Grinding EXP From a Demon Hunting Ship

The gun battery.

"Nine, ten, twelve... sixteen!"

Su Ye raised his spyglass, carefully counting the fresh, still-dripping human skewers on the docks.

A moment later, he lowered the spyglass with a hint of regret.

"What a pity... We only killed sixteen before the Shu Family reacted."

"Otherwise, if they’d continued their suicidal charge, we could have taken Copper Drum Bay with just the ballistas..."

As he thought this, Su Ye shook his head and laughed self-deprecatingly.

’What am I thinking? Things are never that good...’

’Achieving this much is already an unexpected and welcome surprise!’

This outcome was only possible because the gun battery had fallen, followed by the fire oil attack, plunging everything into chaos.

Add to that the Sea Crocodile breaking into the harbor, threatening the spirit ship fleet that was the Shu Family’s very lifeblood!

All these factors combined caused the Shu Family cultivators to lose their composure and think unclearly.

They sent their own flesh-and-blood bodies before the ballistas, only to be nailed into human skewers...

In reality, if they had been able to calm down, they would have discovered something.

The situation was not as dangerous as it seemed.

Because if Su Ye had intended to destroy the spirit ships, the first volley of flaming Crossbow Arrows would have been enough to do it.

And yet now, with almost the entire port ablaze,

the five spirit ships moored at the docks were still completely unscathed.

This was enough to prove that Su Ye’s goal was to ’capture,’ not ’destroy.’

Moreover, a large spirit ship required at least a dozen skilled crew members to operate normally.

After splitting off men to capture the gun battery, the Sea Crocodile was left with just over thirty crew members.

With so few people, how could they hope to capture five spirit ships?

It would only be possible by spending a great deal of time carefully adjusting the sails.

Just like now.

Although the Shu Family cultivators were no longer attacking,

the Sea Crocodile’s crew still didn’t dare to split up and seize the ships, instead manning the ballistas to maintain a deterrent.

For a moment, the battle at the port had reached a stalemate.

...

The gun battery.

Su Ye stared at the harbor, the raging sea of fire reflected in his ink-black pupils.

He watched the stalemate unfold in the harbor, his expression calm and unflustered.

As far as Su Ye was concerned, he already had the upper hand in this battle!

Because the two gun batteries that originally guarded Copper Drum Bay were now under his control!

Copper Drum Bay’s defenses were on the verge of collapse!

All Su Ye needed to do was fire a signal flare.

Then, the Luo Family fleet, drawn by the signal, could surge in and occupy Copper Drum Bay!

Of course, in reality, Su Ye was unwilling to do that.

The panel’s judgment was very intelligent.

’If a force that I cannot command or control gets involved and plays a major role,’

’then the experience points I gain will be drastically reduced, or even disappear entirely!’

Su Ye had discovered this back when he was hunting demons.

And in the recent northern harbor landing, he had received no experience points at all!

After planning for so long, Su Ye had no desire for his spoils to be ’tainted.’

’However, the Shu Family cultivators don’t know that.’

Su Ye couldn’t help but sneer.

In their eyes, the Luo Family fleet was rapidly approaching!

Therefore, they had to rush to Su Ye’s position at the gun battery closer to the port and retake it, and do so with even greater speed.

Otherwise, the Shu Family would inevitably lose Copper Drum Bay!

...

Facing the approaching Shu Family cultivators, Su Ye was full of confidence.

’Subtract the gun battery defenders we’ve already slaughtered, subtract the human skewers who sent themselves to their deaths on the docks, subtract the old and weak guarding the port...’

’How many people could they possibly have left?’

"Ten? Fifteen? Heh..." Su Ye chuckled lightly.

No matter what, the enemy’s numbers couldn’t possibly exceed fifteen.

As for the only real threat, the Late-stage Qi Refining cultivator, Shu Fenglin...

According to battlefield intelligence, he wasn’t skilled in speed.

And at present, he was suffering from the severe aftereffects of a concussion brought on by a heavy blow to the head.

His Spiritual Sense was weak, and his condition was listless.

