"EEK!"

The Fathead Fish Demon, having reverted to its ancestral form as the River-swallowing Fish, quickly closed in on Jia Ren's location after disposing of its opponent.

Its voice was full of joy and gratitude.

The joy stemmed from the successful reversion to its ancestral form, resulting in even greater strength. The gratitude was for the human's life-saving grace.

Jia Ren remained high in the sky, not descending on his sword, still maintaining a safe distance.

It's a Magical Beast, far more powerful than I am, so it's wise to be cautious.

The sight of the Second-Order Fish Demon dying miserably was still fresh in his mind; he did not want to risk his life by placing it in the hands of this Fish Demon.

It was true that he had saved this Fish Demon's life, but...

Humans can be harsh, ungrateful, and quick to forget favors. What about Magical Beasts? The ancient tales of the farmer and the viper, or the man and the ungrateful wolf, all serve as warnings. This Fish Demon isn't trustworthy yet.

"Congratulations... Daoist Eek, on advancing further. This is truly a joyous and congratulatory occasion."

For a Second-Order Monster to ascend to the Third Rank was no easy feat, equivalent to a Foundation Establishment cultivator condensing a Golden Core. To ascend from the Qi Refinement Realm to the Foundation Establishment Stage is a great chasm that has blocked countless cultivators. The difficulty of advancing from the Foundation Establishment Stage to the Golden Core Stage is even greater.

The Fathead Fish Demon's ancestral reversion had unlocked its potential, and its strength had significantly improved, reaching Foundation Establishment Completion. However, this was still not enough to advance to the Golden Core Stage.

"EEK! EEK!"

Thank you, Daoist friend, for your assistance.

The fish's eyes conveyed an almost human-like gratitude, and it occasionally uttered an "eek" sound. Had Jia Ren not learned the Heart Language Technique, understanding its meaning would have been quite difficult.

"I will be residing nearby in the coming days. Neighbors should help each other. If you encounter any trouble, Daoist Eek, please don't hesitate to lend a hand."

This was his original intention. Having a powerful monster at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage nearby would significantly increase safety in the area.

Certainly.

Daoist friend, would you take me in as your Spirit Beast?

Jia Ren was stunned, doubting his own ears.

He had considered this before, planning to understand the Fathead Fish Demon's temperament and nature before making a decision. It's easier to recruit when relations are good. With a solid foundation, there would be no risk of the Fish Demon turning hostile.

Yet… the Fathead Fish Demon had proactively suggested it.

This was indeed beyond Jia Ren's expectations.

It wouldn't be for... the bait, would it?

"If Daoist Eek wishes to follow me, I would, of course, be delighted."

There was no reason to refuse a Second-Order High-Grade Monster that offered itself willingly.

Jia Ren's gaze swept over its massive body, and his eyelids couldn't help but twitch.

Though subduing this monster is good, the only concern is whether I can afford to keep it. Its terrifying length of fifteen zhang means it consumes a staggering amount of food daily. How much Spirit Attracting Bait would I need to feed it every day?

Fortunately, the Surging River was abundant in food, so keeping it fed was not a worry.

But... how do I carry such a colossal beast with me?

"EEK!"

Let's make the contract quickly!

It seemed even more eager than Jia Ren.

"Only if I stay alive will there be more bait."

He reminded it, just to be cautious.

A Spirit Shield materialized around him as he slowly descended on his sword, landing on its exposed head. The fish's skin was wet and slippery, making it easy to fall. However, he stood firmly, Spiritual Power adhering his feet to the surface.

Jia Ren sensed that the Fathead Fish Demon had shown no malice from start to finish, and only then did he feel a sense of relief.

His palm rested on its dark head. Threads of Spiritual Power traced the Spirit Patterns of the contract, steadily seeping into the Fathead Fish Demon's head and flowing into its Sea of Consciousness.

It showed no sign of resistance, and the contract was easily established.

Jia Ren clearly felt a new connection in his Sea of Consciousness, bonding them closely. With a mere thought, information could be instantly transmitted to the Fathead Fish Demon.

