After days of traveling, Zhang Yiyi spent five or six days flying solo over the vast ocean before finally locating He Jie's team's ship. Thankfully, she had exchanged communication talismans with He Jie after forming their team; otherwise, finding them so quickly would have been nearly impossible.

After shaking off the sixth-rank Crimson-Tailed Beast that had been chasing her, Zhang Yiyi became disoriented and nearly lost her way entirely. Once she sent out a signal through the talisman, He Jie promptly provided her with precise coordinates and even maneuvered their ship closer to her location. Without that assistance, Zhang Yiyi might have wandered aimlessly over the ocean for who knows how long.

This experience made Zhang Yiyi reconsider going out to sea alone for future beast-hunting trips. Being a lone traveler was far from enjoyable—not only was navigation a challenge, but even finding a moment to rest was difficult. She had initially underestimated the difficulties of solo hunting.

If she insisted on venturing out alone in the future, she would have to spend a considerable amount of spirit stones to purchase a magical sea vessel. Without one, surviving and navigating in the endless sea would be arduous, and efficiency would be low.

As for the basic ship He Jie's team was using, it was far too subpar. In the face of real danger, its slow speed made escape nearly impossible. Zhang Yiyi figured that if she were to invest in sea-going equipment, it wouldn't be for an ordinary ship. It would need to be at least a magical vessel, even if smaller or of slightly lower grade.

She decided to wait until they returned to the town to check out the prices of magical sea vessels. If it was within her budget, she might grit her teeth and buy one since it would be a worthwhile long-term investment for future sea expeditions. Even if she eventually returned to Huaren's Great World, such a vessel could still be used for ocean-related activities.

When Zhang Yiyi finally reunited with He Jie's team, they were overjoyed.

"Sister Hanlin, it's such a relief that you're safe!" He Jie exclaimed, visibly emotional. "If it weren't for you, we'd all have lost our lives out there. I'm so glad you're unharmed."

"That's right, Sister Han, you were incredible. We're deeply grateful to you!" He Ze added earnestly.

Even Liu Song and Zhang You expressed their sincere thanks, showing great respect toward Zhang Yiyi. After all, in such a perilous situation, it was rare for a temporary teammate—one with no deep ties to them—to help rather than abandon them to save herself.

Zhang Yiyi's choice to lure the beast away to give them a chance at survival was remarkable. Though she clearly possessed significant strength, risking her life to save them was not an obligation, especially in such dire circumstances.

"There's no need to be so formal," Zhang Yiyi replied candidly. "We were teammates on this trip, so mutual support is only natural when circumstances allow. I only acted because I believed I had a way to escape safely afterward. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been so selfless and would've run at the first opportunity."

Regardless of her modesty, He Jie was adamant. "No matter your reasoning, it's a fact that you saved our lives. If you ever need anything, just let us know. As long as it's within our abilities, we won't hesitate to help."

After some conversation, He Jie noticed Zhang Yiyi's exhaustion from her recent ordeals and refrained from pressing her further, urging her to rest instead. The team decided to forgo further hunting and returned to town to recover.

Once they docked at the town's port, Zhang Yiyi disembarked feeling refreshed, her condition noticeably improved from when they first set out.

"Linlin, where can we find you after we sell the beasts for spirit stones?" He Jie asked, still unaware of Zhang Yiyi's lodging situation. She wanted to invite Zhang Yiyi to stay with their group but hesitated, not wanting to inconvenience her.

They hoped Zhang Yiyi might consider becoming a permanent teammate, given her strength and character, but they doubted it was realistic. Someone of her caliber seemed unlikely to remain with their modest team as a regular hunter.

Still, if she planned to continue hunting beasts in the area, they hoped to collaborate with her again.

"If possible, I'd love to team up again for the next trip," He Jie said earnestly. "We'll split the earnings evenly, but you can take 40% as your share for your contribution this time."

Zhang Yiyi, familiar with He Jie's straightforward nature, appreciated her transparency. "We'll see about next time. For now, I need to rest and figure things out. I haven't settled anywhere yet and plan to find an inn for now. Share your address with me, and I'll contact you if anything comes up."

She didn't refuse He Jie's offer to increase her share from 10% to 40%, acknowledging the resources she had expended to escape the sixth-rank beast.

After parting with He Jie's group, Zhang Yiyi began exploring the market for magical sea vessels. Unfortunately, the ones she liked were either unsuitable or outrageously expensive. The cheapest magical sea vessel started at 200,000 to 300,000 spirit stones, while more desirable models were several times that price.

Even if she hunted fifth-rank beasts—which yielded spirit cores worth a few thousand stones each—she couldn't afford the higher-end ships without significant effort. Still, she resolved to make the investment eventually, considering the long-term benefits.

Finally, she found a small magical sea vessel that caught her eye. It was compact yet equipped with excellent features and defenses capable of withstanding attacks from fifth-rank beasts, with a speed two to three times faster than ordinary vessels. Its safety and comfort made it perfect for her needs.

"How much is this one?" Zhang Yiyi asked, captivated by the vessel.

The shopkeeper, skeptical of her ability to afford it, replied, "This one is priced at 1.21 million spirit stones—non-negotiable. However, if you're genuinely interested, I can sell it for 1.2 million. That's the absolute lowest price."

He added, "This small vessel is designed for individual use, so demand is limited. Otherwise, given its quality, the price would never drop."

Zhang Yiyi, though stunned by the cost, couldn't deny the ship's appeal. With its advanced features and reasonable operational costs, it felt like it was made for her. Now, she just needed to decide if the investment was worth it.

"......"

When Zhang Yiyi heard the shopkeeper's final price, she was momentarily speechless. One million two hundred thousand! That was outrageously expensive—buying it would cost her a significant portion of the savings her master had given her.

"Can't you make it a little cheaper?" Zhang Yiyi asked, tempted to cut the price in half. Unfortunately, judging by the shopkeeper's expression, that was clearly impossible.

This shop was the largest in town, known for its "fixed price" policy. Whether buying or selling, the transactions were reputed to be fair. However, Zhang Yiyi genuinely liked the magical sea vessel and wanted to purchase it, though its price made her soul ache. She was deeply conflicted.

"Young friend, why not take a look at something else?" The shopkeeper was patient, understanding that the price was steep for someone like her. Still, he wasn't the true owner of the shop, and his authority was limited; lowering the price further was simply out of the question.

However, from Zhang Yiyi's tone, the shopkeeper sensed she wasn't far from being able to afford it. This sparked his curiosity about her identity. Despite her modest appearance, her aura clearly distinguished her from ordinary folk. It seemed likely she was a prodigy sent out to gain experience, with resources far beyond those of typical rogue cultivators.

Encouraged by this possibility, the shopkeeper became even more enthusiastic. Hoping to close the deal, he offered, "The price really can't go any lower, but if you decide to buy it, we can throw in two additional items worth up to ten thousand spirit stones each, free of charge. You can choose anything you like from the shop. Otherwise, we'll just have to hope for another opportunity to do business in the future."

Hearing this, Zhang Yiyi realized the shopkeeper had reached his absolute bottom line. After some deliberation, she finally decided to buy the vessel. Just as she was about to speak, however, someone abruptly intercepted.

"One million two hundred and one thousand spirit stones," the voice declared. "I'll buy it. Not a single spirit stone less."