Even though the pirates present were deeply shocked, no one dared say a word.
This sea—this sky—now belonged to Great Yi.
Anyone who acted rashly now might die the very next moment. As always, no one wants to die if they can live. Unless absolutely necessary, no one would choose an extreme path.
Whitebeard was surprised that Jia Xu and his group had been able to locate the secret passage to Treasure Island, but he still smiled and said:
"It's a meeting among us pirates, but to have the Lord of Great Yi's Heavenly Strategy Hall here to witness it—
There could be no greater honor. You're most welcome."
"Come, take a seat. Please, take the honored seat."
At his word, a grand chair was brought in and placed beside Whitebeard, at equal rank.
"Please continue as you wish. I'm merely here to observe and witness,"Jia Xu said with a warm smile, appearing relaxed and composed.
But no matter how friendly he seemed, his very presence was immensely pressuring to many.
He wasn't just one man—he represented the entire Sacred Court of Great Yi.
Whitebeard took a deep breath and spoke again:
"Since the Lord of the Heavenly Strategy Hall is here and has made it clear that Great Yi will not obstruct anyone—
Whether one stays or goes is up to them.
I'll go first.
The Whitebeard Pirates will stay and join Great Yi.
No matter how Great Yi treats us, I'm not leaving the Demon Sea.
I was born here, I grew up here, and even if I grow old, I will not leave this place."
There was firm resolve in his tone.
No matter who ruled, or what the future held, he would not abandon his homeland.
"Rest assured, Daoist Whitebeard,"Jia Xu replied with a smile.
"Great Yi treasures talent. If you are sincere in your allegiance, you'll be granted status and opportunity.
You will see landscapes you never dreamed of—a stage far greater than before."
It was not just a reply to Whitebeard—it was a message from Great Yi:
Even if you're a pirate, if you sincerely submit, you will have a place in Great Yi—and a boundless future.
Many pirate captains were moved by Jia Xu's clear promise. His words carried the weight of the Sacred Court—not something to be doubted.
Not everyone was willing to abandon their homeland for an uncertain future.
"I'll stay as well,"said Silver Fox Foxy, raising his hand.
He had seen the strength of Great Yi, understood its overwhelming potential. There was no point in resisting.
"I'll leave,"said Buggy the Clown,"I prefer a life of freedom. That's the dream of every pirate."
He made his choice to depart, unwilling to join Great Yi.
Everyone had different aspirations. No one could expect all to be alike. Forcing unity was never wise.
Jia Xu simply nodded.
"I'll leave as well,"said Arlong, captain of the Fish-Man Pirates.
"I'll stay,"declared Shanks, of the Red-Haired Pirates.
With Jia Xu there as a witness, each pirate crew now made their stance clear.
Even with Great Yi's powerful presence, about half the crews chose to leave.
They were used to lives of freedom, plundering and roaming, eating and drinking with abandon. That wild, lawless spirit was deeply rooted in them.
Joining Great Yi meant accepting rules, living under laws and restrictions. Sin would no longer go unpunished. Even the feeling of being constantly monitored was uncomfortable.
They'd rather risk the dangers of exile than live in shackles.
"I've been a pirate long enough. What I chased was thrill, treasure, and the unknown.
But now I'm tired."
So said Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King.
"I heard Great Yi has a Hunter Hall.
You can become a bounty hunter, take on missions, pursue treasure, hunt monsters.
That suits me better."
He had no interest in joining the army or gaining status. He just wanted a peaceful life.
Maybe go on a hunt if he felt like it. Grow crops. Raise chickens. Live quietly.
"After a life of glory, you come to understand—
Ordinary peace is the real treasure."
"Naturally,"Jia Xu smiled.
"Great Yi welcomes all people of virtue. Anyone can join the Hunter Hall—you take missions only when you wish.
Daoist Roger, I believe you'll become a legendary bounty hunter."
"I've heard that Great Yi has a Tongtian Pavilion,"said the Red Count, Patrick Redfield.
"A place for guest advisors and independent cultivators. May I join?"
"If you pass the tests, and have skills to offer, you may absolutely join,"Jia Xu nodded.
Before long, those choosing to stay and those choosing to leave had separated.
About half the pirate crews, amounting to over fifty million pirates, chose to leave.
"Let's go, brothers!
Let's find our next paradise!
Let's seek out our own Grand Line. Onward!"
In the harbor, the ships set sail. Countless pirate vessels braved the waves and vanished into the horizon.
Those choosing to join Great Yi numbered at least sixty to seventy million—and that was just a portion.
Many pirates were still hiding, but with a single call, they would rally.
These pirates would first become citizens of Great Yi. They wouldn't be placed into the army immediately.
Instead, they would live among civilians, to wear off their lawless tendencies.
However, they would still be part of Great Yi's reserve army system.
Only after shedding their outlaw spirit would they be eligible to join the military or other organizations like the Hunter Hall—or simply live as ordinary people.
Jia Xu had full confidence: once they entered Great Yi, they would eventually be completely assimilated—true citizens of Great Yi.
"Good.
The Demon Sea can now be considered fully unified under Great Yi.
Give it a few months to settle…
And no one will be able to overturn this rule again.
The War of Heaven's Change is now complete."
Jia Xu smiled to himself.
Land was no longer a threat. Pirates, however, were always unpredictable at sea.
Dealing with them was the final step. With that done, Great Yi could rest easy. Even if some rogue pirates remained, the bounty hunters alone could deal with them.
At the Xuanhuang Immortal City, inside the Holy King's Palace—
Yi Tianxing finished reviewing an imperial report and set it aside.
Looking up, his gaze pierced the void.
In the sea of golden clouds of merit, a two-thousand-zhang-long luck dragon coiled majestically.
Having just absorbed the fortune of two entire realms, this Seven-Clawed Golden Dragon had expanded dramatically, symbolizing the surge in national destiny.
And this was just the beginning.
Once Great Yi's rule took deeper root, national fortune would pour in endlessly, nurturing the luck dragon, feeding back into the kingdom's power.
This was the key to building an eternal dynasty.
"With the distribution of Immortal Cities from the Hanhai Realm complete, future expansion will rely on other city types.
And if this pace keeps up, my Longevity Realm (Stage 1) will soon reach perfection.
Even the Path-Forging Realm (Stage 2) foundation will be fully ready."
Yi Tianxing closed his eyes and examined his body.
His Fate Diagram, Heavenly Emperor's Imperial Dragon Chart, was fully integrated with the Mountains and Rivers National Formation. As the territory expanded, the feedback of heaven and earth power continued to enhance his cultivation and increase his Dao force.
His magical power and insights were growing every moment.
If he wanted, he could already break through into the next major realm—Dao Platform's final stage.
"Your Majesty! Consort Cao is in labor!
The midwives have confirmed it. She's about to give birth!"
A palace maid ran in to report with excitement.
Yi Tianxing's face lit up:
"Wonderful! That's excellent news.
Notify everyone—use only the best resources.
If anything goes wrong… I will hold all responsible!"
In the palace, many of the imperial consorts were already pregnant, though at different stages.
In the heart of the empire, blessed by fate itself, a new generation was being born.