From Family Fisherman to Water Virtue Immortal

Two months later. 

The moon hung high in the sky, a river of stars cascading down, billions of stars shining together, creating a vast and dazzling spectacle. 

"Today... seems to be my seventeenth birthday?" 

Li Quanqing sat on a reef in the fish pond, suddenly remembering his birthday after a busy day. 

But aside from him, it was unlikely anyone else remembered. 

Moonlight poured down like silver, the sea surface glistening, waves rising and falling, reflecting the lonely silhouette of the young man. 

Click! Click! 

From within the reef, an Ironbone Crab poked its head out, waving its claws as it approached, its eyes rolling around. 

"Hungry, you little crab?" 

Li Quanqing reached out to tease it. The crab's claws clamped onto his finger, but not even a white mark was left. 

After being strengthened by the Stone Skin Pills, his skin's toughness was now comparable to that of a Qi Refining stage body cultivator. 

Tap! Tap! 

More and more Ironbone Crabs crawled out, their pointed legs tapping rhythmically on the reef's surface. 

Li Quanqing took out some ores to feed them cold iron, red copper, silver essence, and gold crystals, a variety of treats. 

During this time, he had been studying at the artifact refining hall and had managed to gather quite a stash, allowing these crabs to enjoy a variety of snacks. 

Splash! Splash! 

Waves rose as a group of Azure Jade Carps surfaced, surrounding the reef until it was completely packed. 

They weren't looking for a midnight snack but were collectively absorbing moonlight to cultivate. 

Led by the dragon-aspiring Azure Jade Carp, thousands of large green carp bowed toward the moon, their scales covering the pond, creating a spectacular scene. 

They opened their mouths wide, continuously inhaling and exhaling, drawing in the lunar essence to refine into demonic energy and strengthen themselves. 

Hum! 

Whether it was an illusion or not, Li Quanqing felt that the moon above had indeed brightened. 

Silver light cascaded down like a misty veil, pure and serene, enveloping the sea surface. 

A mysterious aura flowed, peaceful and calming, smoothing out the restless thoughts in the hearts of all living beings. 

Click! Click! 

The Ironbone Crabs grew restless, jumping off the reef into the sea. The moonlight's allure was too strong for demon beasts. 

They waded through the waves, striding over the scales and bodies of the large green carp, pushing their way to the center to bask in the moonlight and absorb spiritual energy. 

Some of the more stubborn green carp angrily spat at the crabs, only to be hammered by their claws, quickly losing their temper. 

The Azure Jade Carps glanced at them but couldn't be bothered to deal with these iron-headed fools. 

Li Quanqing also closed his eyes, circulating his cultivation technique. Spiritual energy flowed into his body with each breath, cool and refreshing like rain. 

Bathed in the moonlight, his mind was free of distractions, making it the perfect time for cultivation. 

Splash! Splash! 

The waves rose and fell, the young man and the group of demon beasts cultivating together, creating a dreamlike scene, as beautiful as an illusory fairyland. 

When Li Quanqing opened his eyes again, it was already dawn. 

At the edge of the vast sea, a fiery red sun leaped into the sky, dispelling the darkness, its golden rays illuminating the entire Eastern Sea. 

Purple energy flowed from the east, majestic and grand. 

An Ironbone Crab floated in the waves, climbing onto the reef as white streams of energy gathered around it. 

After absorbing lunar spiritual energy all night, it had finally broken through to the early Qi Refining stage, becoming an adult Ironbone Crab. 

Finally, a soft-colored light orb formed on its shell. 

"Is this my birthday gift?" 

Li Quanqing couldn't help but smile. He used his spiritual energy to dry the morning dew on his body and reached out to grab the crab. 

[Harvested a Qi Refining Stage Ironbone Crab. Reward: A portion of experience in "Golden Metal Finger"!] 

A large amount of experience flooded his mind as if he had practiced this technique thousands of times, mastering it completely. 

Whoosh! 

Li Quanqing pointed his finger, and a golden light appeared, transforming into a stream of light as thick as a candle flame, sharp and menacing. 

The golden light danced in the air before exploding into over a dozen golden needles, piercing through the reef and leaving behind tiny holes. 

This move was truly hard to defend against. If an enemy were careless, they would already be dead. 

"Finally, I've reached the minor mastery level. All those ores I used weren't wasted!" 

Li Quanqing exhaled a breath of turbid air, feeling quite satisfied. 

