Another half month has passed in a flash.
Life at sea is monotonous and dull, with only the endless expanse of sea and sky and the occasional sea monster leaping out of the water.
Until this day, the soul-guided escort ship on reconnaissance duty transmitted an exciting signal:
"An archipelago has been spotted ahead!"
Moreover, there are traces of human activity!
The massive ship "Chiyang" slowly adjusted its course.
Dozens of steel warships spread out in a fan shape, exuding a suffocating sense of oppression, and surrounded the island group.
It was an archipelago dotted with many islands, covered in lush vegetation, with rudimentary docks and moored wooden sailboats faintly visible.
When the fleet of the Great Sun King's Palace broke through the fog and appeared on the sea like a group of ancient steel behemoths, the pirates on the island were completely dumbfounded.
They had never seen anything like it in their lives.
It had no sails, was entirely black, and gleamed with a cold metallic light.
Especially those dark, gaping cannon muzzles; even from a great distance, you could feel the destructive aura they contained.
Originally, this group of pirates were rampant in the nearby waters, plundering passing merchant ships and living a very carefree life.
But at this moment, facing this heavily armed soul-guided fleet, they didn't even have the courage to run away, let alone resist.
Several small boats that attempted to set sail were blasted into pieces by a demonstrative level-four soul-guided cannon fired from the outer escort ship as soon as they left the port. Huge columns of water shot into the sky, terrifying the remaining pirates.
Just as Xu Zhao had predicted, faced with absolute military suppression, these pirates didn't dare utter a single word.
In less than half an hour, a white flag was raised on the island.
...
On the spacious deck of the "Chiyang".
Xu Yu sat imposingly on a specially made armchair, unleashing his undisguised aura as a level 98 Super Douluo, causing the pirate leaders kneeling below to tremble and break out in a cold sweat.
Kong Yan stood quietly to one side, his expression indifferent.
Xu Zhao, on the other hand, observed the group of "natives" with great interest.
Although they were just a group of insignificant pirates, their value was immeasurable to the expeditionary force that had been adrift at sea for three months.
"Raise your head."
Xu Zhao spoke softly, his voice not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears.
The pirate leader, who was kneeling at the front, raised his head shakily.
A hint of surprise flashed in Xu Zhao's eyes.
The leader turned out to be a woman.
She looked to be around twenty-six or twenty-seven years old, tall and hot, with a healthy tan complexion and short, neat purple hair that was slightly disheveled in the sea breeze.
Although he looked terrified and was dressed in a disheveled state.
But the untamed spirit between his brows, and the stubborn look in his eyes even in fear, were striking.
"Are you the leader of this group of pirates?"
Xu Zhao asked.
The woman took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. Her voice trembled slightly, but it was still relatively clear:
"Yes... I am the captain of the Purple Pearl Pirate Gang."
"We have no intention of offending you gentlemen; we are simply trying to make a living on this island."
May I ask where you gentlemen come from?
If you're after money, adults are free to take the gold soul coins and supplies from the island's warehouse.
"Just spare our lives."
She was a smart woman and could tell at a glance that the fleet in front of her was no ordinary one.
These steel warships and terrifying weapons are something that no empire in the Douluo Continent could possibly possess.
"Purple pearl?"
Upon hearing this name, Xu Zhao's heart skipped a beat.
Xu Zhao subconsciously took another look at the woman in front of him.
Purple hair, pirate, fiery personality, somewhat attractive...
No wonder it looked familiar!
Isn't this the Purple Pearl from the original story, who once kidnapped the Shrek Seven Devils and even tried to force Xiao Wu to marry her as his wife?
Xu Zhao suddenly realized what was happening, and a sense of absurdity welled up inside him.
Unexpectedly, before even reaching Douluo Continent, I ran into this "old acquaintance" here.
However, judging from the strength of this purple pearl, it seems that she has only recently broken through to the Soul Emperor level, and is far less powerful than in the original story.
The pirate crew behind her was much smaller than described in the original work, clearly still in the early stages of development.
"So it was Commander Purple Pearl."
A playful smile appeared on Xu Zhao's lips, and the coldness in his eyes dissipated somewhat.
Since they're acquaintances, things will be much easier.
"We don't want your money, nor do we want your lives."
Xu Zhao walked slowly to Zi Zhenzhu and looked down at her, his aura of authority naturally emanating from him.
"We come from the far west and are heading to the Douluo Continent in the east."
"We're keeping you here because we need guides."
Upon hearing the words "Douluo Continent," a hint of surprise flashed in Purple Pearl's eyes, followed by overwhelming joy.
What does it matter if you're a guide as long as you don't kill them?
"Is Your Excellency going to Douluo Continent?"
We know each other well!
We know each other too well!
Purple Pearl nodded hurriedly, as if she had grasped at a lifeline.
"If we sail east from here at full speed for about half a month, we will reach the sea area of Hanhai City on the west coast of Douluo Continent!"
I could draw the hydrology and navigation routes of this area with my eyes closed!
Upon hearing this, Xu Yu's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he slapped his thigh suddenly:
"Alright! We're almost there!"
Xu Yu looked at Xu Zhao, his eyes full of admiration.
My son is right. There really are people on this sea, and we can indeed ask for directions.
Xu Zhao looked at the purple pearl, but his mind was already contemplating something far more profound.
Although the Purple Pearl Pirate Crew is currently weak, Purple Pearl herself is extremely familiar with Poseidon Island and the surrounding waters.
They even have intricate connections with the Spirit Hall.
(This is based on the comic book setting: She was once one of the candidates for the Holy Maiden of the Spirit Hall, but lost her memory while following the Spirit Hall in attacking Seagod Island, and ended up here as the leader of a pirate group).
This is an excellent source of intelligence and a ready-made guide.
"very good."
Xu Zhao smiled slightly, extended his hand to Zi Zhenzhu, his tone carrying an undeniable domineering and conciliatory tone:
"In that case, Commander Purple Pearl, would you be interested in a different way of life?"
"Instead of living in fear as a pirate captain on this deserted island, why not bring your men and submit to my Great Sun King's Palace?"
"Be our vanguard and guide, until we conquer the Douluo Continent..."
Xu Zhao pointed to the towering steel warship behind him and said softly:
"How about you patrol this sea on my behalf?"
Purple Pearl looked at the hand reaching out to her.
He swallowed another mouthful of saliva.
His gaze swept over the circle of powerful figures around him, whose expressions were cold and whose auras were terrifying.
Then he glanced at the steel fleet in the distance, a fleet powerful enough to flatten an entire island.
reject?
That would undoubtedly be courting death.
Moreover, the future they promised... "To patrol the sea for this prince."
This sounds like a much better prospect than being a pirate living a precarious life.
(End of chapter)