Chapter 1642 (Raw 1624):
After leaving the West Wind Tower, Xiao Chen gathered the crew of the Black Cutlass.
"Tomorrow, we will leave the Pirate Hall."
This was only a pitstop on his way to the blessed lands. He should have already left long ago.
Now that everything was ready, having gotten the most important recommendation letter, it was time to leave.
"Good. I have been eagerly waiting for this. Captain, where to?"
"One of the three blessed lands of the Grave Sea, the Black Cave Mountain!"
Fei`er said, "If we are leaving tomorrow, doesn't that mean we will be leaving together with those two outstanding talents from the blessed lands?"
Ling Yu and Jiang Xuan had fought a series of seven battles, each battle ending in a draw.
Each battle had been extremely exciting, causing a huge commotion in the entire Pirate Hall.
Due to these two, countless experts from various places came to this pirate city with its buildings of various sizes. It could be said that these two fanned the excitement in the Pirate Hall to the peak.
Three days ago, these two arranged to come back one year later and compete again. They were also going to depart tomorrow.
Xiao Chen said indifferently, "They have nothing to do with us. There is no need to care about them."
—
Early the next morning, people thronged the entrance to the Pirate Hall to send Jiang Xuan and Ling Yu off, causing congestion.
Seeing the crowd there to send them off, the two felt very pleased and proud, their faces full of smiles.
Nothing could surpass the so-called favored ones of heaven attaining their dreams in their youth.
"Brother Jiang and I are talents that appreciate each other. An exchange of blows can lead to friendship. Everyone, don't worry. We will come again next year," Ling Yu said to everyone while performing a cupped-fist salute.
Jiang Xuan also showed a smile as he said softly, "We will part here, then. There is no need for everyone to send us off."
"These are truly outstanding talents—geniuses—heroes at a young age. Their futures are without limit."
"Being able to see so many exciting fights while alive is considered a blessing as well."
The gaze of the crowd did not shift away as they watched the two turn around and leave.
Clearly, Jiang Xuan and Ling Yu, two outstanding talents with a Great Desolate bloodline, had brought a great shock to these people, earning sincere respect from them.
Not far away, at the harbor outside the Pirate Hall, an unremarkable pirate ship also departed.
A white figure stood in the tallest lookout tower on the ship sailing into the vast sea as the first light of morning appeared.
This white figure gave off a peaceful aura like he was isolated from this world, away from all the chatter and noise. It was like he was one with the world.
Jiang Xuan and Ling Yu chatted happily about various things as they walked down the wide street.
Suddenly, Ling Yu's gaze caught sight of Xiao Chen, who was on the Black Cutlass, facing the wind.
Ling Yu's gaze paused, and he said softly, "It's him."
Jiang Xuan looked over, feeling it was strange. "What's wrong? Is that person the one you mentioned? The white-clad youth who also has a Great Desolate bloodline and wanted to fawn on you?"
Ling Yu nodded and said, "Yes. However, his cultivation is not high, and he is older than either of us. Furthermore, he is not from any sect and is alone. How can he be worth making friends with? So I rejected."
Jiang Xuan smiled and said, "Brother Ling, you can't compare everyone to us. It is not fair to them. Among regular people, he is already very dazzling and can be proud of himself."
"That's true. Haha! I was wrong, then."
As the noise and chatter slowly died down, Jiang Xuan and Ling Yu left proudly before the eyes of the entire city. The pirate ship set off in a direction that no one paid attention to, slowing sailing farther away.
However, many years later, when people spoke about this matter, they would only remember that they brushed by the Dragon Emperor Xiao Chen and regret the missed opportunity for life, completely forgetting about these two geniuses from the blessed lands.
When the Black Cutlass left the territory of the Pirate Hall, a gray-clad old man, leading two early-stage Primal Core Venerates, stood on a huge tortoise beast, showing a cold smile.
The gray-clad old man was none other than the Beast Governing Sect's Elder.
The temptation of the highest-quality Life Juice Source was simply too great. During the past month, the gray-clad old man had made use of everything he had to position people all around the Pirate Hall's periphery.
Once Xiao Chen appeared, the gray-clad old man would find out immediately.
"Brat, I was thinking that you would hide in there for life, never to come out again. Chase!" the old man shouted coldly, and the tortoise beast he stood on charged at Xiao Chen's pirate ship at lightning speed.
