Ten o'clock, at sea!
The gale howled, lightning flashed, and thunder roared. Towering waves surged, and the driving rain fell like arrows.
The world around them was dim and dark. The Assault Skiff pitched and bucked through mountains of waves and valleys of troughs, in constant danger of capsizing and taking everyone aboard to their deaths.
"Urgent report! General Wu's Assault Skiff has vanished!" The dreadful news came without warning: one of the Assault Skiffs had gone missing. Worse, it was carrying Wu Datou, their strongest fighter.
Chu Yun wiped the streaming rain from his face and forced his eyes open. His voice was as hard as iron. "Ignore it! The whole fleet, keep moving!"
Speed was of the essence. Besides, in this weather and under these conditions, who could say whether the ship had already capsized and its crew fallen into the sea?
They couldn't help him, and they couldn't afford to try.
Not long afterward, Old Fish King made a suggestion. "The waves are growing worse. If this continues, even if we reach the battlefield, our soldiers will be exhausted and unable to fight. We should halt our advance for now..."
"No! Strike while the iron is hot. First comes the rush, then the strength wanes, and at last it is spent. Full speed ahead!" Chu Yun roared, rejecting the proposal.
Old Fish King lowered his head and withdrew.
Half a quarter-hour later, someone suddenly shouted in excitement, "The wind has shifted!"
The wind abruptly changed direction, turning from a headwind into a tailwind. The seven Assault Skiffs surged forward, and the crews' morale soared!
Ten fifteen, the battlefield at sea.
Black smoke billowed across the entire sea, shutting out the wind, rain, and thunder. Flames flashed across the battlefield as shouts of slaughter shook the heavens. Dozens of ships were interlocked in a massive melee.
"Shu Tianhao, you're old. You can't even hold your blade steady. Has the All-Star Fierce Tiger of old become a sick cat?" Black smoke, blood-red eyes, and wolf heads gathered and scattered around Remnant Wolf, forming a seamless offense and defense.
Remnant Wolf laughed wildly as he forced the one-armed Shu Tianhao into a hopeless disadvantage.
"Die! Ashes of the World!" he suddenly roared. The Beacon Smoke Wolf Beast howled in response and activated its Dao Technique, transforming into a dense mass of black smoke that shrouded Shu Tianhao.
Interwoven with streaks of scorching red, the smoke had not even drawn near before the hair on Shu Tianhao's brows and head began to smell scorched and dry. Its searing heat baked everything around it.
The attack covered too wide an area to dodge. Despair showed on Shu Tianhao's face.
"Don't you dare harm my lord!" At that critical moment, a figure suddenly appeared—it was Wu Datou! The waves had swept him off course, but by some twist of fate, the power of nature had carried him to the battlefield ahead of schedule.
"Martial Dao Will!" The character "martial" on the Martial Dao Crab's shell shone with golden light. It leaped forward, sacrificing its life to block the enemy's Dao Technique, Ashes of the World.
Wu Datou spat out a mouthful of blood. When a Demon Beast died, its Spirit Beast Master suffered backlash as well.
"We can't beat him head-on. Go!" Shu Tianhao shielded Wu Datou as they fought their way back.
"You won't get away." Remnant Wolf laughed heartily. He leisurely picked up the Demon Crystal left behind by the dead Martial Dao Crab and tossed it into the black smoke. Then he turned and unhurriedly pursued Shu Tianhao and Wu Datou.
After half a quarter-hour of pursuit, the two men were finally driven into a dead end.
"Island Lord, run!" Wu Datou roared, eyes blazing, and charged at Remnant Wolf, ready to sacrifice himself.
"Get lost!" Remnant Wolf gave a contemptuous snort and sent Wu Datou flying with a kick.
"Why aren't you running anymore?" he jeered, strolling at his leisure as he surveyed the entire battlefield, brimming with confidence. Everything was under his control.
"Death isn't what's frightening. What's frightening is dying without taking responsibility." Shu Tianhao glanced at Wu Datou, struggling to rise in the distance. But his thoughts turned to Chu Yun.
"Still, fate is fickle. Even if I must die today, I have regrets, not fear! Fight!" Shu Tianhao's fighting spirit flared. He raised the Drunken Snow Blade and hurled himself forward.
