Extraordinary Voyage-Chapter 458 - 422: All Is Ready

"Squeak... Squeak... Squeak..."

Amidst the chaotic screeching, two long, rising lines of sand in the desert surged forward, with two glistening barbed poison tails rising high amidst the flying sand.

Whether the venom would be lethal was unknown, but getting struck by a half-meter-long barb would definitely be unpleasant.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Two large orange-red flame bullets, carrying heat enough to almost scorch the desert, traced arcs and landed precisely in front of the sand lines.

Boom——

Like two heavy artillery shots, they exploded two blazing craters in the sea of sand, with the 3000-degree Celsius flame stream easily melting the sand into shimmering crystals.

At the same time.

They blasted two giant sand scorpions buried beneath the sand, with bodies clad in shells resembling transparent yellow gemstones, into the air.

Sizzle——

A sharp blue lightning sliced through the bodies of the sand scorpions, easily cutting through their gemstone-like shells, splitting them from head to tail.

The ear-piercing screams came to an abrupt halt.

Clang!

Aiven sheathed his sword, while the ruby ring on Miss Moonstone’s right index finger beside him slowly dimmed.

After many nights of joint operations, especially with an hour outside corresponding to a day and a half in the Spirit Realm.

The two had actually spent over twenty days together in the Spirit Realm, and their coordination was now well-honed.

Moreover, such peculiar creatures, which were almost non-existent in the Material World, clearly bore the characteristics of both the "Vitalist School" and the "Gem School."

This was the norm for Spirit Realm demons during their recent actions together, evidently an added benefit of their mysterious bond.

Although they couldn’t see each other’s expressions, it was clear they were both quite pleased with the mysterious knowledge brought by the Spiritual feedback.

"A method for cultivating organic gemstones? Wonderful!"

With a Tier 3 Physical Side Transcendent as a guardian, Miss Moonstone’s time exploring the Spirit Realm had been exceedingly easy and delightful.

Aside from knowledge related to her own path, even the rate of Spiritual growth from slaying these Spirit Realm demons was at least ten times faster than when she was exploring alone a few days earlier.

’Having a neighbor like this is really not bad; it’s just... I feel a bit overshadowed.’

Although someone as proud and competitive as she felt somewhat awkward, she also knew that her situation was almost a rare opportunity for others.

Even if there were powerful high-tier Physical Side Transcendents willing to act as bodyguards without seeking any rewards, those Great Knights, with their iron-hard spirits (will), couldn’t enter the Spirit Realm at all.

It’s like a surface of the sea that can absorb a lot of water, but if you poke it with a needle, it would pierce a hole in the foam. Compared to Magic Professionals, those Great Knights are like that needle!

Then, without needing words.

The two exchanged a glance and simultaneously turned and headed toward a dark fissure not far away.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

They leaped into the fissure, navigating the twisting caverns and underground rivers, and had already passed through the layered world membranes of the Spirit Realm, returning to their beacon anchor ground.

Before parting, the petite Miss Moonstone looked up at Aiven, assertively saying:

"Mr. Red Fir, after discussing in the past days, I believe your design has become quite perfect.

Regarding the use of different or similar gemstones you proposed today and their arrangements, I will respond to you by tomorrow after some consideration."

Though her tone remained as cool as ever, the arrogance had almost vanished.

After all, having not resorted to flattery with a Tier 3 Extraordinary was already quite remarkable.

"Thank you for your help, Miss Moonstone."

"It’s nothing, consider it a return for your windflower."

Olivia silently added in her heart:

’The stronger the Storm Horn is, the safer I am. Yes, that’s right!’

Aiven felt that, perhaps due to familiarity, Miss Moonstone now was far more agreeable than her initially arrogant demeanor, and she wasn’t actually a difficult person to get along with.

Yes, especially considering she is a very beautiful exotic female...

"Then, see you tomorrow!"

"Goodbye!"

After waving goodbye, Aiven watched the girl’s silhouette disappear into the forest, softly murmuring:

"Although we get along quite well, it always feels like there’s something odd in my relationship with Miss Moonstone now.

Every night for this one hour, it’s like spending a day and a half together.

The time in the Spirit Realm feels like another lifetime, longer than the Material World.

In the bodyless Spirit Realm, is this considered... an unfamiliar soul mate?"

...

Once daylight came, work continued.

After completing the modification of eight privateer ships and the last Level 5 Battleship "Rowing Song," Aiven and Milan didn’t rest for long.

With enough steel transported in, they immediately initiated the transformation plan for the "Storm Horn."

The seawater in the primary dock had been drained again, and the Storm Horn was fully stripped, prepared for the upgrade.

The craftsman and engineers watching nearby were given a signal.

Aiven slowly raised his hands. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Sta—!

In the next moment.

It had already been completed, in the rune array representing the five corners of fire, water, earth, wind, and soul, respectively placed with small cannons, a Golden Cup, a Golden Lion, a Sword Staff, and the rune of Milan.

A translucent, emerald-green brilliance erupted forth as if like jade.

Swish!

