God of Fishing Chapter 5: Unexpected Breakthrough

The middle-aged man’s countenance shifted instantly. “That isn't a fish! You’ve hooked a Tentacle Lobster!”

Han Fei felt a jolt of surprise. A Tentacle Lobster? Was that the same creature Tang Ge had pulled up earlier?

Before the youth could process the warning, he had already jerked his fishing pole upward.

The group watched as a pair of elongated tentacles broke the surface. Everyone immediately swung their poles toward the threat.

“Snap the line!” the middle-aged man bellowed.

It was too late. One tentacle coiled around the young man’s arm with lightning speed. To Han Fei’s horror, a chunk of flesh was ripped clean off the limb, sending the boy collapsing against the side of the vessel, screaming in agony.

Old Chen roared, grabbing the youth by the leg to pull him back, but the second tentacle lunged straight for him. The middle-aged man reacted instantly, shoving Old Chen back with the butt of his fishing pole to save him.

In the blink of an eye, the young man was snatched off the boat. Han Fei gathered the courage to peer over the edge, only to break into a cold sweat; the boy’s head was already missing. Throughout the entire encounter, the Tentacle Lobster had never shown more than its two limbs.

F*ck... Is there any way I can just go back to my old world?

Han Fei turned pale. Though the youth had mocked him that morning and Han Fei had wounded his backside in retaliation, he felt a sting of regret that the boy had perished so brutally. He was just a child, after all.

“We need to notify the supervisors!” one of the men suggested after a moment of grim silence.

The supervisors were the fishery’s patrolmen, commanded by a Fishing Master. The captain in charge of this specific area was Wang Jie, the very man who had rescued Han Fei the previous day.

Wang Jie arrived shortly thereafter. He scanned the group and noticed Han Fei, though his gaze didn't linger.

With a dark expression, Wang Jie demanded, “Explain what happened.”

The passengers hurried to recount the events. Wang Jie’s irritation flared immediately. “What a fool! Did he not realize the pull of a Tentacle Lobster is nothing like a fish? How could he be so reckless as to try and reel it in?”

The middle-aged man offered an excuse. “He might have been desperate. The sun is nearly down.”

Hearing this made Han Fei feel even more dejected.

Back in his previous life, he was a renowned gold digger of the sea who had hauled in everything from common fish to sharks. Yet here, after a full day, he hadn't even managed to catch a single shrimp. It was a profound disgrace.

Wang Jie spoke with gravity. “The waters have been restless lately. Another vessel suffered a worse fate than yours. They ran into a Snakebelt. Four out of the eight souls on board were killed...”

The crowd hissed in collective dread.

Everyone shuddered. A Snakebelt was far more terrifying than a Tentacle Lobster. Had they crossed paths with one, their boat would have likely fared no better.

Han Fei searched his memory for information on the Snakebelt. It was a long, crimson fish resembling a serpent, though its head was comprised almost entirely of jagged teeth. It moved with incredible speed through the depths and was known to burrow into a human body and slither through their insides.

It finally dawned on Han Fei why people preferred these low-level boats; it was so passengers could assist one another during disasters. Had he encountered a Tentacle Lobster while alone, he would surely be dead.

Wang Jie turned to the group. “Have you completed your quotas?”

“We have. We appreciate your concern, Lord Fishing Master.”

Wang Jie’s indifferent gaze shifted to Han Fei. “Where is your catch?”

Flushing with embarrassment, Han Fei muttered, “I—I didn't catch anything.”

Wang Jie was staggered. After nearly drowning due to a Green Turtle yesterday, the boy had failed to catch a single fish today. In all his time, Wang Jie had never encountered a Fisher so incompetent. No matter how poor one's skills, surely a few Yellow Fish or Little White Fish were manageable?

The middle-aged man spoke up quickly to defend him. “I heard he nearly drowned yesterday. His hook was likely unsteady because he’s still shaken up. He’ll improve in a few days.”

Wang Jie gave a dismissive snort. “Pathetic... if a minor scare ruins your performance like this, what future could you possibly have?”

Han Fei remained silent, lost in thought. Was his failure really just due to an unsteady cast?

Despite the pleas of the others, Wang Jie ordered Han Fei to remain at sea overnight as punishment. His only advice to the boy was to keep his line no deeper than three meters during the night. He had no further sympathy for such a worthless individual.

Old Chen approached Han Fei, handing him a piece of dried fish and a canteen. “Stay alert.”

Another man offered an iron dagger. “Take this for protection!”

Han Fei expressed his gratitude, heartened by their kindness.

Wang Jie eventually departed with the rest of the group, leaving Han Fei alone on the boat.

Feeling dejected now that he was solitary, Han Fei bit into the dried fish Old Chen had provided. It tasted pungent and sharp.

Having gone the entire day without food, his hunger was intense. He quickly finished the small portion of dried meat.

Night fell completely. The ocean waves were calm, and the world was illuminated only by the silver glow of the moon.

“Was my hook really that unsteady?”

Han Fei pondered the middle-aged man’s words and recalled the "Immobilization" technique from the Soul Fishing manual.

The text’s description was deceptively simple: maintain the body, the pole, and the heart as still as calm water. It was far more difficult in practice; a human being was not a lifeless object.

Suddenly, a burning sensation erupted on Han Fei’s wrist. He pushed up his sleeve to see the calabash tattoo glowing. He felt a surge of spiritual energy clinging to his skin and seeping into his body, much like the air he inhaled.

What? Is spiritual energy being drawn into me automatically?

Han Fei immediately set his fishing pole aside and crossed his legs. He didn't understand why the calabash was suddenly absorbing spiritual energy, but it was a boon for his Cultivation.

He began to circulate his energy based on his memories. As he started, the calabash on his wrist vibrated violently, and the rate of spiritual energy absorption multiplied several times over.

An hour passed before Han Fei felt a sensation of something snapping within him. He felt revitalized and overflowing with strength.

Is this what a breakthrough feels like?

He checked the status of the Demon Purification Pot. The information had indeed updated.

Demon Purification Pot Owner: Han Fei Level: Three (Beginner Fisher) Spiritual Energy: 60 (60) Spiritual Heritage: Level One, Incomplete (Upgradeable) Main Art: Soul Fishing (Repairable)

Han Fei was ecstatic. This advancement had been incredibly simple. Didn't people say this process could take years? How had he achieved it in a mere hour of Cultivation?

Han Fei was about to resume his meditation when a strange rattling sound echoed across the dark water.