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

As the treasure ship landed, Gao Yao glanced down.

The dock wasn't large, but it was much cleaner than the one on Luofu Lake. The stone-built embankment was neat and uniform, and the berths were separated by wooden stakes, so each boat had its own spot and there was no crowding or jostling.

The shore is paved with bluestone slabs, worn smooth and shiny by the sea breeze and footsteps.

Several unidentified trees were planted by the roadside, their canopies spreading out like umbrellas, creating patches of shade.

There were quite a few people.

There were porters carrying goods, vendors setting up stalls, monks dressed in robes of various colors, and several women chatting by the dock, dressed in flamboyant clothes, their laughter carried on the wind, sounding like they weren't from respectable families.

The air was filled with the smell of the sea, mixed with the aromas of baked flatbread, fried fish, herbs, and powders, all mingling together in a lively and bustling atmosphere.

Standing on the treasure ship, Gao Yao looked at this scene and suddenly felt a little dazed.

He spent several months at the docks of Luofu Lake, where the only smells were of fish and sweat, and the faces of fishermen were numb. Fishing boats were crammed together, people were crammed together, and even hardship was crammed together.

But it's different here. The people here have smiles, expectations, and a vibrant energy on their faces.

It's not that there's no suffering here, but at least they don't live like livestock being kept in captivity.

He suddenly had a thought: Could it be that the people here were also kidnapped and brainwashed?

But the thought only flashed through his mind for a moment. He wasn't here for tourism, so why bother with this?

Li Su was the first to jump off the treasure boat, followed by Gao Yao and Ye Ran.

"Keep up." Li Su didn't turn around, his steps neither hurried nor slow.

The two followed behind, crossing the dock and entering a narrow alley.

The alley was lined with shops selling all sorts of things: talismans, elixirs, magical artifacts, spiritual materials, and even food.

An old man squatted at the alley entrance, grilling fish. The charcoal crackled, the fish skin was roasted to a golden brown, and oil dripped onto the charcoal, creating puffs of smoke.

Gao Yao glanced at him again, and the old man grinned at him, revealing that he was missing two front teeth.

At the end of the alley is a three-story building.

The building is a wooden and stone structure, with blue bricks all the way to the top and upturned eaves.

A plaque hangs above the doorway, bearing the four characters "Hongyun Trading Company" in rounded strokes, giving it a festive appearance.

Two stone beasts squatted at the entrance. They were not the usual lions, but rather some kind of sea creature, with round heads and a憨态可掬 (endearing and simple) appearance.

A middle-aged, overweight man stood in the doorway. He had a round face and large ears, and his eyes narrowed into slits when he smiled, giving him a friendly appearance. He wore a silk robe, the material of which was of good quality, but the cut was loose, probably specifically to conceal his belly.

Seeing Li Su approaching, he quickly stepped forward and bowed.

"Fellow Daoist Li, we've been waiting for you!"

His voice was loud and clear, carrying the enthusiasm characteristic of a businessman.

"Manager Feng," Li Su said, bowing slightly, his tone indifferent.

"Please come in, please come in." Feng Yi stepped aside to let them pass, his gaze sweeping over Gao Yao and Ye Ran. He nodded with a smile, "And who are these two?"

"These are newly recruited disciples of the sect; we're bringing them out to broaden their horizons." Li Su didn't go into details.

Feng Yi didn't press further, but simply smiled and led the three into the building.

The first floor is the lobby, with several rows of tables and chairs. A few casual customers were sitting and drinking tea. When they saw them come in, they glanced at them and then lowered their heads again.

There were some calligraphy and paintings hanging on the wall. Gao Yao didn't know much about them, but they looked like the work of famous artists and had a lot of artistic conception.

Feng Yi led them up to the second floor and into a private room.

The private room was small, but exquisitely decorated.

Rosewood tables and chairs, celadon tea sets, and a landscape painting on the wall depicting a sunrise over the sea, rendered with vigorous brushstrokes.

"Please sit down," Feng Yi said, taking his seat in the main seat and clapping his hands.

A maidservant came in with a tea tray and poured a cup of tea for everyone.

The tea soup is emerald green and has a refreshing aroma.

Gao Yao picked it up and took a sip. It was slightly bitter at first, but the aftertaste was sweet and quick. It was a good cup of tea.

Li Su didn't drink the tea. He took out a jade slip from his sleeve and handed it to Feng Yi: "This is the purchase list for this time. Manager Feng, please take a look."

