Chapter 65: Welcoming the Immortal Master

Muyu Island—an immortal, lofty and untouchable, fell from the heavens, leaving countless hidden observers utterly astonished.

“That cultivator who could so easily subdue monsters, did he really die so simply?”

“No, it was the evil cultivator who died.”

After the brief shock, many people began to entertain new thoughts. Regardless of right or wrong, the newcomer, Jiang Chen, appeared far more upright and approachable. Many recognized him, though some hesitated to believe it; after all, river pirates and exalted cultivators seemed worlds apart.

Though usually appearing high and mighty—like the sky itself, with themselves as mere followers—the water brigands were always keenly aware of their own status. Had their lives gone well, few would have chosen the path of outlaws; most here were once failures and unfortunates.

At that moment, Jiang Chen descended from the sky, riding the wind as if treading upon nothing.

“His vital energy was indeed more abundant than mine, but its quality was low. He likely practiced mixed, inferior-grade qi. Though he had mastered a few spells, most were barely at the entry level, their power limited. Otherwise, my victory would not have been so easy.”

A gentle breeze supported the corpse of the Evil Cultivator, preventing it from crashing into a heap of flesh. Jiang Chen reflected on their recent battle, his mind filled with speculation.

Cultivators who refine energy focus on the quality of their vital qi; the higher the quality, the greater the impact. High-grade qi empowers spells with greater force and less expenditure. If Jiang Chen had not cultivated top-grade, formless vital energy, he would not have been able to wield the Crane’s Cry Immortal Needle, a medium-grade magical artifact, so easily at his current level.

“This was the strongest opponent I’ve encountered since arriving in this realm.”

He took the Evil Cultivator’s storage pouch, reached out, and seized the lingering soul.

In an instant, vivid scenes and emotions flooded Jiang Chen’s mind—the strongest being rage and unwillingness. The Evil Cultivator had never imagined he would fall to a newly advanced cultivator.

His greatest skill was corpse control; his other spells were mediocre, but this art he had truly mastered. If not for the death of his Iron Corpse, or the incomplete recovery of his Battle Corpse, Jiang Chen would never have been his match.

After a moment, having drawn the information he needed, Jiang Chen released his grip.

“Such is fate; your death is not unjust. Even with a zombie as a shield, in a life-or-death struggle, it would be you who perished.”

He cast another glance at the Evil Cultivator, who had died with eyes wide open, then stored the body in his pouch.

As the Evil Cultivator had anticipated, Jiang Chen had indeed arrived earlier. Sensing the Evil Cultivator’s presence through powerful intuition, he observed from afar under the dual concealment of mist and the Stealth Umbrella, waiting for events to unfold.

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He hadn’t retreated at first because he believed he had a good chance against the Evil Cultivator—at worst, he could escape with ease. With the Iron Corpse dead, his odds soared; had the Iron Corpse lived, the Evil Cultivator would have been much more troublesome.

“Though the Evil Cultivator was a lone wolf, years of struggle in the cultivation world left him with considerable wealth. With these resources, my own cultivation will proceed much more smoothly. This is an unexpected windfall.”

With thoughts turning, Jiang Chen looked toward Muyu Island, where more treasures awaited.

Just then, people began rushing out from all corners of the island.

“Welcome back, Immortal Master!”

“With monsters ahead and evil cultivators behind, we are deeply grateful for your salvation!”

“Iron Butcher acted against the order, colluding with evil cultivators. We have suffered long, but at last, Immortal Master has arrived!”

“With Immortal Master here, light has returned...”

A crowd knelt, some practiced, others awkward, all eager to flatter.

Iron Butcher, now transformed into a zombie, had murdered nightly. Many had died on Muyu Island, yet some managed to survive.

To escape Iron Butcher, they tried everything—even smearing themselves with filth to mask their human scent or disgust the zombies. Their tenacity in the face of death was remarkable.

Jiang Chen ignored the flattery, his gaze sweeping over the crowd before settling on a particular figure—a middle-aged man, unkempt and dirty, with a scruffy beard.

Jiang Chen noticed him not merely because he was first to run out, but because he already recognized him from the gift registry—he ranked third in giving gifts, always generous. Over time, Jiang Chen remembered him.

As for the first and second on the list, Jiang Chen saw neither; they had likely already perished.

“Cao Banshan, you will temporarily oversee affairs on Muyu Island. Restore order as quickly as possible; things are too chaotic now.”

His voice was low as Jiang Chen spoke. He had first returned to the island as the third leader of the River Pirates, and now, without realizing it, had become the island’s sole ruler—each return marked progress.

Hearing this, the cautious Cao Banshan immediately raised his head. Confirming he had not misheard, his once bleak expression brightened visibly.

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“Yes, yes, please rest assured, Immortal Master—I will handle it well.”

Cao Banshan repeatedly affirmed, knowing his opportunity had arrived.

Jiang Chen paid him little mind, rising on the wind and heading straight for the peak of Muyu. He had given Cao Banshan the chance; whether he could seize it depended on his own ability.

Watching Jiang Chen’s figure vanish into the distance, awe filled everyone’s eyes. Not until he was completely gone did they dare to breathe loudly.

“Congratulations, congratulations! Manager Cao, you’ve won Immortal Master’s favor—your future is boundless. Don’t forget about me!”

“Brother Cao, we’ve worked together before...”

After Jiang Chen departed, Cao Banshan instantly became the new center of attention.

Hearing their compliments, Cao Banshan felt a surge of delight.

“Seems those gifts weren’t in vain. I’ll have to find more treasures to honor the Immortal Master in future...”

His mind raced with plans, but soon he composed himself. Born into a merchant family, he had been taught from childhood that this was both an opportunity and a test. Only by handling affairs well could he truly cling to Jiang Chen’s support.

“Ergou, Xu Mazi...”

His expression turned serious as Cao Banshan called out a series of names. Within the River Pirates, he was widely connected and knew many people’s abilities.

Some watched Cao Banshan issuing orders with jealousy and resentment, but at the moment, none dared act. Cao Banshan now represented Jiang Chen—even if he was merely a dog, he was the immortal’s dog.

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