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

The hall quieted down, with only the sound of Manager Chen turning the abacus and the faint sounds of the dock noise coming from outside the window.

Gao Yao stood there waiting. Manager Chen didn't rush to speak. He finished flipping through the booklet in his hand, then picked up another one, wrote a few strokes on it, and put it down before leaning back in his chair.

"Miss Wang said she has other plans for your matter." He looked up at Gao Yao. "Wait for news in the next couple of days."

"Yes." Gao Yao nodded, not asking any further questions, nor daring to ask any more.

But a question lingered in his mind, one that had been on his mind ever since he boarded the treasure ship, and now it finally surfaced.

"Manager Chen," Gao Yao carefully chose his words, "what is Miss Wang's identity? On the treasure ship, both Senior Brother Zhou and Senior Brother Li called her Senior Sister."

Manager Chen glanced at him, seemingly surprised: "You didn't know?"

Gao Yao shook his head.

Manager Chen remained silent for a moment, then tapped his fingers on the table.

"Miss Wang is in the late Foundation Establishment stage." He paused, then added, "and she is the sect leader's personal disciple."

Gao Yao was startled.

Late Foundation Establishment stage? Personal disciple of the sect leader?

No wonder Manager Chen was so respectful to her, no wonder she could arrange manpower and tasks at will in the sect, no wonder she could so casually give her cultivation techniques and pills.

Gao Yao had always known that Wang Yao was not simple, but he did not expect her to be this complicated, yet she took extra care of him.

Why?

Gao Yao lowered his eyes, and the feeling of sinking deeper and deeper into despair welled up in his heart again.

How many steps are there between the sixth level of Qi Refining and the late stage of Foundation Establishment?

"Alright, don't overthink it." Steward Chen waved his hand. "Since Miss Wang thinks highly of you, just do your job well. Being an outer disciple is just the beginning; you have a long road ahead of you."

Gao Yao responded and bowed as he withdrew.

As I stepped out of the fish market, the setting sun was sinking below the horizon, turning the entire pier a dark red.

He stood at the doorway, watching the fishermen still busy at work, the fishing boats crowded on the dock, and the golden waves shimmering on the distant sea.

Suddenly I felt that I was getting further and further away from these people.

It's not that he's changed; it's that this place has never given anyone a chance to stay.

......

When Gao Yao returned to Guijiao Island, it was already nearly dusk.

He moored the boat, stepped onto the familiar reef, and felt the sea breeze blowing in from the east, carrying moisture.

Wu Ling emerged from the fishpond: "Sage, you've returned."

Gao Yao nodded, squatted down by the fishpond, scooped up some water to wash his face, and the cool water invigorated him.

He straightened up, looked at the tiny island, and made a plan in his mind.

Fishpond, chicken coop, cave dwelling, timber processing workshop, talisman making room.

In three months, he went from being a kidnapped fisherman to an outer disciple.

What is it that they rely on?

He relied on the Mountain and Sea Decree, on Wang Yao, and also on himself.

But now, none of that is enough.

Being an outer disciple is just the beginning. The opponents in the future will no longer be fishermen, but sect disciples who have cultivated for several, more than ten, or even several decades.

At the sixth level of Qi Refining, he wouldn't even rank at the bottom among the outer sect members.

We need to improve our cultivation level as soon as possible, and at the same time upgrade the buildings on the island.

Gao Yao looked at these buildings, making plans in his mind.

The conditions for advancing to the second-tier building require a large amount of spirit stones and special materials, but with his current wealth, it is not difficult to collect them. The troublesome part is the carving of the spirit gathering array and the mind-calming array.

While talisman masters and alchemists aren't uncommon in the Yunxiang Sect, array masters are a different story—they are truly rare.

Moreover, how could Gao Yao dare to allow outsiders to set foot on Turtle Reef Island?

Wouldn't that be like revealing your entire secret to others?

Therefore, I have to do this myself.

Even Gao Yao felt that this idea was somewhat presumptuous.

The art of array formations is vast and complex; many people spend their entire lives without ever even getting a basic understanding. You haven't even mastered how to make talismans, yet you want to get involved in array formations?

Moreover, the prerequisite for learning formations is having relevant classic texts. Where can you find them?

You're lucky if you can buy introductory books on talisman making in the market; for things like array formations, you'll probably have to go to the sect's library.

Do outer disciples have this qualification?

Gao Yao sighed, knowing that this matter couldn't be rushed, and decided to make a mental note of it.

......

A few days later.

Wang Yao's cave dwelling remained unchanged, with bamboo fences covered in vines and the courtyard gate ajar.

"Enter."

