Chapter 675

Chapter 675: Congratulations on Your Fortune

Normally, even an Eighth-Rank warship could only condense a few thousand to ten thousand high-grade spirit stones daily. While this seemed substantial to low-rank cultivators, it barely made a dent in the warship’s operational costs.

Yet over ten thousand years, such accumulation would grow into an astronomical sum—enough to ignite envy in any sect.

Fang Lie’s core energy pool had been specially enhanced after Mo Sect obtained the Spirit Jade mines. Over a hundred times larger than standard models, its spirit stone production speed was staggering. However, lacking sufficient Spiritual Energy reserves, it remained mostly idle.

Today changed everything. After the Great War, Fang Lie sensed an overwhelming flood of Spiritual Energy pouring into the Netherworld warship.

The vessel had ceased spewing Netherworld Ghost Fire. Instead, it now voraciously devoured the flames from outside, converting them into Spiritual Energy. With endless sea demons fueling the inferno, absorbing surplus fire proved wiser than wasting it.

This Netherworld Ghost Fire served dual purposes: strengthening the warship’s power and feeding the core energy pool to produce spirit stones.

As a wealthy man, Fang Lie prioritized channeling the fire into enhancing his warship. Yet even after deploying twenty Eighth-Rank Treasures to assist absorption, they couldn’t keep pace with the deluge.

Beyond the hull, the battlefield churned with horror. Expanding rings of Netherworld Ghost Fire consumed hundreds of thousands of sea demons every heartbeat, generating flames beyond comprehension.

The thousand-foot Ancient Teng Snake Flying Boat zigzagged through the firestorm, its absorption rate dwarfed by the fire’s exponential growth. Forced to prevent waste, Fang Lie activated the core energy pool’s reversal function.

What happened next left him speechless.

Visible waves of water element spirit stones materialized across the pool’s floor. Within an hour, the four-hundred-foot-wide, thirty-foot-deep basin overflowed with top-grade crystals—enough to form a small mountain.

Fang Lie scrambled to empty the pool into storage, only to watch it refill instantly. The cycle repeated relentlessly, each replenishment more staggering than the last.

Sharing this miracle, Fang Lie summoned Mo Lanyun and Mao Mao. The women appeared bewildered beside the glowing pool rather than the control room.

"Senior brother, why here?" Mo Lanyun blinked.

Fang Lie simply pointed downward. Twin gasps echoed as they witnessed the phenomenon.

"Heavens! This speed…" Mo Lanyun trembled. "An Eighth-Rank warship’s Nascent Soul Furnace makes ten thousand daily at best. This grows faster than weeds!"

"Actually, this full pool took just an hour," Fang Lie admitted wryly. "I already cleared it once."

Mao Mao nibbled a crystal. "Tasty! Premium water element quality!"

"Eat your fill," Fang Lie chuckled.

"Pah!" She spat it out. "Beneath me now. I need spirit pearls for cultivation growth!"

"Then condense them yourself," Fang Lie shrugged. "No formations here for that."

"Still unbelievable!" Mo Lanyun laughed. "Mo Sect warships always bleed money in battles, forcing restraint despite our strength. Yet here you are, battling fiercely while profiting wildly! If this spreads, envy will kill half the cultivation world!"

"Hehe~" Fang Lie laughed. "This was just luck. During the Great War with Human Tribe cultivators, such a scenario would never occur. They all knew the might of Netherworld Ghost Fire and wouldn’t let us burn their Spiritual Energy items for free. But those sea demon tribes are different – what idiots! Facing something as heaven-defying as Netherworld Ghost Fire, they still use suicidal swarm tactics. Aren’t they just delivering wealth to us?"

"Haha, exactly!" Mo Lanyun couldn’t suppress her giggles. "I’m actually starting to enjoy this sea demon disaster!"

"This isn’t a disaster!" Mao Mao chimed in. "It’s clearly a wealth-god delivering treasures!"

The trio burst into hearty laughter.

While Fang Lie bantered with the two girls, three Thunder Tribulation Immortals wore bitter smiles in Qingyu Island’s central command hall.

Leading them was Huo Wufang, Token Lord of the Righteousness Token from Mo Sect, dispatched to support Fang Lie. The White Jade Divine Fish’s importance warranted his presence to prevent its loss.

Beneath him sat an elderly woman in crimson robes – Elder Zhenhong, Mo Sect’s female Thunder Tribulation Immortal. The third was a gaunt scholar, Mo Qianxun, cousin of Mo Qianxun and lowest in cultivation at initial Thunder Tribulation stage, normally in closed-door training but now forced to join the battle.

The three stared at the fiery expanse shown on Water Mirrors, astonishment plain on their faces.

"I knew the Netherworld Ghost Fire warship was powerful," Huo Wufang admitted, "but never imagined this extent. What treasured items!"

"Truly a sect-sustaining treasure," Elder Zhenhong marveled. "To witness its full power is enlightening."

"This simplifies matters," Mo Qianxun chuckled. "We expected bitter fighting, yet Fang Lie’s single treasure holds back the endless sea demon army. Merely spectating makes this the most pleasant sea demon disaster I’ve experienced!"

"Don’t celebrate yet," Huo Wufang cautioned. "These are just scattered weaklings without large clans or Tenth-Rank Great Demons. Their foolish charges feed the Ghost Fire, but when true threats arrive, we’ll need to act."

"Perhaps not," Elder Zhenhong countered. "Fang Lie, Mo Lanyun, and Mao Mao are Mo Sect’s three prodigies, each rivaling Thunder Tribulation strength. Even I can’t claim certain victory against any. If they’re overwhelmed, we’d be helpless too – unless you use the Righteousness Token."

"Don’t jest," Huo Wufang grimaced. "You know our iron rule – the five great tokens never enter Perilous Sites! During disasters here, even if I wanted to bring it, the Sect Leader and Elders would forbid it."

Mo Qianxun sighed. "Beyond numbers, sea demons aren’t formidable. With any token, I could defend this island. Our sect’s rules are overly strict – making storms in teacups!"

"You’re mistaken!" Huo Wufang’s voice turned grave. "Even minute risks are unacceptable for the tokens. This caution preserved Mo Sect’s heritage! Other sects lost Ninth-Rank Treasures – even Xuan Sect! Many declined after losing ancestral treasures. Yet we retain all five tokens, thanks to this rule!"

"But we sacrifice opportunities!" Mo Qianxun argued.

"What opportunity matches a token’s value?" Elder Zhenhong retorted. "I’d rather keep tokens than chase chances. With them, Mo Sect stands firm. All else is transient!"

"Exactly!" Huo Wufang agreed. "Countless opportunities exist, but only five tokens. No risks permitted!"

Mo Qianxun stopped arguing, simply closing his eyes.

Seven days passed swiftly.

Qingyu Island’s cultivators experienced unprecedented ease. Expecting grueling battle, they only watched as Fang Lie single-handedly repelled the endless sea demon army without even activating the protective array.

The Netherworld Ghost Fire had expanded over seven days, engulfing millions of miles. Even amidst the boundless sea demon forces, this blazing territory proved significant enough to alarm the Sea Demon Tribes’ Higher-ups.