The strangely fast speed and the huge body of the tortoise beast did not seem to match up.
"Captain, that old tortoise egg actually did not leave. Instead, he is standing on a small tortoise and chasing over. Should we shake them off?" Xiao Suo's cursing came from the control room.
[TL Note: There is a play on words here. The Chinese characters for tortoise egg are slang for "bastard." There are a few characters for tortoises. The character used in the small tortoise here is a lesser-used one, but it is the one used in the slang for bastard.]
On the lookout tower, Xiao Chen sat peacefully on his Cycle Throne. He said calmly, "That tortoise beast is quite impressive. You won't shake it off easily. Find a more desolate sea region and finish them off."
"Yes, Captain."
As the tortoise beast slowly shortened the distance, the gray-clad old man felt that his victory was at hand. Hence, he revealed a smile as he spoke indifferently.
"Little white-clad friend, we meet again."
Xiao Chen replied indifferently, "Indeed. However, this time, it is probably not a coincidence."
"Humph! Cut the crap. Hand over the Life Juice Source, and I'll spare you from death. As for the matter of you killing my Beast Governing Sect's two Cold Steel Eagles, I can write it off. This is the greatest compromise I can give you. Think about it yourself first."
The gray-robed old man released the strong aura of a late-stage Major Primal Core cultivator. His voice was deafening like thunder.
An incredibly berserk and scary storm kicked up the surface of the sea.
The sky immediately turned dark and overcast.
"What a strong aura!"
Feeling the old man's aura, the crew of the Black Cutlass felt startled and took a sharp intake of breath.
With just his aura alone, he could raise such a huge storm. This gray-clad old man was truly impressive.
However, to the gray-clad old man's surprise, the average-sized Black Cutlass sailed steadily amid the storm, not shaking at all.
"This pirate ship is rather extraordinary."
The two early-stage Major Primal Core Venerates behind were flabbergasted, now viewing the Black Cutlass in a new light.
The gray-clad old man smiled coldly. "I thought that he was preparing something big for one month. It turned out that he just strengthened his pirate ship. I'll deal with this ship. The two of you charge over. Aside from the white-clad youth, kill everyone else."
With two early-stage Major Primal Core experts climbing on board to deal with a group whose cultivation was mostly in the Yang Essence Stage and the Minor Primal Core Realm, this task would be very easy to accomplish.
The gray-clad old man's Veritable Essence Energy surged and gave off a terrifying aura before he threw a palm strike.
"Boom!"
A giant wave appeared on the surface of the sea and tossed the entire pirate ship into the sky, thoroughly reducing its speed.
"Now!"
A murderous intent flashed on the faces of the two early-stage Major Primal Core Venerates. They soared into the air, preparing to take this opportunity to board the ship.
"Captain, those two early-stage Major Primal Core fellows are coming," Xiao Suo said nervously from the control room.
Xiao Chen observed from the lookout tower and said calmly, "Brothers in the towers, change out the 4-Star ballistae's regular load for the special bolts. Then, aim at the old man on the right."
Xiao Chen's calm voice rang out, calming down all the brothers on the ship.
"Yes, Captain!" All the crewmembers in the towers answered in unison.
"Creak! Creak!" The many ballistae silently swiveled in the towers, locking on to the old man charging over on the right.
"Splash!" The unremarkable pirate ship in the air landed back on the sea.
At this moment, the two old men finally entered the range of the 4-Star ballistae.
However, Xiao Chen did not give the order to fire. So, everyone held their breath and did not act rashly.
The gray-clad old man revealed a smile while standing on the tortoise beast, anticipating a bloody scene. No one on the ship would be able to stop the two Major Primal Core Venerates from slaughtering everyone.
"Fire."
On the lookout tower, Xiao Chen finally gave the order in a frosty tone, sending it to the ears of all the brothers in the towers.
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
Sixty-four huge ballistae. Each ballista could load eight bolts and shoot four bolts at a time.
Bolts rained out immediately, rushing forward mercilessly like venomous snakes.
The specially made bolts were expensive but were very effective.
Before the old man on the right side could cry out, his body looked like a honeycomb. "Splash!" That old man fell into the sea and corroded away until nothing was left.
A bona fide Major Primal Core Venerate fell on the spot just like that.
The other old man was frightened silly, stunned in midair, unable to believe what just happened.
