Chapter 94: Cold Star Shell

On Jade Stream Isle, where the brook wound like a jade sash around the mountain, Jiang Chen’s figure descended on a breath of cool wind.

“Greetings, Sect Master.”

As soon as they saw him land, the Peace Sect disciples stationed there hurried forward to bow, their eyes filled with reverence.

After the Fish Spirit Gate had been wiped out, the Peace Sect had sent men to guard the place.

“Take me to see those shell breeds.”

Jiang Chen glanced at the leading disciple and gave the order.

At once, that disciple answered and bowed deeply.

Before long, under his guidance, Jiang Chen arrived at the upper reaches of Jade Stream, where the Fish Spirit Gate had dug out a clear pool especially for raising these spirit shells.

“So these are the Cold Star Shells the Gao family gave them?”

His gaze settled on the clear pool. Looking at the spirit shells within, Jiang Chen’s eyes flickered.

Their bodies were as dark as black jade, with yellow specks of varying density scattered across them like starlight. Reflected in the pool water, they had a certain pleasing charm, which was how they came to be called Cold Star Shells.

“Normally, the more star-specks a Cold Star Shell has, the better its quality. From the looks of it, most of the shells the Gao family gave the Fish Spirit Gate were only of average quality, though there are indeed a few good ones mixed in.”

As his perception spread out, Jiang Chen locked onto nine particularly unusual pairs of shells. The speckles on their shells were clearly far more numerous than those on the others.

“Cold Star Shells can produce a spiritual substance called Cold Marrow Fluid. It serves two main purposes: first, in refinement, where it helps cultivators temper magical tools; second, in body cultivation, where it strengthens the physical frame. Ordinary spirit shells can basically only produce low-grade Cold Marrow Fluid, whereas these better ones can yield first-rank fluid.”

“The Gao family is renowned for artifact refinement, and Cold Marrow Fluid is a spiritual substance they need in quantity. For them to have been willing to part with nine pairs of high-grade spirit shells for the Fish Spirit Gate was, in a way, a sign of how much they valued them.”

After carefully sensing the condition of the shells and confirming there was nothing amiss, all kinds of thoughts passed through Jiang Chen’s mind.

What he did not know was that although the Gao family had given the Fish Spirit Gate one hundred and eight pairs of shell breeds, they had all originally been ordinary stock, and there had only been fifty pairs to begin with. The extra number, including those nine pairs of high-grade shells, had all been secretly added by Gao Sixing himself.

According to the private agreement he had struck with the Fish Spirit Gate, he would provide the shell breeds, while the Fish Spirit Gate would handle their propagation and rearing. In the end, most of the profits would go to him, and all output was to be handed over to him for disposal, with none allowed to leak out.

As for the Fish Spirit Gate breaking its promise, he did not worry in the slightest. After all, he had the Gao family behind him, and the Fish Spirit Gate was in no position to offend them.

The reason he had valued the Fish Spirit Gate in the first place was largely because its cultivation methods gave it a certain advantage in this area. He had never imagined, however, that the Fish Spirit Gate would simply vanish like this.

“The Fish Spirit Gate left behind three hundred jin of spirit sand. That sounds like a lot, but in reality quite a portion of it has to be used to nurture the Cold Star Shells. After all, while the spiritual energy on Jade Stream Isle is somewhat better than elsewhere, it is still rather limited, and cannot even compare with Woodfish Isle.”

After carefully recalling the essentials for raising Cold Star Shells, Jiang Chen decided not to keep them on Jade Stream Isle any longer.

The Peace Sect had not even managed to properly develop Woodfish Isle yet, so it had no spare resources to sink into Jade Stream Isle. Moreover, Cold Star Shells preferred a cold environment, and Woodfish Isle could satisfy that need as well, even better than Jade Stream Isle.

