Chapter 1647 (Raw 1629):
The ordinary crewmembers were filled with curiosity and anticipation. However, the core members of the ship showed unsightly expressions.
Xiao Chen gathered everyone together in the captain's quarters to discuss this matter.
He had a vague feeling that things were not as simple as they had imagined.
Xiao Chen needed to go to the blessed land and could not afford to waste too much time here.
Originally, he thought that they were here just to lend a land. However, now, it seemed like they had fallen into a trap.
That peak Major Primal Core, black-clad man gave off a very unsettling feeling. That formation earlier was astonishingly huge.
Fortunately, the other party had not discovered the extraordinariness of the Black Cutlass, thinking that it was just an ordinary pirate ship.
Xiao Suo, Luo Nan, Fei`er, Elder Tang, and Xiao Chen were in the captain's quarters.
At present, the five of them could be considered the core of the Black Cutlass. As for Xiao Chen, he was the very core of it all.
"Make it simple. What does everyone think?" Xiao Chen was the first to break the silence, indicating for everyone to express their opinions.
Luo Nan said, "I feel that it is somewhat dangerous. The aura of that black-clad man is too scary. Even if his hands are not stained with ten thousand aggrieved spirits, there would be at least several thousand. Even from a distance, I could feel my hair standing on end."
The pressure that the black-clad man gave off from the moment he boarded was simply too strong.
Even now, the fear in their hearts had not abated yet.
Xiao Suo also felt somewhat regretful. He said, "It's all my fault. I was too rash. I originally thought that this Savage Blood Pirate Group was just an ordinary 5-Star pirate group. However, it looks like even that black-clad man is not the Savage Blood Pirate Group's head. There is someone more powerful above. Clearly, the Savage Blood Pirate Group is among the top 5-Star pirate groups."
Fei`er whispered, "In that case, we might as well leave first, before we see the Savage Blood Pirate Group. We should still be in time if we leave now."
"Leave? Forget about it. This old man already sensed that this sea region is encased by someone's Mental Energy. Every pirate ship has been marked. Unfortunately, the Black Cutlass is no exception."
Elder Tang, who had been silent all the while, finally said something.
When Xiao Chen heard that, his expression changed slightly. Then, he came to an understanding. "A Cloud Sea powerhouse?"
"That's right. There should be a Star Venerate in charge here. If we turn around now, we will be considered spies, and the Iron Hand Yama will immediately charge over," Elder Tang said calmly.
[TL Note: Yama is the name of one of the kings of hell.]
Xiao Suo raised an eyebrow. "The Iron Hand Yama?"
"That's right. That is the black-clad man earlier. His nickname is the Iron Hand Yama. He is considered unrivaled under the Cloud Sea Realm. This Savage Blood Pirate Group is infamous in the Grave Sea. They have destroyed many Rank 2 sects, and even regular Rank 3 sects do not dare to offend them."
Elder Tang's expression appeared unsightly, but he still honestly shared the information that he had.
Luo Nan immediately felt upset. He said, "Since you know about the Savage Blood Pirate Group, why did you not tell us in advance? What is the point of telling us now?"
Elder Tang waved his hand and replied, "No one asked me."
Seeing that an argument was about to erupt, Xiao Chen smiled and said, "Things are not at their worst yet. There is no need to blame yourselves or feel unsettled. It might be a blessing instead of a disaster. If it is a disaster, we might not have been able to avoid it anyway."
"Yes, Captain."
After everyone else left, Xiao Chen told Elder Tang to remain behind. "Senior Tang, did you manage to figure anything out?"
Elder Tang knew that Xiao Chen was asking about the Scarlet Blood Pirate King's last words. He nodded and said, "I have some thoughts. My body is like a sword, filled with a firm and unyielding pride; my heart is like the sun and moon, shining bright for ten thousand years; my stature is like a mountain, spanning tens of thousands of kilometers; my eyes are like the many stars, making the sky shine bright like day instead of night; I cover the sky with one hand and establish myself an emperor with another.
"The thing is that the first line and the third line conflict with each other. A body like a sword and a stature like a mountain. So which is it, body or mountain? Once we figure this out, everything should be solved."
Xiao Chen's eyes lit up. Elder Tang was indeed experienced. Xiao Chen had never even thought of this.
"However, there is no point in thinking about this now. Let's just clear the ordeal in front of us first. To think that you dared to take a mission from the Savage Blood Pirate Group…I really did not expect that," Elder Tang sighed, helplessness written across his aged face.
Xiao Chen felt that Elder Tang still had things to say.
"Senior Tang, if you have anything else in mind, just be straightforward."
Elder Tang hesitated for a while, but in the end, he still spoke. "This Savage Blood Pirate Group is very nefarious and evil, the nightmare of all merchant ships in the Grave Sea, particularly in recent years, daring to rob even the blessed lands' ships. They caught the attention of the Heavenly Blood Sword and the Starry River Divine Shield long ago."
