Chapter 738: Mid-Summer Heat

The Bing-Fire season has just passed, and the three dog days of summer have yet to depart.

Heat waves roll across the Jianghuai Great Marsh; the shimmering light on the water seems to hide rolling fireballs, and the entire shallow water area is baked until it is warm and scorching.

Teenagers, heedless of danger, push aside the reeds and jump into the white light to dive and cool off, only to be dragged home by their ears by their elders. Only a few idlers remain, but they are soon driven ashore by the clerks of the River Patrol Office rowing their small boats.

Amidst the flickering golden light, a long procession swims closer, like a strip of cloth drifting over to cover the ripples.

The villagers inside the tea stall stand up one after another, stepping out of the shadows and shielding their eyes from the glare.

"Hey, the blue octopus is back again! Strange, it only left a month ago; how is it back so soon? Didn't the River Patrol clerks say it only comes once every half year?"

"It goes east in winter and west in summer; it must have gone upstream and is now on its way back."

"Damn, that octopus's voice is truly intoxicating, even better than Miss Chunhua from the prefecture. I went home that night, and when I woke up the next morning, I found my pants were wet!"

Hmm?

The crowd glances sideways, stepping back to form an empty circle.

For a moment, they are hesitant to speak.

Seeming to realize they let something slip, the speaker hurriedly changes the subject: "I wonder what level of strength such a demon beast has. If it starts trouble, can our Master Liang handle it?"

"He can, he definitely can. If Master Liang can't, doesn't he still have his master? The two of them together should be fine."

"Hey, don't talk nonsense." Liang Qu moves a stool aside, walks into the tea shed, and sits down.

"Master Liang! Why are you here?"

The people around crowd in, all talking at once.

"The sea merchants are back; how could I, someone on duty, not come to take a look? Old Li, stop blocking the front; it's hot, and the air isn't circulating!"

Liang Qu waves his hand, taps his fingers on the edge of his bowl, and pours himself a cup of cold tea to quench his thirst. The crowd immediately splits into two, clearing a space to let the river breeze blow in.

The tea shop owner runs over to replace it with a fresh pot: "Master Liang, they've been arguing about this for a long time. Why don't you tell us yourself: can you handle that fish lady?"

"That's right, tell us."

The crowd eggs him on.

Liang Qu puts down his teacup, his tone indifferent.

"I can't beat her."

"Hiss, what about with your master?"

"Same."

"Strange, is she that powerful?"

The villagers are shocked.

They didn't expect the octopus to be so capable that even Master Liang couldn't handle her!

Those eight arms weren't grown for nothing, after all.

"You've all heard it now; don't drag me into your bragging next time. You'll end up causing trouble one of these days."

"Yes, yes, yes."

The villagers laugh sheepishly.

A round of bragging and joking follows.

From whether the octopus is from the Jianghuai Great Marsh, whether it eats people, and whether it has a husband, they move on to chatting about whether the sea or the Jianghuai Great Marsh is bigger, and whether they can catch more fish.

Liang Qu sees the crowd in front of the Sea Hai Fangzhu thinning out, drops two copper coins, and leaves.

The people of Yixing are still savoring their fantasies about the so-called sea when someone suddenly speaks up.

"Shopkeeper, what about the tea Master Liang offered? Why aren't you serving it?"

"Serve what? You old bachelor, are you delusional? Which ear heard Master Liang offer to treat you to tea?"

The villagers recall carefully.

It seems that never happened.

Strange.

"Why didn't Master Liang offer tea today?"

"Maybe he forgot?"

In front of the Prefectural Office.

The officials of the Pingyang River Patrol Office are receiving guests as usual.

Having obtained supplies from Peng Ze and being on their way, the sea merchants naturally seek trade with the imperial court again, while continuing their "retail" business.

With less than ten days until the auction, the Grandmasters who were coming have basically arrived, and business is even livelier than before they left.

Therefore, not only the local villagers, but many young masters and martial artists from other places who came with their elders are seeing a great demon water beast for the first time. They are very curious and use the excuse of buying things to get closer and take a look.

Several young masters pick out some underwater jewelry, their eyes glancing from time to time toward the Sea Hai Fangzhu in the center.

"This Sea Hai Fangzhu's voice is indeed soft. Are octopuses all translucent sky-blue?"

"Not necessarily; didn't you see the one selling jewelry earlier was brown? Sky-blue—among the sea tribes, she must be a beauty."

"Brother, you really are delusional."

"Hey, hey, hey, someone is approaching! What nerve! Hiss, she's got him wrapped up! Could it be the sea demon is going to eat him? Wait, why is she stuffing so many treasure fish into him!? Who is that?"

Inside the riverbank.

