Chapter 129: Toad Mudflat Enters The Five Viscera
Several River Sharks, after their lower bodies were eaten clean, had not yet died. The expressions on their human faces showed no trace of frowning or distress—some were indifferent, others even smiling instead.
This bizarre scene truly gave the Immortal Seeds present an indescribable sense of horror.
The three Refining Qi Immortals sitting cross-legged on the ground, after finishing their meal, looked around at the surrounding Immortal Seeds while rinsing their mouths, pointed at the River Sharks on the deck, and laughed scoldingly:
“Spineless cowards! As Immortal Cultivators, what’s wrong with eating a demon!”
“These River Sharks only look human and feel human to use, that’s all. Besides, us three brothers are particular—we don’t mind our food being finely prepared or our slices being thin; we only eat fish tails.”
These words fell among the crowd, leaving everyone inwardly cursing, not knowing what to say.
Among them, quite a few were moved. Seeing that the three Refining Qi Immortals were so enthusiastic about River Shark meat, they realized this demon flesh was truly extraordinary.
It was just a pity that the fish tail flesh of the several River Sharks had been picked clean without a scrap left, only their white and tender human-like bellies and upward, with flesh and organs clearly visible, had not been eaten.
Even so, someone in the arena suddenly stepped forward and cupped his hands toward the three Refining Qi Immortals:
“Immortal Elders be well. May I ask if these leftovers are of any use to the three of you?”
Whoosh, the crowd’s gazes immediately fell on the one who spoke, realizing what this fellow intended to do.
The three Refining Qi Immortals also sized up the newcomer with amused interest.
They replied: “No real use.”
“You really intend to eat it? Don’t blame us for not warning you—fish tail is fish tail, human body is human body. Eating the former is no big deal, but eating the latter, beware of spawning an inner demon.”
The middle-aged Immortal among them added amiably: “This human body is actually just ‘bait’ grown by the River Shark—a lump of dead flesh, far less refined than the fish tail, not worth it.”
The fellow who stepped forward, however, showed a simple and honest smile on his face as he pointed at those fish tails and respectfully spoke:
“Replying to the Immortal Elders, this one wishes to beg for some bones to eat.”
These words stunned the three Refining Qi Immortals once more.
Immediately, smiles appeared on their faces, and they variously cracked bones loose, calling out with sucking sounds in their mouths:
“Here! Come eat.”
The Immortal Seed who begged for food surprisingly bowed and prostrated himself on the ground right then, without using his hands to receive it.
He picked up a tailbone with his mouth, then squatted on the ground unconcerned with others, bared his sharp teeth, and crunched away at the bone.
“Haha!” The three Refining Qi Immortals, seeing this, slapped their buttocks and stood up, pointing at him and teasing endlessly.
The surrounding Immortal Seeds were also abuzz with constant murmurs, discussing animatedly.
Fang Shu, Er Dai Yuan, and the others, seeing this, showed even more unusual expressions on their faces than the bystanders. Because the one gnawing bones on the ground was precisely one of their cheap roommates—Ling Bai Lang.
Fang Shu was among them; he even narrowed his eyes slightly, inwardly on alert: “What a pair of wolf-dog brothers.”
Even if this person had something wrong with his head, his willingness to cast aside face like this made him absolutely more of a character than Ling Bai Quan!
Amid the agitation, someone else stepped forward at the scene.
They had all been spurred by Ling Bai Lang and also begged the three Refining Qi Immortals for bones to eat. After all, someone had set the example—such demon bones that could potentially boost Refining Qi efficiency were not to be missed.
Fang Shu, however, showed no sign of being moved. Better to avoid touching such unclear objects.
In an instant, the latecomers scrambled and fought:
“Mine, mine!” “You fool, latecomers line up.”
The Refining Qi Immortals laughed heartily, picking up those fish tail bones and tossing them into the crowd like teasing cats and dogs, sparking rounds of scrambles.
In no time, the several fish bones were divided up completely. Many who had thick-skinned themselves to beg but hadn’t even touched a fish spine had gloomy expressions.
Thus, their gazes involuntarily turned to those plump River Shark human bodies, with shifting looks in their eyes.
While the group of scramblers hesitated and wavered, someone stepped out from the onlookers and begged the three Refining Qi Immortals for the remaining River Shark human bodies.
