C1 Fishing System

Chu Yun's eyes fluttered open, and he found himself gazing at an unfamiliar ceiling.

"Why am I still alive?" he whispered to himself.

Before slipping into unconsciousness, his last memory was of being by a large river, intent on fishing. He had even caught a big fish. But in an unbelievable turn of events, he didn't end up catching the fish; instead, the fish pulled him underwater.

And then, he met a tragic end, drowning.

As he lay there, confused, memories that were not his own began to flood his mind.

These were the memories of the body's original inhabitant.

Chu Yun painstakingly sifted through these foreign recollections until he came to a startling realization—he had arrived in another world!

This place, known as the Spiritual Realm, was not the Earth he knew.

The body he now inhabited shared his name, Chu Yun. He was nineteen and the chief disciple of the Elemental River Sect. Once, he shone brightly, like a deity among the clouds.

But at present, he was deemed worthless.

In this world, martial prowess was paramount; the powerful had everything, while the powerless had nothing.

The key to becoming a formidable martial artist was one's Martial Spirit.

Martial Spirits were categorized into grades, ranging from one to nine, with nine being the highest.

The grade of one's Martial Spirit had a direct impact on their strength and innate abilities.

At the age of ten, Chu Yun had awakened a Sixth Grade Martial Spirit: the Earthly Demon Ape, instantly marking him as the most promising prodigy among the young members of the Elemental River Sect.

But his fortunes took a turn for the worse. Two months prior, Chu Yun was betrayed during a training expedition.

The perpetrators sought his Martial Spirit, using a sinister ritual to extract Chu Yun's Martial Spirit and transplant it into another.

Although Chu Yun managed to escape by the skin of his teeth, the loss of his Martial Spirit swiftly reduced him from a celebrated genius to a disregarded outcast, cast aside and forgotten.

Within a mere two months, Chu Yun's cultivation plummeted from the fifth grade of the Critical Stage to the second grade of the Physical Body Stage, with his strength continuing to wane.

Devoid of a Martial Spirit, a martial artist's cultivation is akin to a water plant without roots—it's only a matter of time before it vanishes without a trace. Eventually, Chu Yun would be reduced to an ordinary person, stripped of all cultivation.

Chu Yun was unable to cope with the crushing blow he had experienced. He drowned his sorrows in alcohol daily and led a life of despair. After sleeping for over ten days without waking, he was resurrected by another Chu Yun from Earth.

"He, too, is a pitiful soul," Chu Yun remarked, shaking his head with a sigh.

He empathized deeply with the original Chu Yun's plight.

With his sigh behind him, Chu Yun faced a pressing issue: What should he do next?

Suddenly, a mechanical voice echoed in his mind.

"What's that sound?"

Startled, Chu Yun watched as a golden glow materialized before him.

Within the light, an object resembling a fishing rod took form. It soared into Chu Yun's palm and transformed into an emblem.

"The Fishing System has been activated," announced the voice.

"The system grants you one fishing rod, one special bait, and ten Ordinary Grade Baits."

"Note: Bait grades range from Ordinary, Spiritual, Earthly, Celestial, Holy, to Divine. The initial reward is Ordinary Grade, with higher-grade baits available upon completion of tasks by the host."

Chu Yun was astounded, then filled with immense joy.

As he had hoped, being a transmigrator came with its perks. The ability to fish for anything meant he could literally reel in everything.

He attempted to communicate with the mark on his hand. Indeed, in his mind's eye, he saw a phantom space resembling an equipment room from an online game, stocked with several items.

A fishing rod, a special bait, and ten Ordinary Grade Baits.

With a mere thought, the fishing rod materialized in his hand. It felt substantial and was exceptionally durable.

"Let's give it a try!"

Chu Yun rose from his bed and headed to the stream behind the mountain.

Selecting a spot along the bank, he sat down with the fishing rod and attached the special bait. With a mix of anxiety and anticipation, he cast the bait into the flowing water.

As the bait hit the water, the fishing line sank and tautened.

Soon, a tug from the water signaled a bite on the hook.

Chu Yun's face registered surprise, and he quickly began to reel in the line.

The pull from the other end of the fishing line was unexpectedly strong. Despite his vigorous tugs, Chu Yun couldn't reel it in.

But with the fish hooked, he was determined not to let go.

Exhausting all his strength, Chu Yun finally flung his catch out of the water.

As the hook emerged, he realized that what he had caught was not a fish at all, but a golden orb of light.

To his amazement, the orb transformed into a stream of light and entered his body.

Simultaneously, the sound of the system chimed in.

Ding!

"Congratulations, you have obtained an Earthly Grade Martial Spirit, the Blazing Sun Heavenly Dragon!"

As the system's announcement ended, Chu Yun's body shook, and he became intensely hot, as though he were bathing in lava.

An involuntary roar escaped his lips—a roar that resembled that of a dragon!

The next moment, golden radiance swirled around Chu Yun, materializing into the impressive silhouette of a heavenly dragon.

"An Earthly Grade Martial Spirit! I've actually got an Earthly Grade Martial Spirit!"

Chu Yun gazed at the Blazing Sun Heavenly Dragon encircling him, shaking with exhilaration.

A Sixth Grade Martial Spirit alone would mark him as a once-in-a-century prodigy in the Elemental River Sect. The emergence of a Seventh Grade Martial Spirit could send ripples across the entire Spiritual Sea.

And now...

Chu Yun had in his possession an Earthly Grade Martial Spirit! Its energy fluctuations left no doubt that it was far superior to the Ninth Grade.

Chu Yun was well aware that Martial Spirits exceeding the Ninth Grade existed in this world, but they were the stuff of legends to him. He never imagined that he, too, could own one!

Taking a deep breath, Chu Yun exhaled slowly, steadying the thrill in his heart.

He was overjoyed. If he were to face the Chu Yun who once wielded the Earthly Demon Ape, a mere slap would now suffice to end the beast.

"Each piece of bait represents a reward. Aside from this special bait, I have ten Ordinary Grade Baits. What surprises will they bring me?"

Filled with eager anticipation, Chu Yun attached an Ordinary Grade Bait to his fishing rod, ready for the next catch.

With a swift flick, the bait was cast into the water. It wasn't long before Chu Yun felt a tug on the line.

With a powerful heave, he reeled in a glowing white orb from the depths.

Ding!

"Congratulations, you have gained ten years of martial arts cultivation."

As the voice of the Fishing System faded, Chu Yun's body shuddered. Spiritual energy surged within him like a fountain, revitalizing his parched meridians.

His level continued to soar, breaking through from the second grade of the Physical Body Stage to the third, then the fourth...

He didn't stop advancing until he reached the ninth grade of the Physical Body Stage.