His blade flashed like a bolt of lightning, sweeping in every direction. The smoke scattered before it, unable to withstand its advance.
As he fought, he sang at the top of his voice.
"Dark clouds, cover the sky! Waves, rise as high as mountains! Cold wind, strike my face! Spray, crash into the ship!"
His blade moved with solemn force, steady as a mountain range. Remnant Wolf's face darkened with apprehension.
"Let the gale slash like a blade, let the rain fall like arrows! Let the land crumble, let my life drift like a leaf!"
The light of his blade flared, piercing heaven and earth as it struck the smoke. Black mist coiled around Remnant Wolf as he braced for the attack with every defense.
"Since ancient times, who has escaped death? Let my loyal heart shine green with blood!"
The blade howled like wind through pines and waves across the sea. The black smoke scattered, revealing the horrified look on Remnant Wolf's face.
"Comrades, open your eyes! Helmsman, grip the wheel! Stay alert, don't slack off! Fight for your lives, fear nothing!" His blade twisted like a dragon, sweeping across heaven and earth. Remnant Wolf retreated in a panic.
"Fear not the thousand-zhang waves rising high as mountains! Fear not the thousand troops and ten thousand steeds, their spears like a forest!"
The blade's radiance blazed, its brilliance overwhelming. Remnant Wolf retreated again and again.
"Break through the sea, then turn back! We'll fight those raging waves to the death! Fight to the death!"
The blade aura surged like a raging tide, wild and ferocious, reaching an unprecedented peak! Remnant Wolf cried out in alarm and unleashed a life-saving Dao Technique. The black smoke collided with the blade aura, and the Beacon Smoke Wolf Beast let out a heart-rending howl.
Remnant Wolf spat blood and suffered severe injuries. He collapsed to the ground, horror written across his face as he stared at Shu Tianhao in disbelief.
So this was the All-Star Fierce Tiger? Strong—so strong!
Shu Tianhao stood his ground, holding the blade in one hand. He seemed like a towering mountain, unshakable even by a thousand troops and ten thousand steeds!
At the sight, the Shu Family Army's morale soared. Unable to contain themselves, they joined in the song.
"Dark clouds, cover the sky! Waves, rise as high as mountains! Cold wind, strike my face! Spray, crash into the ship..."
"Since ancient times, who has escaped death? Let my loyal heart shine green with blood!"
"Comrades, open your eyes! Helmsman, grip the wheel... Fight to the death! Fight to the death!"
Their song came in waves, each one louder than the last. As they sang, the Shu Family Army fought like wolves and tigers, unleashing a ferocious counterattack. The pirates wailed and fell back step by step. Despite their superior numbers, they were suddenly on the defensive!
A heroic song of tragic resolve! A heroic song of tragic resolve!
Who would have thought there could be a navy like this? The Shu Family Army truly was a force of fierce warriors!
Remnant Wolf's face turned paper-white. His fighting spirit was gone, and regret gnawed at his heart. Blinded by profit, how had he chosen to face such an enemy?
"Don't be fooled by appearances! Shu Tianhao has already exhausted his strength. He's just a paper tiger!" Seeing the situation turn against them, White Prowler called out a warning, his expression cold.
Remnant Wolf froze.
Shu Tianhao gave a bitter smile. I really fooled Remnant Wolf, but I couldn't fool the cunning White Prowler?
Ten thirty, with the relief fleet.
By now, the storm had eased, and the Assault Skiffs raced across the water.
"Urgent report! We're nearing the battlefield. White poisonous mist has appeared ahead!" A soldier hurried over to report.
In truth, Chu Yun had already seen it. Beyond the hazy white mist loomed a vast, round curtain of black. It looked like a dark mountain veiled in mist and rain.
"That's Arsenic Prowler's Poison Mist Hazy Dao Technique and the Beacon Smoke Wolf Beast's Black Curtain Universe Dao Technique. Hmph, I came prepared." Chu Yun sneered inwardly. In his previous life, he had studied the Remnant Wolf Pirate Group in depth. Now he could put that knowledge to use. Know yourself and your enemy!
"With a great battle at hand, I have an order for the whole fleet! Bring out the wine!" Chu Yun set an example, grabbing a jar with one hand.
Throughout the Assault Skiffs, countless soldiers followed suit.
