34: Chapter 34 Reservoir, Making Big Money

Town Reservoir.

[Race]: Profound Cold Scaled Eagle.

[Level]: Rank 2, Stage 3.

[Skills]: Profound Cold Heavy Peck [Intermediate], Profound Cold Heavy Claw [Intermediate], Frost Spirit Wing [Low], Spirit Grade Divine Sense [Low], Sonic Attack [Low], Ice Scale Overlord Body [Low], Frost Coverage [Advanced], Frost Wing Blade [Low], Frost Manipulation [Intermediate].

[System Skills]: Eye of Appraisal, Communication with Living Beings, Devour Heaven and Earth, Death Pressure, Size Manipulation, Immunity to Toxins {Able to be immune to various toxic gases and toxins.}

[evolution points]: {1000/6000}

During this period, Bai Xuan did not leave the town. Instead, he stayed around the reservoir, hunting various mutated aquatic creatures to gain a large number of evolution points.

Combined with the evolution points he had earned previously, Bai Xuan's level naturally reached Rank 2, Stage 3, and his strength increased significantly.

All of his skills broke through the Mortal Grade and became Spirit Grade.

His body size did not change, but the aura within his demon core grew.

At Rank 1, a cyclone was stored within the demon core. After Rank 2, it became liquid, and the demon core turned light blue, symbolizing the Ice Attribute.

Meanwhile, Bai Xuan searched for mutated aquatic creatures in the reservoir.

Bai Xuan's speed in the water was not slow, and he easily hunted down those mutated aquatic creatures.

[Devoured Mutated Giant Grass Carp, Rank 1, Stage 6, obtained 60 evolution points.]

[Devoured Mutated Black Water Snake, Rank 1, Stage 5, obtained 50 evolution points.]

[Devoured Mutated Carp, Rank 1, Stage 4, obtained 40 evolution points.]

[Devoured Mutated Mallard, Rank 1, Stage 5, obtained 50 evolution points.]

[Devoured Mutated Soft-shell Turtle, Rank 1, Stage 5, obtained 50 evolution points.]

evolution points flowed in steadily. For the lower-ranked small fish and shrimp, Bai Xuan would devour a whole bunch in one bite.

The reservoir hadn't seen much interference. Fishing with electric nets was used to control the numbers, but those mutated aquatic creatures were very smart. They wouldn't be easily fooled, or they would intentionally bite through the fishing nets, making things very difficult for the military.

Because of this, there were many more mutated aquatic creatures than land creatures.

Only the military could come here. Even those bold and persistent fishermen had given up, not daring to come to the reservoir to fish.

After the aura recovery, some people came to fish and caught quite a few good, large specimens. But after the Aura Tide arrived, mutated creatures became more numerous and their attack power grew stronger. One after another, many people were dragged into the water and killed, and the area was later cordoned off.

The reservoir was an important water resource, and the military temporarily couldn't find a way to control the mutated aquatic creatures without polluting the water.

Additionally, mutated creatures from the mountains and forests were continuously coming down to endanger the town. Being tied down, the military had even less time to deal with the reservoir's issues. Since it wasn't threatening the town for the time being, they decided to control the mountain forest creatures first before solving the mutated aquatic creature problem.

...

Night fell, and the bright moon hung in the sky.

Bai Xuan lunged out of the water, flapping his wings in mid-air to shake the water off his body:

"It's getting late. Let's call it a day."

Just as Bai Xuan was about to leave, his Divine Sense Perception detected a mutated aquatic creature nearing Rank 2!

Looking up, what met his eyes was a turtle head the size of a stone stool, poking out of the water and gazing up at the full moon in the sky.

"Is it absorbing the essence of the sun and moon, the aura of heaven and earth?"

Bai Xuan didn't strike immediately. Instead, he silently flew to a large tree on the shore, standing on a branch and watching the scene before him without a word.

A huge turtle shell emerged from the water, its entire body glowing with bursts of white light as wisps of surrounding aura were sucked into its body.

Its presence gradually rose, and the surrounding mutated aquatic creatures didn't dare approach.

"It seems my guess was correct. This Giant Turtle is about to advance."

Nearing Rank 2, it would be at Rank 2 after advancing.

To reach this step so quickly was truly rare.

Either this Giant Turtle possessed excellent natural talent, or it had obtained some kind of treasure or aura.

Bai Xuan didn't take this opportunity to launch a sneak attack on the Giant Turtle. There was no need. After the Giant Turtle successfully advanced and was killed, he could obtain more evolution points.

At the same time, the Giant Turtle's corpse and demon core would be highly nutritious. Now that Bai Xuan had eaten so many mutated creatures, his level had reached a bottleneck. Eating this Giant Turtle might allow him to break through to Rank 2, Stage 4.

