A month passed slowly for Long Tian. During that time, he continued fishing on the boat, as he had been doing since completing his last mission. The system hadn't assigned him any new tasks, and although it allowed him some peace, it also made him feel like he wasn't progressing as much as he'd like. The days passed in calm, with the constant rhythm of the water and the sound of waves crashing against the boat.
However, his patience finally paid off when he found something that truly caught his interest. During his walks around the city, he discovered a small library. It wasn't very big, but it looked promising. With some money he had saved up, he paid a small fee to access its resources.
At first, he didn't find much that grabbed his attention. But as he roamed the aisles filled with books, something caught his eye: an old book that mentioned "immortals" and "cultivators." Long Tian's heart raced as he saw those terms. He thought he might finally discover something about the power he so desperately sought.
However, as he delved into the pages of the book, he realized that he couldn't find anything concrete. The concept of cultivators and immortals seemed completely foreign to this part of the world. Instead, the library contained information about the history of the human empires, the races that populated the continent, and the various events that had marked the passing of centuries.
What intrigued him most was an ancient legend that spoke of a great flying ship. According to the legend, at certain times, this ship would stop in different cities to recruit children. However, from what he could read, most people considered this just a fanciful tale, something to tell by the fire. There was no real proof that such a ship existed or that it took children to some mysterious destination.
At first, Long Tian felt disappointed, but he didn't lose hope. While the answers he was seeking weren't there, something told him to keep searching. It could be that those legends held some truth, or perhaps he was missing something bigger. What he did know was that his quest for knowledge in this world was just beginning, and he had the feeling that there was still much to discover.
Thus, as the month went by, Long Tian continued fishing and waiting patiently for a new mission, while never ceasing to explore and learn everything he could about this strange world he had found himself in.
Just as he was getting used to the routine of fishing and studying, a sudden system notification appeared in front of him, with that faint glow he had become familiar with. It was a new mission.
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[New Mission Available]
Name: Spiritual Energy Pearl Collection
Description: There are special pearls that have absorbed traces of spiritual energy from the environment, known as Condensed Pearls.
Objective: Collect at least a certain number of these pearls.
Location: They can be found on a small island to the southwest, within the same lake.
Reward:
6 Infernal Points
10 Spiritual Points
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Long Tian felt his pulse quicken. Finally, a new opportunity to progress. Without wasting any time, he accessed the system map, where a bright red marker precisely indicated the location of the mentioned island. Although it wasn't too far, it wasn't a place he usually visited during his fishing trips.
"Spiritual energy pearls…?" he murmured as he studied the map closely. "Maybe they'll be useful beyond the mission itself."
As the sun began to rise on the horizon, Long Tian had already come up with a plan to get his companions onto the boat and head toward the island without them suspecting his true intentions. He wanted to do everything subtly, without revealing that his real goal was to collect the spiritual energy pearls. However, after thinking it over for a while, he couldn't find a valid way to do it without raising suspicions. Despite his cleverness, the situation left him with few options to act discreetly.
Time passed quickly as he pondered possible solutions, and before he knew it, the afternoon was already falling. Daylight was starting to fade, and the boat was once again approaching the dock. Long Tian's companions were ready to rest after another long day of fishing.
The boat was just minutes away from reaching land. The oars struck the water in a steady rhythm as Long Tian's companions chatted cheerfully, unaware of the change in the atmosphere. Then, a cold breeze swept across the lake's surface, and a thick fog began to descend from the sky, as if intentionally falling upon them.
At first, it seemed like ordinary mist, just a light curtain of vapor gently floating above the water. But within seconds, it grew denser, heavier, so thick that they could barely see each other. The boat came to a stop, gently rocking in the lake's stillness, as if the very surroundings refused to let them continue.
Long Tian frowned, alarmed by the sudden appearance of the phenomenon. His expression turned serious, and with a firm voice, he exclaimed:
"Could this be the strange fog they mentioned at the tavern? The one that traps ships and never lets them escape..."
His words sent a chill down his companions' spines, who began looking around in visible nervousness. The atmosphere had become oppressive, almost unreal, as if the world they knew had vanished and only this dense fog remained.
"We need to act fast," he added urgently. "If we let the fog surround us completely, we won't make it out. We need a plan we must reach land as soon as possible or we'll all die here!"
His words were no exaggeration. At the tavern, he had heard several rumors about this fog: that it swallowed entire boats, that whispers could be heard inside it, and that sometimes bodies appeared weeks later, floating lifeless. Perhaps they were just legends… or perhaps not.
Long Tian quickly pulled out the system map, unfolding it in the middle of the boat. The fog barely allowed them to see a few meters, but thanks to the system's function, he was able to pinpoint their current location. There, to the southwest, a small island was marked just in the opposite direction of the dock.
"Redirect the boat to the southwest!" he ordered with authority. "I have a map showing an island nearby in that direction. It's closer than the dock. If we hurry, we can reach it before the fog traps us completely."
At first, his companions hesitated. But something in his tone, the certainty in his voice, and the fear already creeping into their hearts, pushed them to obey. They gripped the oars tightly, this time driven by urgency.
The boat slowly turned, slicing through the lake's surface, now almost ghostly. With each passing minute, the fog grew denser, colder. It felt as though something was watching them from within, as if an unknown will desired to drag them into the depths.
Tension reached its peak. No one spoke. Only the splashing of water and the sound of shaky breaths could be heard. Long Tian kept his eyes on the map, guiding his companions as if their lives depended on every stroke.
"Don't stop," he whispered, more to himself than to the others. "Just a little more… just a bit further..."
After a long and tense journey, the silhouette of the island finally emerged before them, a beacon of hope in the middle of the nightmare. Still partially shrouded in fog, its outline was barely visible but enough to confirm they had made it.
"There!" Long Tian shouted. "To that shore!"
They doubled their efforts. With one final push, the boat touched the damp sand of the small beach. They jumped out quickly, dragging the boat to shore as the fog began to glide over the waters surrounding the island.
At last, standing on solid ground, they all dropped to their knees, exhausted but relieved.