Chapter 394 - 388: Considering Joining the Battle, Rate of Time Flow?
After taking stock of his situation, Su Ye found that his cultivation in the Crystal Realm was already mostly complete.
Next, he only needed to wait patiently for the cultivation of his various divine seeds to reach perfection.
’However, the perfect advancement of my spirit ship still requires some preparation...’ Su Ye mused to himself.
To advance the Ghostly Flood Dragon to a Tier Four spirit ship, the basic materials, after harvesting the Divine Vault Wood, were more or less gathered.
Of the three additional conditions required, only the second one had yet to be met.
1. [Mystery Attribute: 30/30 (Completed)]
2. [Elemental Collection: 3/6]
3. [Reference Blueprint (Completed)]
’Three more elements needed...’
Su Ye already knew that the elements needed to infuse the Ghostly Flood Dragon were high-quality, Tier Four single-attribute wonders, like the Earth Crystal Core and the Gui Cang Wind Stone.
’In the Nanyaoguang Outer Sea, trying to acquire them through conventional means won’t be easy.’
’Unless...’
Su Ye’s eyes shifted, a strange light flashing within them.
An image of a person surfaced in his mind.
Dressed in a snow-white robe, exuding a heroic and dashing aura.
It was none other than Zhao Quling, the director from the Wanlong Commerce Association in the Day Flame Sea Region, whom Su Ye had met once before!
To obtain Tier Four wonders, perhaps... he could go through the Wanlong Commerce Association’s channels?
After all, this commerce association was backed by the Central Sea Region, possessed extensive trade routes, and had a deep foundation.
Su Ye felt it was highly likely that their secret treasury held a few Tier Four wonders!
What was even better was that the Wanlong Commerce Association, or rather, the entire Day Flame Sea Region, was in a state of crisis!
According to Zhao Quling, the infamous and powerful pirate collective from the Central Sea Region, the [Candle Python Cave], was heading toward the Day Flame Sea Region!
It was highly probable that they would invade the Day Flame Sea Region!
This gave Su Ye an opportunity to fish in troubled waters!
In times of peace, trying to obtain Tier Four wonders from the Wanlong Commerce Association... he estimated that just grinding for reputation would take over a decade, and he would still have to pay an exorbitant exchange price!
But in a time of crisis like this, when the very survival of a faction was at stake, many established but unspoken rules would have to be set aside!
If the situation became dire enough and put sufficient pressure on the Wanlong Commerce Association, Su Ye estimated that the difficulty of obtaining the Tier Four wonders would drop drastically!
’Maybe... it’s not impossible they’d just give them to me for free?’
Su Ye mulled this over, a playful smile flashing in his eyes.
Of course, he also knew that if the Wanlong Commerce Association offered such preferential treatment, then the conditions they set would inevitably include ’participating in the war’.
The risks involved would definitely not be low!
However, Su Ye wasn’t too worried about that.
It was true that Jade Light Golden Core cultivators were different from the Southern Deities.
Spiritual Mechanism Immortal Dao cultivators had harmonious life forces and were not suppressed by Su Ye’s Old God powers. Therefore, to Su Ye, the combat power of a Golden Core cultivator was generally higher than that of a Divine Incarnation!
Because of this, Su Ye had previously been unwilling to fight Jade Light Golden Core cultivators... It was very likely he couldn’t win, and if the opponent was skilled in Escape Techniques, he might not even be able to get away!
But things were different now!
His trip to the Far South Continent had been extremely risky, a true brush with death.
But at the same time, Su Ye had also gained a great deal, his cultivation had advanced significantly, and his combat power had skyrocketed!
’With my current cultivation and normal combat strength, I’m strong enough to kill an Early-stage Golden Core cultivator!’
’As for Mid-stage Golden Core, if I use my Quasi-Techniques, I have a decent chance of winning!’
Su Ye’s Physical Realm and Divine Sense Realm were already at the Tier Four Mid Stage. Furthermore, he possessed the Nine Divine Techniques and the buffs from his attribute panel—this powerful accumulation of strength gave him the confidence to fight above his rank!
