Chapter 283: Lake and Fish

"What on earth is happening?!"

"Why are there so many people?!"

Shouts erupted within the Dark Demon's Penguin channel.

"Where are the skeletons? Everyone, hold the line first!"

Initially, they were merely searching for targets and had failed to form a proper battle array; the spells they unleashed were visibly sparse and scattered, and moreover, since certain magics like fireballs and fire talismans could be directly parried with weapons, the warriors bolstered with dual physical and magical resistance swiftly charged forward!

In the Royal Family's Penguin channel, Yu Chi roared furiously, "Warriors, flank them from the perimeter! Wizards, drop your area-of-effect spells right on the center point! Target the thick of the crowd!"

A great many of the Royal Guards possessed a complete arsenal of skills, and as area-of-effect spells like Walls of Fire and Exploding Flames detonated within the densest clusters of the Dark Demon crowd, horses and men were overturned in an instant!

Dark Demon's countenance darkened into a somber shade.

Beside him, Wang Jin cried out, "It seems to be the Royal Family! That warrior named 'Imperial Guard Commander Yu' belongs to them!"

"It is the forces of the Great Jin Royal Family!"

"Any Dark Demon Guards who haven't left yet, use your random teleportation scrolls immediately! Fly out now!" Dark Demon bellowed, though by this time his screen had turned monochrome as he lay upon the ground, his corpse already growing cold.

"Retreat first! Retreat first!"

"Damn it all, we were just dealing with some trash from minor factions, yet they actually summoned the Royal Family!" Dark Demon cursed vehemently, dying with immense frustration. "They even dared to ambush me!"

"Boss, what do we do?" Judging by this momentum, even if they brought every single Dark Demon Guard over, it wouldn't suffice to fill this massive abyss.

"Call for backup! Call for backup!" Dark Demon raged. "Summon the Yuanheng Pavilion, the Panjiao Mansion, and all those other factions! Get them all into the coalition alliance channel!"

"They want a fight, do they? Then let's make it a grand war!"

The Great Jin United Strategy Channel.

Gong He, along with several elders from the Liuyun Daoist Palace and the Yunhai Sect, had all been summoned.

Even Su Tianji had been invited into the strategy channel.

Within a mere half hour, outside the walls of Sabuk City, nearly a thousand people from the Royal Guards, the Jiuhua Army, the Liuyun Daoist Palace, the Yunhai Sect, and various other major factions had assembled!

On the opposing side, the Morning Star Sea likewise swiftly deployed a thousand-man legion; before the official clash even began, the space before Sabuk City already bore the ominous tension of an impending storm.

...

Within the Taixi Sect.

Even though autumn had already arrived and the flora of the entire world was withering away, the bleak, rustling wind seemed unable to affect this domain of abundant greenery.

Spiritual herbs formed a lush carpet, myriad flowers bloomed in splendid colors, and the lake water gleamed like jade, mirroring the emerald mountains in delightful harmony.

An elderly man clad in white robes adorned with golden patterns was angling by the lakeside.

A boy and a girl, resembling a pair of celestial children, stood in attendance by his side.

Gazing at the diverse fishes swimming in the pond, the elder casually scattered a handful of bait, and soon, schools of fish and shrimp congregated near him.

As he casually drew back his fishing rod, it could be seen that there was no hook attached.

Sitting by the lakeside, the elder watched the denizens of the water vie and squabble for food; only then did a sliver of amusement flicker across his weathered, indifferent face, which seemed to have weathered countless millennia.

"Master, regarding Junior Brother Feng Xi's situation, it has been investigated..." A disciple hurried in from outside.

"Abusing public office for private gain, and even losing the Demon-Suppressing Tripod?" The elder smiled, gazing into the lake waters as though everything was within his clear comprehension.

"You already knew?" The disciple was somewhat astonished. "This disciple does not understand why you grant Junior Brother Feng Xi such indulgence, and even..."

Just then, a golden carp suddenly leaped clear out of the water's surface.

Pointing at the golden carp, he remarked, "Look at this fish. Even if it leaps above the surface and glimpses the world outside, it must still return to these very waters."

As he spoke, he cast out the bamboo basket beside him; the precise moment the golden carp was about to plunge back into the lake, the basket caught it and soared away from the water's surface.

"Now, look again."

