The pearly white fish meat was placed over the fire.

The flames licked at it a few times, causing the meat to curl up. Bai Mo picked up a piece, blew on it, and popped it into his mouth.

To be honest, it didn’t have some intoxicating flavor, but it was exceptionally fresh.

However, the Spiritual Qi contained within it was utterly intoxicating.

Bai Mo studied the others and could tell from their expressions that they had also realized its secret.

Examining the wisp of Spiritual Qi that had entered his body, Bai Mo calculated inwardly.

’This fish can shorten the time I need to reach the Qi Refining Fourth Layer to the absolute minimum!’

Crippled Ma mulled it over for a moment before sighing.

"We can’t take this fish out of here. If it reached the market, we wouldn’t be able to hold onto it."

As he spoke, he looked toward Bai Mo.

"With Alchemist Bai’s status, perhaps you could keep things under control..."

Bai Mo waved his hands dismissively.

"But then I’d be putting myself in the crosshairs. I don’t want that, and besides, there are too many variables!"

At his words, everyone nodded in agreement.

Bai Mo added, "Look at it this way. We may have lost out on a fortune."

"But on our cultivation paths, we’ve gained a great boon. Isn’t that better than wealth?"

Lanshan agreed with Bai Mo’s sentiment.

"Shopkeeper Bai is absolutely right. We’re always on the sidelines, hearing about how so-and-so got lucky and stumbled upon a treasure trove."

"Today, it’s finally our turn. This is a blessing for our cultivation!"

Everyone agreed.

Just then, Qin Ying and Wang Hu returned.

Wang Hu was carrying a roe deer and a wild boar, and had even made a point to pull up some ginger.

The moment the others saw them, they called out in greeting.

"Hurry, hurry! We’ve found a treasure!"

Shen Yang picked up a dagger and began slicing off pieces of fish meat for everyone to grill.

When the two newcomers had their first taste, they were stunned.

After adding more wood to the fire several times, the enormous fish was finally cooked and eaten in its entirety.

Shen Yang tossed the fish bones into the fire, let them dry out, then crushed them and buried them in the ground.

Only the fish skin remained, spread out on the ground for everyone to inspect.

Han Meng got his hands on it, pulling, stretching, and rubbing it.

"The toughness is quite good, but it’s still far from suitable for making armor."

Though the fish skin was tough, it wasn’t yet at the level where it could block weapons.

"The reason this fish skin can be used as a base for Talismans is likely because of the Spiritual Qi within it."

After resting for only a moment, the group entered the cave again.

Lanshan once again took up the fishing rod and sat by the pool.

The three members of the Poyue Demon Hunting Team took out their chains, ready to provide support at any moment.

Crippled Ma spoke up.

"Lanshan, you have the highest cultivation level among us."

"But if you want *me* to think highly of you, then don’t you dare waste another one of those precious pellets!"

Lanshan didn’t spare him a glance, his focus entirely on the surface of the water.

The great fish shot out of the water with extreme speed, a testament to its power in the water.

’If I were to encounter it in the water, I wouldn’t stand a chance of survival.’

Thinking this, it no longer seemed strange that this fish was a Demon Beast.

If this were in a great river, it would be no surprise for fishermen to mistake this fish for a river god!

It would never fail at capsizing boats and dragging people underwater.

It was just short of being able to summon wind and waves.

They waited for a full half-hour this time before a great fish burst from the water.

Three iron chains shot out. Lanshan immediately pulled back his hand, but the mud pellet still ended up in its mouth.

What’s more, one of the Poyue Demon Hunting Team’s Cultivators lost his footing and was dragged by the fish’s momentum, nearly falling into the pool.

The man’s soul nearly left his body, but fortunately, Han Meng managed to grab him.

Pulled taut by the chains, the great fish couldn’t fall back into the water and was dragged directly onto the bank of the pool.

Lanshan roughly pried open the fish’s mouth, only to see that the mud pellet inside had already been crushed to bits.

"What a waste!"

Having learned their lesson, the group got back into position and started over.

They were busy straight through until the early morning hours.

