「Half a month later.」
In the distance, directly ahead of the Flying Serpent, the outline of an island emerged.
Donglong Island!
The ship's bell rang. Crew members rushed onto the deck, gazing at the distant island and erupting into cheers.
Su Ye was also filled with emotion as he gazed into the distance.
"We're back..."
He didn't feel particularly homesick for Donglong Island.
However, after several consecutive months at sea, he found himself missing the feeling of solid ground beneath his feet.
"Mr. Su, you've broken through to the third level of Qi Refining!"
Zhao Li's astonished voice sounded from the side.
"Haha... That's right. I was in peak condition last night and broke through to the third level of Qi Refining in one go!"
Su Ye turned with a smile and nodded frankly.
A sixteen-year-old at the third level of Qi Refining was considered to be progressing quite quickly among those with low-grade Spiritual Roots.
"Congratulations, Mr. Su, on your great advancement in cultivation!"
Zhao Li offered his sincere congratulations, his eyes filled with envy.
He had joined the Luo Family in the same year as Su Ye.
Now, Zhao Li was barely a third of the way through the second level of Qi Refining.
Yet Su Ye was already at the third level.
It would be impossible for Zhao Li to feel no envy or jealousy at all.
But when he thought about the incident with the Long-beaked Swordfish and the night of the mutiny, how Su Ye had saved his life twice, and the skill and power he had displayed...
...that trace of jealousy in Zhao Li's heart quickly dissipated, replaced by sincere admiration.
'Mr. Su is an exceptional man. It's only natural that he's stronger than me. How could I possibly compare to him?'
Sensing the general shift in Zhao Li's emotions, Su Ye thought nothing of it and smiled faintly.
With his panel ability, the gap between him and Zhao Li would only grow wider over time.
By then, faced with an insurmountable chasm between them...
...Zhao Li wouldn't even feel this slight envy he felt now.
Instead, he would feel nothing but heartfelt worship and respect!
At the same time, Su Ye mused to himself.
'The panel came from a sailing game. If I want to fully utilize its functions, I'll definitely have to become a captain and command a ship.'
'When that time comes, maybe this fellow countryman I get along with could serve as a loyal boatswain or steward for me?'
Su Ye glanced at Zhao Li, his thoughts turning.
After all, a large spirit ship couldn't be operated by a single person.
However, that wasn't an absolute rule.
According to the original owner's memories, he had heard that high-level spirit vessels could birth a ship spirit, allowing them to operate autonomously without a crew.
But a spirit vessel of that caliber was something that not even the Luo Family's patron sect could likely produce, let alone the Luo Family itself...
As for Su Ye, it was something he couldn't even dream of at the moment.
His goal was simply to command a Demon Hunting Ship like the Flying Serpent!
It was difficult for someone with an outside surname to command a Demon Hunting Ship.
But since the Luo Family was only a Foundation Establishment clan, it wasn't impossible!
Of course, thinking about these things was still a bit premature.
Even Luo Qingjun, a direct descendant of the Luo Family, had to wait until the fifth level of Qi Refining before he could command a Demon Hunting Ship.
And Su Ye's current cultivation level was only the third level of Qi Refining.
Unless this body of his was the illegitimate son of the Luo Family's Foundation Establishment ancestor, there was no way it would happen.
Tapping his index finger lightly on the ship's railing, Su Ye contemplated as he watched Donglong Island draw closer.
'Returning to Donglong Island this time, I have three main objectives.'
'First, use the Spirit Stone earnings from this demon hunt to purchase a batch of resources that can accelerate my cultivation—pills, Spirit Rice, demon fish meat...'
'Then, before the next voyage, I need to improve my cultivation and Magical Power as much as possible.'
One's cultivation level was the foundation of everything.
Although the panel's power was unfathomable, it hadn't yet shown any ability to increase his lifespan.
Cultivating the immortal path, on the other hand, was known to extend one's life!
'Second, I need to find a way to get the complete Ghost Water Skill, or at least the fifth through seventh levels of the Cultivation Technique.'
Su Ye only had the first four levels of the Ghost Water Skill Cultivation Technique.
Resources could increase his cultivation speed.
A Cultivation Technique could guarantee his future path.
For Su Ye, whose aptitude was mediocre, the importance of these two things was beyond doubt.
'And the third thing...' Su Ye pondered for a moment.
What Su Ye was thinking about was verifying a suspicion he had.
'Changing my class to [Tide Hunter] didn't increase the degree of my cultivation acceleration.'
Based on his own speculation during this period, combined with his experience from the game in his past life, he guessed.
'It's very likely that simply leveling up my class has a cultivation acceleration cap of 20%!'
'To accelerate it further, what I need is to raise my position on the ship!'
Therefore, the third thing Su Ye had to do upon returning to the island...
...was to find a way to pull some strings and secure a higher position for himself on the Demon Hunting Ship!
'With the merit of suppressing the mutiny, this shouldn't be too difficult...' Su Ye thought.
If the 'reward' promised by the Luo Family couldn't even get him the position of boatswain...
...then he would really need to consider how to leave the Luo Family in the future.
...
The Flying Serpent furled its mainsail, relying on its smaller sails and inertia to slowly cruise into Donglong Island's harbor.
"Huh? That ship is..." A flash of surprise appeared in Su Ye's eyes.
A spirit ship even larger and more imposing than the Flying Serpent was also docked in the harbor.
The Luo Family's flagship, a peak-grade Tier 1 spirit ship.
The Yunjin!
The highest-grade and most powerful spirit ship in the entire Luo Family.
Only... at this moment, the Yunjin's hull was covered in scorched black marks, and even one of its masts was broken!
The ship had clearly been through a brutal battle!
Su Ye studied the Yunjin, his eyes slightly lowered.
'Even the Yunjin was heavily damaged. It seems the Luo Family's situation isn't as secure as I thought...'
'They might even be at a disadvantage?'
For Su Ye, this news was a mixed blessing.
The Luo Family was in a difficult position, facing powerful external enemies.
This meant that the risks Su Ye would face when sailing would increase significantly!
After all, Demon Hunting Ships were the economic lifeblood of many smaller clans in the Island Cultivation Realm.
Hostile forces would inevitably target this, dispatching spirit ships to intercept and destroy the Luo Family's Demon Hunting Ships, putting economic pressure on them!
But at the same time, under this external pressure, the Luo Family was stretched thin and short on manpower.
As long as he performed exceptionally, his chances of being promoted, and even commanding a ship of his own, would greatly increase!
Chaotic times create heroes.
In times of hardship and turmoil, many peacetime rules are broken.
Seniority, background... none of it matters!
The capable rise, the incompetent fall!
...
While Su Ye was lost in thought, the Flying Serpent docked and lowered its gangplank.
The crew members, who had been adrift at sea for eight long months, finally set foot on land again!
At this moment, several Luo Family cultivators were already waiting at the port.
The person in the lead was, surprisingly, a beautiful young woman!
She looked to be fifteen or sixteen, with skin fairer than snow and a bright, charming demeanor.
An exquisite, deep-blue silk Magical Robe further accentuated her snowy skin and flower-like beauty.
Her delicate and slender legs were shod in wooden clogs, and wrapped in over-the-knee white silk stockings.
The tops of the stockings gently squeezed her tender thighs, revealing a hint of flesh tone.
Her entire being radiated an aura of youthful vitality!
Such stunning beauty immediately drew the eyes of all the crew members, shining like the brilliant moon!