Ye Yu woke up feeling refreshed, with no soreness in his waist or legs—an unexpected surprise.
"Hmm? Even though I wasn't injured in this Mystic Realm, it was all about stamina consumption. Even after resting to recover energy and strength, my body should feel sore, but it doesn't. Xia Ling, how long did I sleep?"
"You slept for a full day and night."
Zhao Yan'er sighed lightly. "Captain, the reason you don't feel sore isn't just because of your strong physique and recovery ability. It's mainly because Xia Ling has been massaging you frequently this whole time."
Ye Yu suddenly understood—so that was why.
At the same time, he froze for a moment. If it had been morning, would he have had that kind of reaction?
There was no helping it. He was in his early twenties, the prime of his vitality, and with Xia Ling by his side, massaging him the entire time...
Xiao Ke asked curiously, "Captain, what kind of Bloodline did you obtain?"
Ye Yu had already learned about it the moment he acquired it. After all, he had gone through so much hardship to obtain it, so he naturally familiarized himself with it immediately, making it his own—as if it were innate.
Ye Yu was thrilled and overjoyed.
"It's an excellent Bloodline, one I really like. It's a transformation type—very cool—and it boosts overall attributes like speed and strength. As for the specifics, I won't say yet. This can't be leaked. Let those top Chosen Ones panic more; the unknown is what breeds fear. This will also serve as a trump card. Using it for too long will still drain me, though—the consumption is huge."
The sub-captains were happy for Ye Yu. Even if they didn't know the details, knowing that his strength had increased again was enough.
They left to continue their training, while Xia Ling stayed behind in Ye Yu's room to report.
"Many have signed up these days. Here's the compiled list of Non-Ability Users. Most are scattered across various seas and can't join immediately, but they can first pass the recruitment assessment. When they're closer, we can bring them aboard directly."
"Good."
Ye Yu took the list and skimmed through it. The Non-Ability User list had always been for his eyes only, marking the names of those under Contract.
After finishing quickly, he spotted some familiar names from the Pirate King world, though none were particularly powerful.
That made sense—most strong independent fighters had already joined crews by now. There were hardly any lone experts left.
At the very end, however, Ye Yu's eyes lit up.
"Jia Zhen—the person under Contract is Scopper Gaban."
Naturally, he knew. This was Gaban, a name on par with Rayleigh, one of the Roger Pirate Crew's right-hand men. Roger's two most trusted were Gaban and Rayleigh.
Ye Yu said, "If this person passes the character assessment, he can directly become an Executive. Though his strength could qualify him as a sub-captain, we won't add any more sub-captain positions for now."
"Understood."
At this point, Xia Ling didn't leave. Instead, she lowered her head, blushing slightly, as if hesitating to speak.
Ye Yu was puzzled. "What's wrong?"
Xia Ling finally forced out the words with difficulty. "While massaging you... you..."
Ye Yu chuckled awkwardly. "Did it happen again? Well, there's nothing I can do about that. It's a natural reaction—uncontrollable."
Xia Ling knew it was normal. She had witnessed it before—like the last time Ye Yu was severely injured and unconscious, when she fed him, the same thing happened.
But the reason she hadn't left was mainly because of a promise she had made earlier.
"Ye Yu, I promised you something before."
Instantly, Ye Yu understood why Xia Ling was blushing and struggling to speak.
This matter had naturally been on his mind, but he didn't feel comfortable bringing it up himself. After that Mystic Realm, Ye Yu had remembered, but he couldn't just bluntly say, "Now that we've survived, start helping me."
Ye Yu felt a little embarrassed, but he could endure it. After all, his willpower and self-control were extraordinary—otherwise, he wouldn't have made it through the Mystic Realm. So even if Xia Ling didn't mention it, it was fine.
But now that Xia Ling had brought it up herself…
After some thought, Ye Yu shook his head. "It's fine. This is also a way to temper my perseverance. I don't need it for now, and I won't act recklessly. It's good training."
"Alright then. But if you really can't hold on, this promise still stands. Come find me anytime—after all, my room connects directly to yours."
"Got it."
Xia Ling quickly changed the subject. "Should we go after Wang Quanshi and the others? Jin Mo is dead, and his Pirate Crew chose to join the Azure Dragon Pirates. They're still together now, but during the Mystic Realm, there were thirteen Pirate Crews. Now, it's not thirteen anymore. We're fully capable of hunting them down without paying any price. But they've been running nonstop, not cultivating or seeking gains."
Ye Yu could guess as much. "To survive, they'd naturally have to give up Sea Beasts, treasures, and the like. There's no point chasing them—it'd just waste our time and slow our progress. This way, they're already suffering. They took second place, and now they have to pour all their energy into fleeing this sea. We'll just sail as usual."