The roars of beasts in the mountains did nothing to extinguish the group’s burning passion.

All told, the six mud pellets landed them just eight large fish.

Qin Ying and Shen Yang had already started cutting up and cooking the large fish.

Crippled Ma handed the last one over to them.

"Alchemist Bai, in your opinion, when will this Ling Grass by the pool mature?"

Bai Mo extinguished his fantasy.

"It will still need more than half a year. Plus, this grass is delicate, so there’s no telling how much of it will ultimately survive."

Celestial Barrier Mountain truly lived up to its name as a land of treasures, Bai Mo mused.

It was almost completely wild and untamed; there was no telling how many wonders were hidden within it.

No wonder so many generations of Demon Hunting Teams had their bones buried in the mountains, yet there were always Cultivators who would make a name for themselves and take up the banner for this line of work.

"Even though I don’t know much about Celestial Barrier Mountain," Bai Mo said,

"I understand the principle of not draining the pond to catch the fish. Even if we could get more Ling Grass, we should let the great fish in this pool recover for a while."

Lanshan said cheerfully,

"One of the treasure spots on the old Mountain Entrance Map has already been ruined."

"We must take good care of this new one we’ve found!"

Getting the Ling Grass and giving it to Bai Mo to refine was just a matter of some effort.

But whether doing so would damage the pool’s foundation was something they had to consider carefully.

Suddenly, Han Meng let out a low cry, drawing everyone’s attention.

"Sister Qin, Brother Shen."

"You two should take your Evil Exorcism Pills!"

Bai Mo glanced over and saw that the blood vessels in their eyes had multiplied, and their complexions looked unnatural, tinged with a savage aura.

Shen Yang put down the fish skin he was holding and touched his own face, the realization dawning on him slowly.

Seeing everyone nod, he said,

"I was just thinking that killing these fish was getting easier and easier. It felt quite invigorating."

"Turns out my senses were being clouded."

Bai Mo was horrified. Only now did he realize that this is what happens when the Blood Curse accumulates to a severe degree.

Qin Ying and Shen Yang took the Evil Exorcism Pills and calmed their minds to purge the curse.

Han Meng took over the rest of their work.

Including the first one, the group now had nine fish skins.

Lanshan told him to roll up the fish skins.

"When we get back, we’ll ask around about this fish’s name and see what the market price for the skin is."

"If we get a chance, we’ll take them to Celestial Mountain City to sell. We absolutely cannot sell them in Immortal Arrival City."

No one disagreed.

Crippled Ma added, "A prudent move."

Then, Lanshan looked at Bai Mo again.

"This fish is incredibly restorative. Even I feel like I’ve made some progress. Shopkeeper Bai, you should eat more."

"Once we’re out of the mountains, you can refine the Spiritual Qi from it. I imagine it won’t be long before you break through to the Qi Refining Fourth Layer."

With that, he went to the cave entrance to look at the sky.

The sky was not yet light, and a large moon hung high in the sky.

"The full moon is in a few days. We’ll stay one more day, then leave the mountains."

The various leaders all nodded.

When the moon is full, the beasts grow restless.

If they were still in the mountains then, they might face unpredictable dangers.

The leaders of the Demon Hunting Teams, veterans of Celestial Barrier Mountain, settled the matter with just a few glances and a handful of words.

This was a level of skill that the likes of Han Meng and Shen Yang had yet to reach.

They slept peacefully through the night, with only Han Meng standing watch.

When Bai Mo woke the next day, it took a great deal of effort for him and the others to finish off the remaining fish meat.

By the end, Bai Mo felt bloated and tight, with a light, almost unreal sensation.

This was due to an excessive accumulation of foreign Spiritual Qi in his body.

Bai Mo knew his own situation best.

’Right now, in the eyes of a Demon Beast, I’m no different from a large, human-shaped pill.’

’The kind that would fill its mouth with rich oils in one bite and increase its cultivation by several years.’

The others were also in similar states to varying degrees.

As they descended the mountain, the group moved at a swift pace, terrified of attracting the attention of any Demon Beasts.