Chapter 425: Ba Qi vs Cai Jing

Lan Zao slowly lifted his heavy eyelids.

The familiar ceiling met his gaze. Without needing to look around, he knew he had been rescued and returned to the ward of the Shuang Tu Clinic.

“I remember Ba Qi grabbing me and forcing his battle qi into my body.”

Though I managed to hold on aboard the pirate ship and barely retained my senses, I fell unconscious after plunging into the water."

“It must have been Shuang Tu who saved me...”

Though Lan Zao wasn't cunning or skilled in strategy, this conclusion wasn't difficult to deduce.

After each training session, he used teleportation to return to the underground plaza beneath Shuang Tu's clinic for recuperation.

When he failed to appear at the appointed time, Shuang Tu would inevitably investigate.

Lan Zao examined himself.

He discovered his entire body was nearly wrapped in white bandages, his head included.

Layer upon layer of bandages left only slits exposed for his eyes.

Simultaneously, the pain was slowly intensifying.

This was because he had been unconscious for so long; now that he had awakened, his senses had sharpened considerably.

However, alongside the pain came waves of coolness.

Lan Zao could smell the scent of magic ointment. Clearly, he had once again received proper treatment from Shuang Tu.

Just as Lan Zao realized this, the ward door opened quietly, and Shuang Tu entered.

Lan Zao wasn't surprised.

Having seen the alchemy components in the clinic's underground plaza, he knew the seemingly ordinary clinic concealed numerous hidden facilities. Shuang Tu's control over the clinic far exceeded appearances. Thus, shortly after Lan Zao regained consciousness, Shuang Tu learned of his situation and came to his side.

“Thank you, Physician Shuang Tu. You saved me once again,” Lan Zao offered his gratitude.

Shuang Tu smiled. "It was indeed perilous. Though your bloodline has awakened, it still requires considerable training. At least when I found you, your gills weren't functioning."

“Normally, even unconscious, your breathing ability should remain intact.”

"But you hadn't internalized gill respiration as instinct. You survived temporarily only through your fish bladder and residual air in your lungs. Had I arrived ten minutes later, you likely would have drowned."

At this point, Shuang Tu shifted his tone: "But as the saying goes - fortune and misfortune are two sides of the same coin.”

“This encounter with Ba Qi nearly cost you your life, yet it also transformed your battle qi.”

"The Water Grass battle qi you previously mastered was unsuitable for your awakened bloodline. The Air Pressure battle qi from Ba Qi suits you perfectly."

"If you were to convert this battle qi technique alone, it would take at least ten days to half a month. But after Ba Qi's help, your entire body is now filled with Air Pressure battle qi. Of course, this is a foreign type of battle qi. You'll need to cultivate it independently to generate your own Air Pressure battle qi."

“Even so, you'll only need a day or two to adapt.”

Lan Zao heard this and gave a bitter smile. "If possible, I'd rather convert the battle qi myself. I never imagined I'd suddenly encounter the Heroism Pirates. I nearly died at the hands of Ba Qi!"

"When the chance comes, I will take my revenge!"

Shuang Tu nodded. "Until that chance comes, I advise you to bide your time. I haven't told you yet, the Heroism Pirates have already arrived at Flower Skirt Island."

“What?” Lan Zao was stunned.

Nearly ten pirate ships were moored at Flower Skirt Island's docks.

The pirate flags fluttering in the wind drew countless gazes.

When Ba Qi led the crew, striding down the gangplank first and setting foot on Flower Skirt Island, the entire dock erupted.

Cheers broke out from the crowd gathered to watch the spectacle.

“It's the Heroism Pirates!”

“It really is them.”

"Ba Qi... I saw Ba Qi with my own eyes! They're members of the Fire Beard Pirates!"

Though not a regular in these waters, Ba Qi had long been a renowned pirate whose fame had spread for years. His formidable personal combat prowess was matched only by his most legendary feat: escaping the Abyssal Hanging Tower. His eccentric, one-of-a-kind behavior cemented his status as a pirate superstar.

The Abyssal Hanging Tower was the number one super prison in the Main Plane.

Its construction dated back over a thousand years.

When the demons invaded the Main Plane, allied races fought countless arduous battles before finally reaching the Skywell.

This colossal teleportation device, constructed by the demons within a natural spatial passageway, reached the legend level, capable of transporting legendary demons.

At the Skywell, the two sides engaged in a decisive battle.

The demons were defeated, and the allied forces emerged victoriously.

The allied commanders nearly destroyed the Skywell but were halted by the dwarven divine blacksmith Huo Jiao Bian. This legendary female dwarf possessed unparalleled skill in crafting divine artifacts, her achievements unmatched and irreplaceable.

