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

The next morning, Gao Yao didn't go to the bamboo forest, but went directly to the fish market.

They said they were receiving a mission, but it was really just about getting a job.

Outer disciples have a fixed quota every month, which they can't escape or avoid. It's the same principle as paying the Dinghai tax in the past, except that in the past they paid fish, and now they pay themselves.

There weren't many people in the Fish Market Hall. Manager Chen wasn't there; instead, a familiar-looking young deacon was in charge, wearing a gray robe and a bronze badge hanging from his waist, looking down as he flipped through a book.

Hearing footsteps, he looked up and glanced at Gao Yao.

"Junior Brother Gao."

"Senior brother."

Without saying a word, the deacon turned the booklet over, revealing a few lines of text written on it.

Gao Yao went over to take a look. The task was simple: go to Pingsha Sea to buy spirit fish, which would take about three or four days.

This kind of job is the easiest among the outer sect members; it's not dangerous, it's just running errands.

"Your companions are waiting outside; you'll find out when you arrive." The steward closed the booklet and added, "Listen to Senior Brother Li on the way; don't cause trouble."

Senior Brother Li?

Gao Yao nodded without asking any further questions, took the mission token, and left the fish market.

A small treasure boat was moored at the dock, its hull gleaming with a pale blue spiritual light.

A person stood at the bow of the ship, with his back to him, wearing a gray robe and a long sword at his waist.

Gao Yao recognized the figure from behind and was about to approach when the person turned around.

Ye Ran.

Gao Yao paused for a moment.

The other person wasn't wearing their neat fisherman's attire today; instead, they wore a well-fitting robe, and their hair was tied up with a jade hairpin. They looked like a completely different person.

The heroic spirit between his brows was still there, but it had become much more restrained than when he was in the fishing village. At first glance, he really did look like a disciple of a sect.

Gao Yao glanced at it once, and his face immediately showed just the right amount of surprise and delight.

"Miss Ye Ran? I didn't expect to meet you here."

His tone was natural, with a hint of joy at the reunion.

Ye Ran glanced at him, her lips curving slightly, but the smile didn't reach her eyes: "Senior Brother Gao, I'm afraid I'll have to start calling you Junior Sister from now on."

"Yes, yes, Junior Sister Ye." Gao Yao nodded kindly, but he knew very well that this woman was no pushover. In the chaotic battle at Shark Sea, she led a dozen or so boats to fight against more than a hundred boats from the four major gangs. Not only did she not suffer any losses, but she also gained the upper hand.

Those who make it to the summit alive are by no means kind.

Moreover, the other party's skills and temperament are not something that ordinary people possess.

Ye Ran was also sizing up Gao Yao. His expression was just right, neither too ingratiating nor too perfunctory.

But it was precisely this impeccable attitude that made her a little wary. When they first met in the fishing village, Gao Yao had the same attitude, which made him easy to like.

Ye Ran saw clearly how the other side survived the chaotic battle in the shark sea.

He shifted the blame eastward, fished in troubled waters, broke through the encirclement amidst the chaos, and even managed to catch two silver sharks along the way.

He's clearly a cunning old fox; even I misjudged him when we first met.

"Is everyone here?" a voice came from behind.

Gao Yao turned his head and saw a round-faced, angry-eyed cultivator walking towards him from not far away.

Li Su.

The Foundation Establishment cultivator who was following Zhou Cheng was a man of few words and a kind appearance, but Gao Yao remembered the way he waved his hand and threw people into the sea on the mudflats.

"Senior Brother Li."

Ye Ran bowed slightly, her tone much more respectful than when she addressed Gao Yao.

Gao Yao also bowed.

Li Su nodded, said nothing more, and jumped onto the treasure boat. Gao Yao and Ye Ran followed behind, each finding a place to sit down.

The boat isn't very big; it's just right for three people, any more and it'll be crowded.

The treasure ship took off, and the sea breeze rushed in from all directions.

Gao Yao sat at the stern of the boat, watching the Luofu Sea below slowly shrink.

The scattered reefs and islands, the fishing boats crowded at the dock, and the figures working on the shallows gradually became blurry dots, and finally disappeared under the clouds.

To be honest, this was the first time he had ever seen the sea from such a high place. Before, he would lie on the bottom of the ship and look up at the sky. Now, he was lying on the treasure ship and looking down at the sea.

When you change your perspective, you see a completely different thing.

"This mission is to purchase spirit fish in Pingsha Sea." Li Su said casually, "Pingsha Sea is north of Luofu Sea, and it's quite different from our area. There are many kinds of spirit fish there, some of which we don't have here, so we need to purchase them regularly."

As Gao Yao listened, a map of the sea he had found in the library came to mind.

Luofu Sea is only a small part of the cultivation world in the East Sea, and the area controlled by Yunxiang Sect is even smaller.

After passing Shark Sea to the north, further north lies Pingsha Sea. That sea area is shallower than Luofu Sea, and the seabed is mostly sandy. The species of spirit fish that live there are indeed different from those here.

For example, the red-skinned blue and black iron carp, which are common in Luofu Sea, are rarely seen in Pingsha Sea.

The fish produced there is a different kind of spirit fish called sand grouper. Its flesh is not as tender as that of the red-skinned bluefish, but its bones are used to make certain low-level magical artifacts, and they are quite expensive.

Different sea areas produce different kinds of spirit fish. There are also differences between shallow seas, mid-seas, and deep seas. This is similar to my previous life. Different waters nurture different kinds of fish.

It is common practice for sects to purchase certain materials from other sea areas when they need them.

To put it bluntly, their mission this time was to act as purchasing agents on official business.

The treasure ship flew very fast, and the sea beneath its feet kept rushing backward.

As Gao Yao looked at the unfamiliar sea, a thought suddenly popped into his mind.

If I jump down now and find a secluded place to hide, can I escape the control of the Yunxiang Sect?

Once the thought popped into my head, I couldn't suppress it. As long as I was outside the sphere of influence of the Yunxiang Sect, the world was vast and there was nowhere I couldn't go.

But the thought only lasted a few breaths before he extinguished it himself.

If the sect dared to release them, there must be a backup plan.

Dinghai Pearl.

He'd been wearing this around his neck since the day he entered the fishing village, claiming it was a talisman, but Gao Yao had never believed in it.

It's true that its aura can intimidate demonic beasts, but who can guarantee that this thing doesn't have other uses?

Tracking, locating, or even more covert methods?

And that outer disciple's identity token.

He looked at the jade pendant at his waist. Like the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl, this thing had never left his side since he got it. It could record contribution points and allow him to enter and exit the library, so could it also record his whereabouts?

The more Gao Yao thought about it, the more a chill ran down his spine.

The sect isn't stupid. The fact that they dare to send their outer disciples out on missions means they're absolutely certain you can't escape.

You can run away, but you can't hide. Even if you escape to the ends of the earth, they'll still find you. And even if they can't catch you, they'll find ways to make you come back on your own.

Once Gao Yao understood this, he calmed down.

It can't be rushed.

If they want to escape, they must first find out what methods the sect uses to control them.

Is it the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl, the disciple's token, or some hidden secret within the cultivation technique?

All of these things need to be understood clearly; one wrong step and you're doomed.

The treasure ship flew for about two hours, and the color of the sea beneath its feet began to lighten.

The sea around Luofu is light blue, while the seawater here is tinged with yellowish-green. You can vaguely see large areas of sand on the seabed, and occasionally there are a few dark-colored things, which are probably coral reefs or seaweed forests.

We've arrived at Pingsha Sea.

......