If an entry-level technique was like a freshly graduated college student, full of knowledge but lacking practical experience, then a minor mastery level was like a seasoned veteran who had been through the grind and could handle things independently. 

As for a major mastery level technique, that was the pinnacle, the industry expert who could solve any problem at a glance, the ceiling that ordinary people could only dream of after decades of effort. 

Li Quanqing carefully searched and found two more Ironbone Crabs that had reached maturity. 

[Harvested a Qi Refining Stage Ironbone Crab. Reward: Five mid-grade Golden Light Barrier Talismans!] 

Five golden talismans appeared in Li Quanqing's hand, glowing faintly, clearly extraordinary. 

These talismans were an upgraded version of the low-grade Golden Bell Talisman, capable of forming a thick golden barrier to protect the entire body. 

Even against an attack from a sixth-level Qi Refining cultivator, it could hold for a short time. 

[Harvested a Qi Refining Stage Ironbone Crab. Reward: High-grade technique "Golden Metal Sword Art"!] 

"A sword art!" 

Li Quanqing was delighted. The sword art's content was vast, including not only offensive techniques but also many tips for sword control. 

Clang! 

He tried out some of these techniques, controlling the Green Carp Sword to fly around the pond. 

The flying sword darted back and forth, swift as a meteor, indeed more agile and faster than before, moving with ease. 

Clang! Clang! 

The sword hummed as spiritual energy poured into it, and suddenly, inch-long golden sword energy shot out from both sides of the blade. 

The Golden Metal Sword Energy split the water and waves, continuing forward and smashing a large protruding reef into pieces. 

Click! Click! 

Over twenty Ironbone Crabs, seeing their home destroyed, turned their eyes in unison, glaring at the young man and waving their claws in anger. 

[Iron-Willed] Ironbone Crab: "I'll take this to the Eastern Sea! I'll take this to the Eastern Sea! Without ten iron ores, this isn't over!" 

Li Quanqing's face darkened. 

Take it to the Eastern Sea? Did they want to join the demon beasts and become wild monsters? 

A bunch of ungrateful little crabs! 

He activated the formation, confining the crabs, then took out the Stone Spirit Seal to repair the reef. 

Yellow light cascaded down, transforming mud and stone, and the large reef slowly returned to its original shape. 

Flap! Flap! 

Once everything was settled, a yellow paper crane flew in from the horizon, bumping into the formation repeatedly, looking rather clumsy. 

A low-grade Sound Transmission Talisman. 

Curious, Li Quanqing let the paper crane in and tapped it with his spiritual energy. The crane's beak opened and closed, and a gentle voice spoke. 

"Junior Brother, I've found a lead on the Moonlight Clams. A member of the Xie family is willing to trade with us at the Treasure Blue Market. What do you think?" 

The message was repeated three times before the talisman spontaneously combusted, turning into a wisp of smoke. 

"Moonlight Clams?" 

Li Quanqing stroked his chin. He had been so busy lately that he hadn't expected Li Quanshu to remember this matter. 

He turned his gaze to the Azure Jade Carps swimming leisurely below the surface, patrolling their territory. 

These spirit fish could cultivate by bowing to the moon, and Moonlight Clams were also skilled at drawing lunar essence, complementing each other. 

But... 

"Trading at the Treasure Blue Market means leaving the family and traveling far." 

Li Quanqing searched his memories. In his seventeen years, his original self had only visited the Treasure Blue Market once as a child with his parents. 

"The family has dedicated ships traveling daily between Azure Jade Archipelago and Treasure Blue Market for trade. It shouldn't be a problem, right?" 

Li Quanqing began taking stock of his accumulated resources. 

The newly learned Golden Metal Sword Art, the minor mastery of Golden Metal Finger, and the master-level Water Control Technique. 

Two mid-grade magical artifacts are the Green Carp Sword and the Stone Spirit Seal. 

The flying sword could slash enemies, and the seal could smash them, as well as create earth walls and stone spikes, offering both offense and defense. 

In addition, he had 815 low-grade Water Arrow Talismans, 60 Falling Stone Talismans, 5 mid-grade Golden Light Barrier Talismans, and various other talismans. 

Even a late Qi Refining cultivator wouldn't be able to keep him. 

"Too bad I'm still missing a fleeing artifact." 

Li Quanqing thought to himself, finally feeling a bit more confident about venturing out.