As a newcomer, Su Ye quickly adapted to life aboard the Flying Serpent.
Work, eat, cultivate—it was a routine, fulfilling life.
The work of a seaman was incredibly hard, but whenever exhaustion set in, Su Ye would look at the experience points increasing on his panel.
His desire for the extraordinary and for long life gave him the strength to persevere.
「A month passed quickly.」
「Early morning.」
On deck, Su Ye was scrubbing away grime and seawater alongside the other crewmen.
The Flying Serpent was a wooden ship that required daily cleaning and maintenance. Otherwise, the deck's surface would easily corrode and grow damp.
This tedious, arduous, repetitive work often drove the ordinary crewmen to their wits' end.
In contrast, Su Ye remained emotionally stable, neither arrogant nor impatient.
'But hey, it gives me experience points,' Su Ye thought, glancing at the panel's information.
[Scrubbing the deck, [Seaman] EXP +1]
Seeing this, the corners of Su Ye's mouth lifted slightly, revealing a hint of joy.
He thought a command, and a pale blue virtual panel materialized before him.
[Name: Su Ye]
[Realm: Qi Refining, Second Level]
[Class: Seaman Lv. 1 (100/100)+]
[Class Attribute Bonus: Damage +1, Protection +1]
[Cultivation Technique: Ghost Water Skill]
'It's finally full!' Su Ye's spirits lifted as he looked at the familiar "+" sign.
In one month, Su Ye had finally maxed out the experience for [Seaman Lv. 1]!
It was a little slower than he had expected.
But there was nothing to be done about it. The opportunity to handle demon fish didn't come every day.
In that one month, the Flying Serpent had only captured a single demon fish.
'And we lost a crewman because of it…'
Although he hadn't participated in that demon hunt, Su Ye still felt a lingering fear.
Including the incident the original owner of his body had experienced, the Flying Serpent had already lost five crewmen in the four months since setting sail.
The perils of demon hunting were plain to see.
From that perspective, the low frequency of dealing with demon fish wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
'If we had to hunt demons every day, even doubling the crew wouldn't be enough to cover the losses…' Su Ye grumbled inwardly.
And aside from handling demon fish, a seaman's daily chores, like scrubbing the deck, also provided experience points, but the amount was very small.
According to Su Ye's observations and calculations, these daily tasks only gave him 1 to 3 experience points per day.
'It's a small amount, but at least it's steady and safe,' Su Ye comforted himself.
As long as the Flying Serpent didn't sink, daily maintenance was mandatory, which guaranteed a steady stream of experience points.
A thousand thoughts raced through his mind in a single instant.
Su Ye focused his mind and pressed the "+" sign after [Seaman Lv. 1].
BUZZ!
A familiar, cool energy surged into his body, strengthening his physical form.
The text on the virtual panel blurred for a moment before sharpening again.
[Class: Seaman Lv. 2 (0/300)]
[Class Attribute Bonus: Damage +2, Protection +2]
'Damage and Protection both increased by one point.'
Su Ye stretched his limbs, feeling his physique grow a level stronger under the panel's enhancement. He was quite satisfied.
He was currently only at the second level of Qi Refining, a small fry at the bottom of the Cultivation Realm, and was engaged in the treacherously dangerous work of demon hunting.
The boons from his attribute panel were the only thing that gave him a sense of security.
Closing the panel, Su Ye's expression returned to normal as he continued to diligently scrub the deck.
As he scrubbed, he wondered what he would have for lunch.
But just then.
RING RING RING!
The crisp sound of the ship's bell rang out!
Su Ye's expression instantly tensed!
That sound was…
"Demon fish spotted!"
"All hands on deck!"
The lookout's voice echoed across the deck!
Immediately after, a middle-aged man with a stern face, dressed in black, emerged from an upper-deck cabin and strode quickly to the ship's railing.
Su Ye recognized him.
The man's name was Luo Jing, a cultivator at the sixth level of Qi Refining. He was the first mate of the Flying Serpent, a man whose authority was second only to the captain's!
"It's a Long-beaked Swordfish! Its beak is a valuable prize!" Luo Jing said, gazing into the distance with a glint in his eye.
"Lower the Spiritual Boats! Crew, prepare!"
Four small, canoe-like Spiritual Boats were hung by ropes from the edge of the Flying Serpent.
Contrary to what most people would think, the massive Flying Serpent actually played more of a support role during a demon hunt.
These small Spiritual Boats were the true source of damage!
Like a pack of wolves, they would encircle and hunt the enormous sea beast!
One Spiritual Boat could carry six people.
At that moment, Luo Jing quickly called out twenty-four names.
"…Su Ye… Zhao Li…"
Afterward, Luo Jing was the first to board a Spiritual Boat!
"The hunt is on, lads! All aboard!"
"Mr. Su…" An uneasy look appeared on Zhao Li's dark-skinned face.
"Don't panic!" Su Ye took a deep breath and clapped him on the shoulder.
In truth, Zhao Li wasn't the only one panicking.
Having been born in an era of peace, even with the memories of his body's original owner, Su Ye couldn't help but feel a certain dread about hunting demons.
But…
'Once you're on a Demon Hunting Ship, you have to face this sooner or later. My luck couldn't hold out forever; I was bound to be called eventually…'
Besides, in Su Ye's view, being exempt from the roster the last two times wasn't entirely due to luck. It was compensation for the original owner's near-death experience.
But clearly, that compensation couldn't last forever…
'Then bring it on!'
'Besides, it's not like I don't have an ace up my sleeve!' Su Ye narrowed his eyes and glanced at his virtual panel.
[Class Attribute Bonus: Damage +2, Protection +2]
...
SPLASH.
Soon, everyone was on board, and the four small Spiritual Boats were lowered by ropes onto the surface of the sea.
The men rowed their oars, heading toward the silhouette of the demon fish in the distance!
The Long-beaked Swordfish was over ten meters long and purple all over. Its sharp, spear-like beak glinted with a menacing cold light!
Seeing the Spiritual Boats approach, it didn't flee. Instead, it raised its beak, revealing its vicious intent!
"Vicious beast!" Luo Jing sneered, hurling the spear gun in his hand!
HISS!
A spray of blood erupted!
The Long-beaked Swordfish cried out in pain and immediately prepared to dive to escape the danger—a fish's natural instinct.
But this was the demon hunters' trade, and they were well-prepared!
"Activate the Reversing Confusion Array!" Luo Jing waved a flag, signaling the Flying Serpent.
BUZZ!
Aboard the Flying Serpent, a dazzling magical glow appeared and locked onto the Long-beaked Swordfish!
The Reversing Confusion Array, a first-tier Array.
Its only function was to affect a target's perception of a specific direction.
For example, by reversing 'up' and 'down'.
For a human cultivator, this simple directional reversal would be quickly noticed, allowing them to break free or even reverse the effect.
But a stupid demon fish possessed no such intelligence.
The Long-beaked Swordfish desperately tried to dive, but instead, it surfaced!
"Attack!" Luo Jing ordered coldly.
Su Ye raised his harpoon and threw it, accurately striking the Long-beaked Swordfish's body!
The rest of the crew did the same. In an instant, crimson blood flowed out, staining the surface of the sea red!
However…
For a demon fish of its immense size, the wounds were grievous but not immediately fatal.
In fact, the searing pain from its injuries only made it more dangerous!
Grievously wounded, the Long-beaked Swordfish's ferocity was fully unleashed. It gave up trying to dive.
Its spear-like beak aimed at one of the Spiritual Boats, and it charged forward at full speed!
And that Spiritual Boat happened to be the one carrying Su Ye and Zhao Li!
"Look out!"