For a full week after Kui and Xylia's return, a profound peace settled over Li Yu's valley. The ripples of their actions in Riverstone City were spreading, but here, within the secluded spiritual space of his Koi's Sanctuary, the only currents were the gentle flows of energy and the lazy movements of fish.
Li Yu sat on a smooth, white stone at the very center of his main island, his eyes closed in deep meditation. He was not physically on an island, but within the vast, internal world that constituted his martial spirit. His breakthrough to the Core Formation Realm had been a seismic shift in his power, and the days since had been dedicated to consolidating that foundation. His spiritual core, a swirling vortex of azure and gold, pulsed steadily in his dantian, refining the vast reserves of spiritual energy he commanded.
His martial spirit, the Koi's Sanctuary itself, had never been more vibrant. The influx of new species from Kui had added fresh threads to its intricate tapestry of life. He could feel the stubborn, defensive energy of the Ironjaw Pike, the shimmering, elusive nature of the Crystal-Scale Prawns, and the slow, deep patience of the Midnight Pearl Clams, all swimming in the spiritual waters of his own soul. Even the horde of common turtles Kui had smuggled in added a subtle, grounding weight to the sanctuary's overall energy. On the northernmost island within this mind-scape, a small, magically frosted peak now existed, where the two "Frostfang Aqua-Bears" tumbled and played, their faint connection to the water element slowly being nurtured by the ambient power. Each new life, no matter how small, added to his own strength. The diversity was not just a collection; it was the very source of his power.
He was deep in this state of serene cultivation when a new sensation pricked at the edge of his consciousness. It was faint, like a distant whisper on the wind, and it came not from within his sanctuary, but from the physical world outside.
'Talk… please…'
Li Yu's eyes opened. The message was a pure, telepathic thought, projected with considerable difficulty from the Azurewood River, the very body of water that flowed through his valley.
He stood, his interest piqued. The spiritual sense of a Core Formation expert was a powerful tool. He extended his consciousness, moving it from his sanctuary and spreading it like an invisible net across his physical valley, focusing on the river. He swept past his own Azure-Jade Carp in the ponds of the Deepwater Menagerie, past the native Moon-fin Trout in the river itself, and the other common river life. None of them possessed the spark of sentience required for such a message.
Then he found it. Hiding under a mossy stone just beyond the borders of his valley was the Seven-Colored Fish, the very one that had helped him locate the high-grade spirit ore deposit so long ago.
His curiosity deepened into shock. He focused his spiritual sense, probing the creature's cultivation. The result was baffling. The fish's aura was that of a Rank 4 Demonic Beast, equivalent to an early-stage Qi Condensation human cultivator. Its ability to communicate telepathically was a profound anomaly. While it was known that some demonic beasts developed sentience at random, often due to unique bloodlines or fortunate encounters, it was exceptionally rare for one at such a low rank to possess such clarity of thought.
'Please… talk… strange water… strong…'
The thoughts came again, clearly directed at the unique, concentrated energy signature of his valley. The fish could sense the ambient power of the sanctuary bleeding into the real world.
This was an anomaly that defied logic. Without leaving his pagoda, he focused his will. The water of the Azurewood River around the Seven-Colored Fish began to swirl. Before the creature could react, a shimmering, invisible portal opened beneath it.
It reappeared a moment later, suspended in a sphere of its native river water, floating in the air before Li Yu. He had not moved from his pagoda, but had pulled the creature directly into the spiritual space of his martial spirit—the Koi's Sanctuary. This was not the physical Deepwater Menagerie, but a world within himself, a landscape of the soul. The fish froze, its multi-colored scales glowing brightly. Its wide, black eyes stared at Li Yu, then at the impossibly vast and pure lake that surrounded them on all sides. The sheer density of the spiritual energy here was a physical shock to its system, a force so potent that its fear was momentarily overwhelmed by pure, instinctual bliss.
'You wished to speak with me?' Li Yu projected his thoughts directly, a form of communication the fish could understand.
The fish flinched, then seemed to gather its courage. 'You… you are the… the Strong Water. I feel you. I… I can talk. It's new.'
'New?' Li Yu probed gently, his spiritual sense carefully scanning the creature. 'How did you gain this ability?'
He found the source: the faint, residual energy signatures of a powerful natural treasure, merged almost completely with the fish's demonic core, fundamentally altering its spiritual and mental makeup.
'Found a… shiny stone,' the fish projected, with a mental image of a small, smooth, rainbow-colored pearl. 'Pretty. Tasted good. Swallowed it. Then… I could think. And talk. And I got stronger.'
A natural treasure capable of granting sentience. Li Yu's mind reeled. Such an object was a treasure beyond price.
'You are female, I sense,' Li Yu continued.
'I am… a girl? Yes. I am a girl fish,' she replied, the concept still seemingly new.
'And this stone you swallowed… are there more?'
'Don't know,' she projected sadly. 'I looked. Never found another. But… I can feel shiny things. Sometimes. Far away. The river brings them. I am good at finding them.'
Li Yu's heart gave a distinct thump of excitement. An innate ability to sense treasures, magnified a thousandfold by her newfound sentience.
'Your ability to find 'shiny things' is very valuable,' Li Yu projected. 'This world within me,' he conveyed, indicating the vast sanctuary around them, 'is a good place to live. The water is strong, as you said. You will grow powerful here, far faster than you ever could in the river. You will be safe.'
The fish swam in excited circles within her water sphere. 'Stay here? I can stay?'
'You can,' Li Yu affirmed. 'And in return for this sanctuary, from time to time, I will take you with me when I travel the outside world. You will help me find these hidden treasures. We will help each other. Do you agree?'
There was no hesitation. 'Yes! Yes! I stay! I help Strong Water find shiny things!'
A genuine smile graced Li Yu's face. He waved his hand, and the sphere of water dissolved, releasing the Seven-Colored Fish into the main lake of his spiritual world. She let out a mental squeal of pure joy as the concentrated energy washed over her, a living jewel in his collection.
He watched her go, a sense of profound satisfaction settling over him. He had stumbled upon another asset. Kui was his hand, gathering the world's wealth. Xylia was his claw, warding off the world's threats. And now, this little fish would be his compass, hopefully guiding him to the world's hidden fortunes.