Sea Cultivation: Giant Ships and Heavy Artillery Knock on the Door to All Races

Chapter 279 Provoking War, Staying Away

Tianji Wheel
Having completed her plan, Xinglan returned safely to Lin Qianfan's sea of ​​consciousness. She demolished the original small crystal tower and rebuilt a new one, a one-to-one replica of the one in the Starfall Secret Realm.

It was clear that Xinglan liked sparkly things, so Lin Qianfan cooperated by using his divine soul power to conjure various gemstones.

Unfortunately, the information about the myriad races of the Vast Ocean that was supposed to be stored in the tower could not be copied. It can only be moved in after the Starfall Secret Realm is found in the future, and that is an extremely precious treasure.

How can you be sure the Chu family will cooperate?

Xinglan was lying down enjoying the sun when she suddenly asked Lin Qianfan a question.

"It was wrong of the Chu family to forcefully intervene in the Northwest Region, which is why they have been very restrained before. They didn't want to be attacked by the masses, and they didn't want to use forceful methods to avoid damaging their reputation."
It's not that the Chu family isn't strong enough, but rather that they fear being targeted by Thousand Star City. After all, many lords in Thousand Star City don't want to see the Chu family rise again and hope for their downfall.

"The Chu family needs an opportunity to truly establish itself in the Northwest Region, to demonstrate its authority externally. This time, I'm providing them with such an opportunity. The Cangxia Mountain, which has been gaining momentum in recent years, is an excellent choice. I believe the Chu family will appreciate this target."

"Don't you have a grudge against the Chu family? Why would you help them?"

"I only have a grudge against Chu Junhao, but now we have to add Chu Yunjing to the mix. We need to find an opportunity to take him out, but with his strength, it'll be difficult to steal him away like this. Let's talk about it later."

As long as the Chu family confronts Cangxia Mountain, Cangxia Mountain will inevitably conduct a thorough investigation into the cause and effect of the Blood Dove Demon King's departure.

Whether it was Jiang Nanyan or Xiaoshan who framed me last time, they will all be found out, including Wan Tonghai who has lost his memory. They will all be punished by Cangxia Mountain. Consider it collecting some interest first.

Moreover, once the conflict between the Chu family and the surrounding forces is brought to light, it will actually be somewhat beneficial to my Lin family. After all, trying to interfere in the interests of the Silent Sea will inevitably lead to clashes with the Chu family, so it's good to give the Chu family something to do.

"Your presence connected the whole story. Aren't you afraid they'll suspect you? Aren't you afraid it will implicate the Lin family?"

"I'm completely innocent! I'm just a traveling merchant! I'm sure those who want to kill me won't come forward and admit to this! I have no real conflict with them!"

“That’s right! Wan Tongya has amnesia, and Chu Junhao is dead. No one who is alive truly hates you.”

Chu Family Secret Land

Golden Core cultivators from all branches of the Chu family gathered here to discuss how to deal with the incident where Chu Junhao was cornered and killed at his doorstep.

"There's something strange about this. The Blood Feathered Dove has a weak bloodline and isn't particularly strong in combat. Judging from the battle traces at the scene, the two sides fought fiercely, but there wasn't an absolute crushing defeat. Junhao should have been able to retreat, so why didn't he use a teleportation talisman? Could there be a mysterious third party involved?"

"That's normal. Since the other side came prepared, they would definitely have countermeasures to restrict their escape methods. Junhao isn't stupid. The crime scene is so close to his family. If he couldn't win, wouldn't he turn around and run away? This is targeting him!"

Chu Junhao had only recently been promoted and had not made any substantial contributions to the Chu family. In fact, his influence among the Chu family's upper echelons was quite limited, which is why there were still people who could calmly analyze such a big matter.

"Cloud Whale, why didn't you keep an eye on Junhao? Why did he go out and take such a risk? Tell us the truth right now!"

"Reporting to the clan leader, Junhao said he's going to kill someone, a mid-Foundation Establishment stage henchman, near Baishazhou."

This was a personal grudge he had formed during his Foundation Establishment stage, and he couldn't let it go. I had no choice but to agree to his request; after all, he's not a child anymore, and some things have to be left to him. I never expected...

"Clan leader, we must avenge Junhao!"

"A lowly nobody in the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment?"

Has Junhao ever offended anyone from Cangxia Mountain? Why do you think they would attack and kill him?

"No! Junhao's only connection with them was the study tour at Wuwei Hall, but that was just a minor conflict between juniors. It's impossible for it to provoke the Demon King's revenge. I'm more inclined to target my Chu family!"

"Targeting my Chu family? Who in the four regions of the Inner Sea has the ability to do that? Could it be the City of Thousand Stars pulling the strings?"

"No matter who's behind this, they've already dared to ride roughshod over my Chu family. I advocate for an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth!"

"That's right! These peasants don't know how high the sky is, and they can't feel the difference between us and the Chu family. Only by making them bleed will they learn to respect. Blindly tolerating and shrinking back is useless!"

"Clan leader, make a decision. Let's start with Cangxia Mountain!"

