From Family Fisherman to Water Virtue Immortal

[Ironbone and Unyielding] Ironbone Crab: "We eat iron and swallow gold! The crab clan will never be enslaved!" 

[Maturity: 13%] 

A tangerine-sized, iron-blue crab rested in Li Quanqing's palm, its claws raised high, showing off its might. 

Snap! Snap! 

The little crab blew bubbles, its eyes darting around as it waved its black claws, boldly launching an attack against this giant. 

"You dare pinch me?" 

Li Quanqing couldn't help but laugh. His fingers glowed with golden light as he used the Golden Metal Finger to poke at the crab. 

Though the Ironbone Crab was flipped onto its back, it remained undeterred, its claws clashing against the golden light with crisp, metallic sounds. 

This energetic little creature seemed to have no concept of giving up. 

Clack! Clack! 

Seeing their sibling being bullied, the other crab fry in the basket began to stir, ready to climb out and join the fight. 

[Ironbone and Unyielding] [Ironbone and Unyielding] [Ironbone and Unyielding]... 

Li Quanqing took turns teaching them a lesson, only to find that all 23 Ironbone Crabs displayed the same trait. 

These spirit beasts were the polar opposite of the docile Azure Jade Carps. 

"I've heard that crab-type spirit beasts are all like this stubborn and hard-headed, difficult to tame." 

Li Quanqing also looked a bit exasperated. If it weren't for this, he wouldn't have traded the crabs so easily. 

He took out a book. "This is a guide on raising Ironbone Crabs that I found in the Scripture Pavilion. Consider it a bonus gift for you, Junior Brother." 

Li Quanqing flipped through the book. The Ironbone Crabs had a varied diet, eating plants, meat, and even dirt. 

But to ensure their healthy growth and transformation into demon beasts, they needed to be fed large amounts of iron ore. 

"This is a gold-devouring beast!" 

Li Quanqing sighed inwardly. However, for the sake of the Golden Metal Finger experience spheres, these metal-attribute spirit beasts were indispensable. 

He took out the jade slip containing the refining experience for the Green Carp Sword, and the two completed the trade. 

Given the Ironbone Crabs' temperament, keeping them with the fish would undoubtedly lead to trouble. 

If they dared to wave their claws provocatively, the green carp would surely swallow them whole. 

A few water arrows would be enough to send these "unyielding" little crabs to meet their ancestors. 

Li Quanqing used the formation to isolate a corner of the fish pond for the crabs, temporarily housing them there. 

The only regret was that there was still no news about the Moonlight Clams. 

Time flowed peacefully, and nearly four months passed in the blink of an eye. 

Li Quanqing spent four hours each day at the Artifact Refining Hall, followed by feeding the fish, touching the light spheres, cultivating, eating, and reading. 

He spent almost every night meditating by the fish pond, using the sky as his blanket and the sea as his bed, rarely returning to his cave residence. 

His days were more fulfilling than ever. 

He didn't hide his talent in artifact refining, absorbing knowledge like a sponge. 

All the instructors praised his diligence and natural aptitude. 

The water rippled under the blue sky, and Li Quanqing touched the cool seawater, his fingertips feeling as if they were caressing flawless sapphires. 

After this period of raising, all the green carp had collectively reached maturity. 

[Harvested an adult green carp, rewarded with a low-grade Water Arrow Talisman!] 

[Harvested an adult green carp, rewarded with four spirit grains!] 

[Harvested an adult green carp, rewarded with a spiritual energy cluster!] 

[Harvested an adult green carp, rewarded with a Water Control Technique experience cluster!] 

... 

Li Quanqing used the Water Control Technique, his spiritual energy moving as he roughly pulled the green carp out of the pond. 

There was no need to carefully inspect them each large fish had a shining white light sphere above its head. 

He had been busy for a full day and night, eagerly harvesting the sweet fruits of his labor. 

Like a farmer celebrating the autumn harvest, he was enveloped in a sense of fulfillment. 

One after another, water-blue talismans materialized, piling up into a thick stack of over four hundred. 

The crystal-clear spirit grains formed a small hill on a separate lotus platform, glowing with radiant light, almost blinding to the eyes. 

With over two thousand fish harvested, the sheer number was overwhelming. Just touching the light spheres was enough to make his arms ache. 

If other fishermen saw this, they might be so envious that they'd charge in with knives to attack him. 

