitimate demon races with status, Liu Qing, the Snake Demoness who sneaked out of the reserve, is unquestionably an undocumented resident among humans.

And even though Jiang Cheng wouldn’t like to admit it, he truly employs an illegal worker.

It just so happens that the treatment his illegal worker receives would make the vast majority of people quite envious.

Bai Wendao walked hands behind his back along the banks of Wu River.

It’s not that he didn’t want to fish, but because he usually paid little attention to fishing circles, by the time he heard about the existence of “Fishing Talismans,” they had already sold out in Wuyue City.

According to Bai Xiaohe, there were at least two to three hundred cultivators waiting in line for a talisman ahead of him.

Bai Xiaohe even covertly suggested to Bai Wendao that he should go to Jiang Cheng directly and buy a Fishing Talisman in private.

However, Bai Wendao rejected this suggestion.

Bai Wendao knew Jiang Cheng well; with their close personal relationship, if he went to Jiang Cheng for a talisman, he likely wouldn’t even have to pay.

The problem also lay there.

Bai Wendao did not want to casually owe someone a favor over a Fishing Talisman that he could simply wait for.

It’s said that the production of Fishing Talismans is on the rise, and with just a few more days of waiting, one could get their hands on them. As a Foundation Establishment Cultivator who has lived well over a century, he truly didn’t mind waiting these extra few days.

That being said…

Seeing countless fellow anglers passionately fishing with all sorts of techniques, Bai Wendao was quite envious.

In the midst of a peaceful fishing atmosphere, a fisherman suddenly cried out, “Hey! Where’s my Fishing Talisman?!”

“Mine’s gone too!!!”

“Ah? Mine as well!”

Following several screams, at the Wu River bank, the Fishing Talismans of five or six anglers suddenly disappeared.

This incident frightened everyone too much to continue fishing.

The talisman, worth several thousand Spirit Stones, was more precious than life itself and could not be taken lightly.

As the only Foundation Establishment Cultivator present, Bai Wendao keenly sensed something amiss.

Typically, loss or theft falls under the jurisdiction of the constables of the Six Fan Gate and is none of Bai Wendao’s business.

However, trouble caused by monsters would be a different matter.

Bai Wendao stomped one foot on the ground, immediately taking to the air, hovering above the Wu River as the anglers watched on.

He focused his energy into his lower abdomen and called out over the waters below, “Which friend from the Demon Race took the liberty of visiting Wuyue today? Would you care to show yourself for a chat with Bai?”

Seeing no movement in the water, Bai Wendao scoffed, and with a flick of his sleeve, an invisible sword energy slashed towards the water!

Upon impact with the water surface, the waves erupted to a height comparable to seven or eight floors.

Amid the multitude of splashing droplets, a black carp struggled and flipped, transforming into a human shape!

However, the human form of the black carp was still seriously flawed due to insufficient cultivation levels.

Ruolin revealed himself, and being a Foundation Establishment Cultivator as well, he could also float in mid-air.

Yet, faced with Bai Wendao, who possessed Great Perfection in Foundation Establishment, Ruolin, at a mid-stage level, seemed somewhat less imposing.

“You humans employ trickery to undermine the foundation of our race and still have the audacity to stand there and speak so righteously?”

Bai Wendao furrowed his brow, “Friend, what makes you say that?”

“Do these talismans belong to your Human Race?”

“They do, what of it?”

“These talismans ensnare my race’s excellent descendants in one fell swoop, how is that not targeting my race?”

Bai Wendao wondered, “If the descendants of your race are truly excellent, then how could they be ensnared so easily? Isn’t that the mark of the inept?”

Ruolin felt his blood boil with anger and retorted, “That’s simply preposterous!”

“Friend, don’t speak deceitfully. You’ve damaged the property of the Human Race, yet I haven’t even sought recompense from you.”

“Oh? You abduct our race’s descendants and still expect me to compensate you?”

“The Human Race’s fishing is a natural principle of survival of the fittest. Even within the Fish Tribe itself, there’s the matter of bigger fish eating smaller ones. If you disagree, friend, you may confront Bai and test your strength against mine. If you defeat me, I shall confine myself within the city walls, never again setting foot by the river. If you cannot do so, please respect the natural order.”

Ruolin held his breath for a moment, but he dared not make a move.

Because, indeed, he could not win.

He was a fish demon, not a fool.

“Don’t underestimate our clan, human. One day, Ruolin will surely return to seek your wise counsel!”

After Ruolin’s escape, the people praised Bai Wendao’s righteous actions while pondering the meaning behind Ruolin’s words.

“Do you think, when that fish demon spoke of ‘excellent descendants,’ it meant that the Fishing Talisman catches fish of good quality?”

“Indeed, I ate one yesterday, and it seemed much more delicious than the usual fare.”

“My cultivation improved a lot last night.”

“Damn, it even invigorates your vitality!”

“It’s very possible.”

“No need for maybes, the other day I had a sudden breakthrough and my power increased enormously. Those who understand, know what I mean.”

“I need to catch more. As long as I can keep my partner satisfied at home, what fish can’t I freely catch?”

“Me too.”

“Buddy, are you selling the fish you catch? How much for one? I don’t want it for vitality, just want to taste how much more delicious the fish meat can be. Really, it’s not for vitality, it’s just that I’ve always liked eating fish since I was a kid.”