This world is called the Pangu Continent, utterly different from the Heavenly Court—a continent floating in the void. Surrounding it are eight divine isles, said to have been transformed from eight ancient Golden Crows, each named Qian, Kun, Kan, Li, Zhen, Gen, Xun, and Dui. These eight divine isles revolve like celestial stars, illuminating the land and rivers. Xun Isle is one of them, but the people here usually call it Wind Isle.

On this Wind Isle, there were originally many inhabitants, most of whom had lived here since the eight divine isles first existed, with a very small number being immortals exiled from the Pangu Continent.

No one knows when it began, but there have often been beings who, while ascending from the lower realms to the Heavenly Court, lost their way and ended up here—humans, beasts, demons, and immortals alike. The natives of Wind Isle have seen this so often that they no longer find it strange, allowing these newcomers to settle as they please, without discrimination. However, the ascended demon beasts are unable to coexist peacefully with humans and often harm people.

The immortals exiled from the Pangu Continent, seeing the demon beasts running rampant on Wind Isle, passed down many cultivation methods so that those with little power could learn to defend themselves against the beasts... Gradually, different sects of the Immortal Way formed: Jinqiang, Danxia, Shushan, Bixuan, Youming, and Ciyang—six sects in total, each teaching its own unique techniques.

These six sects are extremely strict in accepting disciples, with various requirements and three rounds of selection. They recruit new disciples only once a year, and usually only one in ten is accepted. There are always those who try every year but are rejected time and again.

The most heated debates among these people are about where to go next. Some want to head to the distant big city, saying it is more prosperous and life is easier there; others say the roads are plagued by demon beasts and are too dangerous, so they should stay in nearby towns for now. But most people are discussing how to seek out a master and pursue immortality, to gain enough power to live on the Pangu Continent. After all, Wind Isle is not very large, only tens of thousands of square kilometers, with a few villages and towns and a single small city. The land is quite barren, and though there are some resources, they are not enough to support a large population, making it a place of hardship.

For these reasons, even though the six sects are strict in recruiting disciples, the annual grand ceremony for new recruits is still extremely lively, drawing crowds in droves.

William Carter's bearing, honed in the workplace, was quite impressive. Even just standing casually, he drew a lot of attention. Suddenly, someone slapped him on the back, making William Carter turn around in alarm. A tall, burly man with a face full of bristling beard clasped his wrist and said, "I saw you just now and wasn't sure it was you, but your unique outfit is a great identifier, brother. Why did you arrive so late?"

"Oh, didn't we come through the Six Paths of Reincarnation together? How did you get here before me?"

William Carter quickly recognized him—this burly man was the one sent into the Path of Merit by Judge Thompson, who, like him, had chosen to become a Yellow Turban Warrior. Meeting an old acquaintance in a foreign land is always comforting. Although he and this bearded man had only met once and hadn't even exchanged a word, he still felt a sense of kinship.

The bearded man sighed, "Don't mention it. I arrived more than half a year before you. I heard that on Wind Isle, it's fashionable to seek out a master and pursue immortality. I already tried once, but was eliminated at the third round. I'm planning to try my luck again next year. If you don't mind, brother, why don't we team up and go seek a master together next year?"

"That sounds good... But we came up from the underworld together, and it only took a moment to get here. How could you have arrived half a year before me? Is it really true that a day in heaven is half a year on earth?"

The bearded man was surprised. "How could it have been just a moment? Not long after I ascended, I ran into a stretch of yellow sand. I wandered in a daze for what felt like hundreds of years before suddenly arriving here."

The two of them shared their experiences along the way—time, direction, and journey all failed to match up. Each marveled at the other's story, and they figured that, since Wind Isle was a land of immortals, such oddities were not surprising. After chatting a bit more, they changed the subject.

The bearded man laughed, "The land on Wind Isle is barren, so everyone has to hunt demon beasts for fresh meat to eat. Would you like to come hunting with me? It's better than wasting time here. These people gather here every day to talk, and I'm sick of hearing it. They don't do any real work. When they're hungry, they go to Xici Town to beg for food—no shame at all."

William Carter frowned, feeling a bit reluctant. "Those demon beasts must be extremely fierce. How do you plan to hunt them? Is there a general store nearby that sells hunting rifles, traps, or anything like that?"

The bearded man chuckled, "Where would you find such things on Wind Isle? I have a bag of five-colored stones, bought in Xici Town, and I can give you some to use as weapons."

"Five-colored stones? How can those be used as weapons?"

William Carter, full of doubt, took from the bearded man a pebble the size of a goose egg, mottled with patterns and glowing with a rosy hue. He felt the five-colored stone brimming with vibrant life, constantly pulsing in his palm, almost leaping out of his hand. Sensing something unusual, he hurriedly asked, "How do you use this five-colored stone?"