"Damn it! Chieftain, a good punch now will save you from a hundred!"

The elderly patriarch of the Chu family observed the wishes of the crowd. Although the Chu family had declined, it was still relatively strong and well-equipped at the Golden Core level.

But he knew that once it was opened, the Chu family would become the target of everyone's hatred, even if the Chu family was the one who was bullied first. People hate the strong, which is a weakness of human nature.

"Junyue, what do you think of this matter?"

“Junhao was my cousin. Someone stormed into my house and killed him. I cannot tolerate this. I must avenge him!”

Chu Junyue could not go against the wishes of the people and knew what to say to reassure the majority, even if it was not the best answer.

"Since everyone supports it, let's start with Cangxia Mountain! One life for another isn't enough! If we're going to kill, let's kill the barking monkey to intimidate the wolves!"

"Kill the barking monkey to deter the wolves!"

Currently, there are many forces opposing the Chu family, not only the medium and large Golden Core forces in the Northwest Region, but also almost all the Golden Core forces in the other three regions near the Silent Sea.

Everyone seemed to have reached a tacit consensus: to work together to resist the overwhelming power of the Chu family and cause them trouble at every turn.

Since a gentle integration is impossible, then let's forge a path!

The Chu family immediately divided their forces.

We must relentlessly pursue and hunt down the culprit, Bloodfeather Dove. Only by capturing him can the Chu family's self-defense be truly justified, and then we can personally eliminate him.

They began pressing towards Cangxia Mountain, attempting to dismantle the alliance centered around it. Alliances are fragile in the face of an absolutely powerful enemy, and the Chu family wanted to shatter this alliance.

……

A few days later,
The Tianji ship finally arrived at the Lingji Island waters on the edge of the Silent Sea in the Western Regions after a hurried journey.

Lingji Island has been a hot topic lately; even Tianji Lun, far away in the Northwest Region, frequently hears news about it.
Because Lingji Island has become a newly emerging large-scale Golden Core power in the Western Regions!
Previously, the Western Regions had two large Golden Core factions: the Cloud Garment Alliance and the Guanlan Immortal City.
Later, the Yunshang Alliance moved away and was replaced by a weaker version of the New Merchant Alliance. Then, internal disintegration occurred within Guanlan Immortal City, leading to a shortage of Golden Core cultivators and reducing it to a medium-sized Golden Core force.

Later, the new merchant alliance fought amongst themselves, and the original seven families became five. The five families combined did not have ten Golden Core cultivators, so in recent years, there has not been a decent large Golden Core force in the Western Regions, let alone a leader in the late Golden Core stage.

Now that Lingji Island has been added, the Western Regions have a backbone!
Last winter, when the Lord of Spirit Trace Island appeared, he was only at the sixth level of the Golden Core stage. This year, during the storm season, when the Demon King of the Silent Sea caused chaos, the Lord of Spirit Trace Island reappeared at the late Golden Core stage.
Now, Lingji Island is hosting a "Heavenly Sea Feast," attracting various Golden Core forces from the Western Regions who want to get acquainted with the island and establish connections. In particular, those forces with interests in the Silent Sea hope that Lingji Island can lead them in resisting the domineering Chu family.

Toot~
"Is this Spirit Trace Island? It looks quite ordinary!"

As the Tianji Wheel approached the coast of Lingji Island, it noticed that besides recognizing the large number of spirit ships in the sea, the island itself didn't seem very large, and its spiritual energy was average. It wondered how it could nurture a large Golden Core power.

“The business on Lingji Island is completely different from ours. They mainly do cross-border trade and business at trading ports.”

"What is cross-border trade? What is a trading port?" "The Silent Sea is the only route from the City of a Thousand Stars to the City of Dawn."
The products of Qianxing and Chaochun are vastly different, and the profit margins for trade between the two places are much greater than we imagine.

As one of the closest third-tier spirit islands to Chaochun City in the four regions of the Inner Sea, Lingji Island possesses its own interdimensional fleet, allowing it to share in the spoils alongside the Nascent Soul powerhouses of Thousand Star City.

The two places are far apart yet maintain close ties; large spirit ships also need a rest stop when entering or leaving the Silent Sea.
Lingji Island, leveraging this geographical advantage, has steadily captured a portion of the port's business. Large fleets from the Nascent Soul stage forces of Thousand Star City typically stop here for rest and resupply.
Therefore, the rise of Spirit Island was not a coincidence, but an inevitable event in the course of history, and it could even be said that it came somewhat late.

"I see! It's indeed different from our business. So, is the Chu family's relocation based on the same logic?"

“Exactly! The Chu family may also want to take this path, but their ambitions seem even greater. I suspect this is one of the purposes of Lingji Island hosting the Heavenly Sea Jade Banquet this time.”

"Sigh~ It seems the four regions of the Inner Sea are about to descend into chaos again!"

"The more chaotic it is, the better! The more chaotic it is, the more opportunities my Lin family will have to develop!"

Toot~
The Tianji entered the port.
The port was densely packed with ships of all sizes, including twenty or thirty Tier 3 ships, a rarity in the Western Regions—a sight rarely seen elsewhere.

