Cultivating immortality in the seas, I created an immortal island of eternal life.

Manager Chen readily gave Gao Yao the order to go to the main island, as if he had been waiting for Gao Yao to speak.

When we set sail, it was just dawn, and the sea surface was a bluish-gray.

There are only two ferries a day that run to the main island.

One trip at Chenshi (7-9 AM) and another at Weishi (1-3 PM).

Gao Yao squeezed through the morning mist onto the boat, which was already filled with people, including fishermen like him who were on their way to carry out orders, and several young people dressed in sect attire.

They didn't talk much to each other; the only sound in the cabin was the monotonous sound of oars breaking the water.

The fog drifted along the sea surface, like a thick layer of gray cotton, making it impossible to discern directions.

About half an hour later, the fog in front of us suddenly thinned out, and the outline of the main island quietly emerged.

Gao Yao instinctively gripped the side of the boat and stopped to look.

Unlike those tiny reef islands, this main island, Rashomon Island, is so large that it can be quite oppressive.

The mountains are layered, with pavilions appearing and disappearing, and looking up, one sees an endless, majestic landscape.

Only near sea level are there some flat areas where rows of houses and docks have been built.

The ferry docked, and we stepped onto the pier.

Among the coming and going people were laborers carrying goods and boatmen transporting supplies, but there were many more disciples of sects dressed in robes of various colors.

With just an instinctive palpitation, Gao Yao knew that even the weakest among the crowd was at least at the mid-stage of Qi Refining.

He kept his head down the whole time, clutching the warrant, and walked in according to the route instructed by Steward Chen.

After passing through the dock area and climbing a gentle slope, the houses along the way gradually become more orderly.

White walls and blue tiles, nestled among flowers and trees, it's nothing like the rough and simple appearance of a fishing village.

There were more disciples on the road, but the conversations became less frequent, with only the sound of footsteps and occasional hushed exchanges remaining.

Gao walked with extreme caution, only daring to keep his eyes on the ground a few steps ahead, afraid that looking at it even once more would cause trouble.

However, most of the sect disciples he encountered on the road kept their eyes fixed on him, as if he were just an insignificant speck of dust.

This feeling of being completely ignored actually made Gao Yao's tense nerves relax a little.

Wang Yao's cave is a bit remote, located on the edge of a low cliff facing the East China Sea.

The courtyard wall was a low bamboo fence, covered with pale red vines, unlike the neat and imposing houses along the way.

The door was ajar, and Gao Yao stood outside, able to faintly hear the sound of a zither coming from inside.

He took a deep breath and raised his hand to knock on the door.

The music stopped.

"Enter."

The courtyard is not large, but it is kept extremely well.

Green bamboo accompanies white flowers, and a small pond has been built in the corner, where a few spirit fish slowly swim around.

A bamboo recliner was placed by the pool, and Wang Yao leaned against it.

Today she wore a simple ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), her hair loosely tied up, lacking her usual charming and outward appearance, but instead exuding an indescribable sense of purity.

"Oh, a rare guest." Wang Yao's eyes flickered when she saw Gao Yao, her voice still as languid and sweet as ever, like it had been soaked in honey, "I thought you had forgotten about your sister, young master."

"I wouldn't dare," Gao Yao quickly bowed and said, "I was afraid of disturbing Miss Wang's quiet cultivation, so I haven't dared to come and express my gratitude yet."

It wasn't until the rusty taste reached his tongue that he realized how nervous he was when he saw Wang Yao again.

"You've got a sweet tongue." Wang Yao smiled and patted the edge of the couch beside her. "Sit down and let's talk."

Gao Yao stepped forward, but only bowed once more.

Seeing this, Wang Yao chuckled and grabbed his wrist: "So formal?"

Gao Yao had no choice but to sit down next to the chair, his body tense.

The distance was so close that a turn of the head revealed a small section of the neck peeking out from where the clothes overlapped, the skin as delicate as porcelain, and the collarbone clearly defined.

The fabric of the ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) was thin and light, and as she leaned to one side, the curves of her chest were outlined breathtakingly, with the edges of an inner garment faintly visible beneath the fabric.

