Just as Ethan was fantasizing about his future divine physique and the incredible possibilities it would bring, a familiar system prompt materialized in his vision, interrupting his daydreaming.
[Task: Collect 10 fish through fishing]
Oh, I got a task this quickly, Ethan thought with a mixture of excitement and satisfaction.
And it’s something I can complete right now since I’m already sitting beside the lake with fishing equipment in hand and there is no specific fish requirement.
The timing couldn’t have been more perfect.
He had come here specifically to fish for relaxation and sustenance, and now the system was offering him rewards for doing exactly what he had planned to do anyway.
It was like the universe was finally conspiring to help him rather than constantly working against him. Since it was a fishing system, it could only offer fishing-related missions.
Seeing that the mission was something completely achievable with his current situation and equipment, Ethan wasted no time in getting started.
He reached into his small provisions bag and pulled out a piece of rabbit meat he had been saving for his evening meal.
The meat was fresh enough to serve as effective bait, and he carefully secured it to his hook before casting his line into the dark, mirror-like waters of the Serene Mirror Lake.
The system hadn’t given him any specific requirements about the type or size of fish he needed to catch—just a simple numerical target of ten fish total.
This flexibility meant he could focus on quantity over quality, making the task much more manageable for someone with his limited fishing experience.
It didn’t take long before he felt the familiar tug on his line that indicated his first catch.
The fish put up a modest fight, but nothing that his physical cultivation couldn’t handle easily.
When he finally pulled his catch from the water, Ethan found himself looking at what appeared to be a Driftcloud Koi —a beautiful fish with scales that shimmered like mother-of-pearl and fins that seemed to flow like liquid silk.
The fish was roughly the size of his forearm, with an elegant elongated body and distinctive cloud-like patterns across its silver scales that seemed to shift and move as the light caught them from different angles.
Despite its ethereal appearance, it didn’t look like a mythical beast or some dangerous creature in disguise... just a remarkably beautiful example of the lake’s normal fish population that he could eat without any concerns about toxicity or magical side effects.
The Driftcloud Koi’s eyes were surprisingly intelligent-looking, with a deep blue coloration that seemed to reflect the lake’s own mysterious depths.
Its gills fluttered rhythmically as it gasped in the unfamiliar air, and Ethan felt a brief pang of sympathy for the creature before reminding himself that this was both necessary for survival and required by his first system mission.
At least it’s a beautiful fish, he thought as he carefully placed it in his bucket.
If I’m going to be catching ten of these, I want them to be worthy of the effort.
Encouraged by his quick success, Ethan rebaited his hook and cast his line again.
The second fish came even more quickly than the first—another Driftcloud Koi, though this one was slightly smaller and had more pronounced golden highlights mixed in with the silver scales.
The third and fourth fish followed in rapid succession, and Ethan began to suspect that either he was having an extraordinarily lucky day or the system was somehow influencing his fishing success to help him complete the mission.
By the time he had caught his seventh fish, Ethan was feeling genuinely confident in his newfound fishing abilities.
The eighth and ninth fish practically threw themselves onto his hook, and when he pulled the tenth fish from the water—another beautiful Driftcloud Koi with particularly vibrant coloring—he felt the satisfying weight of completion.
Just as he lifted the final fish from the water and placed it carefully in his bucket with the others, a system notification appeared to confirm his success:
[It has been detected that the host has completed today’s fishing mission]
[Rewards obtained: Spirit-Eye Opening Brew]
[Due to the completion of the first mission, the host is being given an extra reward: Moonflood Reaper]
Ethan stared at the notifications with growing excitement, his heart pounding as he realized that his new life was truly beginning.
These rewards represented tangible proof that the system was real and functional, and that he now had access to power and abilities that could genuinely change his circumstances.
I can already imagine reaching the peak of this world, he thought with barely contained euphoria. Maybe even the peak of existence itself. With the system’s help, there’s no limit to what I might achieve.
Looking down at his bucket full of beautiful fish, Ethan made a practical decision.
He carefully selected two of the smaller Driftcloud Koi to keep for his own meals, then gently returned the remaining eight fish to the lake’s waters.
As a physical cultivator, eating remained one of the primary ways he could enhance his strength and maintain his health—unlike spiritual cultivators who eventually transcended the need for physical sustenance entirely.
The released fish swam away quickly, their cloud-patterned scales catching the light as they disappeared into the dark depths of the lake. Ethan felt good about the decision—he had completed his mission while not being wasteful or greedy with the lake’s resources.
Gathering his fishing equipment and his remaining catch, Ethan slowly walked back toward his humble hut.
The familiar dirt path felt different now, charged with possibility and potential.
Every step took him closer to examining his rewards and beginning his transformation from a condemned exile into something far more powerful.
He opened the door to his hut and was immediately greeted by the same musty, cold smell that had become unfortunately familiar during his brief time in the village. Despite the less-than-pleasant atmosphere, this cramped space was about to become the site of his first real steps toward cultivation greatness.
Ethan’s attention immediately focused on the first reward he had received, mentally accessing the information about the elixir now stored in his system inventory.
[Spirit-Eye Opening Brew: Awakens a hidden spiritual eye—allows user to perceive spiritual flaws in techniques, formations, or others’ cultivation methods]
With this elixir, will I develop a third eye in my forehead? Ethan wondered with a mixture of excitement and slight concern about the potential physical changes.
The idea of being able to see through other people’s techniques, identify weaknesses in formations, or even copy advanced methods just by observing them was incredibly appealing.
He imagined himself casually pointing out flaws in some arrogant young master’s supposedly perfect technique, or effortlessly dismantling complex defensive formations that had stumped other cultivators for years.
With his "Super" comprehension rating, he might even be able to improve upon the techniques he observed, becoming like some ancient monster who could adapt and evolve any fighting style just by witnessing it once.
Then his attention shifted to the second reward—the extra bonus he had received for completing his first mission.
[Moonflood Reaper]
Even the name sent shivers of anticipation down Ethan’s spine. A reaper—a scythe—specifically designed for someone with a water spiritual root. As he focused on the weapon’s details, more information flowed into his consciousness, painting a vivid picture of the extraordinary weapon now in his possession.
The Moonflood Reaper was a masterwork of both artistry and functionality, standing nearly as tall as Ethan himself when fully manifested.
The weapon’s handle was crafted from what appeared to be crystallized moonlight—a translucent, pearl-white material that seemed to glow with internal luminescence and felt perfectly balanced in his grip despite its impressive size.
The scythe’s blade was the most breathtaking aspect of the weapon. Forged from some impossible alloy that captured and reflected light like liquid mercury, the curved edge seemed to flow and ripple as if it were made from frozen water given solid form. Intricate engravings covered the blade’s surface—ancient symbols that appeared to be constantly shifting and changing, depicting scenes of vast floods, raging tsunamis, and moonlight dancing across turbulent waters.
When held properly, the Moonflood Reaper felt like an extension of his own body rather than a separate tool, responding to his intentions with fluid grace that made complex movements feel effortless.
The weapon hummed with latent power, and Ethan could sense that it would grow stronger as his own water spiritual root developed and matured.
This is really happening, he thought as he admired his incredible new weapon. I’m actually becoming the kind of cultivator I used to read about in web novels. The system is real, the rewards are real, and my future is finally in my own hands.