"Alright."
...
At that moment, on a certain island, there stood a city.
A bald middle-aged man with sharp eyes, dressed in a lab coat, hesitated over whether to sign up. In the end, he decided against it.
"Right now, I'm not qualified yet. I haven't achieved enough. I shouldn't join other Pirate Crews either—it'd just put me in danger. But I should stick with some laid-back Pirates, avoiding risks. That way, I won't go looking for trouble, but trouble might still find me. So I'd better join a more passive group."
This man was Pang Yan. He approached a Pirate Crew currently eating and drinking in a tavern.
"Hello, I'd like to join."
"What can you do?"
"I'm a Brain-Brain Fruit Ability User."
The Pirates frowned. The Brain-Brain Fruit didn't sound impressive.
"Can you fight?"
"No."
"Then what's your ability?"
"I feel like I'm very smart."
"What's the use of being smart? Who's your Contract with?"
"My name is Pang Yan. My Contract is with Vegapunk."
Hearing the name, they frowned. "Does he have any strong abilities in the Pirate world?"
"No need to ask that. I'll just test his strength myself."
Pang Yan quickly stepped back. "Fighting is out of the question—I'm not strong. But I do have research capabilities."
"Research what?"
"Well… I feel like I can develop powerful humanoid weapons."
Their eyes lit up.
"Where? Show us."
Pang Yan scratched his head. "I haven't developed them yet. I'm missing some materials. But in the later stages, I'll definitely be able to create strong humanoid weapons."
Their interest vanished.
"Get lost."
"You're just feeding us empty promises?"
"We don't keep useless people, even if we're laid-back."
...
Pang Yan left helplessly. He was used to this—it had happened many times before. Everyone thought he was just making empty claims.
"Ah, I'll sign up for the Dominant Feather Pirate Crew once I've developed some skills. There's no point applying now when I have nothing to offer."
...
At that moment, on a certain island.
The sea breeze carried a briny tang as it barreled recklessly through the narrow streets of the town.
Zhang Peng, captain of the Lucky Pirate Crew, strode confidently with his hands in his pockets, followed by several rough-looking subordinates with crooked hats. As a Luck Fruit Ability User, Zhang Peng could steal others' fortune simply by touching them—a power that made him increasingly arrogant in these waters.
Suddenly, a commotion erupted ahead. A group of pirates was counting their loot in front of a tavern, forcing terrified townsfolk to scatter. Zhang Peng smirked and led his men straight toward the pirate crew.
"Hand over the treasure!" Zhang Peng's voice boomed through the street, utterly unbothered.
The pirates froze momentarily before bursting into raucous laughter. The leader, his face scarred and twin daggers at his waist, stepped forward menacingly. "Kid, do you know who you're talking to? You think you can just waltz in and take our treasure?"
Zhang Peng gave them a dismissive glance, crossing his arms. "I don't even need to lift a finger to deal with you." His words were like a spark, instantly igniting the pirates' fury. The scarred pirate drew his daggers, and the others brandished their weapons, ready to charge.
Just then, the clear sky darkened abruptly. A bolt of lightning as thick as a bowl shot through the clouds, striking the pirate group with pinpoint accuracy. The acrid smell of charred flesh filled the air as the hit pirates collapsed, smoke rising from their bodies. Those who dodged the lightning weren't spared either—a nearby dilapidated building, shaken by the strike, crumbled with a deafening crash, burying the remaining pirates under rubble.
The townsfolk gaped in shock while Zhang Peng's crew cheered. Zhang Peng laughed triumphantly. "See that? Even the Dominant Feather Pirate Crew, the rulers of these seas, would have to steer clear of me! Sure, they're strong, but no one can match my luck!"
As if to prove his point, a disturbance arose from the direction of the harbor. A massive pirate ship slowly docked, its sails bearing the glaring Dominant Feather insignia under the sun. Instead of panicking, Zhang Peng's eyes gleamed with excitement at the news.
"Let's go! Time to meet the Dominant Feather Pirate Crew, take their treasure, and make our name in these waters!" Zhang Peng waved grandly, leading his men toward the port.
Whispers spread among the crowd.
"Is Zhang Peng insane? Picking a fight with the Dominant Feather Pirate Crew?"
"Right? They've just made their mark—even the top crews can't stand against them, let alone him?"
"You don't get it. He might actually have a chance. He's got the Luck Fruit—he can steal others' fortune and make them suffer. His crew's huge, tens of thousands strong, not because he's powerful, but because he recruits any pirate willing to lend their luck."
