Ye Yu said with anticipation, "While we continue sparring, let the crew see your strength. I plan to make you the vice-captain, so everyone can see if you're worthy."
Zhao Lin was surprised. Becoming the vice-captain directly? He felt highly valued and nodded firmly, "Then I'll go all out. After all, you're so strong that I don't have to worry about hurting you."
Zhao Lin was delighted. Since Ye Yu was so powerful, he could unleash his full strength without holding back.
With that, Zhao Lin took the initiative to attack. His figure darted like lightning, instantly closing the distance to Ye Yu. His two swords swung in a cross-shaped slash, aiming for Ye Yu's vital points.
Ye Yu casually swung his Black Blade Night, dispersing the slash with a green energy. Zhao Lin swiftly dodged the counterattack and appeared behind Ye Yu, slashing with both swords.
Ye Yu didn't turn around or move. He simply extended Black Blade Night behind him to block.
Clang! Sparks flew as Black Blade Night collided with the twin swords, emitting a sharp metallic clang. The powerful impact caused the trees in front of Ye Yu to collapse, but Ye Yu remained unmoved.
Zhao Lin, however, was forced back several steps.
"He blocked it just like that? So strong!" Zhao Lin thought in awe. Taking a deep breath, he charged forward again, even faster this time, almost vanishing in an instant. With a low shout, he unleashed his technique.
"Oden's Two-Sword Style: Paradise Ten Fists!"
His two swords crossed into an X-shape, shooting forward. In the next moment, he appeared behind Ye Yu, while a cross-shaped red slash bloomed like starlight in front of Ye Yu, growing increasingly radiant.
Boom!
The brilliance reached its peak and exploded. Ye Yu dispersed the slash with a single swing of his blade but took two steps back.
The crew was shocked. Although Ye Yu remained unharmed and still countered with a single-handed grip, he had actually been forced back two steps, indicating the power of that slash.
Ye Yu sighed inwardly, "As expected of the Paradise Ten Fists, the technique that left Kaido with a permanent cross-shaped scar. It's truly formidable."
The battle continued. After a quarter of an hour, Zhao Lin lay on the ground, panting heavily, utterly amazed and full of praise.
"You're incredible… much stronger than I imagined. You didn't even use your full strength, yet I struggled so much. It seems the gap between our swordsmanship is still quite large."
Ye Yu praised him, "You're already very impressive."
Sun Long, watching from the side, was both shaken and excited. Another swordsman stronger than himself had appeared. Although the gap wasn't as vast as with the captain, even a slight advantage was significant. He now aspired to surpass Zhao Lin in swordsmanship.
Later, Zhao Lin underwent a character assessment and passed easily, becoming the fourth vice-captain of the Dominant Feather Pirate Crew. None of the crew members objected, as the earlier battle had made it clear that Zhao Lin's strength was on par with Xia Ling, Zhao Yan'er, and Xiao Ke, and slightly superior to Sun Long, the current top executive.
Sun Long approached with a smile, "Congratulations! Also, let's spar more often in the future."
Zhao Lin was equally pleased, "Sure! I've already realized the huge gap between me and the captain. Let's spar once I've recovered. I know you're also a strong swordsman."
"Deal!"
Both were eager to begin.
Lin Muxue and the others wore grim expressions. They had also recognized Zhao Lin's strength. Currently, he was fully capable of becoming the captain of a top-tier pirate crew. In combat, his strength was no less than hers, even with the power of the Rumble Rumble Fruit.
"Damn it, the Dominant Feather Pirate Crew has gained another formidable member."
While feeling indignant, there was also a tinge of jealousy because the Dominant Feather Pirate Crew's configuration was getting better and better, leaving the Chosen One Pirate Crew far behind.
Lin Muxue said gravely, "This won't do. After level thirty, Ye Yu might not become the top bounty, but if the pirate crew's combat strength continues to grow, there's a possibility of taking the top spot on the Strongest Pirate Crew Ranking in a month, becoming the One King Pirates."
Li Cang comforted, "Not necessarily. We should be grateful that the powerful crew members we recruited are Non-Ability Users. There's still a month left before the Strongest Pirate Crew Ranking is updated. By then, everyone will be around level forty, and the Dominant Feather Pirate Crew will have already entered their weak phase. They might not even make it onto the ranking."
Thinking this way, Lin Muxue felt somewhat reassured, and her worries lessened.
At that moment, an anomaly occurred.
Above ten cities in the world, dark purple vortexes appeared, shocking everyone—these were the Mystic Realms.
Simultaneously, a message resounded across the entire world: fixed-type Mystic Realms had appeared once again.
Speaking of fixed-type Mystic Realms, they had appeared before the true anomaly. Lin Muxue frowned. Back then, only one team had passed the tenth floor, and they had named her and Li Cang as "idiots." At the time, they didn't know who it was, but now it was clear—it was the team of Ye Yu and Zhang Tian.
At this moment, members of many pirate crews looked up, their eyes burning with greed and desire as they gazed at the dark purple vortexes high in the distance. Passing through the Mystic Realm would grant a significant amount of experience.
Wang Quanshi looked at the dark purple vortexes, his face filled with relief.
"Good thing our four pirate crews have formed an alliance. The news of the Dominant Feather Pirate Crew barely passing through the dark purple Mystic Realm has already spread. If even they struggled so much, barely making it through, there's no way a single pirate crew could pass. But now that we're allied, we have a much better chance."
Song Ling corrected, "To be precise, it's a one hundred percent chance."
Jin Mo nodded confidently, "Indeed, we will definitely pass. Last time, although we lost to the Dominant Feather Pirate Crew, it was because over two hundred thousand of our combat power was suppressed by Ye Yu's Conqueror's Haki and couldn't join the battle. If all that power had been present, our overall strength would have surpassed theirs. This time, the entire pirate crew will participate in the dark purple Mystic Realm because it's too difficult, so we will absolutely pass."
"We must pass! This is a great opportunity to improve! We also need to avenge our loss against the Dominant Feather Pirate Crew!"
...
Meanwhile, other top pirate crews also realized the difficulty of this dark purple Mystic Realm. The news of the Dominant Feather Pirate Crew barely passing through it had spread across the world, giving them a rough understanding of its difficulty.
To pass through the Mystic Realm, they too began seeking alliances.
...
Ye Yu stood at the bow of the ship, looking at a distant island city. Above that city, there was a dark purple Mystic Realm.
At that moment, the message resounded again, its content shocking the entire world! It instantly dissuaded all pirate crews from participating. Even the usually calm Ye Yu's expression changed drastically upon hearing the news, his heart surging with turmoil.
Wang Quanshi's face turned grim, "Damn it, how can it be this difficult? This is a joke. Who could possibly pass?"
Song Ling frowned, "Even though it opens in three days, there's no way anyone can pass."
Jin Mo cursed, "Could the timing be wrong? Has it arrived early? It should have appeared at least a month later! Who could possibly pass this? Even Ye Yu, who is currently in a league of his own, wouldn't be able to make it through."
"Sigh, thinking about it this way makes it a bit easier to accept. After all, if even Ye Yu can't pass, then no one will benefit from this Mystic Realm. It's fair in that sense."
...
At this moment, no one wanted to participate anymore.
And in the ten cities where the Mystic Realm was located, panic and despair instantly spread among the people.
All because the content of the Mystic Realm was...