His gaze met briefly before he looked away, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly.

Wang Yao seemed quite satisfied with Gao Yao's reaction. She reached out and poured him a cup of tea, leaning forward as she handed it to him. The familiar fragrance lingered in his nostrils once again: "Try it, it's Cangshan Spirit Tea. You can't get it anywhere else."

"Thank you, Miss Wang." Gao Yao lowered her head and took a sip. The tea was warm and smooth as it went down her throat, yet it had a refreshing quality that went straight to her mind. It was indeed an extraordinary tea.

"Your complexion is better than last time I saw you. Have you reached the third level of Qi Refining?" Wang Yao's gaze swept over him.

Gao Yao dared not hide anything and nodded honestly: "I was lucky to break through, and I was just about to thank you for your help back then."

"Thank me?" Wang Yao chuckled, leaning forward slightly. "How do you intend to thank me, young master?"

With the movement, the neckline opened slightly, revealing the soft curves below the collarbone.

Gao Yao didn't know where to look, so he just stared at the fish in the pond.

"My abilities are limited, young lady. If you need anything..."

Wang Yao chuckled and interrupted, extending her hand again.

That hand was fair and delicate, with neatly manicured nails. It gently rested on the back of Gao Yao's hand, crossing the distance of only a foot between them.

Gao Yao froze.

The fingertips were slightly cool, yet the touch was surprisingly soft. I could even feel the fine lines on the other person's fingertips, and a tingling sensation that crept up their arm.

"Young master's hands are even more tender than his face," Wang Yao said in a low voice, as if she were whispering.

As she spoke, her fingertips slowly traced the back of his hand, moving upwards, across his wrist, and resting on the inside of his forearm.

Wang Yao seemed to be probing his internal condition. Her spiritual energy probed into his body through her fingertips. The feeling was not uncomfortable; instead, it was like a warm current seeping into his meridians.

Gao forced himself to stay still, but the image of shadow puppets intertwined with flesh and blood flashed through his mind, overlapping with the tender and beautiful scene before him, causing his stomach to churn.

"Miss Wang is joking." He heard his own voice sound dry. "She's done a lot of rough work, so she's tough and thick-skinned."

"I certainly didn't slack off." Wang Yao looked up at him, her eyes reflecting the light of the pool, unfathomable. "It's just that you're too preoccupied with your thoughts, which is detrimental to your cultivation."

She leaned closer, her breath sweet and fragrant, almost brushing against Gao Yao's ear: "Why are you always frowning at such a young age?"

"I am only worried about the Dinghai tax and my future cultivation, and I dare not slack off," Gao Yao said with difficulty, feeling his cheeks burning and his ears probably turning red as well.

Wang Yao finally withdrew her hand, leaned back in her chair, crossed one leg, and her skirt slipped down, revealing a section of smooth, fair calf.

"Stuck at the third level of Qi Refining, is it because you're missing the subsequent techniques?" Her tone returned to its usual languid manner.

Gao Yao's heart skipped a beat; he knew the main event was about to begin.

He immediately bowed, his tone earnest: "Please enlighten me, young lady. I have been fortunate enough to break through the third level, but I am like a blind man touching an elephant, not knowing where to go next. I humbly request your guidance."

Wang Yao smiled faintly, as if she had enjoyed Gao Yao's nervous expression enough, before slowly saying, "Considering you're quite diligent..."

She took out two items from the small storage bag in her bosom: a light blue jade slip and a small jade bottle.

"The 'Kun Yuan Hua Sheng Gong' cultivation techniques, specifically the chapters on nourishing consciousness and embryonic breathing." Wang Yao tapped the jade slip with her fingertip, then knocked on the jade bottle. "The bottle contains Qi-nourishing pills, much better than those random things you've been consuming."

The items were placed on the small table next to the tatami mat.

Gao Yao's throat bobbed, but he didn't dare reach out to take it. He simply looked up at Wang Yao and said, "I am deeply grateful for your generous gift, Miss. Is there anything I can do for you?"

He understood that there's no such thing as a free lunch, especially when it came to Wang Yao.

......