Zhang Chen’s Blood Sea Filth can defile all things under Heaven and Earth.
The Great Freedom Celestial Demon understood Zhang Chen’s intentions and couldn’t help but offer silent praise: "Your thoughts are on the right track, but you need to distinguish your targets. The Dragon Vein must never be tarnished; you can only defile Zhang Shicheng’s Dragon Soul. If you pollute the Northern Land’s Earth Vein and turn it into a wasteland, you will surely face the consequences of divine retribution. Even beings of the ’fruit’ level cannot withstand such Celestial Punishment!"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen’s eyes turned to the wandering Dragon Pearl and the carp, quickly devising strategies in his mind: "What should I do? The carp and Dragon Pearl share the same water basin; how can I contaminate only one?"
The power of defilement does not discriminate its target. Once I drop the Bloodstain into the basin, all the blood within will be instantly polluted.
"Though the carp is the transformed fate of Prince Pingbian, Zhang Shicheng, it is still a genuine living carp, a vessel carrying Zhang Shicheng’s fate, retaining all the characteristics of an ordinary carp. Since Prince Pingbian’s body was destroyed, he naturally needs a substitute to carry his essence, and this carp is precisely that substitute," the Great Freedom Celestial Demon discreetly hinted to Zhang Chen, fearing he might inadvertently cause trouble with far-reaching consequences.
"Goodness, I get it! If I just capture this carp, can’t I defile it alone?" Zhang Chen extended his hand toward the water basin, reaching for the carp within.
But as soon as his hand entered the basin, the space within expanded infinitely, as if transforming into an Infinite Sea, with the carp drifting in it, completely out of Zhang Chen’s reach.
"This basin is protected by the Law of Heaven and Earth; trying to seize it with brute force is nothing but naive wishful thinking," the Great Freedom Celestial Demon cheerfully advised from the side.
Hearing this, Zhang Chen withdrew his hand and fell into contemplation. After a moment, he sparked an idea: "I understand. I can’t catch the carp, but I can lure it out. If the carp swims toward me of its own will and takes the bait, it won’t be constrained by the Law of Heaven and Earth."
"That’s not my advice; it’s your own insight," the Great Freedom Celestial Demon hastily distanced himself from the responsibility, unwilling to bear any blame.
Zhang Chen ignored him, reaching out to the outer world. The water from the external lakes surged back, and a stream transformed into an Ice Fishing Rod, which Zhang Chen grasped firmly.
Holding the rod, Zhang Chen looked back at the carp in the basin: "Having the rod is one thing, but I’ll need bait. What should I use for bait?"
"Your flesh is the most extraordinary nourishment under Heaven and Earth. What bait could compare to your flesh?" the Great Freedom Celestial Demon timely reminded.
Zhang Chen nodded at the words: "If that’s the case, why be reluctant over so little flesh and blood?"
Zhang Chen conjured an ice blade, slicing his arm to extract a small piece of flesh, the size of a peanut, then hooked it onto the line and cast it into the basin.
The carp was cautious, circling Zhang Chen’s bait tentatively, hesitant to swallow it. After probing for over thirty breaths, it finally bit down on the bait, causing Zhang Chen to smile with satisfaction: "Little fellow, no matter how spiritual you are, aren’t you destined to drink my footwash?"
Zhang Chen was about to tug the rod when, unexpectedly, with a crisp snap, the carp bit the fishing line.
Staring at the severed line, Zhang Chen was utterly shocked, instinctively swallowing hard. The fishing line was infused with his Divine Power, no less sturdy than steel wire, yet the carp bit right through it? This carp’s bite is comparable to pincers. If it bit a person, it would certainly lead to muscle tears and fractured bones.
"What a fierce beast," Zhang Chen exclaimed inwardly.
The Great Freedom Celestial Demon beside him said, "Don’t underestimate it, or you’ll suffer for it."
"Haha, no worries! This creature may be cunning and dangerous, but I’m not to be underestimated either." Zhang Chen picked up the ice blade, enduring the pain to cut another piece of flesh but this time secretly embedding the power of Bloodstain within it.
The Great Freedom Celestial Demon watched Zhang Chen’s actions, shaking his head and remarking, "Your method is too crude. You underestimate the carp’s spirituality; how could you hide the scent of Bloodstain from it? You must use your Golden Light to conceal it."
Zhang Chen, hearing this, covered the flesh with True God Golden Light, then cast the line into the Jade Basin.
If it were any other creature’s flesh, it couldn’t be imbued with True God Golden Light, but Zhang Chen’s flesh was different.
Indeed, the True God Golden Light not only attracted that purple pearl but also had a lethal allure to the carp. Wrapped in True God Golden Light, Zhang Chen’s flesh was cast into the Jade Basin, with the carp still cautiously circling, probing it. But at that moment, the pearl, lured by the Golden Light, darted forward to absorb its power.
The carp panicked at this sight, unwilling to let the pearl have the upper hand, and without hesitation snapped its mouth shut to bite the pearl first, swallowing the hook alongside it.
Seeing this, Zhang Chen was overjoyed, thinking to himself: "I’ve succeeded!"