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

In the following days, Gao Yao took on two more assignments to mentor new recruits.

He didn't particularly like this job; rather, other tasks either contributed too few points or were too risky.

In comparison, although training newcomers is a bit more complicated, it is at least safe and secure, and the newcomers are less likely to be possessed by their inner demons.

After several missions, Gao Yao discovered something.

The frequency of new member recruitment in sects is much higher than before.

Gao Yao flipped through the task book, which contained a densely written list of new recruits, filling an entire page.

The number of empty reef and island registration numbers at the fish market is decreasing.

He leaned back in his chair, frowning.

Previously, only a batch of new people would arrive every two weeks, but now, he has handled two batches in just ten days.

He roughly calculated that at least sixty or seventy new people had joined in the past two weeks.

So many people died in the autumn exams, it's only right that replacements are made, but the pace is too fast, it's like they're rushing to fill some hole.

Not right.

Gao leaned back in his chair and closed the booklet.

The fish market hall was bustling with people, and several newly arrived employees were squatting in the corner, waiting to be picked up.

They all looked very young, in their early twenties, with that bewildered look that comes with being new to a place.

But Gao Yao took a closer look and felt that something was off. It wasn't that there was anything wrong with these people, but rather that their bewildered expressions were all too similar.

It was as if they had rehearsed beforehand, knowing exactly when to bow their heads, when to say what, and when to show just the right amount of fear—it was so perfect it sent chills down your spine.

Gao Yao then recalled what Old Man Ma had said about the Yun Kingdom. If there were indeed spies among these people, then the Yun Kingdom's reach was much longer than he had imagined.

The ability to arrange for people to pass the sect's screening and make them behave like real fishermen is not something that can be done on a whim.

Gao put the booklet back on the counter and walked out of the fish market.

The sea breeze was strong at the dock, making his hair messy.

Gao Yao stood on the steps, watching the newcomers being led away in twos and threes, heading in different directions.

Someone turned around and glanced at him.

The glance was so brief it seemed unintentional, but Gao Yao caught that fleeting look, as if he were weighing whether it was worth paying attention to.

Gao Yao remained calm, turned around, and left.

He walked along the dock toward where the boats were moored, at a moderate pace.

To be honest, Gaoyao is currently a bit paranoid.

Everyone looks like a spy to me, and everyone looks like a demon in my heart.

But who can say for sure about this place?

Gao Yao jumped onto the boat and untied the mooring ropes.

The oars creaked and groaned as they cut through the sea. He sat at the stern, watching the dock grow smaller and smaller, the densely packed figures gradually becoming blurry dots.

The sea breeze carried a salty, fishy smell.

He took a deep breath and suppressed the turmoil in his mind.

Regardless of who the spy is or who the inner demon is, my most important task right now is to improve my strength.

The outline of Turtle Reef came into view, and Gao Yao sped up, the oars splashing water everywhere.

He decided that he would stay on the island for the next few days and break through to the seventh level of Qi Refining first.

......

The enlightenment room was dimly lit, with only a small window letting in a little moonlight.

Gao Yao sat cross-legged on a futon, with the book "Kun Yuan Hua Sheng Gong" (Embryonic Breathing Technique) in front of him.

During this period, with the continuous supply of Jade Spirit Liquid and Spirit Eggs, he has established a very solid foundation for the sixth level of Qi Refining.

I was just one step away from the threshold of the seventh floor, but I couldn't get through even after several attempts.

He closed his eyes and calmed his mind.

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 technique, he channeled his spiritual energy into the acupoints that had not yet been opened. In the past few days, he had opened more than a dozen acupoints, but he was only a few steps away from the requirements of the Fetal Breathing Realm.

Gao Yao wasn't in a hurry; he knew his advantage lay not in talent, but in resources.

He possesses the benefits of Jade Spirit Liquid, Spirit Egg, and the Enlightenment Chamber—things others don't have. He completes in a month what others take three months to accomplish.

But when it comes to cultivation, resources alone are not enough; patience is also essential.

The spiritual energy circulated through the meridians again and again, like a tireless snake, slowly gnawing away at the blocked barriers.

Gao Yao's forehead was covered in a fine sweat, and the back of his clothes was also wet.

He gritted his teeth, steadied himself, and prevented distractions from interfering.

I don't know how much time passed.