"Haha, excellent!"

A Second-Order High-Grade Fish Demon, comparable to a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage.

He had easily obtained a powerful Monster Pet, significantly boosting his combat power. He was now a force that few in the Foundation Establishment Stage could match. Many Sect Masters from various sects possessed similar strength.

While the Yuding Sect's Golden Core cultivator was still alive, I wouldn't have dared to provoke them. Now that the Yuding Sect's Golden Core cultivator has died, their strongest remaining member is only at Foundation Establishment Completion. With the backing of the Surging River and the assistance of my powerful Monster Pet, I should be safe as long as I don't encounter a Golden Core Cultivator. In future dangers, I can also let it rush to the front as a punching bag.

While Jia Ren was in high spirits, the Fathead Fish Demon's voice resounded in his mind, "Master, hungry."

Hungry? Didn't you just swallow a large amount of river water and a belly full of fish? How can you be hungry already?! Being hungry is a ruse; it just wants to eat Spirit Attracting Bait.

Jia Ren didn't mind much and casually tossed over a hundred Spirit Attracting Baits to it.

After gobbling down the hundred Spirit Attracting Baits, its eyes curved into crescents, thoroughly enjoying itself.

I can peacefully be a well-fed fish again... The feeling of being fed is truly wonderful.

Some were happy, some were worried.

Jia Ren looked at the gigantic Fathead Fish Demon; carrying it was the biggest issue. This Spirit Fish was too large; no known method could manage it. Even temporarily putting it into a Spirit Beast Bag was out of the question, as the Spirit Beast Bag was too small to contain it.

How did Cang Hai True Man carry this Fish Demon? Perhaps there's a solution?

With this thought, Jia Ren communicated with the Fathead Fish Demon, inquiring about the situation.

Follow me.

Jia Ren stood on the fish's back, firmly adhering to it to ensure he wouldn't be thrown off.

The next moment, the Fathead Fish Demon sank into the river and swiftly swam into the distance. The deeper it went, the deeper and murkier the water became.

It didn't take long before it reached the riverbed, bringing Jia Ren with it.

A simple Water Mansion was situated on the riverbed, its glazed tiles overgrown with green algae and inhabited by numerous shellfish. It was unknown how long it had stood there; its formations had long been damaged and were no longer functional.

Cang Hai True Man's Water Mansion? An underwater Water Mansion, truly excellent. This place could serve as a cultivation spot, a stable location to practice in peace. Compared to the town, it's even more hidden and safe.

"What a good place!"

Jia Ren's eyes sparkled as he surveyed the Water Mansion.

He activated a Cleaning Talisman and threw it from a distance. The green algae and parasites clinging to the Water Mansion were cleared away. The long-neglected Water Mansion finally revealed its original appearance, its glazed tiles stunningly beautiful.

It was unclear how many years the Water Mansion had stood there. Coupled with the erosion from the river water, its interior was shabby and in poor condition. There was little of use within.

Jia Ren's gaze fell upon some unrecognizable scraps of cloth that bore some resemblance to a Spirit Beast Bag, marked with unknown patterns.

Cang Hai called it the River Mountain Bag. It was always my sanctuary until one day it was damaged during a battle. Having lost my dwelling, he brought me to the river, and I've lived here ever since.

"The River Mountain Bag?"

What a pity, it's actually damaged...

Jia Ren looked at the River Mountain Bag with regret and irritation. He had seen this item described in the Compendium of Strange Objects. Before the invention of Storage Bags and Spirit Beast Bags, ancient cultivators used the River Mountain Bag to store items. This artifact also varied in quality; a low-rank River Mountain Bag was superior to a Hundred Directions Storage Bag and could accommodate fish, insects, birds, and beasts, creating small, self-contained spaces within. The highest quality River Mountain Bag, called an Ancient Treasure, could reportedly hold mountains and rivers. The River Mountain Bag could contain living creatures, so storing a Fish Demon would not have been difficult.

By now, the crafting techniques for numerous ancient artifacts, including the River Mountain Bag, had long been lost.

