Grinding EXP From a Demon Hunting Ship

He concealed it with his Divine Sense, aimed it in Su Ye’s direction, and infused it with his Magical Power to activate it.

BUZZ.

The next moment.

Jiang Wenyuan frowned.

The result...

was rather strange.

A light glowed on the Detection Stone.

This meant that Su Ye’s aura was connected to an unknown evil presence.

At the same time, however, the light from the Detection Stone was incredibly faint. After a few seconds, it went out as suddenly as a candle in a hurricane.

’Hmm...?’

’What does this mean? Could it be... the Detection Stone is broken?’ For a moment, Jiang Wenyuan couldn’t make heads or tails of it.

’No, my Master gave me this. It couldn’t possibly break so easily. This Yehai is definitely connected to that unknown Nascent Soul!’

Jiang Wenyuan was certain of it.

’Hmm...’

’I mustn’t tip him off...’

’For this expedition into the ruins, I can use the Star Casting Hall to test the waters...’ The thought flashed through Jiang Wenyuan’s mind as he concocted a plan to kill with a borrowed knife.

’And to avoid any accidents, I’ll also need to leave a Communication Talisman to keep my Master informed...’

...

「At the same time.」

’This man...’

’Did he discover something?’

His eyelashes fluttered as he glanced at Jiang Wenyuan out of the corner of his eye.

Su Ye grew alert, his focus sharpening.

Jiang Wenyuan’s actions were quite secretive... but he couldn’t hide them from Su Ye, who already possessed a fifth-rank Divine Sense.

With such a high Divine Sense Realm, everything within a radius of a thousand li was under his observation. Therefore, Su Ye saw through Jiang Wenyuan’s supposedly concealed actions as if they were clear as day!

Including the moment he took out the Detection Stone, infused it with Magical Power, and activated it!

’This thing...’

’It seems... it’s very sensitive to the aura of the Netherworld Skill?’

Su Ye had a suspicion. Just now, when the Detection Stone was activated, his Netherworld Skill had suddenly flared up, as if something had provoked it!

Fortunately, he had reacted quickly enough to suppress it and sever the connection.

’The Jade Void Sword Sect’s resources...’

’They were able to come up with something like this after just one encounter...’

Su Ye grew wary. As expected, the Nine Sects of the Inner Sea cannot be underestimated.

He had only used the Netherworld Skill once in front of Fuyunzi, and they had already produced a detection device this quickly!

’This Jiang Wenyuan is at Golden Core Perfection, so I can hide from him...’

’But if I were face-to-face with a Nascent Soul, I’m afraid... no, I would absolutely be exposed!’

Su Ye didn’t think his Concealing Skill could fool a Nascent Soul cultivator.

The gap of an entire major realm was too vast to hide. Especially from a Nascent Soul Sword Cultivator with a keen spiritual sense and Sword Heart Clarity!

’In other words, if things get to the point where... a Nascent Soul True Monarch personally intervenes to verify my identity, then no amount of Concealment would matter.’

’What a pain... In the end, it all comes down to strength.’

’If I were truly a Nascent Soul, who cares if the whole world knew! I’d kill anyone who dared to covet what’s mine!’

Su Ye furrowed his brow, feeling a pang of frustration.

*Haaa...*

He took a deep breath, suppressing his emotions.

’Wait.’

’Wait until we enter the Grotto Heaven...’

’After entering the Grotto Heaven, I can begin...’

His eyes turned cold, a frigid killing intent rising within them.

...

There was still one more obstacle to entering the Grotto Heaven.

That was the Star Casting Hall. The cultivators from the Star Casting Hall had constructed an Array in front of the Grotto Heaven’s node.

With the Array Grandmaster Qingcangzi presiding over it, backed by a group of Golden Core cultivators, if the other side was solely focused on preventing the Sword Sect from entering the Grotto Heaven...

...the Sword Sect would truly be powerless!

Of course.

Conversely, if the Sword Sect decided to play hardball and do nothing, the other side would be equally stuck.

Therefore, to enter the volcanic Grotto Heaven, both sides needed to reach an agreement. Otherwise, they would just be endlessly bickering and getting in each other’s way.

In that case, neither side would be able to enter the volcanic Grotto Heaven; they could only watch helplessly!

As for using equipment like the Celestial Observation Instrument to sneak in through another passage...

—It was possible!

