Chapter 80: Chapter 80: Top-grade Spirit Ship, Renewed Conflict
Donglong Island.
The shipyard.
A five-masted warship, still under construction, hovered in mid-air.
Its keel and ribs were already complete, forming a magnificent and graceful fra!
Hundreds of cultivators were toiling away around it, working from high platforms to install the hull planks.
As for the hull planks, Su Ye had spared no expense, choosing to use only top-grade, First-Order spirit wood: Frost Iron Wood!
This type of spirit wood was not only tough and dense.
It also contained Cold Frost Spiritual Qi, making it extrely difficult to ignite!
With a hull built from this material, the ship looked as if it were forged from steel, exuding an indestructible, majestic aura!
’It’s beautiful...,’ Su Ye thought, his eyes shining with delight.
"Mr. Su, at our current pace, the hull will be finished within three months..."
An old, white-haired man, though stooped with age, reported to Su Ye. His back was still straight, and his eyes were full of life.
"Mr. Zhong, thank you for your hard work..."
Su Ye turned with a humble smile.
This Mr. Zhong was a master shipbuilder the Luo Family had spent a great deal of money to hire from Weiyuan Immortal City!
With over sixty years in the trade, he had personally participated in the construction of several Second-Order spirit ships and was incredibly experienced.
Most importantly, he had an excellent reputation, which put one’s mind at ease!
"You’re too kind, Mr. Su..." Mr. Zhong chuckled and continued.
"The basic Spirit Patterns on the hull planks have already been inscribed. Once they’re all installed, we can begin laying the Arrays..."
"I was wondering, Mr. Su, do you have any specific requests regarding the Arrays?"
In the Cultivation Realm, a master shipbuilder not only needed expert knowledge of shipbuilding but also had to be well-versed in Arrays!
After all, beyond the hull itself, Arrays were an indispensable part of a spirit ship’s power!
As far as Su Ye knew, Mr. Zhong was a quasi-Second-Order Array Master.
In fact, if he could just break through to the Foundation Establishnt realm and gain the aid of Divine Sense, he could easily beco a true Second-Order Array Master!
"Actually, speaking of Arrays, I do have a few ideas..."
Su Ye said seriously after a mont of thought.
"The original design for this spirit ship only included two sets of Arrays, one for mobility and one for defense."
"I was hoping to add a third set, for offense."
"Would that be technically feasible..."
Su Ye looked at Mr. Zhong, his expression one of inquiry.
"Ha... Mr. Su, you’ve co to the right man!" Mr. Zhong laughed heartily.
"To add a third Array to a top-grade spirit ship, one must use ’nesting’ and ’parallel’ techniques."
"In all of Weiyuan Immortal City, only a handful of people have that skill."
"And I... happen to be one of them!"
Mr. Zhong’s face was full of pride and vigor; he was extrely confident in his abilities.
"However, Mr. Su, I must warn you..."
"Doing this will increase the construction cost by, let’s see... about another three thousand Spirit Stones?"
Mr. Zhong said cautiously.
A top-grade spirit ship typically cost around nine thousand Spirit Stones to build.
A superior warship like the Marrow Silver, for example, would have its cost increased by two to three thousand Spirit Stones.
As for this top-grade spirit ship currently under construction...
At Su Ye’s request, everything from the hull to the Arrays was being made with the absolute best materials!
After adding this new Array, the ship’s construction cost would exceed fifteen thousand Spirit Stones!
Hearing this number, Su Ye just smiled, not even batting an eye.
"No matter."
"Mr. Zhong, cost is not an issue!"
Su Ye wasn’t the least bit worried about the construction costs.
As news spread about the abundance of rare beasts in the Dongning Sea Region...
Countless beast-hunting squads were heading to the Dongning Sea Region in a steady stream!
And the Luo Family, which provided them with a series of services like spirit ship maintenance, logistical supplies, and purchasing their catches, was earning astonishing profits from it all!
The revenue from the Donglong Island Marketplace was more than enough to cover the shipbuilding costs.
Of course, fifteen thousand Spirit Stones...
That staggering number still caused so grumbling within the Luo Family.
’But... building this spirit ship is a family strategy, not my own personal project!’
’So what if the cost is high?!’
’I haven’t embezzled a single coin for my own pockets. The destination of every single Spirit Stone is clearly traceable!’
Su Ye had a clear conscience; he was open and aboveboard.
Therefore, despite the staggering cost, the shipbuilding project had been able to proceed smoothly!
Not only that, but as the project progressed...
Su Ye had even gained a reputation within the Luo Family for being ’a man of high moral character, devoted to the public good’!
Even the branch families, who were usually at odds with the main lineage, highly approved of Su Ye’s character.
This, however, left Su Ye not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
His actions were rely to test a hypothesis.
’The stronger a cultivator’s foundation, the greater their combat power after they advance...’
’Perhaps the sa is true for the advancent of a spirit ship?’
’If I take a super-deluxe, top-grade spirit ship and use the [Sea Successor Remains] to advance it to the Second Order...’
’Perhaps its performance could crush the vast majority of other Second-Order spirit ships?’
If this hypothesis proved true, then the extra few thousand Spirit Stones he was spending now would save him tens of thousands in the future!
* * *
"You are most generous, Mr. Su!"
Having received Su Ye’s financial guarantee, Mr. Zhong’s eyes lit up with excitent.
"Three overlapping Arrays... Mr. Su, rest assured, this top-grade spirit ship will be one of my finest creations!"
Mr. Zhong was in high spirits, his inspiration flowing.
He entered his work state, pulling out the blueprints and starting to make revisions.
He muttered under his breath, "So what if I couldn’t reach Foundation Establishnt... My masterpieces will live on in this world in my place..."
Su Ye had heard that in his younger years, Mr. Zhong had been so engrossed in shipbuilding that he had neglected his cultivation and missed the deadline for Foundation Establishnt!
But after a period of regret and depression...
He had reignited his passion and poured all his energy back into shipbuilding!
Su Ye had no desire to beco a cultivator like that, but at the very least... he was worthy of respect!
Seeing Mr. Zhong completely absorbed in his work, Su Ye did not disturb him and quietly departed.
* * *
The center of the Donglong Island Marketplace.
Inside a sprawling, luxurious mansion.
Su Ye sat in the head seat. He dismissed the servants and maids and lit so incense.
His eyes narrowed slightly as he tapped his fingers rhythmically on the wooden armrest, lost in quiet thought.
’Next, I just have to wait for the top-grade spirit ship to be completed... Then, I’ll slay the boss-level creature in the Dongning Sea Region, and the Second-Order spirit ship will be secured!’
’As for , I’ve been at the ninth level of Qi Refining for two or three years now...’
In truth, a cultivator at the ninth level of Qi Refining is already qualified to attempt a breakthrough to Foundation Establishnt!
Of course, most cultivators wouldn’t dare to do so right away.
To be safe, they usually spend a couple of years polishing their Magical Power until their reserves are full and perfected before attempting the breakthrough.
’However... perhaps I’m an exception?’ Su Ye mused.
Just then, Zhao Li walked in with a solemn expression. "Mr. Su..."
"Our spy planted in the Qi Family has sent word!"
"Next month, the Qi Family plans to establish a marketplace on White Iron Island..."
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