Grinding EXP From a Demon Hunting Ship

「A month or so later.」

「Day Flame Sea Region.」

A massive, three-masted sailing ship, sixty to seventy zhang long and painted blue and white, was moored in the harbor. The spiritual light of an Array shimmered around it.

"Fellow Daoists, please present your ship tickets and board in an orderly fashion!"

"Anyone who disrupts the peace or starts trouble will have their boarding privileges revoked!"

From within the spirit ship.

A deep male voice rang out, and the oppressive might of a Core Formation master washed over the crowd.

Su Ye, having altered his appearance, blended into the crowd. He followed the line of people toward the ramp, where he presented a red jade plaque to the heavily armed Foundation Establishment guards.

"A Red Jade Ship Ticket. For a private cabin."

"This way, fellow Daoist. Please come aboard."

The guard’s attitude softened upon seeing his ticket.

Unlike the free White Jade Ship Tickets, a Red Jade Ship Ticket granted access to a private cabin and came with superior treatment.

Of course, you get what you pay for.

The Red Jade Ship Ticket was naturally more expensive and came with status restrictions. Only cultivators of a certain standing were qualified to purchase one.

In other words, this ticket was a symbol of both power and status.

Afterward.

Su Ye had his ticket checked and boarded, making his way into the ship’s interior.

Inside, he found young men and women of exceptional beauty, dressed in colorful attire, lining both sides of the corridor.

These youths were cultivators as well.

However, their cultivation was incredibly weak, not even at the first level of Qi Refining.

The Cultivation Techniques they practiced only served to preserve their youth and enhance their beauty.

"Immortal Master, do you require an attendant?"

An innocent-looking young woman in a green dress approached Su Ye, speaking in a soft, lilting voice. A fresh, elegant floral scent wafted from her as she spoke.

Her fine, delicate curves were on full display.

The implication was obvious.

Su Ye shook his head, refusing. ’My tastes have grown more discerning these days.’

The girl in the green dress looked slightly disappointed, but she simply bowed and retreated without pressing the matter.

However.

As he watched her leave, Su Ye’s eyes narrowed in thought. He had sensed something.

His senses told him that these young men and women had lifespans of only thirty to forty years.

The reason was simple enough.

The youth-preserving Cultivation Techniques they practiced were draining their very life essence, shortening their lifespans with every cycle.

’So they use a sinister technique that burns away their lifespan, allowing these mortals with inferior Spiritual Roots to barely guide qi into their bodies, all just to improve their looks?’

’They’re like flowers forced to bloom prematurely. After a brief period of peak beauty, they’re destined to wither and fall.’

The thought crossed Su Ye’s mind.

In an instant, he had pieced together the truth.

Strictly speaking, all humans in this world possessed a Spiritual Root.

However, one needed a Spiritual Energy Sensitivity of ten points to meet the standard for even a low-grade Spiritual Root.

These people probably had a Spiritual Energy Sensitivity of only one or two points, several times worse than that of a low-grade Spiritual Root... Aptitude like this was exceedingly common among mortals.

Even with the added filter of "outstanding looks," they weren’t hard to find.

Thus, they were reduced to mass-produced, disposable commodities.

...

After that moment of reflection.

Su Ye arrived at his cabin.

CREAK.

He stepped inside and shut the door.

A ward immediately materialized, sealing the room off from the outside and protecting the occupant’s privacy.

’The accommodations are decent enough.’

Su Ye nodded slightly as he scanned his surroundings.

The small room, just over ten square meters, was exquisitely decorated. The space was used efficiently, so it didn’t feel cramped.

He walked over to a small table, brewed a pot of hot tea, and gazed out the window at the port, where other cultivators were still waiting to board. Most of them only held the free White Jade Ship Tickets.

These were the basic tickets issued by the Flame Alliance.

As a result, their holders had to share a cabin with several other cultivators.

After all, following several rounds of conscription, the number of Flame Alliance cultivators had swelled dramatically. A single spirit ship often had to transport hundreds of Qi Refining cultivators to the front lines.

Under such circumstances, comfort was hardly a guarantee.

However.

None of that.

Had anything to do with Su Ye.

His displayed late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation.

The Red Jade Ship Ticket in his hand and the vast amount of Spirit Stones in his Storage Ring all guaranteed that Su Ye would receive preferential treatment aboard this spirit ship.

HUFF.

He raised the jade cup and took a slow sip of the hot tea, its fragrance rich and refreshing.

「A quarter of an hour later.」

"Fellow Daoists."

"The Seagull is about to depart. Now announcing our route."

"This voyage will pass by Dragon Eagle Island and Thousand Shadows Island... We are expected to arrive at the Sulfur Strait front lines in two months."

The female voice on the broadcast put extra emphasis on the words "front lines."

’Two months, huh?’

Su Ye had already anticipated this, his expression remaining impassive.

He pondered for a moment, then with a slight movement of his fingers, a fiery red command talisman materialized.

The talisman was extraordinary.

It looked like a flickering flame, dancing on Su Ye’s fingertip.

Su Ye channeled a wisp of Magical Power into it, and the flame flared, transforming into a palm-sized, fiery red Token.

The back of the Token bore the symbol of the Flame Alliance: a great sun rising from the peak of a volcano. On the front were inscribed five brilliant, gilded words, written vertically in a flamboyant script:

Guardian Envoy of the Narrow Sea!

At this moment.

As per his agreement, Su Ye was now heading to the Day Flame Sea Region to join the war, where he would serve as the Guardian Envoy of the Narrow Sea.

This Token was the symbol of his station. With it in hand, he had the final say on all matters within the Sulfur Strait.

’Of course, that’s complete nonsense.’

’There’s a Golden Core expert stationed at the front lines in the Narrow Sea. How could I possibly have the final say?’

’Still, even with that limitation, this Token represents immense authority.’

He stroked the Token. It felt warm and smooth, like jade—truly extraordinary. Even setting aside the authority it granted, the Token itself was a finely crafted magic treasure.

Su Ye knew this was the Wanlong Commerce Association’s way of appeasing him over the Liangyi Immortal Jade incident.

Frankly, his impression of the association was quite good. They were worth cooperating with.