But exploring the Grotto Heaven ruins required great strength, so the Golden Cores in the standoff with the Star Casting Hall would have to be reassigned.

And if the other side didn’t enter the Grotto Heaven and instead launched a direct assault, with the Array Grandmaster Qingcangzi making a move, the Jade Void Sword Sect might not be able to hold their ground with their own array as they had before!

Moreover.

The monsters entrenched within the Grotto Heaven ruins were generally extremely powerful.

The cultivators from both the Jade Void Sword Sect and the Star Casting Hall had a deep and painful memory of this, having suffered greatly during their previous explorations.

Therefore, if the Sword Sect and the Star Casting Hall fought a bloody battle outside the ruins...

...it was highly likely that both sides would suffer heavy losses, and the final victor would no longer have the strength to explore the Grotto Heaven ruins.

Thus.

Both factions had a tacit understanding to explore together.

At least, before tackling the cluster of ruins, the cultivators of both sides would restrain their fighting intent.

However, even with this tacit understanding...

...given the friction between the Jade Void Sword Sect and the Star Casting Hall, their negotiations were destined to be a tedious and lengthy process.

...

「Several days later.」

The Jade Void Sword Sect and the Star Casting Hall finally reached an agreement.

They prepared to enter the volcanic Grotto Heaven to explore the ruins.

BUZZ.

A golden gate of light flickered.

Once again, it was fifteen Golden Core cultivators from each faction.

As for Crystallization Realm cultivators, they didn’t bring any this time. Based on past experience, sending them to the ruins was tantamount to suicide.

The Golden Core cultivators would have to waste precious energy protecting them.

For scouting cannon fodder, they brought some puppets and demonic beasts, which would have to do.

Soon.

The two teams of cultivators, each piloting a spirit ship, maintained a safe distance as they headed for the gate of light.

On the Jade Void Sword Sect’s side, Lu Chen remained on guard outside, while Su Ye and Jiang Wenyuan led the team as commanders for this expedition.

As for the Star Casting Hall’s side, Han Tiantong was the team leader. Qingcangzi, the Golden Core Perfection cultivator, also remained on guard outside.

—To guard against Lu Chen.

BUZZ.

They entered the Grotto Heaven.

A searing, burning wind assaulted them.

Both sides remained wary of each other, controlling their distance as they followed the scouted route toward the cluster of ruins.

As they neared the ruins...

...the sound of the spirit ships’ engines attracted the attention of the Fire Element Lords.

More than twenty tall Fire Element Lords, exuding fourth-rank auras, rose from the lava and let out a roar.

"Mr. Jiang, what should we do?"

"Attack directly. Kill all these Elemental Life forms."

"You guys from the Star Casting Hall, don’t drag us down."

Jiang Wenyuan sneered.

Even though they were temporarily cooperating, the atmosphere between them was clearly not harmonious.

"Heh..."

"I just hope certain people don’t go stabbing us in the back."

Han Tiantong retorted, his eyes sharp.

After his last failure, he had become even more ferocious and intimidating.

Su Ye was silent and calm, his eyes distant, as if his mind was wandering.

’Boring.’

He found these trivial matters dull and almost wanted to yawn.

He had no interest at all in clearing out the Fire Element Lords. Su Ye couldn’t even be bothered to act himself, simply ordering the Ghostly Flood Dragon to fire its cannons and go through the motions.

It didn’t take long.

In about an hour, the Fire Element Lords had all been slain.

Even though they were not on good terms, there were a full thirty Golden Core cultivators present, plus four spirit ships.

Among them were several at Golden Core Perfection, or with equivalent combat power.

With such ample combat power, it was no problem at all to crush them.

Next.

It was time for the official exploration of the ruins!

K-CHA.

The long-sealed temple doors slowly opened.

An incomparably cold and sinister aura spread out from the temple like a plague.

"After entering the ruins, do not split up."

"Everyone, follow my command. We’ll advance from the perimeter..." Jiang Wenyuan’s tone was serious as he laid out the tactics and gave commands.

’Heh...’

Su Ye listened, completely unconcerned. He almost... wanted to laugh.

Because...

’Hello? Dream-keepers?’

’After we enter the temple, arrange for a random teleportation.’

’Right.’

’Teleport me and him together.’

Su Ye relayed via his Divine Sense to the Dream-keepers.

He had already sealed Jiang Wenyuan’s fate.

’Fine...’

The Dream-keepers were silent for a long moment before agreeing.