A few days later, out at sea.
"Go around that reef, a few more kilometers ahead and you'll see it." The man pointed forward, then gestured left and right. "Their settlement is separate from ours. We live on the eastern side near the fields. They're on the sheltered western slope."
'Easier for them to keep watch and monitor the villagers.' Yang Yunhai nodded. He lifted his gaze to the cloudy sky, then turned to Zi Zhenzhu. "Zi Zhenzhu, anchor here and wait. Once the clouds clear overhead, then move closer to shore."
'Clouds? What clouds?' Zi Zhenzhu glanced up instinctively, puzzled, but still nodded. She waved for her men to throw anchor.
Yang Yunhai's eyes glimmered with lightning. Above, the scattered cottony clouds churned, rushing together at a speed visible to the naked eye. Darkness spread, smothering the light as the sea turned dim.
Boom, boom, boom—thunder cracked.
"This…" Zi Zhenzhu and her sailors stared, wide-eyed. A flicker of awe crossed their faces when they looked back at Yang Yunhai.
Whoosh, whoosh—winds whipped across the sea. Rain began to fall in heavy patters.
On the island, a Clear Sky Sect sentry frowned at the horizon. "Weather's changing. Might be rain coming."
"Tch, life on this sea is hell. It's always storms or rain." The disciples below cursed, scrambling to gather laundry and food.
Meanwhile, the villagers dropped their tools with resigned expressions and hurried back into their houses.
Clap, clap, clap—windows shut, doors bolted.
Not long after, thunderclouds blanketed the island. Winds howled, rain poured, and lightning ripped the skies apart.
"The villagers should all be indoors now. Let's move." On the pirate ship, Yang Yunhai's tone was calm.
Since the Clear Sky Sect disciples were housed apart from the villagers, there would be no risk of striking innocents.
"Good." The others nodded.
They rose into the storm. Lightning bent around them, harmless, as Yang Yunhai's control shielded the group. Concealed within the rolling clouds, they sped toward the island. Within minutes, they hovered above it.
Yang Yunhai's eyes flashed gold. "Gather!"
Boom! All the clouds but the one cloaking them roared with lightning serpents.
Inside a stone house, the Second Elder frowned at the storm outside. "Strange weather. I wonder how old Sixth is doing."
"These waters hold no threat beyond Sea God Island. What's there to worry about?" the Seventh Elder said blandly.
"Let's hope you're right." The Second Elder sighed. In truth, he feared the sea soul beasts beneath the waves more than anything.
At the window, Tang Yuehua's brows furrowed. "Big Brother, something feels off about these storm clouds."
"Storm clouds? You're overthinking." The Seventh Elder remained calm.
"What feels off?" Tang Xiao, seated at the head, turned to her.
"The lightning arcs—they're far too frequent. There shouldn't be this many. Normally lightning is a brief flash, then thunder follows. Not arcs crawling endlessly through the clouds."
"Oh?" Tang Xiao flashed to the window. Through the cracks, his expression hardened. "Indeed… something isn't right."
The next instant, the heavens split open.
Boom! Countless bolts rained down like the end of days.
"Boom!" In the blink of an eye, rooftops were blown open, courtyards blasted apart.
Boom, boom, boom—thunder deafened all.
"Damn!" From the pirate ship, Zi Zhenzhu's crew were frozen, dumbfounded at the sight.
"This is an attack! Scatter!" On the island, Tang Xiao roared, grabbing Tang Yuehua and leaping aside.
"Ahhh!" Screams tore the air, drowned by another cascade of thunder.
Boom, boom, boom—explosions ripped through roofs and earth alike. Fire burst, only to be drowned again by the storm. Then, for a brief moment, silence.
"Big Brother, this can only be Yang Yunhai. I saw him use the same power at the tournament against San." Tang Yuehua's voice was sharp with certainty.
"He's in the clouds!" The elders summoned their martial souls and shot skyward.
"Yuehua, stay hidden!" Tang Xiao barked before following them.
"Be careful, Big Brother! Dugu Bo must be here too!" Tang Yuehua cried, rushing to a sheltered corner. She snatched a Slaughter City map from her soul tool and flung it onto the burning table, then tilted her face skyward.
Their stone-and-earth house gave some protection, but the roof was gone—exposing the sky above.
Boom, boom! Yang Yunhai's gaze cut through the storm. Lightning fell once more, slaughtering every disciple exposed. Tang Xiao and the elders' eyes burned red with fury.
Behind them, through the blasted rooftops, Yang Yunhai's piercing sight fell on a lone shadow—Tang Yuehua, clearly female.
'Only her? Where's Tang San? Did he never come with them?'
He dismissed the thought. Tang Yuehua was weak and not worth concern. His eyes shifted back to those whose soul power burned brightest.
Lightning surged at his will.
"Six Titled Douluo?" Sword Douluo's eyes widened slightly.
"Didn't expect the Clear Sky Sect to hide so deeply," Dugu Bo sneered. "But five new Titled Douluo, all at once? Their ninth rings can't have been gained cleanly."
"They must have used the methods of fallen soul masters, breaking the pact to leave their mountain," Chrysanthemum Douluo said coldly.
"Take their corpses. We'll bring them back." Dugu Bo's tone was flat.
"Agreed." Chrysanthemum Douluo glanced at Ghost Douluo. Black and golden light exploded outward, scattering the storm clouds and halting the rain.
"Yue Guan! Gui Mei! Chen Xin!" Tang Xiao and the elders stiffened, caught in the waves of power.
"Eighth soul skill—Time Freeze!" Another wave struck, locking the sect below in stillness.
