Chapter 1387: What Do You Call Me?

Fishing Island was not small; at the very least, it was larger than most spirit islands Lu Ye had ever seen. However, it was actually an uninhabited island, unoccupied by any power.

The main reason, of course, was that the island lacked any spirit jade veins, making it worthless to occupy.

In the Myriad Manifestations Sea, there were many uninhabited islands like Fishing Island. Some had become strongholds for certain factions or groups, prohibiting unauthorized entry, as doing so would be considered a provocation.

However, the Anglers organization had always been extremely loose, so there were no restrictions on people entering or leaving here.

When Lu Ye arrived, he saw many people gathered there. Those quietly standing by the shore with fishing gear, their eyes fixed on a certain spot on the sea surface, were undoubtedly the anglers.

There were also some who weren't fishing but were moving around and observing. Lu Ye estimated that these people, like himself, were interested in the matter and had come to watch.

The anglers stood far apart, each at least a hundred zhang away from others. The cultivators observing nearby also kept their distance, staying a hundred zhang away.

It was evident that everyone here, whether angler or observer, silently adhered to an unwritten rule.

Lu Ye glanced around and casually chose an angler, hovering a hundred zhang to his side, ensuring he was visible in the angler's peripheral vision.

It was unwise to stand directly behind someone, as that could easily provoke hostility. If someone were constantly staring at him from behind, Lu Ye wouldn't be pleased either.

Although he didn't fully understand the rules here, he grasped the basic principles of social conduct.

The angler was a young man, handsome and refined, with a tall and upright posture—truly a striking appearance. He stood by the shore, holding his fishing gear in one hand and a small wine gourd in the other, taking sips now and then, seemingly at ease.

Lu Ye had his reasons for choosing this particular angler to observe.

Although he wasn't old, he had encountered quite a few people. With a quick glance, he could generally discern whether a stranger was easy to get along with.

This young man had a very peaceful demeanor and seemed easy to get along with, at least ensuring he wouldn't be driven away while observing!

Furthermore, the way the man drank from his wine gourd reminded Lu Ye of his Fourth Senior Brother, Li Baxian, who also possessed such graceful charm. Lu Ye felt a natural affinity for people like that.

As expected, when the man noticed Lu Ye observing from nearby, he merely turned his head, glanced at him, and gave a slight nod, showing no intention of driving him away.

He fished quietly, and Lu Ye observed in silence.

Time passed.

Lu Ye discovered a problem: White Spirits were extremely difficult to catch!

On the entire Fishing Island, there were at least several hundred people fishing like the young man, yet after observing for most of the day, not a single person had any catch.

No wonder Qiu Pingyang said he couldn't buy any fish when he came to Fishing Island. Judging by this situation, catching a White Spirit was undoubtedly very difficult.

This was likely one of the reasons for the high price of White Spirits.

These creatures lived in the Myriad Manifestations Sea, and ordinary cultivators dared not venture deep to capture them. They could only rely on this method of angling, but the chances of success were still very low, leading to the phenomenon of rarity driving up value.

Another half-day passed, and still, there were no catches on Fishing Island.

A hundred zhang from Lu Ye, the young man suddenly tipped his wine gourd, then turned to Lu Ye and asked, "Fellow Daoist, do you have any wine?"

Lu Ye was momentarily stunned, then nodded and replied, "Yes!"

As he spoke, he flashed over to the young man and took out several wine jars from his storage ring.

He usually didn't drink himself, except when gathering with friends. So, generally, he wouldn't buy wine for storage. The wines in his storage ring were all spoils of war obtained after killing people, with diverse origins and varying qualities.

Lu Ye successively took out more than a dozen jars. The young man quickly said, "Enough, enough, Fellow Daoist, you're too kind. How much are these?"

Lu Ye waved his hand, "They're a gift!"

They were just some wines, not worth much money.

The young man smiled and didn't refuse: "Then I thank Fellow Daoist for your kindness!"

As he spoke, he thrust his fishing gear into Lu Ye's hand: "Hold this for me for a bit!"

Lu Ye instinctively took the fishing rod, standing there woodenly, then watched as the young man poured jar after jar of wine into his own wine gourd.

"Fellow Daoist, you've been observing here for a long time. Have you noticed anything?" the young man asked while busy.

Lu Ye thought for a moment and said, "It seems you're not exactly fishing seriously..."

He said this mainly because the young man was different from the other anglers. In Lu Ye's observation, all other anglers looked as if facing a formidable enemy, their expressions tense, ready to lift their rods at any moment a fish bit, their gaze unwavering.

But this young man's fishing posture was much more leisurely. He drank his wine, looked here and there... especially when female cultivators passed by, his gaze would invariably be drawn to them!

While other anglers were silent and still, he seemed utterly unconcerned, chatting animatedly with Lu Ye, unafraid of scaring away the fish.

Hearing Lu Ye's words, the young man couldn't help but laugh heartily, shaking his head and saying leisurely, "If there are fish, then fish; if there are no fish, then enjoy. Free and unfettered, without the worries of the ancients or the troubles of the present. Only then can one truly grasp the Great Dao of Angling!"

Lu Ye's eye twitched. It was just fishing; what did it have to do with the 'Dao'?

However, he increasingly felt that the man's personality was carefree and unrestrained.

He clearly understood social etiquette. Having received Lu Ye's fine wine for free, he was willing to offer some guidance in return.

Lu Ye naturally didn't stand on ceremony and asked him about the specifics of angling.

Only then did he learn that angling here was not as simple as he had imagined.

First, the fishing gear itself was quite particular; it was specially refined for use here. One couldn't just casually bring any fishing rod. The fishing line, in particular, was refined from extremely pure primordial magnetic ore, allowing it to be submerged in the sea for extended periods. Otherwise, ordinary spiritual materials would likely be corroded and not last long once in the sea.

