Grinding EXP From a Demon Hunting Ship-Chapter 40: Imminent Bloody Battle, Body Cultivation Skill
「A few days later.」
「Moon Creek Town.」
Dressed in black, Su Ye sat by a window on the second floor of a tavern, sipping his Spirit Tea.
He pricked up his ears, using his keen senses to listen in on the idle chatter in the main hall below.
"Did you hear? The Luo Family’s Demon Hunting Ship won a great victory against the Shu Family at sea and even captured one of their spirit ships!"
"And that’s not all!"
"They found native pirates on that spirit ship, along with a ton of controlled contraband that the Shu Family sold to them!"
"Heh... If you ask me,"
"that arrogant Shu Family doesn’t even respect the main sect’s prohibitions. They’re about to have some bad luck!"
Listening to the patrons’ conversation, Su Ye’s lips curled into a faint smile.
’Looks like the news traveled fast.’
A few days ago, the Flying Serpent had returned to port, bringing back not only the spirit ship Sea Crocodile but also a great deal of spoils.
More importantly, it had brought back evidence of the Shu Family colluding with native pirates and selling them Forbidden Crossbow Cannons!
After Luo Xiyin performed a Soul Search on the captive, Shu Liu, and they traced the origin of the crossbow cannons, it was almost certain that the Shu Family was behind it all!
The Luo Family had already compiled the clues, summarized them in a letter, and submitted it to the main sect!
And according to information from Luo Qingjun, Su Ye learned that someone in the main sect was very displeased with the Shu Family’s actions!
Even with that genius with the Earth Spiritual Root from the Shu Family running around trying to smooth things over, they would inevitably face a massive fine and sanctions, including a trade embargo, as punishment!
As a result, the Shu Family’s booming economy, which had been flourishing since they seized Fuling Island, was bound to take a nosedive!
Not only that, but another effect of the sanctions and embargo would be a rapid decline in the Shu Family’s combat strength.
Unlike the mainland Cultivation Realm, most Foundation Establishment families in the Island Cultivation Realm occupied spirit islands that were too small to be completely self-sufficient in their resource production.
The Spirit Medicine used for Alchemy, the spirit iron for Artifact Refining, the beast hides and spirit wood for talisman drawing... the Shu Family was unable to produce enough of these many resources on their own.
Once hit with an external embargo, their existing reserves would be depleted after just a few major battles!
Without the aid of external resources, the combat strength of the Shu Family’s cultivators would inevitably drop!
These follow-on effects were not difficult to predict.
Furthermore, with the Luo Family intentionally fanning the flames, the news quickly spread across the entire island!
Now, everyone on Donglong Island knew.
The scales of the War between the Luo and Shu Families were tipping in the Luo Family’s favor!
Inspired by this good news, the gloomy atmosphere that had hung over Donglong Island for the past six months since the fall of Fuling Island was swept away!
In its place was the rallying cry: "Reclaim Fuling Island!"
Su Ye glanced at the cultivators in the tavern, who were excitedly discussing whether to sign up to help reclaim Fuling Island.
His gaze lowered, noncommittal. He stood up and brushed off his robes.
"Waiter, the bill."
As things stood, the War between the Luo and Shu Families was developing much as he had expected.
A bloody battle between the two families over the prized territory of Fuling Island was inevitable!
...
Su Ye returned directly to his residence in Moon Creek Town.
After a brief rest, he wasted no time and continued to cultivate the Secret Techniques from the Ghost Water Skill.
’After some testing, I’ve confirmed that my attribute bonuses really do apply to my Magic.’
’These Ghost Water Secret Techniques are very well-rounded. They cover attack, defense, movement, and recovery, forming a complete system.’
’If I can master all of these Ghost Water Secret Techniques, my combat strength will definitely reach a new level!’
After practicing his Magic, Su Ye didn’t stop. Instead, he began to cultivate another Cultivation Technique.
Su Ye stood in his courtyard, swallowed an elixir, and centered his mind.