"This..." the disciple said, "Master, the fish has been scooped away by the basket, so naturally, it can no longer return to the lake."

"Indeed... once scooped away, it has no need to return to the lake." He casually threw a piece of fragrant bait, which dropped into the center of the lake.

At that exact moment, the bamboo basket happened to pass by this very spot.

The water in the center of the lake suddenly churned violently as a colossal, monstrous fish with horns upon its head breached the surface, devouring the fragrant bait and the bamboo basket altogether!

Slowly packing away his fishing gear, he murmured, "The fish in this lake are truly not easy to raise."

...

Meanwhile, Ji Wu, along with several of the highest echelons of the Wuwei Daoist Alliance and even An Huwei, the Lord of Jiuhua City, had gathered together.

"I presume everyone is already aware of the news," Ji Wu spoke in a deep voice. "An urgent report received today states that the Yundian Upper Domain has mobilized its troops and will soon deploy them along our borders! Their objective, no doubt, is also perfectly clear to all of you."

"May we inquire as to Your Majesty's intent...?" Lan Mo's countenance grew solemn.

"Absurd!" Ji Wu sneered. "The Yundian Upper Domain has reaped so many benefits from the Cultivation Domain while we were left to consume mere crumbs and leftovers. Now that we possess a new strategy to strengthen our nation, on what grounds should they expect us to renounce it?!"

"In my view, those fellows simply cannot bear to see others prosper!" Junyangzi laughed coldly. "If they want a war, then a war they shall have!"

...

Ruan Ning was currently recruiting members in the Mud Province Earth Castle: "Guild Master, it seems the Great Jin Kingdom has started fighting with this side again!"

"Didn't they just fight a while ago? Why are they at it again?" Xi Yue furrowed her brows. "Guild Master, should we go?"

"Of course we're going! Why wouldn't we?" Fang Qi took a sip of his cola. "Hold on a moment, let me steal some vegetables first, and then we'll head over to spectate!"

Having spoken, Owner Fang swiftly slipped into Su Tianji's small courtyard; as expected, no one was there, for she had gone off to join the fray.

He dug up a large radish.

Next, Owner Fang entered Song Qingfeng's small courtyard; sure enough, it was empty too, as he had also gone to fight.

He dug up a large sweet potato.

Then, he walked into Nalan Mingxue's fenced plot.

"Woof! Woof woof!"

A black-and-white pup came trotting forward with its tail wagging—it was an adorable husky.

"She actually keeps a dog?" Owner Fang remarked in surprise.

He then walked into the vegetable patch: "Let me pluck a peach for you to eat."

"Wuu... wuu..." It wagged its tail and began to bite frantically.

As if unsatisfied, it tore through the patch in a frenzy of biting and pulled up a radish.

Owner Fang, at that moment, likewise dug up a large radish.

Then, holding the two radishes, he ran outside.

"Good boy, I'll buy you some treats next time." The little husky appeared immensely thrilled.

Looking back, not a single plot of vegetables in the garden remained intact.

"Whose house should I visit next?" Owner Fang pondered for a moment, then stepped into another courtyard.

He was met with a young maiden in red robes staring at him with utter disdain: "Guild Master, what do you think you are doing?! Boldly coming to my house to steal vegetables in broad daylight?!"

"My apologies, wrong house..." Owner Fang muttered to himself. "I should have told them to go watch the brawl first and that I would follow shortly... how did I suddenly become so lacking in wit?"

Then he glanced over at the people from the Nanhua Sect and the Black Flood Dragon Mansion, who were currently engrossed in watching their shows.

Stepping inside to take a look, he saw that the crops were still sitting there perfectly intact, and the empty space where he had previously stolen a radish was still visible.

"...They haven't harvested this yet?" Boss Fang hastily took off his virtual headset and walked over. "Everyone, you can go harvest your crops now."

"Ah, is it time to harvest already?"

"So fast?"

"I almost forgot while watching the show!"

Several people exclaimed in surprise all at once, rushing over to gather their harvest.

"Remember to plant new ones after you're done!" Boss Fang reminded them once more.

A Nanhua Sect disciple replied, "Thanks for the reminder, Boss!"

Liu Ningyun was momentarily filled with doubt. "Why did he suddenly become so helpful...?"

Huangfutao added, "Much appreciated!"

Mhm, only by doing this would there be more to steal next time.

.