Huo Jiao Bian explained to the assembly: Simply destroying the Skywell would prove counterproductive. It was a meticulously prepared demonic trap, designed to transform the spatial passage into a vortex of chaotic energy. This vortex would persist for tens of thousands of years, endangering the Main Plane.

Huo Jiao Bian proposed instead: “Why not remodel the Skywell? Build an inverted tower upon its foundation.”

She then enumerated the plan's numerous advantages, successfully persuading the allied commanders.

All races joined forces to construct the Abyssal Hanging Tower. Despite mobilizing nearly every craftsman and alchemist from the Main Plane and gathering building materials from across the world, it still took over a decade to complete the tower.

After its completion, the tower was garrisoned by rotating main armies from each race. But the abyss's aura proved impossible to shield against, steadily eroding the tower. After several major rotations, the races agreed to repurpose the tower as a prison, confining the most heinous criminals to guard it as penance.

Ba Qi was one such prisoner held within the tower.

However, he managed to escape. Counting back 500 years, he was the only one to succeed!

At the time, he was merely a bronze level child.

This legendary feat set him apart from the rest. It was said that Fire Beard personally recruited him, leading him to command the Heroism Pirates under Fire Beard's banner.

Ba Qi strode forward with long strides.

Wherever he passed, crowds parted automatically.

Many shouted and cheered, seeking Ba Qi's approval to join the Heroism Pirates.

Others stood arms-crossed at a distance, their expressions wary.

Several silver level pirates appeared before Ba Qi.

“Captain of the Heroism Pirates, Lord Ba Qi, welcome to Flower Skirt Island,” one of the silver level members addressed him stiffly.

Ba Qi stood tall, surveying the group with a condescending gaze. "So, you lot run this island? Your strength is a bit lacking."

The silver level member replied with unwavering composure, " Lord Ba Qi, Flower Skirt Island is a land of freedom. We welcome anyone who comes here without ill intent."

“We are merely fortunate to have earned the trust of others, allowing us to temporarily serve as the island's administrators.”

“The truth is, the silver level isn't the highest on Flower Skirt Island. The gold level Master Cai Jing has been living in seclusion here for many years now.”

Ba Qi fixed his gaze upon him: “What is your name?”

“Sang Shu,” the silver level snow elf who had addressed Ba Qi earlier hastened to reply.

“Is the one standing behind you your son?” Ba Qi inquired further.

The snow elf named Sang Shu flinched visibly, his response evasive: "Lord Ba Qi, Master Cai Jing and I have maintained close collaboration. My son is even a potion apprentice taken under Lord Cai Jing's wing..."

“Hahahaha!” Ba Qi suddenly burst into laughter, cutting off Sang Shu, “Your son, I've taken a liking to him!”

As he spoke, his fingers spread wide, unleashing a powerful suction force.

The young man behind Sang Shu couldn't resist and was sucked into Ba Qi's palm.

His head was gripped firmly in Ba Qi's palm, while his body was bound by swirling white currents of air, suspended mid-air.

The youngster struggled desperately, screaming frantically, yet could not break free.

“Save me, Father! Save me!”

"Lord Ba Qi, I beg you, show mercy!" Sang Shu dared not intervene, pleading urgently.

But the next moment, his entreaties were cut short by his son's agonized screams.

Massive amounts of Air Pressure battle qi were forcibly pumped into the young man's body by Ba Qi, causing him to scream in agony. His body swelled like an inflated balloon, quickly becoming unrecognizable.

Sang Shu pleaded relentlessly, unable to bear it any longer. He unleashed a battle skill, attacking Ba Qi.

The pirates surrounding Ba Qi watched the spectacle, making no move to intervene.

The silver level battle skill was effortlessly blocked by Ba Qi, who then waved his hand dismissively at Sang Shu.

Sang Shu was sent flying into the air, utterly powerless to resist.

Bam!

In the next instant, the young man in Ba Qi's grasp exploded. Blood, brain matter, chunks of flesh, and bone fragments splattered everywhere, staining the scene crimson.

Blood stained Ba Qi's face and chest crimson.

He shook his hand, murmuring disappointedly, “Failed. This youngster seemed promising. Never thought he wouldn't even last this short a time.”

Dead silence fell over the scene.

The crowd, who had been cheering moments ago, now stared in stunned silence. As they watched Ba Qi treat human life as cheap as grass, a chill crept into their hearts.

Sang Shu, witnessing his son's brutal death, was consumed by despair and seething hatred.

“You killed my son! You killed my son!” he roared, drawing his crossbow and unleashing a relentless barrage of bolts at Ba Qi.

But the silver level crossbow lacked sufficient power. Even paired with silver level alchemy arrows, it couldn't scratch Ba Qi.

Ba Qi's body swayed slightly as a mass of air element separated from him.

The air element coalesced into a massive hand, radiating the golden glow of battle qi, and lunged toward Sang Shu.

