Chapter 200: Chapter 200: Shocking Harvest

Su Yu shot through the water like an arrow, quickly swimming toward the source of the faint light.

There, amidst the deep, dark silt and scattered rocks, stood a strange and precious aquatic plant.

The entire plant was as translucent as creamy white jade, except for nine nodes where the roots and stem met. These nodes glowed a crimson red, like flowing magma, and were the source of the faint fluorescence.

Its leaves were not broad like a common lotus, but long and sword-shaped, swaying in the current like green serpents. The water for several feet around it was saturated with a dense yet refreshing Spiritual Qi.

’It really is a precious aquatic lotus! Its form is completely different from the Nine-Revolution Green Lotus. Its root system is surprisingly well-developed!’

Thoughts flashed through Su Yu’s mind as he quickly cross-referenced the plant with an ancient text.

’*Lost Herbal Records of Great Xia* says: Aquatic with red nodes, form like white jade, with nine nodes embracing a core. It grows in deep, cold, and dark waters, absorbing the essence of the water’s veins. Its nature is warm and gentle; consuming it can fortify Qi and Blood and nurture vitality. It is a high-grade, common-tier treasure that can be transplanted into other bodies of water.’

’A high-grade common-tier treasure plant... this is great! Most importantly, the Red Lotus Root can be cultivated! And the Jiang Family has the cultivation method!’

Su Yu was overjoyed. With this precious aquatic plant, he could take it back and transplant it into the Yin-Yang Lotus Pool at the Su Mansion. In the future, he would have another source for continuously accumulating Breakthrough Points!

He carefully dug out the Red Lotus Root, taking care to keep the roots and surrounding soil intact.

Just as he was about to leave, his senses suddenly flared with alarm. He whipped his head around, unleashing his Ape Demon’s baleful aura and staring intently into the deep, dark water in the distance.

A long, dark shadow flashed past like a phantom! WHOOSH!

But the shadow seemed to have sensed the Ape Demon’s baleful aura from a distance. It abruptly circled far away before fleeing into the deeper water as if startled.

’What was that? So fast!’

Su Yu was alarmed. At this depth, his Five Senses Divine was severely restricted. He’d barely noticed the shadow before it got within dozens of yards of him. That had been too close for comfort.

’I can’t get greedy. Time to head back!’

Not daring to delay, Su Yu quickly swam back to the Ghost-faced Crab’s corpse. He hoisted the huge, severed pincer onto one shoulder and dragged the millstone-heavy carapace with his other hand. With a powerful kick, he shot toward the surface like a great black fish.

His nerves remained taut during the ascent as he carefully sensed the undercurrents. Fortunately, the shadow seemed extremely wary of his baleful aura. It had spied on him once from a distance but didn’t dare approach again.

SPLASH—

The river’s surface erupted as Su Yu burst forth like a flood dragon emerging from the depths.

The menacing giant pincer was slung over his left shoulder, his right hand dragged the massive Ghost-faced Crab corpse, and a faintly glowing Red Lotus Root was tucked at his waist. He activated his Seven Fiends Thunder Collapse Step, his feet pattering across the tops of the waves as if treading on air, and shot straight toward the treasure boat.

On the upper deck of the distant treasure boat, Qian Qinghong immediately spotted the figure treading across the waves, and her beautiful eyes lit up with amazement.

’Brother Su’s strength is far greater than I imagined!’

’It hasn’t even been fifteen minutes! Not even half that time, and he managed to single-handedly kill such a massive Ghost-faced Crab at the bottom of the river, with all its raging currents!’

THUD!

Su Yu landed steadily on the treasure boat’s deck. With a casual toss, the corpse of the Ghost-faced Crab, larger than a man, crashed onto the thick ironwood planks, making the entire deck tremble slightly.

"Set sail, Qinghong!"

Qian Qinghong looked at Su Yu, the smile on her stunning face growing even brighter. "Brother Su, you truly are a man of your word. You said fifteen minutes, and you didn’t go a second over. Qian Xin! What are you standing there for? Set sail!"

Qian Xin stood at the helm, his face as sour as if he’d just swallowed a fly.

He stared at the mangled corpse of the Ghost-faced Crab, a flicker of horror in his eyes. A deep-water beast of that size, with the advantage of its underwater home turf... even with his own early-stage Flesh Refining Realm strength, he would have been in for a real fight.

And how had he even found the Ghost-faced Crab in such a short amount of time?

To make matters worse, the kid had even managed to snag a precious aquatic plant. He’d just gotten ridiculously lucky!

Qian Xin couldn’t wrap his head around it. With a dark expression, he turned the helm and got the boat moving again.

Nearby, the Tributor Pan Guanyue had also shed his earlier disdain. His gaze darted back and forth between the massive crab corpse and Su Yu, his expression a mixture of shock and doubt. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

’A Ghost-faced Crab, with underwater strength comparable to the Third Acupoint level... I’ll be damned, it was killed just like that?’

’I’ll be damned... Even if I had gone down myself, there’s no way I could have killed this beast so cleanly in such a short time.’

’Are Su Yu’s underwater combat skills really that incredible?’

’No, that can’t be it! No matter how freakish he is, he’s still just a junior in the Skin Tempering Realm! As long as he hasn’t reached the Flesh Refining Realm, he’s just a junior!’

At this thought, Pan Guanyue began to scheme. ’The Third Miss actually promised this kid a ninety-percent share of a treasure boat. She must be out of her mind! Once we reach our destination, if my contribution to capturing the Silver Dragon Shuttle surpasses his, I’ll be sure to demand a share of the boat as well!’

Meanwhile, on deck, a group of sailors had gathered around the Ghost-faced Crab, bursting into a clamorous uproar.

