Wu Tao pondered for a long time, but could not come up with a good solution.
Truth be told, spiritual stones were not easy to earn.
Helpless, he could only start his plan ahead of schedule.
...
On the other side.
Under the diligent work of a large group of outstanding artifact refiners, and with ample spiritual stones, various ores were rapidly consumed. The construction of the flying battleship project progressed at lightning speed, and the first batch of flying battleships had long been completed.
The first batch comprised thirty-nine flying battleships. Apart from the flagship, the Huatao, the remaining thirty-eight were all manned warships with not particularly strong offensive capabilities.
Of course, this was only a relative statement. All the flying battleships were equipped with formidable main cannons capable of bombarding targets, but they could not possess the world-destroying power of those Sky-Piercing battleships.
As for the main battleship, the Huatao, it was rebuilt from a flying battleship and was three times the length of an ordinary battleship.
Furthermore, the Huatao's gun turrets were specially processed, and their power was no less than the full might of an ordinary Nascent Soul stage cultivator.
Thirty-nine ships, vast vessels floating in the air, propelled and controlled by compressing spiritual energy.
The all-black fleet, like a dark, oppressive cloud, exuded a formidable presence.
Among the thirty-nine battleships, the flagship Huatao possessed the strongest combat power, with complete cabins. Besides the super-large gun turrets, it also housed a galaxy-level defensive shield.
Wu Tao and the main force of the Ascended Immortals Sect were all on the Huatao.
These thirty-nine battleships were the culmination of the refiners' technology and the inscribing capabilities of formation masters, a crystallization of human intellect and strength.
As the thirty-nine battleships ascended into the heavens, most cultivators watched with excitement.
Even Wu Tao and his companions felt the same.
...
After the Huatao led the fleet into the sky, they did not immediately rush into Feng Jian Jia. Instead, they began a comprehensive patrol.
The dense, dark fleet flew over border cities like Licheng, Mocheng, and Duncheng, circling the entire Chu Domain.
This maneuver served two purposes. The first was simple: to prevent other factions from discerning Wu Tao's intended destination, creating confusion and misdirection.
The second purpose was also quite straightforward.
Such a grand display of activity near the Chu Domain's borders was primarily aimed at deterring surrounding powers and preventing any rash movements. The sound of the thirty-nine battleships breaking through the air was deafening, like the roar of true dragons.
Upon entering Feng Jian Jia, the iron plates of the thirty-nine battleships opened, blocking the view of all cultivators inside.
This served to protect the cultivators and prevent them from knowing how they arrived in Yunzhou, while also enabling better control over them—a triple benefit.
Naturally, only Wu Tao's Huatao could see the outside world.
Within the colossal gales of Feng Jian Jia, hull after hull of dark flying battleships, in large numbers, pierced through the hurricane, one after another, entering the eye of the storm.
After traversing Feng Jian Jia, the thirty-nine flying battleships landed on a clearing within the treasure trove.
...
Seeing this, Wu Tao immediately tossed out the Yun Lu.
With a slight movement of the Yun Lu, countless beams of white, cloud-like light illuminated, interweaving into a super-large formation that appeared around them the moment they landed.
This super-large formation emitted waves, condensing all the surrounding spiritual energy and radiating a dazzling light.
As everything converged instantaneously, imprints, runes, and restrictions—all activated at once.
When the light reached its peak brilliance, and the formation operated at its maximum, the nearly four hundred thousand cultivators aboard the thirty-nine flying battleships simultaneously felt an extreme sense of dizziness.
The ultra-long-range teleportation array began to activate.
"Buzz!" "Buzz!" "Buzz!" "Buzz!"
They vanished. As the light suddenly intensified, the thirty-nine flying battleships disappeared simultaneously.
.................
Finally, the thirty-nine flying battleships were teleported via the ultra-long-range teleportation array to Yunzhou in the heavens.
...
Wu Tao stood in the core command cabin of the Huatao, a triumphant smile on his lips.
Beside him stood his four disciples: Ye Yu, Ye Qingyi, Nangong Nan, and Nangong Xing.
Outside the battleship were endless expanses of white clouds, a scene of ethereal beauty with clouds and mist, like a celestial landscape.
Ye Qingyi, Nangong Nan, and Nangong Xing, being women, showed a sentimental side, captivated by the scenery. They exclaimed in awe, "This legendary Yunzhou is truly beautiful."
