These Spiritual Fish included both First Grade and Second Grade.
Because they were nurtured with inexpensive spiritual objects, they had spiritual energy but no Monster Qi, would not harm people, and lacked the ferocity of Monster Beasts.
As the Fish Cultivators noticed someone approaching, their expressions turned alert, but upon seeing Mo Hua, realizing he was just a sweet-faced little cultivator, they all breathed a sigh of relief.
One friendly Fish Cultivator asked, “Young fellow, where are you from?”
Mo Hua replied, “I come from the Qianxue State Boundary.”
Hearing this, their expression showed some respect, “A sect disciple?”
Mo Hua nodded.
“Remarkable,” an older Fish Cultivator said, “To be accepted into a sect at the Qianxue State Boundary, your talent must be among the best.”
“You must also have a Top-Grade Spiritual Root, right?”
Unable to help it, Mo Hua’s cheeks turned slightly red, “I… fall just a bit short…”
The Fish Cultivator said, “That’s still incredible!”
Not eager to discuss his “Spiritual Root,” Mo Hua changed the subject, “Uncle, are you all fishing?”
“Yes,” the older Fish Cultivator nodded, then looking somewhat puzzled, he asked, “Young fellow, what are you doing here alone at Mistwater River?”
“I’m here to ‘fish’!” Mo Hua replied with a nod.
“Fish?” The older Fish Cultivator looked bewildered.
This kid, without a fishing rod or bait, what fish is he catching?
Another Fish Cultivator hearing this quickly waved his hand, “Kid, stop fishing and hurry off.”
Mo Hua, puzzled, asked, “What’s wrong?”
That Fish Cultivator pointed downstream, “Recent days, people have died, their corpses mangled by a Water Demon, left unrecognizable. Now, it’s said that this man-eating Water Demon is still prowling nearby.”
“Oh.” Mo Hua nodded.
The Taoist Court didn’t disclose things publicly, so these Fish Cultivators didn’t know the truth and could only spread rumors.
They still thought those cultivators were dragged into the water and eaten by a “Water Demon.”
The Fish Cultivator sighed, “Six died, including a young master.”
“Young master?” Mo Hua puzzled, “Wasn’t it said that they were six merchants?”
The Fish Cultivator shook his head, “It was a young master, rumored to be from a family.”
“Family?” Mo Hua curiously asked, “Which family?”
Another Fish Cultivator spoke to the older one:
“Dad, what kind of family? It’s just a Third Grade family, neither high nor low, not reaching the ‘family’ threshold.”
The older Fish Cultivator, annoyed, retorted:
“What about Third Grade? How is that not a family? If you could establish a Third Grade family before I die, I would truly die without regrets…”