"... Seventeen tis..." You Can paused, his tone growing somber, "My first officer is dead, and half of the crew dissolved, so I had to return."
"All of my people are dead;
only I ca back," the Captain of Light and Shadow said calmly.
"You’re just a captured felon, so it doesn’t matter if you die. But it’s different for . I’ve spent years training my crew..." You Can said in a deep voice.
"True. So you should learn from ," the Captain of Light and Shadow said nonchalantly.
"Alright, enough talk. I’m heading to the supply base." The green light of Light and Shadow turned grey, and the connection was lost.
Only Yu Hong and You Can were left.
"Captain Yu, how many tis has it been for you?" You Can asked.
"I can’t rember, didn’t keep count. Probably five or six tis," Yu Hong replied.
"As you go further, the danger increases. Be cautious, especially at Wind Disaster. By the tenth ti, we usually encounter Source Disaster tides and enter the Phoenix Eye region. The risks there are high, so prepare for the imnse pressure. The internal pressure is hundreds of tis greater than where we are now, extrely challenging. Be careful," You Can warned.
"Thank you for the reminder!" Yu Hong said solemnly.
"No need to thank . It’s rare for our two ships to et;
perhaps we can trade?" You Can said with a smile.
"Trade what? What do you need?" Yu Hong was intrigued.
"I’m out of Human Pills for cultivation. Do you have capable crew mbers to sell? We can negotiate a price. I have various Cultivation Techniques, materials, and different types of captured slaves. Choose freely," You Can said casually.
Yu Hong was stunned upon hearing this.
"Human Pills? Are you using people to cultivate?"
"Of course. We are saviors, just using so people to enhance power, nothing unusual," You Can said matter-of-factly. "They’re not from our holand, just so aliens, as strong as wild animals, just hunting really. I consu a few dozen each month, already quite economical."
Hearing this, Yu Hong’s crew trembled.
Yu Hong’s expression darkened.
"Sorry, I’m not selling my crew." Despite becoming increasingly indifferent, he couldn’t accept using people as cultivation consumables.
It wasn’t about kindness;
after all, he was human too, and it felt deeply unsettling.
"No rush. We are captains;
you might be young now, but you’ll get used to it. Let’s not talk about this. Do you have any rare materials? Even those collected in the Source Disaster?" You Can asked.
"Do you know about the Heaven from Spirit Disaster? I have so eyeballs from the Three-Eyed Dragon Head Generals there. Want them?" Yu Hong answered.
"Eyeballs...? Ah, no thanks, I know Heaven. It was a major force, later surrendered to the Spirit Disaster. Anything else?" You Can continued.
Yu Hong revealed his materials, one by one.
Unfortunately, none seed to interest You Can.
"Forget it. You’re sailing in the shallow safe zones;
the materials you gather are quite ordinary. If you have a chance to delve into the Source Disaster, materials from dangerous areas are valuable. If you visit the Black Hole Mountain in the Phoenix Eye, bring a piece of Source Material. It’s highly valued, and I can exchange anything you want for it," You Can said.
"Sure..." Yu Hong agreed. Despite differing values, You Can initially helped him without malice.
He couldn’t be entirely cold to soone who was helpful.
"Alright then, could you settle the cost of my communication equipnt?" You Can suddenly asked.
"Hmm?" Yu Hong was surprised, thinking it was a gift, but quickly realized.
"Alright, pick sothing from what I have here."
The computers capable of long-distance communication in the Source Disaster were undoubtedly precious. So he opened up his offer.
"I have all your stuff;
nothing catches my eye," You Can candidly replied.
"What do we do? Can we defer it to next ti?" Yu Hong felt helpless.
"No way, who knows if we’ll et again. Communication doesn’t guarantee a eting. We must settle it now," You Can said seriously.
He thought it over.
"The only things that interest are the Sword Spirit and the natural Goddess. Trade them for the completion of the trade," You Can offered.
Yu Hong was taken aback.
The Sword Spirit was clearly Chi Xiao, and the natural Goddess was the newly boarded Goddess Fisina.
He didn’t mind parting with Fisina, but Chi Xiao belonged to Ku Chan, useless as it was, it was still Ku Chan’s companion! Untradeable.
Besides, he had just said, he wouldn’t trade people.
"They’re a Sword Spirit and a natural Goddess, not our kind. Is that an issue for you?" You Can reminded him.
Clearly, he rembered Yu Hong’s words, showing a considerate deanor.
Yu Hong remained silent for a while...
"Sorry." Although no saint, he couldn’t engage in such cruelty.
"..." Silence enveloped Red Cloud.
