Chapter Summaries

Du Ang learned that a Kunlun Group supply fleet was approaching and planned to scout it before deciding whether to plunder it. Meanwhile, Yang Jie’s frigate refused to take aboard supposed survivors, exposing their staged distress as a ruse, and the fleet sailed on.

• The purple-lipped woman told Du Ang that a Kunlun Group fleet was heading into the High Seas, and Du Ang decided to have Old Ding’s men scout it disguised as survivors.
• A young guard spotted a sinking cargo ship and asked Yang Jie whether they should rescue the people in its lifeboats.
• Yang Jie warned the young guard that pirates often posed as survivors and refused to let the strangers aboard.
• A man on the lifeboat claimed his family, including a baby, needed help, but Yang Jie’s crew only lowered a crate of food and water before sailing away.
• The man revealed that the baby’s crying had been faked by pinching it, and said they would have to try harder to get aboard.

Du Ang’s crew hijacked the Kunlun Fleet’s flagship and demanded its four mechas, while Luo Yan and the Water Ghosts prepared a counterattack. The chapter ended as Zhuo Hu’s team began moving against the guards near the control room.

• Du Ang decided to infiltrate the flagship, seize its captain, and demand the fleet’s mechas in exchange for the hostages.
• Luo Yan learned that twenty-one crew members had been taken hostage and ordered the fleet to negotiate while rescuers prepared to act.
• Luo Yan and Xue Ping went to the docking bay, where Luo Yan entered Phantom and Xue Ping stood by with the Water Tiger Camp mechas.
• Du Ang demanded that the mechas be launched into the water within ten minutes and learned the flagship carried a Divine General Mecha.
• Zhuo Hu’s team disguised themselves as sailors, blocked communications, and began advancing on the hijackers guarding the control room.

Little Zhou killed Zeng Jun, while Sha Fei killed Zi Yi and Old Wan fought Old Ding in the control room. Du Ang tried to contact his subordinates before a heavily built stranger entered and confronted him.

• Little Zhou defeated Zeng Jun with a spear thrust through his chest, killing him.
• Old Wan and Old Ding fought with their sabers, but neither gained the advantage.
• Sha Fei overwhelmed Zi Yi in close combat and killed her.
• Du Ang tried to contact Zi Yi and Zeng Jun, but a heavily built man entered through the window and confronted him.

Zhu Hu defeated and killed Du Ang aboard the Kunlun ship, while Pang Dong approached the fleet hoping to seize two mecha. Phantom suddenly launched out of the sea and loomed over Pang Dong’s ship.

• Zhu Hu drove Du Ang from the control room and ordered Little Zhou, Sha Fei, and the others to protect the bound captain.
• Du Ang attacked Zhu Hu but was forced back to the deck’s edge as Zhu Hu’s saber overwhelmed him.
• Du Ang tried to escape over the railing, but Zhu Hu’s wave-shaped attack destroyed it and forced him back onto the deck.
• Zhu Hu wounded Du Ang, disarmed him, and killed him with seven saber strikes before throwing his head into the sea.
• Pang Dong approached the Kunlun fleet and ordered his pirates to tow Phantom and another mecha away.
• Phantom’s Energy Core and eyes lit up, and it launched from the water toward Pang Dong’s ship.

Luo Yan interrogated the captured pirate Ding Yang and learned that Azure Dragon Shipping planned to rob the Pearl to demonstrate its strength ahead of a gathering about the Vortex Demonic Domain. He decided to infiltrate the gathering at Falling Dragon Bay, unaware that Ding Yang was planning to sabotage their ship and alert his chief.

• Luo Yan used his Divine Treasure to question Ding Yang, who revealed that Du Ang’s crew had attacked the Kunlun Fleet while their original target was the Pearl.
• Ding Yang explained that Azure Dragon Shipping’s owner, Xie Zun, had ordered the Pearl robbery to impress pirate groups gathering for a major operation involving the Vortex Demonic Domain.
• Luo Yan ordered Ding Yang to take him to the gathering at Falling Dragon Bay and told Zhuo Hu to stay with the Kunlun Fleet.
• The next morning, Luo Yan left the fleet aboard a modified cargo ship with Ding Yang at the helm, disguised as a pirate and carrying Ming Ye.
• As the ship approached Falling Dragon Bay, Ding Yang secretly planned to use the treacherous terrain to wreck the ship and escape, while Luo Yan watched him with golden light shining in his eyes.

Luo Yan uncovered and killed Old Ding before he could lead him into an ambush at Falling Dragon Bay, then sank the cargo ship and approached the Azure Dragon alone. On the ship, Xie Zun faced pressure from Freedom Wings’ representative Jiang Hua over a failed raid on the Pearl.

