Chapter 1344: Beat Him to Death

"Don't attack, we're on the same side."

Before the dozen warships could open fire, Ye Chen shouted.

"They sank our warships, and now they're saying we're on the same side." From the opposing fleet, a dozen warships erupted in curses. Their re-energized cannon platforms hummed, ready to unleash a barrage at any moment.

"This bunch doesn't seem to be very bright. It looks like explaining won't work," Xiao Ling Wa shrugged.

"I can tell," Ye Chen sighed. He decided to forgo further talk and steered the ship straight ahead at full speed.

"Retreat, retreat quickly!" At the rear, Gu San Tong and Wu Ya Dao Ren, who had been pulled from the water along with their crew, ordered the dozen warships to turn tail and flee with impressive speed.

"What the hell is this?" Wu Ya Dao Ren and Gu San Tong grumbled while spitting out seawater. They had been pirating for years and had never encountered such shameless tactics—a Saint-level warship pretending to be Emperor-level, clearly a case of playing the wolf in sheep's clothing.

"Hmm?" As they cursed away, they suddenly noticed massive waves surging in the star sea ahead. Squinting, they spotted thirty ancient warships bearing down on them, all Quasi-Saint level.

"Tai Qing Gong." Spotting the fierce war banners on those thirty ships, Gu San Tong shuddered, instantly recognizing the force behind them.

"These guys just won't quit," Wu Ya Dao Ren cursed. "How did we end up with so much trouble on this trip?"

"Yang Xuan, Gu Zhen, you've made me chase you all this way!" As they spoke, an eerie, mocking laugh echoed from the Tai Qing Gong warships. "Did you really think you'd be safe just by fleeing here?"

"Yin Zhong, you son of a bitch—are you part dog?" Gu San Tong and Wu Ya Dao Ren both exploded in rage, immediately turning their ships and executing a collective sharp turn with the dozen vessels.

"Chase them down!" Yin Zhong commanded, and the thirty Quasi-Saint level warships pursued without hesitation.

"Huh?" As the chase unfolded, Ye Chen and his group arrived on their ship, staring in bewilderment.

"Do you recognize the war banners of that force?" Ye Chen glanced at Xiao Ling Wa.

"Tai Qing Gong," Xiao Ling Wa pondered for a couple of seconds before confirming. "They're one of the major powers on Xuan Huang Continent, more precisely, the biggest backer of Bai Yue Shen Jiao."

"Not Bai Yue Shen Jiao again," Ye Chen scratched his ear, feeling a surge of irritation at the mention of those four words.

"Are there any reincarnated people from Da Chu on the Tai Qing Gong warships?" Xiao Ling Wa eyed Ye Chen.

"None."

"Alright then!" Xiao Ling Wa cracked his neck and piled on source stones—over a million of them.

By now, Ye Chen had already steered the ship in pursuit. Even without the Bai Yue Shen Jiao connection, he would have joined the fight, all because the pursued group included reincarnated people from Da Chu.

In an instant, the star sea grew lively again. Up front, Gu San Tong and his crew were fleeing; behind them, the Tai Qing Gong warships advanced in a massive formation; and bringing up the rear, Ye Chen and Xiao Ling Wa were chasing at full throttle.

Soon, booming explosions filled the air. The Tai Qing Gong warships hunting Gu San Tong had no idea what hit them—one of their massive vessels was suddenly sunk by a single cannon shot from Xiao Ling Wa.

At the sound, Yin Zhong whirled around, fixing his gaze on the approaching Lei Ting War Ship. "How is that possible? An Emperor-level warship actually sank a Quasi-Saint level one with one shot?"

In a brief moment, another Tai Qing Gong ship was obliterated, sending many overboard.

Yin Zhong roared in fury, his voice echoing across the star sea: "I am Yin Zhong of Tai Qing Gong. Do you have a death wish?"

