Chapter 461: Section 248: Battle of Pine Wind Sea 7
Jidian Pirate Group had retreated.
Once Dian Wan made a decision, the entire pirate group exhibited high operational efficiency, acting decisively.
As a seasoned pirate group leader, Dian Wan himself was swift and decisive, and nearly all of his group were veterans.
They had lost quite a few ships during the melee at Twin Eyes Island. This time, they came to battle with seven ships but only three remained upon retreat (including the flagship), which was a significant blow to their strength.
“Jidian Pirate Group is in a weakened state, and Electric Grid Fishing Ship is a Black Iron Level demon energy ship. It would be quite a pity to let them go like this,” Zong Ge secretly communicated to the Dragon-man youth. “I can lead a few ships to go after them. Dian Wan seems strong but in reality, he’s at the end of his rope. I judge that he’s most likely just bluffing.”
The Dragon-man youth pondered for a moment and then refused, “Just let them go. There are still the Clapping Pirate Group and the Stinky Sky Pirate Group on the battlefield.”
“Splitting our forces now isn’t appropriate.”
“The most crucial figure is the ship ghost!”
“You have to realize that our current movements are likely to draw his attention to attack the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps!”
Zong Ge nodded and said no more.
The concerns of the Dragon-man youth were also his concerns.
This is the nature of a crisis.
It contains both danger and opportunity.
It all depends on how one makes specific choices.
Aware that the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps’ target was still locked on Iron Lump, Menshi secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
He too had noticed Jidian Pirate Group’s weakness.
He had also been concerned that the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps would turn to target them, aiming to seize their Black Iron Level demon energy ship.
“The Dragon-man youth, the squad leader, has resisted this temptation.”
“He could have attacked them; after all, a Black Iron Level flagship would greatly enhance the whole Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps.”
“But he didn’t do so and was solely focused on pursuing Iron Lump.”
“He is doing it to save my kinsmen!”
Menshi was deeply moved in his heart.
Iron Lump.
Qing Xin’s tone was tense, “I saw Menshi on the White Bandage. The Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps’ target is us!”
Cang Xu nodded, feigning realization, “So that’s how it is.”
With furrowed brows, Qing Xin discussed in a low voice with Cang Xu, “In this case, we might be able to make use of those Dwarfs. Threatening the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps with them might serve our interests.”
Cang Xu pretended to ponder before refusing, “Long Fu isn’t that kind of man. Besides, we’ve already released the Dwarfs and Human Race and publicly promised them freedom, threatening now might cause unrest within! This would be disadvantageous for us.”
Qing Xin sighed, “The Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps is too great a threat! During the melee at Twin Eyes Island, we clashed with them. They won’t let us go. Using the Dwarfs as hostages could tie their hands.”
Cang Xu, who would never consider such a suggestion as he was actually part of the Dragon-man youth’s group, was merely putting on an act.
Cang Xu shook his head, “I’m not a villain, Mage Qing Xin. I believe it’s best not to overly provoke the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps. However, the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps can indeed be exploited! We could just turn, joining forces with the Clapping Pirate Group, and approach the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps. Let them deal with the Clapping Pirate Group!”
Qing Xin’s eyebrows slightly raised, “That’s not a bad plan. Since the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps intends to help Menshi save the Dwarfs, they will certainly not bombard Iron Lump. And at the same time, they despise these pirates.”
Iron Lump immediately changed course.
Without a qualified helmsman, they could only deviate slightly, gradually altering course and making a wide turn on the battlefield.
At that moment, the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps was chasing from the east, having moved away from the Jidian Pirate Group and now south of Songfeng Island.
Iron Lump and the Clapping Pirate Group were southwest of the island.
The Clapping Pirate Group was northeast of Iron Lump. To the southwest of Iron Lump, there was an empty expanse.
After Cang Xu gave the order, Iron Lump took advantage of the situation to navigate southwest. This maneuver was very easy. The advantageous part of this course was that it always kept ahead of the Clapping Pirate Group, avoiding their side’s most powerful firepower.
Triangular Love Ship.
The new pirate group leader, Frogman Bei Xiang, pounded his fist onto the ship’s rail.
“Damn it!” He was the first to notice Iron Lump’s movement.
Iron Lump wasn’t just fleeing west but had altered course to the southwest.
Bei Xiang had plenty of naval battle experience and, having heard the news of Menshi joining the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps, immediately understood Cang Xu’s strategy.
He had ways to increase sailing speed to catch up with Iron Lump, but he dared not do so.
Because in his intelligence: Both Cang Xu and Qing Xin were Silver Level Mages.
The Clapping Pirate Group lacked Silver Level members, their only Silver Level—their former squad leader, Hu Li, had been dealt with in a pirate judgment.
The weaknesses of the Clapping Pirate Group held them back, preventing a full assault and forcing them to harass with their cannons.
However, the placement of cannons at the front of the ship left much to be desired.
Such cannon fire posed no significant threat to Iron Lump and could not impede their speed.
Just as Bei Xiang felt at a loss, the voice of the Sea Snake Lady came through his Communication Device.
The Sea Snake Lady told Bei Xiang that she was nearing the target and needed Bei Xiang to draw the target’s attention, so she could seize the opportunity to strike!
Bei Xiang expressed his difficulties.
