At the very least, one should be wielding a sharp long knife or sword, or even a pair of Emei piercers for use in the water to appear more professional. Even using a harpoon would at least look like proper gear for going into the water. But to go straight into the water holding a kitchen knife, as seen before him now, was truly rare. Still, rare as it was, it looked exactly like a chef about to catch a fish from an aquarium to cook it himself—only, this aquarium happened to be a bit bigger.

There was no one around, and nobody would care whether Evan Parker's entry into the water was agile or not. Fist Mark Lake covered a large area, and the force used by that person back then was strong enough to punch directly into the ground to a depth of several zhang. Everything on the surface, whether trees or rocks, had been smashed into a solid, smooth fist imprint. Now that it was filled with water, the lake was still deep enough.

No one knew when the fish had appeared, but in any case, there weren’t any particularly fierce species here. The gentle little fish lived quite comfortably, probably brought in by the changing course of the small streams. The lake water was very clear, allowing one to see the small schools of fish swimming about. Water plants had already grown thickly on the lakebed. Evan Parker was quite amazed that, even after such a powerful punch had made the lakebed harder than ordinary rock, there were still seeds of aquatic plants that managed to sprout and grow there.

None of this was Evan Parker's main concern. The root of the middle finger in the fist imprint should be where the punch was strongest. Last time, it was at that very spot that Evan Parker was nearly trapped. After years of recuperation and getting used to it, he wasn’t sure if he could withstand it again.

Having learned from last time, Evan Parker was no longer so greedy for quick results. There were still a few days left to explore slowly. Even if he failed, there would be other chances in the future. At worst, he’d just give people the impression that he liked fishing. For this solo exploration, caution was the priority. Evan Parker could vaguely sense that the baleful energy here had recently increased dramatically, though he didn’t know why.

The target was roughly the center of the lake. Evan Parker could already meditate and practice at the lakeside without any obstacles. This time, he wanted to see if he could go a step further and enter the water without any problems.

Fortunately, the cultivation method Evan Parker had improved could be practiced in any position, without being restricted by posture. Slowly entering the water, about ten zhang from the shore, floating on the surface, Evan Parker began to slowly raise his true qi.

To explore the lake, Evan Parker had specially learned how to swim, and often, when no one was around, he would practice swimming in the lake without cultivating, just to improve his water skills. He had occasionally wanted to try before, but even on the shore, he couldn’t resist the influence of the demonic baleful energy, so he hadn’t dared to attempt it. This was his first try since recovering.

He cautiously raised his true qi. Nurturing it was completely different from using it to attack. Any careless disturbance at this moment could have very serious consequences. Having learned from the first time his cultivation was scattered, Evan Parker didn’t dare to be overconfident.

There was nothing unusual at first, but as soon as the true essence was raised, his mind was thrown into chaos. A powerful resentment, carrying an invincible and ferocious aura, swept through his mind. It was simply impossible to avoid stray thoughts just by willing it.

This place was closer to the center, and he was in the water. Compared to being on shore, the baleful energy here was several times stronger than what Evan Parker had gotten used to. Fortunately, after years of constant harassment, Evan Parker had developed some immunity. Although it was still difficult to steady his mind, he managed to hold on. Under the control of his mind, the true essence began to circulate slowly.

As soon as the true essence left his dantian, it was like cold water splashing into a pot of boiling oil, causing a violent reaction. This was something Evan Parker hadn’t expected at all. Compared to the injuries and loss of cultivation he suffered last time, he wasn’t even near the fist imprint now, yet the damage was just as bad, if not worse. If this had happened to the just-recovered Evan Parker, he would definitely have ended up vomiting blood and passing out again.

Fortunately, the past few years hadn’t been wasted. At least in terms of controlling his true essence, even those who had practiced for decades wouldn’t dare claim to be on par with Evan Parker. After all, his cultivation method was simple, and he had to endure such changes every day. Plus, with his military background, the idea of retreating in the face of danger never even crossed his mind. With strong willpower, he controlled his body and true essence, slowly adapting to the violent changes.

It was certain that after so long, whatever was inside had grown even more monstrous. Originally, Evan Parker had to reach the center of the lake to suffer such harm, but now, even just ten zhang from the shore, it was this intense. What used to only affect the area near the main road now covered dozens of li in every direction.

Whether it was a monster or not, Evan Parker had never thought about exorcising evil or defending the way. Even though the thing in the lake had once caused him great harm, without it, Evan Parker wouldn’t have achieved what he had today. Since his recovery, Evan Parker had basically not fought anyone, but now his mind was filled with powerful confidence. Compared to his former self, he was on a completely different level.