"Qinghong, just follow my lead in a moment!"
With so many eyes and ears around, Su Yu only lowered his voice and said this one thing, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.
Although Qian Qinghong still felt a flicker of doubt, looking into Su Yu’s deep, calm eyes brought an inexplicable sense of peace to her heart. She didn’t ask another question, simply nodding in trust.
On the river’s surface in the distance, the Black Dragon Fish was like a black bolt of lightning, darting madly through the murky waves. It shot left and right, trying to break through the encirclement and escape to safety.
"Water Ghosts, in the water! Get the Fish Spears!"
Yan Gulin stood at the ship’s prow, a vicious gleam in his single eye as he bellowed the order.
SPLASH! SPLASH!
The dozen or so remaining Water Bandits from the Golden Sand Water Stronghold all leaped into the river. They skillfully raised the custom-made, refined-steel Fish Spears in their hands and hurled them frantically at the black shadow under the water.
SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!
A dozen or so Fish Spears entered the water like a swarm of locusts, their sharp shrieks tearing through the current. They wove a web of death, attempting to seal off the Black Dragon Fish’s escape route.
However, the Black Dragon Fish’s speed underwater was astonishing. It constantly moved in zigzag patterns, weaving through the gaps in the dense net of spears.
When Yan Gulin saw this, his expression instantly darkened.
He had originally selected fifty or sixty elite "Water Ghosts" who worked in perfect concert for this hunt. They should have been able to form a continuous barrage of Fish Spears underwater. But who would have thought that the bastard named Su Yu had slaughtered more than half of them! Now, severely short-handed, their net of spears was sparse, and he could only watch helplessly as the Black Dragon Fish darted about right under his nose.
At this thought, Yan Gulin turned his head to look into the distance. When he saw Su Yu still holding that fishing net and putting on an act, the killing intent in his eye practically erupted.
’Damn fop, does he think a Black Dragon Fish is something you can catch with a simple fishing net?’
BOOM! BOOM!
Compared to the Golden Sand Water Stronghold’s Fish Spear assault, the Furious Whale Gang’s methods were far more crude and savage!
Xue Kuang and the white-clad woman, Sun Rui, unleashed a dense, frenzied bombardment on the river’s surface, their fists like bombs.
Huge columns of water several dozen feet high erupted from the surface. However, while their attacks were impressively powerful and created a huge commotion, they were far too clumsy and slow for the Black Dragon Fish underwater!
The Black Dragon Fish seemed to possess considerable intelligence. It not only dodged the Gang Force bombardments with ease but even swam in arrogant circles underwater.
SPLASH—
The next instant, it broke through the water with even greater audacity!
Under the cold moonlight, its powerful, streamlined black body traced an arc through the air. Beneath its back, which looked as if it were cast from black iron, a long, slender Dragon Tendon could be faintly seen. It was pure silver, tinged with a hint of gold!
"A golden glint on a silver line? Is that a supreme-grade Gold Dragon Tendon?"
"This Black Dragon Fish is at least a Middle Grade among Spirit Tier treasured fish!"
The moment Leng Fei saw the Dragon Tendon clearly, his breath hitched, and his eyes blazed with greed.
A high-grade Spirit Tier treasured fish like this was worth several times more than a normal one. Not to mention the priceless Gold Dragon Tendon, even its flesh and bones could provide a significant boost to their Qi and Blood.
"Old Tuo, into the water!"
Leng Fei barked, no longer caring about anything else. He ripped off his snow-weasel fur cloak and, with a SPLASH, plunged into the icy Black Water River.
「Underwater.」
Leng Fei and the old hunchback worked in perfect concert, closing in on the Black Dragon Fish from the left and right in a frantic pincer movement.
"Use the Mystic Ice Art!"
A cold light flared in Leng Fei’s eyes as he activated his family’s special Cultivation Technique.
A chilling white Gang Force surged from his palms, parting the current as it swept toward the Black Dragon Fish.
Wherever the frigid energy passed, the flowing river water began to freeze solid at a visible rate!
The terrifying CRACKLE of spreading ice echoed underwater.
On the river’s surface, everyone who witnessed this sucked in a sharp breath of cold air.
"What domineering ice Gang Force!"
"The great families of Linyuan City truly have deep foundations! To think they’ve mastered such an underwater ice-type Cultivation Technique!"
Just as the rapidly spreading ice was about to close in completely and freeze the Black Dragon Fish into a living ice sculpture, however, in the next instant, the Dragon Tendon inside the Black Dragon Fish’s body suddenly erupted with a brilliant silver light! Its body instantly transformed into a blinding black flash.
BANG!
With a muffled crack from beneath the waves, the not-yet-solidified mystic ice was brutally shattered by a headbutt!
Like an unbridled wild horse, the Black Dragon Fish instantly broke through Leng Fei and his companion’s pincer attack and charged toward the Golden Sand Water Stronghold’s river-blocking net on the perimeter.
BOOM!
Its battering-ram-like head slammed viciously into the river-blocking net. The sturdy net, woven from special silver thread, let out a loud SNAP and was torn open by the monstrous force!
The few Water Bandits responsible for holding the net underwater felt an overwhelming force rush toward them. They screamed in pain as the webbing between their thumbs and forefingers split open, and they were violently thrown back into the depths.
In the nick of time, Xu Hesui, who was standing on the Cyan Wood Treasure Ship, made her move!
"Don’t you dare run!"
Following her clear, crisp cry, a sharp light burst from Xu Hesui’s verdant eyes.
SHING!
The simple, ancient Cyan Wood Sword at her waist was instantly unsheathed!
A continuous stream of cyan sword energy, pulsing with a green light, instantly tore through the night sky. It precisely pierced the water’s surface, shooting rapidly in the direction of the fleeing Black Dragon Fish!
