Grinding EXP From a Demon Hunting Ship

The next day.

Hope Port, Governor’s Mansion.

On a soft, velvet bed, Su Ye sat up and opened his eyes.

A brilliant, dazzling flash of icy silver flickered in his eyes before vanishing, adding a touch of demonic mystery to his handsome, jade-like features, enough to stir any heart.

[Some content has been omitted.]

...

An hour later.

"Haaah..."

"So refreshing!"

Feeling utterly refreshed, Su Ye left the bedroom.

To put what happened last night simply, Phantom Zhenren had repaid a debt of gratitude with her body.

Su Ye didn’t mind such things. He wasn’t one to renounce all emotion and desire in sole pursuit of the Great Dao and eternal life. The three thousand temptations of the mortal world were also part of his desires!

’Cultivation requires a balance between work and rest, after all!’

Phantom Zhenren was soft and supple, with a cold, stunning beauty. Honed over many years, she carried the grace of a superior... Such a powerful and high-ranking Crystal Perfection Zhenren left Su Ye feeling quite satisfied.

Amidst his pleasure, Su Ye still felt a lingering desire.

A thought stirred in his mind, and he remembered another world-class beauty in this far southern land: Genvieve.

With the divine speed of the Ghostly Flood Dragon, a round trip from Hope Port to Aino City took only a few minutes.

What happened next needs no further explanation...

...

After a night of passion,

the mental stress accumulated from the life-and-death struggles within the Divine Kingdom was relieved and soothed.

Of course, relaxation was one thing,

but Su Ye hadn’t forgotten the important business he had to attend to.

Yesterday, Hope Port had sent a secret message to Weiyuan Immortal City.

With it, they announced Su Ye’s return!

The message also recorded the attack by Master Yufeng, warning Nanyaoguang Corporation and pointing out the ambitions of Wanlong’s Chu Family over the sea regions under the corporation’s jurisdiction.

Finally, the message detailed Su Ye’s plan.

The plan was elaborate, but it could be summed up in eight words:

"Outwardly relaxed, inwardly vigilant; lure the snake from its hole!"

...

Spirit Realm Sea Region.

On a desolate island.

The island had no Spirit Vein. The environment was harsh, devoid of vegetation, with large patches of sandy red soil exposed on the surface.

This red soil was barren and difficult to cultivate. Even with meticulous care, it would yield less than a sixth of what normal soil could produce.

Therefore, even mortals could not survive on this island.

As for Cultivators, they completely ignored this barren, impoverished island; it was difficult to even find it on a nautical chart.

However, such a harsh environment was actually a decent hiding place for the renegades of the Spirit Control Sect, who had vanished without a trace and could not afford to see the light of day.

Beneath the red-soil wasteland, in a makeshift excavated space.

Roughly-hewn stone furniture was haphazardly arranged. About a hundred or so cultivators were taking refuge here.

These cultivators wore tattered robes, their faces ashen. Many were wounded, wrapped in bandages that were faintly seeping a reddish-brown fluid and emitting a foul odor.

However, among this group of wounded, there was a youthful and pretty, freckled young woman in simple linen clothes, treating their injuries.

"This will sting a little."

A White Jade Spider rested on her shoulder.

The freckled girl gently unwrapped a wounded man’s bandage and cleaned the affected area.

Then, the White Jade Spider moved closer, using its mouthparts to suck out the pus and blood before spitting out a layer of transparent, thick fluid to cover the wound and promote scabbing.

This was a special type of Spirit Spider.

Its secretions could heal wounds and act as an anesthetic.

However, the freckled girl was only at the Foundation Establishment stage, and the White Jade Spider was merely a second-tier creature. This healing ability naturally had its limits.

Seeing a wound torn open so wide that the internal organs were visible, the freckled girl’s face showed a hint of panicked helplessness.

She continuously infused her Magical Power, urging the White Jade Spider to spit out more healing fluid, but it was futile against such a severe injury.

Seeing this, the resolute-faced, middle-aged uncle was surprisingly philosophical.

"Don’t waste your Magical Power, Chun’er. Uncle Xiang can’t be saved."

"Uncle Xiang..."

The freckled girl called ’Chun’er’ bit her lip as tears welled up and fell from her eyes.

But just then,

CRACK.

The stone door opened.

A young man in a brocade robe walked out.

He had a refined and handsome air, with somewhat delicate features. There was a hint of immaturity in his bearing, but it was overshadowed by the graceful and noble aura that came from a life of luxury.

His temperament was the complete opposite of this humble chamber, making him seem strikingly out of place.

The brocade-robed young man spoke softly as he took out a jade box. "Chun’er, the elixir in this jade box can save this fellow cultivator."

BUZZ.

The jade box opened, and a fragrant medicinal aroma wafted out.

The very air in the underground space seemed to freshen.

"As large as a longan and the color of a scarlet fruit... could this elixir be the Life Essence Small Returning Elixir?"

"That’s right! I saw a Life Essence Small Returning Elixir at the sect’s auction once, and it looked exactly like this one!"

The Life Essence Small Returning Elixir.

Its name included the words ’Small Returning,’ but that didn’t mean the elixir was weak.

On the contrary, among third-tier elixirs, the healing power of the Life Essence Small Returning Elixir could be ranked in the top five!

Of course, the cost of producing such an elixir was also astronomical!

It was comparable to a third-tier Crystal Condensing Elixir.

These wounded cultivators were down on their luck, not ignorant.

Now, as they looked at the Life Essence Small Returning Elixir, expressions of astonishment appeared on their faces.

"Mr. Chu, this is too valuable! I’m just a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator; what have I done to deserve this... Wuying needs this elixir even more!"

Uncle Xiang’s eyes held an indescribable emotion. A flicker of struggle passed through them, but in the end, he still refused.

It had to be said that this group of Spirit Control Sect renegades was incredibly cohesive.

To be so resolute even in the face of death!

"Your righteousness is admirable, fellow cultivator. I am impressed," the brocade-robed young man said, a flash of respect in his eyes.

"However, please take the elixir. Senior Wuying has already taken a Life Essence Small Returning Elixir and is currently recuperating. A loyal and righteous man such as yourself should not die like this!"

"By the way, for a Foundation Establishment cultivator, the medicinal power of a Life Essence Small Returning Elixir might be too potent."

"It can be crushed and dissolved in water to be shared among several of the wounded..."

the brocade-robed young man advised patiently in a soft voice.

"Big Brother Chu, thank you!"

Chun’er’s eyes glistened with tears, a look of adoration on her face.

"It’s my duty," he said with a smile, then raised his voice to address the crowd.

"Everyone present, you are all pillars of your sect! In my, Chu Jiangyuan’s, heart, noble and loyal people like you should not die from a lack of medicine or be brought down by traitors from within!"

"And I have more good news!"

"Senior Wuying has already reached an agreement with the Chu Family."

"Both sides have decided to join forces to purge the evil spirits and monsters that are plaguing your esteemed sect in this sea region!"

"My brother, Chu Jiangheng, a great cultivator at the peak of Crystal Perfection, is already on his way with a Golden Core decree and will arrive within days!"

"When that time comes, we can help your esteemed sect restore order and right the wrongs!"

Chu Jiangyuan’s voice was powerful and resonant, ringing with an inspiring force.

Hearing this,

everyone’s eyes lit up, their spirits soaring!

A great cultivator at Crystal Perfection, wielding a Golden Core decree... that level of power was enough to contend with the Emerald Ruyi!

"Restore order and right the wrongs!"

everyone roared in unison!