Before long, the thing finally surfaced.
A giant blue head slowly broke through the waves, its smooth skin glistening under the sunlight. A fine mist of water sprayed from a small blowhole on top of its head, scattering droplets that formed a vibrant rainbow in the daylight.
It was a Kun—a Kun so massive it left everyone speechless.
【Shen Jue Shock Value +100】
【Zhang San Shock Value +100】
【Li Si Shock Value +100】
【...】
【Current Shock Value: 57,890,000】
Everyone on the boats held their breath.
Many of them made their living by the sea, yet they had rarely seen a fish of such absurd proportions.
The massive fish floated quietly beside the boats, its copper-bell-sized eyes half-closed, as if it were merely passing by.
Yet with every breath it took, the currents it generated caused Shen Jue and the others' fishing boats to rock violently.
“I saw it last night!”
“It... It is the Divine Lady's... mount...” The old fisherman's legs gave out, and he fell directly to his knees on the deck.
The soldiers of the Zhenbei Army had also seen the massive fish before, and they quickly recognized it as the one that had escorted the tower boat.
“Yes, that's right, it's the one!”
“This giant fish is indeed the Divine Lady's mount!”
“Could the Divine Lady have sent it?”
Listening to their chatter and seeing that they recognized it, the blue whale swam around the boats in delight.
“Hellow, hellow! Zhuzhu told me to come and give you fishies to eat! Follow me quickly!”
In its eyes, this was a friendly greeting.
However, Shen Jue and the others could not understand the blue whale's language, nor did they comprehend the meaning behind its actions.
Watching the massive fish draw closer and closer to the boats, not only the sheltered fishermen but even the battle-hardened soldiers of the Zhenbei Army felt their hearts leap into their throats.
Although they had seen this giant fish every day aboard the Abyssal Tower Boat, they had never interacted with it at such close quarters.
Even though they repeatedly reminded themselves that this giant fish was the Divine Lady's mount and would not harm them, they could not entirely suppress their inner unease.
It was humanity's instinctive fear of colossal beasts.
“Do not panic.”
Shen Jue turned his head slightly, his gaze sweeping over the crowd behind him before returning to the giant fish.
He was not sure if the giant fish could understand human speech, but he still bowed respectfully with clasped hands, his voice steady. “We do not know why you have graced us with your presence, Lord Spiritual Fish. May I ask what brings you here?”
The blue whale tilted its head in confusion.
Why was this two-legged beast so silly? It had already said it was here to give them fishies, yet he kept asking questions.
Zhuzhu and Xiao Funi were much smarter. No matter what it said, they could always understand. They truly were its best friends!
Considering that the two-legged beast before it could not understand whale language, it thought for a moment and slapped a fish over to him with its tail, using practical action to show him that it had brought them fishies.
Shen Jue stood dazed, cradling the fish that had fallen from the sky, and looked at the blue whale in the water, entirely at a loss as to its intentions.
Seeing that Shen Jue still had no reaction, the blue whale nudged his boat gently with its tail.
Thinking it wanted the fish back, Shen Jue returned the thrashing creature to the sea and asked tentatively, “Lord Spiritual Fish, do you mean to tell us not to fish here?”
A shadow of worry flickered in his eyes.
If they could not fish, how would the people of Wuling, who had relied on fishing for generations, make a living?
The blue whale: “...”
“Why did you give it back to me again!”
It flicked its massive tail in frustration, slapping the water's surface repeatedly and sending up sheets of white foam.
To Shen Jue and the others, this display looked exactly like the giant fish growing angry because they were fishing in its waters.
Having flown over while concealed, Yun Shu landed on the blue whale's back, watching the human and the fish fail utterly to communicate.
She could not help but press a hand to her forehead.
As expected, giving a temporary task like this to a blue whale with the intelligence of a three-year-old was asking too much.
“Tongzi, it looks like you'll have to handle this.” She leaned close to the little fox's ear and whispered a few instructions.
Committing the lines Yun Shu taught it to memory, the little fox deactivated its concealment and revealed its true form before Shen Jue and the others.
“Kun, the Divine Lady ordered you to guide these mortals to find a line of life on the sea. Why are you intimidating them?”
The crisp, ethereal voice drifted into everyone's ears.
Once they processed what was happening, everyone instinctively looked up.
Suspended in midair was a snow-white Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox. Its nine fluffy, massive tails swayed gently behind it, and every strand of its fur was gilded with a soft, moon-like radiance. It gazed down with amber, slit-pupil eyes, yet there was not a trace of demonic aura about it; instead, it exuded a pristine, otherworldly holiness.
“Xiao Funi, what are you saying? I didn't intimidate them. It's just that they don't understand whale talk.”
The blue whale looked at the little fox with a deeply aggrieved expression.
The little fox avoided looking at the blue whale, fearing it might lose its composure, ruin the performance, and bring trouble to Yun Shu.
Knowing that both the spirit fox and the spiritual fish were divine beasts cultivating under the Divine Lady, Shen Jue did not wish to offend either party.
Thus, he took the blame upon himself.
“Thank you, Lord Spirit Fox. Had you not appeared to clear our doubts, we would have been unable to comprehend the Lord Spiritual Fish's intentions.”
He bowed deeply to the little fox and the blue whale. “Changfeng is of dull intellect. I beg the forgiveness of both esteemed lords.”
“If not for the Divine Lady's instructions, I wouldn't bother with the trivial matters of you mortals.”
The little fox gave a cold snort.
“Kun, why have you not led the way for them yet? Must I lodge a complaint against you before the Divine Lady?”
The blue whale swam off, visibly dejected.
The little fox vanished from sight immediately after.
Shen Jue said urgently, “Follow the Lord Spiritual Fish!”
Everyone hastily worked the oars, carefully following behind the massive fish whose head was so distant it was barely visible.
After traveling for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the blue whale's swimming pace suddenly slowed, its massive body swaying gently beneath the surface. Immediately after, the crowd witnessed an unbelievable sight.
Beneath the shimmering surface of the sea, countless silvery-white shadows converged from all directions, swarming continuously into the fishing nets they dragged behind their boats!
“This... This...” The old fisherman's mouth fell open.
Shen Jue was the first to snap out of it.
“Haul in the nets!”
He shouted, jolting everyone awake.
The men on the boats scrambled to pull the ropes. The winches creaked loudly, turning with extreme difficulty under the immense weight.
Every single net was filled to the brim with fish, their silver scales glittering so brightly under the sun that it was almost blinding.
“Full... They're full! Completely full!” one fisherman shouted, his voice cracking with excitement as he threw himself onto the heap of fish.
“I've never seen so many fish in my entire life!”
Having seemingly completed its task, the blue whale flicked its tail toward the temple and sank back into the depths.
Only ripples remained on the surface of the sea.
Seeing that her goal had been achieved, Yun Shu dove to the seabed to comfort the slightly sulking blue whale.
“Host, aren't you going back to the temple to rest?”
“I have other things to do.”
Yun Shu said, “The fish Shen Jue brings back won't be enough to save the entire city. I must go into the city to distribute porridge so they can hold out until Shen Yu and the others arrive with the grain.”
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