A Grand Fleet Expedition!

Before the Sun-Eating Demon Spider Emperor could stabilize its power at the Tier Four Mid Stage.

Lead the fleet on a preemptive strike, invading the Spirit Realm Sect’s Sea Region!

Su Ye’s audacious plan.

Of course.

In his view, he was perfectly calm.

This expedition was absolutely necessary!

First.

According to Wuying’s intelligence, the Spirit Control Sect had already discovered the Far South Continent.

Furthermore, they had conducted preliminary surveys.

They had confirmed the Far South Continent’s abundant resources and the outwardly strong but inwardly weak state of the local populace.

A prize like this was extremely tempting to the Spirit Control Sect!

It was crucial to understand.

As the southernmost power in the Yaoguang Islands.

The Spirit Control Sect had the advantage of proximity!

If they decided to develop the Far South Continent.

Their costs would be even lower than those for Su Ye, based in the Southeast Sea Region!

If the other party were to act as Su Ye had...

...developing the Far South Continent, establishing a trade association, and selling special Spiritual Objects...

...then the trade monopoly established by the Nanyaoguang Corporation would vanish into thin air!

And they would also be faced with a powerful new competitor!

This situation.

Was something Su Ye could never tolerate!

’Besides that, they might also leak the intelligence.’

’Leaking the news of the Far South Continent’s existence would create unknown dangers...’

This was something Su Ye had always worried about.

His current strength was still insufficient compared to the potential profits of the Far South Continent.

’At the very least... I have to wait until I advance to the Golden Core realm!’

’Only with that level of power would I have the right to even begin revealing the existence of the Far South Continent...’

’Before that, the best strategy is to make a fortune quietly and lock down all information!’

And to achieve that...

’The Cyan Profound Sea Region, the Spirit Realm Sea Region.’

’Only by completely seizing these two sea regions and controlling the direct south and southeast of the Yaoguang Islands...’

’...can the United Fleet essentially establish a tight blockade of the shipping lanes to the Far South Continent!’

Su Ye thought.

To execute a lockdown strategy for the Far South Continent.

Controlling the Spirit Realm Sect’s Sea Region was a must!

Moreover.

Subjugating the Spirit Control Sect could also bring many other, quite significant benefits!

’The Spirit Control Sect’s manpower and resources surpass those of the Cyan Profound Sect.’

’And they even have the Sun-Eating Demon Spider Emperor, a Tier Four combatant!’

’With their power, developing the Far South Continent and accelerating our growth will be much easier...’

With this in mind, Su Ye’s objectives were essentially finalized.

Subjugate the Spirit Control Sect.

Nip this potential competitor in the bud.

And in turn, convert them into an asset to obtain even greater benefits!

...

Secondly.

Besides the matter of profit.

Su Ye also fully intended to flex his muscles and show his teeth!

After all, his Nanyaoguang Corporation’s people and goods had just been seized and detained in the Spirit Realm Sect’s Sea Region.

This event might seem accidental, but in reality, it was inevitable!

Su Ye knew very well.

With the terrifying profits the Nanyaoguang Corporation was making, even if the Spirit Control Sect hadn’t discovered the Far South Continent, a day like this would have come sooner or later.

After all, in this era, there was no such thing as the principle of free trade!

The Overlord Level cultivation sects that ruled various regions were all extremely protective of their own territory!

They would allow merchant ships to bring specialty goods from the Outer Sea and sell them locally... after all, even cultivators in these Overlord Level sects desired Spiritual Objects from the Outer Sea.

However.

An Outer Sea Commerce Association upstaging the local power.

Amassing vast wealth and earning excessive profits within their sea region!

This was something no Overlord Level cultivation sect would ever tolerate!

Never mind this world; even in Su Ye’s past life, in the globalized free market, the methods for exploiting foreign capital were endless.

For example, driving the price of crude oil down to -37.63 dollars a barrel one minute before the market closed.

In turn, causing a certain bank’s billions of dollars to go up in smoke, leaving them owing a huge sum of money on top of it...

However, in Su Ye’s past life, this kind of fleecing had to be done within the confines of legal trading rules, using various financial instruments to manipulate the market.

As for this world...

The local customs were much more... rustic!

The Spirit Control Sect would say: Rules? Finance? What are those?

When it came to good things, their style had always been to just take them by force!

They were used to being domineering.

As an Overlord Level power that ruled a sea region, that’s just how tyrannical they were!

According to big data, the negative consequences of doing so were extremely low!

And obviously.

The Spirit Control Sect was far from the only cultivation power with such ideas!

Therefore, it was imperative for Su Ye.

To teach these cultivation powers the meaning of ’free trade is inviolable’!

One had to understand that the markets opened by the Nanyaoguang Corporation were not limited to just the Spirit Realm Sect’s Sea Region!

’If everyone follows their example, confiscating my assets and detaining my employees... then have I worked my fingers to the bone, colonizing new lands and exploiting the natives, just so you can reap the rewards?’

How outrageous!

So...

It was time to kill a chicken to scare the monkeys!

Throw one punch to avoid a hundred!

...

Su Ye made his decision.

Therefore.

After capturing Wuying.

The Cyan Profound Sect immediately sent a harshly worded diplomatic statement to the Spirit Control Sect!

It demanded that the Spirit Control Sect, within two months, release all hostages, return all materials, compensate his company for all losses, and issue an apology!

Otherwise... they would face the consequences!

Don’t say we didn’t warn you!

...

The moment the news broke, it caused an uproar!

The Yao Guang South Sea was thrown into chaos!

Countless cultivation powers paid close attention, their nerves on edge!

The Spirit Control Sect, the Cyan Profound Sect.

These two Overlord Level powers of the sea regions.

They were neighbors who had always kept to themselves. Although there had been friction, it was rare.

But now...

What were they planning to do?

Could it be that a great war between the sea regions was about to erupt?

At this thought.

Within these two sea regions.

The many low- and mid-level cultivators couldn’t help but tremble, their hearts filled with dread.

Golden Core sects!

A clash between such behemoths.

Even the smallest fallout.

For them, it would be a terrifying, world-ending catastrophe, like a mountain collapsing!

Thus, they trembled in fear, praying for peace to continue.

Of course, the thoughts of ordinary cultivators had never mattered!

In response to the Cyan Profound Sect’s demands.

The Spirit Control Sect, unsurprisingly, refused!

They were furious and issued a threat.

"We advise your esteemed sect to immediately release our sect’s Wuying!"

"Otherwise... you will face the consequences!"

HUMMM!

The Spirit Control Sect’s fleet set sail from Spider Demon Island, heading for the border of the sea region to make a show of force!

The tension in the sea region instantly skyrocketed!

...

Meanwhile.

「Weiyuan Immortal City」

The port.

Four Weiyuan-class Spiritual Ships lay at anchor.

Sixteen hundred cultivators waited there, casting a solemn pall over the entire port!

Suddenly.

WHOOSH.

A streak of azure Escape Light cut across the sky and descended upon the port.

Su Ye stood upon the wind, hands clasped behind his back as he looked down. His voice was icy.

"United Fleet, deploy!"

"Naval supremacy begins today!"