"Eh? Someone's here?"

Someone had entered the range of Bai Xuan's Divine Sense.

Before long, footsteps and voices followed.

"Brother Zhuang, maybe we should go back. I have a bad feeling."

"What are you afraid of? Those are just slightly larger beasts, nothing to fear. Besides, so many were killed a while ago, there won't be any danger. Don't worry."

"But I still feel very unsafe... there's no need to lose our lives for such a small amount of money. Also, quite a few people have drowned in the past few months. It's too unlucky."

"Since you're so scared, why didn't you say so earlier? If you had, I wouldn't have brought you. If you want to go back, you can leave now. I won't stop you."

"Forget it, since we're already here, I don't want it to be a wasted trip."

"That's the spirit. One mutated fish is a thousand yuan; ten is ten thousand. Other game pays even more. We can make at least ten thousand yuan in one night. It's like picking up money. Where else can you find such opportunities nowadays? If you don't do it, plenty of others will. Besides, doing this isn't illegal now, so don't worry about being thrown in jail."

Zhuang Zimo put his arm around the friend who had come with him, grinning as he urged him to continue.

As the saying goes, wealth is found in danger. Many big bosses now wanted to eat these mutated creatures, and they wanted them fresh. Knowing the risks, they naturally wouldn't come personally, so they let bold people go into the mountains to the reservoir to catch wild game or fish for aquatic creatures.

"That's true." Wu Xingzhu nodded slightly.

Both of them had brought a large amount of hunting and fishing equipment.

Compound bows, fishing nets, self-made high-power electric spears, and self-made explosives. Flashlights, mosquito repellent spray, and so on.

With large and small bags on their backs, they were used to physical labor. Their muscles were well-developed, and their explosive power and endurance far exceeded those of ordinary people.

Ordinary people really couldn't bring all this equipment into the mountains.

Their car was parked in the woods by the roadside. They had taken a shortcut and a relatively safe path to the reservoir.

"We're both fathers. For the sake of our children, what do these little difficulties matter? Now there are Martial Artist Academies, and the resources and money needed are only increasing. We must earn more money so our children can have a better future and do what they want to do."

"Well said. That brat of mine is clamoring all day about becoming a martial artist to defend the country, kill all those mutated creatures, and protect me and his mom."

Wu Xingzhu smiled. Thinking of his child's dream, he was no longer afraid. He had to overcome this bit of difficulty and danger, press forward, and earn more money to give his child the capital to realize his dream!

...

"That's the spirit. Let's go. The sooner we finish the task, the sooner we can go back and rest."

Zhuang Zimo walked to the edge of the reservoir and put his tools on the ground.

He began to set out the necessary items: folding chairs, fishing rods, lines, bait, mosquito coils, flashlights, and so on. Everything was prepared efficiently and smoothly.

Wu Xingzhu did the same, skillfully arranging his items.

Then they began fishing, setting up several rods. Sitting on his folding chair, Wu Xingzhu took a box of cigarettes from his pocket and handed one to Zhuang Zimo next to him:

"Here, have a smoke."

Zhuang Zimo took the cigarette, put it in his mouth, shielded the wind with one hand while lighting it with the other, and after taking a deep drag and exhaling, said:

"Xingzhu, I invited many people to come along, but you're the only one bold enough to come with me. Actually, there's not much danger. I've already investigated; basically no wild beasts come here. We'll just fish like we did before. Don't worry so much."

For this money-making opportunity, Zhuang Zimo had invited many people, and he could also get a decent commission. But those people were too afraid and turned him down.

Only Wu Xingzhu was bold enough to come with him.

In this regard, Zhuang Zimo naturally had to do his best to keep this hard-won companion; an extra person meant an extra pair of eyes.

Once they returned safely this time, more people would surely join. With Zhuang Zimo and Wu Xingzhu leading the way, once others felt it wasn't as dangerous as imagined, they would come.

"Actually, my financial situation has been quite tight lately. It's good to come out and earn some extra cash."

Wu Xingzhu scratched the back of his head.

"Me too. If I had money, who would want to take this risk?"

Zhuang Zimo gave a bitter smile and took a worried puff of his cigarette.

The mutated creatures here at the reservoir were relatively clean. The fish in those stinking ditches, ponds, or rivers were either limited to low levels or contaminated by foul water and were not clean.

They didn't fit the diet of those wealthy people. It was better to spend money to have people get sea fish, wild game, or clean freshwater fish. Anyway, they weren't short on that little bit of money; they believed in eating what you want to supplement. The higher the level, the higher the aura, and the nutritional value naturally increased as well.

Suddenly, Wu Xingzhu noticed something. He pointed to the distant water surface, his voice urgent:

"Brother Zhuang, Brother Zhuang, look over there! What is that thing?"