’As for Late-stage Golden Core, or even the perfected stage?’
Su Ye’s eyelashes fluttered as he pondered, ’I can’t say I could contend with them, but as for self-preservation... I should be fine?’
Besides, with his cautious nature, even if he did join the battle, he would never swagger in and reveal his full strength.
Even if he attracted the attention of a Golden Core cultivator, at most... he would only draw out one or two at the Early-stage Golden Core realm?
Opponents of that caliber, Su Ye didn’t even see as a threat; he could suppress and kill them with a backhand strike!
’Mmm...’
’The Storage Ring of a Golden Core cultivator... I’m really looking forward to that...’
Given the suspicious nature of demonic cultivators, most of their wealth should be kept on their person, stored in their Storage Rings, right?
Tsk tsk tsk.
The fortune of a demonic Golden Core cultivator...
Thinking this, a meaningful smile appeared on Su Ye’s lips.
On top of that, Su Ye had another idea.
’I don’t necessarily have to go through normal channels to get the Tier Four wonders. During the chaos, if the opportunity is right, maybe I can disguise myself as a rogue cultivator and plunder the Wanlong Commerce Association’s secret treasury?’
Su Ye had no aversion to this kind of action.
He was no goody-two-shoes who always followed the rules!
Quite the opposite, to achieve his goals, Su Ye didn’t mind using some unconventional methods.
Just like when he was at the Foundation Establishment realm, in order to advance his spirit ship, he had decisively taken advantage of the chaos and devoured all ten million souls from the Immortal City Grand Array!
’In any case... I’ll see how it goes.’
’Whichever method has the least resistance to achieving my goal is the one I’ll choose...’
With Su Ye’s current Divine Techniques, obtaining enough Tier Four wonders in the chaotic Day Flame Sea Region would not be a difficult task!
As for the possible side effects?
Heh.
Su Ye shrugged, completely unafraid.
’Sorry, but Golden Core cultivators are beyond reproach!’
Once he obtained the Tier Four wonders, Su Ye’s spirit ship advancement would naturally follow!
And then... he would achieve Golden Core!
With the wonders of a Nine-Method Golden Core and a Tier Four spirit ship, he would be able to run rampant in the Nanyaoguang Outer Sea!
’A wide world, full of possibilities...’
Thinking this, Su Ye was in a rather pleasant mood.
But soon, as the Ghostly Flood Dragon sailed into Hope Port’s territory, this pleasant feeling gradually faded.
"Hm?"
Su Ye’s expression turned strange.
His Divine Sense flickered, sweeping over a village below the clouds.
It was a resource outpost established by the Nanyaoguang Corporation. Beneath the village was a Tier One Cold Spiritual Spring that produced Cold-Loving Mushrooms, which could be used as alchemy ingredients.
Su Ye remembered this place.
When he was on his expedition to conquer Giant Stone City, he had passed by here in his spirit ship.
But now, something about this resource point seemed to have changed.
Su Ye focused his Divine Sense, perceiving a Qi Refining cultivator stationed at the outpost.
This cultivator was very ordinary. According to Su Ye’s senses, he was forty-eight years old, at the fifth layer of Qi Refining, with average looks and an unremarkable Cultivation Technique...
In short, he was an ordinary cultivator you wouldn’t be able to pick out of a crowd.
But the problem was...
’How do I remember him being forty-five years old and at the fourth layer of Qi Refining when I passed by here before?’ Su Ye clicked his tongue, his expression growing odd.
Immediately after, his Divine Sense flickered as he also sensed the lifespans of the other living beings in the outpost.
With Su Ye’s Divine Sense, it only took him a single breath’s time to get the results.
These living beings, whether they were native laborers or stationed cultivators, had all aged by three years!
’But my subjective experience of time has been a few months at most...’
"Hiss..."
Su Ye had a bad feeling about this.