Feng Yi took the jade slip, probed it with his divine sense, and after a moment put it down, nodded with a smile: "No problem, we're all regular customers, we have stock in the warehouse, but..."

He paused, a hint of unease creeping into his smile: "I'm afraid the price will have to go up."

"How much will it increase?" Li Su frowned slightly.

"Not much, 20%." Feng Yi held up one finger. "The sea routes have been unstable lately, with monsters causing a lot of trouble, which has increased the cost of our supplies. We have no choice."

Li Su stared at him for a long time, then nodded: "Okay."

The two chatted for a few more minutes, mainly about the quantity and price of the goods.

Gao Yao listened from the side and understood what was going on.

This Hongyun Trading Company, though called a trading company, is actually more like a transoceanic trading organization.

They have goods, channels, and connections, so they can trade with sects like Yunxiang Sect and even negotiate prices.

After the transaction was completed, Feng Yi stood up and said, "Fellow Daoist Li, please have a seat. I will go and arrange for the goods to be prepared."

After saying this, he cupped his hands in a respectful gesture and left the private room.

The door closed, and the room became quiet.

Gao Yao held his teacup, his gaze lingering on the painting on the wall for a moment.

He glanced at Ye Ran again; she was drinking tea with her head down, her posture elegant, unlike a fisherman, but more like a young lady from a wealthy family.

After Feng Yi left, Li Su also stood up: "I'll go keep an eye on the warehouse. You guys wait here and don't wander off."

After saying that, without waiting for Gao Yao and Ye Ran's reply, he pushed open the door and left.

There were only two people left in the room.

Ye Ran continued to drink her tea with her head down, showing no intention of speaking.

Gao Yao was happy to have some peace and quiet, so he leaned back in his chair and reviewed his experiences over the past few days.

About fifteen minutes later, Ye Ran stood up and said, "I'm going to use the restroom."

Gao Yao nodded and didn't ask any further questions.

Ye Ran pushed open the door and went out, her footsteps gradually fading into the distance.

Gao Yao waited a while longer, making sure there was no movement outside, before standing up and leaving the private room.

The second-floor corridor was empty, except for a maid standing at the end who bowed to him when she saw him come out.

"Senior brother, what are your orders?"

"I have some personal matters to discuss and would like to inquire about some information. Would you be so kind as to do me this favor?"

The maid hesitated for a moment, then led him downstairs.

Upon reaching the first floor, we passed through the lobby and turned into a narrow corridor. At the end of the corridor was a wooden door, which the maid knocked on.

"Manager, a customer is looking for you."

"Come in."

The door opened, and Feng Yi was sitting behind a large desk, holding an account book in his hand.

Upon seeing that it was Gao Yao, he put down the account book and stood up with a smile.

"Junior Brother Gao? Is there anything I can do to help you?"

Gao Yao walked into the house and closed the door behind him.

"Manager Feng, you travel all over the country and must be well-informed. I would like to inquire about something."

"Inquiring about something?" Feng Yi's smile remained unchanged. "That's easy, but..."

He held up two fingers and rubbed them together: "Intelligence is also a commodity; it must be exchanged for an equivalent value."

Gao Yao was prepared; he took out a small bag of spirit stones from his pocket and placed it on the table.

"This is a deposit. If the information is worth this price, there will be more to come."

Feng Yi didn't look at the bag of spirit stones; his gaze fell on Gao Yao's face, and his smile held a hint of inquiry: "What does Junior Brother Gao want to know?"

On his way here, Gao Yao had already decided what he wanted to find out.

In the few days since he became a disciple of Di Yin, he has not learned anything. This cannot continue. He has passed the autumn examination and entered the outer gate, but his strength is still stagnant.

Gao Yao desperately needed to learn formations and needed to learn real skills from Di Yin, but that man just wouldn't open his mouth to teach him.

Therefore, Gao Yao felt it was essential to gain a deeper understanding of Di Yin and find the key information that could break the deadlock. He wanted to know everything about this Supreme Elder, including his preferences, personality, past experiences, and even his weaknesses.

This was also a test of Hongyun Trading Company's capabilities.

If a trading company that can do business between Luofu Sea and Pingsha Sea can even obtain information about the supreme elders of a sect, then its power is far greater than he imagined.

It might help him escape from the Yunxiang Sect.

"I want to inquire about someone." Gao Yao looked into Feng Yi's eyes. "Di Yin, the Supreme Elder of the Yunxiang Sect."

Feng Yi's smile froze for a moment.

......