Captain’s cabin.

"That was it? I’ve reached Foundation Establishment just like that?"

Su Ye raised an eyebrow.

His breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Stage had been incredibly smooth, without a single ripple of difficulty.

The transformations of his physical body and Divine Sense had been effortless!

Even the Mana Barrier, which had been his slightly weaker point, was passed smoothly with the help of the Ghostly Flood Dragon!

Furthermore, Su Ye discovered something else:

Advancing while in the [Harmony] state had another benefit.

After breaking through a major realm, newly advanced cultivators often found their Magical Power to be illusory and their cultivation unstable.

Usually, they would need to spend several months stabilizing their realm and refining their Magical Power.

But Su Ye’s Magical Power was condensed and pure, without the slightest feeling of stagnation or instability!

This was a sign of a stable realm and a solid foundation!

’This is a pleasant surprise...’

...

Then, Su Ye turned his Divine Sense inward to inspect his condition.

As his Divine Sense sank into his body, a rich life force radiated with vibrant vitality!

When a cultivator stepped into the Foundation Establishment Stage, the essence of their life transformed, and their lifespan doubled!

His theoretical lifespan had soared to two hundred and forty years.

’I’m... only twenty-four, I think?’

A glint flashed in Su Ye’s eyes.

This meant he still had over two hundred years to spare!

In his past life, two hundred years would have been long enough to watch dynasties rise and fall, for oceans to turn into mulberry fields!

’It truly is... a long, long time...’

Su Ye sighed with emotion.

Next,

HUMMM.

Su Ye’s Divine Sense sank into his Dantian Qi Sea.

A deep-blue Liquid Magical Power, as clear and translucent as a gemstone, had settled in his Qi Sea, exuding a profound and heavy aura!

This was the Liquid Magical Power of a Foundation Establishment cultivator!

It was incomparably condensed—a fundamental improvement over the gaseous Magical Power of a Qi Refining cultivator!

With a slight stir of his Divine Sense, Su Ye estimated the amount of Liquid Magical Power he possessed.

’Thirty drops? Not bad...’

It was said that some Foundation Establishment cultivators who practiced common, low-grade Cultivation Techniques only formed twenty drops of Liquid Magical Power after their breakthrough!

In comparison, while the Ghost Water Skill might be inferior to top-tier Cultivation Techniques, it was still quite good.

At the very least, his amount of Magical Power wouldn’t be a weakness for him.

And besides his Magical Power, Su Ye’s Divine Sense had also grown substantially!

’My Divine Sense can now cover a radius of forty zhang, which is almost the level of a typical Mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator!’

Normally, a cultivator who had just entered the Foundation Establishment Stage would have a Divine Sense range of around twenty to thirty zhang!

’As expected of a rare bloodline variant, its effects are extraordinary...’

Su Ye knew this was a benefit gained from the spider crab roe, which had helped him awaken his Divine Sense ahead of schedule.

Su Ye was quite satisfied with this triple transformation of his physical body, Magical Power, and Divine Sense!

...

"Next up is the [Dao Foundation]..." Su Ye’s expression turned solemn.

The Dao Foundation, also known as the Immortal Foundation, was formed from the fusion of essence, qi, and spirit. It was the very root of a Foundation Establishment cultivator!

’According to the records, a Dao Foundation often provides a cultivator with several abilities...’

’For example, the most common Dao Foundation for Ghost Water Skill cultivators is the [Profound Nether Sea], which allows them to fearlessly withstand frost and cold, and also amplifies the power of ice and cold-type Magic...’

’Furthermore, the [Divine Technique Seed] of a Crystal Skill cultivator is usually formed from the Dao Foundation as a prototype, which then transforms and advances!’

Forge the Dao Foundation, sublimate the Divine Seed, and master Divine Techniques.

These corresponded to the Foundation Establishment, Crystal Skill, and Golden Core stages!

This was the cultivation path for modern-day cultivators, ever since the Crystal Skill became widespread!

’So, what will my Dao Foundation be?’

Su Ye was a little curious.

He wasn’t sure what his Dao Foundation would be.

This was because a cultivator’s Spiritual Root aptitude, Cultivation Technique, special constitution, and even their temperament and life experiences—not to mention their destiny in the unseen world—could all influence the type of Dao Foundation they formed!

Even cultivators with the same Spiritual Root aptitude practicing the same Cultivation Technique were not guaranteed to form the same type of Dao Foundation!

