The catch inspired my entry: Persistence will eventually lead to invincibility.

Chen Shi was slightly taken aback, but a smile immediately appeared on his face.

He never expected that even a martial art like the "Canglang Blade Technique" could be included as an entry, and he never expected that he wouldn't even need to practice diligently. He could easily advance his martial arts progress simply by collecting the fish required for the advancement route.

"I was worried I wouldn't have enough time, to catch fish and practice my knife skills at the same time," Chen Shi said with a slight smile. "But now it seems, isn't this also a kind of talent?"

He was secretly delighted and looked at the golden characters again.

【Canglang Blade Technique (Tier 1): The moves are crude yet practical, focusing on vital points】

[Advanced Path: Catching Ten Whitebait]

"Advancing to the second tier only requires catching the White-striped Ten-tailed Fox. It doesn't seem to be a very powerful martial art, but it's enough for now."

The Canglang Blade Technique has nine levels, each corresponding to a rank.

Most members of the Canglang Gang can only cultivate to the fourth or fifth level, and Shen Lang, as a steward, has only cultivated his swordsmanship to the seventh or nearly eighth level. This is something he has achieved after spending almost half his life on it.

"If any martial art can be transformed into an entry, and one can advance by offering fish as tribute, then the martial path, which is fraught with difficulties for ordinary people, will be like a broad road for me. The speed at which my strength improves will be unmatched, except for peerless geniuses." Chen Shi's words were by no means empty boasting.

Because he wanted to improve his martial arts skills, all he needed to do was offer up the catch.

The only challenge lies in the speed at which he collects the fish. However, as his strength increases, the speed at which he collects the fish will also increase, which in turn makes him stronger, creating a positive cycle.

As Chen Shi was lost in his reverie, he suddenly felt a weight on his hand—the fishing rod leaning against the sampan was almost dragged into the water!

"Wow, that's some strength!"

Chen Shi gripped the fishing rod tightly, feeling the force coming from the other end of the fishing line, and his smile grew even brighter.

"Get up!"

Chen Shi shouted and instantly activated [Water Control].

He slowly raised the water around the hook, then applied over a hundred pounds of force, forcibly trapping the hooked fish in the large water sphere. The scene was familiar, just like when he caught the little green fish not long ago.

He wanted to enjoy the process of fishing, but even more so, he wanted to improve his skills. He adopted this method to prevent fish from escaping. He had also become familiar with this method of fishing, which allowed him to better control the water flow and ensure the catch wouldn't escape—a win-win situation.

"Come in obediently." Chen Shi called out softly, and the water sphere shrank, just enough to cover the blackback bass.

Yes, this is the blackback bass he needs to advance to [Giant Strength].

As Chen Shi gently touched the black-backed bass, it turned into golden light and disappeared.

[Immense Strength: Adds an extra 200 jin of strength, and replenishes Qi and blood.]

[Advanced route: Catch four blackback bass.]

"Luckily, it took less time than I expected."

Chen Shi had originally expected that he might not catch a blackback bass all night, but unexpectedly, fate was on his side and the first fish he caught that night was a blackback bass.

This gave him immense confidence. He didn't plan to go home tonight, but instead planned to fish in the Fallen Dragon Swamp all night, hoping to collect the black-backed bass needed for the advanced attribute.

The night was drawing to a close, and the first light of dawn was breaking.

A bright, golden sun broke through the clouds.

Chen Shi slumped onto the small boat, panting heavily.

He worked all night, using the "Water Control" technique to catch fish when they took the bait, and practicing his swordsmanship when none were biting. That's right, Chen Shi still wanted to practice his swordsmanship; he wanted to try advancing without relying on the skill panel.

However, reality is always cruel.

Chen Shi overestimated his talent and underestimated the difficulty of swordsmanship.

"It seems it's not that I have exceptional talent for martial arts; it's just that the first level of this sword technique is relatively easy to learn." He felt that he had only managed to master the first level last night by sheer chance. Otherwise, with just ten white stripes, he could have advanced to the second rank, and the cultivation wouldn't have been so difficult, nor would he have felt any sense of becoming stronger.

"Honestly catching fish and offering them as tribute is the right way for me."

Chen Shi muttered a helpless complaint and then looked at the entry panel.

[Immense Strength: Adds an extra 200 jin of strength, and replenishes Qi and blood.]

[Advanced route: Catching two blackback bass.]

That night's work wasn't in vain.

I actually caught three blackback bass, which immediately fulfills most of the requirements for advancing to the [Mighty] rank. If my luck continues, I might be able to catch the remaining two blackback bass before sunset today.

"I wonder how well the net I set yesterday yielded," Chen Shi thought to himself, before steering the sampan toward another body of water.

A moment later, he arrived at the waters he frequented.

It took him a while to pull the nets out of the water. The nets were all heavy, indicating a good catch, and indeed they were, because just as Chen Shi pulled all the nets back, lines of golden text appeared before his eyes.

[Advanced path completed!]

[Canglang Blade Technique (Tier 1) → Canglang Blade Technique (Tier 2)]

【Canglang Blade Technique (Tier 2): The moves are crude yet practical, focusing on vital points】

[Advanced route: Catch 50 whitebait.]

......

[Water Control (Level 3): Can control 200 kg of water at will, under one's command]

[Advanced route: Catch one eel.]

The amount of whitebait offered as tribute was so great that it not only met the requirements for advancing the [Canglang Sword Technique], but also fulfilled the requirement of fifty-three whitebait for [Water Control]. There were even extras that could be taken home and dried into small fish for food.

"I never imagined that I would cultivate the 'Canglang Blade Technique' to the second level in just half a day. I wonder how Deacon Shen will react when he finds out about this in Sanli Town."

Next, Chen Shi will go home first.

After unloading today's catch, he will immediately steer the sampan towards Sanli Town, ten miles away. The journey, which would normally take most of the day, will be greatly reduced with the help of [Water Control], and he will arrive in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

…………

Baishui Town, Zhengyi Martial Arts School.

Inside the room, the two middle-aged men's attention was focused on Li Ran. Li Ran was the young master of the Li family who had clashed with Chen Shi yesterday.

"Master Zheng, how is my son? Is there any chance that his arm can be restored?" Master Li was extremely anxious. How could he not be worried?

Their family had finally produced a martial arts prodigy, who was accepted as a personal disciple by a martial arts school after only a few months of training. He should have been steadily progressing and achieving great things, but then this unexpected disaster struck. Their own son's hand was crippled! What kind of situation is this?!

Don't these blind bastards know that Li Ran is Li Changgen's son?

"Master! My right arm..." Li Ran was so anxious that she almost cried.

After his right arm was broken yesterday by that stranger who suddenly appeared, he called many doctors for treatment, but with little effect. Afterwards, he came to the martial arts school, hoping to seek help from his master. But given the current situation...

Master Zheng shook his head and sighed:

"Although I can save my hand, my martial arts skills are ruined."

What?!

Upon hearing the words "ruined," Li Ran almost stood up and began to curse.

He had finally broken through the physical barrier and was honing his skills, preparing to break through the remaining two barriers, but now he was being told he was useless? Not only was his martial arts cultivation completely gone, but he would also be unable to cultivate martial arts from now on!

"Outrageous! Outrageous!" Li Changgen stomped his feet in anger.

"Master Li, please don't be anxious. Since I have taken Li Ran as my personal disciple, and now that his martial arts have been crippled, I, as his master, must do something," Master Zheng said coldly.