"Fall!" Yang Yunhai commanded.
Boom! Lightning ripped downward, frying the immobilized disciples.
Sword Douluo moved in. Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo kept their disguises. Dugu Bo's poison was too indiscriminate, leaving nothing but bones—unsuitable for the warning they intended. That left only him.
With no hesitation, Sword Douluo's Seven Kill Sword blazed. The word "Kill" carved itself into Tang Xiao's chest. Blood sprayed.
Crack! Yang Yunhai's lightning pierced him, ending it.
The pattern repeated. Sword Douluo cut, Yang Yunhai struck. One by one, the Clear Sky elders fell.
With a flick, Yang Yunhai's vines lashed out, binding the corpses and dragging them into his soul tool.
Below, buildings were left in ruins. Only Tang Yuehua's house still stood.
The villagers huddled in fear, peeking from their homes.
Yang Yunhai waved his hand. Lightning vanished. Clouds scattered. Sunlight returned.
They descended.
"Where is Tang San?" Yang Yunhai's gaze fell on Tang Yuehua, trembling in the corner.
"You'll never know!" Tang Yuehua screamed, lunging headfirst toward the wall—only for Dugu Bo to catch her with a wave of power.
"So he stayed on the mainland." Yang Yunhai's voice was calm. "Kill her."
"Not keep her alive to bait him?" Dugu Bo asked.
"He wouldn't come for her. Tang San is cold, narrow-hearted. He only cares about Tang Hao and Xiao Wu. He wouldn't risk anything for this so-called aunt."
"Yang Yunhai! Even as a ghost, I'll haunt you!" Tang Yuehua's eyes burned with hate.
"Go ask the ones your sect abandoned what they think first." Yang Yunhai's tone was flat.
Crack! Dugu Bo struck. Tang Yuehua's head smashed against the wall, her body falling limp.
Yang Yunhai bent, stripped her soul tool ring, and stood.
"When Zi Zhenzhu's crew arrive, have them clear the place. Leave the supplies for the villagers as compensation. The valuables—I'll sort, then split her reward."
"Fine." Dugu Bo nodded.
Yang Yunhai stalked the ruins, collecting soul bones, then flew back to the shore to wait.
Before long, Zi Zhenzhu's ship docked. Yang Yunhai leapt aboard. "Zi Zhenzhu, send your men. Clear the bodies. Leave the supplies for the villagers. Everything else is yours. Gather the villagers—I'll add compensation. Afterward, you'll get your payment."
"No problem." Zi Zhenzhu nodded briskly. She turned. "You heard him! Move!"
"Aye, boss!" her men swarmed ashore.
"Such a pretty woman. Shame." A pirate soon found Tang Yuehua's corpse.
"Don't even think about it. If the captain finds out, he'll skin you. Strip the clothes, wrap her in something, toss her with the rest."
Bodies wrapped in curtains and banana leaves were dumped over a cliff.
Born at sea, returned to the sea—death fed the fish.
Splash, splash—the waves carried blood. Soon, soul beasts churned in frenzy.
On the eastern side, Yang Yunhai spilled the sect's stored supplies onto the ground before the villagers. "Take them. Share them."
Hours later, Zi Zhenzhu's men returned, faces pale, their gazes toward Yang Yunhai tinged with fear.
Hundreds dead. None left alive.
"This is the price of consorting with fallen soul masters," Yang Yunhai said coolly. "Let it be your warning."
The pirates nodded frantically.
Yang Yunhai drew out treasures, jewels, and silks—worthless to him. "Yours. Take it."
Zi Zhenzhu's eyes lit up.
"Live better lives. Being a pirate isn't forever." Yang Yunhai looked at her.
She nodded. "If we could live well, who'd choose to be pirates?" Then she grinned boldly. "Young master Yang, need a maid? I think I'd suit."
"You think I lack maids?" Yang Yunhai chuckled. "Don't be fooled by my age. My kids are already a year old."
He pulled a book from his soul tool and handed it over. "Your talent shouldn't go to waste. Keep this, train well. Your future won't be small. Protect the nearby islands, help the people—that too is great merit. Maybe your name will be remembered."
"This method, I've already given Sea God Island. You can share it freely with your crew."
Zi Zhenzhu bowed deeply. "Many thanks, young master Yang."
"Now, send us back to Sea God Island."
"No problem." She tucked the book away and gave the order.
Back in the cabin, Yang Yunhai drew out the corpses of Tang Xiao and the elders. He harvested their soul bones one by one.
Tang Xiao's body yielded two—an arm bone of 70,000 years, clearly one of the sect's inherited bones, and a 75,000 year leg bone of unknown origin.
The Second Elder carried a near 50,000 year leg bone and a 40,000 year arm bone—explaining his lead in cultivation.
The rest were poor by comparison.
Yang Yunhai handed one to Ghost Douluo. "Uncle, take this."
"Keep it for Zhuqing or Yan Yan. I already have three above fifty thousand years." Ghost Douluo smiled faintly. "Zhuqing's leg bone is fine for now. When she changes it out, I'll take it."
Yang Yunhai nodded. "Then we'll give the better leg bone to Sword Douluo as his share."
"Good." Chrysanthemum Douluo accepted the bone to pass along later.
After the work was done, Sword Douluo grumbled inwardly.
'Tang San? What trash. Tag along behind, swing a few swords, and I walk away with a fine soul bone? Where else would I find such luck?'
Yang Yunhai leaned back, silent. 'Hopefully by the time we return, news will come that Bibi Dong has killed Tang San in the Slaughter City.'
The waves roared, carrying the pirate ship farther and farther.
(End of Chapter)
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