Ye Yu's expression was serious, but his heart was turbulent and deeply moved.
After a while, he couldn't help but secretly observe his master, only to find Wu Tao's expression calm and his demeanor exceedingly steady.
This was Ye Yu's first time aboard a flying battleship, soaring through Yunzhou. However, Wu Tao had been to Yunzhou before and had spent considerable time there.
Moreover, in his youth, he had experienced fierce naval bombardments.
He had witnessed too many grand events in his life; this minor matter was hardly worth his surprise.
"Master, I never imagined we would actually build a flying fleet..."
Ye Yu said with emotion, "I always thought that with our resources, even emptying our coffers, we could only build a few ships, not form a fleet."
...
"On the contrary, I think the current Black Sky battleships are too inferior. We should put in more effort to research even stronger flying battleships."
Wu Tao heard this and shook his head, saying, "Major powers have long possessed battleship manufacturing technology, especially those with tens of millions or even hundreds of millions of years of heritage."
Looking at the dense clouds outside, Ye Yu cupped his fists and inquired, "Master, are we heading directly to the Giant tribe's settlement now?"
...
"No, no, no. The time is not yet right. If we were to rashly appear at the Giant tribe's settlement, the Giants would not only refuse to see us as allies but would attack us as enemies," Wu Tao said sternly.
"Next, you need to control the nearly four hundred thousand cultivators on these thirty-nine battleships and prevent them from causing too much trouble."
"I will go and negotiate with the Giant tribe's high command first, and then you will appear."
...
"But, what if..."
Ye Yu clearly hesitated.
"Master, what if you take too long, and these nearly four hundred thousand cultivators on the thirty-nine battleships realize they've been tricked? Wouldn't they tear us apart?"
"We can't control nearly four hundred thousand cultivators."
...
"Don't worry. We are all cultivators, not mortals. Cultivators can go into seclusion for ten or eight years. Can a few months, or even a few days, be unbearable?"
"The reason these cultivators are gathered and listen to us is because following us brings them benefits, isn't it?"
"Don't we have some spiritual stones left in our treasury? If they cause trouble, just distribute all these spiritual stones to them and pacify them for now."
"Once I've negotiated with the Giant tribe's high command, these nearly four hundred thousand cultivators will be countless cannon fodder. Then, no matter how many benefits they receive, they will have to return them to me with interest."
Wu Tao said with a cold smile, as if the lives of these nearly four hundred thousand cultivators were worth nothing in his eyes.
Ye Yu nodded upon hearing this.
Then, he pondered for a moment and said, "This is our first official diplomatic engagement with the Giant tribe. We should at least make thorough preparations, Master. You shouldn't go alone..."
"There's nothing much to prepare, and if you went, you wouldn't be of any help. Instead, you'd only cause more trouble and make things more complicated."
"After all, I have refined a part of the Ancestor of the Giants. I carry the aura of a Giant king, which should be enough to fool most Giants."
"Besides, the Giant tribe's high command are not fools. As long as we offer them sufficient benefits, why wouldn't they listen to us?"
Standing in the core command cabin of the Huatao, Wu Tao gazed into the distance and said in a deep voice, "We have already left the Purple Continent. At this moment, they have no choice."
"Now, nearly four hundred thousand cultivators must obey our commands. Depart!"
Wu Tao embarked on this journey under the guise of exploring a broken small world, gathering so many cultivators to come to Yunzhou.
He knew very well that within this fleet of thirty-nine battleships, there were countless cultivators harboring ulterior motives and stirring with ambition.
Therefore, when strength is needed, it must be exerted; when softness is needed, it must be applied. This balance must be precisely maintained.
Wu Tao had several important tasks to accomplish during this trip to Yunzhou.
The first was to gain the recognition of the Giant tribe and help them defeat the Celestial tribe to dominate the entirety of Yunzhou.
The second was to sign an alliance agreement with the Giant tribe, so that he could summon their warriors to assist him when necessary.
Of course, if conditions permitted, Wu Tao would prefer to swallow the elephant whole and annex the entire Giant tribe, making all the Giants his subordinates.
The third was to plunder the various resources of Yunzhou to replenish the high consumption of his own forces.
...
Each of these three matters was crucial, and none could afford to be delayed.
Therefore, Wu Tao's time was tight, and his mission was heavy.