"How can there be a Rank 4 Gu Master!"
Cai Zhiyin cried out in disbelief as he saw the enormous Iron Winged Flying Elephant flap its wings, laughing wildly as it slammed into their large ship.
"Earth Dragon Gu!"
Cai Zhiyin gritted his teeth and activated a Gu, sending out an Earth Dragon tens of meters long. It collided fiercely with the Iron Winged Flying Elephant, creating a loud thud, scattering earth and stone. The two behemoths wrestled together, their Aura astonishing.
"Quick! Attack!" The captain, standing on a high point, took in the situation and immediately shouted his orders.
"Don't worry about the consumption. Sink their ship in the shortest possible time!"
Boom!
Immediately, the merchant ship's offensive intensified, striking the pirate ship's defensive barrier with resounding thuds.
Soon, another pirate ship's defense was broken and it was immediately focused on and sunk.
However, at this moment, the Rank 4 Gu Master, who had transformed into an Iron Winged Flying Elephant, roared and slammed into the sea with the Earth Dragon.
With a thud, the two behemoths crashed into the water, splashing water everywhere. They continued to tear and wrestle underwater, stirring up strong undercurrents and surging waves.
Cai Zhiyin's expression, however, was extremely grim. Once the Earth Dragon entered the water, it was continuously eroded and broken down by the seawater, weakening its power. He was already struggling to fight the opponent with just one Gu, and now he was completely at a disadvantage.
"Earth Concealment Gu!"
Cai Zhiyin gritted his teeth and activated another Gu. The Earth Dragon underwater suddenly began to swell, shedding large amounts of mud that continuously piled up around it, gradually burying the Iron Winged Flying Elephant.
The Iron Winged Flying Elephant struggled repeatedly, but the mud was not solid. The Iron Winged Flying Elephant's strength felt like it was hitting cotton, consuming a lot of energy with little effect.
"Young Master is mighty!"
"Young Master is invincible!"
"Cousin is so powerful!"
The battle between the two Rank 4 Gu Masters captivated everyone. Seeing the Transformation Path Gu Master at a disadvantage, the merchant group's Gu Masters shouted excitedly, their morale boosted.
Cai Zhiyin was in a pleasant mood, looking expectantly at the other side, wanting to see the pirates' morale plummet due to their leader's setback.
Unexpectedly, what he saw was the pirates also looking excited, some with disdainful gazes towards them, others still attacking fiercely, showing no signs of dejection whatsoever.
"What's going on? Where did these pirates come from? Are their mental fortitude this strong?"
As Cai Zhiyin was still bewildered, he suddenly heard an even more arrogant laugh.
"Second Brother, how did you get trapped by a small mud loach? Let me help you out, Spiral Water Drill!"
The seawater in the sea surged, suddenly condensing into a drill that spun madly, driving a large amount of seawater to form a Great Whirlpool several meters wide. It drilled down fiercely, almost immediately breaking through the mud ball.
The huge Iron Winged Flying Elephant flew out of the mud ball, but it was covered in mud, looking very disheveled, and had lost all its previous Divine Qi.
"I'm going to kill you!"
The Iron Winged Flying Elephant shook its body, shedding the mud, and suddenly transformed into a human form. It was a middle-aged Gu Master in his forties, with a pair of sinister eyes glaring fiercely at Cai Zhiyin.
He transformed again, his body rapidly growing larger, turning into a blue elephant. It stomped on the water, its four hooves spreading out as it ran, crashing towards the large ship like a speeding locomotive.
"Damn it!"
Cai Zhiyin had no time to defend. He saw the elephant crash into the large ship with a thud. The defensive shield covering the ship's surface shook violently, ripples spreading in layers, but it ultimately wasn't shattered.
"Second Brother, are you capable or not!" The previous Gu Master spoke again.
"Water Arrow Gu!" He shouted, extending his right hand towards the merchant ship and clenching his fist.
