Grinding EXP From a Demon Hunting Ship

「A few days later.」

Southern Fuling Island.

Su Ye, dressed all in black, hid within the dense forest.

His gaze pierced through the woods, peering at the faintly visible harbor not far away.

Copper Drum Bay.

Fuling Island’s prime natural harbor.

Its terrain was treacherous, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack.

Viewed from above, Copper Drum Bay was shaped roughly like a bent horseshoe.

The two sides of the ’horseshoe’ were tall, black cliffs carved out by the ocean waves, forming two natural barriers.

Atop the cliffs, batteries of cannons were arrayed to defend the harbor and protect the "fleet-in-being" moored within.

’This won’t be easy...’ Su Ye’s eyes narrowed.

Copper Drum Bay’s geography was poor for trade, but it was incredibly advantageous for defense.

With such a narrow channel to the sea, if he were to rashly assault it with a spirit ship...

...and if the attack failed, they could easily be blockaded inside and trapped like rats.

’And... the harbor’s defenses aren’t weak.’

Su Ye recalled the information he’d gotten from a few prisoners.

’Copper Drum Bay is garrisoned by about a hundred cultivators, including three at the Mid-stage Qi Refining and one at the Late-stage Qi Refining!’

Even without factoring in the tactical advantage of the cannon batteries, their numbers alone were double that of Su Ye’s crew on the *Sea Crocodile*.

Yes, double.

The *Sea Crocodile* was not currently at full complement; it had only fifty crew members.

The Luo Family believed that after the Shu Family proactively pulled back their fleet to defend the harbor, the main thrust of the battle for Fuling Island would be on land.

The naval forces only needed to enforce the blockade and act as a deterrent to the ’fleet-in-being’ in Copper Drum Bay.

Therefore, a portion of the crew from each spirit ship had been reassigned.

’To be honest, it wasn’t a bad decision,’ Su Ye thought.

But it undoubtedly weakened his own forces, making it difficult to challenge Copper Drum Bay.

’Forget it. I’ll wait for the right opportunity.’

Su Ye didn’t believe that Copper Drum Bay’s defenses could remain so tight forever.

With their economy collapsing and a lack of consumables, the Shu Family was bound to be at a disadvantage on the battlefield.

’Once the Shu Family’s front lines are strained, they’ll most likely pull troops from Copper Drum Bay.’

’Then I’ll figure something out...’

Su Ye stared at Copper Drum Bay for a while longer before turning to leave.

He slowly vanished back into the dense forest.

...

In the coastal waters outside Copper Drum Bay.

The *Sea Crocodile’s* white sails were raised as it patrolled near the harbor, carrying out its blockade mission.

However, despite the blockade, the Shu Family’s ’fleet-in-being’ remained as quiet as mice in the harbor, showing no intention of breaking out or launching raids.

"Tsk, tsk. All quiet out here..." Su Ye said, standing at the bow with his arms crossed.

It was understandable.

After all, compared to the Luo Family’s fleet, which had more ships and more cannons, the Shu Family’s fleet had no advantages. Their chances of victory at sea were extremely low.

What’s more, they were short on Crossbow Arrows.

Even if they did set sail, their only way to threaten the Luo Family’s spirit ships was to get close enough for boarding actions.

Since it would come down to close-quarters combat anyway, why would the Shu Family’s cultivators even bother going to sea?

Compared to charging through the Luo Family spirit ships’ firepower just to board them, all while lacking Crossbow Arrows, wasn’t it better to just defend Fuling Island and fight on land?

By relying on the terrain, their kill-to-death ratio might even be a bit better.

In short, for now, the Shu Family had not yet run out of ammunition and supplies.

They chose to preserve their ships and avoid battle.

Of course, they weren’t just waiting to die.

They were conserving their strength for a future breakout attempt.

But for now, thanks to the Shu Family fleet’s ’cooperation,’ the *Sea Crocodile’s* blockade of Copper Drum Bay was proceeding very smoothly.

