Chapter 56: Exchanging Formulas, Frenzied Harvest

In the small courtyard.

“About to set sail, I must make sure everything is ready.”

“Smoke bombs, silver notes, medicinal herbs…”

Bai Xuan was busy shopping, gathering all the necessary items, especially a variety of herbs. It wasn’t just the Triple-turn Serpent Bone Soup that required them; the Seven Seas Gate Life-preserving Technique also called for a secret ingredient, essential for protecting one’s vital energy and blood.

Aside from rare herbs like century-old ginseng, one of the key ingredients was the deadly venom of an exotic sea serpent. Once refined, it would increase the odds of surviving the dangerous breakthrough at the life-and-death gate by ten percent.

“Why are these herbs so expensive?” Bai Xuan winced inwardly.

He visited an herbal shop, only to discover that century-old ginseng on the island was priced but unavailable—a single root cost a hundred taels of silver, and there was a week’s wait. If he wanted it immediately, the price doubled to two hundred taels.

Afternoon.

Government office, Blade Catcher Division.

“Who’s coming at this hour… Oh! The Whale Hunter!”

The yamen runners were dozing off. One of them, bleary-eyed, glanced toward the door and suddenly snapped awake, recognizing the battered shark mask!

“I’ve come for my reward,” Bai Xuan said, his voice deep and hoarse.

Several yamen runners jumped to their feet. Two smiled obsequiously, while the rest hurried to the back to fetch someone. Moments later, Zhao Yuanchen rushed in.

“This is your reward, sir, including your merits in the battle at the Sea God Cult’s branch—one thousand five hundred taels in total!” He pulled out two silver notes and respectfully handed them over, not asking for the severed head—he’d seen with his own eyes how Bai Xuan had smashed it to pieces.

Bai Xuan slipped out in a flash.

“Thankfully, though the government is strapped for cash, a few thousand taels is still manageable.”

With no money in hand, he had no choice but to visit the Blade Catcher Division, hoping to squeeze some funds from them—and succeeded. In less than half a day, he bought all the necessary herbs; he still had over two thousand taels in silver notes left.

“At last, it’s time to set sail.”

Bai Xuan hadn’t returned to the vast sea in ages, and his heart brimmed with anticipation!

…

Three days later.

At the docks.

“Set sail!” Bai Xuanji waved his hand and called out loudly.

He was now the deputy leader of the family’s second fleet, commanding six large ships, all lined up and ready to depart, sails unfurled, cutting through the waves!

Days passed swiftly.

The Bai family fleet sailed far from the island base, deep into the open sea, gradually picking up speed.

On the deck.

“Finally, back at sea.”

“If I went alone by boat to Forgeblade Manor, I’d arrive in a few days. But this time, the fleet must avoid the areas controlled by the Star Hunters, so it’ll take several dozen days—a perfect opportunity for fishing.”

Bai Xuan gazed at the distant sea.

He was using his Sea-gazing Eyes to guide the sailors’ catch.

“Come on, give it your all!”

Nearby, over a dozen sailors hauled in their catch. In the net, a massive fish struggled fiercely, so heavy that even with everyone working together, they staggered and nearly got dragged overboard!

Swish!

Bai Xuan flashed forward, grabbed the net with one hand, and immediately stopped its downward pull, hauling it up section by section.

Splash!

The fishing net opened, and a huge, heavy serpent bone fish tumbled onto the deck.

“The first one.”

A joyful gleam shone in Bai Xuan’s eyes.

The sailors began dismantling the serpent bone fish, extracting its flesh and blood. By evening, they’d netted another one—the process was highly efficient.

Evening.

“The Triple-turn Serpent Bone Soup is still effective, but the exotic sea serpent remains elusive.”

Bai Xuan ate three bowls of the soup. Warmth surged in his belly, nourishing his blood and strengthening his body.

At this stage, ordinary monster fish meat only provided basic nourishment—the medicinal effect was minimal, but all the more important for it.

Without food, one dies. Without medicine, cultivation is merely slower; but without meals, one starves to death.

Several days passed. Each day, Bai Xuan directed the fishing of serpent bone fish, consuming them steadily, his whole body growing warm, his vital energy gradually increasing.

On another ship, the “Kai Xuan,”

A dignified, imposing middle-aged man watched from afar.

“The Kaiyang is still catching deep-sea serpent bone fish.”

He’d observed this for days, keeping a close eye.

Deep-sea serpent bone fish were one of the most formidable overlord species in the ocean—there was little flesh, mostly bone, and they were notoriously difficult to handle.

Few even attempted to catch them. If netted, most simply cursed their luck and let them go.

“He must have a recipe for exotic fish, able to purify the flesh.”

The middle-aged man felt a stir of desire.

…

Kaiyang’s captain’s cabin.

“Kai Xuan’s captain wants my serpent bone fish recipe?” Bai Xuan said in surprise.

Clearly, his daily catches hadn’t gone unnoticed, and others guessed he possessed a special formula.

“That’s right, and he’s willing to trade another exotic fish recipe for it,” Bai Yuanji grinned, the scar on his face twitching. “His household’s much bigger than yours—he needs it more. Why not ask for two recipes?”

Captains in the family had access to monster fish meat, so exotic fish recipes were in high demand—especially for children entering martial training, where such meat sped up progress.

Bai Yuanji rarely cared about Bai Xuan’s business; he had his own monster fish meat and didn’t need exotic recipes.

“Very well,” Bai Xuan agreed without much hesitation.

On the other side, Kai Xuan’s captain Bai Qingyuan felt equally pained.

He possessed only two recipes, both precious. One was for deep-sea giant squid, a treasured find from his youth.

“Forget it. Ten birds in the forest are not worth one in the hand. I’ll trade both.”

He made the decision swiftly, with no further hesitation.

Needs were paramount—and besides, the Kaiyang was Bai Xuanji’s ship. There was no reason to haggle with his superior’s brother.

…

In the ship’s hold.

“These two new recipes—one is for the exotic Straw-coat Fish, riddled with parasites. You have to use a special worm medicine to purge them, then boil away the toxic aura…”

Bai Xuan was studying the newly acquired recipes.

“The other is for the deep-sea giant squid. Once mutated, its skin becomes incredibly tough, impossible to digest. You need a medicinal primer to soften it, roast out the strange energy… only then can it be eaten.”

“So it’s grilled squid.”

Of the two, the first was more difficult—the Straw-coat Fish was rare, but its medicinal power was potent, almost indistinguishable from true monster fish. It also had an effect that enhanced hearing.

The second offered only twenty percent of monster fish benefits, but deep-sea giant squid yielded enormous quantities of meat—catching one could feed even pigs.

“With these, I can expand my catches.”

Bai Xuan was delighted.

The only problem was a temporary shortage of herbs.

Just then,

“Kai Xuan’s captain sent ten days’ worth of herbs?”

Bai Xuan raised his eyebrows.

The other party was more generous than expected. “Tell Captain Qingyuan I appreciate his gift. I also have ten days’ worth of herbs—send them over.”

Mutual support benefited both sides and paved the way for future cooperation; Bai Xuan was more than happy to oblige!

With these recipes and supplies, he could now catch large quantities of exotic fish, rapidly boosting his vital energy!