[Harvested an adult green carp, rewarded with a spiritual energy cluster!] 

[Harvested an adult green carp, rewarded with a spiritual energy cluster!] 

Several more spiritual energy clusters appeared in quick succession. The speed was so fast that Li Quanqing could barely keep up with refining them. 

He followed the cultivation technique's instructions, causing the gaseous spiritual energy to rotate within him. His pores opened, releasing spiritual energy into the surroundings. 

Creak! 

When his dantian began to emit faint, strained sounds, Li Quanqing knew it was time to break through the invisible barrier. 

Pop!! 

His spiritual energy surged, creating ripples on his skin. The ebb and flow of energy caused the spiritual energy in the entire fish pond to fluctuate. 

The bottleneck that trapped countless early Qi Refinement cultivators had long been under immense pressure from the waves of spiritual energy. 

The golden-tinged, water-blue spiritual energy flowed like a river, breaking through the barrier with astonishing smoothness. 

It was too effortless, with no unexpected obstacles. 

A new pathway for his cultivation technique was opened. 

Li Quanqing steadily, safely, and smoothly stepped into a new realm. 

The Fourth Level of Qi Refinement! 

Li Quanqing opened his eyes, his gaze as bright as the stars. Wisps of spiritual light swirled around him, like mist or smoke, making him resemble an immortal. 

"Amazing!" 

He felt that even taking a precious breakthrough pill wouldn't have been as smooth as this. 

His cultivation was fast, and his foundation was solid. 

"Two and a half years since transmigrating, and I, Li Quanqing, have reached this level entirely through my own efforts and natural talent!" 

[Harvested an adult green carp, rewarded with a spiritual energy cluster!] 

Li Quanqing rubbed the fish's head, suddenly realizing that the spiritual energy clusters had less of an effect on him now. 

"Once I break through to the late or peak Qi Refinement stage, the light spheres from green carp might become almost useless." 

"Fortunately, in another six months, this batch of Azure Jade Carps will mature, and I should receive large spiritual energy clusters then." 

"I need to raise more advanced spirit beasts to unlock better light sphere rewards!" 

Li Quanqing began tallying his gains. 

487 Water Arrow Talismans, 3,795 spirit grains, and dozens of Water Control Technique experience clusters. 

Now, with just a thought, Li Quanqing could manipulate the water within a three-foot radius around him, as easily as reading the lines on his palm. 

He had mastered this basic spell to perfection. 

"Excluding the breeding fish, there are 2,024 mature green carp. Taking them to the Evergreen Hall will net me another 20 spirit stones. Including the rewards, that's a total of 58 spirit stones!" 

Li Quanqing's brows lifted with joy. His storage bag was finally filling up again. 

Clack! Clack! 

Two Ironbone Crabs waved their claws, marching boldly out of the water and onto the lotus platform. 

They had grown significantly, now larger than a bowl, their bodies gleaming with a cold, indestructible light. 

[Ironbone and Unyielding] Ironbone Crab: "Hungry! Feed us! Or we'll call the brothers to pinch you!" 

[Maturity: 71%] 

Li Quanqing: ... 

These stubborn crabs could even demand food with such confidence. 

Clang! Clang! 

Li Quanqing took out a chunk of iron ore and tapped it against the crab's shell, creating sparks. 

The Ironbone Crab didn't seem to mind, continuing to wave its claws and chomp on the ore. 

Crunch! Crunch! 

The crab's claws scraped against the ore, breaking off pea-sized chunks of iron, which it promptly ate. 

One by one, the Ironbone Crabs climbed up, devouring six chunks of ore before finally stopping. 

Li Quanqing felt a pang of heartache. 

The crabs' food expenses had cost him quite a few spirit stones. 

"The ore is running low. It's time to head to the Artifact Refining Hall for the artifact forging assessment and take advantage of the family's resources!" 

Spell Proficiency Levels: 

Beginner: Just learned, can barely cast the spell, consumes a lot of spiritual energy, not suitable for combat. Proficient: After several years of practice, the spell can be cast smoothly and instinctively, suitable for combat. Mastery: Can cast the spell instantly without hand seals or incantations, highly versatile, requires decades of practice, can serve as a cultivator's trump card. Perfection: Can manipulate the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to enhance the spell, consumes little energy but has immense power. Requires exceptional talent, something most people can never achieve in their lifetime.