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

As dawn approached, the fog on the sea became even thicker.

Gao Yao's boat was in front, and Old Man Ma's boat was behind, as they broke through the grayish-white mist and headed back.

The sound of the oars slicing through the water was muffled, like it was coming through a layer of cotton.

Gao Yao didn't speak, and Old Man Ma didn't ask either; each of them was lost in their own thoughts.

Gao Yao's mind was still in turmoil. Ji Ping's words were like stones thrown into water, creating ripples that spread outwards and hadn't subsided yet.

Old Ma followed beside him without asking any questions. He took out his pipe and tried to light it several times before it finally did. The smoke dissipated quickly in the wind, just like his words, which were elusive.

After traveling through the fog for about half an hour, until the island behind them disappeared completely, Old Man Ma finally spoke: "What did that person say to you?"

Gao Yao remained silent for a long time before saying, "I said some things I shouldn't have."

"Shouldn't you have said that?" Old Ma turned his head to look at him.

To be honest, Gao Yao was thinking about how to tell Old Man Ma that the thing called itself a demon, that it possessed human memories and emotions, and that something might have been planted in their bodies.

These words were on the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed them back.

It's not that I don't trust Old Man Ma, it's just that knowing too much about certain things in advance can be more dangerous.

"Uncle Ma, the waters here are much deeper than we imagined. There's not only the Yunxiang Sect and the Yun Kingdom, but also those inner demons."

After much deliberation, Gao Yao still didn't reveal that they had been infected with inner demons: "It's not the right time yet. I'll tell you when the time is right."

Old Ma stared at him for a long time, smoke escaping from the corner of his mouth, blurring his expression.

"If you don't tell me, I won't ask." He tapped his pipe. "But I have to remind you, don't let anyone know you went to that island tonight."

Gao Yao nodded.

The two remained silent for a while.

The fog on the sea gradually dissipated, and the sky began to lighten.

Old Ma tucked his pipe back into his waistband: "Let's go, it's almost dawn, we can still get some sleep when we get back."

"Um."

The two ships parted ways, one heading east and the other west.

Gao Yao sat at the stern, watching as Old Man Ma's boat grew smaller and smaller until it finally disappeared into the morning mist.

He turned back and looked at the sea in front of him.

Turtle Reef Island was still far away, but Gao Yao wasn't in a hurry. He was thinking about what Ji Ping had said.

"I'll help you if you need it in the future."

Can a promise made by a demon in one's heart be trusted?

Gao Yao didn't know.

But he knew that in this place, it was always better to have one more friend than one more enemy.

Even if that friend isn't human.

......

After completing his survey, Gao Yao didn't go anywhere for the next few days.

To be precise, I didn't dare go anywhere.

The outer sect tasks he chose were all the most conservative types: going to Dan Island to watch the fire, going to Fu Island to deliver materials, going to the warehouse to check the inventory—odd jobs that didn't require thinking or dealing with people.

The contribution points are pitifully few, but the advantage is safety, and the advantage is that you won't encounter any accidents.

To be honest, Gaoyao is currently a bit paranoid.

Although the inner demon on the island hasn't attacked him yet, it's possible it might change its mind someday.

The sect itself is also in turmoil, with spies from the Yun Kingdom infiltrating, inner demons driven by obsessions hiding among the fishermen, and the ambiguous relationship between Wang Yao and Di Yin.

Each one felt like a thorn stuck in my throat, impossible to swallow or spit out.

Instead of wandering around aimlessly, it's better to stay put and behave yourself.

Upon careful consideration, it all comes down to my own lack of strength; with only the sixth level of Qi Refining cultivation, I can only drift along with the tide.

Gao Yao gritted his teeth, pulled himself together, and decided to focus on cultivating and breaking through to the next level.

Seven levels of Qi Refining, the Realm of Fetal Breathing.

