Grinding EXP From a Demon Hunting Ship

「Ten days later.」

「Weiyuan Immortal City.」

During the battle for the immortal city, this city had been nearly destroyed, reduced to a city of the dead.

But times had changed. Over the past twenty years, with Su Ye’s rise to power, his dominance over two sea regions, and the establishment of Nanyaoguang Corporation’s headquarters here, the city’s fate had transformed.

The immortal city’s appeal to the Loose Cultivators of the sea regions had multiplied!

To them, this immortal city was nothing less than a sacred ground for cultivation!

Therefore, in twenty years, as many as a million Loose Cultivators had flooded into Weiyuan Immortal City!

Furthermore, numerous merchant guilds and family clans from the Cyan Profound and Spirit Realm Sea Regions, all vassals of Nanyaoguang Corporation, had established strongholds within the city.

The resources of two great sea regions converged here!

This had made Weiyuan Immortal City more than ten times as prosperous as it was during the reign of Vast Sea!

The streets teemed with people.

A thousand sails raced across the water.

At the immortal city’s port, countless spirit ships came and went.

WHOOSH.

Sails furling, an unremarkable, old spirit ship sailed into the port.

A port cultivator came over to handle its registration.

"Hmm... the Seagull, a cargo ship. Fifty-seven crew members, carrying a shipment of Jade Water Crystal Stones..."

"Oh, you’re in luck. A little while ago, the corporation’s Artifact Refiners designed a new Magical Artifact that requires this very crystal to forge."

"The market price for Jade Water Crystal Stones has risen by a full thirty percent recently... Of course, the upcoming grand auction is also one of the reasons..."

The port cultivator chattered casually as he filled out the registration.

Listening to him, the captain of the Seagull—a valiant, bronze-skinned man with a piercing gaze—couldn’t hide his delight.

"So that’s how it is..."

"Thank you for the tip, friend... Here’s the docking fee."

The bronze-skinned man handed over a small cloth pouch filled with Spirit Stones.

It was a bit more than the normal docking fee, a gratuity for the helpful information.

The port cultivator weighed the pouch, chuckled, and handed it back. "You may not know this, friend, but Mr. Luo announced that all docking fees are waived during the grand auction."

"As for this bit of news, it’s nothing special. You’d have found out yourself after a day or two of asking around."

"If you’re interested..." The young port cultivator lowered his voice. "The corporation’s shop on Longhu Street... the Shopkeeper is my cousin."

"If you want to sell your Jade Water Crystal Stones, you can take this registration Token to Longhu Street. When it comes to the price, I guarantee you won’t get a bad deal..."

"Heh... The end of the year is coming up, just trying to drum up some business for my cousin..." The young cultivator’s smile faded slightly, and he added with a hint of bashfulness.

The port was busy, and the registration cultivator quickly left to attend to another spirit ship.

Several cultivators disembarked from the Seagull. One, a beautiful young female cultivator wearing a veil, gazed at the hundreds of spirit ships in the port.

Her eyes filled with astonishment as she exclaimed, "So many spirit ships, and the docking fees are all waived? How much money are they losing..."

Then, she lowered her voice and muttered a few words along the lines of "rebellious" and "spendthrift."

"They won’t lose money..." Beside her, a young master in a brocade robe fanned himself. "On the contrary, they’ll make a huge profit during this period."

"Eh?" The female cultivator was confused.

The young master in the brocade robe had no intention of explaining and simply shook his head.

’Interaction promotes trade, and trade promotes prosperity. Such simple economic principles are still too complex for the cultivators of this world.’

’The lofty sects rarely pay attention to such matters. Even someone like Chun’er, a direct descendant of a Golden Core sect, was clueless about it.’

’Only the merchant guilds, with their practical business experience, have some grasp of it.’

’This Mr. Luo is quite a capable individual. A pity...’ the young master in the brocade robe thought to himself.

"As the chief villain, she must die. Only then can we win the hearts of the Spirit Control Sect..." The bronze-skinned man playing the captain of the Seagull transmitted via Divine Sense, his tone flat.

"I know, Brother," Chu Jiangyuan nodded.

"It’s just a shame. With Mr. Luo’s temperament and wisdom, she could have accomplished great things if she’d been born into the family of a merchant guild leader..."

"Heh... Ah Yuan, your reasoning is flawed."

"A person’s intellect is certainly dependent on innate talent, but it is also deeply connected to their family background and upbringing... How can you ignore these factors and make such a simple assumption?"

"In my opinion, if she were born into the house of a guild leader, she might have achieved great things. But it’s just as possible she would have been lost to a life of luxury and wasted her talent..."

Chu Jiangyuan’s older brother.

A great cultivator at Crystal Perfection, holding a Golden Core decree.

Chu Jiangheng remarked.

"You have a point, Brother..."

"Alright, enough of this. First, let’s find an inn and get some rest."

"As for this shipload of Jade Water Crystal Stones, I’ll need you to go to the trouble of selling them on Longhu Street. Don’t leave any openings; just act like an ordinary merchant."

"Then, we just have to wait quietly for the grand auction to begin!"

"Speaking of which, it’s a good thing that our arrival coincides with the grand auction."

"Most of Nanyaoguang Corporation’s upper management will be there... Perfect. We can wipe them all out in one fell swoop, announce the return of the Spirit Control Sect, and the existence of the Chu Family!"

Chu Jiangheng’s eyes gleamed.

His words radiated immense confidence!

As for the timing of the grand auction being a little too convenient?

The Chu Family group didn’t have many suspicions. They had made inquiries and learned that the grand auction was a long-standing tradition in Weiyuan Immortal City.

According to the normal schedule,

it should have been held two years ago.

But due to the turmoil in the sea regions, it was postponed.

Now that the sea regions had just been pacified, it made sense to hold the grand auction, whether to appease the people, honor tradition, or generate revenue.

The Chu Family group, disguised as traveling merchants, headed into the inner city to await their moment to shock the world.

However, they never expected that their every move was already being watched.

...

「The City Lord’s Mansion.」

「The Reception Hall.」

A water mirror, ten feet tall, rose from the floor.

Azure spiritual light rippled across its surface, revealing an image—the Chu Family group!

"Tsk, tsk..."

"One at Crystal Perfection, two at Mid-stage Crystal... what a luxurious lineup..."

"Qing’e, are you nervous? These guys are planning to kill you, you know."

Su Ye sat with his legs crossed, a teasing look on his face.

"Husband, you’re just making fun of me. Stop being improper!"

Luo Qing’e’s fine brows knitted slightly, and a hint of playful reproach appeared in her eyes, which were as clear and bright as a pristine lake.

Although she said this, deep in Luo Qing’e’s eyes was a look of immense relief. The corners of her mouth curved into a smile, radiating a light and lively air!

Luo Qing’e was more than happy to see Su Ye return!

After all, to wear the crown is to bear its weight.

Her position as acting director, ruling over the sea regions, seemed glamorous, but in reality, it was like walking on thin ice.

Especially before Luo Xiyin and Bai Xiuying had advanced to the Crystal stage, Luo Qing’e was worried day and night, unable to get a single night of peaceful sleep!

"Don’t worry."

"Tonight, I’ll make sure Qing’e gets a good night’s sleep," Su Ye said with a grin.

"Eh..." Luo Qing’e froze for a moment, then her cheeks flushed crimson, and she let out a soft "Mm."