Grinding EXP From a Demon Hunting Ship

"A social gathering?"

Su Ye neither confirmed nor denied, taking a light sip of his Spirit Tea.

Seeing that he seemed interested, Xv Xiuping’s attitude became even more enthusiastic as he explained in detail.

"Fellow Daoist Su Han."

"The front lines of the Narrow Sea are treacherous. It’s not even uncommon for the high-and-mighty Crystalized Masters to be severely wounded or perish."

"Strictly speaking, for Foundation Establishment cultivators like you and me, our chances of survival on the Narrow Sea’s front lines aren’t much better than those of Qi Refining cultivators."

At this, Xv Xiuping gave a bitter laugh.

He certainly knew his place as an expendable. Su Ye gave him a mental thumbs-up.

In a small place, a Foundation Establishment cultivator could lord over others, practically an ancestor to a whole clan.

But in a war between superpowers like the Flame Alliance and the Candle Python Cave, they were nothing more than high-grade cannon fodder!

"But, there’s strength in numbers."

"Aboard this ship, the Seagull, there are quite a few Foundation Establishment cultivators like us."

"Humbly, I’ve taken the liberty of organizing a social gathering, thanks to everyone’s support."

"It’s today, on the deck. Would you be interested, Fellow Daoist?"

Xv Xiuping invited him sincerely.

’Building a network, huddling together for warmth?’

After listening, Su Ye understood Xv Xiuping’s intentions.

It was understandable. Facing a naval war of this scale, making some connections and building a network with fellow cultivators could mean the difference between life and death at a critical moment.

However, Su Ye couldn’t help but laugh inwardly.

’With my power and status, what use is a network of Foundation Establishment cultivators?’

’I’ll just find an excuse to refuse... Besides, a last-minute invitation like this probably isn’t very sincere anyway.’

With a placid expression, Su Ye shook his head.

"Thank you for the invitation, Fellow Daoist, but I’m not interested."

"Alright." Xv Xiuping sighed softly, feeling it was a bit of a shame.

"Fellow Daoist Su Han." Xv Yiyi, who had been sitting quietly to the side with a cool expression, suddenly spoke up.

"Actually, my brother went to find you earlier, Fellow Daoist. But your guest room door had a ’seclusion’ sign on it, and he was worried that disturbing you rashly would affect your cultivation."

"Oh?"

Su Ye’s mind stirred. He seemed to recall something like that.

According to his memory, there had indeed been a Foundation Establishment-level fluctuation outside his guest room from a visitor who had lingered for a moment.

But Su Ye had been completely focused on improving his mastery of formations at the time. In his eyes, a little pipsqueak at the Foundation Establishment level was no different from an ant, so he hadn’t paid it any mind.

If he had been in a normal state of seclusion, sensing a Foundation Establishment cultivator’s visit and responding with a Divine Sense transmission would have been easy.

His lack of response probably made Xv Xiuping mistakenly believe he was in deep seclusion.

Therefore, it was normal that he didn’t dare to disturb him.

After all, deep seclusion was a very private matter.

If a perverse or tyrannical cultivator was disturbed by an outsider during deep seclusion, it was highly likely they would make an enemy for life!

"I see. It seems I was the one who misunderstood," Su Ye said frankly.

"In that case, Fellow Daoist Su Han, about the social gathering...?" Seeing a potential opening, Xv Xiuping’s eyes lit up, and he decided to strike while the iron was hot.

However, Su Ye’s answer remained unchanged.

After all, he had no interest in playing house with a bunch of Foundation Establishment cultivators.

...

A moment later, Su Ye rose calmly and left the deck.

Xv Xiuping stood up to see him off, his attitude unchanged by Su Ye’s refusal.

His Qi Cultivation Skill might not have been much, but Su Ye’s Divine Sense could tell that he held no resentment in his heart.

That was a rare quality.

’Not a bad person.’

That was his assessment.

’Still, playing house with Foundation Establishment cultivators is truly boring.’

’Besides, given the purpose of my trip, getting too close to me isn’t necessarily a good thing for them.’

Su Ye’s eyes narrowed slightly, a profound light glinting within them.

...

SIGH...

"Winning over other cultivators is truly difficult..."

After seeing Su Ye off, Xv Xiuping sat back in his chair and let out a long sigh.

"That’s to be expected."

"This Fellow Daoist Su Han... judging by his life force, he’s only forty or fifty years old..."

"To have a Late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation base at such an age, he’s most likely a ’Crystalized Seed’ from some family—someone who ignores worldly affairs and focuses single-mindedly on bitter cultivation."

"It’s normal for such a cultivator to have a cold and aloof personality and dislike socializing."

Xv Yiyi, the beautiful young woman with a large black iron bow on her back and dressed in a fitted combat outfit and boots, said calmly.

"True."

"It’s a pity. The dangers of the Narrow Sea battlefield are far beyond what ordinary people can imagine. Even for a Late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, going it alone is probably..."

Xv Xiuping’s gaze dimmed, and he shook his head.

He wasn’t optimistic about Su Ye’s choice.

"What’s more..."

"Besides the Candle Python Cave..."

A thought flashed through Xv Xiuping’s mind, causing his brow to furrow.

Before they set out, the Xv Family of Celestial Star Island had used all of their connections to gather intelligence.

As a result, they learned a bombshell piece of news from a Crystalized Master who guarded Celestial Star Island and had a good relationship with the Xv Family!

Due to losses in the war, the Flame Alliance had paid a hefty price to invite an incredibly powerful great cultivator from the Outer Sea to serve as the Guardian Envoy of the Narrow Sea!

This great cultivator’s Divine Techniques were unfathomable, and he had a battle record of defeating a fourth-rank great demon with his Crystalized Body!

Such combat prowess was equivalent to a Half-Step Golden Core!

This should have been a good thing.

However... according to the information discreetly revealed by that Crystalized Master, this great cultivator had been in fierce conflict with the Chu Family, one of the families in charge of the merchant guild!

A powerful dragon from the Outer Sea on one side, and a ruling family of the merchant guild on the other—the open and hidden struggles between these two would inevitably make the war in the Sulfur Strait even more convoluted and perilous!

Perhaps...

"Sigh..."

"Brother, what’s wrong?"

"Yiyi, it’s nothing..." Xv Xiuping shook his head.

This kind of top-secret information couldn’t be revealed, not even to his own sister.

’Sigh...’