Chapter 609 : Forging the Crimson Dragon Fortress

If it were merely a small quantity of Spirit Wood, the task would be simple. However, when the number of Spirit Wood planks requiring inscription reached several million, the sheer scale of the workload became immense.

Even after the Chen Clan assembled several thousand [cultivators skilled in crafting and inscription at the Second Rank], all with cultivation bases at or above the Foundation Establishment realm, it still took them a full thirteen years to process all this Spirit Wood.

The subsequent work was beyond the capabilities of these low-tier [craftsmen cultivators].

Eldrin Chen personally led the effort, joining forces with over three hundred of the Third Rank realm and above. Together, they began assembling each piece of Spirit Wood, fusing the inscribed Dao Patterns [mystical patterns embodying the principles of the Dao] within them into a unified whole.

Amidst this bustling labor, a full seven years were consumed before the Crimson Flood Dragon War Junk was finally forged to completion.

"It is done, at last."

Gazing upon the completed Crimson Flood Dragon War Junk, both Eldrin Chen and Lyra Jiang released a heavy sigh of relief, their faces lighting up with profound satisfaction.

This vessel, the Crimson Flood Dragon War Junk, was forged using the skeletal frame of a Demon Emperor-realm Flood Dragon as its keel. Thirty-six pillars of Fourth Rank Spirit Wood formed its primary framework, supported by three thousand six hundred beams of Third Rank Spirit Wood. The construction consumed a further million pieces of Second Rank Spirit Wood before it was complete.

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

This Treasure Ship was inscribed with three sets of Fifth Rank Formation [powerful mystical arrays]: the Fifth Rank Spirit Gathering Formation [an array to concentrate ambient spiritual energy], the Abyssal Water Control Formation [an array for commanding the waters of the deep], and the Water-Fire Divine Thunder Formation [an array capable of unleashing thunder born from the clash of water and fire]. Your portal to cultivation novels: www . audio-novel.com.

The Fifth Rank Spirit Gathering Formation [a powerful array that concentrates ambient spiritual energy] serves as the core control mechanism and the very energy source of the Crimson Flood Dragon War Junk [a mighty enchanted warship], its importance needing no further elaboration.

The Abyssal Water Control Formation [a formation derived from the divine ability of the same name] was derived from the Divine Ability [a supreme supernatural technique] 'Abyssal Water Control Art' [a divine ability for manipulating vast bodies of water] created by Eldrin Chen. This Divine Ability is further divided into two Great Divine Ability [powerful and profound supernatural techniques]: 'Whale Swallowing the Vast Sea' [a technique to devour and absorb water essence] and 'Water Essence True Aegis' [a defensive technique forming an impenetrable shield of water essence].

The former can draw upon the Water Essence Power [the fundamental spiritual energy inherent in water] from rivers, lakes, and seas to replenish the energy of the Crimson Flood Dragon War Junk, while the latter constitutes the primary Defensive Formation [a protective magical array] of the vessel.

As for the Water-Fire Divine Thunder [a devastating thunder technique born from the fusion of opposing water and fire energies], it is the trump card of this Flood Dragon [a powerful aquatic draconic beast] Treasure Ship [a general term for a magically enhanced ship]. This Divine Ability converges the fire-element Dao Patterns [inscribed fragments of cosmic law and principle] from the Crimson Flood Dragon Demon Emperor [a supreme emperor among flood dragon demons] and fuses them with the water-element Dao Patterns inscribed upon the Treasure Ship itself, enabling it to unleash attacks rivaling those of a Nascent Soul Late Stage [the pinnacle stage of the Nascent Soul realm] powerhouse.

According to Eldrin Chen's estimation, this Treasure Ship is capable of transporting over a million cultivators across distances of hundreds of millions of Ten-Thousand-Mile Territory [a unit of distance equal to ten thousand Li-lengths] for extended campaigns.

When powered by a single Nascent Soul Cultivator [a master who has formed their Nascent Soul, the embryonic form of their immortal self], its offensive and defensive capabilities rival those of a Nascent Soul Late Stage True Lord [an honorific title for a powerful Nascent Soul cultivator]. Its sole weakness lies in lacking the agility and flexibility inherent to a living Nascent Soul Cultivator.

Having sensed the immense power of the Treasure Ship, Eldrin Chen could not contain his joy. "With this Treasure Ship in our hands," he said, "our clan will face the coming Demonic Abyss Cataclysm [a prophesied great calamity involving demons from the abyss] with slightly greater ease."

"Indeed."

With a Fifth Rank War Treasure Boat [a Fifth Rank enchanted vessel built for war] serving as their bastion, the safety of the clan's cultivators during the great conflict two centuries hence would be vastly increased.

Moreover, the Treasure Ship is not only formidable in attack and defense but can also transport over a million cultivators and traverse a million Li-lengths in a single day. For the Chen Clan, this represents a cornerstone of their Deep-Seated Foundation [the profound and enduring foundation upon which a clan's power and legacy are built].

Should the situation truly become untenable, Eldrin Chen could even utilize the transport capacity of the Treasure Ship to relocate the clan's Deep-Seated Foundation [the core assets and legacy that form the bedrock of a cultivation clan] into the Central Ancestral Domain, thereby averting the clan's utter ruin.

Lyra Jiang tested the operation of the Treasure Ship for a moment before speaking. "What if we purchase some Demon-Hunting Crossbow [large, mounted crossbows designed to pierce demonic hides] and Demon-Slaying Cannon [powerful cannons that fire concentrated blasts of spiritual energy against demonic forces]?"

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 augment the combat power of the Treasure Ship.

