Grinding EXP From a Demon Hunting Ship

Chapter 480: Chapter 440: Volcano Grotto Heaven, Calling for Backup Again

’After all, the secrets within the volcano have essentially been revealed. These Inner Sea Nascent Soul cultivators will definitely want to try exploring it.’

’And given how much those in power cherish their own lives, it’s highly likely they’ll send Golden Core cultivators to scout the path...’

At this thought, Su Ye narrowed his eyes, a chill creeping into his heart.

’Thankfully, the Ghostly Flood Dragon was upgraded during the battle in Volcano State.’

’With the assistance of the spirit ship’s Harmony, my speed of advancing to the Late-stage Golden Core will increase significantly.’

’Also, there’s Li Jinhua. I can try to build a better relationship with this relatively friendly Nascent Soul cultivator...’

...

Just as he was thinking this, Su Ye’s expression suddenly shifted, and he stopped his train of thought.

He turned, clasped his hands in a fist-and-palm salute, and said seriously, "Greetings, Senior."

"Oh?"

Li Jinhua’s voice sounded out, her tone slightly surprised. It seemed... she was shocked that Su Ye was able to detect her?

’Heh...’ Su Ye chuckled to himself. Li Jinhua’s Concealment technique was quite good. To be honest, he still hadn’t detected anything on his own.

The problem was... this was the Ghostly Flood Dragon, Su Ye’s personal spirit ship!

The captain’s perspective granted by the spirit ship’s Harmony was enough to leave no place for any hidden person to hide.

BZZZ.

A moment later, the void rippled.

Li Jinhua’s figure emerged. She stood on the deck and glanced at Su Ye, inwardly surprised.

’How did he do it? With his Divine Sense?’

’Impossible... Not even Yuan Lan, with his Yuan Lan Soul Body—a soul-type Dao Body that makes his soul far superior to others of his rank—detected me when I was concealed.’

’I can’t figure it out.’

’Is a Dao Embryo Dharma Aspect... really that miraculous?’

Unconsciously, Li Jinhua’s appraisal of Su Ye rose another level.

As for his potential being too high and wanting to nip it in the bud...

If it were the three great upper sects, faced with such a prodigy who could potentially disrupt the balance of the sea regions and affect their rule, they might have taken the initiative to eliminate him...

But Li Jinhua?

There was no need. Truly, no need at all.

After all, these times were different. The glory of the true dragons had long since faded. Wasn’t it obvious that she, the daughter of a true dragon, wasn’t even following the Path of Dragon Blood, but had instead switched to the Spiritual Mechanism Immortal Dao?

Even her so-called father, a Dragon Lord at the Tier Five Late Stage, was holed up in the Undersea Dragon Palace, ignoring worldly affairs and lowering his own profile.

Therefore, befriending him and forging a good relationship was more in line with her interests...

The Cangyuan Dragon Palace had stood for thousands of years. Was it because their true dragon bloodline was superior and their combat power was outstanding? No, it was because successive Dragon Lords had been amicable and had invested heavily in befriending human prodigies!

’This Su Ye... I can increase my investment in him...’

Just as she was thinking this, a pained expression appeared on Li Jinhua’s face. She clutched her chest and looked as if she were about to vomit blood.

A moment later, she coughed up a clump of blackened, sulfur-smelling flesh and blood, which burned to ashes in an instant.

"Senior?!" Su Ye exclaimed in alarm.

"It’s nothing."

"Just some fire poison in my lungs."

Li Jinhua waved her hand, refusing the elixir Su Ye offered. With a flash from her Storage Ring, she took out and swallowed an Ice White Elixir that had naturally formed dan-lines and radiated a cold aura.

Next, Li Jinhua took several rapid breaths of varying lengths, seemingly using some special breathing technique to aid the elixir in expelling the fire poison.

After a moment, a look of relief finally appeared on her face.

"Hah..."

"Senior, this fire poison...?" Su Ye saw his opening and quickly asked, seeing that she had finished regulating her breath.

He had seen Yuan Lan’s techniques clearly—the method of death and the Divine Sword Dao. Neither of these had anything to do with fire poison.

Therefore, Li Jinhua’s injury could only have come from one source.

—The volcano!

This made Su Ye very concerned.

"Hm?"

Hearing his question, Li Jinhua’s golden pupils turned to look at Su Ye.

Given her status, she could have completely ignored a junior Golden Core cultivator, but... Su Ye was different. A cultivator with a Dao Embryo Dharma Aspect deserved preferential treatment.

Therefore, after a moment of contemplation, even though her injuries had not yet healed, Li Jinhua patiently explained.