PSHFFT!
The Cyan Blade Sword’s energy was shockingly fast! Even though the Black Dragon Fish twisted its body frantically underwater in a desperate attempt to dodge, the sword energy still grazed its lower abdominal fin.
Its hard black scales shattered instantly. A large gush of scalding, crimson fish blood spurted out, dyeing a large patch of the surrounding water red in a flash.
The Black Dragon Fish, reeling from the pain, began to thrash even more wildly underwater. Its massive, steel-whip-like tail flapped furiously, stirring up powerful undercurrents.
Strangely, however, it didn’t continue to flee outward. Instead, it turned back and darted toward its underwater nest!
Two Water Ghosts from the Golden Sand Water Stronghold, who were trying to intercept it, were sent flying with a BANG by its violent charge before they could even get a clear look at its shadow.
Leng Fei and his companion, who were also in the water, had no time to catch the frenzied Black Dragon Fish and could only watch as they gave chase from behind.
"Damn it, stop it!"
"We can’t let it hide in the underwater reef! We’ll never catch it then!"
A series of furious shouts erupted from the river’s surface. Everyone tried to intervene, but no one could stop it.
Just as the creature was about to escape into its reef nest once more...
WHOOSH—
At that moment, a fishing net unfurled in mid-air. It traced a parabola through the sky and fell silently into the water, casting itself over the path of the frantically fleeing Black Dragon Fish!
Just then, the Black Dragon Fish was accelerating and changing direction again to dodge a second stream of sword energy from Xu Hesui.
SPLASH!
This acceleration sent it plunging right into the embrace of the Iron Wire Net!
BOOM!
The ensnared Black Dragon Fish was terrified. It thrashed violently in the net, its immense power stirring up an undercurrent as it tried to flip the net with brute force.
But Su Yu, holding the other end of the net’s rope, possessed a wealth of seasoned fishing experience.
With a flick of the rope in his hand, he neutralized the Black Dragon Fish’s terrifying death roll.
"In the water!"
Su Yu gave a soft shout, and he and Qian Qinghong quickly entered the water, swimming toward the Black Dragon Fish.
On the river’s surface, the crowd watched in stunned disbelief.
"He fucking caught it?"
Yan Gulin’s single eye went wide as a saucer, and he swore in astonishment.
’I never expected this foppish young master to actually have some skill in fishing. No wonder he dared to try and catch the Black Dragon Fish.’ Xu Hesui had just withdrawn her Cyan Blade Sword, and a glimmer of appreciation flashed in her eyes.
Xue Kuang, however, burst out laughing. "Hahahaha, good! A fine catch! Perfect! I’ll just kill you both, the fish and you!"
As he spoke, he slammed his halberd down toward the water. The violent force penetrated the waves and surged toward the net.
Underwater, Su Yu felt the force impacting the surface and immediately executed a Swimming Fish Tail to dodge it.
His speed underwater was extremely fast, so this kind of attack couldn’t really harm him. However, if he was continuously harassed like this, the Black Dragon Fish would definitely escape.
Fortunately, at this moment, Leng Fei and the old hunchback also arrived. A sharp glint flashed in Leng Fei’s eyes when he saw the Black Dragon Fish.
He quickly threw a punch, and the water near the net rapidly froze. The Black Dragon Fish’s struggles immediately weakened considerably.
Su Yu’s eyes lit up. ’What a great Cultivation Technique! That technique should be mine!’
He quickly controlled the net, wrapping the Black Dragon Fish securely, then pointed to the surface, signaling for Leng Fei to go up first.
Leng Fei hesitated for a moment, but the thought of getting his hands on the Black Dragon Fish made him hold back his reservations. He swam upward.
SPLASH!
The moment Leng Fei’s head broke the surface, a great halberd crashed down on him with ferocious power.
"Die for me!"
Leng Fei was shocked. He never expected that the moment he surfaced, he would be met with such a thunderous blow!
He only had time to raise his arms to block above his head.
BOOM!
The halberd’s power was astounding. The Gang Force on it instantly shattered his defense, bored into his body, and sent him flying.
"Useless trash, die!"
Xue Kuang swung his halberd, about to press his advantage and smash Leng Fei into a pulp.
"Do not harm my young master!"
At this moment, the hunchbacked old man fortunately burst from the water, launching a surprise attack on Xue Kuang from behind.
"Get lost!"
Xue Kuang sensed the attack from behind. He spun around and knocked the old man away with his halberd, but this also gave Leng Fei a chance to escape and dodge.
SPLASH!
At this point, Su Yu and Qian Qinghong also emerged from the water one after another. The moment they surfaced, they were targeted by Yan Gulin. His Iron Hand descended with ferocious momentum and startling power.
But the two of them were already prepared.
The Silver Dragon Shuttle flew from Qian Qinghong’s hand and, with a CLANG, blocked the attack for an instant. The two of them quickly retreated and dodged away.
Su Yu quickly scanned the situation. Xue Kuang and Yan Gulin were both mid-stage Muscle Forging Realm masters, and Xu Hesui had yet to make a serious move. ’It won’t be so easy to get away with this Black Dragon Fish.’
He quickly joined the injured Leng Fei and tossed the net-wrapped Black Dragon Fish to him.
"Brother Leng, the Black Dragon Fish is yours! My strength is insufficient, so I’m getting out of here!"
With that, he grabbed Qian Qinghong, turned, and fled without the slightest hesitation.
A sharp glint flashed in the eyes of both Yan Gulin and Xue Kuang. After a brief hesitation, they let Su Yu leave and charged toward Leng Fei instead.
Xu Hesui was a little surprised. She hadn’t expected the fop to be so decisive.