[Blockading Harbor, [Tide Hunter] EXP +1]

[Class: Tide Hunter lv.3 (665/1500)]

’Not bad, not bad...’

Su Ye looked at the message that popped up in his vision, a pleased smile on his face as he nodded.

While blockading the harbor, he could earn an extra 5 EXP every day.

Combined with the 3 to 6 EXP from daily maintenance, his average expected daily gain reached 10 EXP!

"Is this some kind of double daily event?" Su Ye chuckled.

This unexpected, steady income put him in a very good mood.

Of course, Su Ye didn’t let his guard down.

On his orders, the *Sea Crocodile* had someone monitoring Copper Drum Bay twenty-four hours a day!

If the Shu Family’s ’fleet-in-being’ showed any signs of movement, it was to be reported immediately!

...

Night fell.

A thin layer of mist rose over the sea.

A bright moon cast its silvery light, making the waves glitter.

Even as the night deepened, the *Sea Crocodile’s* loyal lookout, motivated by double pay, remained steadfast at his post.

He raised his spyglass and gazed toward the harbor.

"The Shu Family fleet, hmm... still in Copper Drum Bay, no anomalies..."

The lookout relaxed, about to lower his spyglass.

But just then, his brow twitched.

As if he had glimpsed something, he quickly swiveled the spyglass!

"What’s that..."

In the grayish-white sea mist in the distance, the sound of surging waves could be heard.

The silhouette of a massive spirit ship was slowly emerging from the fog!

This unfamiliar spirit ship was sailing toward Fuling Island with an unstoppable presence!

"This size... a Tier-1 high-grade spirit ship? But... I don’t recognize this design!"

"Which means, it’s not one of ours?!"

The lookout’s eyes went wide, his expression freezing.

A moment later, as if snapping out of a dream, he gripped the rope for the ship’s bell and yanked it hard!

"Alarm!"

"Unidentified spirit ship sighted! It’s as high as a Tier-1 high-grade!"

...

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

The piercing sound of the ship’s bell rang out!

Su Ye rushed onto the deck and took a deep breath.

He let the cool sea breeze fill his lungs.

The cold wind jolted him awake.

The last vestiges of sleep and the fragmented images of his dreams receded like the tide, revealing the cold, hard reef of reason.

’An unfamiliar Tier-1 high-grade spirit ship...’

Su Ye rubbed his temples, focusing his mind. He gazed into the distance, his expression hardening.

Fuling Island was already a warzone!

For an unfamiliar Tier-1 high-grade spirit ship to appear at this time... it was most likely hostile!

However, Su Ye felt no fear. He calmly gave his orders.

"Raise the signal flags and warn them off."

"Man the ballistae! Turn the ship and assume a combat stance!"

"Ready the signal flare. Await my command to light and release it."

Once the flare was lit, the other Luo Family spirit ships patrolling around Fuling Island would see the signal and arrive within half an hour!

Just then, seeing the *Sea Crocodile* quickly move into its combat stance, the unfamiliar high-grade spirit ship slowed down significantly.

After a brief standoff, the ship turned, no longer heading for Fuling Island, and raised a signal flag for "misunderstanding."

’A misunderstanding...?’

Su Ye sneered inwardly, not believing it for a second.

At that moment, a Loose Cultivator crewman tried to approach Su Ye but was blocked by Zhao Li.

"Captain! I have something to report!"

"Let him through." Su Ye’s eyes flickered as he gestured for Zhao Li to let the man pass.

The Loose Cultivator lowered his voice.

"Captain, I recognize that ship! It should be the *Blood Copper* of Liuli the Qi Clan..."

"Are you sure?" Su Ye’s gaze sharpened, his eyes like daggers.

The Loose Cultivator hesitated for a moment, then nodded firmly.

"Before I came to Donglong Island, I knocked around the markets of Liuli Island for a few years. I saw that ship all the time!"

"I’m sure of it!"