Hunter

Zhao Siqi had emerged from seclusion and had people light bonfires on both sides. The moment night fell, she fired three consecutive light-arrow signals toward the valley.

In the field, Zhao Dun and Zhao Chuan joined forces against Mao Xie Jiang. After this pirate gained the power of a demon spirit, armor-like shells guarded his entire body, and the strength in his arms had increased as well.

The only problem was that his movements were broad and sweeping, making it easy for Zhao Dun and Zhao Chuan to dodge. The pirate swung his axes with both hands, charging about and slaughtering wildly.

His strength was no weaker than that of a Fourth-tier Martial Artist, but his actual lethality was limited. In a one-on-one fight, this was probably as far as he could go.

But they could not let him charge into the crowd. Especially in a chaotic melee with many people, it was not just the enemy who feared him—their own side also feared being accidentally injured by him.

Old Zhao (Zhao Youfu) was fighting Qing Xie Jiang. His demon spirit had added a layer of green shell armor to him. He wielded twin blades, and his blade techniques were far superior to those of the Mao Xie Jiang next door. Still, he was not Old Zhao's match for the moment.

The two sides fought back and forth.

These pirates had started brawling the moment they arrived, without saying a word. Ming Shu could not even make out what they were muttering to themselves.

They cursed and grumbled nonstop.

Ren Yuan was fighting the pirate who had become Zhan Ci E. This one was even stronger. Covered in crocodile hide and scales, he possessed formidable defenses, while his combat power was savage and unmatched.

Ren Yuan had no choice but to borrow the power of his demon spirit as well. After Demon Spirit: Sky Pillar possessed him, his strength rose dramatically, allowing him to barely suppress his opponent.

These two brawny men fought the most brutally and fiercely.

Every punch struck flesh. Neither used weapons; they fought at close quarters with their bare hands. Sumo wrestling was Sky Pillar's specialty, and after several probing exchanges, he began to suppress Zhan Ci E.

But Zhan Ci E had thick skin and heavy flesh, with an extremely long health bar. No matter how hard he was pummeled, he simply would not die.

On the other side, Shi Lin E charged out. Just as Ming Shu helplessly prepared to fight personally, Chong Li made his move.

[Magic Spirit: Earth Hero Star Heavenly Eye General] possessed him!

Skill 1: Heaven's Eye of Delusion Breaking located the pirate's weakness.

After this fellow was possessed by a demon spirit, his whole body could take a beating. Ordinary people truly had no way to deal with him. Unfortunately for him, Chong Li could find his weak point.

In the first exchange, he could do nothing but passively take blows.

Shi Lin E's formidable defenses and burly body left him lacking in mobility and agility.

Chong Li seized the opportunity and activated Skill 2: Three-Pointed Double-Edged Illusory Blade Slash. A blade materialized and swept upward from below, striking his armpits. With two swishing cuts, it severed both his arms.

This established an overwhelming advantage.

The power of the pirate's demon spirit still remained within him, so he could not die for the time being. But the massive blood loss and the loss of both arms caused the demon spirit to reject him, and it immediately broke free and left.

Seeing his brother fall motionless, the remaining Hei Zhao E pirate charged out in a fury.

This pirate wielded twin hammers. His strength was even greater, and after being empowered by the demon spirit, he came roaring forward like a bulldozer.

Ming Shu summoned Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King and used Skill 1: Spear Stab to Break the Enemy. Using a single point to break brute force, he thrust out with his spear, forcing the pirate to halt his advance and evade the attack.

This bought Chong Li some time.

While the battle outside Baishi Village raged like thunder, the butcher and Hunter received the signal in the valley. They brought their people and prepared to go over to provide support.

But just after they left the valley, they ran into an ambush and could only fight while retreating. They slowly fell back into the valley, relying on the traps and fortifications they had set up earlier to defend themselves.

Another group of pirates also charged out from the north side of the valley, splitting their forces. They had no choice but to send a group north to defend.

Several people were killed during this time.

The butcher's good brother, Hunter, was also gravely wounded. But he persisted in fighting. Instead, the situation here grew even more critical.

At Baishi Village, after one of the major pirates was taken out, the pirate possessed by Hei Zhao E unleashed his full strength. Black light flickered across the raised points of the scales and leather armor covering his body, while black radiance also glimmered between the seams of his scales.