"Ah, so that's it. That Fruit's seriously broken."
"Then this guy's basically cheating, huh?"
...
Meanwhile, Ye Yu had just come ashore with a few crew members.
Civilians gazed at him with admiration, while pirates regarded him with deep reverence.
Soon, Zhang Peng and his group arrived before Ye Yu.
Without hesitation, Zhang Peng demanded bluntly, "Ye Yu, hand over the treasure on your ship!"
Ye Yu slightly frowned, a flicker of surprise flashing in his eyes. After all, the Dominant Feather Pirate Crew had just made a name for themselves in these waters, and no one had dared to openly rob them yet.
"Do you even know what you're saying, kid?" Xiao Ke's voice was low, carrying a hint of intimidation.
Zhang Peng smiled nonchalantly. "Save the talk. I'll give you two choices—either hand over your treasures quietly, or end up like that other pirate crew just now."
The crew members beside Ye Yu couldn't hold back any longer, drawing their weapons one after another.
Xiao Ke was the first to fire, aiming confidently, certain that Zhang Peng was already as good as dead.
Ye Yu didn't act immediately, choosing to observe first.
Yet, Zhang Peng didn't move, confident he wouldn't die.
This took the crew by surprise.
"He's not dodging?"
"Then he's definitely dead."
However, when Xiao Ke pulled the trigger, no gunshot rang out. His expression shifted slightly—the bullet had jammed.
"Huh? What's going on? Did I use it too much? I remember just maintaining it recently. How could this happen?"
Xiao Ke inspected his gun, trying to figure out the issue.
Sun Long unsheathed his sword and stepped forward. "Let me handle this."
He charged ahead, ready to finish the opponent with a single slash.
But Zhang Peng pulled out a coin.
"A single coin is enough to deal with you."
Sun Long felt insulted—after all, he was an Executive.
Yet, as the coin was tossed, the darkened sky suddenly unleashed another bolt of lightning, aiming for the coin. But since the coin was now close to Sun Long, he became the target as well.
This time, the lightning was even more powerful.
Zhang Peng sighed inwardly. "Strong, huh? Took a lot of my luck."
He could feel the heavy drain on his reserves.
Sun Long's expression changed as he swiftly countered with a slash, dispersing the lightning. He staggered back two steps.
Unconvinced, Sun Long smirked. "Interesting."
He prepared to charge again, but Zhang Peng still didn't evade.
Just as Sun Long was about to move, his face twisted in shock once more.
Zhang Peng remained utterly calm. He still had plenty of luck left—he wouldn't die. Something fortunate would surely happen again.
Suddenly, an anomaly appeared in the sky.
Many faces paled in alarm.
"Look at the sky!"
"What is that?"
"It's a meteor!"
...
Flames flickered, dyeing the sky crimson as a small meteor abruptly descended from the heavens.
Panic spread across the island.
"Are we really this unlucky? A meteor falling right here?" "Don't panic—Ye Yu is here."
"First lightning, now a meteor. Is this Zhang Peng's ability?"
Sun Long immediately leaped into the air.
"Nine Mountains, Eight Seas, as One World..." As he chanted, he delivered his final slash.
"One Great Three Thousand Great Thousand Worlds!"
The meteor wasn't too large—it was split apart and shattered. But Sun Long was still affected, landing and stumbling back, his arms aching.
At this moment, Ye Yu raised his hand, signaling for them to stay calm.
"Everyone, stand down. I'll handle this."
Ye Yu stepped forward, his gaze locked onto Zhang Peng. "So you really do have the Luck Fruit. A remarkable ability. But against me, it might not be enough."
Zhang Peng's heart sank, but he forced himself to remain composed. Taking a deep breath, he said to Ye Yu, "I'm taking your treasures today. Hand them over. Even you can't kill me—you might even end up affected!" With that, he signaled his men, who fanned out in a semicircle, surrounding Ye Yu and his crew.
Ye Yu sneered. "Since you're asking for death, I'll oblige."
He wasn't worried. His Haki was formidable, and this man was merely relying on his ability. Haki alone could disrupt it.
At that moment, Wu Xingyun's eyes lit up.
"Captain, let me go first."
A massive bullet was fired. Zhang Peng flicked out a coin again, his face full of disdain.
The enormous bullet swallowed the coin whole. Zhang Peng watched as the bullet approached, unperturbed—he wouldn't get hit by the explosion. But in the next instant, it suddenly detonated naturally. A scream rang out as he was blasted by the explosion, stumbling backward repeatedly.
"How is this possible?"
Wu Xingyun said, "You hit the jackpot."
(End of Chapter)