togophonebook Chapter 2 Life Mutation
Chapter 2 Life Mutation
After finishing his practice and getting up, around lunchtime, Yang Changsheng went to the stern of the ship, lit special firewood with a flint, and began to cook.
The wisps of smoke rising from the chimneys were thin and delicate, and the image of the young man working diligently on his lone boat against the backdrop of the blue sky and clear water was quite charming.
"It smells so good! I wonder what real spiritual food tastes like. Unfortunately, I'm new to the path of immortality and don't even have a single spirit stone. I can't afford it at all."
Yang Changsheng sighed, then rallied his spirits.
On the small wooden table, a simple meal made of dried cured meat, fresh vegetables, and low-quality glutinous rice is presented. The food is glossy and has a rich aroma that makes one's mouth water.
After enjoying a delicious meal, he used his water control technique to rinse the pots and pans, cleaning them thoroughly.
This is much more convenient than in my previous life, where I had to use steel wool and dish soap, requiring almost no effort at all.
After all, many people who enjoy cooking don't like chopping vegetables and cleaning up, and he was no exception.
Afterwards, Yang Changsheng took a short nap of half an hour, and then began to meditate for two hours, using his water spiritual root to absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, circulating it through the Great Heavenly Circuit to transform it into magical power to enhance his cultivation.
After that, he continued to study the basic water manipulation technique.
This simplest water-based spell is quite interesting. At first, it can only condense a few drops of water, but later it can transform into threads to bind objects.
It is said that when one reaches a high level of mastery, one can create huge waves in the water, and even overturn rivers and seas!
At 5 PM, Yang Changsheng fed the crystal shrimp for the second time, thus completing most of his work for the day.
Feeding the shrimp twice a day and casting the "Little Cloud Rain" spell twice a day, full of vitality and spirit, can basically guarantee the normal development and growth cycle of the crystal shrimp.
……
Two months have passed in the blink of an eye.
The morning mist had not yet completely dissipated, and a layer of milky white gauze shrouded the surface of the lake. The sun rose a little late, and only a few golden rays were visible, making it difficult to see things too far away.
As usual, Yang Changsheng used a bamboo pole to propel the small boat across the calm water, creating ripples as it rowed towards the five acres of water he was responsible for.
A gentle breeze carries the fresh scent of the lake, instantly invigorating the spirit.
After bringing the small boat to a stop, he first performed the Lesser Cloud and Rain Technique as usual.
"Beep beep..."
The faint magical power stirred the water vapor, turning it into a light drizzle that sprinkled evenly on the pale green water, bringing a touch of coolness and stirring the faint spiritual energy contained within the water.
Then, he took out a handful of pale yellow bait powder from a small coarse cloth bag at his waist, and with a slight flick of his wrist, the golden powder fell evenly.
"Splash—"
The water churned and the crystal-clear shrimp, drawn by the aroma, rose densely from the bottom, waving their short forelegs and vying for the food floating on the surface.
The transparent shrimp bodies refracted tiny specks of light under the rising sun, creating a truly beautiful sight.
Yang Changsheng stood at the bow of the boat, his gaze habitually sweeping over his territory with great seriousness, for this was the very foundation upon which he depended for survival.
The five acres of water were neatly divided by blue spirit-locking netting, with a few blue lotus flowers dotting the area.
His gaze fell on the water's surface, carefully observing the size of the shrimp, their vitality, the intensity of their competition, and the subtle changes in the water quality.
This is a habit he has developed in recent years: being meticulous in his work, reflecting on his experiences and observing his surroundings to improve his breeding skills. It is also how he manages this livelihood and improves himself.
In the Lu family, as long as you increase production, in addition to your fixed salary, you will receive a proper reward of spirit pearls. Moreover, unlike the unscrupulous factories in my previous life, they will not constantly raise the minimum output.
The ruthless exploitation has driven all those at the bottom to become entangled with each other, leaving them exhausted every day with no life to live except for survival.
