The carriage bumped and swayed, and Su Ping slowly opened his eyes.
He had just had a dream.
He dreamt of his life before he Transmigrated to this Xianxia world.
At that time, he had just turned twenty, in the prime of his youth, full of vigor.
The long-lost memories of his hometown made Su Ping a little lost in thought.
Coming back to his senses, Su Ping couldn't help but sigh.
Time flew by; unconsciously, he had already been away from his hometown for twenty years.
Recalling twenty years ago, when he had just Transmigrated, he was quite fortunate.
He had just crawled out of the primeval mountain forest in a sorry state and saw signs of human habitation when he encountered a Rising Immortal Assembly in a nearby town where Immortal Sect members were recruiting Disciples.
Knowing that this was a Xianxia world, how could Su Ping resist the temptation of Cultivating Immortality and attaining longevity?
He participated immediately.
Then, an Immortal Elder detected that he possessed a Low Grade Spiritual Root, and he naturally became an Outer Sect Disciple of the Crimson Kite Immortal Sect.
Although Su Ping had been warned by the Steward who brought him into the Sect that while a Low Grade Spiritual Root could Cultivate Immortality, most would only reach Qi, and only one in ten thousand could achieve Foundation Establishment.
As a Transmigrator, Su Ping naturally tended to believe that he was that one in ten thousand Genius!
Then… twenty years of arduous Cultivation made Su Ping understand.
Without a Golden Finger, he could not become that exception!
He also understood why the Immortal Sect had accepted him, a Low Grade Spiritual Root who could not possibly achieve Foundation Establishment!
Although the Mortal kingdom where the Crimson Kite Immortal Sect was located had hundreds of millions of people, only about one in a hundred thousand possessed a Spiritual Root.
And Low Grade Spiritual Roots accounted for the vast majority of them.
For the Immortal Sect, to maintain its numbers, it could only recruit a batch of low-Rank Cultivators every few years to serve as Outer Sect Disciples, which had almost become a custom.
Moreover, as low-Rank Cultivators themselves, they were still very valuable to the Immortal Sect.
Not to mention the possibility of Foundation Establishment, which was only a rumor.
The Spiritual Fields and Spiritual Mines opened by the Immortal Sect, and even assisting those with Immortal Cultivation skills, all required these low-Rank Cultivators to contribute their efforts to be done well.
In the twenty years Su Ping spent Cultivating Immortality, in order to obtain Cultivation resources and complete necessary Immortal Sect missions,
he often helped the Immortal Sect plant Spiritual Fields, mine Spiritual Ores, assist Alchemists with fire control, grind ink for Talisman Masters, and wave flags for Formation Masters.
The remaining time was spent Cultivating and nothing else.
So much so that at forty years old, he had never even visited the Immortal Melody Pavilion once, nor had he ever formed a bond with a lovely female Cultivator!
Yet, despite such efforts, the returns were disproportionate.
Among those with the same Low Grade Spiritual Root, the diligent Su Ping was stuck at Qi Layer Three, unable to advance.
His peers from the same period, though also with Low Grade Spiritual Roots, were mostly between Qi Layer Five and Six.
The most successful one had even broken through to Qi Layer Seven and became an Outer Sect Steward of the Immortal Sect.
He was also often held up as an example among Outer Sect Disciples, motivating Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters to diligently farm and mine to exchange for more resources to Cultivate better.
And a month ago, after failing to Breakthrough to Qi Layer Four for the seventeenth time, Su Ping reluctantly came to realize the reality that there was a world of difference even between Low Grade Spiritual Roots.
Su Ping, who came from Water Blue Star and possessed knowledge from another world, did not fall into the Cultivation dead end like most Old Cultivators.
Su Ping realized that he should lie flat, that he should let go of his Cultivation obsession!
With his obsession released, Su Ping felt a sense of lightness, and a premonition that he would live a few more years emerged.
Immediately, Su Ping found that Steward from his Same period and received a mission from him to guard Jinque City in the Mortal world.
Jinque City was one of the many major cities in the Mortal kingdom under the jurisdiction of the Crimson Kite Immortal Sect.
For such important Mortal strongholds, the Immortal Sect usually arranged one or two low-Rank Cultivators to guard them, preventing troublemakers and also serving as supervisors.
However, being a guard in such a Mortal city, far from Spiritual Veins and lacking Spiritual Qi, was almost equivalent to cutting off one's future Cultivation path.
Generally, only those Outer Sect Disciples who were old and infirm and planned to return to the Mortal kingdom to recuperate and enjoy life would accept such a task.
Although that Outer Sect Steward was somewhat surprised that Su Ping would accept this mission,
he quickly realized something and did not mock or make things difficult but expressed understanding, and even generously gifted Su Ping a small amount of Spirit Stones out of camaraderie.