• Old Ding tried to divert Luo Yan to Dragon Claw Island so he could arrange an accident, but Luo Yan exposed his scheme and killed him.
• Luo Yan sank the cargo ship near an uninhabited island and slipped into the nearby forest.
• Xie Zun learned that Du Ang could not be contacted, while the Pearl continued sailing as usual.
• Jiang Hua confronted Xie Zun about Freedom Wings’ failed attempt to raid the Pearl, and Xie Zun threatened him before releasing him.

Xie Zun gathered Southeast Asian pirate leaders aboard the Azure Dragon and revealed that Freedom Wings wanted their cooperation in building a maritime force against the Strategic Affairs Department. Luo Yan secretly listened as the pirates gathered, and the meeting left them weighing Xie Zun’s proposal.

• Xie Zun agreed to send Yao Ling to handle the pirates after Jiang Hua warned that the gathering needed to succeed, while Jiang Hua planned to approach Freedom Wings about Xie Zun’s growing defiance.
• Luo Yan secretly boarded the Azure Dragon and watched the assembled pirate ships arrive, including those led by Huang Asi and Zhao Ya.
• Xie Zun welcomed the pirate leaders aboard and, after Zhao Ya urged him to speak plainly, introduced the Vortex Demonic Domain and the valuable Sea Heart Lotus.
• Huang Asi questioned why Xie Zun had summoned them just to gather medicinal materials, and Xie Zun admitted that his main purpose was to introduce them to Freedom Wings and enlist their support against the Strategic Affairs Department.

Luo Yan listened as Xie Zun persuaded the pirates to cooperate with Freedom Wings, then watched as Xie Zun introduced the Sea Heart Lotus as their means of gaining Freedom Wings' favor. The pirates agreed to the alliance, and the chapter ended with the Sea Heart Lotus revealed as a plant they would have to harvest deep in the Forbidden Land.

• Luo Yan overheard Xie Zun recruiting pirates for Freedom Wings and quietly memorized his name.
• Xie Zun warned the pirates that conflict between Freedom Wings and the Strategic Affairs Department would put them at risk, then argued that Freedom Wings would value their local knowledge more than the Strategic Affairs Department would.
• Zhao Ya and Huang Asi agreed to cooperate with Freedom Wings, and the other pirates followed.
• After the pirates toasted their decision, Zhao Ya asked Xie Zun to explain the Sea Heart Lotus.
• Xie Zun showed images of the Sea Heart Lotus and explained that it grew in the Forbidden Land's central region, where they would have to venture to harvest it.

Xie Zun outlined Azure Dragon Shipping’s plan to enter the Forbidden Land and sought to establish himself as leader of the operation, but the other pirates resisted. When news arrived that Miss Yao had seized the Pearl, Luo Yan suspected Xie Zun was using the raid to gain Freedom Wings’ support and become pirate chief.

• Huang Asi described the Vortex Demonic Domain’s deadly storms and whirlpools, and Xie Zun said Azure Dragon Shipping had found a safe route into the Forbidden Land at the cost of many lives.
• Xie Zun proposed rotating Profound Comprehension Realm experts through mecha to protect the collection teams and drive away the Forbidden Land’s Overlord Giant Beast.
• Huang Asi called for a democratic vote to choose a commander, while You Da voiced Xie Zun’s objection and then slapped himself on Xie Zun’s command.
• Huang Asi and the other pirates rejected Xie Zun’s claim to leadership, and Luo Yan suspected Xie Zun aimed to secure the largest share of the profits.
• A messenger reported that Miss Yao had seized the Pearl, and the pirates praised Xie Zun for raiding a ship they believed was protected by the Strategic Affairs Department.
• Luo Yan realized the pirates’ outdated information had enabled Xie Zun to exploit the Pearl raid to strengthen his position with Freedom Wings, and killing intent flashed through his eyes.

Luo Yan discovered that Nether Fish’s Forbidden Land was the Vortex Demonic Domain and devised a plan to eliminate the pirates while helping Nether Fish. After returning to the Kunlun fleet, he learned that the fleet and the pirates were both heading for the same dangerous waters.

• Xie Zun left Azure Dragon Shipping to meet Freedom Wings and had a double take his place, causing Luo Yan to abandon his attempt to kill him.
• Luo Yan used Nether Fish’s Life Talisman to explore its Forbidden Land, discovering the Vortex Demonic Domain, a deep trench, and Sea Heart Lotuses.
• Luo Yan decided to spare Xie Zun for the moment and left Azure Dragon under cover of night with a plan to deal with the pirates and help Nether Fish.
• After Luo Yan returned to the Kunlun fleet, Zhuo Hu reported that they had found Nether Fish’s signal near waters believed to be the Vortex Demonic Domain.
• Luo Yan asked Zhuo Hu to report their movements to Giant Deer City and gather information about the Forbidden Land, then told him that the pirates were heading there too.

