Naturally, once it achieved a certain proximity, it immediately stopped; getting too close could easily lead to a collision, which would be a disaster beyond remedy.

When the distance between the two ships reached a specific threshold, three figures suddenly leaped from the opposing large vessel.

One figure moved with effortless grace, his long silver hair flowing, his wide sleeves billowing, flying through the air as if he were an immortal. He cleared several dozen feet in a single bound, landing lightly and casually upon the deck.

The other two were burly men with thick beards. While their lightness skill was commendable, it was nowhere near as exaggerated as the first man’s. Midway through their jumps, both clearly began to flag, their momentum waning.

However, just as this occurred, Xu Hengbiao, seemingly prepared for this very moment, shot two ropes held in his hands forward like javelins. They landed perfectly in the hands of the two men, and with a gentle tug, he pulled them aboard.

Once the two men were on deck, they gave Xu Hengbiao a grateful smile, then bowed to Huo Hongsheng: “Great Master, we apologize for our late arrival to your rescue. We await your punishment.”

Huo Hongsheng waved a large hand. “Rise, both of you. This is not your fault; no one could have anticipated encountering such a violent sea storm. It was simply our misfortune.”

Xu Hengbiao interjected, “Brother, as long as you are alive, that is all that matters.”

Huo Hongsheng sighed deeply. “It is only a pity for the brothers lost with that ship.”

Silence fell over the group. Anyone who sailed the seas together were brothers of many years; losing an entire ship’s worth of men was bound to cause heartache for anyone. Even the hearty Xu Hengbiao felt it.

After a long pause, Huo Hongsheng shook his head, forcing a faint smile. “Uncle Zhang, your young nephew was a bit emotional just now; please forgive my display.”

The white-haired elder who had arrived first smiled gently. “My worthy nephew is a man of deep feeling; how could this old man possibly blame you?” He paused, then added with satisfaction, “When I saw your ship caught in those massive waves, my face went white with fright. Fortunately, you are blessed with great fortune and managed to survive the storm; otherwise, how would I ever face your father?”

Although the elder’s words carried a tone of using his seniority to lecture, the great figures on the ship listened with profound respect, none daring to show the slightest flicker of impatience.

Huo Hongsheng sighed softly. “My survival through this ordeal was actually due to the intervention of a distinguished guest. If not for the efforts of that Mr. He, I fear I would have ended up food for the fish by now.”

A sharp glint flashed in Elder Zhang’s eyes, revealing a hidden trace of shock. He said gravely, “Worthy nephew, are you saying someone rescued you from the heart of that storm?”

The mere thought of the towering waves from that day sent a chill down his spine. Although he was considered a top-tier Xiantian expert by ordinary standards, he knew that with his own martial cultivation, if he had been caught in the storm of that day, not only saving others but even ensuring his own survival would have been uncertain. If Huo Hongsheng had truly been plucked from the waves by someone, then that person’s martial cultivation must be unfathomable—perhaps only the Old Ancestor of the entire sect could compare.

Huo Hongsheng’s face reddened slightly. “I am ashamed. Your nephew had already passed out at the time. I only remember being tied to a main spar, drifting with the current. As for how I was rescued, I truly do not know, nor did I dare to inquire.”

Elder Zhang suddenly understood. He mused inwardly that it was most likely that after the storm subsided, Huo Hongsheng, still tied to the spar, had miraculously survived, allowing someone to rescue him. Nodding slightly, Elder Zhang’s expression returned to normal. “Where is that person now?”

Huo Hongsheng replied respectfully, “That Mr. He has been invited aboard by your nephew, and he has agreed to be a guest on Penglai Immortal Island. And,” he lowered his voice, “Uncle Zhang, Mr. He was able to conjure flames with his bare hands to ignite the cannons. He must be a Xiantian master.”

Elder Zhang’s expression shifted immediately, and the arrogance vanished from his face. While a single Xiantian master could not compare to the caliber he had initially imagined, he himself was only a Xiantian master, and thus certainly had no right to look down upon a peer.

“Worthy nephew, please introduce me to that... Mr. He,” Elder Zhang instructed slowly.

Huo Hongsheng opened his mouth, but ultimately dared not disobey, agreeing with a prickle of apprehension.

Inside the cabin, He Yiming frowned slightly. He had no desire to become entangled in the affairs of these people. However, he was even more unwilling to provoke baseless suspicion from them. Thus, when Huo Hongsheng cautiously knocked, He Yiming graciously agreed to the meeting.

The outer hall of the cabin had already been meticulously cleaned. Though Huo Hongsheng had not spent much time with He Yiming, he knew the latter disliked crowds. Therefore, only he accompanied Elder Zhang into the hall; no one else was afforded such a privilege.

Elder Zhang was a white-haired Xiantian expert. A benevolent smile graced his somewhat aged features, and this demeanor became even more courteous upon seeing how young He Yiming was. After all, for Xiantian experts like them, age and seniority were mere empty words. Once they transcended the mundane world, everything was decided by strength alone. He Yiming was so young; even if his current strength matched Elder Zhang’s, his future potential far surpassed anything the elder could achieve.