The core of this realm is to open up all the meridians and acupoints in the body, close the external acupoints and open the internal acupoints, thus achieving so-called body breathing. At this stage, the cultivator can no longer rely on the mouth and nose, and can breathe in and out spiritual energy through all the pores of the body.

The benefits are obvious: the speed of spiritual energy recovery will be greatly improved, and one can survive for a long time in harsh environments such as underwater or in poisonous miasma. More importantly, after reaching the Great Perfection of the Fetal Breathing Realm, one can truly abstain from grains and no longer rely on them.

Gao Yao sat cross-legged in the enlightenment room and read through the entire "Kun Yuan Hua Sheng Gong" (Embryonic Breathing Technique) from beginning to end.

During this period, with the continuous supply of Jade Spirit Liquid and Spirit Eggs, he has laid a very solid foundation at the sixth level of Qi Refining, and is just one step away from the threshold of the seventh level.

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

The energy vortex in his dantian was solid and powerful, and spiritual energy flowed through his meridians, circle after circle.

Following the instructions of the cultivation method, he tried to channel his spiritual energy into the acupoints that had not yet been opened.

After several failed attempts, Gao Yao opened his eyes, a thin layer of sweat beading on his forehead.

I was too impatient.

He stood up, walked out of the Enlightenment Room, and took a stroll around the island.

I looked at the fishpond, fed the chickens, and cleared my mind for half a day.

When the night was deep and quiet, and the sea breeze made the shack creak, he sat back in his meditation room and focused his mind on his dantian.

This time it went more smoothly, and with enough spiritual energy gathered, a sudden surge finally loosened a certain acupoint.

A warm current surged out from the acupoint, spreading along the meridians to all parts of the body, and Gao Yao trembled all over.

The feeling is hard to describe; it's like a long-blocked river channel finally being dredged, with water rushing through, carrying mud, sand, and dead leaves.

Calm your mind and continue guiding your spiritual energy, one place, two places, three places...

In one night, seven acupoints were opened.

He was still far from reaching the seventh level of Qi Refining. The Fetal Breathing Realm required opening dozens of meridians and acupoints, and he had only just begun, but he was already very satisfied.

At this rate, breaking through to the seventh level shouldn't be a problem in another ten days or so.

Gao Yao opened his eyes and let out a long breath.

The bonus from the Enlightenment Chamber was even more useful than he had imagined; the extra 10% bonus to comprehension was remarkably effective during cultivation.

Gao Yao stood up and stretched his stiff limbs.

Daylight had broken, and the morning light spread across the sea, turning the entire sky a pale gold.

We have to go to Fushi Island today.

Fu Island is located to the east of the main island. Several rows of stone houses are built on the island, which are the places where Yunxiang Sect makes and stores talismans.

When Gao Yao arrived by boat, the sun had already climbed above the eaves.

He tied the boat up and walked up the stone steps. He encountered several outer disciples along the way. Some he recognized and some he didn't. They nodded to each other but didn't say much.

He had visited Fudao several times, always delivering materials, and his visits were always brief.

This time it's different. Manager Chen said that Fu Island is short-handed and asked him to come over to help out and learn something along the way.

To put it bluntly, he was brought in to assist Ye Zi.

Gao Yao stopped at the door of the talisman-making room. The door was ajar, and rustling sounds could be heard from inside.

He knocked on the door and went inside.

Ye Zi sat behind the stone platform, with several pieces of spirit skin spread out in front of her. She held a spirit pattern pen in her hand and was drawing talismans with her head down.

Today she wore a light blue dress, her hair was tied up with a wooden hairpin, and a few strands of hair fell beside her ears. The sleeves were rolled up to her forearms, revealing a section of her fair wrist, with a red string tied around her wrist, which made her skin look even more pure and clean.

Hearing the noise, she looked up and saw that it was Gao Yao. Her cheeks flushed slightly.

"Senior Sister Ye." Gao Yao cupped his hands in greeting.

"Brother Gao, Brother Gao."

......