It rolled over, staring straight at the five of them.
“Just a little scare and your bones turned soft, and you even tasted meat. Hmph, how can you lot cultivate the Buddhist way if you can’t even control your appetite?”
The big fish seemed convinced that the five of them were Buddhist cultivators. Gu Ningyun didn’t bother arguing with it, lest she provoke its temper.
She still wanted to fleece some good stuff from this fish.
“Senior, are you satisfied with this abode?” she asked, suddenly changing the subject.
The rank three mahi-mahi was about to say something else when her sudden question broke its rhythm.
It paused for a moment before slowly speaking. “Mhm, it’s decent enough.”
“Senior, let me give you a detailed tour. Look at this giant pearl. Don’t you think it looks both beautiful and imposing placed at the head of the bed?”
The rank three mahi-mahi flicked its tail. “Mhm.”
Gu Ningyun took out a cluster of seaweed to cover the pearl. “We know that mahi-mahis like to sleep in cool, shaded areas, and light sources can affect sleep quality. So, we specially designed a cover for this giant pearl.”
“Oh?” The rank three mahi-mahi was somewhat surprised. “Such attention to detail. Not bad, not bad at all.”
Seeing the fish was satisfied, Gu Ningyun pressed her advantage, introducing each thoughtful little detail while shamelessly flattering it dozens of times.
She lavished it with praise, calling it imposing, generous, powerful, and so on, until the mahi-mahi was trembling with delight.
Once she saw the mahi-mahi was in high spirits, she let out a deep sigh.
The mahi-mahi, currently basking in her praise, asked, “What’s wrong? Is there something else amiss with the abode?”
“Senior’s abode is naturally excellent. We are also very happy to have the honor of decorating it for you.”
Gu Ningyun’s sincere tone shifted. “It’s just...”
“Just what?”
“We originally planned to go to the Ten Thousand Crab Sea to catch crabs.”
Gu Ningyun looked melancholic. “But we were brought here by Senior halfway through and have been delayed for so many days. Not only did we fail to catch any crabs, but we don’t even know if our spirit boat, which is anchored on the surface of the Ten Thousand Crab Sea, is still there.”
“What’s there to sigh about? You little Buddhist cultivators really lack worldliness.”
The rank three mahi-mahi blew a few bubbles, and several small rank two mahi-mahis swam in.
After a brief exchange in fish language, the small mahi-mahis quickly swam out of the cave.
“I’ve already arranged for them to catch crabs for you, both large and small. You just wait here.”
Jiang Yao and the others stood with their mouths slightly agape, watching as Gu Ningyun completely hoodwinked the rank three mahi-mahi.
“Senior is so generous!”
Gu Ningyun exclaimed with exaggerated emotion, “Senior is truly the most generous and wealthiest sea beast we have ever met. Just look at the spirit flowers and herbs in this abode, and these rare treasures! Look at that underwater garden outside, with thousands of species of fish. No other sea beast can compare to you.”
“At least you have a good eye,” the rank three mahi-mahi laughed heartily. “I am very satisfied with your performance. If there’s anything you like, I’ll give it to you.”
“Wow! Senior, you’re too kind!”
Gu Ningyun rubbed her hands together. “I wonder about that shark silk...”
The rank three mahi-mahi’s expression stiffened. “It’s not that I’m stingy, but I only have one bolt of that shark silk myself. I truly don’t have any extra. Why don’t you pick something else?”
“Then, what about that giant pearl...”
The rank three mahi-mahi: “...”
“That kind of rank three pearl oyster is extremely rare. I only came across one by chance...”
Gu Ningyun’s disappointment was visible to the naked eye. She struggled with herself for a long while before sighing. “Sigh.”
The rank three mahi-mahi agonized for a long time before gritting its teeth. “How about this? Along with that rank three pearl oyster, there were also several rank two peak pearl oysters. I’ll give each of you a pearl from those rank two peak pearl oysters, along with their shells. How does that sound?”
“Of course! Anything Senior gives is the best!”
Gu Ningyun’s disappointment vanished instantly as she provided plenty of emotional value.
The rank three mahi-mahi had been looking pained, but its expression smoothed out upon hearing her words.
“The tuna Senior gave us earlier was delicious, and the spirit flowers and herbs outside look full of spirit energy...”
“You’re Buddhist cultivators. I can understand raising sea crabs, but why are you eating fish meat?”
The rank three mahi-mahi coughed. “If you like those spirit flowers and herbs, just dig some up. Just don’t dig them all to extinction.”
Gu Ningyun was very confused.
This fish was convinced they were Buddhist cultivators, so why did it force them to eat fish meat before? And after they ate it, it seemed even more dissatisfied.
She didn’t voice these questions. After collecting the pearls and shells and giving her thanks, she and her companions ran outside.
This seaweed can be used for artifact refining—dig it up.
This herb can be used for alchemy—dig it up.
This reef rock is a good material for arrays—dig it up...
They took some of every kind of spirit plant and material.
Wen Xuan and the other three filled dozens of spirit boxes, and the underwater section of Gu Ningyun’s space became much richer.
When they were almost done digging, the small mahi-mahis returned with the sea crabs.
At a glance, there were sixteen pairs—ten pairs of rank two crabs and six pairs of rank one peak crabs. Each one’s body was at least half a meter in diameter.
Gu Ningyun put them all into her space and sent a secret transmission. “It’s not convenient here. I’ll keep them for now; come find me when you need them.”
The four naturally had no objections.
“Ningyun, I was wondering why you added those new designs when we were decorating the cave.”
Wen Xuan winked. “Were you already preparing for this back then?”
“Of course. I was observing this rank three mahi-mahi the whole time, studying its personality and preferences. I was just giving it a try; I didn’t expect it to actually fall for it.”
Once they had gathered the sea crabs, the rank three mahi-mahi flicked its tail, and a current swept over them.
“My fish just checked. There is still a spirit boat anchored above the Ten Thousand Crab Sea. It should be the one you were on. I’ll send you back now.”
The spirit boat was supposed to stay in the Ten Thousand Crab Sea for half a month. They had only been underwater for a few days, so it was naturally still there.
Gu Ningyun had only said that to gain the rank three mahi-mahi’s sympathy.
“Then, many thanks, Senior.”
“Mhm. What can I say? I’m just generous.”
The rank three sea beast was extremely fast. Before long, the glow of the underwater garden disappeared.
The seabed was pitch black.
As the rank three mahi-mahi was swimming, it suddenly made a sharp turn.
“Senior, what’s wrong?”
“There are Golden Core stage demon cultivators ahead. It’s not convenient to have you lot with me, so it’s better to detour.”
“Demon cultivators? The East Sea is right next to Cangzhou and the Penglai Archipelago. How could demon cultivators appear here?”
“I’m not sure either. These demon cultivators have been appearing on the seabed of the East Sea for several months now. They’re elusive, as if they’re looking for something. Sometimes, even Nascent Soul stage demon cultivators enter the sea. Because of their appearance, the sea beasts in these areas have had no peace. Several rank three peak and rank three late stage sea beasts were nearly killed by them and had to flee to other sea areas.”
Hearing this, Gu Ningyun suddenly recalled the conversation between the passengers when they encountered the two-faced whale.
Rate on N.U.