What a shame! Such an ancient marvel is gone...

Jia Ren collected the fragments of the River Mountain Bag, attempting to piece them back together. It was rare to encounter such an artifact. Its nature resonated with his intention to create his own Cave Heaven. Using this artifact as a reference, whether to recreate a River Mountain Bag or to forge his own unique Cave Heaven treasure, both were good options.

Despite his attempts, the River Mountain Bag fragments could not be pieced together completely. Jia Ren discovered that a large portion was missing. Even after searching the entire Water Mansion, it couldn't be found.

It was unclear whether it had been washed away to an unknown place by the current or if it was inherently incomplete.

Jia Ren examined the fragments of the River Mountain Bag, carefully studying the patterns, when suddenly, his eyes lit up.

This Inscription is similar to the Ancient Inscriptions I obtained? But it's much simpler. Could it be a simplified version derived from those Ancient Inscriptions?

Jia Ren had possessed the Ancient Inscriptions for some time and had managed to simplify them into four workable versions, so he was quite familiar with them. Looking at the River Mountain Bag again, he sensed that its Inscriptions were also imitations, but the degree of imitation was even higher than his own attempts. The River Mountain Bag represented a mature technology from ancient times, far beyond what Jia Ren could replicate with just a few days of simplification.

"Haha, fortune truly favors me!"

I'll study it more in the future.

Recreating the River Mountain Bag or crafting his own personal treasure was not something that could be achieved quickly. The priority now was to set up a Formation in the River Palace to claim it as his own.

Jia Ren didn't have many materials for setting up formations, but he was most familiar with the Spirit Gathering Array. This array gathered Spiritual Power, achieving a concentration far surpassing that of the small town, even exceeding Jade Cauldron Market.

Indeed, it's an excellent place for cultivation.

There was no immediate need to reside in the town. He decided it was better to relocate to the Water Mansion; necessary living supplies could be purchased in town later if needed.

Jia Ren first returned to the town, to the courtyard he rented.

Zhang Peng Peng was still cultivating. Having learned the value of strength through numerous hardships and trials, she was making the most of her time for rigorous practice.

If even a Junior Brother at the Foundation Establishment Stage is cultivating so diligently, how can I slack off? I don't want to be an old, faded woman a hundred years from now, turning to dust in my grave.

"We're moving to a different place to practice."

"We have to flee again?"

Perhaps Jade Cauldron Market and the Yuding Sect had drawn the attention of the Heart-devouring Illusion Bizarre, as the danger hasn't reached this place yet. Leaving Jade Cauldron Market was understandable, but now...

"We're going someplace safer."

Jia Ren collected the formations from the courtyard, also taking the Spirit Fish from the pond with him. After confirming nothing was left behind, he led Zhang Peng Peng on his flying sword, diving into the depths of the Surging River.

"There's a big monster!"

"Hurry, flee!"

Zhang Peng Peng, looking at the enormous head emerging from the river and feeling the terrifying aura it exuded, nearly fainted. The strongest cultivator she had ever seen was a Foundation Establishment Mid-Stage cultivator from Jade Cauldron Market. Their aura and Spiritual Pressure were not even remotely comparable to the Fish Demon before her.

My Junior Brother just broke through to the Foundation Establishment Stage; he's definitely not a match for this demon. We have to flee, as far and as fast as possible! No wonder my Junior Brother wanted to leave the town; it was unthinkable that such a powerful beast was lurking in the river. It's indeed too dangerous.

"It's fine. This is a Spirit Beast I've just subdued."

Zhang Peng Peng was utterly bewildered. She was astonished to see the Fish Demon in the river not attacking, but instead cozily approaching them.

A subdued Spirit Beast? My Junior Brother hasn't been at the Surging River for long, has he? How did he subdue such a powerful Spirit Beast so soon? Generally, the Magical Beasts subdued by cultivators are far weaker than themselves. What in the world is this Fish Demon that's stronger than my Junior Brother? What exactly happened? This world, which was once familiar, now seems so foreign.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.