In the river bend of Bewildering Soul Bay, although most of the waters were shallow and the currents mild, there were several crisscrossing channels like chains, and within them lurked a frigid power. It was the perfect place to raise Cold Star Shells.

Thinking thus, Jiang Chen took out a huge ice vat from his storage pouch. It had been given by the Gao family and was specially used for moving Cold Star Shells.

“Collect!”

Transforming true qi into threads, Jiang Chen swiftly drew all the shell breeds into the ice vat.

The Peace Sect’s foundations were still far too shallow. Aside from the demon hide he had refined with his own hands, there was nothing truly presentable in the sect. If these Cold Star Shells could be successfully cultivated, they would become a worthwhile source of income for the Peace Sect.

“Cultivation is hard. It is no easy thing to save up even a little family fortune.”

With a sigh, and after confirming that nothing had been overlooked, Jiang Chen drifted away.

Three days later, after some effort, Jiang Chen succeeded in acclimating the spirit shells to the environment of Bewildering Soul Bay, where they took root in the river channels.

“These spirit shells have no offensive power, and the exits of the channels where they are raised have already been sealed by Peace Sect disciples with iron netting. For the moment, there is no need to worry about them escaping.”

“Let them settle a while longer. Once I confirm there are no problems, I can use a specially made breeding powder to help them multiply.”

As his true qi flowed and his senses probed carefully, Jiang Chen saw that these Cold Star Shells were all as carefree as if they had returned to their native home, and a farmer’s joy rose in his heart.

“Grow quickly.”

With a smile, and carrying a certain hope, Jiang Chen scattered a handful of spirit sand into the channel.

Having done all this, Jiang Chen turned and returned to Woodfish Isle.

Not long after he left, a black shadow emerged from the mud at the bottom of the channel where the spirit shells were kept. It opened its mouth and kept swallowing the spirit sand, then finally turned its gaze toward the Cold Star Shells leisurely drawing in spiritual energy.

Yet just as it was about to strike at the shells, a luminous pearl entered its sight, drawing it in despite itself. The moment it saw the pearl, it seemed to behold a bright, pure moon, and desire arose naturally in its heart.

In that instant, the caution in its mind melted away. It lunged straight after the pearl and, with a swift and vicious motion, swallowed it whole.

At that very moment, hidden within the mist, Jiang Chen held the Dragon Fishing Rod in his hand. Feeling movement below the water, he could not help but let out a cold snort.

“So there really was something fishy going on. If I hadn’t had such keen perception and noticed that one pair of shell breeds was missing, I would never have discovered a little thief like you.”

True qi surged, and Jiang Chen tightened the fishing line. At that instant, in the channel below, the black shadow finally realized something was wrong. Within its apparently slender body, immense strength burst forth as it tried to break free of the line’s restraint, but no matter how it struggled, it could not escape.

After a brief deadlock, it finally could not hold out any longer and was hauled out of the water by Jiang Chen’s Dragon Fishing Rod. Only then did Jiang Chen finally see its true form: green on its back, white on its belly, long in body, nearly a full meter in length, with sharp teeth and a keen mouth.

“So it was a White Dragon. I would never have thought such a spirit creature still lived in Bewildering Soul Bay.”

After a quick appraisal, Jiang Chen recognized the shadow’s identity and was quite surprised.

The White Dragon was not a dragon at all, merely a kind of river eel. Eating it could strengthen masculine vigor and dispel cold corruption. Most importantly, its flesh was exceptionally delicious, making it a favorite among the sons of wealthy households.

“You ate my spirit shells, so I’ll eat you. That seems only fair. Besides, I’ve never yet tasted White Dragon.”

Binding the White Dragon with threads of true qi, Jiang Chen carried it back to Woodfish Isle.

A simple trial had given him a deeper understanding of the Dragon Fishing Rod’s power. The White Dragon was naturally vigilant, adept at concealing its aura, and skilled at burrowing. Underwater, ordinary cultivators would truly find it no easy thing to catch.