Suddenly, his gaze settled on a corner of the water on the west side, where the crystal shrimp seemed... somewhat unusual.
When the same bait was scattered, the shrimp in the western corner area reacted particularly quickly, and their fighting movements were more vigorous. They were larger, and their bodies seemed to have a more lustrous sheen.
This is not an illusion; through daily observation and records, Yang Changsheng has a thorough understanding of the condition of his waters and shrimp populations.
In his previous life, he was a proper graduate of an industrial university, and he still possessed basic skills such as making spreadsheets, conducting research and planning, and organizing data.
He recalled that the bottom of this body of water had been cleared of decaying aquatic plants and silt a few days ago, which was the only minor change recently.
"Strange..." Yang Changsheng frowned slightly, a hint of doubt rising in his heart.
The overall vitality of the shrimp population is good, but the unusual activity in this particular area seems abrupt. It could be due to nutrient enrichment or changes in water quality.
He remained calm, punted his boat closer to the area, cast a small amount of bait again, and observed carefully.
Sure enough, the shrimp here are not only fierce eaters, but they also move with a kind of agility rarely seen in ordinary crystal shrimp, making them very clever and swift.
"It seems to have grown a lot bigger."
Yang Changsheng used his water control technique to create a slender, crystalline rope that precisely wrapped around one of them, and fished it up.
The crystal shrimp struggled in my palm, its strength noticeably greater than that of the same species I had caught elsewhere that morning. Its shell also seemed more transparent, with the internal veins faintly visible.
Upon closer inspection, it seemed to be slightly heavier than average, weighing about one or two ounces.
"It seems to be more vibrant?" This professional aquaculture term inexplicably flashed through Yang Changsheng's mind.
The difference between low-level spirit beasts and ordinary beasts is that their flesh and blood are more vibrant and contain a faint spiritual energy.
After cultivators consume it, it can nourish their physical body and increase their cultivation level slightly. It is also a great tonic for mortals, far superior to ginseng, black chicken and lingzhi soup.
Then, he thought of the golden ancient tree mark in his sea of consciousness, which was silent yet exuded an aura of immortality.
"Is it it? Could it be that faint, almost imperceptible wisp of life that I unconsciously released when I dived down, affecting this body of water?"
The thought startled him, followed by immense worry rather than elation.
The "golden finger" (or "cheat code") is the foundation for a transmigrator's survival and the greatest reliance for his future path to immortality.
But the lesson of "possessing a treasure is a crime" was already deeply ingrained in him from the harsh realities of his past life, learned in just a few short years in society.
The Lu family has strict rules, and the fishermen and farmers of Biyue Lake are even more clearly divided into different ranks. Any abnormality may attract unnecessary attention.
Especially since this ability can directly affect the growth of living beings, the consequences would be unimaginable if it were exposed.
"Risk and reward go hand in hand, but I have a long lifespan, and I can accumulate wealth simply by operating prudently, so I must be cautious, extremely cautious!"
Yang Changsheng took a deep breath to suppress the pounding in his heart.
His mind raced, countless ideas popping into his head. He couldn't boast about this ability, couldn't show it off, and certainly couldn't try it out on a large scale.
His gaze swept over the debris on the boat and he saw some scraps left over from repairing the netting. He immediately had a plan in mind.
In the following days, Yang Changsheng behaved no differently than usual, feeding, casting spells, and observing as usual.
But when no one was watching, he carefully used the scraps of discarded blue netting to add a finer temporary net around the special body of water in the east corner, isolating about one-tenth of the water area.
The mesh is small enough to prevent adult crystal shrimp from getting in and out, but it does not impede the flow of water and smaller plankton.
He roughly counted the number of crystal shrimp in this quarantine area and specifically selected a few dozen ordinary crystal shrimp that were of average size and vitality to put in.
As for the shrimp populations in the outer net's large waters, they were used as a control group for observation and comparison.