Grinding EXP From a Demon Hunting Ship

She was responsible for the defense of several Luotian Array Points, including the Black Flame Fortress.

"Understood."

Su Ye took the talisman and swept it with his Divine Sense.

The content was simple, only a few dozen characters long.

First.

Shenxiao welcomed Su Ye’s arrival.

She also stated that she was currently inspecting the front lines of the sea region and would be unable to return in the short term.

She indicated that Su Ye need not deliberately wait for her return, and that it was fine to hold the welcome banquet as normal.

"Hmm..."

’Her tone is rather neutral, neither cold nor warm.’

’That’s fine. She’s a lofty Golden Core cultivator, after all, so it’s to be expected...’

’At the very least, based on this Communication Talisman, this Golden Core cultivator guarding the Narrow Sea harbors no hostility toward me... Or perhaps, for someone of her Golden Core status, this kind of reception could already be considered friendly?’

He came to a conclusion.

Su Ye smiled.

He wasn’t surprised by Shenxiao’s attitude.

Before rushing to the Sulfur Strait, he had investigated the matter.

The human cultivators within the Flame Alliance could, if broken down, be divided into three factions.

They were: the Native Faction, the Commerce Faction, and the Outer Sea Faction.

The Native Faction.

As the name implies, they originated from the Day Flame Resistance Army, which stubbornly fought back against the rule of the Dragonmen in the Day Flame Sea Region during the Dragon Calamity!

During the era of the Dragonmen’s rule.

The racial oppression of the Dragonmen, their bloody suppression of the resistance, and the harsh living conditions resulted in an extremely high mortality rate, but they also truly filtered out a batch of elites!

Therefore, when the situation in the archipelago changed.

The Day Flame Sea Region was liberated, and the Dragonmen’s rule collapsed.

After the resistance army obtained sufficient resources, a group of high-level cultivators quickly emerged!

These high-level cultivators, along with their friends, relatives, and disciples, formed the Native Faction of the Flame Alliance!

The Commerce Faction.

This faction was centered around the Wanlong Commerce Association and consisted of commercial powers from the Central Sea Region!

These commercial powers monopolized the Day Flame Sea Region’s market, using their position to set the rules, earn vast fortunes, and profit handsomely!

But at the same time, it was undeniable that the existence of the commerce associations also provided extremely crucial assistance to the Day Flame Sea Region, which was waiting to be rebuilt from scratch after the Dragon Calamity!

Relying on the commerce associations, a continuous influx of technology and resources from the Central Sea Region enabled the Day Flame Sea Region to achieve its current prosperity!

As for the last one, the Outer Sea Faction.

This was also a faction born after the liberation of the Day Flame Sea Region.

The Day Flame Sea Region is in a key geographical location, serving as a channel connecting the Central Sea Region and the southern region of the archipelago.

Therefore.

There were those who traveled to the Day Flame Sea Region, attempting to use it as a pass-through.

The number of Outer Sea cultivators trying to reach the Central Sea Region was like a school of carp crossing a river—an endless stream!

Of course.

Long-distance migration was no easy feat.

Moreover, the journey from the Day Flame Sea Region to the Central Sea Region was only relatively easy.

Thus, most cultivators faced reality and chose to put down roots and live in the Day Flame Sea Region—the most prosperous sea region in the southern archipelago.

The Outer Sea Faction was born from this!

Shenxiao was a member of the Outer Sea Faction. A Loose Cultivator from the Outer Sea, she had, by a stroke of luck, discovered a precious legacy within the Day Flame Sea Region.

Relying on this legacy and her own hard work, Shenxiao broke through in one fell swoop over 140 years ago, becoming a Golden Core cultivator!

During this process, Shenxiao had some unpleasant run-ins with the Chu Family of the Wanlong Commerce Association.

Of course, after Shenxiao achieved the Golden Core realm, the two sides successfully resolved their grievances with the Flame Alliance’s mediation—but to say that Shenxiao held no lingering grudges would be impossible!

’Maybe... she’s secretly gloating, watching me put the Chu Family in their place?’

’No... as a proper Golden Core cultivator, she’s definitely gloating openly!’

’She probably even sent a Communication Talisman to that old coot Chu Wunian to mock him...’

"Haha..."

Su Ye couldn’t help but laugh.

...

Next.

The banquet was held, and all the cultivators were summoned.

The main purpose of this banquet was to witness Su Ye taking over the post of Guardian Envoy of the Narrow Sea!

Therefore, all the cultivators who were supposed to come were present. Not including the armored soldiers, there were over a hundred people, all of them managers from various departments within the Black Flame Fortress!

"We greet Mr. Su!"

The hundred-odd people, arranged neatly according to rank and position, bowed and said in unison.

"Everyone, please rise. Be seated."

"I have just arrived and will be relying on all of you. Let us work hard together!"

Su Ye smiled, spoke a few pleasantries, then raised his cup and announced the official start of the banquet.

