Chapter 609 : Forging the Crimson Dragon Fortress

If it were merely a small quantity of Spirit Wood, this task would be quite manageable. However, when the number of Spirit Wood planks requiring inscription reaches over a million, the sheer scale of the workload becomes truly immense.

Even after the Chen Clan assembled several thousand Second Rank Artificers [craftsmen specializing in forging magical items] with cultivation bases at or above the Foundation Establishment realm, it still took a full thirteen years to process all that Spirit Wood.

The subsequent phase of the work was beyond the capabilities of these lower-tier Artificers.

Eldrin Chen personally led the effort, joining forces with over three hundred Artificers of the Third Rank and above. Together, they began the intricate process of fitting each piece of Spirit Wood together, fusing the Dao Patterns [mystical energy channels and formations] inscribed within them into a unified whole.

This laborious and meticulous work consumed a further seven years before the Crimson Flood Dragon Treasure Ship was finally forged to completion.

"It is done at last."

Gazing upon the completed Crimson Flood Dragon Treasure Ship, Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang shared a profound sigh of relief, their faces breaking into expressions of deep satisfaction.

This vessel was crafted using the skeletal remains of a Demon Emperor-realm Flood Dragon as its Dragon Bone [primary structural keel]. Its frame was formed from thirty-six Fourth-Rank Spirit Wood logs, supported by a lattice of three thousand six hundred Third-Rank Spirit Wood beams. The entire structure was then sheathed and reinforced with a million more Second Rank Spirit Wood planks.

Upon its completion, the ship stood a colossal ten thousand Zhang-lengths [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters] in size. It resembled less a Treasure Ship and more a vast, mobile fortress-city.

Three sets of Fifth Rank Formation [powerful mystical arrays] were inscribed upon this Treasure Ship: the Fifth Rank Essence Gathering Formation [for concentrating ambient spiritual energy], the Returning Abyss Water Control Formation [for manipulating water and navigating treacherous seas], and the Water-Fire Divine Thunder Formation [a formidable offensive array combining water and fire energies]. Access the full story on audio novel.com.

The Fifth Rank Essence Gathering Formation [a high-grade formation designed to gather and concentrate ambient spiritual energy] serves as the core control mechanism and the primary energy source for the Crimson Flood Dragon Treasure Ship, its importance is self-evident.

The Returning Abyss Water Control Formation [a defensive and energy-gathering formation derived from a specific divine ability] originates from the Divine Ability [a supreme supernatural power or technique] 'Returning Abyss Water Control Art' created by Eldrin Chen. This Divine Ability is further divided into two distinct Great God Ability [powerful techniques within a divine ability]: 'Whale Devours the Vast Sea' and 'Water Essence True Aegis'.

The former can draw Water Essence Power [the fundamental spiritual power of water] from rivers, lakes, and seas to replenish the Crimson Flood Dragon Treasure Ship's energy reserves, while the latter constitutes the ship's primary defensive Formation [a structured arrangement of energy patterns for protection or other effects].

The Water-Fire Divine Thunder represents the Treasure Ship's ultimate trump card. This Divine Ability merges the fire-element dao patterns [the fundamental laws and principles governing fire] of the Crimson Flood Dragon Demon Emperor with the water-element dao patterns inscribed upon the Treasure Ship, unleashing an attack comparable in power to that of an Infant Soul Late Stage [the advanced phase of the Infant Soul cultivation realm] cultivator.

According to Eldrin Chen's estimation, this Treasure Ship is capable of transporting over a million cultivators across hundreds of millions of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] to engage in distant campaigns.

When powered by a single Infant Soul Cultivator, its offensive and defensive capabilities rival those of an Infant Soul Late Stage True Lord [an honorific title for a powerful cultivator, often at the Infant Soul realm or above]. Its sole drawback is a lack of the agility inherent to a living Infant Soul Cultivator.

Having sensed the Treasure Ship's formidable power, Eldrin Chen could not contain his joy. "With this Treasure Ship in our possession," he said, "our clan will face the coming battle at the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm with slightly greater ease."

"Indeed."

With a Fifth Rank [the fifth grade in a ranking system for magical items, denoting high power] War Treasure Ship serving as a bastion, the safety of the clan's cultivators during the great conflict two centuries hence would be significantly enhanced.

Moreover, the Treasure Ship is not only formidable in attack and defense but can also transport a vast host of cultivators and cover a million Li-lengths in a single day. For the Chen Clan, this represents a cornerstone asset, a vital foundation for their future strength.

If the situation truly became untenable, Eldrin Chen could even utilize the transport capacity of the Treasure Ship to move the clan's foundational assets into the Central Ancestral Domain, thereby averting the clan's utter ruin.

After testing the Treasure Ship's functions, Exquisite Jiang suggested, "Should we purchase some Demon-Hunting Crossbow [large, ship-mounted crossbows designed to pierce demonic hides] and Demon-Slaying Cannon [powerful cannons that fire concentrated blasts of spiritual energy]?"

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen's brow furrowed slightly in contemplation. Both the Demon-Hunting Crossbow and the Demon-Slaying Cannon were treasures that could significantly enhance a Treasure Ship's combat prowess.

In the past, within the Eastern Sea Cultivation World, the Zhang Clan's Demon-Hunting Crossbow and Demon-Slaying Cannon had been a source of great apprehension for the Three Demons of the White Bone.

However, Demon-Hunting Crossbow and Demon-Slaying Cannon were exceedingly expensive and difficult to use effectively against agile Infant Soul Cultivator [cultivators who have formed their nascent soul, a core spiritual entity]. They were more suited for clearing swarms of lower-tier demons or dealing with massive, slow-moving behemoths.

