58: Chapter 58 Rewards for Merit, Warship Blueprints

Dawn breaks.

The wind and snow of the Yunmeng Great Marsh finally ceased after the slaughter.

A red sun tore through the clouds, spilling the morning light onto the waters of Reed Island.

For ten miles around, the floating ice was completely shattered, and the waves sobbed.

In the dark red river water, the remains of tens of thousands of low-level aquatic monsters mingled with the broken wood of the Three-Clan Allied Army's warships. The smell of blood permeated the air, signaling the tragedy of last night's battle.

"Woo..."

The desolate sound of a conch horn pierced through the bloody mist where the water met the sky.

Two massive objects, dozens of zhang long and radiating the spiritual power fluctuations of the Second-Order Low Grade, sailed into this blood-stained battlefield like steel behemoths.

This was the strategic foundation of the Linghu Lin Clan... the [flying cloud wave-breaking ship].

At the front of the main ship's keel, Patriarch Lin Zhenhai stood with his hands behind his back, wearing a purple-gold python robe.

This Foundation Establishment grand cultivator, who had just slaughtered the Three-Clan Allied Army in the deep-water area until they threw away their armor, looked at the devastated but still standing Reed Island. His tiger-like eyes overflowed with shock as the warship slowly docked.

"Buzz..."

On the periphery of Reed Island, the thin light curtain of the Water-Moon Heaven-Blurring Array swung open to create a passage. Patriarch Lin Zhenhai took a step forward, followed closely by Seventh Uncle Lin Zhenyuan, the Instructor, and over ten core Elders of the Lin Family who were covered in blood.

The moment they stepped onto the shallows, the footsteps of these Lin Family power-holders halted, and they all gasped in unison.

What met their eyes was not the Mortal refugees and collapsed defense lines they had imagined.

Instead, it was a full two hundred Mortal elites clad in cold iron heavy armor, wielding hundred-jin black iron heavy crossbows!

They stood like steel sculptures, nailed to the front of the wooden boardwalk over the water, their armor stained with residual blood, and the sharp tips of their crossbow bolts glinting in the morning light.

Facing the arrival of a Foundation Establishment grand cultivator and Late Stage Qi Refining Elders, this group of Mortals did not retreat a single step. The murderous aura of those who had survived a fight to the death shot straight into the sky, actually making several Lin Family Elders feel their scalps tingle.

Behind the heavy-armored Mortals, in the depths of the Cold Spring, a Black Turtle with a purple-gold Bagua profound pattern on its back, its body as large as a mountain, was breathing out extremely cold Spiritual Qi.

In the shadows beneath the water, a glimmer of emerald scales flickered in and out of sight, radiating the fierce pressure of a Middle Stage First-Order Yao Beast.

"Is this truly my Lin Family's remote and desolate Reed Island?" Seventh Uncle Lin Zhenyuan stroked his beard, his Dao Heart shaken.

The heavy armor on the Mortals and the residual power of the heavy water flowing on the crossbow bolts all demonstrated the war potential hidden behind this island.

"Cough..."

A light cough came from the Peak of the eaves of a wooden house over the water.

Everyone looked up abruptly. In the morning light, a thin youth in tattered green robes stood facing the wind.

His face was pale, and dried black blood remained at the corners of his mouth—the backlash of Divine Soul overexertion and mana depletion. But those eyes possessed a celestial grace that looked down upon the world.

"Your grandson, Lin Ze, has fortunately fulfilled the mission."

Lin Ze lightly tapped his toes on the glazed tiles, landing before The Old Patriarch like a falling leaf, and bowed slightly.

"This anvil, your grandson has held it for the Family."

Patriarch Lin Zhenhai's eyes turned red.

He took a step forward and grabbed Lin Ze's shoulders with both hands. His Foundation Establishment true essence vibrated slightly due to his emotional state, instantly smoothing over the internal injuries within Lin Ze's body.

"Ze'er, you have done far more than just hold the anvil!"

The Old Patriarch laughed toward the sky, his laughter echoing across the Yunmeng Marsh.

"With a Middle Stage Qi Refining cultivation, you pushed a Second-Order killing array to its limit, severed the arm of that old dog Wen Ku with one sword strike, and shattered the courage of the Three-Clan Allied Army. Such a Heaven-Defying feat of a Mortal striking an immortal is unprecedented in the two hundred years since our Lin Clan was founded!"

"Ze'er, follow me inside."

Patriarch Lin Zhenhai waved his sleeve and led Lin Ze into the wooden house. Seventh Uncle Lin Zhenyuan followed closely behind, while the other Elders tactfully remained on the boardwalk to take over defense duties.

The wooden house's quiet room.

A bronze incense burner emitted curls of green smoke, blocking out the smell of blood. Patriarch Lin Zhenhai did not sit in the main seat but instead pulled Lin Ze to sit opposite him on a Profound Ice Stone.

"Ze'er, this battle was a great victory. The main forces of the Three-Clan Allied Army have been wiped out, and those three old geezers have fled far away with heavy injuries. They won't have a chance to rise again for several years!"

A domineering light flashed in Patriarch Lin Zhenhai's eyes.

"From this day forth, the outer waters for three thousand miles around the Yunmeng Marsh will be dominated solely by our Linghu Lin Clan."

"You are the one who deserves the top merit for this war of clan survival!"

The Old Patriarch's expression was solemn. He slapped his hand down, and a high-level Storage Pouch landed steadily on the table.

"Ze'er, you turned the tide when it was collapsing. The Family will not be stingy!"

