Chapter 40

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Chapter 40: The Fish Gang

There are two explanations for the origin of the name Yunzhong City.

The first explanation is that it is made up of one character from the names of the Cloud Sword Sect and Zhonghang Sect, thus the name Yunzhong City.

The second explanation is that Yunzhong City is located in the middle and lower reaches of the Yuntuo River, not too low, approaching the middle reaches.

It is considered an intermediate stage, which is why it is called Yunzhong City.

Neither sect has explained this, leaving it to the speculation of the lower-level cultivators.

It doesn’t matter to the interests of the two sects anyway.

But regardless, it is a fact that Yunzhong City is close to the Yuntuo River.

The distance between Yunzhong City and the Yuntuo River is only 800 li.

However, at the site where the city was built, the distance is only 30 li.

This is because frequent flooding caused the Soul Changing experts from both sects to forcefully redirect the Yuntuo River, deviating it from its original position.

After over a thousand years of water erosion, the Yuntuo River is getting further away from Yunzhong City, and now it is already 800 li away.

The Yuntuo River is a huge river that runs through most of Yun State.

It is said to be over a thousand li wide at its widest point, and even at its narrowest point, it is still fifty to sixty li wide.

It is a vital transportation lifeline for Yun State, and the success of Yunzhong City is due to the Yuntuo River, which contributed half of its achievements.

The Yuntuo River used to have many water demons, and even the Demon King had the power of Soul Changing.

They caused trouble and harmed cultivators on both sides of the river.

Later, the Zhonghang Sect, Cloud Sword Sect, and Five Elements Sect rose to power.

They joined forces and defeated the Soul Changing level Demon King, as well as killed all the advanced demon beasts.

Although there are still occasional demon beast sightings in the Yuntuo River, they are no longer a threat.

Whenever a powerful demon beast appears, it is listed on the bounty board in Yunzhong City, and many people are willing to go hunting for them.

In this environment, the Yuntuo River fostered countless fishing enthusiasts.

These fishing enthusiasts are incredibly crazy, some even spend months guarding the river for fish demons.

······

“Taoist Friend Lin”

One day, Lin Jiang went to the East City Market, and some familiar vendors greeted him.

“What’s going on? Why are so many people gathered here?”

Lin Jiang pointed to a stall on the other side and said, “That used to be Wen Xing’s stall, but he has changed owners several times since then. It’s quite common for people to switch professions or pass away.

A stall with the same owner for more than three years is considered long-lasting.”

“There’s a new fishing enthusiast who caught a lot of demon fish. It is said that he even caught a Longwhisker fish. Wow, he made a big profit. A Longwhisker fish is worth at least three thousand spirit stones.”

“Longwhisker fish, oh, that’s really delicious!”

Lin Jiang nodded.

In Yunzhong City, there was a high-end restaurant called Baiweilou that specialized in exquisite delicacies.

They had a classic dish called Sanjianghuo, with Longwhisker fish as the main ingredient.

This famous dish was worth thousands of spirit stones and considered a legend among ordinary cultivators.

“It’s a delicious food, but we can’t afford it.”

“That’s true.”

Lin Jiang nodded.

These high-end delicacies were not worth their high price.

The spiritual power they contained was not as good as ordinary delicacies.

It was just hype.

However, the taste of dishes like Sanjianghuo was indeed very good.

However, for ordinary cultivators, spending thousands of spirit stones on a dish was crazy.

These dishes were exclusively for cultivators at the Golden Core Period and above.

As he arrived at his stall, Lin Jiang smelled a strong fishy odor.

The neighboring stalls were simply not enough, with some monstrous fish weighing several thousand or tens of thousands of jin (a unit of weight), even though he had rented three stalls.

Nevertheless, his business was booming.

The taste of some of the monstrous fish was truly excellent, much better than ordinary monster beast meat.

“Big Shadiao and Small Shadiao, you won’t have the pleasure anymore.”

Lin Jiang said to Big Shadiao and Small Shadiao in his heart, “They haven’t woken up yet. If they wake up, Lin Jiang will definitely change their taste.”

After more than two hours, it seemed like the vendor next door had sold out of fish.

The owner of the stall walked over with an apologetic look on his face and said, “Excuse me, Taoist friend, I apologize for the trouble caused.”