Several water arrows immediately flew out, hitting the ship like raindrops. A "crackle, crackle" sound was heard, and the protective shield continuously flickered with light.
"There's actually a second Rank 4 Gu Master!"
Everyone was greatly alarmed now. A pirate group that didn't seem very large actually had two Rank 4 Gu Masters. This simply defied logic.
With two Rank 4 Gu Masters, they could have built a pirate group ten times larger. Why would they bring so few people to rob such a small merchant group?
With a loud boom, a merchant ship was destroyed by the Transformation Path Rank 4 Gu Master. Many Mortals screamed and died, and the Gu Masters fled the broken ship, escaping to other intact merchant ships.
"Lads, kill for me! For every head you take, you get an extra share of money!"
The Water Path Rank 4 Gu Master cackled, stirring up waves that crashed into the fleeing merchant group's Gu Masters.
"Kill!" The pirates who had fallen into the water earlier surged forward, clashing with the merchant group's Gu Masters.
The battle between the two sides finally changed from ship combat to a melee. Merchant ships attacked each other, trying to sink the opponent's ship faster. Gu Masters also fought continuously, the colorful Gu light dazzling, and blood stained patch after patch of seawater.
Among the merchant group, Cai Zhiyin was the only Rank 4 expert. Facing two great Rank 4s simultaneously, he was outmatched. Just stopping the Transformation Path Gu Master consumed most of his energy.
The remaining Water Path Gu Master was unconstrained, attacking freely, destroying one merchant ship after another, causing more Gu Masters to lose the protection of their ships and forcing them to fight the pirates head-on.
However, they had to face not only ordinary pirates but also the attacks of the Rank 4 Water Path Gu Master. In an instant, casualties were heavy, and they retreated steadily.
The situation tilted towards the pirates, and the merchant ships' disadvantage became increasingly apparent.
"Hahahaha, you're next!"
The blue giant elephant, transformed by the Transformation Path Gu Master, stared at Cai Zhiyin with cold, icy-blue eyes, laughing wildly as it crashed fiercely into their merchant ship.
"You forced my hand, all of you go to hell!"
Cai Zhiyin's expression was ugly. He forcefully activated one Gu after another in his body, forming a powerful Killing Move.
"Killing Move, Accumulated Mud Platform!"
Large patches of mud and sand spreading in the seawater suddenly began to converge, while also continuously increasing, forming a solid platform of mud and sand. Its area covered several hundred meters in all directions and was still expanding.
Boom boom boom...
Amidst intense vibrations, the mud and sand platform continuously rose, quickly exceeding the sea level and stranding the ships of both friend and foe on the platform.
A layer of earthy yellow light enveloped everyone on the mud and sand platform, immediately eliciting gasps of surprise.
"Ah! My primeval essence is consuming so fast!"
"Not good, I can't move!"
"Help! Help! I'm sinking into the mud and sand!"
"Someone pull me out..."
These were the shouts and screams of the pirate side, while the Gu Masters of the merchant group shouted with joy and surprise.
"Hahahaha, I have an extra layer of defense!"
"My speed is so fast!"
"Quick, kill, wipe out those bastards!"
In an instant, the situation, which had originally been leaning to one side, became evenly matched, and the merchant group even showed signs of subtly overtaking them.
"Those pirates on my Accumulated Mud Platform will be suppressed in all aspects! Go! Board them and wipe them out!"
Cai Zhiyin waved his hand, shouting loudly.
"Charge! Rewards for merit, today is the day to soar!" The captain led by example, activating his Gu and charging towards the pirate ship.
"Kill!" Led by the captain, the Gu Masters of the merchant group rushed out of the merchant ships, shouting as they charged towards the pirates.
"How about it, isn't your Brother Zhiyin amazing?" Cai Zhiyin boasted proudly to the two women.
"Cousin is amazing, Cousin is invincible!" Qiu Hongyan looked at the battlefield below, shouting excitedly.