At the same time, he began to breathe in a long, peculiar rhythm, like a great whale drawing in water!
With each long breath, Su Ye’s Spiritual Sense sank into his body, guiding his blood and qi to surge and flow!
HUMM!
The potent, searing blood and qi circulated through his body, causing his major tendons, joints, and internal organs to vibrate subtly!
Through this subtle vibration, Su Ye’s physical body was slowly growing stronger!
That’s right!
Su Ye was practicing a Body Refining Technique!
He had destroyed the Shu Family’s Pirate Ship and exposed their conspiracy, shifting the tides of war in the Luo Family’s favor.
Such a great contribution naturally came with a handsome reward!
Aside from a considerable reward of Spirit Stones, Luo Qingjun had also specifically asked Su Ye if there was anything he desired.
Seeing that Luo Qingjun was trustworthy, Su Ye had earnestly entrusted him with his requests for a Body Cultivation Skill and the position of captain of the Sea Crocodile.
The captain’s position was a matter of great importance.
Luo Qingjun had apologized, explaining that he couldn’t give a definite answer for the time being.
However, perhaps out of apology, the Body Cultivation Skill he had promised was delivered to Su Ye’s hands very quickly!
The Body Cultivation Skill that Su Ye obtained was from the Luo Family’s Scripture Pavilion.
Its name was the Azure Dragon Force.
It was divided into four levels, corresponding to the early, middle, late, and Perfection Realms of Qi Refining!
According to the annotations, the technique’s greatest feature was its continuous, circulating force, granting inexhaustible stamina.
This was exactly what Su Ye had requested in a cultivation technique.
Furthermore, the Azure Dragon Force was balanced and stable, very complete, and had no shortcomings or flaws.
There was no need to worry about it harming one’s cultivation path or being easily countered by others.
It could be considered a Small Treasure Skill on the same level as the Ghost Water Skill!
Su Ye was very satisfied with this!
Beyond that, the densely packed annotations from Luo Family ancestors inside the manual also filled Su Ye with emotion.
[Azure Dragon Force blood and qi circulation routes, twenty-seven points of caution...]
[Jade Water Elixirs are beneficial for cultivating this skill. It is recommended to take half an elixir per session...]
[Cultivating the Azure Dragon Force is accelerated in an underwater environment with chaotic flows.]
[Under natural conditions, such underwater chaotic flows are rare and fleeting.]
[Therefore, I, Luo Shangyi, spent a great sum to construct a Chaotic Flow Array near Donglong Island, artificially creating this environment for everyone’s cultivation.]
[A special price of thirty Spirit Stones per month. Please contact: ... if interested.]
[The array’s effect is pretty good, just a little expensive.]
"This is what you call the foundation of a great family..." Su Ye sighed.
This "foundation" wasn’t necessarily some divine technique or secret treasure.
It was generations of people, through continuous trial and error, who had filled in all the pitfalls on the cultivation path and verified a safe and stable road forward.
If a Loose Cultivator got incredibly lucky and obtained this excellent Cultivation Technique for free, they would still struggle to cultivate it. Firstly, without the experience of predecessors, they could only follow the instructions blindly and experiment slowly.
Secondly, they would have to expend a great deal of effort just to find the required cultivation environment and special elixirs.
But now, Su Ye only needed to spend some Spirit Stones to cultivate the Azure Dragon Force at the fastest possible speed!
...
It seemed the cool sensation he felt with each level-up had improved Su Ye’s aptitude for Body Refining.
Combined with paving the way with Spirit Stones, with the help of the Chaotic Flow Array and Jade Water Elixirs, Su Ye’s progress with the Azure Dragon Force was incredibly fast!
’In two months at the latest, I’ll be able to step into the first level of Body Refining!’
The first level of Body Refining corresponded to Early-stage Qi Refining!
However, just as his Body Refining was proving fruitful, there was still no news about the captain’s position that he so dearly coveted—the one that mattered most to him.