"The Heavenly Blood Sword and the Starry River Divine Shield?"
"That's right. The Heavenly Blood Sword and the Starry River Divine Shield come from the same place, armies subordinate to the Ocean's Star. They are spread throughout the Starry Heavens, the greatest opponents of the Pirate Alliance. They are also the mortal enemies of many pirates. This is especially so for the Heavenly Blood Sword. They chase down pirates to the end, vicious in their means."
To think that the Pirate Alliance really had an opponent.
Xiao Chen was startled when he heard that, but he did not find it too strange. The Great Thousand Realms contained countless starry seas with plenty of benefits to be found in them. No one would be willing to let the Pirate Alliance monopolize all these benefits.
"Putting that aside for now, the Grave Sea is vast, and the Heavenly Blood Sword and the Starry River Divine Shield will not randomly target the Savage Blood Pirate Group. I'm afraid that we will be used as cannon fodder, dying undeserved deaths."
Xiao Chen entered deep thought. "You can withdraw first; don't overthink. The Black Cutlass is not as simple as you think. If we want to leave, it will not be particularly difficult."
Upon seeing the confidence in Xiao Chen's eyes, Elder Tang stared blankly at him for a moment. He did not know where Xiao Chen got his confidence.
In reality, the Black Cutlass had the Immemorial Demon Soul Formation. Leaving would really not be difficult.
The main thing was that Xiao Chen also wanted to see what this Savage Blood Pirate Group was up to. If there truly was an opportunity, he definitely wanted a cut in the profits.
—
Half a day later, the Black Cutlass arrived at the destination of the directions given.
"Captain, come and look."
Xiao Suo somewhat excitedly brought Xiao Chen to the deck to take a look.
Thousands of 4-Star pirate ships, as well as many elite 3-Star pirate ships, anchored in this sea region, densely filling the place.
This was a startling number of pirate ships.
Amid the many pirate ships was a huge pirate fleet that looked exceptionally eye-catching. The banners that it flew were clearly visible even from five hundred kilometers away.
They had a scarlet sun that looked like blood and two crossed scimitars under a skull. This was the mark of the Savage Blood Pirate Group.
The other pirate ships around the fleet were not even half as tall as it, making it look even more overbearing and majestic.
More than a thousand pirate ships and several more small ships. This was truly a shocking scene.
Feeling confused, Xiao Chen asked, "Elder Tang, didn't you say that this Savage Blood Pirate Group is notorious? Why is it that they can still gather so many people?"
"Well, naturally, for the righteous faction, they are notorious. However, among pirates, these are accomplishments. Both are fame. Most of the pirate ships are here because of their fame. Some are here probably due to hot-headedness," Xiao Suo explained with a chuckle.
However, after a while, Xiao Suo's expression turned sorrowful. "However, our ship is too unremarkable. I believe that we will be used as cannon fodder. Our situation is still not good."
After Xiao Suo's excitement passed, he returned to reality, turning sorrowful.
The facts proved Xiao Suo's guess right. That night, the Iron Hand Yama led a group of people and descended on the Black Cutlass again.
"Hehe! Little white-clad fellow, we meet again," the Iron Hand Yama said with a smile.
While it was a smile, when combined with that ferocious and evil face, not smiling would have been better. His smile made people even more afraid of him.
"These are the positions of all the pirate groups for tomorrow. Remember to move your ship to the position indicated here tomorrow."
The Iron Hand Yama handed over a map and pointed to a position that was at the very front.
Xiao Chen took a quick look at the ship formation on the map. The ones in front were nearly all the mediocre ships.
The 4-Star pirate ships and the Savage Blood Pirate Group's flagship were at the back.
It was as Elder Tang predicted. The Black Cutlass was placed in the cannon fodder's position.
"This is the mission that your Savage Blood Pirate Group is issuing?" Xiao Suo asked directly. Although Xiao Chen did not say anything, the impatient Xiao Suo was very upset.
"What's wrong? You have questions?"
"You are using us as cannon fodder," Xiao Suo said after drumming up some courage.
The Iron Hand Yama smiled coldly. "Is this your first day in the Grave Sea? Which pirate ship did not rise up from being cannon fodder? If you are not going to be cannon fodder, then should we treat you like a lord? Wake up from your foolish dream. Some day, if you are strong enough, even the Savage Blood Pirate Group can become cannon fodder for you."
The Iron Hand Yama gave off a strong air, one that was built up by killing.
His words were unreasonable. However, these unreasonable words rendered Xiao Suo speechless under the suppression of his air.
"Newbie, you are still too inexperienced." The Iron Hand Yama smiled in disdain, turning to leave.