While grateful, Su Ping also secretly sighed, no wonder others could serve as Outer Sect Stewards with a Low Grade Spiritual Root.
"Master, Linyue Lake has arrived."
Just as Su Ping was reminiscing, a pleasant and gentle female voice suddenly came from outside the carriage.
It was Ping'er, the personal maid sent by a local influential family after Su Ping arrived in Jinque City and accepted the good land and beautiful residence gifted by the City Lord's Mansion, reminding him that their destination had been reached.
Su Ping responded, slowly lifted the curtain, and stepped out of the luxuriously decorated carriage.
For Su Ping, who had experienced technological civilization, carriages in this world were not comfortable.
But there was no alternative; Spiritual Qi was sparse in the Mortal kingdom, and recovering spent magical power was quite troublesome.
Moreover, Su Ping had used all his previous accumulated resources for Cultivation, and now he couldn't even produce a Magical Artifact for transportation, so a carriage was already the best option.
As a Cultivator who had accepted his fate, in this world lacking entertainment, if he didn't study skills, all that was left was listening to music in brothels and enjoying scenic tours.
Su Ping was very clear about his position; after arriving in Jinque City, he accepted all the flattering advances from influential families and gentry, quickly accumulating a considerable fortune.
After getting a bit tired of private music performances for a while, he took his butler's advice and chose Linyue Lake for sightseeing.
Linyue Lake, located in the suburbs, was a well-known scenic spot in Jinque City and also a great Fishing resort.
Legend has it that there are Crimson Blood Rainbow Carp in this mountain-encircled lake, and catching just one can allow even Mortals to Cultivate Immortality.
Many Young Masters and Young Misses who lacked Immortal fate would often come here in groups to enjoy the beautiful scenery and try their luck at Fishing for Immortal fate.
Occasionally, they would catch one or two fish, which would then be processed into delicious dishes by the professional chefs of the nearby Linyue Manor, and eating their self-caught fish by the lake was considered a delightful experience.
Su Ping arrived at the lakeside, feeling the gentle breeze caress his face.
He nodded slightly, acknowledging that this beautiful scenery was no less impressive than the famous sights of his hometown.
However, judging by the Spiritual Qi concentration in the lake water that he perceived,
the legend of Ling fish was ninety-nine percent a rumor spread by the local landlord for fame.
In such lake water, even the easiest-to-raise Little Black Ling fish of the Immortal Sect would degenerate into ordinary fish species if released, let alone any Crimson Blood Rainbow Carp that could change one's bone structure and Aptitude.
Of course, Su Ping didn't plan to expose this lie.
Making money, isn't it humble?
Anyway, he was a special guest, and all his expenses at Linyue Lake were free.
Su Ping took the Fishing rod from the young attendant closely following him.
Although there were no Ling fish in the lake, since he had already come, wouldn't it be a waste if he didn't try Fishing?
Su Ping even planned to secretly use a tiny bit of magical power to gather the fish in the lake, so that his first ever Fishing trip could be a complete Perfection, making him the strongest Fishing Guy in the history of this lake!
Since he couldn't Cultivate Immortality and attain longevity anyway,
why not enjoy himself more and be more carefree?
Sitting on the wooden stool thoughtfully placed by the little maid, Su Ping wielded the Fishing rod, his gaze sweeping around, already contemplating where the statue of the strongest Fishing Guy should be erected for good feng shui.
Accompanied by a rustling sound,
the Fishing rod left an afterimage as the hook, baited by the attendant, entered the lake water.
Plop!
The sound of entry into the water was not loud, but Su Ping suddenly widened his eyes.
He looked at the virtual panel that suddenly appeared below his eye, somewhat unsure.
He suspected that he had been anticipating a Golden Finger for too long, to the point of having mental problems.
He closed his eyes, exhaled, silently recited the Heart-Cleansing Mantra once, then opened his eyes again.
Su Ping couldn't help but curve his lips into a smile.
It wasn't an illusion!
His Golden Finger was truly activated!
But this was too frustrating; it could only be activated by being a Fishing Guy!
Could it be related to him playing a certain open-world Fishing mini-game before his Transmigration?
[Fishing Guy Fishing System Activated]
[Current Fishing Rank: Rank 1 (0/100)]
[Current Fishing Spot Evaluation: First Rank Low Grade]
[Current Fishing Spot Accumulated Fishable Attempts: (100/100)]
[Fishable Species: Little Green Fish, Big Green Fish, Azure Spirit Fish, Crimson Blood Rainbow Carp]
Su Ping, who clearly saw the virtual panel, suppressed the excitement in his heart, lifted his Fishing rod, and prepared to cast again.
He intended to figure out what exactly his Golden Finger was for and what it could bring him!