The Refining Qi Immortals smiled:
“You really dare to eat? If you get sick afterward, don’t blame us?”
Who would have thought that after the man bowed, he shook his head and released several large rats with glossy fur from his sleeve.
Standing amid the crowd, he pointed at the River Shark human bodies and said: “Replying to the Immortal Elders, this junior is merely begging some rations for these useless beasts.”
These words once again stirred the onlookers greatly: “Tsk tsk, not daring to eat it himself, so he sends his pet beasts forward?”
“This… what a good method!”
Seeing this, the three Refining Qi Immortals exchanged a glance, their smiles widening: “Interesting, interesting!”
“Looks like this year’s Immortal Seeds are of decent quality. This transport boat trip has some flavor.”
With those words, the three ignored the crowd, abandoned the River Shark lower halves on the ground, and chatted as they walked toward the cabin.
Before they had left the crowd, quick-handed Immortal Seeds rushed forward to snatch the River Shark flesh on the deck.
In an instant, the deck was a mess of blood and flesh.
Fang Shu watched from the side and saw a River Shark’s belly torn open raw, revealing undigested outer kidneys and tendons from within—not knowing if they were Wu Dan’s or some other injured person’s.
And the fellow who first stepped forward to beg for the River Shark human body turned out to be another of his cheap roommates—the Black Tiger Hall disciple nicknamed Rat Lord.
Black Rat noticed the gazes of Fang Shu, Er Dai Yuan, and the others. While feeding his rats with slick hands, he politely said to Fang Shu and the rest:
“Does anyone want some? This white meat may not match the tail fish meat, but it still has quite a bit of spiritual energy—counts as top-grade spirit food.”
Fang Shu and the others exchanged looks and all declined, saying they had no pet beasts, politely refusing.
After watching the spectacle, as the group returned to the cabin one by one, they had firmly memorized Wu Dan, Ling Bai Lang, and Black Rat in their hearts.
The giant boat set off.
After the chance encounter with the River Sharks, the Transport Boat met no other strange or unusual events.
Those injured Immortal Seeds, aside from empty crotches, all awoke later and could get out of bed and walk the next day, with none dying.
Only in Fang Shu’s cabin, the previously lively and spirited Wu Dan suddenly became taciturn and gloomy.
The atmosphere in the entire cabin also felt oppressive.
Just like that.
The giant boat sailed into a misty area, and after another day, the ship hull shuddered violently.
Everyone on the ship was startled, thinking it had hit a reef, and hurriedly exited the cabins. Rushing to the deck, they looked up and saw the giant boat had reached the shore, with a mudflat scene ahead.
Stone houses like village dwellings dotted the mudflat, some clustered, some scattered, extending into the distance.
Due to the fog, being able to see a few hundred steps was impressive. They gazed afar, not knowing what lay beyond the mudflat, only vaguely sensing giant structures looming in the fog behind.
Before the crowd could stare from the ship much longer, several Refining Qi Immortals emerged.
“Toad Mudflat has arrived.”
“Get off the ship, off the ship!”
They waved their sleeves and shouted, immediately driving everyone off the ship without even giving them a chance to return to their rooms for packing.
Just like that, the group of Immortal Seeds who had come full of anticipation were herded like ducks onto the shelf, jumping off the Transport Boat in trepidation one after another, landing unsteadily on the sandy ground with shoes and socks all wet.
“Is this the Immortal Sect territory!?”
“Finally arrived, but why is the fog here so thick? It makes one’s head spin.”
Amid the clamor, Fang Shu was among them, his mind equally expectant and tense.
He breathed in the mudflat’s fog, feeling the air here slick and icy cold, with a unique stimulating sensation that invigorated the spirit.
“Immortal Sect cultivation, at last!” Fang Shu thought inwardly.
At this time, by the shore, figures in grey robes with hunched forms were already waiting.
The person carried a paper lantern, swaying as he approached. The lantern bore a twisted human face that seemed both smiling and crying, like a magic tool.
The other’s face was shrouded in a hood, but one could feel his gaze cold and piercing, appraising Fang Shu and the rest like livestock, scanning them once over.
He let out a hoarse, eerie laugh:
“Utility Hall’s Sun is here to respectfully welcome you Immortal Seeds into our Five Viscera Temple!”