Liang Qu lets himself be wrapped by the cold, translucent blue tentacles and successfully receives his big treasure fish set. He sticks his fingers into the fish gill covers one after another, suddenly finding them hard to hold onto.

Two twenty-jin Red Lions, one twelve-jin Silver Chi, and one eight-jin-six-ounce Blood Lion!

Four in total; a rough estimate, and another nearly forty thousand essence points are in the account!

It sounds standard, and compared to the old turtle's volume, it's not too much. However, one must know that this is only the initial planting—all input, no output. Moreover, he has introduced two big waves in succession, and the rewards are visibly flowing like a long stream. If the sea merchants pass through three times a year in the future, I'm afraid they'll have them every time.

The Sea Hai Fangzhu pats Liang Qu's head: "Wait for General Yuan's precious plants to be harvested, and then I'll give Little Water a reward!"

Refreshing!

Liang Qu says he only wanted to help the Sea Hai Fangzhu and didn't care about the reward at all, enjoying the cold, sticky feeling on his face.

It's quite cooling.

After a while.

Liang Qu pushes away the tentacles and brings up business.

"Master Hai Fangzhu, where did the Size Ruyi Long Qi of June come from?"

The Sea Hai Fangzhu stretches out her tentacles: "Magistrate Su of the River Patrol Office also asked about this, but unfortunately, I don't know either. It was a collection item that the Great King obtained from a sea scorpion many years ago. It is said to bring good luck. It has been kept for more than ten years, and I haven't seen it before or since."

More than ten years?

The difficulty of obtaining it has risen again...

It's probably the same as 'Withered Wood Meets Spring'; it requires experiencing some kind of very coincidental change in nature.

Liang Qu thinks silently.

If I really had Size Ruyi Long Qi, I don't know how convenient life would be.

Yesterday, if 'Cannot Move' hadn't been unable to squeeze into the pond, the old toad would have had more than ten times the territory, the entire Round-Head tribe could live at home, and there would be the Size Ruyi Fubo Spear...

He imagines a wonderful life.

Unknowingly, the cold stickiness wraps around him again.

Evening.

The riverbank is orange-red.

Liang Qu wipes the water stains off his face, waves goodbye to the Sea Hai Fangzhu, and goes home. Inside the house, he finishes the last bit of lotus seeds and stews two Red Lions in succession.

【Water Marsh Essence: 417,000】

Blue light surges, and four types of Qi circulate.

Unprecedented wealth!

The scorching essence churns in his belly.

The road is difficult, with many forks.

Cultivating to the Great Martial Artist realm, he gradually felt the difficulty of promotion, but even so, the blocked barrier loosened a bit.

Inside the quiet room.

Liang Qu operates the "Wansheng Baoyuan," adjusts his state, captures the insights and spiritual light of recent days in his mind, and probes his Qi and blood to carry out further fusion.

His thoughts move slightly.

Whoosh.

The tide of the marsh drops significantly.

A full 280,000 Water Marsh Essence points pour into the Marsh Spirit.

A sturdy White Ape instantly appears behind him. On its broad, burly back, countless white hairs fall off, and new, shimmering silver hairs grow out.

【Tripod Master: Liang Qu】

【Refined Marsh Spirit: Water Wang Yuan (Purple) (Fusion Degree: 3.6%↑)】

The fusion degree jumps up slowly but firmly.

A windfall, but Liang Qu has a plan for his essence. First, allocate 280,000 to himself, raise the fusion degree to five percent, and wait for the Long Qi matter to settle. Then, turn the spirit fish into spirit fish, and if there is any left, use it for the water beasts' evolution.

Midnight.

The Heavenly Dragon lies dormant in his body.

One is shining with golden light, while the other two are like outlines; now, the second one's flesh and blood are gradually becoming solid.

"I can bury the second divine ability seed soon."

Liang Qu clenches his fist, excited in his heart.

In the blink of an eye, the second floor of the building was built from nothing, with three layers constructed, and the progress is more than half complete.

Communicating with the Marsh Tripod.

【Refined Marsh Spirit: Water Wang Yuan (Purple) (Fusion Degree: 5%)】

【Water Wang Yuan fusion degree rises, gaining the favor of heaven and earth, River Favor +0.21】

【River Favor: 8.4461】

【Comprehended Talent: Strong Command】

【Strong Command: The Water Wang Yuan's pressure is supreme; it can forcibly command weak water spirits for several days, help them open their wisdom, observe their thoughts, and see their desires. It can be severed or turned into permanent control.】

【Talent Advancement: Water Breathing → Water Rhyme】

【Water Rhyme: Merge with water, breathe freely.】

【Talent Advancement: Water Gun → Water Dragon Gun】

【Water Dragon Gun: Water gun gives birth to spirit, White Dragon bites.】

(End of chapter)