This Law Enforcement Ship from the Spirit Control Sect was incredibly unlucky.

It was a simple border blockade, just a bit of extortion aimed at a merchant vessel.

But as luck would have it, they ran right into the main force of the United Fleet, which had swarmed out of the Cyan Profound Sea Region...

And the result... well, it goes without saying!

’Maybe this is just life...’

Su Ye shrugged nonchalantly.

The cultivators weren’t executed, however.

Instead, they became the first prisoners of the United Fleet.

They would be escorted to the lowest deck of a spirit ship within the fleet and imprisoned there.

Su Ye didn’t enjoy wanton slaughter.

Besides, he had no real grudge against the Spirit Control Sect.

It was just a simple conflict of interest.

There was no need for deliberate retaliation.

’So...’

’These people... I’ll just send them to the Far South Continent to contribute to the development of the new world!’

Su Ye made his decision cheerfully.

The Far South Continent was vastly underdeveloped due to the city-state model of its native inhabitants.

Vast tracts of barren mountains, untamed wilderness, and primeval forests!

While these lands nurtured precious and unique Spiritual Objects, they also concealed dangerous beasts and venomous snakes, miasmas and plagues...

Even cultivators had to tread carefully in these undeveloped, wild lands.

After all, Su Ye knew.

To date, over a dozen Nanyaoguang Corporation employees had either died or been maimed for various reasons during the pioneering efforts on the Far South Continent.

And since the existence of the Far South Continent was still a closely guarded secret, it couldn’t be revealed to the public.

Thus... 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

There was no steady stream of Loose Cultivators to serve as cannon fodder, testing the dangers firsthand.

As a result, the Nanyaoguang Corporation was severely short-staffed in its efforts to pioneer the new continent. The more hands, the better!

These cultivators from the Spirit Control Sect were the perfect solution to fill this gap and contribute to the pioneering efforts!

Besides...

’Exiling prisoners to pioneer a new world... That seems to be a fine tradition, doesn’t it?’

Su Ye couldn’t help but chuckle, a smile touching his lips.

...

After dealing with the cultivators from the Spirit Control Sect, Han Ping, the merchant who had just escaped disaster, stepped forward reverently to express his gratitude.

"Thank you, Mr. Su!"

"Mr. Su, I, Han Ping, will never forget your immense kindness for as long as I live!"

Han Ping’s face was filled with gratitude as he knelt and kowtowed.

His gratitude was heartfelt and sincere.

If his spirit ship had been taken away by the Spirit Control Sect Law Enforcement Ship, the consequences would have been unthinkable.

The best-case scenario would have been him escaping with his life and nothing else.

As for the cargo, worth several thousand Spirit Stones, that would have been confiscated without a doubt.

And this spirit ship... the one his father had struggled for over a decade to acquire before passing it down to him...

...would likely have been lost as well.

This was why Han Ping, the traveling merchant, was so incredibly moved.

The arrival of Su Ye and the United Fleet had saved his precious inheritance!

"Mm."

Su Ye gave a faint nod, calmly accepting the gesture.

Then, a thought occurred to him.

"Han Ping..."

"You’re the president of the Han Family Commerce Association, aren’t you?"

"I recall your association began trading in the Outer Sea two years ago... correct?"

Su Ye asked Han Ping after a moment of thought.

"Huh?"

Han Ping looked stunned.

Then he nodded vigorously.

"Yes, that’s right!"

"You know of my humble reputation, Mr. Su?"

Han Ping was flabbergasted, his expression one of immense honor.

’A Crystalization Master!’

’This Mr. Su is a grand cultivator, one of the most powerful figures in the entire Cyan Profound Sea Region!’

’And he... actually remembers me?’

This truly felt... a little unbelievable to Han Ping!

"Of course."

"Your association registered its Outer Sea operations with the Nanyaoguang Corporation..."

Su Ye explained casually, his expression impassive.

When the Nanyaoguang Corporation expanded its sales channels to the Outer Sea, it opened up several routes to facilitate trade.

To maximize profits, these relatively safe routes were also opened to independent commerce associations.

As long as one registered with the Nanyaoguang Corporation and paid a fee in Spirit Stones, and paid taxes based on a certain percentage of each transaction’s value, they could use these routes, as well as the corporation’s supply points and warehouses along the way!

This allowed independent commerce associations to engage in Outer Sea trade as well.

However, what they sold were not Spiritual Objects from the Far South Continent, but rather specialty Spiritual Objects from the Cyan Profound Sea Region.

But even so, transporting these Spiritual Objects to the Outer Sea was enough for these commerce associations to earn a handsome profit!

Of course, the shipping lanes had not been open for long.

Out of caution and a healthy fear of the risks in the Outer Sea, the number of registered independent commerce associations wasn’t large—only a few dozen.

With his fourth-order Divine Sense, Su Ye had only needed a quick glance at the reports to memorize the general details of those few dozen associations.

"Yes, yes, that’s right..."

"I’ve always kept the Nanyaoguang Corporation’s registration certificate safe and sound..."

Han Ping said with an ingratiating smile.

"In that case..." Su Ye pondered.

"Tally up the financial losses you’ve incurred because of the Spirit Control Sect’s border blockade."

"Right, do you have contact with other Cyan Profound Commerce Associations within the Spirit Realm Sea Region?"

"I imagine... you’re not the only one who’s been extorted like this."

"Have them tally their losses as well and report them to the Nanyaoguang Corporation."

Su Ye said calmly, his tone matter-of-fact.

However, Han Ping’s eyes flew wide open at Su Ye’s words.

He could hardly believe what he was hearing!

"Mr. Su, are you planning to...?"

"How can we demand compensation without tallying the losses?" Su Ye asked in return.

"You... You’re going to demand compensation for us?"

Han Ping’s voice trembled slightly—not from fear, but from sheer excitement!

"Of course."

"During this war..."

"Any of our merchants holding a Nanyaoguang Corporation certificate who have suffered losses due to these comprehensive sanctions will be fully compensated by the Spirit Control Sect!"

Su Ye made the promise as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Han Ping was profoundly shaken. His hands trembled, and an indescribable feeling welled up inside him.

’You’re worthless when you’re far from home.’

’Outer Sea trade seemed glamorous and highly profitable, but it came with no shortage of trouble!’

’Even before this war, for instance, his daily dealings required him to constantly grease the palms of the Spirit Control Sect cultivators.’

’After all, to do business on the Spirit Control Sect’s turf, he had to keep their minions well-fed.’

’It was humiliating! But for the sake of profit, he had no choice but to endure it.’

’As for the Nanyaoguang Corporation... To be honest, Han Ping had never expected anything from them.’

’So what if he registered and paid his taxes? It was just protection money!’

’Naive!’

’What sect would ever actually stand up for low-level cultivators like them?’

’He’d thank the heavens if they just took a smaller cut, skimmed a little less profit for themselves, and caused a little less grief... ’

And frankly, before today, Han Ping had a real problem with the Nanyaoguang Corporation!

’The taxes this corporation levies are so high!’

’They take a bigger cut than any other major sect!’

But now...

Han Ping felt that every single Spirit Stone had been worth it!

In his entire life, this was the first time he’d ever learned...

...that after paying your taxes, a fleet would actually show up to back you up when you’re in trouble?!

Demanding that the Spirit Control Sect—an Overlord Level power that ruled an entire region—compensate him for all his losses?!

This was too thrilling, too domineering, too arrogant... but also...

...too damn satisfying!