Sea Snake Lady snorted and bluntly said, “Put your combat team to work and speed up the flagship. They only have one ship and it’s merely Bronze Level, what are you so afraid of?”
Bei Xiang instantly darkened.
This method wasn’t to be used lightly; it was generally saved for a last resort, as an emergency escape measure.
Many times, the Clapping Pirate Group had used this method to escape death.
To the Sea Snake Lady’s knowledge of this information, Cang Xu was not surprised at all.
This method had been used many times, and was now completely exposed.
After hesitating for a moment, Cang Xu issued the order decisively.
Although he was only of Black Iron Level, being able to serve as the leader of the Clapping Pirate Group was largely thanks to the Sea Snake Lady’s considerable support. To stabilize his position, he had to ensure victory in this battle; otherwise, the trouble would be huge.
The Clapping combat squad quickly gathered on the deck, standing below the main sail.
Combat Skill—Love’s Applause!
The Frogmen unleashed the same combat skill, all raising their webbed hands and fiercely clapping their palms against each other.
The power of the combat skill stacked successively, forming waves of sound—clap clap clap, clap clap clap.
The sound waves struck the main sail.
The main sail instantly billowed, taking on a fully extended sail position, thereby boosting the speed of Triangular Love Ship drastically!
The Triangular Love Ship had initially maintained coordination with its own fleet, but now, with the sudden increase in speed, it broke away from the fleet, like an arrow released from a bow, speeding towards the Iron Lump.
Cang Xu was well aware of the combat skill Love’s Applause and snorted coldly, “The Clapping Pirate Group has resorted to its last-ditch effort, thinking that it has us in its grip.”
Facing the menacing advance of the Triangular Love Ship, dealing with just the Iron Lump was indeed not easy.
Qing Xin said, “Hu Li has not shown up yet, which is strange. According to the intelligence, he is not the assassin type of fighter. It’s very likely that there is some trouble within the Clapping Pirate Group.”
If Hu Li were still around, he would have fiercely attacked alone by now.
To some extent, Hu Li posed a greater threat than Dian Wan.
Because Dian Wan could only tread on water, attacking by rushing across the surface of the sea towards the Iron Lump, whereas Hu Li could leap through the air with the help of his squad’s coordination and special combat skills.
In that regard, Hu Li could be considered a Silver Level fighter with flying abilities!
And in the naval battle of Twin Eyes Island, Hu Li had also shown his combat prowess.
He was indeed very powerful, suppressing Qing Xin and Menshi for a long time. If it hadn’t been for the timely help of the Dragon-man youth then, Hu Li would have completely triumphed.
However, from the beginning of the Songfeng naval battle until now, Hu Li had not appeared.
Even without knowing about the pirate trial, how could Cang Xu and Qing Xin not guess that something must have happened to Hu Li.
Since Hu Li had encountered trouble, Cang Xu and Qing Xin now had countermeasures against the Triangular Love Ship.
After locking eyes, both took to the air and aggressively headed towards the Triangular Love Ship!
Cang Xu and Qing Xin demonstrated the Silver Level.
Seeing the two Silver Mages charging towards him, Cang Xu’s heart jumped to his throat.
This scene was precisely what he had been fearing all along.
But Cang Xu did not retreat.
His personal predicament forced him, leaving him no choice but to take a gamble.
He placed his bet on the Sea Snake Lady, who had yet to make an appearance.
The Sea Snake Lady did not let Cang Xu down.
Located somewhere at sea, she drew a scroll.
In the next moment, she unfurled the scroll and infused it with magic power.
Wind Magic Scroll—Windless Domain!
The spell took effect immediately, creating a several hundred-meter radius around the center where there was not even a breeze.
The sails of Iron Lump immediately sagged, listless and deflated, with the sailing speed dropping to the bottom.
Whereas the speed of the Triangular Love Ship also sharply decreased, but the combat skill Love’s Applause was still active, allowing the main sail to still provide power.
After the magic scroll took effect, it turned to ash in the next instant, falling from the delicate fingers of the Sea Snake Lady and scattering with the seawater at will.
Cang Xu and Qing Xin’s expressions changed dramatically.
When the Sea Snake Lady used the scroll, her camouflage no longer worked. The aura emitted by the spellcasting was just too conspicuous.
With an exclamation of surprise, Qing Xin plummeted from the sky.
The Windless Domain equally affected her spell, nearly nullifying her flying ability.
Cang Xu did not rescue her, but remained on full alert, allowing Qing Xin to fall towards the sea surface.
But in the next moment, the Sea Snake Lady drew another scroll.
The torn scroll unleashed a barrage of Water Arrows.
The Water Arrows shot straight at Qing Xin.
Cang Xu’s eyes sparkled sharply, pulling out a scroll to successfully apply Magic Protection to Qing Xin.
With extensive flying experience, Qing Xin quickly adjusted her body posture during the descent, attempting to maintain as much balance as possible.
Seeing the sea surface growing larger in her field of vision, she took out a Flying Scroll and tore it open.
Her descent halted, and she regained the ability to fly.
Then, Cang Xu’s Magic Protection Shield appeared around her.
Almost simultaneously, three Water Arrow spells hit her in quick succession, sending her flying.
The Magic Protection Shield around Qing Xin protected her, absorbing the impact of the three Water Arrows to become nearly transparent.