Zhou Ming's eyes flickered. He activated the Gu in his body and said, "Since that's the case, let's make our move too."
Zhou Ming placed his right hand on the ship's mast. Emerald green vines grew along the mast, climbed down the merchant ship, and landed on the mud and sand platform. They began to grow and spread rapidly, transforming into thick vines that swept in all directions.
The pirates were either sent flying by the vines or had their limbs entangled, unable to move. They were immediately targeted and instantly killed by the merchant ship's Gu Masters who found an opportunity.
"Oh?" Cai Zhiyin's eyes lit up. He laughed heartily, "I didn't expect Miss Qin's Gu to match mine so well. This is truly fate, hahahaha..."
"Hmph!" Qiu Hongyan snorted and said, "Cousin, I'll help you too!"
She pointed a finger at the chaotic battlefield, and human-head-sized fireballs flew out, smashing into the crowd and exploding. Immediately, there were screams, and several people were directly blown away.
Flames burned fiercely, instantly igniting several Gu Masters, turning them into human torches. They screamed repeatedly, rolling on the ground.
"Damn it!" The Transformation Path Gu Master roared.
He was actually suppressed on this Accumulated Mud Platform. His body became several times heavier out of nowhere, and his movements became much slower than before.
Moreover, whenever he wanted to ram Cai Zhiyin's large ship, mud walls would always rise from the Accumulated Mud Platform. The force of his impact was attenuated layer by layer, making it impossible for him to charge through, frustrating him to the point of almost spitting blood.
The battle between the two sides intensified, and more and more Gu Masters were killed or injured. The merchant group's Gu Masters fought desperately to save their lives, but the pirates also refused to retreat, displaying a fierce bravery unlike Eastern Sea Gu Masters, instead showing the style of Northern Plains Gu Masters who fight to the death.
"Boss, are you ready yet!"
Another charge was blocked by a mud wall. The Transformation Path Gu Master's anger flared, and he roared upwards.
"What?" Cai Zhiyin's heart sank. He suddenly realized that he had overlooked the existence of another Rank 4 Gu Master, and immediately thought, 'This is bad.'
"Sorry to keep you waiting! Hahahaha, Killing Move, Great Whirlpool!"
The figure of the Rank 4 Water Path Gu Master rushed out from the bottom of the water in the distance. A water pillar beneath his feet propelled him towards them, waves surging and crashing onto the Accumulated Mud Platform.
Boom boom boom...
The entire Accumulated Mud Platform actually began to vibrate violently at this moment, like an earthquake.
"Not good!" Cai Zhiyin's expression changed, and he shouted, "Retreat! Retreat quickly, everyone get back on the ships!"
However, by the time he spoke, it was already too late. The solid and heavy Accumulated Mud Platform suddenly cracked with huge fissures. Gu Masters on the edge of the fissures lost their footing and fell into them.
They saw the scene beneath the tens of meters thick mud and sand platform: it was actually a Great Whirlpool covering several thousand meters in area.
The seawater spun rapidly, emitting a roaring sound. The center of the vortex was like a bottomless black hole, swallowing the rocks and mud blocks falling from above.
It was this vortex that had crushed the Foundation of the Accumulated Mud Platform from below, breaking Cai Zhiyin's Killing Move, Accumulated Mud Platform.
Amidst deafening roars, the enormous Accumulated Mud Platform shattered into pieces. A massive amount of mud and sand was swallowed into the center of the Great Whirlpool, occasionally mixed with some unlucky Gu Masters who were also directly swept in, their fates unknown.
"Hahahaha, the Accumulated Mud Platform is gone!"
"Kill!"
The Rank 4 Water Path Gu Master's face was pale. The Great Whirlpool Killing Move had consumed a great deal of his energy, but he still laughed wildly, ordering his subordinates to continue fighting.
