Coveted . . .
Any individual fortunate enough to consume the inner core of the Golden-scaled Dragon Fish would experience a remarkable surge in their cultivation. A solitary year of cultivation was said to yield the equivalent of a decade's worth of progress!
As they advanced beyond the initial stages, their cultivation would outstrip others at the same level by a staggering factor of one hundred years for every year of effort.
Moreover, there was another profound advantage conferred by the inner core—it eradicated the perennial issue of bottlenecks during the cultivation process. To cultivators within the Qing-Yun Realm, this allure was simply irresistible.
No one could resist it, and to reject the opportunity was unthinkable.
However, should the fish successfully transform into a dragon, anyone who dared to hunt it on the icy river would meet their doom. The dragon would voraciously absorb their spiritual power, ensuring none would survive the encounter.
It mattered not how mighty or esteemed the hunters were; there was no exception.
To the golden dragon that had once been a Golden-scaled Dragon Fish, any other living beings were inconsequential, mere ants.
Cha Eun Xiao was a local resident within the Qing-Yun Realm. He was well-acquainted with this fabled tale, which he remembered with a sardonic smile. Never could he have anticipated such an encounter immediately upon his return to this world.
Throughout history, the Golden-scaled Dragon Fish had appeared on several occasions, yet only once had it been captured. Once it underwent its transformation into a dragon, all those who had pursued it met a grisly end within its belly.
Sometimes, even the innocent souls residing within a hundred-mile radius shared this cruel fate. Many of the unfortunate victims were Dao Origin Stage cultivators.
The stakes associated with successfully capturing the Golden-scaled Dragon Fish were momentous. Since it had been achieved once before, it was not an insurmountable feat.
Despite full awareness that their lives hung in the balance, countless individuals still risked everything for the chance.
At this very moment, the men dashing across the icy river were unquestionably part of this audacious pursuit.
Nevertheless, Cha Eun Xiao's encounter was also marked by an element of serendipity. He had just returned to the Qing-Yun Realm and found himself facing a Golden-scaled Dragon Fish in the throes of its dragonization stage. It was almost inconceivable.
Was this turn of events good fortune or a cruel twist of fate?
Perhaps the most auspicious aspect was that he found himself situated at the heart of the creature's domain—the very center of its frantic movements.
Inadvertently, he was courting death, risking becoming the fish's prey.
Those chasing the Golden-scaled Dragon Fish were singularly focused on the red shadow beneath the water's surface. They paid no heed to Cha Eun Xiao; his presence went entirely unnoticed.
In the midst of this chaotic pursuit, something stirred within Cha Eun Xiao's clothing. A tiny, snow-white head emerged.
Erhuo, who had been slumbering in Cha Eun Xiao's attire since the lightning trial, was now wide awake. Its ears pricked up, attentive, and its gaze remained fixed on the red shadow within the water. It was entirely still, even its whiskers remained unmoved.
If Cha Eun Xiao had cast his eyes upon Erhuo, he would have noticed a long, glistening strand of saliva dangling from the creature's mouth.
Erhuo's excitement was palpable.
[What have I just glimpsed? This is... Miamiamiamia! ... Something delectable!]
[Delicious!]
The feline was ecstatic.
Cha Eun Xiao finally registered Erhuo's presence. He peered down and observed its intense focus on the red shadow within the water.
Enlightenment washed over him.
As time elapsed, the world's spiritual qi began to coalesce, and the frigid qi grew denser. The ice beneath his feet thickened, such that if it had been as robust earlier, he would not have plunged into the water.
Cha Eun Xiao realized that it was the second day of the dragonization stage for the Golden-scaled Dragon Fish, which meant the next day would bring the complete freezing of the river, and the fish would ascend to become a golden dragon.
Yet, when it attained this draconic form, the lives of all those nearby would be forfeit.
Scores of individuals continued their frenetic chase on the river, their anxiety mounting. If they failed to capture the fish before the river's total freeze, their fate was sealed. There would be no exceptions—everyone would meet their demise.
The elusive red shadow continued its swift, tireless movements. Even as the water neared full crystallization, the fish maintained its agility and grace. It moved with a sense of urgency, yet its actions were precise, reminiscent of lightning flashing through the water—swift and powerful.
Remarkably, the fish seemed indifferent to the presence of the men on the ice. It was apparent that nobody could hope to capture it. While it might not be as robust as in its earlier stage, it remained the fastest entity in the world. At this moment, not even lightning could outpace it.
The people on the icy river were bound to become its sustenance. This was its unwavering belief.
The Golden-scaled Dragon Fish was a spiritual entity birthed by the harmonious forces of the heavens and earth. Regardless of their strength or numbers, humans could not hope to ensnare it. Fortune was the sole factor that allowed one individual to accomplish this extraordinary feat. Just as Cha Eun Xiao had fallen into the river, that person had fortuitously collided with the fish while it was expending ninety percent of its energy to freeze the river completely. This serendipitous encounter had catapulted the individual into legendary status, and they became a myth in this world.
However, such an occurrence was highly unlikely to repeat. The river was on the brink of total freezing, and the appearance of the rainbow gate was imminent. The fish was nearly at the threshold of its transformation. Success was all but assured.
Once it achieved dragonhood, it could reclaim all of the spiritual energy it had released and absorb the spiritual qi from the men who had attempted to ensnare it. Those who dared to try to capture it would need to brace themselves for the consequences of facing the dragon.
A frantic man rushed over to Cha Eun Xiao, visibly panicking and pushing him backward several steps.