However, Su Ye had heard that within the Cyan Profound Sect, there were certain Secret Techniques.

By using specific medicinal pills, rituals, and cultivation methods—at no small cost—one could form a designated Dao Foundation!

It was said that the Shu Family’s genius, Shu Shaojing—the very one the Luo Family was so wary of—

had achieved an extremely rare and special Dao Foundation, the [Flame Heart Jade], with the help of his master, Hongri, who used a Secret Technique and meticulously nurtured him!

’It must be nice to have a master’s support...’

Su Ye sighed.

Of course, such a Secret Technique was part of the Cyan Profound Sect’s core inheritance, and Su Ye had no way of learning it.

’However, the Magical Power from my Ghost Water Skill is pure, orthodox, and balanced...’

’My physical body and Divine Sense also surpass others at my level. The Dao Foundation I form shouldn’t be too bad...’

Su Ye mused.

The three treasures—essence, qi, and spirit—gathered in his Dantian Qi Sea, manifesting the Dao Foundation!

WHOOSH. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

The spectral image of a pitch-black spirit ship appeared in his Dantian, sailing leisurely upon the ’ocean’ formed by his deep-blue Liquid Magical Power!

It was, astoundingly, a miniature version of the Ghostly Flood Dragon!

"Huh?"

"What kind of Dao Foundation is this?"

He had never seen or read about a Dao Foundation like this in any records!

’Can a spirit ship even be the manifestation of a Dao Foundation... Or is this because of my panel?’

Su Ye frowned, confused.

’Forget it... I’ll study it more later.’

’For now, I’ll exit my seclusion, gather the crew, and head back to Donglong!’

’I’ve been out at sea for several months. I wonder what the situation is like now...’

...

「Qingzhu Island.」

This first-rank spirit island was located in the heart of the Luo Family Sea Region, far from the border.

But at this moment, a massive fleet flying the "Qi" banner was making an aggressive show of force just outside the harbor!

Among them, astonishingly, was a towering, majestic, second-rank spirit ship with a double-deck—the [Soul Gold]!

BOOM!

The massive-caliber Soul Gold Heavy Cannon roared, spitting out a terrifying beam of black light!

Wherever the black light passed, the Island Protection Array that had enveloped Qingzhu Island was instantly shattered!

The blast’s power, not yet dissipated, struck a harbor turret.

BOOOOM!!!

The stone turret, over ten meters tall and inscribed with reinforced array patterns, collapsed with a deafening crash, sending dust and smoke everywhere!

Such power was simply horrifying to behold!

Then, the Soul Gold Heavy Cannon began to slowly turn, aiming at another turret.

This shattered the psychological defenses of the cultivators defending the harbor!

"We surrender!"

"We’re willing to surrender!"

...

「Onboard the Blood Copper.」

"Qingzhu Island..."

"The gateway to Donglong Island... it fell so easily!"

"The number of cultivators the Luo Family had stationed here was pitifully small, and most of them were just Loose Cultivators..."

Qi Maoxin lamented.

After several years of major repairs, the Blood Copper was finally restored.

And Qi Maoxin had been reinstated to his former position, once again taking command of the Blood Copper!

"Before the [Soul Gold], any first-rank array is as fragile as a piece of paper!"

Qi Changxin walked up beside him and said with a smile.

The Soul Gold is inscribed with a second-rank array, allowing it to use an array to break another array, easily crushing any first-rank array!

Left with no choice, the Luo Family could only pull back its forces.

Meanwhile, the Qi Family’s fleet pushed deep into their territory, sweeping through everything in their path. In just a few months, their vanguard was pointing directly at Donglong Island!

"Even if they defend Donglong Island to the death, what’s the use?"

"The Soul Gold is enough to neutralize the advantage of their Island Protection Array, and on our side, we have two Foundation Establishment ancestors accompanying us..."

"Heh... The Luo Family’s foundation is shallow, after all. They have no second-rank spirit ship and only a single Foundation Establishment cultivator."

"Their defeat is already guaranteed!"

"And we will finally be able to wash away our shame..." Qi Maoxin’s eyes turned cold.

Hearing his uncle’s words, Qi Changxin nodded, gritting his teeth and clenching his fists.

"Su Ye!"

"After several years of bitter cultivation, I’ve broken through to the seventh level of Qi Refining and been completely reborn! The Blood Copper is as good as new, too!"

"This time, I’m going to sink his spirit ship and kill him with my own hands!"