72: Chapter 72 Intercepting Blueprints and Expanding Foundation

At the bottom of Youming Island, deep sea undercurrents struck the hall constructed from the skeletons of giant beasts, creating echoes as water pressure pressed down on the shoulders of every Cultivator through the Formation barrier.

In the secret room, Lin Ze tucked away the Mystic Ice Jade Box containing the deep sea ten-thousand-year marrow close to his body.

The extreme cold and majestic life force emanating from the jade box instantly penetrated his inner armor and seeped into his chest.

His tense nerves finally felt a moment of relief.

“Four hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones... it was worth it,”

Lin Ze sighed inwardly.

This massive sum of money had completely drained the foundation he had accumulated over several years on the edge of life and death.

It included the spoils from killing bandit cultivators, the hard-earned profits from selling Top Grade spirit fish, and even the remaining dividends from the Family.

But for a Cultivator, Spirit Stones were merely tools to protect the Dao.

Only one's own Dao Foundation was the fundamental basis for sweeping aside everything.

Deep within the Dantian Qi Sea, that single drop of Limit-Breaking Heavy Water, covered in cracks,

vibrated and hummed after sensing the water-attribute Origin aura of the deep sea ten-thousand-year marrow, which shared the same source but was countless tiers higher.

Lin Ze knew clearly.

As long as he refined it in seclusion, the Limit-Breaking Heavy Water would not only repair its cracks but also undergo a qualitative leap.

“However, the top priority now is how to get out of Youming Island alive.”

Beneath his black cloak, Lin Ze's gaze was as cold and hard as iron.

The tyrannical killing intent of the Blood Shark Sect's Young Lord, Li Kuang, still lingered in this underground hall like a maggot on a bone; he was the Young Sect Leader of an overlord power in the Inner Sea, with a Qi Refining Great Perfection cultivation and layers of guards.

Being targeted by this Deep Sea Poison Shark, an ordinary Loose Cultivator would likely have been scared out of their wits and knelt to beg for mercy.

But Lin Ze did not.

The Gou Dao was not about constant retreat, but about endurance.

When there was no room to retreat, one must bare their fangs.

He exhaled a breath of turbid air, suppressed his killing intent, and turned his gaze toward the high platform once more.

At this point, this high-specification Sea Abyss Secret Auction was nearing its end; after he had won the grand finale, the deep sea ten-thousand-year marrow, the atmosphere in the hall had become eerie.

The various Cultivators were secretly using their Divine Sense to size up this secluded corner, calculating whether they should go for a share of the leftovers once they stepped out the main gates.

On the high platform, the auctioneer wearing a Faceless Bronze Mask coughed, pulling everyone's thoughts back.

“Fellow Daoists, the main items of the Sea Abyss Secret Auction have all been sold. Next, according to the rules of Youming Island, we will enter the 'Blind Bidding' and 'Miscellaneous Items' segments.”

The auctioneer's voice sounded weary.

This miscellaneous segment was the 'garbage time' where the auction house cleared out inventory and handled defective products.

Two strongmen carried a black iron tray onto the high platform, which was piled with a dozen or so items covered in sea mud.

“The first miscellaneous item is an Incomplete Manual salvaged from what is suspected to be an ancient Immortal Cave ruin in the Shenlan Trench.”

The auctioneer picked up a piece of charred ancient beast skin and spoke in a flat tone; the surface of the beast skin was covered in marks from fire and lightning, and even the edges were carbonized.

“After a joint appraisal by three of our house's First-Tier High Grade Formation Masters, it has been determined that the markings on this beast skin should be the remnants of a water-attribute Formation.”

“Unfortunately, the damage exceeds seventy percent, and the core Formation hub is completely destroyed, making it impossible to use for practical deployment.”

“However, a trace of mysterious Formation principles remains. If any Fellow Daoist interested in ancient Formations wishes to buy it for research, you might gain some insights. Starting price: twenty Low-Grade Spirit Stones, with bid increments at your discretion.”

After the auctioneer finished speaking, the hall was dead silent.

Twenty Low-Grade Spirit Stones?

To buy a piece of broken skin that didn't even have a core Formation hub?

“For twenty Spirit Stones, I could go to the Spring Breeze Tower and order two female Cultivators to serve me for three days and three nights. Why would I buy this junk?”

“Even the appraisers said it's seventy percent damaged and has no Spiritual Qi fluctuations. Only a fool would buy it.”

In the darkness, several bandit cultivators mocked in low voices.

