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

Turtle Reef Island, nearing dusk.

The shack looked particularly low in the setting sun.

Bathed in the afterglow, Gao Yao couldn't help but squint.

He stood at the entrance of the shack, carefully examining the limited space.

Inside, it was still the same as before: straw mats, low tables, fishing gear piled in the corner, and a salty, damp smell in the air.

Gao Yao's gaze finally settled on the relatively flat open space against the wall.

It's never a bad thing to give it a try.

He moved aside the clutter and cleared out a space about ten feet square.

They picked up a few more relatively regular, flat rocks from outside and built a platform about half a person's height in the corner. The clips used for stretching the skin were made from wooden floats removed from old fishing nets; they were crude but usable.

When the tools were laid out on the table, I couldn't help but laugh at the extremely shabby "leather-making tool" in front of me.

Strangely enough, when Gao Yao stood in front of the platform holding the fishing knife, he suddenly felt at ease.

This isn't Pichang Temple; this is our own territory.

There was no pungent medicinal smell, no dim light, and no dark red seeping into the cracks in the stone.

The sea breeze blew in from outside the shed, carrying a damp coolness that felt refreshing on my face.

The list of facilities that appeared in the Mountain and Sea Order never included a name like "leather workshop".

This is purely my own wild speculation. Since fish ponds, chicken coops, and cave dwellings can all be upgraded with the Mountain and Sea Token, would it also be acceptable to artificially create places with specific functions?

He took a wooden board and carved the three characters "leather workshop" with a knife.

The moment the last character was engraved, the Mountain and Sea Token was refreshed.

[Leatherworkshop (No entry level)]

[Tier 1: Avoid danger, calm the mind and concentrate, slightly increase concentration by +10%]

[Advanced Requirements: 30 years of lifespan, 10 Seaweed Grass]

Gao Yao was immediately overjoyed.

This is not only because the leather workshop was successfully built, but also because it means that he can build other functional places on the island, and even build upgradable defense facilities.

After a while, he came to his senses and took the sea heart grass from the cave.

This is a base material used to calm the mind and aid in cultivation. Gao Yao is currently trying to break through to the sixth level of Qi Refining, and has prepared a lot of various cultivation materials.

With daily accumulation, one can live to be thirty years old without any additional preparation.

With everything in place, Gaoyao decisively completed the upgrade.

Looking at the upgraded leather workshop, he fished out a black iron carp from the fishpond.

Taking a deep breath, Gao Yao stood still in front of the stone platform, gripped the skinning knife in his right hand, and the moment the blade touched the fish's belly, he suddenly felt the world go quiet.

The sounds of the waves and the wind outside the shack, even the sound of my own breathing, receded like the tide.

The fingertips felt the firm texture of fish skin, and the cool scales pressed against the fingertips.

At this moment, his mind was completely focused on the tip of the blade, and his spiritual power slowly seeped out with his thoughts. The blade cut into the fish's belly along the midline and moved along the direction of the fish's muscle texture.

Gao Yao now understands the story of Butcher Ding's skill in dissecting an ox.

Where the blade passes, the skin and flesh separate naturally, with almost no tearing sound.

The fish skin was peeled off completely, as thin as a cicada's wing yet without any damage, and was even in better condition than the few pieces I handed over at the Pichang Temple during the day.

After quickly processing the peeled skin, the moon was already high in the sky, but he still couldn't fall asleep.

His mind was no longer just focused on leather processing, but on things much more distant.

What can you do with fish skin once it's processed?

Selling to a sect and exchanging them for spirit stones is certainly a safer option.

But what if we could handle it ourselves?

For example, making talismans.

A properly processed first-tier spirit fish skin can be sold for two or three low-grade spirit stones.

However, if it is made into a first-tier talisman, its value will immediately increase two or three times.

The difference in profits lies not in the materials, but in the craftsmanship that seals away the magic.

Craftsmanship is the foundation of one's livelihood, especially on the Luofu Sea.

Those who only know how to fish and raise chickens will forever remain at the bottom of society, destined for menial labor.

However, if one can master talisman making, even at the most basic level, their situation will be very different.

Talisman masters hold a prestigious position, and even those at the entry level are respected in the market. Unlike ordinary fishermen, they do not have to worry about the sea tax and monster attacks all day long.

Of course, learning to make talismans is not that easy.

The techniques, the introductory guidance, and the countless failures and losses—none of these are things he can afford right now.

But at least for now, this method of processing fish skin has at least scratched the surface.

Moreover, Gao Yao guessed that Wang Yao might have had this idea in mind when she arranged this task.

......

Three days later, at dawn.

Gao Yao took the processed fish skins to the fish market to hand them over, while Steward Chen counted them in the side hall, the abacus clicking away.

Seeing Gao Yao come in, he glanced at him and said, "Just put it there."

Gao Yao placed the fish skin on the corner of the table, stood with his hands hanging down, and did not leave immediately.

Manager Chen waited a moment, and when he heard no one say they were leaving, he stopped, his brow furrowed slightly: "Is there anything else?"

"I apologize for my intrusion," Gao Yao said, carefully choosing his words. "These past few days, while working at the Pichang Temple, I witnessed the process of processing spirit fish skin."