But Ye Chen and Xiao Ling Wa ignored his outburst entirely. Mentioning Tai Qing Gong only fueled their aggression, and their coordination was flawless—Ye Chen piloted the ship forward while Xiao Ling Wa manned the array cannons, firing wildly.

The Tai Qing Gong fleet was thrown into chaos by this onslaught. Ship after ship was sunk, and crew members plunged into the star sea one after another.

"Dammit!"

Yin Zhong's furious shout reverberated through the star sea as he suddenly raised his sword and pointed it rearward. "Fire on them!"

Thus, the Tai Qing Gong warships that had been chasing Gu San Tong and Wu Ya Dao Ren halted on Yin Zhong's order, swinging their cannons around to target Ye Chen's Lei Ting War Ship.

However, their Quasi-Saint level ships had limited range and couldn't reach it. When Ye Chen finally entered their firing zone, he maneuvered like a elusive rat, dodging every shot. Even the occasional hit felt like a mere tickle to a Saint-level vessel.

The star sea turned into a spectacle, with both sides exchanging fire and massive waves crashing everywhere.

Up ahead, the fleeing Gu San Tong and his group came to a stop, glancing back at the intense battle with stunned expressions. "What's going on? Why are they fighting each other?"

"I've done a quick divination—the owner of that Saint-level warship must be an enemy of Tai Qing Gong." Gu San Tong spoke with a tone of profound insight. "What a coincidence they've run into each other; no wonder they're clashing."

"A Saint-level warship is truly formidable," Wu Ya Dao Ren marveled. "Tai Qing Gong's thirty Quasi-Saint level ships are getting utterly dominated by just one. How embarrassing."

"Probably another pirate crew."

"Should we go back and lend a hand?" a sleazy purple-robed elder suggested tentatively.

"Help my ass—let's go!" Gu San Tong was the first to bolt.

"Makes sense," Wu Ya Dao Ren followed suit, steering his ship away. "Who knows if those two will finish off Tai Qing Gong and then come after us? We can't mess with a Saint-level warship; better to make a run for it."

Seeing Gu San Tong and his group slip away, Ye Chen—still locked in battle with Tai Qing Gong—nearly choked on his frustration. We're helping you, and you're just running off like that? So shameless.

He immediately moved to pursue them. He couldn't let these reincarnated people from Da Chu get away—the Xuan Huang Star Sea was vast, and if they vanished, who knew when he'd find them again.

But as he turned, Tai Qing Gong redoubled their efforts, assuming he was retreating, and their warships swarmed forward with renewed ferocity, like a pack of bloodthirsty beasts.

"Hey!"

Ye Chen and Xiao Ling Wa were fired up now, swinging back to engage. "We were going to let you off, but you just had to push your luck. Fine, then—don't bother going back today."

The star sea erupted with turmoil from their counterattack, waves towering higher than ever.

The two sides fought fiercely, the scene grand and chaotic.

It was worth noting that despite their numbers, the Tai Qing Gong warships were completely outmatched—thirty vessels, and over half were sunk, with another three or five crippled and combat ineffective.

"Retreat!"

The command thundered across the star sea from the ferocious-faced Yin Zhong, who was the first to steer his ship out of the fray. Only now did he realize the truth—opponents weren't Emperor-level at all; it was a Saint-level warship.

A Saint-level vessel was incredibly powerful; continuing this fight would mean total annihilation.

Regret washed over him—he shouldn't have engaged them in the first place, leading to such heavy losses. This was the price of overestimating themselves, and he'd likely face punishment upon return.

"Retreat!"

With their leader pulling back, the remaining Tai Qing Gong warships didn't dare linger, turning and fleeing en masse, a mix of anger and confusion on their faces. They had no idea why Ye Chen had attacked them.

"Come back and fight!"

Ye Chen and Xiao Ling Wa shouted insults, but they didn't give chase. Instead, they turned their ship toward the direction Gu San Tong and Wu Ya Dao Ren had escaped. If they were too slow, those targets might disappear for good.