In Jing Qian's eyes, this sword-like treasure ship gleamed with a heavy azure glow.
Only at the stern, at the rudder, did a faint trace of luminous blue light flicker.
Compared with the other eighth-grade treasure ships, this vessel used far less total spirit material.
After all, the other three were all over thirty zhang long, more than three times its length.
But what made this small ship precious was that its entire body had been forged from eighth-grade Azure Wing spirit-material.
The others only used higher-grade materials in critical parts, while the rest of their hulls were still filled with vast amounts of White fang material.
Xu Xi explained:
"You can't choose this one!
It's a failed ship, completely unfit for the sea."
But Jing Qian's curiosity only grew stronger. In the gaze of his Worldly Insight, the vessel's form was nearly flawless, its materials rock-solid, its every piece finely polished.
And that rudder crafted entirely from seventh-grade Blueblood treasure material was beyond compare!
To his eyes, this was clearly one of the finest among all eighth-grade ships.
If only it had a little more Blueblood worked into it, it might even have touched the threshold of seventh grade.
Jing Qian urged Xu Xi to explain further.
Unable to refuse, Xu Xi elaborated:
"This ship's design was uncovered from a shipbuilding secret record handed down from the Upper Continent.
When we first tried to reproduce it, our Xu clan poured in tremendous effort and wasted no small amount of materials.
But when it was finally completed, we discovered the secret record was incomplete; it lacked the refining method for the special oars that were supposed to match this vessel.
For any treasure ship, the oars are its source of propulsion. Without them, it cannot move.
We tested it with twelve different types of graded oars. Every attempt failed miserably.
No matter which set of oars we tried, they all clashed with the seventh-grade rudder.
Instead of complementing each other, rudder and oars interfered, dragging each other down. The result: agonizingly slow speed, and steering is almost impossible!
You'd better pick one of the other three. Their designs are mature, and their cargo holds are far larger.
With them, you could run routes to several Fate Islands and, in no time, earn enough profit to buy a second ship.
When that time comes, come to me again, and I'll help you choose a fine vessel then."
Jing Qian knew Xu Xi spoke out of kindness.
But he had already made up his mind!
For him, this vessel was not crippled by missing oars.
It simply did not need them.
Ever since Jing Chuan's Tidal Life Pattern had advanced into the Azure Wing rank, he had gained the innate ability to command ships.
The divine power born from his Life Pattern could serve as propulsion, surpassing ordinary oars many times over.
Across all of Hunzhou, there were still some cultivators who had forged the Tidal Pattern, but not a single one who had advanced it to the Azure Wing rank.
This power of ship-command was his and his alone.
With a bound, Jing Qian leapt onto the deck.
The power of his Tidal Life Pattern surged forth, fusing instantly with the vessel.
The seventh-grade rudder, imbued with spirit, awakened the moment it touched his tidal force, resonating in perfect harmony.
The ship shuddered violently, as if roused from deep slumber, bursting into new life.
At the prow, Jing Qian closed his eyes, immersing himself in the bond between man and ship.
He could sense every plank of spirit-material, every inscribed rune, trembling under the rhythm of his Life Pattern, each one attuned to his will.
Then he spoke:
"Uncle Xi, my Jing Clan possesses secret techniques of ship-command. We can resolve this vessel's flaws. I choose this ship!"
Xu Xi was still staring in astonishment at the transformation before him.
Coming from a shipbuilding family, he knew all too well what it meant when a man and his ship resonated so perfectly.
This was the bond that only veteran captains achieved after decades of sailing with a single vessel.
In such a state, a ninth-grade swordship could rival the speed of an eighth-grade dragon boat.
He had no doubts now. He only thought that the Jing Clan's heritage was far deeper than outsiders knew; when it came to sailing, the captains outstripped the shipwrights.
So he said firmly:
"Very well! If you can dispel its flaws, this ship is the best choice.
That Lesser Spiritwind Rudder is a seventh-grade heavy treasure, worthy even of a naval warship. Our Xu clan cannot forge another anytime soon.
This fortune only you can seize!"
Xu Xi spoke, then walked over to the so-called "scrap ship" and activated a formation with his mana.
The ground beneath the vessel split open, and the waters of the dammed lake poured in. With a heavy splash, the new ship was launched!
The moment the hull touched the water, Jing Qian felt as though a caged bird had returned to the forest, and an overwhelming sense of kinship with the sea surged through him.
With just a touch of his Tidal power, the "scrap ship" roared to life, surging forward like an arrow loosed from its bowstring.
In the blink of an eye, it shot out across the waters.
He circled the shipyard at high speed several times, each round making his control more fluid.
Then he called out to the shore:
"Thank you, Uncle Xi. I really like this ship!
I'm heading out to sea to test her against real wind and waves!"
With that, he steered the vessel toward the Hun River.
Xu Xi stood on the bank, clutching a large register, and shouted after him:
"The paperwork isn't finished yet!
You need to give the ship a name, so I can file it with the Harbor Office!"
"Then call her the Dingyuan!" Jing Qian's voice rang back.
His words grew fainter and fainter as the ship rounded the Xu family shipyard and disappeared.
Now, man and ship were one, skimming swiftly over the sea.
In the harbor waters, he used barely a tenth of his power, yet the Dingyuan had already reached over thirty kilometers per hour, an outstanding speed among the many vessels around him.
He wasted no time, darting among the other ships like a darting fish, and soon reached the lake's outlet. With a lift of the prow, the vessel plunged into the Hun River, rushing toward the open sea.
This seventh-grade river was a marvel, six hundred and sixty-six zhang and six chi wide.
The road onto the island floated upon its surface, climbing upward.
The road off the island hung beneath the suspended river, leading downward.
Though Jing Qian sailed head-down, the river's own gravity held both ship and man as steady as if on solid ground.
He loosened his control over the Dingyuan, letting the Hun River carry them forward.
In just three days, he would emerge like a dragon entering the sea, ready to face the great ocean demons with renewed strength.
He had lingered on Hunzhou Island for quite some time. Though the Jing clan's compensation had made his strength soar, he had nearly exhausted his cultivation resources.
It was time for his kin in the sea to contribute again.
Thus, after settling matters on the island, he had not hesitated to set sail.
This time, with the Dingyuan at his side, he was certain to reap even greater spoils!
Still, before reaching the open sea, he needed to address the hidden trouble aboard his vessel.
Jing Qian turned toward a shadowed corner of the cabin and spoke:
"My friend, if you're in some difficulty, why not say so? But if you're here to hijack the ship, there's really no need."
Someone was on board?
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