"This fire poison injury wasn’t caused by Yuan Lan. Although he is powerful, I have the Seven-Colored Bridge of Reincarnation, a top-tier Dao weapon that is both offensive and defensive, and also has the ability to traverse the void."

"Throughout the battle, I held the upper hand. Yuan Lan was constrained at every turn. Based on how the fight was going, I could have at least fought him to a draw, or even made him suffer a small loss."

Li Jinhua said proudly.

Even in the Central Sea Region, Yuan Lan of the Star Casting Hall was not a nobody.

Being able to fight Yuan Lan to a standstill, even with the power of a Dao weapon, was a glorious achievement worthy of remembrance!

"However..."

"Just as Yuan Lan and I were fighting, the Volcano State Territory suddenly underwent a strange transformation."

"Did the volcano erupt?" Su Ye asked.

Li Jinhua shook her head in denial. "The supervolcano is famous. Both Yuan Lan and I knew that, so when we fought, we intentionally moved toward the Gangfeng Layer."

"But even so, when we started getting serious and began to unleash our Nascent Soul-level Magical Power, the fluctuations still triggered an abnormal reaction!"

Li Jinhua recalled, "At that time, a vast golden gate of light opened in the sky, right in the middle of my battlefield with Yuan Lan. It erupted with a powerful pulling force."

"At the same time, an endless amount of highly concentrated fire poison and fire-elemental Spiritual Qi poured out, attacking both me and Yuan Lan..." As she spoke, Li Jinhua suddenly broke into a gloating smile.

"Heh... Seeing that things were going badly, I used the Seven-Colored Bridge of Reincarnation to traverse the void. My injuries aren’t severe."

"But that guy, Yuan Lan, has no such ability. He was hit head-on by the fire poison. He really suffered a major loss this time!"

Li Jinhua was in a good mood.

Although she had fire poison in her lungs and her injuries were not light, her enemy was hurt even more. The comparison was naturally pleasing!

Seeing that Li Jinhua was in a good mood, Su Ye agreed with her a few times before tactfully probing for information about the ’golden gate of light’.

"According to what you said, Senior?"

"Could the place behind this gate of light be an ancient Grotto Heaven? Could it be... that this is the Star Casting Hall’s objective?"

Su Ye threw out the topic, hoping to bait a response.

He also really wanted to know how much information the True Treasure Pavilion had on the Volcano Divine Kingdom.

Li Jinhua nodded. "It’s very likely."

"It’s already certain that there is an ancient Grotto Heaven in Volcano State, and its opening date is right around this time."

"The Star Casting Hall most likely knew this. With the opening time approaching, they ordered the Candle Python Cave to invade the Day Flame Sea Region."

"Their purpose was to provide a cover for their exploration of the volcanic Grotto Heaven!"

"Besides that..." Li Jinhua paused, then continued.

"This volcanic Grotto Heaven is truly rich. In just a fleeting glimpse, I saw a vast Tier Four Chiling Grassland that has probably been growing for several thousand years."

"And I could vaguely see traces of man-made structures near the Red Ridge Grass... In the distant past, this was very likely a sect’s Grotto Heaven!"

"Abundant resources, a possible sect inheritance, and a Grotto Heaven that starts at Tier Five and is possibly even Tier Six... it’s only natural that the Star Casting Hall would be tempted."

Li Jinhua’s golden pupils flickered as she sighed with emotion.

At the same time, she took another Ice White Elixir to dispel the fire poison.

"But, according to what you said, Senior, if the fire poison in the volcanic Grotto Heaven is so intense, how can it be explored?" Su Ye asked again.

"Not exactly. Before this, Yuan Lan was already inside the volcanic Grotto Heaven, exploring it."

"As for the cause of this fire poison eruption, it was probably because my fight with Yuan Lan triggered the Grotto Heaven’s warning system..." Li Jinhua deduced.

"This Grotto Heaven restricts high-level beings from taking action."

"I’m afraid... only beings below the Nascent Soul realm can enter... After all, we outsiders don’t have permission to access the Grotto Heaven."

Li Jinhua shrugged and continued, "Therefore, Yuan Lan and I reached an agreement to limit the scale of the war, restrict Nascent Soul cultivators from fighting, and use Golden Core cultivators to explore the Grotto Heaven."

"So, during this time, both our sides will continuously send Golden Core cultivators to the Day Flame Sea Region to compete for the Grotto Heaven."

"Hm?"

Hearing this, Su Ye’s heart skipped a beat.

’If things are developing this way, doesn’t that mean...?’

...

...

...

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!