"I was thinking that if I could go further and learn the art of talisman making, I might be able to serve the sect more in the future and also accumulate more resources for cultivation."

He bowed after speaking, awaiting a response.

Manager Chen didn't speak, his gaze lingering on Gao Yao's face for a long while, as if he were weighing something.

"Making talismans?" Manager Chen suddenly chuckled, his tone ambiguous, whether mocking or otherwise. "You've got quite the appetite, kid."

Gao Yao lowered his head even further: "I am foolish and only thought that if I could learn another skill..."

"Craftsmanship?" Manager Chen interrupted him, tapping his fingers on the table. "You think making talismans is like skinning a fish? You can just scrape and fiddle with it and you're good to go?"

After a moment of silence, Manager Chen took a thin booklet out of the drawer and casually tossed it onto the table.

The booklet's cover was yellowed, the corners were curled up, and the words "Preliminary Appraisal of Fu Cai" were written in black ink on it.

"Take a look at this first." Manager Chen said calmly. "It contains the key points for processing materials needed for common first-tier talismans. Fish skin is just one of them."

"Only when you can process the seven or eight basic materials mentioned above to a qualified standard can we talk about making talismans."

Gao Yao quickly accepted the booklet with both hands: "Thank you for your guidance, Manager Chen."

"It's not really about giving guidance." Manager Chen waved his hand and picked up the abacus again. "Miss Wang has her reasons for arranging you here."

"If you really want to learn, you have to show some skill. The sect doesn't support idlers, much less useless people who are all talk and no action."

Having said all that, Gao Yao wisely refrained from further discussion, bowed, and withdrew.

The booklet wasn't thick; it felt light and flimsy in my hand.

He walked along the stone path outside the fish market toward the dock, his fingertips tracing the rough pages of paper, but the hope in his heart felt more real.

At least, the path of talisman making has been paved.

......

After leaving the fish market, Gao Yao headed towards the dock.

It was the busiest time of day, and fishing boats were crowded together as they returned to shore, the smell of fish mixed with the smell of sweat swirling in the sea breeze.

Gao Yao walked through the crowd, his gaze inadvertently sweeping over the pile of rocks outside the side gate of the fish farm.

There were seven or eight people squatting there.

They were all dressed as fishermen, wearing short jackets and straw hats, with dark skin.

Instead of unloading like the others, they huddled together, whispering amongst themselves, their eyes occasionally glancing toward the fishpond.

One of them was missing a leg and was smoking a pipe.

Gao Yao paused for a moment. He recognized the face; it was Old Man Ma.

Squatting next to him were a man missing an ear and an old woman with a hunched back like a shrimp; they were all unfamiliar faces.

Old Man Ma seemed to notice the gaze and turned his head.

Their eyes met briefly in mid-air.

Gao Yao subconsciously wanted to nod and greet him, but before he could even move his lips, he saw that Old Man Ma had already indifferently looked away, as if he had never seen him before.

The man with the missing ear next to him glanced at Gao Yao, then leaned close to Old Man Ma's ear and whispered something.

Old Ma shook his head and tapped his pipe.

Gao Yao withdrew his gaze and turned to continue walking towards where he had moored his boat.

The sea breeze blew into my collar, making me feel a little chilly.

He rowed the boat, listening to the rhythmic rise and fall of the oars, and the turmoil in his heart gradually subsided.

He could roughly guess what Old Man Ma was planning to do.

They kidnapped a lone outer disciple and interrogated him about something.

However, the risk is too great. Even the weakest outer disciples are still at the mid-to-late stage of Qi Refining, and they may have some protective items bestowed by the sect on their bodies.

Old Ma and his gang were a bunch of fishermen who had been put together on a whim. Could they really get things done with sheer grit?

Gao Yao didn't know.

All he knew was that he couldn't get involved in this matter right now.

Wang Yao stared, Qiu Shi suppressed her, and besides, did the outer disciples really know the truth about the sect?

Gao Yao cannot afford to take this risk.

......

A mudflat far from the dock.

After nightfall, all that remains is the sound of the tide.

The area is rocky, and after the tide recedes, it leaves behind large, slippery mud pits, which are rarely visited by people.

Old Ma lay prone behind the rocks, his broken leg stiff and taut, while his remaining good leg was bent, supporting his body.

He held a harpoon in his hand, its tip gleaming black in the moonlight. It was coated with poisonous fish bile, and even a little bit of it could cause numbness and paralysis.

Six people were crouching behind him. Some of them had doubts about the sect, some had personally experienced a narrow escape from death, and some had lost something in the calamity.

They were all secretly gathered together by Old Man Ma these past few days.

No one spoke; only suppressed breathing could be heard.

They are waiting.

According to the person keeping watch, around midnight every night, a group of outer disciples would pass by along this secluded patrol route.

Teams of two usually consist of young disciples who have recently joined the sect and are assigned to night duty, with most of them at the fifth or sixth level of Qi Refining.

This is their third night squatting.

The previous two nights, the patrolling disciples were either too numerous or moved too fast, so they didn't find an opportunity.

Tonight the tide is high and the wind is strong, perhaps...

......