The alchemist knew that cultivators rarely lit fires unless they were refining pills or forging weapons. The sight of rising cooking smoke in the village on this island suggested ordinary mortals might reside here.

But how could mortals even survive such a perilous island deep within the Eastern Sea?

Ye Qin was pondering when he suddenly perked up his ears, straining to listen before swiftly flying toward the southeast edge of the island. The black cloud barrier spell materialized almost instantly above a stretch of beach.

Looking downward, Ye Qin saw two or three hundred hunters clad in shark-skin and scale armor leaping about on the shore. Their powerful bows and crossbows spewed volleys into the murky sea where countless bubbles erupted from below.

A monstrous black-brown scorpion twice as tall as men burst from the waves, its massive claws swiping toward the terrified hunters.

"Watch out for the scorpion's sting!"

"Hurry up, shoot it!"

The hunters unleashed hundreds of emerald-tipped arrows that pinged harmlessly off the beast's armored back. Only occasional shots hitting the eyes enraged it further.

Ye Qin watched in mute amusement as common mortals attempted to hunt a fourth-tier sea scorpion with meager weapons.

When the hunters retreated into the jungle, fifteen or so Qi Cultivation stage cultivators suddenly emerged from the trees. A burly elder cultivator directed them with shouts while their spirit blades and spears circled the beast.

Ye Qin found this ambush strategy intriguing - low-level cultivators against a fourth-tier monster could be entertaining.

He was still contemplating who might win when his attention shifted to the sea's edge. A small sailboat drifted ashore, carrying an alluring sixteen-year-old girl wearing skin-tight white armor and twin black iron spirit forks on her back.

The hunters instinctively stepped aside as the girl approached. Even those cultivators fighting retreated into the jungle.

"White Xiuer, this is Daohuang Island where you don't belong!"

The burly elder called out gravely.

Without responding, the girl suddenly accelerated through the underbrush and leapt into the air. With a sharp cry she drew one of her iron forks.

"Go!"

The blackened weapon screamed across tens of feet to pierce the scorpion's hardened shell, impaling it to the earth below. The beast thrashed wildly with its stinger.

Landing gracefully, the girl placed one smooth foot directly on the scorpion's tail joint. A sickening "crack" sounded as the chitin shattered beneath her dainty shoe.

What hundreds could not fell was dispatched in an instant by this mortal girl - a display that left both cultivators and hunters awestruck.

"A force of nature," Ye Qin muttered, stunned by such raw power capable of piercing through fourth-tier monstrosities. More astonishingly, the girl exhibited no cultivation energy at all.

When she hauled the heavy carcass onto her boat, leaving it half-submerged in water, the girl looked back with smug satisfaction. "I've tracked this beast for days across the seas... It's mine now. Any objections?"

The cultivators and hunters exchanged glances but dared not challenge her.

"I have no words," the burly elder muttered through clenched teeth.

As the girl sailed away, Ye Qin emerged from concealment to confront the remaining villagers who stared in bewilderment at his skyward descent.

A tall hunter approached with deference: "I am Elder Li Dayun of Daohuang Village. Are you a mainland cultivator or one from another island?"

"I was heading toward the Eastern Islands but got off course," Ye Qin replied neutrally. "Are there other cultivators frequenting this place?"

Elder Li's face darkened. "Three early-stage Foundation Building and one mid-stage cultivator dwell here in their secret caves, rarely emerging."

Ye Qin raised an eyebrow at this revelation - cultivators settling on such a spiritually barren island.

"They're fellow mainlanders who lost direction at sea," Elder Li explained with a grimace. "Deprived of spirit stones, they've made do for decades."

After further inquiries about the island's population Ye Qin learned there were over 1300 villagers - mostly mortals and thirty or so Qi Cultivation stage cultivators.

Only four Foundation Building stage cultivators posed any real threat to him.

"I intend to establish a residence here," Ye Qin finally announced. "Are there suitable caves?"

Elder Li's eyes lit up. "Of course! Our ancestors have built many caverns in the mountains - feel free to choose whichever you prefer!"

Ye Qin cast one last glance at where the girl had vanished before inspecting several mountain peaks with herding villagers.

Later when Elder Li led him to a modest cave and returned with young women claiming service, Ye Qin's expression turned icy.

"Clean this place up," he commanded dismissively. When they left empty-handed and crestfallen, Elder Li hurriedly interceded.

"They're suitable candidates for producing future cultivators!" the elder pleaded.

Ye Qin's gaze sharpened. "I see you've mistaken me for some kind of breeding ground."