Zhuang Zimo looked in the direction of the finger. What met his eyes was a glowing mysterious creature. He quickly picked up his binoculars:

"It's... it's a giant turtle!"

Wu Xingzhu reached for his compound bow, his eyes revealing alertness. He didn't dare let his guard down, ready to respond to any incoming danger at any time:

"Brother Zhuang, what should we do now?"

"Let me take a photo first." Zhuang Zimo picked up his phone, opened the camera, used the telephoto zoom, and with a few clicks, took several photos in rapid succession.

Then he sent them to the buyer, the wealthy boss who had sent them here.

Soon, a voice message came from the other side:

"Holy crap! This is a great tonic! Xiao Zhuang, if you can catch this turtle alive for me, I'll give you two hundred thousand. For a dead one, I'll give one hundred and fifty thousand. Payment immediately upon delivery."

Zhuang Zimo was ecstatic. Two hundred thousand—that was no small sum:

"Alright, Boss. I'll do my absolute best. Just wait for my good news."

"Good man. I knew I didn't misjudge you. Do a good job, Xiao Zhuang, and I won't shortchange you a single cent. Oh, stay safe. Contact me as soon as you catch it. I won't disturb you further. Get to work."

The excitement in the boss's voice message was unconcealed.

This Giant Turtle in a soup or braised would surely help him regain his masculine vigor!

Two hundred thousand was well worth it! It was even worth more than that price. If he turned around and sold it, the price would double. Plenty of people would scramble for this kind of mutated creature, as it was very useful for both ordinary people and martial artists.

It strengthened the body and prolonged life.

"Brother Zhuang, that Giant Turtle... isn't something we can handle. How about we forget it? It's too risky."

"Xiao Zhu, why are you still so gutless? As they say, wealth is found in danger. Two hundred thousand! Two hundred thousand in one night! That's no small sum; you could buy a car with that. Are you really going to miss this rare opportunity?"

If they didn't catch this Giant Turtle now, trying to catch it next time would be even harder. Combined with the temptation of two hundred thousand, how could Zhuang Zimo give up this chance to make big money?

Not only was Zhuang Zimo not afraid, he was even quite excited.

After a moment of silence, Wu Xingzhu gritted his teeth and stamped his foot:

"Let's do it, Brother Zhuang. What do we need to do?"

"No rush. Let's agree beforehand: a forty-sixty split. You get forty, I get sixty." Zhuang Zimo naturally wanted the bigger share.

"Fine. I have no objection." Wu Xingzhu agreed without a second thought.

A forty-sixty split was fair. After all, Zhuang Zimo was the one who introduced him to this work. It was only right for Zhuang Zimo to take the larger share.

"Good. First, let's prepare our weapons, sneak over, aim for the head, give it a fatal blow, and then work together to drag it back to shore."

Zhuang Zimo formulated a plan. The arrows already had ropes tied to them, specifically for shooting fish and then pulling them to the shore so they wouldn't have to go into the water to retrieve them.

He hadn't expected it to be so useful today. As long as they killed this Giant Turtle, it would be enough for them to live comfortably for a long time. If they worked harder, they could strive to earn a million within three months.

Desire is like a boulder rolling down a high mountain. Once they earned big money, their courage would grow, and any risks would be long forgotten.

"Isn't it two hundred thousand only if we catch it alive?" Wu Xingzhu was puzzled.

Zhuang Zimo explained:

"Are you stupid? Catching it alive isn't that easy; the risk is too great. After we kill it and take it back, we can haggle. It'll definitely be more than one hundred and fifty thousand, at least two hundred thousand at the base, maybe even more."

"Brother Zhuang, you've thought of everything." Wu Xingzhu slapped his forehead in realization.

"Alright, enough talk. Let's grab our gear and head out."

Zhuang Zimo began picking up the equipment.

With everything ready, he and Wu Xingzhu crept toward the Giant Turtle's direction.

Bai Xuan took all of this in:

"Seeking their own deaths."

Two ordinary humans wanting to kill a mutated creature nearing Rank 2 with those weapons was nothing but a pipe dream.

Bai Xuan didn't intend to get involved.

There was no need to expose his position for two strangers.

...

Meanwhile, Zhuang Zimo and Wu Xingzhu reached the shore less than two hundred meters from the Giant Turtle. Squatting on the ground, they nocked their arrows and drew their bows, aiming at the Giant Turtle's head:

"I'll shoot first."

"Okay," Wu Xingzhu replied in a low whisper.

If Zhuang Zimo missed, Wu Xingzhu would follow up. If he hit, Wu Xingzhu would deliver the finishing blow, and then they would drag it back to shore together.

The arrowheads were customized to fix firmly into the prey's body after being shot.