However, fishing lines made from primordial magnetic ore had a major problem: insufficient toughness, making them prone to snapping.

This meant that when a fish bit, one couldn't pull the rod up too forcefully. If done too vigorously, the line would snap, and the fish would escape. Retrieving a fish also required skill: one needed to slowly 'play' the fish until it was brought to the surface, then use a tool to scoop it up. Only then could the fish be secured.

The bait was also special: a spirit pill specifically for angling, not like hanging a worm as in the mortal world.

Furthermore, when angling, one needed to be completely focused, using the fishing rod to sense any movement in the line. This was because White Spirits took the bait in an instant. Lifting the rod too early was pointless, and too late meant the bait was gone and the fish had fled.

This was also why Lu Ye saw all the other anglers looking as if they were facing a formidable enemy; they were all fully concentrating on sensing the slightest movement of their fishing lines.

It could be said that angling here was an extremely arduous task, requiring not the slightest distraction, no less demanding than a state of cultivation.

As the young man spoke, Lu Ye experimented, discovering that indeed, as he said, his divine sense could extend through the fishing rod, clearly detecting minute movements of the fishing line.

The young man explained everything in great detail, which Lu Ye found very beneficial. He felt fortunate to have met someone willing to share this knowledge; otherwise, he wouldn't know how much time he would waste trying to figure it out himself.

"While angling can be interesting and might lead to sudden wealth, Fellow Daoist, you still need to be cautious. This field is not to be entered lightly," the young man kindly advised as he took the fishing rod back from Lu Ye.

Lu Ye nodded, "I understand. 'Fishing for three generations makes you poor, playing with fish ruins a lifetime!'"

The young man burst out laughing, "So you've heard that saying! Then it's simpler. That's not an exaggeration; it happens every year. Some people come here hoping for instant riches, only to delay their own cultivation and lose all their investments. If you're fully mentally prepared and still decide to join, you can tell me. Perhaps I can offer you a small favor."

"What do you mean?" Lu Ye asked, puzzled.

The young man said, "Some people have already left this field, but they still have their fishing gear. I can help you buy it cheaply, saving you the trouble of buying new equipment."

Lu Ye's eyes lit up: "Then I truly must trouble you, Fellow Daoist."

The young man asked, "Are you really going to buy?"

"Of course!" Lu Ye nodded solemnly.

"I'll contact them. You can also inquire about the specific prices. I can't guarantee more, but I can at least try to get you seven-tenths of the price," he said, taking out a sound transmission talisman, clearly about to contact the person selling the fishing gear.

Lu Ye, of course, didn't fully trust him. Without hesitation, he contacted Fang Wanli in front of the young man to inquire about market prices. A moment later, he had a clear idea.

Fang Wanli also advised him not to easily join the angling profession, naturally out of good intentions.

A moment later, the young man said, "A set of fishing gear, including a rod, three sets of fishing lines, and a landing net, for three thousand spirit jade. Can you accept that?"

Lu Ye quickly calculated. The price was indeed not expensive. According to the market information he had gathered from Fang Wanli, a set of fishing gear like this would typically cost over four thousand spirit jade.

He immediately nodded: "Acceptable!"

The young man said, "Then I'll have someone send it over. The person is nearby!" He then sent out another message.

"What is your name, Daoist Brother?" Lu Ye asked.

Since the man had provided such great help and was so friendly, Lu Ye naturally wanted to ask for his name. After all, they might become colleagues and 'fight side-by-side' here in the future.

The young man smiled leisurely: "In the mortal world, those who carry knives are Bladesmen, and those who carry swords are Swordsmen!"

He lifted the fishing rod in his hand: "On Fishing Island, those who hold rods are Anglers!"

Then he patted a gourd hanging from his waist on the other side: "What do you think I'm called?"

Lu Ye looked at the gourd, then at him, and hesitated: "Gourdsman...?"

***

He took deep breaths of fresh air, his chest heaving.

Confusion, bewilderment—a mix of emotions surged within him.

"Where is this?"

Then, Shi Yu subconsciously surveyed his surroundings, growing even more perplexed.

"A single dorm room?"

Even if he had been successfully rescued, he should be in a hospital ward right now.

And his body... how could there be no injuries at all?

Filled with doubt, Shi Yu's gaze quickly swept across the room, finally settling on a mirror on the bedside table.

The mirror showed his current appearance: around seventeen or eighteen years old, very handsome.

But the problem was, this wasn't him!

His former self was a handsome young man in his twenties with an extraordinary aura, who had been working for some time.

Now, this appearance looked like nothing more than a high school student's age...

This change left Shi Yu in a daze for a long time.

"Don't tell me the surgery was a success..."

His body and appearance had both changed. This wasn't a matter of surgery; this was immortal magic.

He had completely transformed into another person!

"Could it be... I've transmigrated?"

Besides the mirror at the head of the bed, clearly placed in a spot with bad feng shui, Shi Yu also found three books nearby.

Shi Yu picked them up, and the titles immediately silenced him.

"Essential Beast-Rearing Handbook for Novice Breeders"

"Postpartum Care for Pet Beasts"

"Guide to Appreciating Beast-Eared Girls of Different Races"

Shi Yu: ???

The first two book titles seemed normal enough, but what was up with the last one?

"Ahem."

Shi Yu's gaze sharpened, and he reached out, but his arm quickly stiffened.

Just as he was about to open the third book to see what it was, a sharp pain shot through his brain, and a flood of memories surged forth.

Icefield City.

Pet Beast Breeding Base.

Intern Pet Beast Breeder.

Beast Tamer?