Grinding EXP From a Demon Hunting Ship

Chapter 62: Chapter 62: The Qi Family’s Worries, the Shadow of Cyan Profound

’Why is the Qi Family so insistent on occupying White Iron Island?’

On the journey back, Su Ye was filled with lingering doubts.

In his opinion, the Qi Family’s choice during this negotiation wasn’t the absolute worst, but it was definitely one of the bottom two or three.

The benefits of occupying White Iron Island were obvious: an island rich in Spiritual Qi and with abundant reserves of white iron ore.

But...

The losses it would incur were equally obvious.

Namely, the combined enmity of the Luo and Shu Families!

The Qi Family’s move—swooping in like an oriole to snatch the prize—caused the Luo Family’s resentment and hostility toward them to skyrocket.

After all, after absorbing the Shu Family’s fleet...

The Luo Family fleet, possessing the Yunjin and the Golden Sword Orchid, was no pushover!

Even though the Luo Family had not yet recovered from the great battle and didn’t dare to take the offensive...

...they were still strong enough to tie down the Qi Family, forcing them to station a significant number of spirit ships at White Iron Island for defense.

This represented a considerable hidden cost...

As for the Shu Family, it went without saying. The Qi Family had taken advantage of their predicament, forcing them to trade White Iron Island for a small plot of spirit land.

Even though circumstances forced their hand, the Shu Family undoubtedly harbored resentment.

Even if the Shu Family was now a shadow of its former self and posed no threat to the Qi Family...

But the Shu Family had Shu Shaojing, their genius with an Earth Spiritual Root in the Cyan Profound Sect!

’It’s hard to say what the future might hold...’

And so, all for a single White Iron Island...

The Qi Family had planted a powerful time bomb for itself, one for the short term and one for the long term.

’This...’

If Su Ye had been the one making decisions for the Qi Family, he would have likely:

...used the Soul Gold’s power to mediate the war, but kept the greatly weakened Shu Family intact.

He would have had them garrison White Iron Island, creating a buffer zone between the Luo and Qi Families.

That way, the weakened Shu Family, who harbored a deep hatred for the Luo Family, would have no choice but to depend on the Qi Family.

The Qi Family, in turn, could leverage its superior position to effectively turn the Shu Family into a vassal.

’It would have been the best of both worlds!’

’And now... they just ignored everything and occupied White Iron Island directly...’

Su Ye’s expression was odd as he stroked his chin.

’I don’t get it. I really don’t get it...’

Based on his experience dealing with the Qi Family during the Blood Copper incident...

The Qi Family’s decision-maker wasn’t an especially emotional person.

’Could it be an insatiable urge to expand territory? Some sort of map-painting obsession?’

’That can’t be it...’

The Qi Family already had at least three or four islands like White Iron Island within their maritime territory.

’Unless... white iron has some critical use I’m unaware of?’

Su Ye murmured to himself.

After pondering for a while, he still couldn’t come up with an answer.

’Whatever. I can’t figure it out. I’ll focus on cultivating and shelve this problem for now...’

...

The Soul Gold.

Inside a spacious and comfortable cabin, an oil lamp was burning.

"The battle is over. The Luo Family has retreated, and we’ve secured White Iron Island..."

His uncle, Qi Maoxin, was recounting the gains and losses of the recent negotiations to Qi Changxin, who was lying in bed.

Although the Blood Copper had been returned, it required extensive repairs.

Now free, the two of them were unburdened by any official duties.

Qi Changxin’s body was covered in bandages, and the strong scent of medicinal ointment hung in the air.

After hearing his uncle’s account, Qi Changxin turned his head. He hesitated for a moment before speaking in a low voice.

"Forgive me for being blunt, but the Patriarch’s decision was extremely unwise..."

"We gained little by taking White Iron Island, yet we’ve antagonized the Luo Family. Now we have another powerful enemy to our west..."

"And the Shu Family won’t be grateful either. Instead, they’ll harbor a grudge, which is yet another hidden danger!"

"That Shu Shaojing is expected to reach the Golden Core realm. If he succeeds in his cultivation and returns one day backed by the might of the Cyan Profound Sect, what will our family do?!"

Qi Changxin lamented.

"Changxin, watch what you say!" Qi Maoxin’s expression turned stern as he cut him off.

"I’ve heard... this was the Ancestor’s will!"

"The Ancestor?" Qi Changxin looked stunned.