Among them was the Lin family's Tier 3 escort ship, the Zhentao Ship. Clearly, a representative from the Lin family had also arrived, and with a very high-level presence, including a Golden Core cultivator.

"Others are responsible for maintaining the Tianji Wheel's commercial activities and are not allowed to come to the island without permission. The Third Elder and I will come to the island."

Using the Lin family's unique communication methods, Lin Qianfan successfully located the captain of the Zhentao warship, Elder Lin Dayan, on Lingji Island.

"How did this round of trading go?"

"Everything went smoothly! This commercial route has been successfully established, and things will only get better from here on out."

"It's good that everything went smoothly. I heard that a newly promoted Golden Core cultivator from the Chu family was killed a few days ago in the northern no-man's land by a wind-type demon king from Cangxia Mountain. Did you encounter any danger on your journey?"

"Hiss~ The Chu family's Golden Core senior was killed by that demon king? I thought it was just a regular battle, where only the winner was determined and not life or death."

"Oh? Do you know some details?"

"What a coincidence! Our Tianji ship happened to be passing by that area of ​​sea at the time, and we even recorded some footage."

Lin Qianfan immediately produced what he had seen and heard at the time, especially the part where he could vaguely hear the Blood Dove Demon King admitting that he had attacked and killed Chu Junhao. This part was obviously the key evidence.

However, since the Tianji Wheel was constantly moving away from the battlefield, this footage only shows the first half of the battle and does not include the subsequent developments.

"This...is too much of a coincidence, isn't it?"

"Who says otherwise? I even suspect that Chu Junhao came specifically to ambush me, and then happened to be caught by the Blood Dove Demon King of Cangxia Mountain. This has kept me up at night for the past few days!"

"It's not impossible! It's not good for this grudge to linger for so long. Now that the person is dead, the feud is over. Having this video will definitely help you resolve this grievance. After all, it's better to resolve a feud than to let it fester."

"Thank you, Your Majesty! I have never wanted to offend the Chu family!"

"Hmm, who else knows about this?"

"The entire crew of the Tianji witnessed the entire process!"

"Then we can't keep quiet about it. In that case, Cangxia Mountain can't blame my Lin family! It seems we need to hand this over to the Chu family as soon as possible!"

"Of course! As eyewitnesses, we were able to reconstruct what happened, and both sides should thank me."

"Thank you? Without you, this whole thing wouldn't have happened. I bet Chu Junhao died trying to kill you!"

"Hehe~ It's all Chu Junhao's fault for bringing this upon himself! By the way, what's the main purpose of this Tianhai Qiongyan banquet?"

"The monsters of the Silent Sea are restless! During the storm season, they often harass the surrounding seas and even seriously disrupt the main shipping routes. However, the City of a Thousand Stars is currently focused on developing the outer seas, so we, the forces of the inner seas, have no choice but to join forces to maintain the stability of the shipping routes."

"Is there nothing else? For example, joining forces with... the Chu family?"

"It used to be there, but it should be gone now. The Chu family and Cangxia Mountain have clashed, and Lingji Island will definitely sit back and watch the fight. It's not a good strategy to confront the Chu family head-on; it's enough that someone takes the lead and gets hurt."

"I see! How's the sea marrow crystal mining going?"

"There hasn't been much progress. The second-tier golems suitable for mining third-tier mineral veins in the deep sea are still in the initial stages of development, and there may not be any breakthroughs in the short term. This matter has been put on hold."

"Oh? Do you have any relevant research data? I'll come down and give it a try."

"You're also researching puppets now?"

"I know a little bit about this. Since the family needs this kind of thing, and the level of secrecy is very high, I can also switch to this direction."

"Alright, here are some specific data on sea marrow crystal mines, as well as their ideas for deep-sea mining golems. I hope they will be helpful to you! If you can accomplish this, it will be a great achievement!"

"I'm not seeking credit; it's just what I should do!"

"You boy!"

Lin Dayan hadn't been piloting the Zhentao for long, but he was highly adaptable. Essentially, his approach was the same as when Third Master piloted the Hunter: he went wherever there was a tangible benefit.
The difference lies in the fact that the Zhentao ship has stronger operational capabilities, a wider operating range, and can seize more benefits.

The Lin family's stance is neither on Cangxia Mountain nor on the Chu family, because they are too far apart. In any case, as long as they fight, the Zhentao Ship will definitely make money, so it's very flexible.

Spirit Island
This is a highly developed commercial island, much like a super-enhanced version of Haiyue Immortal City.

In terms of local products, this place is not much better than Haiyue Bay, but because the port is good enough, you can buy almost all the products of Thousand Star City, as well as a large number of products of Chaochun City.

Feeling relaxed from the inside out, having let go of many things, Lin Qianfan even went for a stroll with the Third Elder.

A private room in a restaurant.

The Third Elder finally couldn't help but ask the question that had been bothering him.

"Qianfan, this matter can't really be related to you, can it?"

"How can it be unrelated? Chu Junhao left the Chu family because he killed me, but I won't take the blame."

"Is that really all?"

"That's really all!"

(End of this chapter)