Immortality and Cultivation: I can extract entries from all things.

The reef area gradually returned to calm.

The carcass of the armored giant crab lay on the seabed, its dark green blood diluted in the seawater, staining a patch of water black.

Occasionally, small fish would swim by, attracted by the smell of blood, but would quickly flee.

Fang He and Zhao Hengdao sat on a flat rock, each adjusting their breathing to recover.

Zhao Hengdao's face was pale, the blood at the corner of his mouth had dried, but his breathing was still somewhat disordered.

He sat cross-legged, circulated his internal energy, and used the healing pills to dissolve their power and repair his injuries.

Fang He's situation is slightly better; he mainly expends spiritual energy and divine sense.

He closed his eyes to rest, his keen spiritual awareness spontaneously activated, sensing the movements around him.

A moment later, Zhao Hengdao opened his eyes and let out a long breath.

"Brother Fang, let's divide the spoils."

He stood up, brushed the dirt off his clothes, and walked toward the giant crab's corpse.

Fang He also got up, took out the jade box, and held the sea soul flower in his hand.

The deep blue petals glowed faintly in the dim seabed, their fragrance refreshing and invigorating.

This Sea Soul Flower is priceless, equivalent to half a year's income for an ordinary rogue cultivator.

"Brother Zhao," Fang He said, "this time, you were the one who fought the giant crab head-on, and you were also the one who was injured and bled. The Sea Soul Flower is yours, and I will take a portion of the Condensing Essence Grass and the giant crab materials."

Zhao Hengdao was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"Brother Fang, we've fought side by side, why are we being so formal?"

He waved his hand dismissively and said something astonishing: "The Sea Soul Flower is yours, the Condensing Essence Grass and that pile of junk materials are mine."

Fang He exclaimed in astonishment, "Brother Zhao, this is not fair. The Sea Soul Flower is worth at least ten times more than the Condensing Essence Grass; you should take it."

"shit!"

Zhao Hengdao glared and said in a loud voice, "Your cultivation level is low, so you need this stuff to nourish your spiritual sense even more. Besides, if you hadn't used your vine technique to entangle that beast and used your spiritual sense to find its weakness, I would have become its dinner.

He patted Fang He on the shoulder, quite firmly: "I, Zhao Hengdao, make friends, not business partners!"

Fang He remained silent.

The cultivation world is rife with deceit and treachery; people can turn against each other for a single spirit stone. Zhao Hengdao's forthrightness is truly rare.

"Brother Zhao..."

Fang He solemnly accepted the Sea Soul Flower, his voice low and deep, "I will remember this kindness."

"Alright, alright, stop being so wishy-washy."

Zhao Hengdao grinned, turned around and walked towards the giant crab corpse, "Come on, give me a hand, let's dismantle this beast."

The two of them surrounded the giant crab corpse and began to cut up the materials.

The crab's shell is jet black like iron and exceptionally hard.

Zhao Hengdao drew his long sword, infused it with spiritual power, and barely managed to cut open the abdominal carapace.

"This giant crab has a hard shell, which can be used to make armor."

As Zhao Hengdao cut, he explained, "The giant claws are sharp and can be used as weapon materials. The demon core is the most valuable; it can be used for alchemy and array formation."

Fang He helped by sorting and organizing the cut materials.

Once peeled off, the crab's shell was as big as a door panel, jet black and shiny.

Its two giant claws are thicker than an adult's arm, and the jaws gleam with a cold light.

The most precious thing is the demon core, a fist-sized dark green crystal that exudes a rich spiritual energy.

"A first-grade superior demon core."

Zhao Hengdao weighed it in his hand, a look of satisfaction flashing in his eyes. "Worth twenty spirit stones or more."

The two divided the materials among themselves.

Zhao Hengdao took the demon core and half of the carapace, while Fang He received the giant claw, the other half of the carapace, and several thick tendons from the giant crab's legs.

The Ningyuan Grass was also harvested, and several small, translucent white plants were placed in a jade box.

"This trip was very fruitful."

After counting his spoils, Zhao Hengdao grinned and said, "Sea Soul Flower, Qi Condensation Grass, and first-grade high-quality materials—enough to keep us busy for a while."

Fang He nodded and put the jade box into his storage bag.

He was filled with mixed emotions.

From their initial employer-employee relationship to their partnership in battle, and now to their deep friendship, Zhao Hengdao's generosity and loyalty have given him a new understanding of the independent cultivator community.

Having such a friend on the path of cultivation is a blessing.

"Let's go, let's head back." Zhao Hengdao slung his bag over his shoulder. "Captain Chen is still waiting on the outskirts."

The return sea journey was much calmer than the way there.

Sunlight penetrates the seawater, creating dappled light and shadow.

The two carefully avoided the areas where the sea monsters were active and swam towards Qing'ao Island.

Fang He's "Skilled in Water" technique allowed him to swim more freely in the water.

The water flow seemed to act as a boost, propelling him forward with much less effort.

Zhao Hengdao's injuries had not yet healed, so he was not moving very fast.

Fang He slowed down and walked alongside him.

After swimming about a hundred feet, Fang He suddenly had a thought.

[Sharp Senses] detected a slight anomaly.

There seemed to be faint fluctuations of spiritual energy in the direction of the giant crab corpse behind them.

He stopped and looked back.

In the dim seabed, the giant crab carcass lay silently on the rocks, motionless.

"Brother Fang, what's wrong?"

Zhao Hengdao also stopped.

Something's strange.

