Chapter 80: Fish

Words : 1058 Updated : Sep 17th, 2025

Chapter 80: Fish The Next Morning – Training Grounds, Lower Mountain Region The warm sun filtered through the tall canopy trees as the disciples gathered near a misty clearing by the foot of the mountain. It was a monster-fighting session today. Dozens of beasts—scaled, furred, or clawed—had been released into the forest under the careful control of the elders. The goal was simple: defeat or subdue as many as possible. "Stay sharp!" Mu Qianxue called out lazily from her spot under a parasol, sipping tea with sunglasses on. "Points are awarded based on grace, efficiency, and style~" Hei Long, calm as ever, ducked under the swipe of a twin-tailed jade tiger before lightly tapping its pressure points. The beast collapsed with a thud, dazed but unharmed. Bai Luoluo fired her modified spirit cannon at a rock-armored boar, sending it tumbling back with a clean shot. "Too easy," she muttered, brushing some dirt off her shoulder. Ji Yao was methodical, her icy aura freezing an enraged flame lizard in place before knocking it unconscious with a tap of her palm. Meanwhile— "DIIIIEEEEEEE!" Lin Fan came leaping off a rock, swinging his sword dramatically at a stunned rabbit. Thunk. His foot caught a tree root mid-air, sending him flailing head-first into a bush. His chicken beast companion clucked once... and walked away. Lin Fan burst from the foliage, leaves in his hair and scratches on his face. "I’m fine! Just testing the terrain!" No one looked in his direction. ’Boy, I cannot stress enough how utterly humiliating this is,’ the old man inside him muttered. Lin Fan growled and took off into the forest to prove himself. "I’ll kill a high-tier beast and show them all!" He kept charging ahead, past trees and brooks, ignoring signs, eventually running so far he didn’t notice the gentle slope beneath his feet... until— SPLASH! "AAAHHHHHH!" He was swept up in a river, thrashing around like a man who couldn’t swim (he couldn’t). His chicken was nowhere to be seen. "HELP! MY TALENT DOESN’T INCLUDE AQUATIC COMBAT!" The current grew faster. Before he could scream again, a shadow loomed beneath him in the water. His eyes widened. "Oh no—NO—!" GULP. The river settled. A few bubbles popped. Inside the Giant Fish’s Stomach "...Am I dead?" Lin Fan floated in a strange, air-filled cavern lined with glowing crystals and pulsing walls. He blinked, gasping. "Huh? I... I can breathe?" A faint scroll floated in front of him, encased in jade. He grabbed it and read it aloud: "Underwater Breathing Technique – Depth Serpent Style." ’What... kind of cliché BS is this?’ the old man muttered. Lin Fan grinned. "Who cares! I’ve finally got a hidden technique! Now, time to slice my way out!" Drawing his sword, he screamed like a lunatic and stabbed upward. Back at the Training Grounds Bai Luoluo wiped sweat from her brow. "Five monsters down." Hei Long nodded. "Seven." Ji Yao: "Six." Mu Qianxue raised her fan lazily. "Alright, wrap it up in ten—" BOOM!! A massive explosion of water erupted from the river below. A charred fish corpse flopped onto the shore, and out of its mouth came a soaked Lin Fan, covered in slime, holding a glowing scroll over his head. He landed dramatically. "I HAVE RETURNED!" Everyone turned to him. "...Where were you?" Bai Luoluo asked, completely unbothered. "Wait, you were gone?" Hei Long blinked. Even the Saintess, sipping spirit juice, tilted her head. "Oh." Lin Fan’s eye twitched. "W-What do you mean ’oh’!?" Mu Qianxue leaned forward under her parasol. "You missed most of the training. You’ll have to run ten laps." "I killed a giant fish and got a secret technique!" he yelled. "Cool," Bai Luoluo said dryly. "Run your laps, Fish Slayer." Lin Fan deflated. Even his chicken pecked at his boot in disapproval. ’Welcome to your life, boy,’ the old man sighed. ’Welcome to your life.’ . . . Lin Fan’s footsteps echoed through the training grounds as he struggled through his second lap, wheezing like an old bellows with each breath. Sweat streamed down his face, his robes clinging to his skin. His chicken beast clucked beside him, flapping its stubby wings, but even it seemed to pity him now. From the shade of a tree, Hei Long stood with arms crossed, a cold cup of tea in his hand. He watched Lin Fan trip over a stone, face-plant into the dirt, and still get up like some stubborn protagonist out of a third-rate novel. He let out a scoff. "Depth Serpent Style... What a useless technique this early in the story." Bai Luoluo stood beside him, arms folded. "What’d you say?" Hei Long waved his hand lazily. "Nothing. Just thinking out loud." In truth, Hei Long had sensed the scroll’s aura the moment Lin Fan washed back ashore. Even knew what it was. It was a niche underwater breathing and movement technique. Highly situational. Pointlessly advanced for someone at Lin Fan’s barely-awakened realm. Its use wouldn’t come for thousands of Chapters. During some underwater divine ruin arc or whatever. Hei Long could practically see the foreshadowing being hammered into the world like an anvil to the face. He took a sip of tea. ’But I plan on killing him long before that.’ The thought passed through his mind like a breeze—calm, assured. There was no malice in his eyes. No grimace. Just quiet calculation. He glanced to his side and saw Mu Qianxue lazily swaying her fan, clearly admiring his calm demeanor. The Saintess leaned against a nearby tree with a subtle smile, and Bai Luoluo stood nearby pretending not to glance his way every three seconds. He had everything—respect, affection, and growing power. And Lin Fan? Lin Fan tripped again, sliding headfirst into the training field’s edge, knocking his chicken over in the process. Mu Qianxue sipped from her gourd. "That’s lap three. Only seven more, fish boy." "I hate this sect..." Lin Fan groaned into the dirt. Hei Long turned away, walking toward the main path. "If he survives the next few arcs, I’ll be impressed." He paused. "...Though I might have to let him live just a bit longer." "A clown like him does add some entertainment value." With a slight chuckle, Hei Long disappeared down the path, the sunlight filtering through the trees behind him.

Chapter 80: Fish

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