Grinding EXP From a Demon Hunting Ship

Both were from ruling families, both outstanding descendants of their generation—their families had once tried to arrange a match between Zhao Quling and Chu Jiangyuan.

Zhao Quling herself was disgusted by the idea, but her good upbringing and sense of duty to her family allowed her to maintain her usual grace and poise.

With a few minor tricks, she kept Chu Jiangyuan on a string without so much as letting him hold her hand. All the while, she made the naive, brocade-robed young master feel great about himself, turning him into a willing simp.

In the parlance of Su Ye’s previous life: a top-tier White Moonlight!

This relationship lasted for several months.

In the end, it was terminated due to disagreements between their two families.

Zhao Quling was indifferent, but Chu Jiangyuan was a different story. He remained hopelessly infatuated and would often come to pester her, much to Zhao Quling’s unending frustration!

"Hmph..." Zhao Quling’s expression turned grim, and she grew angrier the more she thought about it.

Especially now, as she looked at Chu Jiangyuan’s listless and crestfallen appearance.

’How utterly disappointing. It’s unbelievable that I might have actually married someone like this?’ The thought caused waves of disgust to wash over Zhao Quling.

"Chu Jiangyuan, we are not that close."

"As for the Liangyi Immortal Jade... Heh. The Chu Family acted recklessly, enraging the council. The Liangyi Immortal Jade is the price the Chu Family must pay!"

Zhao Quling’s eyes narrowed slightly as she sneered mockingly.

"What?"

Chu Jiangyuan trembled violently, finding it hard to believe!

He clenched his fists, his eyes reddening, his face filled with rage as he questioned Zhao Quling!

Zhao Quling’s expression was cold as she retaliated with haughty indifference.

"Tsk, tsk..."

Su Ye watched from the side with great interest.

He had to admit, this was the first time he had seen such a sharp-tongued side to Zhao Quling.

Watching this scene, Su Ye felt a sense of déjà vu.

’Why does this feel like a scene from a novel in my past life, where the vicious female supporting character and the villain team up to mock the useless male lead?’

’If this guy were to drop to his knees and shout something like, "Thirty years the river flows east, thirty years it flows west; never look down on a poor young man..." that would make the scene complete.’

Su Ye stroked his chin, the corner of his mouth twitching up as he mused with dark humor.

...

A good while later.

The farce came to an end.

Two cultivators in black escorted the overly emotional Chu Jiangyuan away.

"My apologies."

"My apologies for that display, Mr. Su."

Zhao Quling bowed, composed herself, and her usual polite smile returned.

After bidding Su Ye farewell, she took Chu Jiangyuan and embarked on her journey back.

Of course, before this, she had given Su Ye the luxurious gifts from the list—they were already prepared and waiting on her Flying Boat.

Furthermore, she promised again.

She would deliver the Nether River Soul Gold and the Liangyi Immortal Jade to the Immortal City as quickly as possible!

The purpose of this action.

Was clearly to get Su Ye to join the war as soon as possible.

After all, the war in the Day Flame Sea Region was not looking optimistic for the Flame Alliance.

"I will."

"Once I have the wondrous items in hand, I will head to the Day Flame Sea Region."

Su Ye gave his promise, his tone sincere.

If the Wanlong Commerce Association dealt with him in good faith, he had no objection to joining the war.

However...

After Zhao Quling left, a grim look suddenly appeared in Su Ye’s eyes.

The reason was simple.

Because.

This time, Zhao Quling had not mentioned the existence of the Far South Continent at all, from beginning to end.

The significance and abundant resources of this Barbaric Continent were so great they needed no further explanation.

Knowing the Wanlong Commerce Association’s style, if they knew of the Far South Continent’s existence, they would most likely be tempted to get a piece of the pie, even while mired in war.

With the roar of a cannon comes ten thousand taels of gold.

Sustaining the war in the sea region and dealing with the Candle Python Cave invasion, the Wanlong Commerce Association’s finances were probably stretched to the breaking point!

If nothing else, just looking at the gifts they sent Su Ye this time was enough to tell how dire the Wanlong Commerce Association’s situation was!

A fourth-rank Array legacy—that could just be copied, costing only a blank jade slip.

Five million units of Life Soul Blood Essence—very easy to collect during a time of war.

As for the True Intent of the Array Dao, that was also cheap but impressive. A high-rank Array Master could condense it if they were willing to put in the effort. And with the Wanlong Commerce Association’s history, it was perfectly normal for them to have a few of these in stock.