Fang He said in a deep voice, "There is still spiritual energy remaining on that giant crab corpse."

Zhao Hengdao frowned: "We've already taken the demon core, what else could there be?"

"Let's go back and take a look," Fang He suggested. "There might be something we missed."

Although Zhao Hengdao was puzzled, he agreed: "Let's go, it's not far anyway."

The two turned back and soon returned to the side of the crab's corpse.

The body lay sprawled on the rocks, its abdomen ripped open, its shell scattered across the ground.

However, with his keen spiritual sense, Fang He noticed something amiss.

There were faint fluctuations of spiritual energy in the cracks of the shell near the demon core.

He swam closer to the body and examined it carefully.

The crab's carapace is thick and has a metallic black sheen.

However, near the original location of the demon core, there is a faint blue pattern on the inside of the shell, which is barely visible.

Water ripples!

Fang He's pupils constricted slightly.

Those are special marks formed by sea creatures living in the deep sea for a long time, faint traces of the laws of water.

"Brother Zhao, please protect me."

Fang He said in a deep voice.

Zhao Hengdao nodded, holding his knife in a guarded position.

Seeing Fang He's closed-eye perception, he assumed it was some kind of investigative technique and didn't ask any further questions.

Each independent cultivator has their own secrets, and respecting each other's privacy is a basic rule.

Fang He placed his palm on the water ripples on the carapace and activated his Golden Finger ability.

[Retrievable historical traces detected]

[Item: Tier 1 Superior Armored Crab Shell]

[Historical Imprint: Reflections on Deep-Sea Survival (White), Marine Mammals' Aquatic Instincts]

【Whether to extract? 】

"extract."

Fang He silently recited in his heart.

A point of light coalesced in his mind, and a line of text appeared:

Extraction successful

[Acquired entry: Skilled in Water (White)]

[A duplicate term has already been detected; terms are being added together.]

[Water Proficiency (White) x2 → Water Proficiency effect increased: Water activity +40%]

Fang He was overjoyed.

The second one is "proficient in swimming"!

After the terms are combined, the agility in water is greatly improved.

He opened his eyes and tried to move around in the water.

The already fluid movements became even more natural, and the water flow seemed to become an extension of the body, with every stroke perfectly timed.

"how?"

Zhao Hengdao asked.

"It was fruitful."

Fang He said calmly, "Some fragments of materials, nothing worth mentioning."

Zhao Hengdao didn't press further, patting him on the shoulder: "It's good that you've gained something. Let's go, don't delay any longer."

As they set off again, Fang He clearly sensed something different.

After stacking the "Swimming Proficiency" effect, agility in water is more than doubled.

He swims with less effort and faster speed, and the influence of undercurrents and water pressure on him is greatly reduced.

Zhao Hengdao followed closely behind, and the two avoided several areas where sea monsters gathered, successfully reaching the outer sea area.

Captain Chen's merchant ship was still waiting in the same spot, its sails gleaming golden in the setting sun.

"I'm back!"

Captain Chen stood on the deck and waved, "How's it going? How's the catch?"

"good."

Zhao Hengdao leaped onto the deck, patted the storage bag at his waist, and said, "Kill a Tier 1 High-Grade Ironclad Giant Crab."

Captain Chen gasped, "A top-tier first-order sea beast? You two are really... fierce!"

Fang He also boarded the ship and nodded to Captain Chen.

Merchant ships returned to port, and the setting sun dyed the sea surface golden red.

In the evening, the merchant ship arrived at Qing'ao Island Wharf.

The dock was sparsely lit as fishermen hauled in their nets and headed home.

The sea breeze carried a salty, fishy smell, causing people's clothes to flutter.

Fang He and Zhao Hengdao disembarked and parted ways at the dock.

"Brother Fang."

Zhao Hengdao patted Fang He on the shoulder, quite forcefully, "Let's cooperate again sometime! I've decided to befriend you!"

Fang He bowed solemnly: "Brother Zhao, if you ever need my help in the future, I will do anything for you, even at the cost of my life."

"Haha, don't give me that!"

Zhao Hengdao laughed loudly, turned around and left, his back view showing a bold and unrestrained spirit.

After walking several feet, he turned back and called out, "Remember to refine the Sea Soul Flower properly; it will be of great use to your breakthrough!"

Fang He watched him leave until his burly figure disappeared into the night before turning and walking towards the pharmacy.

The lights inside the pharmacy were dim.

Su Yun'er was sitting behind the counter organizing medicinal herbs when she saw Fang He return. She silently got up and brought him hot water.

"Shopkeeper, you're back."

Fang He nodded and put down his luggage: "How was business today?"

"Fortunately, we sold three bottles of Qi-restoring pills."

Su Yun'er handed over the account book without asking Fang He where he went or what he did.

Fang He took the ledger, glanced through it briefly, and then said, "I need to go into seclusion for a few days. You can look after the pharmacy."

"clear."

Fang He returned to the inner room and closed the door.

He took out all the spoils of the trip and laid them out on the table.

The sea bream is entirely blue, glowing faintly in the candlelight, its fragrance filling the entire room.

The Ningyuan grass is lush and green, with a shimmering white sheen.

The crab materials were piled up in a small heap; the shell, claws, and tendons were all good materials for refining weapons.

Fang He took a deep breath and a smile appeared on her lips.

Sea Soul Flower nourishes the divine consciousness, Qi Condensation Grass stabilizes the foundation, and then there are the resources obtained by exchanging these materials...

The conditions for breaking through to the sixth level of Qi Refining have been met...