Unsheathed

On this day, as the sun began to set, the entire sky was filled with shimmering, golden carp scale patterns, making it appear as if a gargantuan, golden carp were swimming through the heavens.

The manager of the Cyan Gorge Island Fishing Room was a senior Dragon Gate Tier cultivator of the island, and he had just disembarked from a boat with a timid young boy, with the two of them stepping onto the shore of the island together.

The Qi refiners of the Cyan Gorge Island Fishing Room were similar to the sticky rod officials of the Great Li Empire, and the old man's name was Zhang Ye. Despite the fact that he was only at the Dragon Gate Tier, he was a true core subordinate of Liu Zhimao, and he was also the first cultivator to have ever followed Liu Zhimao.

At the time, Liu Zhimao had only been a Sea Observation Tier vagrant cultivator, while Zhang Ye had been an official immortal, and he had already also been at the Sea Observation Tier at the time. For the older generation of cultivators on Cyan Gorge Island, the stories between the two men were the stuff of legends.

The young boy's name was Zeng Ye, and he was a fine cultivation prodigy from Thatch Moon Island who was naturally suited to the cultivation of ghostly techniques. However, just because he possessed good aptitude didn't necessarily mean that there was a bright future ahead for him.

If it weren't for Cyan Gorge Island's intervention, he would've been used by the island master to feed and nurture a ghostly infant. During his early years, he would've been sure to make rapid progress in his cultivation, and it would've really appeared as if he were a top-tier prodigy that Thatch Moon Island was doing everything in its power to nurture.

However, as soon as he reached the Middle Five Tiers, he would have his soul brutally torn out of his body, and he would truly come to understand just how cruel fate could be.

Zeng Ye was a very unemotional man, as well as a man of few words. Even when in the presence of Liu Zhimao, he was still not one to speak much.

However, given the importance of the situation, he felt it necessary to repeat himself as he said, "Zeng Ye, I'm sure you've heard about the many feats of Mr. Chen, and you must be aware that he's a very important character in our Bamboo Scroll Lake.

“Right now, he's living near the entrance of the island, and when you see him, there's no need to go out of your way to say good things about me and Cyan Gorge Island. In the presence of Mr. Chen, honesty is always the best policy. Back on Thatch Moon Island, you heard the confession from your master and your patriarch to me about what they were planning to do with you, so essentially, Mr. Chen has saved your life.

“Also, I know that you're worried that perhaps you've jumped out of the frying pan, only to land in the fire, but I can assure you that Mr. Chen is not going to harm you. On Thatch Moon Island, you were destined to suffer a terrible demise, but here on our Cyan Gorge Island, you have been blessed with the opportunity of a lifetime. Honestly, even I'm a little envious of you. There are many official immortals who don't even have your kind of luck."