Half the warmth and light came from the flickering flames of the iron stove, while the other half was the cold and darkness beneath the ice hole. The wind outside the shack became sharp, carrying ice crystals that pounded against the willow branch shack, making a "rustling" sound.

Lin Yu’an sat quietly, like a rock that had become part of this ice field. In this absolute silence, his senses were amplified infinitely, filling the air with an invisible tension.

His mind was racing, waging a silent battle between reason and anxiety.

"The concentration of the bait should be fine, and the adhesion of the Bulrush Root powder has been tested. But could there be a branch of the underwater current I hadn’t anticipated? What if a current carries the scent in the completely opposite direction..." A hint of doubt flashed through his mind, but he forcibly suppressed it immediately.

"No, the spot I chose is based on repeated observations. It is upstream of the main flow of this water area, so the coverage should be the largest." He took a deep breath, the cold air clearing his mind further.

He told himself that the plan was already in action, and now the only thing he could do was trust his judgment and patiently wait. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Just then, the tip of the rod suddenly quivered ever so slightly, so small it was almost negligible, as if brushed by the wind.

Lin Yu’an’s pupils instantly constricted, his whole body tense in preparation to lift the rod. However, that quiver appeared for just a moment and then there was no more movement.

He wasn’t disappointed; instead, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly. He whispered to the camera, "Did you see that? A false signal, but also a good one. It’s the little fish at the bottom of the food chain testing things out."

"This proves my ’Scent Bomb’ has started to work. They are the first group attracted here, these little soldiers. They’ll soon become live bait, attracting the big guys I really want. My judgment is correct. Now, there’s only waiting left."

However, this tranquility did not last long. Just when he thought he would have to wait longer, the situation suddenly changed!

The previous light, tentative nibbles disappeared entirely. Instead, the once still rod tip suddenly plunged downward with no warning, as if brutally yanked by someone!

Immediately afterward, the homemade wooden fishing reel in his hand began to emit a rapid and piercing "hiss," the sound of the fishing line being pulled out at high speed, rubbing against the reel!

"It’s here!" Lin Yu’an’s eyes focused intently, his body’s reaction quick as lightning. His wrist flicked, lifting the rod in a short and powerful motion that drove the hook deeper into the fish’s mouth.

This was the first time since he arrived here that he encountered such a swift and decisive bite in ice fishing!

He didn’t try to haul the fish back with brute force. Instead, he steadied the rod with his left hand, his right thumb gently pressing on the reel’s spool, skillfully manipulating the friction to maneuver the situation.

He could clearly feel the tremors from the other end of the line, the creature violently shaking its head underwater, thrashing side to side.

When the opponent exerted force and lunged, he slightly released his thumb, allowing the reel to run freely, letting the line play out to exhaust its energy. And when its strength waned, he quickly turned the handle, reeling in several meters of line.

In the small ice fishing shack, the only sounds were the crisp "tat-tat" of the reel turning and his steady breathing. After all, this was the first fish to test the results. He needed to fight it to understand the underwater situation.

The entire process lasted less than a minute. A one-pound fish was not significant enough to put him in a tough battle.

When he sensed the struggle beneath the water weakening significantly, Lin Yu’an began to steadily reel in the line!

Accompanied by a crisp splash, a silver-white figure speckled with brilliant spots was smoothly pulled up through the ice hole, flung onto the snowy ground of the ice fishing shack!

It was an Arctic Red Spot Salmon, over thirty centimeters long, covered with beautiful spots, its fin edges adorned with a distinctive orange-red. It writhed and bounced on the snow, exhibiting immense life energy.

"Ha! YES!" Lin Yu’an couldn’t help but let out a low roar, his face brimming with irrepressible excitement.

"Look at this beautiful creature! At least a pound! This is definitely the first decent thing I’ve caught here with a rod!"

He stepped on the struggling fish, quickly removed the hook, and ended its pain in the fastest way possible.

Holding this hard-earned breakfast up to the camera, his eyes gleamed with light: "Guys, this is a signal, a very important signal. Such a big predatory fish has begun to strike zealously near my fishing spot. What does this prove?"

"This proves that my ’Scent Bomb’ not only successfully attracted a large number of small fish as basic bait but also drew in the big guys that prey on them!"

"The underwater ecosystem... has already been artificially stirred up by me!"