Chapter 443: Imperial Mage Ruoshui
He sat on a small bench by the lakeside.
Holding a tiny fishing rod in his hand.
At his feet, a fish basket half submerged in the water, half above the surface.
"A child?"
A hint of surprise flashed through Ruoshui's eyes.
He was, at most, eight years old.
Dressed in black, sitting on the little bench, he was intently watching the floating bobber on the water.
This was the heart of the Magic Beast Forest, where could a child have come from?
Even a peak ninth-rank professional wouldn't dare casually approach the central lake.
Yet this child was leisurely fishing right at the center lake.
"Could it be a million-year-old shapeshifted magical beast?"
This possibility made Ruoshui's beautiful face furrow into a frown.
Magical beasts needed to shapeshift into human form and restart cultivation to break through the ninth rank and ascend to the legendary tenth-rank Divine Beast.
Although the chance was only one in ten thousand to become a Divine Beast,
as long as they survived for a million years, magical beasts would choose the path of shapeshifting.
A flicker of hesitation passed through Ruoshui's eyes, but she still stepped forward.
As a ninth-rank level-five Imperial Mage, Ruoshui trusted in her own strength.
Even if the child was a shapeshifted magical beast, she was confident she could retreat safely.
After all, cultivating to the peak of ninth rank after shapeshifting wasn't easy for magical beasts.
And this child's age was clearly very young.
Even if it was a shapeshifted beast, its strength shouldn't be too overwhelming.
If it really was a shapeshifted beast, then she definitely couldn't miss the opportunity.
Killing it could yield a million-year-old "Crown of Inheritance."
She might even be able to break through to the peak of ninth-rank level-nine.
It must be known that once reaching the ninth rank, there were still ten minor levels.
Each minor level had an enormous power gap.
And ninth rank was often called "The Final Boundary."
Advancing a single minor level was extremely difficult.
Killing intent?
Sitting by the lake on the small bench, Li Meng yawned out of boredom.
That woman had been hiding in the forest watching for a long time.
Just now, she even let out a trace of killing intent.
Did she mistake him for a shapeshifted magical beast?
Magical beasts in this world found shapeshifting extremely difficult.
It required at least a million years of cultivation.
And some serendipitous opportunities to successfully shapeshift.
They couldn't just hide away for a million years either.
They needed to absorb a massive amount of human souls to succeed in shapeshifting.
Li Meng didn't pay attention to that woman.
He continued fishing.
That woman should be a ninth-rank powerhouse of this world.
Her body emitted a strong icy aura.
Probably an Ice Mage.
Judging from her aura, she should have absorbed the "Crown of Inheritance" from an Icefinch.
The Icefinch carried a trace of Ice Phoenix bloodline.
But it was still far from the ultimate ice of a true Ice Phoenix.
The Icefinch was merely a ninth-rank magical beast, while the Ice Phoenix was a legendary Divine Beast.
"Turns out she's a descendant of the Ice Phoenix bloodline. No wonder she could absorb the Icefinch's Crown of Inheritance."
That woman not only had the aura of the Icefinch.
But also carried a faint trace of Ice Phoenix aura.
Probably only humans with Ice Phoenix bloodline could withstand absorbing the Icefinch's Crown of Inheritance.
Ordinary people would be overwhelmed by the Icefinch's frost backlash.
Ruoshui stepped closer to the child, one step at a time.
Wearing high heels, her gait was elegant.
Her graceful figure swayed with her steps, creating beautiful curves.
A human?
Ruoshui did not feel any magical beast aura from the child.
He really was just an ordinary human child.
Ruoshui stopped about five meters away from the little boy.
She took a deep breath.
Forced a very awkward smile onto her face.
"Child, why are you here alone?"
Ruoshui did not approach any closer.
This was the central lake.
No matter what, one must not let down their guard.
Li Meng turned his head to look at the woman.
A very beautiful woman.
Her water-blue long hair matched perfectly with her water-blue mage robe.
Just one glance, and Li Meng turned back to focus on his fishing.
Hurry up and leave.
Go do your own thing.
Don't disturb my fishing.
Li Meng hoped the woman would have some sense.
That she would obediently walk away.
Fishing must not be disturbed.
Otherwise, the fish would get scared away.
Seeing the little boy glance at her once and then ignore her,
Ruoshui awkwardly withdrew her forced smile.
Ignore her if he must.
At least she confirmed the boy was not some dangerous shapeshifted magical beast.
Ruoshui moved closer to Li Meng.
Curiously looking into the fish basket.
Wow, not bad.
There were quite a few fish inside.
All were small spirit fish about the length of a middle finger.
These tiny spirit fish could only be found in the center lake of the Magic Beast Forest.
They were extremely precious natural treasures.
Eating just one could extend an ordinary person's lifespan.
Longevity Pills made from small spirit fish were priceless.
Eating one pill could extend a normal person's life by ten years.
Although the more one ate, the lesser the effect,
for ordinary people, gaining an extra thirty years of life was worth any price.
Besides prolonging life, the small spirit fish also slowed aging.
Thus, Longevity Pills were most popular among women.
How did he manage to catch small spirit fish?
A glimmer of astonishment flashed through Ruoshui's eyes.
Small spirit fish were notoriously timid.
Even the slightest fluctuation of spirit power would cause them to scatter deep into the lake.
Moreover, their food source was certain minerals at the lake bottom.
So using bait to attract small spirit fish was almost impossible.
Although capturing them wasn't hard for a ninth-rank Ice Mage like her,
casting magic in the central lake would alert powerful magical beasts.
Just then, the little boy moved.
Somehow, a golden small fish snack appeared in his hand.
He bit off the fish's head with a "crunch crunch."
A rich aroma instantly spread all around.
"Smells so good!"
The strong fragrance made Ruoshui's eyes light up.
Just the scent alone made one drool.
Upon closer look, Ruoshui realized the snack was actually made from small spirit fish.
"This kid..."
Ruoshui was both amused and exasperated.
What a waste of such a precious treasure.
Ruoshui forced another awkward smile.
"Child, sister is hungry too. Can you give sister a little fish snack?"
Oh god, what was she doing?
Ruoshui's face flushed red.
She, a ninth-rank Ice Mage, was begging a little boy for food.
Li Meng pulled out a fish snack from his waist pouch and handed it to the "sister" beside him.
Ruoshui took the snack from the little boy with a bright smile.
Only now did her smile appear natural.
Quite generous.
Ruoshui mimicked the boy, biting off the fish head.
The indescribable taste made her eyes sparkle.
So fragrant, unbelievably delicious.
She had never eaten anything so tasty.
The flavor was beyond words.
Ruoshui couldn't help but shudder from delight.
"Delicious, so fragrant, your cooking is amazing!"
Ruoshui sat down gracefully beside Li Meng.
Her sitting posture elegant, and her long, slender legs very sexy.
"Give me another!"
Looking down at her slender, fair hands, Li Meng sighed inwardly.
Damn it, ran into a freeloading woman.
Li Meng took out another small fish snack and handed it to the woman beside him.
"Not bad, really good, give me another one!"
"No more!"
"Little brother, don't be so stingy, I saw you still have some!"
Today was a different kind of day.
Today, Li Meng encountered a very familiar, shameless woman.
Calling him little brother so naturally and intimately.
Li Meng had no choice but to give in.