By the riverbank, Zhou You noticed the densest crowd, likely drawn by a particular announcement. Many specifically targeted mutant crocodiles.

Parking his vehicle, Shao Qi sneered, "These people are so naive. How can all of the 'Top Ten Threats' be of the same species? Even if they kill off these leftover crocodiles, I doubt they'll find any pleasant surprises."

This basic logic should be evident to many. Yet, Zhou You figured many are here with the mindset of 'since we're already here, might as well score some points.'

Still, crocodiles proved no easy prey. Zhou You witnessed several players getting attacked, and given the game's realism, the one whose head was bitten off by a crocodile must have felt the pain vividly.

Chapter 135: Mutated Aquatic Plants

"Let's see if there are boats available for rent," Zhou You suggested while simultaneously browsing the in-game store. He purchased two fishing nets and even added some explosive torpedoes to his cart.

Boats were indeed available, albeit not prominently displayed. Shao Qi found them using an auxiliary tool; size options were available and, surprisingly, they were free of charge.

As Shao Qi summoned the boat, Zhou You hopped on, inspecting it from all angles. "Looks like we're destined to conquer the seas. This boat is massive enough for deep-sea ventures, isn't it?"

With a sheepish grin, Shao Qi responded, "I might've chosen the wrong size. Let's switch."

Eventually, the duo set off on a speedboat. Onlookers from the shore gasped, counting down the moments they expected the boat to sink.

Navigating upstream, Zhou You cast his fishing net. Moments later, he reeled in a bounty of freshwater delicacies.

For martial artists tired of meat, aquatic treats were a rare delicacy—expensive and scanty. The sight of a net full of fish and shrimp made mouths water.

"Such a pity it's just a game. If they could stimulate our taste buds, indulging in a feast here would be something," Zhou You mused.

"If that feature existed, I bet many wouldn't want to log off. What difference would it make from real life? Here, it's more thrilling, and even if you die, you can respawn. Plus, buying items is just a click away—way easier than reality," Shao Qi added.

Zhou You stored his catch, planning to sort through it later. He wondered about the market value of these fishes, given that the game's marketplace mainly valued utility over food.

"I'll head towards the center. Hold off on casting the net and keep your guard up," Shao Qi advised, noticing Zhou You's catch was mostly small fish and shrimp.

The central part of the river was deep and fast-flowing. As they approached, Zhou You spotted a massive white fish darting below—its size dwarfing their speedboat.

"There's such a massive fish in the river!" Zhou You aimed his crossbow at the fish, waiting for it to surface slightly before releasing an arrow. The arrow lodged itself into the fish's back. Zhou You hadn’t used his internal energy, suggesting the fish's skin wasn’t very tough. However, given its size, the arrow didn't inflict much damage.

Sensing pain, the fish thrashed its tail, creating a huge splash and nearly capsizing the speedboat. Shao Qi struggled to maintain balance. Zhou You rapidly fired twenty arrows, each embedding into the fish, quickly making it resemble a porcupine. Yet, the fish didn't perish and thrashed even more violently, stirring up towering waves.

"How do we kill this thing?" Zhou You, gripping the boat's railing, asked Shao Qi.

"How do you usually kill fish?"

Fish have simple anatomies but are incredibly resilient. People know that fish can't live out of water, but most haven’t pondered how to kill them.

"Lend me your knife." Zhou You reached for Shao Qi's weapon, moved to the stern, and directed Shao Qi to get closer. "The fish seems even angrier as we approach... Perfect timing!" As the boat neared, the giant fish charged. The boat momentarily sank as the fish broke the water's surface but was immediately lifted by the fish, nearly capsizing.

As the fish leapt out, Zhou You jumped off the boat, gripping the railing with his left hand, and slashed the fish neatly in half with a swift right-hand swing. Blood stained the water red.

Back on board, Shao Qi suddenly shouted, "Hold on, another big one's coming!"

The vast river was teeming with fish. Their skirmish with the white giant had attracted many predatory fish. Zhou You scanned the vicinity, spotting over ten distinctly different giant fish.

He wasn't particularly knowledgeable about fish, and mutated fish were even more puzzling. The research institute also had scant information on these species.

"These mutated fish have sharp teeth and huge bodies. They look no different from sharks." Zhou You shot one in the head, but it continued to assault their boat.

Shao Qi expertly maneuvered the speedboat, dodging waves and fish tails. "We should be thankful these river fish have small mouths. Otherwise, they could've easily bitten through our boat."

"Be careful, something from below is entangling us!" Zhou You noticed a tough aquatic plant creeping up, attempting to bind their boat – far stronger than anything they’d seen before, as even knives couldn't cut it.

Zhou You tried a lighter. Sure enough, it recoiled from the flame. However, countless similar plants soon began emerging.

"What's going on? Are these plants carnivorous now? Why have they evolved to be aggressive? Aren't there enough fish for them to feed on?"

"Once mutated plants become aggressive, they transcend their plant nature. There are many phenomena that science can't explain. Don't waste your thoughts on it."