"Damn! Look at the size of it! That pincer could snap a man in two, couldn’t it?"

"That Su Yu wasn’t just bragging! He said he’d kill the monster in fifteen minutes, and he went down and hauled it back up in no time at all!"

"This is a Blue Steel Ghost-faced Crab, fiercer than your average Martial Artist! A minute ago, you lot were mocking Lord Su behind his back. You really have a death wish."

"Bullshit! You’re a damn fence-sitter! You were cursing him the loudest just now, but the second you see Lord Su’s power, you’re the first to start calling him ’Lord’!"

Qian Wenhao took a sharp breath and strode to Su Yu’s side. "Brother Su, your progress is just ridiculously fast! I still remember sparring with you last year. Seeing your thunderous methods with my own eyes today... you’re even more incredible than the rumors back in the city!"

Su Yu smiled faintly. The Qi and Blood in his body surged like a furnace, instantly evaporating the water from his skin. He slipped on his outer robe, then casually broke off a thick crab leg and handed it to Qian Wenhao. "Brother Qian, have a taste. These Ghost-faced Crabs absorb the spiritual essence of the Black Water River all year round. The meat is exceptionally fresh and sweet, even raw."

Qian Wenhao didn’t stand on ceremony, accepting it with a hearty laugh. "Then I’ll be happy to take you up on that, Brother Su!"

Su Yu turned and beckoned for Qian Qinghong to join them.

Qian Qinghong was also straightforward by nature and didn’t stand on ceremony with him.

A cool breeze blew across the deck. She casually unfastened the white fox-fur cloak she wore over her shoulders. As it fell away, the tight-fitting, dark gold martial uniform underneath instantly showcased her ample, impressive figure. When she bent her head to taste the crab roe, the breathtakingly deep cleavage it revealed threatened to spill forth.

’Tsk, tsk. Now those are some hidden assets. She’s really stacked...’

’Definitely my type.’

Su Yu mentally ranked them. ’Senior Sister Lin Wanzhu is number one, Qian Qinghong is number two, Cai Yun is third, and Zhen’Er is fourth...’

The three of them feasted with great relish. At one point, Qian Qinghong had the ship’s cook take some of the crab meat to be steamed.

The three of them feasted with great relish. At one point, Qian Qinghong had the ship’s cook take some of the crab meat to be steamed.

Before long, a rich, exotic aroma wafted over the entire treasure boat, causing Qian Xin, Pan Guanyue, and the others watching from the sidelines to gulp, but Su Yu paid them no mind.

After eating and drinking his fill, Su Yu began practicing the Mountain-Shaking Demon Ape Fist on the deck.

To avoid revealing his true strength, he deliberately suppressed his Qi and Blood, practicing only the forms without channeling his power. His Skill Level increased more slowly this way, but the Ghost-faced Crab feast had provided a considerable amount of Qi and Blood and energy for Breaking his Limit.

[Martial Arts]: Mountain-Shaking Demon Ape Fist (entry-level 1800/5000)

[Breakthrough Point]: 0 (Progress 25%)

’The depths of this Black Water River really are a treasure trove. A single wild Ghost-faced Crab provided 15% of the progress I need for my next Breakthrough!’

Su Yu glanced at the carefully stored Red Lotus Root, a satisfied gleam in his eyes. Once he got back and ate a few nodes, he could increase his progress toward Breaking his Limit even more.

...

「Night fell.」

The treasure boat arrived safely near its destination deep in the Black Water River, finding a hidden, floating island to drop anchor and rest.

KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK.

A soft knock came from the door of Su Yu’s cabin.

"Come in." Su Yu relaxed from his meditative posture.

The door opened and a graceful figure slipped inside. It was Qian Qinghong.

She closed the door behind her, walked over to the table, and sat down, looking at Su Yu apologetically. "Brother Su, about Qian Xin’s offense earlier today... are you angry with me?"

Su Yu poured a cup of tea and pushed it toward her, shaking his head with a smile. "It’s nothing. You don’t need to worry about it, Qinghong."

He wasn’t just pretending to be magnanimous.

With his ability to kill opponents of a higher realm, Qian Xin was nothing more than a buffoon who posed no threat to him.

As for Pan Guanyue, judging by his aura, he was only at the mid-stage of the Flesh Refining Realm. He wasn’t Su Yu’s match either.

If the two of them behaved and didn’t provoke him again, he would let it be. But if they dared to cause trouble and court death, Su Yu wouldn’t mind teaching them a lesson.

Qian Qinghong breathed a sigh of relief and explained, "Brother Su, the reason Qian Xin is so hostile toward you is ultimately my fault. I didn’t handle the situation well. When I promised you the treasure boat, it made them jealous."

"Especially Qian Xin. He learned that the treasure boat he had long coveted was instead being given to a young man. Naturally, he’s resentful, which is why he’s been targeting you."

"I see." Su Yu picked up his teacup and took a sip.

The fact that Qian Qinghong had come to explain this personally showed that she valued him highly and wasn’t looking down on him just because his apparent strength was below the Flesh Refining Realm.

Seeing how calm Su Yu was, Qian Qinghong’s estimation of him rose even further.

However, her opinion of Qian Xin sank even lower.

Qian Xin had followed her for so long, yet he would publicly antagonize a guest she had personally invited over such a petty grudge.

’I can only say I misjudged him. Qian Xin is not cut out for important matters.’

’I was originally planning to have Qian Xin pilot the treasure boat after I gift it to Su Yu, but it seems I’ll have to reconsider that.’

"Brother Su, we’ll reach the location tomorrow. The area around it is much more dangerous. Let me explain the plan to you in detail!"