Considering this, Eldrin Chen stated, "We may consider purchasing Demon-Slaying Cannon in the future, but Demon-Hunting Crossbow are somewhat lacking for our current needs."

"Instead, what if we install a Sword Formation [a coordinated array of flying swords that attack as one] upon the Treasure Ship?"

"A Sword Formation?"

Exquisite Jiang's brow knitted in surprise. Installing a Sword Formation on a Treasure Ship was a rare sight indeed.

Noting her expression, Eldrin Chen offered a faint smile. "For instance, we could procure forty-nine fourth-rank flying swords and array them upon the Treasure Ship."

"Furthermore, by utilizing the Formation amplification of the Treasure Ship to drive it, one can instantly unleash forty-nine Immortal Sword energies, each barely capable of threatening an Infant Soul cultivator. While their power is slightly inferior to that of the Demon-Hunting Crossbow, they excel in flexibility and versatility."

"That is an excellent idea."

Exquisite Jiang nodded and then said, "Violet Consort Yan possesses a Fifth Rank Metal-Attributed Earth Vein [a subterranean spiritual energy channel rich in a specific elemental essence]. Every ten years, it produces one or two pieces of Fourth-Rank Treasure Metal. By now, she has accumulated quite a stockpile."

"We can approach her directly to purchase Fourth-Rank Treasure Metal, which we can use to forge the Immortal Sword required for the Sword Formation."

"The output from Violet Consort Mountain alone likely won't be sufficient." Eldrin Chen smiled faintly and added, "The Ji Clan also possesses a Metal-Attributed Earth Vein. We can discuss this business with them as well."

"Moreover, it's not just Fourth Rank Immortal Sword we need. We can also purchase Third Rank ones. Once forged into the Sword Formation, ten thousand swords will soar together. At critical moments, this will be immensely useful for dealing with demonic and monstrous foes." Immerse yourself in the complete world at www . audio-novel.com.

"..."

After making the decision, Eldrin Chen traveled to Violet Consort Mountain and purchased seventeen pieces of Fourth-Rank Treasure Metal in one go. He then went to Ji Nation and procured over twenty more pieces of Fourth-Rank Treasure Metal from the Ji Clan.

He also rummaged through the Clan Treasury [the central repository for a cultivation clan's wealth and resources], ultimately gathering a total of fifty-one pieces of Fourth-Rank Treasure Metal, four hundred pieces of Third-Rank Precious Metal, and over ten thousand pieces of Second Rank Precious Metal.

Once the Precious Metal was assembled, Eldrin Chen directly instructed the artisans crafting the Treasure Ship to work overtime for three months. Finally, they succeeded in forging this set of Sword Formation.

After the successful refinement, the two selected forty-nine Immortal Sword of the fourth rank, three hundred sixty-five Immortal Sword of the third rank, and fourteen thousand eight hundred Immortal Sword of the Second Rank to forge into a Sword Formation [an array of swords that combine their power into a unified attack], which was then integrated into the Crimson Flood Dragon Treasure Ship.

Once the Sword Formation was fused with the Treasure Ship, Eldrin Chen tested its activation. In an instant, myriad sword lights erupted from the Treasure Ship, crisscrossing the sky. A dense, sky-obscuring tide of sword energy [the sharp, condensed force projected by a sword technique] drowned everything in its path.

"A formidable Sword Formation!"

Witnessing the overwhelming power of the Sword Formation, Exquisite Jiang could not help but exclaim in admiration, her voice tinged with surprise. "With the Treasure Ship amplifying it, the might of this Sword Formation is truly astonishing. Even a True Lord at the Infant Soul Early Stage would have to frown in the face of this."

"And as for demonic creatures below the Infant Soul Realm, even if they surged forward by the thousands, they would merely be throwing themselves to their doom."

Eldrin Chen retracted the Sword Formation before replying with a faint smile. "This Sword Formation poses almost no threat to opponents at the Infant Soul Mid Stage or above. However, it will be exceptionally effective against lower-tier demonic hordes."

"Since its activation presents the spectacle of ten thousand swords soaring through the void, let us name this Formation the 'Myriad Swords Soaring Void Demon-Slaying Formation'."

With this final touch, Eldrin Chen had thoroughly perfected this Treasure Ship.

Only then did the two realize that refining the Crimson Flood Dragon Treasure Ship had consumed a full twenty-some years.

These twenty-odd years were of little consequence to a Infant Soul True Lord like Eldrin Chen, but for the participating Foundation Establishment artifact smiths, it was a not insignificant span of time.

For over twenty years, those Foundation Establishment Realm [the second major stage of cultivation] artificers had to forge artifacts for six Shichen-time [one Shichen-time equals two hours] each day, leaving them with precious little time for their own cultivation. The toll this took on their personal advancement was far from insignificant.

Mindful of the cultivation progress these cultivators had sacrificed, Eldrin Chen summoned Caleb and instructed, "The forging of the Treasure Ship [a large, magically fortified vessel] has demanded much from everyone. Arrange for an additional reward to be distributed."

"Let it be thus: each Foundation Establishment Cultivator [a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment stage] shall receive one thousand Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy]. Each Violet Sanctum Cultivator [a cultivator at the Violet Sanctum stage] shall be granted a single Third-Rank Magical Treasure [a powerful enchanted artifact of the third rank]. And to each Golden Core Cultivator [a cultivator at the Golden Core stage], bestow a reward of three hundred thousand Spirit Stones." Read, share, and discuss at (audio-novel.com).