Xuanjian: I am the tenth son of Zhenchi, and I plot to seize the throne from Zhenlong.

"The ends of the earth? What kind of place is that?" Ye Chaosheng squatted on the ground, stuffing a steamed bun into his mouth like a starving ghost, and asked indistinctly.

After drifting at sea for nearly half a month, Ye Chaosheng, who was tanned dark and thin, finally found a populated island.

He felt incredibly lucky. He drifted on the sea, rowing whenever he woke up, and continuing to drift when he couldn't row anymore. Under these circumstances, he didn't encounter any decent monsters. The only monster he saw that looked like a crab was spotted from afar, and he easily avoided it.

Not long after he came ashore, he was climbing a tree to pick fruit when he was spotted by a passing farmer. The farmer was curious to see that he was dressed quite neatly but was in such a state. When he asked, he learned that he was an immortal. He quickly kowtowed and led him to a mansion where he met two cultivators who were practicing the fetal breathing technique.

"It's all around here, from the ends of the earth. This place is called Shun'e Island. Young man, where are you from?"

The two cultivators, one tall and thin and the other short and fat, both had somewhat shifty-looking eyes. They brought him a lot of food and immediately asked which one was the taller cultivator.

"Many monsters emerged from the sea where I used to live, and they wanted to eat people. I couldn't fight them, so I ran away. I don't know where I came from. That place didn't have a name. I only found out now that this place is called Tianya Haijiao (End of the Earth).

Ye Chaosheng, being cautious, replied with an honest and simple expression.

The tall cultivator listened without comment, then handed him a bamboo tube of water: "I see. So... how old are you, young brother? How many years have you been cultivating? Do you have a master?"

He carefully considered his words before saying, "Young brother, your cultivation method is quite unique. I can't discern your level of cultivation. I wonder... if it's convenient for you?"

Ye Chaosheng's heart stirred. It turned out that not only could he not see other people's cultivation levels, but others could not see his either.

He estimated that he was about eighteen or nineteen years old, but he looked so thin that the two of them definitely wouldn't be able to tell. He immediately replied, "I guess I'm in my twenties. I've been cultivating for almost ten years. I don't know much about the cultivation method. I'm not very smart, so I've only reached the third level."

In fact, Ye Chaosheng had already completed half of the fourth Qingyuan Wheel. For some reason, his cultivation speed became faster and faster after he went to sea, and he no longer needed to hide from people. When he got tired of rowing, he would fall asleep and circulate his spiritual energy. In one day, his cultivation progress was equivalent to several days in the past.

Ye Chaosheng pretended to hesitate for a moment before saying, "No one taught me how to fix it. I found a piece of cloth with words and pictures written on it while fishing at sea. I studied it for a long time and followed the gestures before I was able to fix it."

Upon hearing this, and seeing Ye Chaosheng's honest and straightforward answer, Yan Xujie and his junior brother exchanged a glance, a hint of excitement flashing in their eyes.

In this desolate and remote place, we actually managed to find a rogue cultivator. Judging from his appearance, he seems to know nothing. Bringing him into the sect would be a great achievement, and if we're lucky, we might even be able to trick him into revealing his cultivation techniques.

The two immediately became very friendly, and Yan Xujie quickly helped him to a chair nearby: "I am Yan Xujie, and this is my junior brother, Zhou Mian. We are a few years older than you, and we are both at the fourth level of the embryonic breathing stage. Hehe~ Young brother, you are really lucky. What are your plans for the future?"

Ye Chaosheng stopped chewing, looked at the two of them somewhat embarrassed, and said hesitantly, "Well, I have nowhere else to go. I'm strong, and I can definitely help you. Why don't you let me stay?"

Yan Xujie's heart burned with excitement. He had obtained it without any effort, and immediately laughed twice, his face full of arrogance.

He then said, "Junior brother, what are you saying? There's no reason to make cultivators do hard labor."

He then pushed half a roast chicken in front of Ye Chaosheng: "Junior brother, you eat first. Later, I'll take you to pay your respects to our master. Our master is a great Qi cultivator with boundless magical power!"