“Mr. He, this is my elder acquaintance, Senior Zhang Hetao. He heard that you rescued me and has come specifically to offer his thanks,” Huo Hongsheng stated with increasing reverence. If there was anything more unsettling than standing before one Xiantian expert, it was standing before two of them. Huo Hongsheng knew that in the presence of these two, he possessed only the standing of an introducer.

“Uncle Zhang, this is the Mr. He who saved your nephew. Without his timely aid, your nephew would not have seen you again.”

Zhang Hetao laughed heartily and cupped his fists. “Brother He, Hongsheng is my junior. Being caught in that storm was a near-death experience for him. It is only thanks to Brother He saving his life amidst the tempest that I can thank you here.” With that, he bowed deeply.

He Yiming’s brow furrowed slightly. Possessing considerable experience now, he discerned the subtle meaning veiled within Zhang Hetao’s words—a probing question. But he feigned ignorance, merely extending a hand to steady the elder. “Brother Zhang is too polite. It was merely a small effort; there is no need for such formality.”

Zhang Hetao’s eyes brightened momentarily. He slowly circulated his internal True Qi, then applied pressure, intending to test the other man. However, he quickly discovered that the opponent’s True Qi was vast and profound. No matter how much of his own True Qi he sent forth, it vanished as if into a vast ocean, making it impossible to gauge the other’s limit. Of course, with He Yiming offering no resistance, Zhang Hetao was equally unable to determine his true depth. After exerting seventy percent of his True Qi, Zhang Hetao reluctantly withdrew. To continue the stalemate would be deeply discourteous.

He felt frustrated. He could not gauge the man’s foundation through True Qi, and the linguistic probes had been elegantly deflected. Who knew if this man truly plunged into the storm to save someone, or if he merely plucked an unconscious man from the shore after the storm had passed? The difference between those two scenarios was immense.

“Brother He, I feel an instant kinship with you and would presume to invite you for a modest cup of wine. I hope you will not refuse,” Zhang Hetao said sincerely. Even though he couldn't gauge the depth of the other’s power, it proved the man’s martial cultivation was certainly no less than his own. Knowing that much was sufficient. A Xiantian expert of such youth demanded painstaking efforts to cultivate a good relationship, and Zhang Hetao was no exception.

He Yiming was about to decline, but the next sentence convinced him. “I have resided on Penglai Immortal Island for nearly a century and know its scenery intimately. Brother He, if you wish to train, I have several excellent locations to recommend—guaranteed to make your visit worthwhile.”

Hearing this, He Yiming was greatly delighted and immediately viewed the man in a new light.

Huo Hongsheng diligently instructed the servants to prepare a banquet with the utmost speed and move it into the outer hall. The two Xiantian experts sat opposite each other; he remained at the lower seat, dedicated to pouring wine for them both.

He Yiming cut to the chase. “Brother Zhang, before I set sail, I had heard of Penglai Immortal Island. Do you happen to have a complete map of the island that I might look at?”

Zhang Hetao blinked. Although he didn't know why He Yiming requested such a peculiar item, he smiled and nodded without hesitation. Soon, a complete map of Penglai Immortal Island was presented before He Yiming. A map of the entire island was naturally not something most people possessed, but with Zhang Hetao’s status, a mere word ensured someone eagerly delivered it. Unlike the map Bao Zhu had retrieved from the Dragon-Snake’s Lair, the one Zhang Hetao provided was a flat projection. For He Yiming, it only allowed him to roughly match a few locations based on his memory. He shook his head, sighing inwardly that his talent in this area was apparently not very strong.

Zhang Hetao pointed to the map and began a continuous, detailed explanation. He Yiming committed every word of Zhang Hetao’s description to memory, especially one crucial location that caused a burst of secret delight in his heart. The entrance to the treasure map was actually quite notorious: a specific stretch of beach where powerful schools of sharks congregated, rumored to include many sharks at the level of Xiantian Spirit Beasts. Dealing with these creatures—rulers of the sea—was something even the three major sects on the island struggled to manage. Clearly, this area was a forbidden zone on the island, one no one dared approach.

He Yiming frowned slightly. “Brother Huo mentioned that there are several Venerable Lords on the island, Brother Zhang. Why would they allow these shark swarms to remain unchecked?”

Zhang Hetao immediately gave a wry smile. “The Venerable Lords dedicate themselves to cultivating the martial way; they hardly have the leisure to bother with mere sharks.”

He Yiming was naturally not satisfied with this answer, but he said nothing more. Seeing that He Yiming ceased his inquiries, Zhang Hetao breathed a silent sigh of relief.

The conversation that day gave He Yiming a deeper understanding of Penglai Immortal Island, and he had even unexpectedly located the entrance—naturally, a happy smile bloomed on his face. Meanwhile, Zhang Hetao and the others had successfully drawn closer to He Yiming, leaving them beaming with satisfaction.