About to reach East Sea Fishing Province, Young Master Yuan certainly wouldn’t turn back, so he could only steel himself and continue forward. Even if he encountered Jun Changxiao again later, he could only blame his poor fate.

“Young Master.”

Elder Lin said, “He saved us.”

“…”

Young Master Yuan’s expression immediately turned ugly.

The first time Jun Changxiao released him, it was because the other party had captured him first, so after escaping his clutches, he still held anger and resentment.

But this time?

Hadn’t taking action to eliminate the pirates been the same as saving him?

Though Young Master Yuan didn’t want to admit it, he couldn’t change the fact that he owed Jun Changxiao a favor.

What to do?

Should he repay it later or not?

“Forget it, forget it.”

Young Master Yuan thought silently, “That fellow is now ridiculously strong. I definitely won’t have a chance to repay him anyway.”

His meaning was that if Jun Changxiao encountered trouble, he could help out incidentally, thereby helping resolve the crisis and making them even.

But that fellow already had dual Sword-Martial Saint cultivation. Those in heaven and earth who could deal with him were probably only the Martial Emperors who hadn’t emerged in ages. He himself was destined to have no opportunity.

Young Master Yuan saving Jun Changxiao.

This idea was indeed somewhat unrealistic.

But it also showed that being able to think of repayment meant he was someone who knew gratitude, not a complete villain.

“Young Master.”

The ship captain in charge of sailing stammered, “The… the pirates were eliminated. This will certainly alarm more pirates. We must change our route!”

“No need.”

Young Master Yuan pointed toward where the Ancient Tong warship had disappeared, saying seriously, “We’ll pass through the route they took—it will definitely be very safe.”

The ship captain broke down. “Several hundred miles in this direction lie nine islands called Nine Dragon Island. The one-eyed dragon who just died was one of the Nine Dragon Island masters. Going with them is the same as seeking death!”

“Rest assured.”

Young Master Yuan said, “Not only will we face no danger, Nine Dragon Island will probably also flow with rivers of blood today, not a blade of grass left alive.”

He could be so certain based on his understanding of Jun Changxiao—an understanding built on being robbed multiple times.

Given that fellow’s nature, coming to East Sea Fishing Province and encountering a pirate stronghold, the minimum requirement would be robbing all the good things. In extreme cases, it would mean complete annihilation.

Over these years, he had collected much intelligence about Jun Changxiao. When the other party destroyed sects, he might only kill the upper echelons then disperse the disciples, but whenever encountering bandits and robbers, it was definitely total annihilation!

Young Master Yuan had truly guessed correctly.

Several hundred miles away, above the nine interconnected islands in the sky, the Ancient Tong warship hovered, the ancient aura it emanated intimidating the thousands of pirates below and the eight island masters!

“Sect Master.”

Li Qingyang released his spiritual thought. “In this pirate stronghold, there are quite a few Half-Step Martial Saint level experts.”

Jun Changxiao was also rather surprised. “Is the pirate profession very promising? Making top-tier experts willing to become bandits?”

He Wudi said, “These Half-Step Martial Saints have unstable auras—they likely used some method to forcibly elevate themselves.”

“Oh?”

Jun Changxiao was even more surprised.

Methods capable of elevating one’s realm to Half-Saint level were rather formidable.

He Wudi continued, “The ones Sect Master just killed should also have used methods to forcibly elevate themselves. Though they seemed to possess Half-Step Martial Saint cultivation, compared to those who truly elevated through strength, there’s still quite a gap.”

Ye Xingchen’s brow furrowed slightly.

This fellow knew more about many things than this Emperor!

“No wonder they were killed a bit too easily.”

Jun Changxiao took out the amplifying megaphone, shouting down at the pirate leaders whose expressions had turned grave, “You’ve already been surrounded. Hurry up and put your hands on your heads and squat on the ground!”

“…”

Several thousand pirates’ mouths twitched.

A flying ship suddenly appeared at the base with only a few people on it, yet they dared brazenly claim to have surrounded us—how arrogant!

“Kid!”

The Third Island Master of Nine Dragon Island gave a cold laugh. “Daring to come to our Nine Dragon Island, you’re an old man hanging himself—tired of living!”