"Drink to steel our resolve!" Chu Yun knocked off the clay seal and tipped the jar back. He downed three mouthfuls of strong liquor, then stopped.
The liquor bolstered their courage. After three mouthfuls, the blood of every soldier among the hundred or so aboard surged hot, and their fighting spirit rolled without end.
Crash!
Chu Yun slammed the jar down with all his strength. It shattered across the deck.
The entire fleet followed suit. The crash of breaking jars rang without pause. Wine splashed across the decks, and its heady smell filled the air.
"Set them alight!" At Chu Yun's command, the seven Assault Skiffs erupted in blazing flames.
Waves of heat rose, parting the white poisonous mist. The crew, meanwhile, had Jade Sea Kelp bound around their bodies. The kelp naturally released moisture, shielding them from the flames and protecting their bodies.
Chu Yun stood at the bow, eyes flashing like lightning, his heart brimming with heroic spirit. A storm raged and pounded against the shores of his chest; he had to let it out. He threw back his head and sang the Shu Family Army's battle song at the top of his voice: "Dark clouds, cover the sky! Waves, rise as high as mountains..."
The soldiers aboard the seven blazing Blazing Flame Flying Boats were swept up in his song. Their spirits soared; they joined in, singing in response.
This was a perilous mission, one that meant almost certain death.
Yet!
How could a true man cling to life and fear death?
The warriors aboard the seven boats went forth bravely, ready to die!
Almost at the same time, on the battlefield shrouded in black smoke.
Flames blazed high aboard the Shu Clan flagship, shooting into the sky.
With a thunderous crash, Shu Tianhao was hurled into the cabin like a cannonball. Splinters flew everywhere. Bathed in blood, he collapsed to the floor, but his hand still clutched the Drunken Snow Blade.
"I nearly fell for your trick! Shu Tianhao, you're quite the actor!" Remnant Wolf laughed again and again, his voice venomous and vicious. Black smoke churned around him, condensing into a giant fist that slammed toward Shu Tianhao once more.
With a deafening crash, Shu Tianhao was hurled away again and slammed onto the deck, spitting blood. The Drunken Snow Blade flew from his grasp with a clang and landed slanted against the edge of the ship.
"The mighty All-Star Fierce Tiger thought he could win with a trick! What a disgrace! Hahaha..." Remnant Wolf laughed mockingly as he sauntered closer and looked down at Shu Tianhao.
"You lost an arm and can't use your two-handed blade technique, so quit showing off!" Remnant Wolf raised his foot and stomped hard on Shu Tianhao's chest.
Shu Tianhao spat out another mouthful of blood.
"I know about the Drunken Snow Blade too. The longer you use it, the heavier its blade becomes and the sharper its edge. What a bizarre demon blade! Hahaha! You've been using it for so long—how could one hand possibly support it? Two hands, maybe."
Remnant Wolf sighed theatrically, all the while mocking and battering what little self-respect Shu Tianhao had left.
The Drunken Snow Blade trembled, its snow-white blade reflecting the firelight as it let out a mournful cry.
"Where's your left arm? Where did it go? Without your left arm, you're nothing but a cripple! A cripple, yet you dared to fight me!" Remnant Wolf had been shocked into dismay moments earlier, but now he kicked Shu Tianhao viciously, venting his fury and trying to reclaim the face he had lost.
"Can't you use a blade? Show me again! Can't you sing? Sing another verse!" Remnant Wolf vented his rage. Each time he kicked Shu Tianhao and forced blood from his mouth, he felt an intoxicating rush of satisfaction.
The song grew faint.
Shu Tianhao had been utterly defeated, and the remaining Shu Family Army's morale plummeted. The once-grand, valiant battle song seemed destined to die along with him.
Shu Tianhao was the soul of the Shu Family Army. Once that soul dispersed, their combat strength would be cut in half.
Some soldiers turned pale and fell silent. Others sang on through their tears. Yet their determination could not turn the tide of the battle.
"The outcome is decided!" Remnant Wolf spread his arms, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath, savoring the thick stench of blood that hung in the air.
He had trampled the famed All-Star Fierce Tiger beneath his feet!
His face twisted, and every inch of his body quivered with excitement.
What a pleasure! This feeling...