Chapter 1116: Chapter 685: Entering the Dream_2 Chapter 1116 -685: Entering the Dream_2 These fish look pretty good, but compared to the golden fish I bought myself and the silver-scaled fish Old Yu gifted me, they seem somewhat lackluster. Mo Hua nodded slightly. Just as he shifted his gaze, he froze for a moment and noticed a small fish tank beside the large one. It seemed that the small tank held a separate group of fish. The top was sealed shut, leaving only a thin slit. The interior was pitch dark, making it impossible to see inside—except for the occasional flash of red that flickered faintly. When Old Yu saw Mo Hua’s attention turn to the small tank, his expression changed subtly. He quickly offered a servile smile and said, “Young sir, the fish have all been placed in the fish basket.” Mo Hua pointed to the small tank, asking, “What kind of fish are in this tank?” Old Yu replied, “It’s a few Redwater Carp. These fish are sensitive to light, so they’re kept in the tank with a lid, leaving only a thin slit for air.” “Redwater Carp?” Mo Hua frowned slightly. He released his Divine Sense, peering through the tank, and confirmed that it indeed housed some fish. The aura emanating from the fish was faintly red, and apart from that, there appeared to be nothing out of the ordinary. Mo Hua nodded and refrained from asking further. Old Yu went to make arrangements, hiring a horse-drawn carriage for Mo Hua. Afterward, Mo Hua walked ahead briskly, chest puffed out, while Old Yu followed behind lugging the fish basket, his face etched with bitterness. It looked as though Mo Hua was exploiting Old Yu while shamelessly mooching free fish. Once they had left the small fishing village and reached the roadside, Mo Hua was the first to hop onto the carriage. Old Yu loaded the fish basket onto the carriage and, after ensuring no one was around, respectfully bowed to Mo Hua. “Young sir, your boundless kindness…” Mo Hua waved dismissively and said, “Go home.” Then, he sat back in the carriage, heading toward Qian Learning State Boundary. The Crossing River Dragon disappeared into the small fishing village and hadn’t made an appearance since. However, Mo Hua no longer had the time to pursue its trail. He needed to return—his two-day rest period was over, and tomorrow it was back to lessons. *Priorities must always be kept straight.* This period was still critical for cultivation in the Sect. Even though he failed to follow its trail, the Crossing River Dragon had nonetheless led him to its hiding spot. *Patience is key when fishing.* This time, he could let it go. He’d catch its trail during his next rest period. The carriage moved further and further away, flanked by shimmering rivers and picturesque mountains, gradually blotting out the impoverished small fishing village entirely. Still, scenes of hardship from that village—the bleak expressions of Old Yu, and his bitter yet numb words—lingered in Mo Hua’s heart. *He felt a complicated mix of emotions.* He glanced back one last time at the small fishing village now cloaked by verdant mountains and waters, his gaze deep and unwavering. *Perhaps this was…* *the “fertile soil” of an Evil God…* … The carriage traveled the road and eventually arrived at Qingzhou City. Mo Hua intended to gift the golden lotus three-colored carp to Aunt Wan. Aunt Wan frequently took care of him, treating him to lavish meals, and showering him with gifts on countless occasions. *Mo Hua felt it was time for him to reciprocate.* Though the journey seemed uneventful, Mo Hua noticed several cultivators lurking in the shadows, watching him closely. With a subtle sweep of his Divine Sense, he realized they were members of the Wang family. Mo Hua pretended not to notice, continuing to ride the carriage audaciously straight through the gates of the Gu family estate. At this moment, those lackeys should understand the Gu family was his true “backing,” an untouchable force they dared not provoke. Upon entering the Gu family estate, Wenren Wan heard Mo Hua had bought a live golden lotus three-colored carp as a gift for her. Elated, she inspected the fish with her own eyes. Seeing its shimmering gold body, layered gradients, and lotus-like scales left her astonished. Although the Gu family was respected among elite families and regularly enjoyed fine cuisine, such rare delicacies were not easily procured. Even when they could obtain them, it required significant effort. Wenren Wan immediately ordered the three-colored carp to be stewed to nourish Mo Hua and Yu Er. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮 The fish’s flesh was incredibly tender, and the broth rich like liquid gold. Mo Hua devoured it joyfully, savoring every bite. Ultimately, most of the fish ended up in the stomachs of Mo Hua and Yu Er. Later that evening, under the cover of darkness, Wenren Wan instructed a Gu family carriage to send Mo Hua and Yu Er back to Taixu Gate. The next day resumed as usual: lessons and cultivation. *Everything seemed routine, yet Mo Hua had an inexplicable feeling that something was off.* *His Divine Sense felt strangely disrupted—fatigue washed over him, and he occasionally spaced out.* Mo Hua steadied his mind through meditation, seeking insight into his own condition. Yet, his Sea of Consciousness remained empty, his Divine Sense abundant, with no anomalies to be found. *Perplexed, he chalked it up to exhaustion from his travels.* By nightfall, within the Disciple’s Residence. Mo Hua sent a message to Gu Changhuai, explaining the Crossing River Dragon’s trail, its surfacing location, and the fact that it had vanished within the small fishing village. Mo Hua wanted Gu Changhuai to assign people to monitor the village. However, he advised against entering, instructing them to observe from afar to avoid tipping off their quarry. Gu Changhuai agreed to his plan. Once the arrangements were made, Mo Hua spent some time studying formations. Around 1 a.m., Mo Hua closed his Formation Books and prepared to enter his Sea of Consciousness to practice the formations he had just learned on the Taoist Stele. Suddenly, a wave of overwhelming drowsiness hit him. His eyelids grew heavy as lead, and soon, his eyes shut completely. Slumping over his desk, he fell into a deep sleep. Rarely did Mo Hua dream. In his dream, thick mist surrounded him. As the mist dispersed, it revealed a shimmering river. Mo Hua realized he had grown older in the dream—tall, strong, and dressed in coarse clothing. His exposed arms were sun-kissed to a bronzed hue. At that moment, he stood aboard a boat drifting in the water, gripping a fishing net in his hands. Within the net were freshly caught fish. *In his dream, he seemed to have become…* *a cultivator who lived by fishing?*