Luo Yan guided the Nether Fish through the Vortex Demonic Domain to investigate the Forbidden Land’s core and its master. He reached a glowing expanse of vegetation deep inside a trench, apparently near the master’s lair.

• Luo Yan redirected the Kunlun fleet toward the Vortex Demonic Domain, where Xue Ping killed a mid-level Ying Yu in underwater combat.
• Luo Yan reviewed the sparse information from Giant Deer City and concluded he could not rely on Zhou Yucheng.
• Luo Yan connected with the Nether Fish and guided it along a new route through the Forbidden Land.
• The Nether Fish passed a graveyard of shipwrecks where eerie cries for help seemed to lure prey.
• Luo Yan urged the reluctant Nether Fish into a deep-sea trench, where he saw strange creatures, hydrothermal vents, and tube worms.
• Luo Yan spotted light shining through thick vegetation at the trench’s depths, suggesting the master of the Forbidden Land’s lair lay beyond.

Luo Yan guided the Nether Fish through a trench and discovered a bright reef world inhabited by merfolk born from strange anemone-like cocoons. The Nether Fish identified their master as the Fish Woman and shared information about its powers before the merfolk attacked, leaving the Nether Fish to fight them head-on.

• Luo Yan had the Nether Fish use Water Slaying Sword to clear the vegetation, illuminate the trench, and suck nearby creatures into its mouth.
• The Nether Fish passed through the vegetation and revealed a colorful reef world filled with giant anemone-like creatures holding humanoid cocoons.
• The Nether Fish identified the merfolk as Quan Xian parasites of the Fish Woman and informed Luo Yan of the Overlord’s abilities, including clones, heavy-water attacks, and limited resurrection.
• The merfolk spotted the Nether Fish and swarmed out from the coral reefs to attack it.
• The Nether Fish activated Demonic Scales, turned red and indestructible, then charged into the merfolk and devoured many of them.

Luo Yan empowered the Nether Fish with the Zhe Kui Dao Tradition so it could fight Fishwife, the overlord ruling the coral reef. The Nether Fish held its own briefly, but Fishwife used an illusion and continued its assault while remaining hidden.

• The Nether Fish devoured the merfolk swarm and sliced through the coral reefs and their nurseries with Water Slaying Sword.
• Fishwife appeared and suppressed the Nether Fish with its overlord aura before preparing a Heavy Water Cannonball.
• Luo Yan infused the Life Talisman with the Zhe Kui Dao Tradition, triggering the Nether Fish's Heavenly Ghost Transformation.
• The Nether Fish's Crimson Blood Killing Sword dispersed Fishwife's first Heavy Water Cannonball, and Fishwife answered with a shrill cry.
• Fishwife turned the coral reefs into Sea Serpents, then struck the Nether Fish with another cannonball while concealing itself with an illusion.
• The Nether Fish fought off the Sea Serpents, but it could no longer locate Fishwife as more serpents and cannonballs converged on it.

Luo Yan used the Nether Fish to injure Yufu and escape, learning that Yufu’s damage transfer weakened its aura but did not restore lost blood. He concluded that killing Yufu would require him to go there personally, and the Azure Dragon approached the Vortex Demonic Domain.

• Luo Yan used the Nether Fish’s sonar and Crimson Blood Killing Sword to locate and wound Yufu through its illusions.
• Yufu transferred its wound to a clone, but Luo Yan sensed that its aura had weakened, then ordered the Nether Fish to retreat.
• Yufu sent merfolk and Upper-tier Giant Beasts after the Nether Fish, but its Heavenly Ghost aura scattered them and let it escape.
• Luo Yan severed his connection with the Nether Fish and decided he would need to go personally to kill Yufu.
• The Azure Dragon sailed to within a hundred nautical miles of the Vortex Demonic Domain as Xie Zun watched a storm gather ahead.

Xie Zun prepared to enter the Vortex Demonic Domain, explaining that human captives would be used to lure away its blue-scaled sea serpents while mecha escorted an extraction vessel. As the pirate alliance readied its fleet, Tong Zhenghao and Aisha feared for their hidden daughter Xin Xin aboard a cargo ship bound toward the whirlpools.

• Xie Zun told the pirates to establish their command center aboard the Azure Dragon and enter the Forbidden Land underwater in mecha.
• Xie Zun revealed that blue-scaled sea serpents guarded the Vortex Demonic Domain and that human sacrifices would lure them away from the whirlpools.
• Zhao Ya questioned Xie Zun’s use of captives, while he claimed livestock had failed to attract the serpents.
• The pirates deployed mecha and an extraction submarine as screens showed bound hostages aboard cargo ships sailing toward the Forbidden Land.
• Tong Zhenghao comforted Aisha about their hidden daughter Xin Xin and feared the pirates would kill them, lamenting that Mister Zhuo Hu had left the Pearl.

