"Cyan Legion, activate the Everlife Vines of the Azure Emperor!"Xue Rengui issued his command without hesitation.
"Orange Legion—Xuanhuang Sky-Breaking Cannons—fire!"Kuang Zhongtang followed, unleashing their divine weaponry.
"Purple Legion—Heavenly Dragon Zither of the Violet Emperor!"Jia Yan shouted, launching the last of the Seven-Colored Legions' divine techniques.
The Seven-Colored Skyships unleashed their full might.
Massive divine vines dropped into the ocean, then exploded from below—countless thick tendrils snared pirate ships, dragging them down into the abyss, burying them deep beneath the sea. Numerous pirates were yanked from deck to depths, vanishing into the waves.
At the same time, gigantic cannons formed by the Orange Legion fired beams of mystical yellow-black energy. Every strike was like a mountain collapsing—projectiles imbued with overwhelming gravity crushed enemy ships to splinters, reducing even magical attacks to dust.
The soundwaves of the Heavenly Dragon Zither echoed across the battlefield, cleaving the air and souls of all caught in its range.
Behind enemy lines, Jack Sparrow and his defecting pirates were sowing chaos and destruction, pushing the pirate alliance into a state of complete collapse.
Confused and unable to distinguish friend from foe, the pirates began firing wildly, devastating their own ranks.
"Enough."
Suddenly, a cold, furious voice cut through the battlefield.
All eyes turned—and there he was.
Seated upon a massive Skull Throne, the Pirate Emperor hovered in midair.The aura around him exuded absolute majesty—the weight of someone who had ruled countless pirate kings, bending even the most arrogant to his will.
Even the most bloodthirsty pirates paused, silenced by the authority of this legendary figure.
In his hand, the Pirate Emperor held an ancient bronze tome.
On its cover, glowing with mystical light, were the words:
Pirate Codex (海盗法典)
This was the law of the Pirate Alliance—a code written by the Emperor himself. Every pirate was bound by its clauses.To break it was to defy the Pirate Alliance, which was akin to inviting death.
Though the laws were few, they acted as divine commandments among pirates.
But for the Pirate Emperor, this Codex was far more—it was his lifebound treasure, a supreme artifact of unimaginable power.
"Decree—Imprison!!"
WHIRRRRRR!!
The Codex released a bronze divine light that rippled outward.
In an instant, the entire region around Shenlong Island was sealed.
All things—pirates, Great Yi soldiers, even the sea—were frozen in place.
Only the Great Yi skyships, protected by their divine power, retained some ability to move.
From the void, chains of bronze erupted, wrapping around pirate ships and dragging them back toward Shenlong Island.
Even those who had fallen into the sea were yanked back by these chains, pulled forcibly into the Island's embrace.
It was a fearsome and swift display—in just moments, all pirate forces had been withdrawn into the island.
Curiously, the chains ignored the rebel ships—like the Black Pearl and the other legendary vessels that had defected.It was as if the Codex intentionally avoided them.
The entire Pirate League was now sealed within Shenlong Island.
The Pirate Emperor turned toward the Seven-Colored Skyship Legions.
His face was unreadable, calm and composed.
"Convey this to the Holy King of Great Yi—The Pirate League is withdrawing from the Caribbean Realm.We will not return.
As per tradition, defectors should be drowned, suffering endless torment before death.
But for the sake of Great Yi, I will pardon them—this once."
With that, he waved his hand.
BOOM—!!!
Shenlong Island began to move.
A massive domain gate appeared beside it. The floating island drifted into the portal, and in the blink of an eye—it vanished.
Immediately afterward—
BOOOOOOM!!!
The domain gate exploded, shattering space around it into fragments.
Even the gate itself was obliterated.
"What a Pirate Emperor…"
Gan Ning let out a sigh.
"Truly a legend of the Caribbean.
That island—Shenlong Island—isn't just land…It's a mobile warship and command base.
And the destruction of the domain gate…That was to stop us from pursuing them.
He's severed all paths back to the Caribbean Realm.
A true strategist. A warlord of vision."
"Let's leave."
Zhou Yu nodded calmly.
"The Pirate League is defeated.
If we kept fighting, we'd suffer heavy losses too.
According to intelligence, the Pirate Emperor is shrouded in mystery.
No one knows how many trump cards he holds.
But it doesn't matter—
As long as Great Yi keeps advancing,They'll never catch up."
With the Pirate League gone, the Caribbean Realm was finally unified.
"Good.
Now we wait for the Iron-Blooded Great Wall to finish transforming from illusion to reality.
Only then can we fully control the five realms."
In the Holy King's Palace, Yi Tianxing received the frontline report.
He nodded silently.
The pirates fleeing into another realm was not unexpected.
"They're still useful," he murmured.
"Unlike a normal dynasty, pirates are plunderers, saboteurs.On my territory, they're a threat.But if they move to other realms…They become someone else's problem.
Why crush them when we can let them weaken our future enemies?"
Now that Great Yi had taken four additional realms, it placed an enormous burden on the Iron-Blooded Great Wall.
The wall's protective range now covered all five realms, but most of it remained illusory.
It required unimaginable amounts of resources to solidify it fully.
Daily, countless Icecrystal Clan members were sacrificed—absorbed into the wall.
Tens of billions per day.
Corpses of enemies, beasts, all added to the foundation.
And yet, the gap was still massive.
"It's time to stabilize," Yi Tianxing thought."Expanding too fast causes internal cracks.
Like a feast, we must digest before moving again."
The new realms must be brought fully under control before further conquest.
"To rule a great empire is like cooking a small fish."
This principle never changes.
"What are you thinking about, husband?"
Cai Yan entered the Hall of Insight, followed by a maid carrying a steaming bowl of lotus seed and bird's nest soup.
"The soup's still warm.You can deal with politics tomorrow."
She smiled warmly at his contemplative expression.
She knew how much had fallen on Yi Tianxing since the recent expansion.
"Nothing urgent," he replied, taking her hand and sitting her beside him.
"The ministers handle most affairs.I was just thinking…It's time to begin the nobility conferment ceremony.
That nobility board has been hanging for too long—We can't let it stay empty. It'll tarnish Great Yi's face."
"You're right," Cai Yan nodded.
"So many generals and officials have earned merit.
Bestow them titles—they deserve it.
And I think some of their families should receive official mandates too."
"That part is your domain," Yi Tianxing chuckled.
"As the Empress and Royal Consort,the granting of mandates belongs to you.
I won't interfere."
And with that, he pulled her gently toward the bedchamber.
That night, the spring air was filled with blossoming warmth.
A Month Later...
A month passed since Great Yi's unification of five realms.
Its influence surged rapidly.All newly founded Immortal Cities had firmly taken root.
Bounty hunters swarmed the wilds, exploring, mapping, clearing lands.
Though food could be grown in interior pocket realms, the outer lands were more fertile.
Many had become spiritual farmlands, nourished by spiritual veins under each city.
These farmlands became official Great Yi property.
Meanwhile, scarecrows—those strange constructs—were dispatched to guard, water, and care for the crops.
Their work was tireless and methodical.
In just one month, order had taken shape.
Spiritual farmlands outside the cities were now lush and abundant—a harvest season was on the way.
But then—
WOOOOO... WOOOOO...!!
On that day, a strange sound echoed.
From the fields, a mournful weeping rose.
The scarecrows—hundreds, thousands of them—began to cry.
Tears that no one could see.
But a sorrow that shook the air itself.