Of the entire gift list, only the High-quality Crystal Condensing Elixir had a relatively high cost.

As for the minor items—those fancy, rare trinkets—they had high price tags and looked magnificent, but their actual value... one could think of them as luxury goods from his past life.

At such a critical moment, the existence of the Far South Continent and the massive amount of Spiritual Objects it produced became vastly more important!

A war in the sea region required precisely these things: abundant and effective Spiritual Objects. They were like the hard currency of his past life—steel, oil, and munitions!

Only these Spiritual Objects could fuel the roaring engine of the war machine!

But...

Zhao Quling didn’t mention it.

From beginning to end, she didn’t bring up the Far South Continent.

Su Ye’s Divine Sense could confirm that Zhao Quling wasn’t hiding anything; she truly was completely unaware.

This was highly illogical, unless the Wanlong Commerce Association was planning a conspiracy to assassinate Su Ye!

But based on Su Ye’s observations...

Considering the Wanlong Commerce Association’s cautious style and the predicament they were currently facing...

After learning of the Far South Continent’s existence, the most likely outcome would be for them to seek deep cooperation with the Nanyaoguang Corporation!

So... in the current situation...

It was more likely that...

"The Chu Family... kept this a secret?"

A thought flashed through Su Ye’s mind.

Heh. How nice of the Chu Family, keeping a secret for him. Such gentlemen... as if!

Su Ye sneered, an icy silver light flickering in his eyes. To him, the Chu Family’s secrecy had only one meaning, one that was crystal clear!

Hostility!

They saw the Far South Continent as their own!

"This matter isn’t over yet..." Su Ye let out a long breath, his gaze profound!

"Then let’s see who comes out on top!"

"Heh... The Chu Family!"

Su Ye’s eyes were filled with coldness.

...

「Several days later.」

Day Flame Sea Region.

Northwest of Volcano State, Cloud Sea Immortal City!

This immortal city was the trade center of the Day Flame Sea Region, incredibly prosperous. Its permanent population of cultivators, along with their relatives and servants, exceeded ten million!

At the same time, the headquarters of the Wanlong Commerce Association was also established here!

Many of the ruling families also had strongholds established here.

However, they disliked the crowding within the immortal city and chose to build their residences outside it. Among them, the most prominent were the Yun Family’s Longevity Pavilion, the Zhao Family’s Jiuchen Hall, and the Chu Family’s Zijing Palace!

At this moment.

Zijing Palace.

A magnificent complex of buildings, like a royal palace, the pinnacle of luxury!

"Ancestor, the Commerce Association is going too far! How could they demand we hand over the Liangyi Immortal Jade? That’s our Chu Family’s ancestral Spiritual Object..."

"Ancestor, if we hand over the Liangyi Immortal Jade, what will become of the Chu Family’s honor...?"

Several Chu Family cultivators tearfully complained to the white-haired old man who was resting with his eyes closed on the White Jade Dao Platform.

Due to the distance, it would take Zhao Quling several months to return to the Day Flame Sea Region, even with the aid of a Flying Boat and Teleportation Arrays. However, transmitting only a message was much faster!

Relying on their connections, the Chu Family now knew Su Ye’s conditions!

Damn it all!

That bastard dared to demand the Liangyi Immortal Jade!

That was their Chu Family’s ancestral Spiritual Object!

"Such panic! Have you no decorum!"

On the White Jade Dao Platform, the old man, whose hair and beard were both white like wisps of cloud, opened his eyes and scolded them.

He was the Chu Family’s ancestor, the Golden Core Perfected, Chu Wunian!

"How many more days can we suppress this news? When will it be on the council’s agenda?" Chu Wunian asked.

"Well... the family has pulled some strings... We can probably delay it for seven days?" a Chu Family cultivator estimated, reporting with cupped hands.

"Seven days? That’s more than enough!"

Chu Wunian’s expression was impassive, but his tone was faint yet certain.

The corners of his mouth curved up slightly. A plan had formed in his mind!

"I remember, isn’t the Flame Alliance planning to set up a Luotian Array in the Sulfur Strait, and in need of a fourth-rank Spiritual Object to anchor it?"

"If that’s the case, then our Chu Family, understanding the greater good, will contribute the Liangyi Immortal Jade to serve the Flame Alliance!"