Tong Zhenghao and Aisha faced death as their cargo ship was swept into a vortex, while Luo Yan began searching for Nether Fish and the pirates' medicinal-materials site. Nether Fish approached the edge of the Forbidden Land as the pirates' gathering submarine arrived there.

• Tong Zhenghao and Aisha realized the pirates had framed the Strategic Affairs Department and accepted that they were unlikely to survive.
• A vortex engulfed the cargo ship, and a serpent-like dragon emerged as Tong Zhenghao and Aisha closed their eyes.
• Luo Yan and Zhu Hu watched footage of the pirate fleet, and Luo Yan ordered an unmanned submarine to search for Nether Fish.
• Luo Yan used the Life Talisman to contact Nether Fish, then guided it through the Forbidden Land to map the terrain and search for the pirates' gathering site.
• Nether Fish avoided the giant beasts near the shipwreck cemetery and headed for the Forbidden Land's edge as the pirates' Mecha Squad escorted the gathering submarine there.

Wu Shan led Azure Dragon Shipping’s collecting team into the Forbidden Land while Luo Yan planned to use the pirates to provoke a fight with Fishwife’s forces. When two Upper-tier Giant Beasts ambushed Nether Fish, Luo Yan directed it toward the pirates, and Wu Shan’s Giant Beast Radar sounded an alarm.

• Wu Shan entered the Forbidden Land with the collecting team and reported their progress to the Azure Dragon’s Command Center.
• Luo Yan watched the pirates from Nether Fish’s hiding place and planned to draw Fishwife out by making the pirates fight the Forbidden Land’s overlord.
• The Nether River Jellyfish and Purple Fish ambushed Nether Fish, forcing Luo Yan to order a retreat rather than spend its remaining Heavenly Ghost Transformation uses.
• Nether Fish charged toward the pirates with both Giant Beasts pursuing it, and Wu Shan’s radar warned that two Upper-tier signals were approaching.

Luo Yan used the Nether Fish to draw the pirates to the Sea Heart Lotus grounds, then descended in Phantom to approach the Forbidden Land. After the fish destroyed the unmanned submarine watching it, Luo Yan learned the visual feed was gone, as planned.

• Wushan attacked the Nether Fish, but Luo Yan evaded the blow and used it to cut at the harvesting submarine, sparking a battle between the pirates and two Upper-tier Giant Beasts.
• Luo Yan guided the Nether Fish past the pirates to the Sea Heart Lotus grounds, where they began harvesting while the fish ate some lotuses.
• Luo Yan prepared Phantom for a deep-sea descent and told Zhuo Hu to stay aboard the ship to provide support.
• The Nether Fish spotted and swallowed the unmanned submarine, cutting off the Kunlun fleet's visual feed.
• Luo Yan learned the feed was lost and revealed to himself that he had planned for the submarine's destruction.

Luo Yan entered the Forbidden Land in the Phantom’s shadow state and waited for Xie Zun to descend into the Lotus Sea. He provoked the Fishwife with the Nether Fish, drawing her and the sea beasts toward Xie Zun’s group.

• Luo Yan used the Phantom’s shadow state to pass the flood serpents and currents, then headed toward the Great Trench.
• Xie Zun descended into the Lotus Sea with Huang Asi and Zhao Ya, intending to collect more Sea Heart Lotuses.
• Luo Yan infused the Nether Fish’s Life Talisman with the Zhe Kui Dao Tradition, making the Nether Fish roar and glow scarlet.
• The Fishwife sensed the Nether Fish’s aura, left her lair with a swarm of merfolk, and headed toward the trench’s exit.
• The Fishwife emerged from the Great Trench, and sea beasts across the Forbidden Land followed her toward the Lotus Sea.

Xie Zun and his team tried to harvest Sea Heart Lotus before a mysterious Crimson Aura could reach them, but a Nether Fish led a Beast Tide into the gathering site. As Xie Zun fought back, a howl like a woman's cry came from behind the Nether Fish.

• Xie Zun ordered the gathering team to hurry while he and Huang Asi and Zhao Ya watched the motionless Crimson Aura.
• A woman's sobbing echoed through the sea, and the Crimson Aura began moving toward the pirates.
• The Giant Beast Radar detected an Upper-tier Giant Beast signal as Xie Zun spotted the scarlet-scaled Nether Fish leading a Beast Tide toward them.
• Xie Zun ordered the submarines to withdraw and went with Huang Asi and Zhao Ya to hold off the Sea Beasts.
• The Nether Fish sent razor-sharp Water Tendrils through the gathering team, killing pirates and slicing open containers of Sea Heart Lotus.
• Xie Zun deflected the tendrils with Azure Dragon and attacked the Nether Fish, then heard an angry womanlike howl from behind it.