Patriarch Lin Zhenhai pointed at the Storage Pouch and spoke forcefully, "Inside are fifty Low-Grade Spirit Stones and three bottles of 'vein-protecting purple gold pills,' specifically for treating the hidden Dao base injuries left by fighting above one's level, to help you stabilize your cultivation."

Lin Ze picked up a purple clay teapot and poured tea for the two Elders.

"Great-Grandfather, I don't need these. I only ask for two things." Lin Ze looked up.

"First, the five hundred miles of water surrounding Reed Island shall be completely designated as my private territory. Except for a Family summons, no one may interfere in its internal affairs."

"Second, I want the top-grade Formation and Artifact Refining Materials from the Family's secret treasury!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the air in the quiet room froze for a moment.

Patriarch Lin Zhenhai and Seventh Uncle exchanged a look, their faces full of bewilderment. In this world, there was actually someone single-mindedly focused on wanting nothing but those dead Materials.

"Ze'er, what do you want so many top-grade Materials for?" Seventh Uncle Lin Zhenyuan's voice trembled slightly, as if he had thought of a certain possibility.

Lin Ze did not speak but slowly opened his right hand.

"Buzz!"

A glimmer of sword light quietly emerged in his palm.

It was no ordinary Flying Sword, but a lethal weapon radiating the Peak Middle Stage First-Order Spiritual Pressure, its blade faintly flowing with the spirituality of heaven and earth, naturally attuned to water-system mana—the [water shadow snake bone sword]!

"Peak Minor Achievement in Artifact Refining, and you even endowed the Magical Artifact with a hint of spirituality!"

Patriarch Lin Zhenhai gasped. This Foundation Establishment grand cultivator, who had weathered many storms, was now trembling with excitement.

"Minor Achievement in Formations, and the embryonic form of Major Achievement in Artifact Refining!" The Old Patriarch stood up and paced back and forth in the quiet room.

A moment later.

Patriarch Lin Zhenhai stopped and turned around to look at Lin Ze.

"Very well, you only want the foundation!" Patriarch Lin Zhenhai waved his sleeve and took out a jade box from his person, which radiated a dark gold light and was locked by multiple layers of Restrictions.

"Ze'er, since you dare to shoulder the banner of the Family's military industry, today, I shall completely entrust the Lin Clan's greatest secret of the past hundred years to you!"

"Click."

The jade box opened. There was no blinding spiritual light or startling Spiritual Pressure; lying quietly inside was a roll of ancient blueprints that were neither metal nor jade.

Lin Ze's gaze fell upon it, and the heavenly dao panel in his Sea of Consciousness let out a violent hum.

[Detected strategic-grade war artifact general outline... Extremely high Fusion of Formation and Artifact Refining...]

"This is something the Lin ancestors spent three generations of effort to complete from an Incomplete Manual brought back from ancient ruins at the cost of their lives."

"A top-grade First-Order, with the potential to advance to Second-Order, strategic warship... the [flying cloud wave-breaking ship] general forging blueprints!"

The Old Patriarch held up the blueprints with both hands and presented them to Lin Ze.

"The outside world thinks those two flying cloud wave-breaking ships are already perfect Second-Order Low Grade warships, but in truth, they are merely empty shells with a grand appearance."

"Although the Third Elder is a High Grade First-Order Artifact Refiner, he does not understand Formations. The warships have shells of black water iron crystal but lack the 'Spirit-Gathering Main Cannon,' and even more so, the 'Core Formation Runes' to draw upon the momentum of heaven and earth!"

"These half-finished products are fine for crushing the Three-Clan Allied Army, but if they encounter a Middle Stage Foundation Establishment enemy, they would be sitting ducks that collapse upon contact." Patriarch Lin Zhenhai stared at Lin Ze, emphasizing every word.

"But now it is different."

"You have Minor Achievement in Formations, and your Artifact Refining is progressing by leaps and bounds. In the entire outer Yunmeng Marsh, no one is more suitable than you to be the creator of this [flying cloud wave-breaking ship]!"

The Old Patriarch slapped the blueprints heavily into Lin Ze's palm.

"From this day forth, you are the master of the Lin Family's behind-the-scenes weapons factory!"

"The mined black water iron crystal and the looted top-grade spiritual Materials will all be prioritized for Reed Island."

"I want you to forge an invincible fleet on this Reed Island that is enough to sweep across the Yunmeng Marsh. Do you dare to take this on?"

Lin Ze smiled as he probed the ancient blueprints with his Divine Sense.

"Boom!"

Vast Formation runes, complex diagrams, spirit-energy heavy cannon design plans... all these mysteries that were like a heavenly book to ordinary people became gradually clear before Lin Ze's dual foundation of Formation and Artifact Refining Techniques.

[hundred arts: Artifact Refining Technique (Major Achievement) progress ticking...]

[Formation: 'Canglang Sword Array' Formation rune Fusion and deduction in progress...]

In his Sea of Consciousness, the heavenly dao panel operated frantically.

"Great-Grandfather."

Lin Ze looked up and held up three fingers, his voice carrying a decisive dominance. "Three years."

"Within three years, I will not only complete the warship's core, but I will also make this [flying cloud wave-breaking ship]..."

"When the cannons roar in unison, even the myriad gods and buddhas of this Yunmeng Marsh will have to bow their heads to my Lin Family!"

Outside the window, the wind and snow had just cleared. A bright sun completely broke through the clouds, shedding ten thousand golden rays that made the Yunmeng Great Marsh shimmer with light.