Terror washed over Sang Shu's face as he scrambled backward.

The golden hand pursued relentlessly.

Sang Shu fled all the way to the southern tip of Flower Skirt Island, shouting, “Master Cai Jing! Master Cai Jing! Please intervene! Ba Qi has killed your apprentice! Save my life!”

Boom!

A spell shot forth, shattering the golden hand.

Master Cai Jing appeared, bellowing at Ba Qi, “Captain of the Heroism Pirates, Flower Skirt Island is no place for your reckless actions!”

Ba Qi roared with laughter once more: "Cai Jing, this isn't your territory either. Do you even have the right to speak to me like this? I seriously doubt it!"

With that, Ba Qi soared into the air and charged toward Cai Jing.

Cai Jing stood his ground, unfazed, wielding his staff as he engaged Ba Qi in fierce combat.

Both ascended into the air with tacit understanding, ensuring their clash spared Flower Skirt Island.

Both gold level experts fought fiercely, locked in an evenly matched battle.

The onlookers watched, eyes glued to the spectacle.

After over a dozen exchanges, Cai Jing faltered first, crashing back to the ground.

Battle skill - Multi-Layered Air Pressure!

Ba Qi thrust both arms forward, unleashing waves of explosive air pressure.

Master Cai Jing swiftly raised his staff, conjuring a blue magic shield.

Each wave of air pressure, heavy as mountains, slammed Master Cai Jing downward, sending debris and smoke billowing into the sky.

Soon, dust and smoke obscured Master Cai Jing's figure.

When the haze cleared, Master Cai Jing was covered in dust but had avoided serious injury.

His magic shield had shattered, but the giant trumpet flowers surrounding him provided protection.

Massive trumpet flowers erupted from the ground—some as large as carriages, others towering as tall as a man.

Aiming at Ba Qi, they sprayed streams of multicolored potion.

Ba Qi attempted to block them, but his expression quickly changed. He realized the multicolored potion was highly toxic, capable of penetrating his battle qi defenses. It mixed into his battle qi, transforming it into other types.

Different battle qi clashed violently with one another.

“Cai Jing, your combat prowess is quite impressive.” Ba Qi voluntarily halted his attack and descended to the ground.

Master Cai Jing's face was pale as he stared at Ba Qi, “Leave now. Flower Skirt Island does not welcome the Heroism Pirates.”

Ba Qi laughed heartily, waved at him, and turned to depart, “I don't fancy staying here either. Once I've resupplied, I'll be on my way.”

Master Cai Jing remained silent, watching until Ba Qi's figure vanished before disappearing underground himself.

The two gold level experts had clashed, each demonstrating their prowess while recognizing the other's tenacity. Both chose to call it quits.

Late that night.

Beneath the clinic.

The teleportation light faded as Ba Qi arrived, “Long time no see, Physician.”

He greeted him with a casual wave.

Shuang Tu remained composed, nodding slightly before gesturing toward the examination room where Lan Zao had been checked earlier. "Go inside and get your body checked first. Make it quick. The fewer secret meetings we have, the fewer openings we give."

“You're still as cautious as ever.” Ba Qi entered the room, lying flat as the magic formation's light scanned his entire body.

“Your condition has worsened again.” Shuang Tu's tone was grave.

Ba Qi shrugged it off: "Escaping that hellhole of the Hanging Tower was already a huge win for me. All I want now is to fulfill my master's dying wish before I die, to spread the Air Pressure battle qi technique across the land."

"Speaking of which, that kid you sent me is truly a promising talent. He's perfectly suited for the Air Pressure battle qi technique. I almost felt reluctant to plant the Air Knot on him."

Shuang Tu replied, "He was an ‘accident.’ Your Air Knot is necessary to ensure the final outcome favors us."

Ba Qi asked, “Do you plan to nurture him?”

Shuang Tu stated, "We will indeed invest resources to train him intensively. We hope he can contribute to the Tranquil Hill espionage mission."

“Tranquil Hill...” Ba Qi chuckled, “That mission has failed over a dozen times, hasn't it?”

“More than that,” Shuang Tu shook his head, “even if it fails a hundred times, it remains necessary to execute!”

“Hey, I've done you a favor by testing Cai Jing this time. Now you owe me one,” Ba Qi said abruptly. "Pull that kid out of the Tranquil Hill mission. Honestly, I see real potential in him."

Shuang Tu shook his head, then nodded, “Even if the Tranquil Hill mission fails this time, Hen Fa might not die.”

“I've already made arrangements for what comes next. He'll be coaxed over to us and placed within the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps. We're quite interested in the arms dealer backing that mercenary group. Personally, I think investigating the arms dealer's identity is far more reliable than investigating Tranquil Hill."

Ba Qi chuckled: "Hehehe, I agree with your assessment. An arms dealer... that would indeed be a major achievement."