Aiven had once again activated the [Superlimit Ceremony: Activation of Skillful Hands] that he used during the reconstruction of the "Venus".

With significantly enhanced abilities, Aiven’s "Activated Skillful Hand" easily enveloped the entire battleship this time.

With his current soul strength, he could handle multi-thread operations as if numerous skilled artisans were working in tandem under one brain, and the wooden ribs that were originally firmly fixed in the battleship were gradually loosened and stripped away.

Throughout this process, the ship itself suffered no damage.

Click... click...

In fact, the keel of a battleship can be replaced normally.

Moreover, the current shipbuilding habit within the Tulip Alliance involves using relatively inferior materials for the keel during construction. Finally, the keel is replaced with a real keel made of superior materials, ensuring the keel that enters the water is as "brand new" as possible without suffering the hardships of construction.

This method also maximizes the prevention of keel deformation.

It can be said that most of the battleships in service within Tulip have had their keels replaced at least once.

Compared with wooden structure keels, however.

Steel, on a microscopic level, is in a crystalline state, and its interior is macroscopically continuous, which gives steel good macroscopic mechanical properties and mechanical transmission performance.

Wood, on the other hand, is entirely different because one can see the through-material grain patterns— "growth rings."

These are composed of many wood fibers arranged in parallel, and the connection strength between these fibers is far less than the internal strength of a single fiber, hence "splitting wood against the grain tires out the lumberjack."

To build bigger, stronger, and sturdier warships, a revolution in materials is an inevitable trend.

It’s just that the emergence of wooden sail battleships has only been for a few decades, and no country has yet launched an iron-ribbed wooden hull ship.

In Aiven’s memory, even the earliest iron-ribbed wooden hull ships typically required the use of a box-type keel made of wrought iron, and riveted ribs, demanding extremely high craftsmanship and material requirements.

Where this world’s technology surpasses that of the contemporary Blue Star is that due to the need to equip powerful knights with suitable weapons, material science, especially steel production and processing technology, is relatively mature.

Somewhat even ahead of its time.

With this insight, the technology tree can almost meet the prerequisites for small-scale manufacturing.

Aiven chose materials that are relatively easier to shape: low-carbon steel.

Put simply, steel is an iron-carbon alloy, and only differing carbon content gives it different properties. Wrought iron (forged iron): C%

Iron components (such as fixing strips) on normal warships generally use more malleable wrought iron.

But Aiven understands the differences in strength and hardness between wrought iron and steel. For him, increased material hardness is merely a matter of expending a bit more effort, so he naturally goes for the best option.

Clink, clink...

The wooden keel, ribs, fixing iron nails, bolts, and so on were effortlessly hollowed out by the "Activated Skillful Hand."

Then a whole long section of pre-treated steel lifted its head on its own, slithering into the lower deck like a snake.

Seamlessly embedding itself from head to tail into the voids left by the original keel and side ribs.

Whether it was the hollow box structure of the keel or the connection issues between steel components, for Aiven, it was a piece of cake.

Rustle, rustle...

Once this entire steel reached its predetermined position, it grew naturally like a tree, with the keel, ribs, and steel beams forming in one piece. This technique was far superior to welding and riveting, by hundreds of times.

Then the steel and wood of the "Storm Horn" grew simultaneously, much like two entwined love trees (as they say, leaning together), firmly growing into one entity.

Meanwhile, inevitable gaps were filled with tar and linen, automatically providing an excellent buffer zone, turning the whole battleship into a perfect whole.

After the reconstruction, Aiven also took the opportunity to clean the copper-sheathed ship bottom, and the activated spiritual light made the copper instantly sparkle like new.

Mission accomplished!

Aiven’s old friend, the senior naval engineer Walkley, who once assisted him in reconstructing the "Venus," rushed onto the "Storm Horn," and after careful inspection with his professional knowledge, couldn’t help but exclaim:

"General, this kind of iron-ribbed wooden hull ship... is the future of the kingdom’s battleships!"

With Walkley’s experience, he could certainly see it.

The advantages of the iron-ribbed structure are very obvious: without significantly increasing the ship’s weight, it allows the ship to be built longer, better withstand the recoil of cannons, and add more cannon numbers.

As the accuracy and power of cannonfire are currently limited, more means mightier!

In addition, when building a new ship, it significantly shortens the drying time for ribs, and with steam drying of the planks, the production cycle of a battleship, which usually takes years, can be reduced to a few months.

Aiven smiled, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

In actual fact, steam ironclads are the future of warships.

However, with the gradual depletion of large-quality timber throughout the colonies, using iron-ribbed ships with relatively low construction costs should become a transitional option and supplement.

Of course, the premise is still that, with industrial progress, steel production capacity must further catch up. In the current era where navy power is measured by the number of cast iron cannons, this wish is hard to realize in the short term.

However, Aiven is not overly concerned with the future development of warships. The "Storm Horn" is ready and waiting only for the final touch to usher in a magnificent rebirth!

"Miss Moonstone, I hope you can bring good news for the ’Storm Horn’ tonight."