Evidently, Yu Hong’s refusals had begun to frustrate You Can.
This silent tension made Goddess Fisina and Chi Xiao shiver.
Both watched Yu Hong closely, fearful he might agree to trade them away.
After a long while, a voice finally erged from Red Cloud.
"In all my thousand years, Captain Yu, you’re the hardest person I’ve had to deal with," You Can’s previously warm tone turned cold.
"Since there’s no trade possible, return my items. We can trade next ti we et."
Yu Hong glanced at the laptop on the table, hesitating.
"Sorry, I can’t do that. I need it too," Yu Hong replied.
"... Are you going to steal it?" You Can’s tone beca hostile.
"Of course not. I can owe it to you, and we can set a place and ti to et next ti and complete the trade," Yu Hong seriously proposed.
"Quit the nonsense!" You Can was furious. "Once more, give it back or not?"
"Here’s the deal. I have a power you might need," Yu Hong suddenly rembered sothing.
"I can temporarily enhance any living being’s physical attributes manifold. If you need it, use this for trade," Yu Hong offered.
"The Light Disaster radiation from your ship? I want people for Human Pills for cultivation! You give enhanced people from Source Disaster? Are you trying to kill !?!" You Can was finally enraged.
"I truly had no idea it would be problematic!" Yu Hong frowned, quickly explaining.
"Return the item, now!" You Can demanded furiously.
Yu Hong, helpless, folded the laptop, enveloped it in Inner Strength, opened the door, and tossed it out.
The laptop spun toward the Red Cloud’s main ship, disappearing mid-air, as if by Instantaneous Movent, appearing at an inlet on Red Cloud’s side.
"Now, leave my sight imdiately!" You Can’s spiritual power pierced through Black Black Spirit, his voice full of anger.
"I..." Yu Hong wanted to say more.
Suddenly, a thirty-ter long ice spear materialized in front of Red Cloud.
The spear’s tip shimred with a rainbow radiance, its surface gleaming with golden runes like engravings.
"Begone!!"
Hiss!!
In an instant, the spear shot forth, appearing just in front of Black Black Spirit, striking its outer Array.
Boom!
A thunderous crash.
A terrifying force shook the entire safe house, causing violent tremors.
The Array on the safe house’s surface groaned, on the verge of collapse.
Yu Hong’s expression darkened;
the Tai Ling Skill spread out, forming a small red-purple vortex blocking the spear’s tip.
Buzz!
Two imnse forces fiercely clashed.
A second later.
Both forces exploded simultaneously.
The red-purple and platinum-hued auras erupted, scattering. The explosion’s imnse force hurled the safe house far away, heading into the unknown depths of the Wind Disaster.
"Pure brute force even surpasses mine slightly..." Yu Hong’s expression shifted;
he had just reached the Seventh Layer of Tai Ling Skill and encountered an opponent nearly equal to him.
What a coincidence.
In that initial exchange, he hadn’t used much power. Upon realizing sothing was wrong, he quickly applied full force, noticing the opponent matched him, enhancing their power similarly.
Thus, a simple venting attack beca a distant show of contesting might.
The result: the opponent had imnse brute force, but his Inner Strength was more substantial.
In an actual fight, other factors would determine the outco.
"Next ti, I’ll have a proper fight with him. Such quick temper isn’t good."
Now, as he continued to release Inner Strength, stabilizing Black Black Spirit, Yu Hong surveyed the surroundings.
The ship was amid a pale Wind Disaster torrent, the colors much lighter than before.
Ahead, colorful vortices of varying sizes appeared and disappeared.
Evidently on the verge of entering another world.
Yu Hong imdiately focused, shielding Black Black Spirit, instinctively rushing into a vortex, disappearing from sight.
*
*
*
Inside Red Cloud.
A five-ter-tall bald giant in heavy snow-white Ice Armor sat on a throne of ice, blue eyes filled with deep rage.
"Black Black Spirit... Captain Yu, I’ll rember you!"
You Can growled lowly, raising his right hand.
His arm entangled in a strange, semi-transparent red-purple energy ribbon.
The energy clung like a band, eroding his body, resistant to his ice powers.
"Immortal Realm...! Old man, I underestimated you! Fine... Next ti, I’ll bring my grandfather, and show you that even the Immortal can’t do whatever they please!!"
Crack.
With a crisp sound, You Can’s arm showed fine cracks.
The part wrapped by Tai Ling Skill, was turning more red and purple.
Overwheld by agony, he couldn’t help but wail.
"Quick! Return to the clan!!"
The surrounding crew exchanged glances, rapidly steering the ship away from the Wind Disaster.
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