Cultivation: I Forge Immortality with My Spiritual Eyes

A moment later, Shi Qianye steered his boat close to the deserted island and leaped onto the cliff.

He looked up at Jiang Yi, his gaze complex and indescribable.

Two childhood friends had not seen each other for seven years.

They meet again on this desolate island, where one side is a thief and the other is a victim of robbery.

Neither of them spoke; they simply sized each other up.

Jiang Yi gazed at his old friend before him, and after a long while, he sighed softly, his expression filled with emotion:

You've changed.

Shi Qianye was silent for a moment, then said:

"You've changed too."

Jiang Yi opened his mouth, a thousand questions swirling in his mind that he couldn't keep quiet about.

In the end, however, he swallowed it all back, only saying:

"Aunt Yang asked me to pass on a message to you, saying that she has now learned how to raise silkworms and weave cloth, and is now financially well-off. She told you to come back to Qingluo Island to visit when you have time, and that she will no longer stop you."

Shi Qianye's eyes flickered, and he was slightly taken aback, as if a long-dormant string in his heart had been touched.

He was stunned for a long while, then spoke in a hoarse voice:

"I can't leave right now, and given my current status, it's inconvenient for me to go back. You... could you visit her more often for me when you have time?"

Jiang Yi's expression was complicated, and he hesitated to speak.

The two had not seen each other for many years.

The other party is now engaged in risky, risky business, and is no longer the sincere young man he once was.

He completely changed his inner self.

Although she retains the original owner's memories, there is always a barrier between them, and that old affection is ultimately difficult to rekindle.

A moment of silence fell over the room.

Jiang Yi spoke first:

"How have you been these past few years?"

Shi Qianye's lips twitched slightly, his expression remaining calm and composed.

"I'm fine. How about you? How are you doing? How's your master doing lately?"

"I'm fine too."

Jiang Yi said in a low voice:

"My master... went out to sea to search for treasure two years ago, and has never returned since."

Shi Qianye's gaze darkened, and he nodded without offering any words of comfort.

Judging from Jiang Yi's simple attire and the fact that he was part of the Wang family's miners' transport team, it was easy to guess that his old friend was not doing well.

But I myself am someone who walks on the edge of a knife, so I really can't be of much help.

He took a deep breath, suppressed his turbulent thoughts, and said seriously:

"I have other important matters to attend to and cannot stay any longer. This ship is for you to use. Remember, do not return to Black Reef Island. The sea is rough and accidents are inevitable. Go straight back to Green Snail Island."

Jiang Yi's expression hardened.

He understood the veiled warning in the words and realized that something big was about to happen on Black Reef Island.

He nodded and said solemnly:

"Okay, I understand. Be careful too. Trying to negotiate with a tiger for its skin is like licking blood from a knife's edge; it's not a long-term solution."

Shi Qianye nodded slightly and gave Jiang Yi a deep look.

He then turned around, leaped off the cliff, rode the demonic shark, and sped away, disappearing into the vast mist in an instant.

"Meow?"

Xiao Li peeked out from Jiang Yi's clothes, glanced at the sea in the distance, and looked up at him in confusion.

Jiang Yi gently patted the little guy's round head and said softly:

"Those were the master's old friends. Now they all have their own things to do and no longer have time for leisurely chats."

"Meow~"

Little Pear tilted her head and listened, her big eyes darting around. Suddenly, she snuggled against his neck, meowing and acting cute.

Jiang Yi smiled knowingly and said softly:

"Hehe, good. From now on, I'll take you with me wherever I go, and play with you every day and every night."

After being coaxed for a while, Little Pear happily shrank back and fell fast asleep.

Jiang Yi suppressed his smile, frowned, and gazed into the direction of Black Reef Island, his ten fingers unconsciously twisting and turning.

After a moment, he sighed softly and stopped thinking about it.

He glanced up at the sky, then leaped onto the blood-red sailboat. With a surge of his magic, he steered the ship toward Green Snail Island.

"..."

Black Reef Island is about 1,500 miles away from Green Snail Island.

However, this time the fleet's course deviated, and they ended up even further away.