He had consumed a lot, and Cai Zhiyin, who had unleashed the Accumulated Mud Platform Killing Move, had also consumed a considerable amount. Moreover, with Cai Zhiyin's Killing Move broken, he must have been injured, and his Rank 4 battle strength would be discounted. Even if he didn't make a move, the outcome of this great battle was already decided.
'My mission is complete!'
The Water Path Gu Master roared in his heart, looking excitedly at the merchant group's large ship, wanting to see the scene of Cai Zhiyin being killed by the Transformation Path Rank 4 Gu Master.
However, what he saw was Cai Zhiyin's cold sneer.
"The Accumulated Mud Platform is gone? Heh heh, just as I wished. Accumulated Mud Platform transformation — Accumulated Mud Collapse!"
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
A sudden strange sound erupted from the Great Whirlpool. Countless mud and sand surged out from the center of the vortex. The enormous vortex was actually impacted by the mud and sand at this moment, forming a reverse swirl!
Massive amounts of mud, sand, and seawater frantically gushed from the center of the vortex, shooting high into the sky, forming a mud and sand water tornado a hundred meters high. The seawater surged violently, giant waves rolled, mud and sand splashed, raining down like mad. Between heaven and earth, it was a chaotic scene like the end of the world.
"How could a Killing Move I've practiced for two and a half years be so simple?" Cai Zhiyin laughed uncontrollably.
"The Accumulated Mud Platform Killing Move, as it is continuously activated, the Accumulated Mud Platform will rise higher and higher until it reaches the limit of my control, at which point it will inevitably collapse on its own."
"It was to compensate for this flaw that I developed this Accumulated Mud Collapse transformation. After the Accumulated Mud Platform collapses, all the accumulated power within it will erupt, destroying everything!"
"Accumulated Mud Collapse means the enemies will collapse along with the Accumulated Mud Platform, hahahahaha!"
In this apocalyptic scene, large numbers of Gu Masters screamed and died. Not only pirate Gu Masters, but also Gu Masters from the merchant group. Both sides were suffering losses at an astonishing rate.
Because now on this battlefield, it wasn't just the erupting power of Cai Zhiyin's Accumulated Mud Collapse Killing Move, but also the Water Path Gu Master's Great Whirlpool Killing Move, which, after being destroyed, also unleashed all its power in one go.
The two great Rank 4 Killing Moves continuously wreaked havoc on the battlefield. Both sides seemed to have gone mad, disregarding the casualties of their subordinate Gu Masters.
In reality, they couldn't control it at all. Both Cai Zhiyin and the Rank 4 Gu Master had drained the primeval essence in their Apertures, and both Killing Moves had completely lost control.
Now, they were not controlling the Killer Moves; rather, their Killing Moves were drawing in immeasurable seawater and mud and sand, triggering the explosive power of nature. The combined power of the two overlapping Killing Moves had already exceeded the limit of Rank 4, reaching the level of a Rank Five Killing Move.
However, in such a chaotic environment, under such dangerous circumstances, the Rank 4 Transformation Path Gu Master still charged forward relentlessly towards Cai Zhiyin's merchant ship, his eyes still filled with fierce killing intent.
"They're not normal pirates, they're coming for you," Zhou Ming said, frowning slightly. "No wonder they fought to the death without retreating. Their true target has always been you."
Cai Zhiyin, who was using primeval stones to recover his primeval essence, had a look of shock: "Coming for me, or for our Cai Family? Bastards, when I go back, I will definitely..."
Boom!
Between heaven and earth, a brilliant blue light suddenly enveloped everything.
A pillar of light, several miles in diameter, appeared, like an enormous cover, covering the entire battlefield. It was like a giant cover, encompassing the entire battlefield.
Cai Zhiyin's words were interrupted, no, they should be said to have frozen. Everything on this battlefield was frozen at this moment, as if small insects sealed in amber, unable to move.
Even this world-destroying scene was completely solidified within the brilliant blue light pillar.
It was as if time had stopped at this moment.