The auctioneer did not feel embarrassed.

This was within expectations, and he was just about to wave his hand to let the Incomplete Manual pass without a sale.

However.

Lin Ze, sitting in the most remote corner of the hall, suddenly stiffened beneath his cloak.

Hum!

The moment the charred beast skin appeared,

deep within Lin Ze's Sea of Consciousness, the long-dormant [Heaven Rewards Diligence] panel erupted with blinding golden light.

Only when encountering a Heaven-Defying Opportunity would the System vibrate like this!

[Detected an incomplete high-level Formation carrier...]

[hundred arts: Artifact Refining Technique (Major Achievement) and Formation: Canglang Sword Array (Minor Achievement) have generated Extreme Realm Resonance!]

[Deep analysis and judgment in progress...]

[Judgment Successful: This item is a core fragment of the incomplete [Second-Tier Medium Grade · Wave-Breaking Sea-Overturning Spirit Ship Formation Diagram]!]

Second-Tier Medium Grade... Spirit Ship Formation Diagram?

Lin Ze's heart hammered against his ribs.

In the cultivation world, Magical Artifacts were hard to find, and Formations were even harder. A 'Spirit Ship Formation Diagram' that combined Formations with Artifact Refining to be inscribed onto a warship was a strategic, priceless treasure.

The two 'flying cloud wave-breaking ships' that The Old Patriarch Lin Zhenhai had exhausted the Family's foundations to build,

despite having Second-Tier black water iron crystal hulls and Second-Tier Heavy Water Main Cannons,

always lacked a 'Spirit Ship Core Array' to link the entire ship's power and harness the momentum of heaven and earth.

It was like a steel beast that had grown fangs but lacked a strong nervous System.

“As long as I get this diagram, with my Major Achievement level Artifact Refining Technique and Formation Comprehension Ability, I can completely unravel its secrets and integrate it into the Lin Family Warships.”

“When that time comes, the Lin Family fleet will no longer be pseudo Second-Tier ships that only act grand in the outer regions.”

“But true steel fortresses that can collide head-on with the treasure ships of Golden Core Sects in the Shenlan Inner Sea.”

A surge of fervor rushed from his heart straight to the crown of his head.

He bit the tip of his tongue hard, forcing himself to stay calm.

Once these old foxes saw through him, the price of the Incomplete Manual would surely be driven sky-high.

On the high platform, the auctioneer had already raised his wooden gavel.

“Since no one has placed a bid, this item will be with—”

“Twenty Low-Grade Spirit Stones. I'll take this piece of broken skin.”

This casually spoken sentence drew the attention of the entire hall.

“Him again?”

“Is this Loose Cultivator brain-dead? It was one thing to offend the Blood Shark Sect's Li Kuang by spending four hundred Spirit Stones on the deep sea ten-thousand-year marrow, but now he's being a sucker for trash too?”

“I think he knows he's dead once he leaves Youming Island, so he's just giving up on himself and indulging in the thrill of spending money like water at the auction.”

The Cultivators whispered among themselves, their eyes filled with mockery.

The auctioneer on the platform was slightly stunned.

But he was highly professional and immediately brought down the gavel to finalize the sale.

“Sold! Congratulations to this Fellow Daoist.”

Right under the noses of a group of cultivation old monsters who considered themselves shrewd,

Lin Ze intercepted this Second-Tier Medium Grade strategic blueprint for a mere twenty Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

A moment later, a maid carrying a tray delivered the charred beast skin to him.

Lin Ze tossed out twenty Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

He casually stuffed the beast skin into the deepest part of his Storage Pouch, his movements nonchalant.

But only he knew the wild joy hidden behind that casualness.

“Good steel should be used on the blade's edge,”

Lin Ze sneered in his heart.

“The hidden auction of Youming Island prior to the Sea Abyss Secret Auction is now officially over.”

The auctioneer's voice trailed off.

The walls around the hall, inlaid with Night-Illuminating Pearls, slowly split open toward both sides.

Revealing a deep passage leading to the outside of Youming Island, water vapor rushed in, dispelling the incense within the hall.

Rumble...

As the heavy stone doors opened, the Cultivators in the hall rose one after another, yet not a single person was in a hurry to leave.

All eyes, whether intentionally or not, glanced toward Lin Ze's corner.

They knew.

The real show, the bloody moment of the hunt, had only just raised its curtain.

“The waters of the Shenlan Inner Sea are bound to be stained with blood eventually.”