Gao Yao pushed open the door and entered. Wang Yao had changed into a black silk dress and was wearing a sash.

The sunlight slanted in, outlining her full and powerful body, and illuminating her charming yet haughty face that exuded an air of authority.

Wang Yao was leaning back in a bamboo chair, flipping through a booklet. She looked up and saw Gao Yao come in, put down the booklet, and smiled.

"Young Master, is your injury healed?"

"Miss Wang, I'm almost fully recovered."

"come over."

Gao walked over and stood in front of her.

Wang Yao didn't offer him a seat. She looked him up and down, her gaze lingering on his face before she suddenly smiled.

"You're quite composed, aren't you? Don't you even ask why I called you here?"

"Miss Wang has her own arrangements; I will follow your instructions."

"You scoundrel?" Wang Yao repeated the word, then shook her head. "Now that you're an outer disciple, you should call me Senior Sister."

Gao Yao was taken aback for a moment, then lowered her head: "Yes, Senior Sister."

Wang Yao seemed quite satisfied with Gao Yao's change of address, stood up, and walked up to him.

The two were very close, and Gao Yao could smell her fragrance. It wasn't the scent of cosmetics, but a faint coconut milk fragrance mixed with the warmth emanating from her body.

She raised her hand and straightened his collar.

My fingers brushed against his neck, feeling cool.

"I've found you a master." Wang Susu leaned close to Gao Yao's ear intimately, as if she were asking for credit, "The sect's Supreme Elder, Di Yin."

Gao Yao's mind went blank for a moment.

Supreme Elder?

"Elder Di's cultivation is profound, and his standards are high; he doesn't easily accept disciples." Wang Yao slowly walked back to the bamboo chair and sat down, crossing her legs. Her skirt slipped down, revealing a section of her fair calves. "I had to use a lot of persuasion before he agreed to see you."

Gao Yao's throat went dry: "Senior sister, I am of mediocre talent, and my cultivation is only at the sixth level of Qi Refining. The Supreme Elder..."

Wang Yao interrupted him, her tone becoming indifferent: "This is your destiny."

Opportunity?

What kind of opportunity is this?

Gao Yao smiled bitterly to himself, already having a bad feeling.

Wang Yao seemed to see through his thoughts, and asked with a half-smile, "What, you don't want to?"

"I wouldn't dare," Gao Yao said, bowing his head. "I will do as my senior sister arranges."

"Do as I say?" Wang Yao stood up, walked up to him, and lightly tapped Gao Yao's chest with her finger. "What good does it do if you're unwilling but say you'll do it?"

Gao Yao bowed and remained silent for a long time.

Wang Yao stared at him for a long while, then sighed, "Gao Yao, do you know why I helped you?"

Gao Yao shook his head.

"Because you're smart." She paused. "Smart people know what to ask and what not to ask. They also know what to do and what not to do."

These words were spoken cryptically, but Gao Yao understood them and knew that the other party's actions must have a deeper meaning.

Wang Yao wasn't helping him for nothing; she wanted him to do something for her.

What's the matter?

Gao Yao felt a chill run down his spine. How could he, a mere outer disciple at the sixth level of Qi Refining, be tasked with keeping an eye on the Supreme Elder?

If they are discovered, wouldn't they just be sending themselves to their deaths?

But does he have the right to refuse?

From the day she helped him, Wang Yao never left herself a way out.

She gave him the cultivation technique, she bestowed upon him the elixirs, she arranged the autumn examination, and even the tasks of leather making and talisman making were assigned to him by Steward Chen.

He Gao Yao is able to stand here today entirely because of Wang Yao.

reject?

How can I refuse?

"Elder Di has an eccentric personality and doesn't like to associate with people." Wang Yao walked back to the bamboo chair, sat down, picked up her teacup, and took a sip. "After you go, talk less and do more, and don't make him angry."

"Yes."

"Also," she put down her teacup, looked up at him, "you only need to know about Elder Di's matter; you don't need to tell me."

Gao Yao's heart skipped a beat. What did those words mean?

Shouldn't I tell her?

Why make her go through all that trouble to squeeze herself in there?

Gao Yao initially thought that Wang Yao had placed him under Di Yin's tutelage as a spy, but what she said next left him confused.

That being said, having a Supreme Elder as a teacher might not necessarily be a bad thing.

Even if the other party has a strange temper or is unapproachable, as long as I honestly learn the skills and don't reveal my true abilities, it's still better than competing for resources with other disciples in the outer sect.

As for what Wang Yao is really after...

There's no use thinking too much. Each piece has its own way of living. Let's get through this hurdle first.

......