"Iron Dragon Fish..." You Chan drew a deep breath, trying her best to calm herself, but soon she deflated in defeat.
Her gaze wavered, her expression distant and unfocused.
Fang Yuan had put Iron Dragon Fish on the market, immediately causing a minor uproar in the Precious Yellow Heaven.
Dragon fish already had a market—demand was substantial. It wasn't as though Gu Immortals hadn't attempted to improve dragon fish before, but nearly all of them had failed.
The reason was simple: the Food Path, from the very beginning, had never gained wide circulation.
But this time, Fang Yuan had stepped in and actually improved the dragon fish twice in succession!
Gu Immortals were perceptive beings who immediately grasped the deeper significance behind the improved dragon fish—it meant Fang Yuan likely possessed profound attainment in the Food Path, or had inherited some Food Path True Transmission.
If others could figure this out, You Chan naturally could too.
This was precisely why she had taken such a devastating blow, her emotions in constant turmoil.
A single Iron Dragon Fish was nothing in itself, but the weight of implication behind it loomed like a mountain pressing on her heart, making it hard to breathe.
"No matter what, I can't just give up like this."
"But last time, improving the Copper Dragon Fish already exhausted everything I had—drained all my reserves. In such a short time, there's no way I can produce an Iron Dragon Fish."
"What am I going to do?"
You Chan had a clear sense of her own limitations. She knew that with her own strength alone, she could no longer contend with Fang Yuan.
Before long, another person's image surfaced in her mind.
"Could it be... I'll have to go to her for help?" You Chan hesitated to the extreme, a thick layer of gloom settling over her eyes.
Several days later, the White Crane Sea Area.
A gentle breeze blew across the calm, mirror-like sea. Blue sky and white clouds reflected clearly upon the water, and between sky and sea, countless white cranes soared—some gliding gracefully with wings spread wide, others perched on small islands to rest.
A scene of perfect tranquility.
But at the heart of this sea area, its master threw open her mouth and burst into hearty laughter, clearly overjoyed.
"Hahaha, You Chan, You Chan—you've finally come around!" Qin Baihe was in high spirits, laughing as she fixed the fairy You Chan before her with a sharp, predatory gaze.
You Chan snorted coldly, turning her eyes away from Qin Baihe, thoroughly displeased.
Qin Baihe was the master of the White Crane Sea Area. Beautiful, tall and slender, with an elegant neck and alluring long legs, she was one of the Six Great Beauties of the Eastern Sea alongside You Chan.
But unlike the other beautiful fairies, Qin Baihe had no interest in men—she preferred women.
She had built a Sixth Transformation Gu Immortal dwelling in the White Crane Sea Area and named it the Lily Palace, keeping a great number of women within to form her own harem, there to be at her side day and night.
Qin Baihe stepped forward and took You Chan's hands. An expression of pure bliss spread across her face. "So smooth, so smooth! You Chan, do you know how long I've been coveting you? How long I've yearned for you? From now on, you'll be the queen of my Lily Palace!"
"Hmph!" You Chan tried to pull her hands free, but Qin Baihe's grip was surprisingly tight.
You Chan's face turned cold as frost. "Let go," she said flatly.
Qin Baihe obediently released her. The alliance had been sealed—she knew You Chan was a turtle in a jar, with nowhere to run. There was no rush to force compliance. Qin Baihe had all the time in the world to slowly savor her prize.
After freeing her hands, You Chan quickly took two steps back. "Qin Baihe, don't forget what you promised me."
Qin Baihe chuckled. "Of course. The Iron Dragon Fish problem—neither of us alone could tackle it in such a short time. But as long as we work together in perfect harmony, minds in sync and hearts aligned, we'll absolutely break through! That person who's been giving you trouble won't be smug for much longer."
You Chan gave a slight nod.
Qin Baihe's words weren't empty talk. You Chan had known her for many years and was well aware of her capabilities.
Without delay, You Chan moved into the Lily Palace. The two worked together tirelessly, day and night, pouring every ounce of their mental energy into the Iron Dragon Fish.
You Chan had to give it everything!
The bulk of her income came from dragon fish. She couldn't afford to abandon the dragon fish trade—doing so would cause tremendous damage to her cultivation.
A Gu Immortal's cultivation required constant growth in strength. If that growth faltered, facing calamities became extremely dangerous.
Even if one didn't perish in a calamity, suffering severe injuries would trigger a vicious cycle—each successive calamity grinding the Gu Immortal weaker, until they were ultimately worn to death.
A little over ten days later, an Iron Dragon Fish appeared in the Lily Palace.
Staring at this Iron Dragon Fish, You Chan nearly burst into tears of joy.
Because this Iron Dragon Fish had not been purchased from the Precious Yellow Heaven—it had been raised entirely through the combined efforts of herself and Qin Baihe!
This single Iron Dragon Fish declared that You Chan now possessed the means to raise large numbers of Iron Dragon Fish.