He was the leader of this group.

But he had to face Chong Li and Ming Shu's attacks at the same time.

The other major pirates were also at a disadvantage.

However, they had originally come to probe and restrain their opponents. The main target of this assault was actually the group living in the northern valley, which formed a pincer with Baishi Village.

Although Old Zhao could not break through Qing Xie Jiang's defenses, he could attack nimbly. Several times, he knocked him to the ground, focusing on his lower body.

Ren Yuan also exerted his strength and slammed Zhan Ci E hard onto the ground.

The demon spirit Shi Lin E had already fled without a trace.

Hei Zhao E took Chong Li's Three-Pointed Double-Edged Illusory Blade Slash head-on. The battle hammer in his hand nearly flew free, but Ming Shu's Spear Stab to Break the Enemy struck in time, injuring the armpit on his other side.

Xiao Shiyi was not idle either. He took out a piece of poetry and calligraphy he had prepared for a long time. As he burned it, he began chanting aloud.

It added a trace of strength to the people fighting: Old Zhao, Ren Yuan, Chong Li, Ming Shu, Zhao Dun, Zhao Chuan, and the others.

Sharpening the blade, it sobs by the water; The water reddens, the edge wounds the hand.

I would lighten the sound of a breaking heart, But my thoughts have long been thrown into chaos.

A man swears to serve his country; What more is there to lament in anger?

Let his deeds be drawn among the qilin, His battle bones shall surely never decay!

Zhao Siqi also drew her long sword and leaped into the air. A sword-light spell appeared overhead and descended—Fallen Sword Art!

The most orthodox technique of the Dao Sect, it specialized in cleaving souls and spiritual bodies. It also had a certain effect on demon spirits and magic spirits.

The strike startled the two crab generals into rolling away, while the two crocodiles fled in panic. Although it had missed, the effect was unexpectedly excellent.

But before everyone had time to celebrate, they saw flames rising in the northern valley.

"Not good. Something happened over there too." Ming Shu grabbed Ren Yuan and did not pursue the pirates who had already retreated.

Several people immediately headed toward the valley to provide support.

Although the butcher had a magic spirit within him and possessed formidable combat power, even two fists could not fight four hands. The pirates who had come this time were stronger than those before.

The pirates they had encountered in the past all possessed demon spirits, but their actual combat power was only enough to bully ordinary people and low-tier Martial Artists.

This time, only a few of the stronger pirates possessed demon spirits. The rest were barbarian tribesmen without magic spirits. Their combat power was still considerable, and most had the strength of Second- or Third-tier Martial Artists.

If so many people had not come from the barbarian army, the butcher would never have believed it.

Did flying the pirate flag of Evil Dragon Island really let them cover it all up?

When the butcher hurriedly brought several people to the north to repel the enemy, Hunter led the remaining people and guarded the south.

At the same time, they lit signal bonfires in the valley. Afraid they still would not be conspicuous enough, they even deliberately set several thatched houses ablaze one after another.

The flames were already roaring fiercely.

But the battle remained brutal, and many people had been killed or wounded.

Just as the butcher was despairing, Hunter was killed in battle.

The pirates also broke in.

Ming Shu, Ren Yuan, and the others arrived as well.

This was the first time Ming Shu had killed someone with his own hands. From the moment he saw the devastation in the valley, he could no longer hold back. He thrust out the short spear in his hand, piercing through a pirate from behind.

He threw himself into the fray.

Ren Yuan and the others behind him did not stop him either.

Old Zhao and Little Zhao followed closely at his side, charging in together.

The pirates attacking from the south had already breached the valley and entered the farmers' homes. Ming Shu and the others blocked their retreat, so only a few leaders possessing demon spirits managed to force their way out and escape. The northern pirates, meanwhile, suffered few losses.

Unfortunately, the farmers in the valley suffered catastrophic casualties.

After fighting through the night, the remaining pirates had all been cleared out by dawn. Those who escaped were no longer in any condition to pursue.

Zhao Siqi, Tie Ju, Han Han, and the others who had come to provide support also witnessed the devastation.

Is this what a chaotic age is?