As he spoke, he shouted towards the outside: "You beasts, hurry up and get me some hot water. The house and bedding are all ready. My junior brother needs to wash up in a bit."

…………

Inside a cave.

Ye Chaosheng stood frozen in place, his hands raised above his head, letting the old Taoist priest with a face full of wrinkles touch his body and pinch him from time to time.

The old Taoist priest touched him while praising him, his face crinkling into a smile: "Good, good lad, good bone structure, just a bit thin, needs more rest."

After touching Ye Chaosheng's entire body, the old Taoist priest finally let go, walked to the main seat, sat down, and stared blankly at Ye Chaosheng with green light in his eyes, as if he had seen some stunning beauty.

To be honest, Ye Chaosheng regretted staying. The old Taoist priest was really creepy, making him feel uncomfortable all over.

However, after considering the feeling of drifting at sea and not knowing when he would find any signs of life, Ye Chaosheng still mustered up the courage to ask, "Sir, no, senior, may I stay?"

The old Taoist wiped the drool from his mouth, regaining some composure, and laughed, "Stay, stay! Oh dear, from today onwards, you are my sixth disciple, the Water-Calling Taoist!"

He then angrily rebuked Yan and Zhou, who were awkwardly forcing smiles to the side, "You two clueless idiots, hurry up and bring up the tea and fruit!"

After a cup of tea was served, Ye Chaosheng officially became a disciple. He was penniless in this remote corner of the world, and the old Taoist priest couldn't give him anything, so he asked someone to bring him two sets of decent clothes and a jade pendant with inscription as a return gift.

Ye Chaosheng was illiterate and didn't know what was written on the jade tablet. He just accepted it with gratitude and said some flattering words. The old Taoist priest smiled and asked Yan Zhou and the other man to show him around.

The three of them came out of the cave. The tall and thin Yan Xujie put his arm around his shoulder affectionately and introduced, "Shun'e Island is not very big. It would take an ordinary person about three days to walk there and back. Master has killed all the wild beasts and tigers on the island. Junior Brother, you can stay with us or find your own place to stay. As for food, clothing and other necessities, ordinary people can come and get them."

"As for the other islands around here, I'll tell you about them later." Yan Xujie naturally wouldn't explain the situation around here clearly, in case anyone escaped, he would be skinned alive by the old Taoist.

"Our sect doesn't have that many rules. Every month at the end of the month, Master will give a sermon here in the cave. Just remember to come."

At this point, Yan Xujie became more serious: "There are eighty-four households of ordinary people on the island. Junior brother has just entered the sect and his cultivation is not high. You can only use one of them per year. It is fine to give the others some tasks on a daily basis, but you cannot kill them at will. The island is barren and it takes a lot of effort to tame the wild savages. You should remember this well."

Ye Chaosheng had only nodded the whole way, but now he seemed a little puzzled: "Take it?"

"Junior brother, don't you understand?"

"Taking women...you know?" Ye Chaosheng's face flushed slightly.

Yan Xujie suddenly realized just how wild his junior brother's methods were, that he didn't even understand the essence of blood. He could only wink and keep him in suspense: "There's a sacrificial ceremony in a few months, then you'll understand."

Ye Chaosheng nodded, then asked, "Then, where are the other senior brothers? I haven't seen them."

"My eldest brother encountered a demon and died when he went out to sea to find spiritual objects a few years ago. My third brother also went out to sea and hasn't returned yet."

Yan Xujie lowered his voice at this point: "Second Senior Sister was a wild savage a long time ago. She was brought back by Master and now lives on the northernmost part of the island. She's a bit... unrestrained."

He glanced at Ye Chaosheng, his expression ambiguous: "Junior brother, you have a good appearance. Don't go that way. Senior sister... she's very good at causing trouble."

He chuckled twice: "Me? I'm your fourth senior brother. Zhou Mian is fifth. We don't follow those hierarchical rules on the island, so just get along with each other as you please."

"Alright, it's already noon. Let's go get something to eat so we can arrange your accommodation."