In the past, within the Eastern Sea Cultivation World, the Demon-Hunting Crossbow and Demon-Slaying Cannon employed by the Zhang Clan had been a source of considerable dread for the Three White Bone Demons.

However, the Demon-Hunting Crossbow and Demon-Slaying Cannon were exorbitantly expensive and difficult to use effectively against agile Nascent Soul Cultivators [cultivators who have formed their Primordial Spirit, a major realm of power]. They were primarily suited for clearing swarms of lower-tier Demonic Monsters or dealing with colossal beasts of immense size.

Considering this, Eldrin Chen spoke his mind. "We can consider purchasing Demon-Slaying Cannon in the future, but the Demon-Hunting Crossbow falls somewhat short for our needs."

"Instead, what if we install a sword formation array upon the Treasure Ship?"

"A sword formation?"

Lyra Jiang's brow knitted, a flicker of surprise crossing her features. Installing a sword formation array on a Treasure Ship was a rare sight indeed.

Seeing her expression, Eldrin Chen offered a faint smile. "For instance, we could seek out seven times seven—forty-nine—Fourth Rank Flying Sword [swords that can be controlled remotely with spiritual energy to fly and attack] and array them upon the Treasure Ship."

"Furthermore, by utilizing the Treasure Ship's Formation to amplify and channel its power, it can instantly unleash forty-nine Immortal Sword strikes, each capable of posing a threat to a Nascent Soul cultivator. While their individual power is slightly inferior to that of the Demon-Hunting Crossbow, they excel in flexibility and versatility."

"That is an excellent idea."

Lyra Jiang nodded in agreement and said, "Yvonne the Violet Consort possesses a Fifth Rank Metal Element Earth Vein [a powerful spiritual vein rich in metallic energy], which produces one or two pieces of Fourth Rank Treasure Metal every ten years. By now, she has accumulated a considerable stockpile."

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

"The output from Violet Consort Mountain alone may not suffice." Eldrin Chen offered a slight smile before continuing, "The Ji Clan also possesses a Metal-element Earth Vein [a natural conduit of concentrated spiritual energy from the earth]. We can discuss this transaction with them as well."

"Moreover, it's not just Fourth Rank Immortal Sword we need; we can also purchase second and Third Rank swords. Once forged into the formation, ten thousand swords can take flight simultaneously. Such a spectacle would be immensely useful for dealing with hordes of Demonic Monsters at critical moments." For more chapters, visit audio~novel.com for the complete novel.

Having made their decision, Eldrin Chen traveled to Violet Consort Mountain and purchased seventeen pieces of Fourth Rank Treasure Metal in one go. He then proceeded to the Ji Nation and acquired over twenty more pieces from the Ji Clan.

He also combed through the Clan Treasury, ultimately gathering a total of fifty-one pieces of Fourth Rank Treasure Metal, four hundred pieces of Third Rank Treasure Metal, and over ten thousand pieces of second-rank Treasure Metal.

With the Treasure Metal assembled, Eldrin Chen instructed the artisans crafting the Treasure Ship to work overtime for three months. Their efforts finally bore fruit, successfully completing the sword formation.

Upon completion, the two selected forty-nine Fourth Rank Immortal Sword, three hundred sixty-five Third Rank Immortal Sword, and fourteen thousand eight hundred second-rank Immortal Sword to be integrated into the formation. This formation was then fused into the Crimson Flood Dragon War Junk. Once the sword formation was melded with the Treasure Ship, Eldrin Chen tested its activation. In an instant, a storm of ten thousand sword rays erupted from the vessel's hull. A sky-obscuring tide of Sword Qi [sharp, condensed energy blades] surged forth, drowning everything in its path.

"A magnificent sword formation!"

Witnessing the sword formation's overwhelming dominance, Lyra Jiang could not help but exclaim in admiration, her voice tinged with astonishment: "Bolstered by the Treasure Ship, the might of this formation is truly formidable. I suspect even an Nascent Soul, Early Stage True Lord would have to frown upon facing it."

"Against Demonic Monsters below the Nascent Soul Realm, even if they surged forth by the thousands, it would be nothing more than a futile sacrifice."

Eldrin Chen retracted the sword formation, then said with a faint smile: "This formation poses almost no threat to foes at the Nascent Soul, Mid Stage level or above. However, for dealing with lower-tier Demonic Monsters, it is bound to be exceptionally effective."

"Since its activation manifests as ten thousand swords soaring across the heavens, let this Formation be named the 'Ten Thousand Swords Soaring Void Demon-Slaying Formation'."

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

Only then did the two realize that forging this Crimson Flood Dragon War Junk had consumed a full dozen years and more.

These dozen-plus years mattered little for a Nascent Soul True Lord like Eldrin Chen, but for the participating Foundation Establishment Artificer [craftsmen specializing in forging magical items], it was no short span of time.

Those Artificer at the Foundation Establishment Realm had spent over a dozen years forging for six Shichen-time [one Shichen-time equals two hours] daily, leaving them scarcely any time for their own cultivation. The impact on their progress was not insignificant.

Mindful of having delayed the cultivation of many, Eldrin Chen summoned Caleb Chen and instructed: "Everyone has toiled hard in forging this Treasure Ship. Arrange for them to receive additional rewards."

"The rewards shall be distributed as follows: one thousand Spirit Stones [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation] for each Foundation Establishment Cultivator; a Third Rank Magical Treasure [an enchanted artifact of significant power] for each Purple Mansion Cultivator; and three hundred thousand Spirit Stones for each Golden Core Cultivator." Read, share, and discuss at audi novel.com.