Su Ye didn’t believe that Shu Fenglin, in his current state, could dodge the Whale-Hunting Spear!

’So... we will take the initiative and bury them!’

A confident resolve, born of assured victory, appeared in Su Ye’s eyes.

It wasn’t arrogance, but confidence derived from thorough, prior intelligence gathering!

...

"Of course... while I’m away..."

Su Ye’s eyes shifted to Zhao Li.

"Zhao Li, aim all of the gun battery’s ballistas outward!"

"Tell the other gun battery to do the same!"

"If it’s not one of our own spirit ships... then no matter who tries to enter the harbor, blast them to smithereens!"

"No matter who it is!"

Su Ye gave a cold smile.

The commotion at Copper Drum Bay was very likely to attract some unwelcome guests...

"Friends are greeted with fine wine; unwelcome guests are served fire oil!"

...

SHING.

Shu Fenglin walked at the very front of the group.

He was tall and imposing. The long saber Magical Artifact in his hands swung left and right, hacking the vines and bushes in his path to pieces!

"Ugh..."

Shu Fenglin suddenly stopped, his expression twisting as he clutched his head.

A piercing headache, so agonizing he wished he were dead, shot through his skull.

Shu Fenglin slapped the Storage Pouch at his waist, took out a porcelain vial, uncorked it, and shook it fiercely.

However, nothing came out of the vial.

The Pain Relief Elixir had been completely used up.

"Dammit!"

Smashing the vial in frustration, Shu Fenglin pressed his thumbs hard against his temples.

He turned and asked the few Shu Family cultivators behind him,

"Does anyone have any liquor?"

GLUG.

After a few gulps of strong liquor, Shu Fenglin gasped a few times before letting out a long breath.

He felt slightly better under the numbing effect of the alcohol.

"Keep moving. Retake—"

"Who’s there?!"

Shu Fenglin’s gaze sharpened abruptly as he stared into the dark forest.

Answering him were several ice spikes, shimmering with a ghostly light!

SHHNK!

In this moment of crisis, Shu Fenglin instinctively threw up an energy shield!

The Magical Energy Shield, one of the hallmarks of a Late-stage Qi Refining cultivator.

It could be activated in an instant, its Defense Power was considerable, and its Magical Power consumption was low.

Relying on their Magical Energy Shield, a Late-stage Qi Refining cultivator could often overpower several mid-stage cultivators in combat!

PANG.

The reliable Magical Energy Shield blocked a Profound Nether Needle.

But two of Shu Fenglin’s men were pierced through the skull by the vicious needles!

A vicious glint flashed in Shu Fenglin’s eyes. With a flick of his hand, he unleashed more than ten azure Wind Blades that weaved through the trees, seeking to kill the ambusher!

However...

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

The Wind Blades, sharp enough to split gold and sever iron, were all deflected by a deep blue shield!

’He blocked them... so easily...’ Shu Fenglin’s brow furrowed, his wariness growing.

At that moment,

TAP. TAP. TAP.

The sound of unhurried, rhythmic footsteps echoed through the woods.

Black robes fluttered, and a silver spear, gleaming like frost, reflected the faint moonlight!

Then, Su Ye’s handsome and spirited face emerged from the darkness!

He exuded an indescribable air of mystery!

"It’s a shame, Shu Fenglin, but I’m in a bit of a hurry..."

"So..." Su Ye said softly, drawing out the word.

"Within ten breaths..."

"I’ll kill you."

’A mere fifth-level Qi Refining...’

Hearing this, a grim, murderous aura instantly appeared on Shu Fenglin’s face!

"Arrogant brat, who do you think you are?!"

"ROAR!"

His eyes bloodshot, Shu Fenglin let out a savage, bestial roar, radiating pure violence.

Tormented by headaches for days, unable to eat or sleep, his emotions were a powder keg waiting to explode!

And now, that powder keg had been instantly ignited by Su Ye’s arrogant words!

The long saber Magical Artifact in his hand was suddenly enveloped in an azure light as he brought it crashing down!

"Go to hell!"