"A wrecked ship?"

Su Ye’s eyes flickered as a thoughtful look crossed his face.

Wrecked ships often drifted through these waters.

Their crews were either slaughtered by demonic beasts or plundered and killed by rogue cultivators.

The Luo Family’s patrol teams would find one or two such vessels on the open sea every month or so.

For Su Ye, such things were a common sight.

’But... something that can make the Ghostly Flood Dragon feel a sense of longing?’

"What’s so special about this spirit ship?" Su Ye muttered to himself.

The Ghostly Flood Dragon’s sails turned, drawing closer to the wrecked vessel.

OMM.

Su Ye focused his mind, his Divine Sense spreading out to meticulously inspect the spirit ship.

The ship wasn’t particularly large, only a few dozen zhang long.

With his current Divine Sense, examining its every detail was as easy as reading the lines on his palm!

Within a few dozen breaths, his Divine Sense had clearly scouted every inch of the spirit ship.

He gathered a great deal of information.

The ship appeared to be a small Demon Hunting Ship belonging to Loose Cultivators.

The Ice Crystal Pod contained the meat of some first-rank demonic beasts, but other than that, there was nothing unusual.

’But... it’s strange. The entire ship is empty, and there are no signs of a fight.’

’Furthermore, the Ice Crystal Pod is undamaged. This doesn’t look like the work of rogue cultivators or demonic beasts...’

’So... where did the people on board go?’

Su Ye frowned, his fingers tapping a rhythmic beat on the ship’s railing.

He wanted to fly over and board the spirit ship, but he felt a faint sense of unease.

’Besides, anything that can make the Ghostly Flood Dragon feel desire must be extraordinary. I can’t be careless.’

After a moment’s hesitation, Su Ye’s thoughts turned.

He ordered Blood Scythe and a dozen or so other cursed crew members to board the ship and investigate in his place.

Ever since the Ghostly Flood Dragon had become a supreme-grade spirit ship, the maximum number of cursed crew members had also increased.

Aside from the cursed crew members who were out hunting for souls, Su Ye had selected a dozen or so of the most outstanding ones to serve on the ship long-term, making up for the crew’s weakness in combat.

THUD.

The cursed crew members used ropes to swing across and board the wrecked spirit ship.

"Everything is normal," Blood Scythe reported.

Su Ye stood quietly, waiting for his loyal cursed crew members to bring him good news.

However...

「About an incense stick’s worth of time later.」

Su Ye’s expression suddenly darkened.

’They’ve vanished...?’

Su Ye’s brow twitched.

His Divine Sense hadn’t detected the slightest anomaly.

And yet, one of his cursed crew members had inexplicably vanished into thin air?!

Then, it was as if some kind of mechanism or spell had been triggered.

Like a phantom wind blowing through a hall, extinguishing all the red candles in an instant.

SHHIIK!

The dozen or so cursed crew members who had entered the ship’s cabin vanished from Su Ye’s senses at an incredible speed!

Until... there were none!

In a matter of breaths, the dozen or so cursed crew members—who would have given even a Foundation Establishment cultivator some trouble—vanished completely without a sound!

...

And just then, a soft PATTER rang out.

Su Ye turned his head to look.

The next moment, his pupils contracted violently!

Four pale, slender, water-stained fingers slowly gripped the railing of the Ghostly Flood Dragon.

"HIIISSSS..."

A sharp, piercing sound, as if filled with despair and venom, echoed in the air.

Along with the sound, a pale, desiccated, and slender figure about the size of an ape leaped onto the deck!

The monster lunged forward, its ten fingers spread wide like a great net, clawing for Su Ye’s head!

WHOOSH!

A foul wind blasted him in the face!

It carried the salty stench of the sea and a malevolent aura like that of a rotting corpse!

Su Ye’s eyes sharpened, and he acted without a second thought.

ZING!

The Frost Thorn Spear appeared.

It transformed into a sharp, silver streak of light and shot forward with a whistle!

PFFT!

The nigh-indestructible Frost Thorn Spear passed through the pale monster as if it were just an illusion of smoke and mist!

It passed straight through the creature’s body without any resistance.

’Physical immunity?’

Su Ye’s eyes narrowed slightly.

The Magical Power of a Late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator surged, stirring the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi!

CH-CH-CH-CH!

Countless ice spikes, water jets, and mist blades shot out like a violent storm!

However, the pale monster’s body passed through the numerous spells without any hindrance, as if it existed in another world!

’Magic is also ineffective?’

At the same time, its figure suddenly accelerated!

SHUNK.

A pair of bestial claws, reeking of a foul wind, came whistling toward him!

Aiming for Su Ye’s head!

Its crimson eyes revealed a shockingly human-like brutality and malice!

The monster seemed to have already foreseen the moment its blade-like claws would pierce Su Ye’s eyes and skull, churning the red and white matter within into pulp!

However, with a muffled BANG, a wave of corporeal, surging energy burst outward!

Su Ye was completely unharmed.

The pale monster, on the other hand, shrieked strangely in pain!

At this moment, a layer of crystalline, jade-like light was shimmering over Su Ye’s skin!

The jade-like light was faint, yet it emanated an immortal and indestructible aura, like that of vajra and liuli!

The seventh stage of Body Refining!

A terrifying physique comparable to a second-rank, high-grade demonic beast.

Combined with attribute enhancements, Su Ye’s Defense Power was simply horrifying!

"Caught you."

A cruel smile touched the corners of Su Ye’s lips.

SWISH.

His fair, jade-colored hand moved at a speed that seemed slow but was actually lightning-fast, seizing the pale monster’s bestial claw!

Only then did the pale monster react, shrieking and howling miserably as it clawed wildly at Su Ye’s body.

But it was useless!

The faint, jade-colored light merely rippled. Claw marks appeared for a brief moment before vanishing immediately!

"You’ve had your turn scratching at me. Isn’t it my turn now?"

Su Ye let out a savage laugh.

Then, he raised his right hand, holding his fingers together.

Like the tip of a spear, he aimed for the pale monster’s chest and thrust with all his might! 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

SQUELCH!

Su Ye’s hand pierced through the monster’s chest as easily as splitting bamboo, and then right through the deck!

He pinned the monster down firmly, like a nail!

At that moment, a strong sense of desire came from the Ghostly Flood Dragon through their [Harmony].

’It’s eager to devour this monster... Well, alright then.’

Su Ye would naturally not refuse the spirit ship on which his own life depended.

OMM.

A bloody light shone.

A crimson vortex materialized beneath the pale monster’s body, and countless blood-red tendrils, as thin as hairs, bound the creature.

SHHHLURP.

Like a Venus flytrap feeding, the ship swallowed it into its hull.

The Ghostly Flood Dragon seemed as if it had consumed a powerful tonic.

Through the [Harmony], he received a sensation of digestion, like a feeling of being full.

’Seems like a good thing?’ Su Ye mused.

At that moment, the entire deck fell silent, and the crew members were looking at Su Ye with rather strange expressions.

After a long moment, Zhao Li approached and asked worriedly,

"Captain, what... were you just doing?"

"A monster attacked me. It’s fine, I’ve already dealt with it."

Su Ye waved his hand dismissively.

"What monster?"

Zhao Li blinked, looking baffled.

"Hm?!"

"You... you can’t see it?"

A look of bewilderment appeared in Su Ye’s eyes as he asked in return.

’Why is there more and more weird stuff in this part of the sea?’