PDLP Chapter 33 Raising Shrimp and Learning Puppetry Knowledge
Chapter 33 Raising Shrimp and Learning Puppetry Knowledge
As the morning mist dissipates, wisps of steam rise from the surface of the clear lake, carrying the unique fresh scent of aquatic plants.
Long queues have formed at the bluestone wharf outside the port market management office.
Yang Changsheng, dressed in a coarse cloth short jacket, was inconspicuous among the fishermen and farmers, except for his handsome face and well-proportioned figure.
He just received this season's crystal shrimp larvae from the management office.
It was a kind of nearly transparent, crystal-clear juvenile shrimp, only the size of a fingernail, swimming densely and full of vitality in a specially made spiritual liquid tank.
The Lu family steward in charge of distributing the shrimp fry still had that serious face, but when Yang Changsheng reported the water area number and handed over his identity card, his gaze lingered on him for a moment longer.
He nodded almost imperceptibly, seemingly recalling the young fisherman who had performed well during the spiritual disaster two years ago.
"Yang Changsheng, Yisi District, 9527 water area, 1,500 crystal shrimp larvae, three buckets of feed, one roll of spirit-locking netting, verified and signed." Manager Wang's voice was calm and even.
"Thank you, Steward." Yang Changsheng calmly replied and accepted his share of the supplies.
The shrimp larvae bucket felt slightly heavy and cool to the touch, representing the work for the next few months and the source of a meager amount of spirit stones.
He rowed his familiar old fishing boat steadily toward his own waters.
Along the way, other fishermen and farmers could be seen busy repairing nets, spreading bait, and checking the condition of shrimp.
Back in Yisi District, at the 9527 waterway, Yang Changsheng began his work with practiced ease.
Reinforcing the stakes of the locking net and checking for damage to the mesh and ensuring it is the right size are crucial for preventing dangerous fish from occasionally darting into the lake and for preventing shrimp from escaping.
Then the shrimp larvae were carefully poured into the clear lake water.
As the young shrimp entered the water, they scattered like tiny crystals scattered into the lake, quickly blending into the familiar environment.
Finally, the Lesser Cloud Rain Technique is used to optimize the concentration of spiritual energy for growth.
The whole process was calm and orderly, just like countless mornings over the past three years.
Only Yang Changsheng himself knew that the imprint of the ancient golden tree deep within his sea of consciousness was quietly emanating a gentle yet powerful vitality, silently nourishing this body of water, in accordance with his will.
Under this force, the vitality of crystal shrimp larvae is visibly enhanced, and their adaptation speed to the environment is far beyond what is usually observed.
This is his unique, ineffable advantage, and the foundation for his stable settlement and resource accumulation in this emerald lake.
A lake breeze blew by, bringing a refreshing coolness.
Yang Changsheng stood at the bow of the boat, gazing at the gently rippling lake surface and the faintly visible, crystalline shadows of shrimp beneath the water, his mind clear and serene.
The bloodshed and carnage of Black Wind Pass seem like a distant, otherworldly place.
This is the foundation upon which Yang Changsheng's steady and long life is built.
With the start of the new quarter's aquaculture production, Yang Changsheng's life has completely returned to a regular and fulfilling state of dormancy.
During the day, he carefully tends to the crystal shrimp.
They meticulously observed the shrimp population, replenished feed in a timely manner, and reinforced and maintained the netting.
He controlled the life force of the ancient tree in the sea of consciousness perfectly, ensuring that the shrimp larvae grew at a rate far exceeding that of other waters and maintained good health, without causing any overly alarming changes.
He understood the principle that the tallest tree stands out in the forest, and that prudence was always the top priority.
Nighttime, however, is his time for self-cultivation and his "new career."
Inside the narrow cabin of the fishing boat, the fluorite emitted a constant but faint glow.
Yang Changsheng sat cross-legged, his primary task being to circulate the Xuan Yuan Technique, a routine he maintained for four hours straight.
The spiritual power, perfected at the second level of Qi Refining, flowed slowly through the meridians, absorbed by the spiritual root, circulated throughout the body, and continuously absorbed the abundant water spiritual energy of the Azure Lake, accumulating, refining, and purifying it little by little.
With persistent effort day after day, the vortex of spiritual energy in the dantian and dantian became more and more solid and full, getting closer and closer to that invisible barrier.
At the same time, his cultivation of the Nine Revolutions of the Sun and Moon Tribulation Scripture was not neglected.
The moonlight, like frost, fell onto the lake surface. He used a unique method to guide it, transforming it into a bone-chilling Yin energy that surged into his body, tempering his muscles, bones, and flesh.
Each time a bone-chilling, icy pain swept through my body, it was soothed and repaired by the timely surge of warm vitality from the ancient tree in my sea of consciousness.
During the body-tempering practice, destruction and regeneration constantly circulate within the body, and the terrifying power of a single arm weighing ten thousand jin seems to have increased imperceptibly as it settles.
With repeated contemplation of his mind, the physical supernatural power of "Condensing Soul and Reflecting the Moon" became more controllable and lasted longer.
However, what occupied most of his mind and nighttime hours was that small jade slip, which he had obtained from the second puppeteer.
Inside is a complete first-tier puppeteer's inheritance!
He was not in a hurry to try making even the simplest puppet.
As a graduate of an industrial university, Yang Changsheng knew all too well that a weak foundation would lead to instability.
He was like a most devout apprentice, starting with the most basic and tedious parts.
First is "The Art of the Spirit Eye".
This auxiliary spell is not used directly in combat, but it can greatly enhance eyesight and the ability to identify materials and patterns, which is the foundation of a puppeteer's keen insight.
Under the fluorescent stone, he practiced repeatedly, observing the crystal shrimp larvae in the lake, the veins of the aquatic plants, and even the lines on his own palm.
At first, he could barely make out the shrimp shells. Gradually, he was able to detect the subtle flow of spiritual energy in the veins of the aquatic plants. Finally, even in dim light, he could clearly distinguish the finest marks on the grains of rice.
With eyes that are sharp and discerning, able to see even the smallest details, these are the eyes of a puppeteer.
Next is "General Explanation of Materials".
The jade slip records hundreds of common first-tier materials, from spirit wood and metal to monster bones and special minerals, including their characteristics, origins, processing methods, and the principles of mutual generation and restraint.
Yang Changsheng absorbed everything like a sponge, memorizing, understanding, and digesting it bit by bit.
He compared the fragmented materials he found in the puppeteer's second brother's storage bag with the spider puppet, and even disassembled it to identify each piece.
That's ironwood, tough and suitable for making puppet joints; that's icy pool glue, with excellent adhesive properties; and there are a few pieces of metal with star-like patterns, which are star-patterned steel, good for inscribing runes and maintaining stability...
Yang Changsheng learns slowly, but his understanding is exceptionally solid; he strives to thoroughly grasp every single point of knowledge.
Finally, there is the prequel to "Basic Rune Chart".
This is the most important core framework of puppetry, the fundamental essence of the Dao.
There are hundreds of basic runes, each representing a different energy transfer, structural enhancement, or simple command.
At first, he used his fingers to trace the structure on the ship's deck to familiarize himself with it. Then, he used water manipulation to create extremely fine water lines and traced them in mid-air.
Finally, he tried to attach a faint amount of divine power to it, to feel the subtle rhythm of the runes drawing upon the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.
Progress was slow, and failures were commonplace, but he remained calm and composed.
He would reveal a genuine smile with each successful and stable stroke of a rune.