After the banquet officially began, Su Ye stayed for a quarter of an hour, exchanged some small talk, and then left.

The cultivators didn’t mind and thought it was normal.

These cultivators had also heard some information about Su Ye.

—Capable of defeating a fourth-tier great demon, with Half-Step Golden Core Level combat strength!

Someone of that caliber was far beyond an ordinary Crystal realm cultivator. For him to stay for a quarter of an hour was already showing them a great deal of respect!

"His Excellency the Guardian Envoy is courteous to his subordinates, refined and gentle, with the air of a true gentleman!"

The cultivators of the Black Flame Fortress all breathed a sigh of relief. From the looks of it, this Guardian Envoy from the Outer Sea did not have a tyrannical or harsh temperament.

...

Immediately after.

After Su Ye left the banquet hall,

Three Crystal realm cultivators also left the banquet.

Of course.

They hadn’t actually departed, but were following Su Ye to carry out the final step in his assumption of office as the Guardian Envoy of the Narrow Sea!

"Mr. Su, please follow me."

"The Luotian Array Point is just ahead. The array spirit has been awakened, and we can proceed with the ownership ceremony."

Wei Yang explained as he led the way for Su Ye. At the same time, he also introduced the other two Crystal realm cultivators stationed at the Black Flame Fortress.

They were:

Commander of the Radiant Flame Guards, Zhao Mingde, a Late-stage Crystal cultivator.

Shangguan Zhi of the Fortress Internal Affairs Department, a Mid-stage Crystal cultivator.

Zhao Mingde had the appearance of a middle-aged man, clad in Red Gold Spirit Armor. His build wasn’t burly, but his eyebrows were like raised blades, and he radiated a murderous aura honed by long years on the battlefield!

"Zhao Mingde... Are you from Jiuchen the Zhao Family?" Su Ye asked.

Jiuchen the Zhao Family was one of the leading families of the Wanlong Commerce Association; Zhao Quling hailed from this family... Within the Flame Alliance, the ruling families of the Wanlong Commerce Association took their prefixes from the names of their ancestral homes.

For example, the Zhao Family’s ancestral home was named Jiuchen Hall, hence the name Jiuchen the Zhao Family.

Similarly, the full name of the Chu Family came from Zijing Palace, thus they were called Purple Thorn the Chu Family.

"Yes, Your Excellency the Guardian Envoy."

"In terms of seniority, I am Zhao Quling’s sixth uncle."

Zhao Mingde replied, then added another sentence.

His tone was respectful and humble, carrying a hint of a desire to align with him.

This was very normal.

Su Ye’s relationship with the Zhao Family was quite good. Before the incident with the Chu Family, the exclusive distribution of Nanyaoguang Corporation’s specialty products was primarily handled through the Zhao Family’s channels!

Therefore, after Su Ye became the Guardian Envoy of the Narrow Sea, it was only natural for Zhao Mingde to align with him.

As for Wei Yang, he was a cultivator from the Native Faction, directly subordinate to the Flame Alliance. He wasn’t concerned with the grudge between Su Ye and the Chu Family, so he could also be considered a semi-ally.

After all, Su Ye was the Guardian Envoy of the Narrow Sea, a position of legitimate authority granted by the Flame Alliance!

’These two can be trusted, at least for now.’

’The only one who’s a problem is...’ Su Ye’s gaze flickered as he glanced at Shangguan Zhi.

This Crystal realm cultivator from the Internal Affairs Department had a pair of long, narrow, triangular eyes. Due to his profession, his gaze often glinted with a cold, scrutinizing light.

The Internal Affairs Department wasn’t some cleaning service!

The full name of this department was the Black Flame Fortress Internal Review and Special Missions Department... In other words, they were the counterparts of the KGB and CIA from his previous life!

A spymaster!

Therefore, this Shangguan Zhi gave off the impression of a cold, venomous snake!

Of course, Su Ye didn’t judge a book by its cover.

But, according to his prior investigation, the man had engaged in some cooperation with the Chu Family?

However, that was also normal. As one of the three giants of Wanlong, most of the key figures in the commerce associations had some sort of relationship with the Chu Family.

To conclude from this that he was a die-hard loyalist of the Chu Family who was plotting to assassinate him would be too biased...

As Su Ye was lost in thought,

They passed through a series of corridors and arrived at the Luotian Array Point!

BUZZ!

After passing through multiple checks,

The silvery-white hatch slowly opened.

A dense wave of Spiritual Power spread out!

Su Ye narrowed his eyes.

Before him was an incredibly vast plaza!

In the center of the plaza stood a semi-transparent, silvery metal cylinder with an incomparably smooth surface, connecting the ceiling to the floor!

Intricate array patterns and a liquid, fluorescent white spiritual light flowed and flickered ceaselessly!

The Luotian Array Point!

And!

Inside the cylinder,

Two magatama resembling Yin-Yang Fish were pressed tightly together, rotating and floating!

The Liangyi Immortal Jade!