“Boom—”

As his words fell, a tremendous sound rang out.

From the Ancient Tong warship, a cannonball rippled through space as it shot out, then fiercely bombarded an island, instantly triggering the defensive array and causing ripples.

“Crack crack crack crack crack!”

“Bang!”

Shortly after, the flowing light barrier enveloping the island, unable to withstand the domineering force bombardment, suddenly shattered into nothingness.

The pirates within all turned pale with shock.

The array protecting the base had existed for many years, yet today it was so easily broken through!

“Snap!”

On the Ancient Tong warship, Xiao Zuiji kicked the smoking cannon muzzle.

After fine-tuning and calibration, he locked onto another island. As soon as the Sect Master issued the firing command, he would definitely continue the bombardment.

“Everyone.”

Jun Changxiao smiled faintly. “Please hurry and hand over the gold, silver, and treasures you’ve plundered, otherwise…” His tone turned sinister. “These nine islands will all sink to the ocean floor.”

When coming to East Sea Fishing Province, he had already made a vow that whoever dared rob him, he would rob them of even their underpants!

A man.

His word is his bond!

…

Xiao Zuiji’s single cannon breaking through the island array not only shocked the pirates but also shocked the eight island masters, who all thought silently, “This target is rather tough!”

That’s right, that’s right.

Without capability, how dare they come looking for trouble so brazenly?

The Great Island Master cupped his fists. “Friend, you seem unfamiliar—not a local of East Sea Fishing Province, right?”

“Cut the crap.”

Jun Changxiao said coldly, “Hurry up and hand over the money. This lord will spare your lives.”

This kind of dialogue usually came from pirates’ mouths. Today, at their own doorstep, it was instead spoken first by someone else—truly rather ironic.

The Great Island Master’s expression turned ugly.

Having been in the pirate business for quite some years, this was the first time being blocked at home and robbed—how humiliating if word got out!

“Kid!”

The hot-tempered Third Island Master furiously flew up, roaring, “Taste Grandpa’s fist!”

“Whoosh! Whoosh!”

Vast qi waves erupted, transforming into a substantive large fist, then viciously smashing toward the Ancient Tong warship.

“Charge!”

“Destroy this fellow!”

“Swish! Swish! Swish!”

The other island masters and Half-Saint experts all flew up, gathering various forces to attack!

As pirates who had robbed others for years, they naturally weren’t happy handing things over to others, so they naturally chose to resist, chose to fight!

Moreover!

Just a few people—what’s to fear!

“Whoosh! Whoosh!”

“Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh—”

Nine Dragon Island’s experts all flew up, surrounding the Ancient Tong warship, various energies blooming like fireworks.

Jun Changxiao sat in his chair, fingers interlaced. “Since you won’t cooperate, don’t blame this seat for being insane.”

Behind him, Li Qingyang, Xiao Zuiji, Ye Xingchen, and He Wudi shook their heads and shoulders, various weapons and equipment appearing, eyes flashing with fervent battle intent.

The camera froze.

The warship suspended in the sky.

Dozens of experts killing from mid-air.

The pirates on the islands waving flags and shouting.

Using distant camera work, this wove together into a beautiful picture.

…

Young Master Yuan’s ship was four to five hundred miles from Nine Dragon Island. It took a full hour to arrive. However, before even approaching the outermost island, they smelled a fishy stench mixed in the sea breeze.

“This is…”

The ship captain exclaimed in shock, “The smell of blood!”

After saying this, he nearly jumped in fright, because as the ship sailed, the azure seawater suddenly turned to blood, with corpses dressed in pirate clothing floating about.

Pulling the camera infinitely far back revealed that in the area where the ship was located, hundreds of corpses blocked forward progress.

“Splash!”

The ship captain fell sitting, terrified. “It’s… it’s pirates… they’re… they’re all dead?”

Elder Lin withdrew his spiritual thought that had enveloped the nine islands, suppressing his shock. “Young Master, not a single pirate on the islands survived—they should all have been eliminated by Jun Changxiao.”

Young Master Yuan wasn’t surprised. He raised his head to look due east, shaking his head. “East Sea Fishing Province martial artists, your disaster has arrived.”

…