Maybe two hours, maybe longer.

At one moment, he felt a sudden jolt in a certain acupoint in his body, as if a long-blocked river channel had finally been cleared. Spiritual energy rushed over, spreading warm air throughout his limbs and bones.

The spiritual energy seemed to have found its rhythm, no longer stumbling along as before, but advancing with unstoppable momentum.

Gao Yao was burning hot, and sweat streamed down his face, dripping onto his clothes and spreading into a small dark patch.

He felt as if he were being roasted over a fire, or as if he were being soaked in lukewarm water.

It's hard to describe the feeling; it's both painful and comfortable, both uncomfortable and exhilarating.

When the last acupoint was opened, Gao Yao trembled all over.

A warm current of energy surged out from the newly opened acupoints, flowing along the meridians and into the dantian.

The vortex of energy in his dantian suddenly contracted and then exploded, transforming into countless tiny threads of spiritual energy that spread along the meridians to his limbs and bones, and then seeped into his internal organs.

Gao Yao felt as if he were soaking in warm water, with every pore breathing. The spiritual energy outside the body constantly seeped into his body through the pores, merging and blending with the spiritual energy in his meridians to form a complete cycle.

This is the state of embryonic breathing.

By closing the external orifices and opening the internal orifices, spiritual energy can be inhaled and exhaled through every pore of the body.

Unlike the previous two realms, he could clearly feel that his internal energy had increased several times over after the breakthrough.

Ultimately, one's level of understanding and perspective is what truly matters.

Gao Yao opened his eyes, let out a long breath, stood up, and moved his stiff limbs, his joints cracking as if a rusty machine had been re-oiled.

Seven levels of Qi Refining, complete.

......

A few days later, Gao Yao finally accumulated enough contribution points to exchange for entry qualification to the third floor of the library.

Gaoyao deliberately chose noon, when the sun was at its strongest and people were few and far between.

The stone slabs on the main island were bleached white by the sun, and they felt hot even through the soles of your shoes when you stepped on them.

Occasionally, outer disciples in gray robes would walk by with their heads down, not looking at each other.

Gao Yao liked this quietness; he didn't have to smile ingratiatingly or try to decipher the meaning behind the other person's eyes. He could simply walk his own path.

The library is located on the east side of the main island, built against the mountain. The blue bricks reach the top, and although it looks inconspicuous, it has an indescribable sense of oppression.

Every time Gao Yao comes here, he unconsciously slows down his pace and lowers his breathing.

The same goes for today.

He stopped at the door, took a deep breath, and pushed the door open to go inside.

The first floor was dimly lit, with several rows of bookshelves standing against the wall, piled high with jade slips and booklets. The air was filled with the smell of old paper mixed with the musty odor of damp wood.

Two outer disciples were looking up at him when they heard the noise, then looked up again before looking down at him again.

The layout of the second floor is similar to the first floor, but the bookshelves are taller and there are fewer people.

Gao Yao didn't linger on the first or second floor, but went straight to the stairwell.

The first and second floors mainly contain miscellaneous books on various arts and knowledge, while books on techniques and methods are strictly controlled on the third floor.

The techniques that ordinary fishermen know are usually taught uniformly by their sects, such as the water control techniques and water arrow techniques mastered by Gao Yao, which are all the same.

These kinds of spells are quite useful for fishing, but they're not enough for magical duels. This is why Gaoyao and most fishermen often use talismans to defend themselves when fighting.

Gao Yao believed that the sect had resorted to this drastic measure in order to make it easier to control the sect.

A protective barrier was placed at the entrance to the third-floor staircase, and a faint spiritual light flowed across the door frame.

Gao was about to press the token down when a flash of inspiration struck him, but the door didn't open.

He frowned, looked down at the token in his hand, and then at the restrictions on the door.

I have enough contribution points and the token is fine, so why can't I open it?

As he was pondering this, a voice came from behind him.

"I want a boy."

Gao Yao froze; he recognized the voice all too well.

Turning around, Wang Yao stood at the corner of the stairs, wearing a plain-colored ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), her hair loosely tied up, with a few strands hanging down beside her ears.

She wasn't dressed up much today, but it was precisely this simplicity that brought out the natural charm in her eyes and brows.

"Senior Sister Wang." Gao Yao quickly bowed and greeted her.

......