God of Fishing Chapter 2: Demon Purification Pot

“Enough!”

Wang Jie’s voice boomed like thunder. “Tang Ge, get him back to the village. We are only thirty days away from the Fishing Trial, yet you both waste time squabbling? Return and focus on your training!”

...

This was a world dominated by the deep blue, where humanity resided upon peaks that drifted through the heavens. Fishing was the foundation of life for every inhabitant. By harvesting the spiritual energy and mysterious essence contained within the fish, one could become a fishing master and ascend to the pinnacle of existence.

Wang Jie, a middle-aged man, held the rank of fishing master. Besides his duties as a teacher at the Heavenly Water Village school, he served as a supervisor for the general fishery.

The waters beneath Han Fei’s feet belonged to the only general fishery of Heavenly Water Village. While it was considered low-risk, death was a daily visitor to these waves.

The sea was a realm of both bounty and terror. Even in a general fishery, one could find countless organisms born with lethal combat abilities.

Green turtles utilized stone-like shells for defense and offense when threatened. Blade fish possessed razor-sharp fins on their backs, which they could launch at their prey. The claws of a tentacle lobster were formidable enough to slice through solid gold.

Legends spoke of level-one fisheries harboring fish that resembled deadly swords, creatures responsible for taking many lives. Beyond that, terrifying myths persisted—tales of colossal beasts lurking in the dark ocean, priceless treasures hidden in the abyss, and the mermaids who had ruled the depths for eternity.

Having never witnessed such wonders himself, Han Fei could not say if these stories were true or mere fantasy.

Tang Ge assisted Han Fei onto a vacant vessel.

“Don’t dwell on it,” Tang Ge said reassuringly. “It was just a mishap. There is still time left, and you will surely succeed in the next trial.”

Han Fei opened his mouth to reply, but he suddenly felt himself ascending.

More specifically, the boat had taken flight. Just as Han Fei began to wonder how such a thing was possible, memories surfaced in his mind to provide the answer.

These vessels were specifically crafted for fishing and transportation to Heavenly Water Village, which sat atop a floating island.

Tang Ge looked at him with concern. “Han Fei, are you truly okay? Did the experience under the water shake you?”

“I’m alright. It just feels as though I’m living in a dream.”

Tang Ge sensed a shift in Han Fei’s demeanor, but Han Fei explained that the near-death experience had simply changed his outlook on life. Han Fei kept the truth hidden; he couldn’t very well explain that the original soul had perished and a stranger now occupied this body.

As Han Fei reflected, the boat pierced through the cloud layer, revealing the magnificent floating mountain. Numerous boats were moored along the cliffs, while many others zipped back and forth through the air.

Han Fei was speechless, captivated by the legendary sight. Even with the memories of his predecessor, seeing it with his own eyes made his heart race.

...

A few minutes later, the vessel touched down on the water’s surface, sending ripples outward. This was the mandatory registration point for all those departing for or returning from the sea.

Since most fishers returned with a catch, merchants crowded the area, making it the village’s primary commercial hub. Despite the pungent odor of fish that filled the air, everyone wore a grin, motivated by the profit to be made.

Han Fei marveled at the bustling scene. This was Heavenly Water Village? From what he remembered, this "village" housed six hundred thousand people. He wondered how many other villages and cities existed in this world and how many souls lived among the clouds.

To Han Fei, everything felt incredibly fresh.

Following Tang Ge’s lead, the pair checked in at the port and made their way home.

Han Fei’s residence was a modest, worn-out courtyard of roughly twenty square meters. It sat right at the edge of a sheer, endless drop. His closest neighbor was hundreds of meters away, leaving the house in a state of isolation.

Looking out from the back, he saw a vast sea of clouds. The setting sun, massive and glowing, occupied half the sky, painting the mist in breathtaking colors.

Tang Ge retrieved several large clams from a water tank and pulled a bucket of water from beneath Han Fei’s bed.

“I’m boiling these clams for you, Han Fei. Just wait here; I’ll be right back.”

Han Fei smiled and nodded. Clams were the staple diet here—meaty and plentiful enough to sustain those who lacked spiritual energy.

An hour passed.

Han Fei went to serve the clam soup, but as he pulled back the lid, he froze. A floating display of information appeared before his eyes.

<Name> Regular Clam Soup <Level> One <Quality> Regular <Spiritual Energy> 24 points <Effect> This food can keep you from starving. Nothing more.

Han Fei blinked and rubbed his eyes. Was this some kind of innate talent? He took a sharp breath, deciding he needed to investigate this later, as Tang Ge would be returning any moment.

He noticed two pearls at the bottom of the pot and smirked. These low-grade pearls could fetch twenty sea coins. In this village, that was only enough to buy a few more clams. His home was otherwise completely empty of value.

Tang Ge soon returned, carrying a bowl that emitted a mouth-watering fragrance.

Han Fei grinned. “Are you giving me your Swallowed Spirit Soup again?”

As he looked at the bowl, Han Fei’s eyes widened as the data appeared again.

<Name> Swallowed Spirit Soup <Level> Eight <Quality> Regular <Spiritual Energy> 48 points <Effect> Training efficiency will be improved by 20% for three hours after this is taken.

Han Fei gulped. His entire pot of soup couldn't even match the potency of this small bowl. Swallowed Spirit Soup was brewed from spirit-swallowing fish found in level-one fisheries. These fish were docile and naturally gathered spiritual energy, making their broth a powerful tool for Cultivation.

Tang Ge brushed it off. “It’s fine. Passing the trial will be easy for me. My soul is set to awaken in a month, so do you really think I’m worried about a single bowl of soup?”

The "trial" was a topic Han Fei was well-acquainted with. At age twelve, every child faced the Fishing Trial. Failing usually meant death, but those who succeeded could awaken their souls, gain a spiritual beast, and gain access to level-one fisheries. Those who failed were destined to remain ordinary fishers forever.

With the trial looming, Tang Ge—a recognized prodigy—frequently shared his resources to help Han Fei improve. Unfortunately, Han Fei’s talent was abysmal. He was currently only a level-two fisher, which was essentially the baseline for a normal human. There were few people in the world less gifted than him.

Under Tang Ge’s watchful eye, Han Fei finished the soup. It was savory and fresh, and a wave of warmth immediately washed through him. Soon, his body felt recharged, and a faint mist of heat rose from his skin.

Hiss...

Han Fei stared in awe at the faint glow on his skin. Was this the sensation of spiritual energy? He was actually glowing. He knew that everyone here was a cultivator, but experiencing it personally for the first time was exhilarating.

Tang Ge laughed. “How do you feel? Do you think you’re close to becoming a level-three fisher?”

“I wasted a lot of time being depressed, but I’m over that now. I think I’ll reach it soon!”

After finishing the special soup and a few clams, Han Fei felt completely satiated.

Tang Ge had to return to school to check on some results, so he left quickly. Once the door was shut, Han Fei sat on his bed, eager to experiment. What was Cultivation truly like? Was it as exciting as he imagined?

If anyone had been watching, they would have been shocked to see a tattoo on Han Fei’s wrist—a calabash complete with intricate vines and leaves.

Han Fei began to recite the "Soul Fishing" art, the only technique he knew. However, the moment he started, a sharp pain shot through his wrist.

He looked down and saw the calabash tattoo glowing.

“Are you following me even here?”

Suddenly, a new set of data manifested before him, labeled as the "Demon Purification Pot"...