Adding to the difficulties, the sea was shrouded in fog, and the wind and waves were raging. We also encountered thunderstorms along the way.

A man and a cat hurried along, enduring hardship and displacement.

It took nearly ten days to finally get close to the Qingluo Island area.

Because that blood-stained sailboat was too conspicuous.

Jiang Yi then sank it on a deserted island dozens of miles away.

They then cut down a few giant trees, managed to build a small sampan, and rowed their way to Qingluo Island.

Ten days later.

It was evening.

The sunset glowed like fire, and the mist was like gauze, reflecting each other to create a hazy orange hue.

The dock on Qingluo Island was deserted, with few boats coming and going, and only a dozen or so figures busy at work.

soon.

A simple, shabby sampan slowly pierced the fog and entered the harbor.

The rower was dressed in rags, his dark hair was tied up with a wooden hairpin, and his handsome face was etched with the marks of hardship, making him look quite disheveled.

There was also a beautiful little cat with dark blue fur and a delicate figure on the boat.

They were originally running around on the boat, playing and splashing in the water by themselves.

Now that we're in a crowded place, I feel nervous.

It quickly burrowed into the collar of the person next to it and hid, only peeking out with its little head sticking out.

This person and cat were none other than Jiang Yi and Xiao Li, who had finally returned to Qingluo Island.

"Bang!"

Jiang Yi rowed the sampan to the edge of the dock and sank it with a backhand strike.

He then leaped onto the island and hurried towards his lodgings.

Not long after.

He returned to the small courtyard on the hillside.

He initially intended to push the door open and enter, but after thinking for a moment, he turned around and knocked on the gate of the opposite courtyard, calling out loudly:

"Is Fellow Daoist Niu here? I, Jiang, have returned."

"Fellow Daoist Jiang?!"

A surprised voice rang out from inside the courtyard, followed by a series of hurried footsteps as the courtyard gate was yanked open.

Niu Yaojin looked Jiang Yi up and down, his expression a mixture of surprise and delight:

"You're finally back! I thought something had happened to you!"

Jiang Yi's eyes flickered slightly, and he said:

"It seems Fellow Daoist Niu already knows something."

"good."

Niu Yaojin nodded, his expression solemn:

"In the past few days, some rogue cultivators who escaped from the Blood Scarf Bandits have returned to the island. They spread the news of the fleet's robbery, and it has become a hot topic, causing widespread panic."

"I see."

Jiang Yi nodded thoughtfully and sighed:

"This trip was truly dangerous. I'm lucky to have survived. I still feel lingering fear when I think about it now. I don't know how I got through the whole journey."

Niu Yaojin comforted him:

"It's alright, don't overthink it. It's good that you're back. Take good care of yourself on the island..."

Halfway through his sentence, he suddenly sensed something amiss with Jiang Yi's aura, which gave him a faint sense of oppression.

Upon closer inspection, it was clear that this person had already reached the fifth level of Qi Refining!

Niu Yaojin's eyes widened in shock.

"Fellow Daoist Jiang...you've broken through again so quickly?"

Jiang Yi smiled slightly:

"Black Reef Island was full of inspiration, and we were fortunate to gain something from it."

Niu Yaojin smacked his lips, revealing an expression of envy and admiration, and said sourly with a fist and palm salute:

"Congratulations to Fellow Daoist Jiang on your vigorous progress and for taking another step towards higher cultivation. I am truly envious."

"It's just a small improvement, nothing to mention."

Jiang Yi waved his hand, his tone humble:

"Judging from your smooth and harmonious Qi, it shouldn't be long before you catch up."

After speaking, a look of weariness appeared on his face, and he said slowly:

"I am exhausted from the journey, so I will not disturb you any longer. I will catch up with you another day after I have recovered."

Niu Yaojin nodded repeatedly and hurriedly said:

"Alright, alright, Fellow Daoist Jiang, go and properly regulate your breathing first. It's important to replenish your energy."

He spoke as he saw Jiang Yi off.

After watching his figure disappear, he turned around, closed the courtyard gate, scratched his head, and couldn't help but mutter to himself:

"Black Reef Island... Is it really that good? Going there to mine doesn't seem like a bad idea..."