Grinding EXP From a Demon Hunting Ship

BZZT.

Su Ye opened his eyes.

He briefly checked his cultivation. He was at Foundation Establishment Perfection.

He found himself in Weiyuan Immortal City, surrounded by ruins. The gnarled roots of dead trees covered the city.

Canghai stood upon the wind, wielding the Sea-Breaking Dragon-Slaying Saber. A cold, tyrannical aura locked onto him!

"You villain!"

"You took advantage of our immortal city’s internal strife to seize the Life Soul Pool and break the City Defense Array!"

"Su Ye, Weiyuan Immortal City treated you well, yet you did this... From this day forward, all ties between us are severed!" Bai Xiuying’s gaze was cold as she raised her sword and aimed it at him.

"Today!"

"Your head will be an offering to the millions of souls of Weiyuan Immortal City!"

In the ruins of the immortal city, millions of vengeful spirits let out chilling roars, their eyes fixed on Su Ye!

"Sinner!"

"You deserve to die!"

"You deserve to die!"

The millions of blood-stained spirits, their eyes radiating a glacial chill, advanced toward him!

The vast, ocean-like pressure rendered Su Ye, a mere Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator, powerless to resist, forcing him to his knees!

At the same time, a flood of vivid memories surfaced in his mind: the chaos in the immortal city, his seizure of the Life Soul Pool during the turmoil, which led to the shattering of the City Defense Array!

In the end, although the city’s defenders had won, their casualties were catastrophic. Millions of lives had been lost because of him!

A wave of baseless remorse washed over him, gnawing at his soul, causing him... to break into a roaring laugh, the corners of his mouth curling upward!

"You animal, what are you laughing at?"

"I have done no wrong!"

Su Ye straightened up, dusted off his knees, and stood tall.

"Do you feel no remorse at all?"

Bai Xiuying, utterly enraged, demanded.

"Remorse?"

"I owe you nothing, and my conscience is clear regarding Weiyuan Immortal City." Su Ye’s expression was as tranquil as an ancient well.

"What did you say? Millions died because of you! How dare you say you owe us nothing?"

"First of all, this is fake."

"Secondly, in that accusation, the only thing that matters is ’me’."

Su Ye’s eyes were dark and profound.

"My conscience is clear, so what if a thousand fingers point in accusation?!"

"Begone!"

With a single shout, the millions of vengeful spirits before him, along with the figures of Canghai and Bai Xiuying, seemed to be struck by lightning and burst like bubbles!

’Heh... trying to guilt-trip me, are we?’

’This Heart Demon Tribulation is so tedious.’

Su Ye sneered and flicked his sleeve.

He opened his eyes again.

He was at the Luo Family’s ancestral home on Donglong Island.

"Husband?"

"You were talking in your sleep, saying something about Golden Core?" Luo Qing’e, stunningly beautiful and dressed in a pale pink gauze robe, looked at Su Ye with concern. Her belly was gently rounded.

Su Ye was stunned for a moment. As various memories flooded his mind, he let out a dry laugh. "Heh... I’ve probably been stuck at the ninth level of Qi Refining for so long that I’m just living out my fantasies in my dreams."

A slender, fair hand took his.

"It’s okay."

"You’re already amazing, Husband. A ninth-level Qi Refining cultivator is a major figure on Donglong Island, second to none!"

"Besides, even Golden Core cultivators die eventually."

"They’re no different from us in that regard."

As Luo Qing’e comforted him, her face suddenly paled, and she clutched her stomach.

"Qing’e?!"

"Ngh... It’s nothing, the baby is just kicking me." Luo Qing’e took a Fetus Protection Elixir and smiled gently.

"What a mischievous little one."

Just then, a robust little boy burst into the room, shouting, "Dad! Mom!"

"Xiaohu, don’t be so rash!" Luo Qing’e put on a stern face, trying to teach him manners. The little boy rubbed his head sheepishly, then announced with pride,

"Dad, Mom! I’ve successfully drawn qi into my body!"

"Really!"

"That’s wonderful!"

A smile played on Su Ye’s lips as he watched the warm, happy scene.

「Time flew by.」

In the blink of an eye, several decades had passed. The Luo Family’s grand residence was now several times more prosperous.

The courtyard was filled with cultivators, and the atmosphere was incredibly solemn.

An elderly Su Ye lay on his sickbed, his son and daughter attending to him by his side.

"Father!"

Su Ye’s cloudy eyes stared at the ceiling as he recalled his life.

Born into a mortal family, he became a crewman on a Demon Hunting Ship, distinguished himself, married Miss Luo, gradually took control of the family’s power, and lived a life of luxury. His son and daughter had also made him proud, both achieving Foundation Establishment.

The Luo Family’s foundation had become several times stronger.

’What more could one ask for from a life like this?’

’I can die with no regrets, right?’

"Husband."

The phantom of Luo Qing’e walked to his bedside.

"I’ve missed you so much."

"I’m sorry. I complained that body tempering was too hard, so I ended up leaving before you... But it doesn’t matter now."

"Husband, take my hand. Come and be reunited with me... It’s so warm here. Let’s be together forever!"

Luo Qing’e held out her hand.

"Qing’e..."

Su Ye’s eyes shifted, and his hand lifted slightly.

However, just as they were about to touch, he sighed.

"In the end... this is not what I desire."

"I desire... eternal life!"

Su Ye’s eyes lit up, and the scene around him shattered once more!

These Heart Demon Illusion Realms were constructed from a cultivator’s own memories, making them incredibly deceptive and causing the cultivator to unconsciously accept them as real.

But Su Ye was different.

His soul was inherently powerful, and he was protected by two treasures that guarded against Heart Demons, allowing him to hold fast to his true self.

Even though the illusions were extremely realistic, they could not delude his true heart. After a brief moment of being drawn in, he would break free!

In the blink of an eye, Su Ye broke through several Heart Demon Illusion Realms!

「Reality.」

Inside his seclusion abode, Su Ye suddenly opened his eyes.

The Heart Guarding and Spirit Stabilizing Candle, now half-burnt, was right in front of him.

Hundreds of years had passed within the Heart Demon Tribulation, but in the real world, only ten minutes had gone by!

"Hooo..."

’The Heart Demon Tribulation... is over.’

Su Ye exhaled a long, clear breath. A look of ancient vicissitude flashed in his eyes, quickly replaced by a pure, flawless light, like glass refined in the endless mortal world.

Although he had passed the Heart Demon Tribulation, the total amount of his Divine Sense had not increased.