“Taoist friend Liu, please don’t worry. It is inevitable. Independent cultivator Lin Yu greets you.”

“So, it’s Taoist Friend Lin. As an apology, please accept this small gift.”

Liu Hui held two fish in his hands and handed them to Lin Jiang.

Lin Jiang took a look and saw that they were ordinary first-level demon fish, similar to the Silver Arrow Fish he had previously raised.

“Please don’t be polite, Taoist friend. I cannot accept this gift.”

“Taoist friend, we have rented this stall for one year. In the future…”

“It’s alright. I won’t be setting up the stall for long.”

Lin Jiang shook his head and chose not to continue the conversation.

Liu Hui felt a bit uncomfortable but did not push the issue.

Liu Hui wasn’t just offering presents to Lin Jiang.

He also gave gifts to several other vendors nearby, but Lin Jiang was the only one who declined.

Lin Jiang had always been a solitary person, and everyone was used to it by now.

After all, he was the only one who ran a stall for less than four hours daily.

“Taoist Friend Lin, what’s the price of your spiritual talisman?”

A voice came from the side, and Lin Jiang turned around.

It was a graceful and elegant female cultivator, also a neighboring vendor.

She resembled Liu Hui in some ways, making Lin Jiang wonder if she was Liu Hui’s sister or daughter.

“The premium first-level attack talisman costs ten spirit stones.

Defensive ones go for twelve spirit stones, and I also have nine other auxiliary talismans for various uses.”

Lin Jiang explained, clarifying that prices for spiritual talismans vary.

Although all talismans are priced differently, attack talismans are by far the most popular, bringing in the most profit.

“If I buy several defensive talismans, would you offer a discount?”

“If you purchase five or more, I can give a one spirit stone discount.”

“Can I exchange them for a demon fish?”

“No, that won’t work.”

Lin Jiang rolled his eyes, wondering what she was thinking.

He wasn’t particularly fond of eating fish.

After decades at the Spiritual Peach Mountain Villa, he’d grown tired of it.

In Yunzhong City, he had eaten his fill, and most of the demon fish in the market didn’t excite him anymore.

“Alright then, I’ll buy six defensive talismans.”

“That will be sixty-six spirit stones.”

Lin Jiang displayed the defensive talismans.

Since these weren’t easy to sell, he had a few on hand and let her choose what she liked.

Over the course of the last two weeks, Lin Jiang had picked up a few things about the neighboring stall.

The middle-aged man was Liu Hui, and the customer who frequently bought talismans from Lin Jiang was Liu Yuan.

Liu Hui also had a daughter named Liu Siyu, who was exceptionally beautiful.

However, Liu Siyu rarely appeared.

When she did, she attracted a great deal of attention, often prompting unsolicited marriage proposals, which led Liu Hui to keep her out of sight.

Having a beautiful daughter wasn’t always a blessing in a poor family, and the reasons were all too clear.

Liu Hui himself came from a notable background.

He was a member of the Trident Fish Gang outside the city, and his entire family was involved in it.

His grandfather even held the position of Elder at the Building Foundation Period.

Lin Jiang also learned much about the region from their conversations.

Yunzhong City and its surroundings heavily relied on the Yuntuo River for survival.

However, the river’s immense wealth led to its division among various gangs.

Each gang controlled a section of the river and monopolized fishing within their designated areas.

Though they didn’t have complete control, ordinary people could still fish, but how much they could catch was up to their abilities.

Fishing boats and nets were strictly prohibited, and anyone caught using them would face attacks from the gangs.

These gangs were, in fact, controlled by two major sects, who used them as pawns.

Everyone hated the fish gangs, but the true profits were taken by the two sects.

This was common knowledge, though no one dared to speak out about it.

Fights between the fishing gangs were common, with frequent battles over catches.

It was rare for a year to go by without casualties.

Liu Hui’s family was part of the Trident Fish Gang, one of the most powerful gangs in the area.

However, Liu Hui had lost several family members, including two sons, in these gang conflicts.

“Cultivation is tough,” Lin Jiang thought to himself.

He sighed, knowing that immortality wasn’t easily attained.

As he pondered, a plan began to form in his mind.

A plan that would be enough to draw out the person who had been secretly watching him.