The Qi Family’s Ancestor, Qi Chengjian!

A Late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator!

He had led the Qi Family for nearly a hundred years.

For the last thirty-some years, Qi Chengjian had not made a single public appearance.

It was rumored he was in secluded cultivation within the Qi Family’s ancestral lands.

Many suspected he had already reached Foundation Establishment Perfection and was plotting to break through to the Golden Core realm...

"It was the Ancestor’s will... His actions must have a deeper meaning!"

Qi Changxin’s tone changed immediately.

Qi Chengjian held immense prestige within the Qi Family. His accomplishments were exceptional, and he was deeply revered!

He then fell into deep thought, trying desperately to understand the Ancestor’s intentions.

’Why would the Ancestor do this? Could it be that the Patriarch executed the plan poorly...’

...

The Soul Gold.

In the captain’s cabin.

The Qi Family Patriarch took out a bronze mirror. Its surface shimmered, and a blurry image materialized.

A soft sigh emanated from it.

"Following my instructions this time must have been difficult for you..."

"The younger generation in the family must be full of resentment, aren’t they?"

The Qi Family Patriarch shook his head and said in a somber tone.

"The younger generation has grown up under your wing, Ancestor. How could they possibly understand the perilous situation our family is in?"

"Aside from the Luo-Shu situation, we have reached the limits of our expansion in all other areas, unable to advance even an inch."

"If we don’t push forward and seize more resources, your breakthrough to the Golden Core realm, Ancestor, will remain a distant dream..."

"Without a Golden Core cultivator, our family is nothing but a lamb to the slaughter before the Cyan Profound Sect!"

"A lamb to the slaughter... how apt."

Qi Chengjian sighed, a bitter smile on his face. After a moment, he spoke in a haunting tone.

"I’m contacting you now to tell you... you no longer need to worry about Shu Shaojing of the Shu Family."

Upon hearing this, the Qi Family Patriarch swallowed hard, his eyes wide with horror.

"Could it be...?"

"What else? His Dao Foundation was taken to refine a Divine Technique seed!" Qi Chengjian said coldly.

"I only learned of this recently myself. Hongri took Shu Shaojing as his disciple."

"He did it precisely to use Shu Shaojing’s aptitude to cultivate the Flame Heart Jade Dao Foundation, which he needs to forge his third Divine Technique seed..."

"With the Shu Family held hostage, Shu Shaojing had no choice but to comply. After securing some preferential treatment and guarantees of safety for his family, he ’voluntarily’ sacrificed his Dao Foundation..."

A Foundation Establishment cultivator’s Dao Foundation is the convergence of their essence, qi, and spirit.

To lose it is to die!

Qi Chengjian’s tone was complex, tinged with the sorrow of seeing a peer fall—a sorrow born of fear.

Listening closely, one could even detect... fear!

A bone-deep fear!

After a long silence, Qi Chengjian finally spoke, his voice heavy. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

"A Flame Heart Jade Dao Foundation alone only serves as the primary material for the Divine Technique seed."

"If Hongri wants to forge his third Divine Technique seed and attain his Three-Method Golden Core, he will still need to spend a great deal of time refining it."

"And the other masters will certainly not stand idly by..."

"For the next ten-plus years, the internal strife within the Cyan Profound Sect is bound to intensify, leaving them no time to bother with the likes of us."

"We must use this time to prepare for war and bide our time!"

"When the time is right, we will use White Iron Island as a springboard to march our forces west!"

"Conquer the Luo Family, seize their resources, help me reach the Golden Core realm, and break free from the Cyan Profound Sect’s grasp!"

"So that the descendants of our Qi Family will no longer have to live in the shadows!"

...

Su Ye was still unaware of these high-level machinations.

He stood on the deck of the Golden Sword Orchid, his Spiritual Sense probing a jade slip in his hand.

It contained detailed information about the indigenous tribe, which Luo Xiyin had extracted via Soul Search.

Soon, within one of the recorded scenes, he saw the familiar, faint blue fragments!

’Sure enough, that indigenous tribe has more Sea Successor Remains!’

Having confirmed this...

Su Ye couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief.

"Phew..."

The sky was a brilliant, clear blue, and white clouds drifted lazily. Bright, dazzling sunlight streamed down like a waterfall...

Su Ye stood on the deck, quietly admiring the beautiful scenery.