In an instant, it was as if the sky collapsed and the earth split apart.

The surprise attack was swift, the force of the offensive fierce, approaching thunderbolt-like speed.

Using countless derelict ships and illusions as bait, attention was drawn away, while sixteen pirate ships had stealthily submerged, advancing upstream, heading straight for a face-to-face assault on Xinquan!

The EMP bomb acquired from the Empire crippled Xinquan's entire power network in the blink of an eye, the rampant electromagnetic pulse causing numerous heavily armored exoskeletons to instantly become paralyzed.

Immediately following that, the entire army launched their attack.

At this moment, in Pacquiao's hand, the spear had transformed into a Blood Banner, and when the tail of flames whipped and fluttered, crimson Spiritual Fire enveloped every Water Ghost pirate.

Just like Poison Flames, it tormented the spiritual essence, spurring potential, bestowing madness!

As for the aftermath...

You've become a Water Ghost pirate, living only for today without a care for tomorrow, who would worry about lifespan issues?

In the throes of excitement, indiscriminately burning and killing, plundering every bit of wealth is the true pursuit!

Even without Pacquiao's enhancement, countless individuals had already hit the powders for excitement, shrieking and roaring endlessly! Under the stimulation of forbidden drugs, they're oblivious to fatigue and pain, wantonly unleashing… already immersed in the endless, ever-escalating pleasures of Weiyang!

As for the other fleet leaders and chiefs, they had no objections to this.

Creatures like Water Ghosts in the Thousand Islands are like wild grass in the fields; burn them all you want, handing them a gun and a powder sack makes them easy to convert. So why feel sorry?

Moreover, Pacquiao had already made a promise — after capturing Xinquan, he would take nothing, all the reserves in the treasury would be distributed among participating fleets.

The first to climb would enjoy half exclusively!

The one who could personally capture Ji Jue's head wouldn't just receive a massive reward but would also receive Pacquiao's personal guidance and transmission of the Inheritance Burnt Offering's Secret Ritual!

With heavy rewards, a stray dog could turn into a rabid one.

At this moment, the pirate Water Ghosts, assembling in groups, were fast as unleashed mad dogs!

Under heavy machine gun suppression from the ships behind them, speedboats charged through from Longjiang to the shallows, densely packed figures stretching endlessly.

Shoulder-launched rocket launchers aimed at tall watchtowers and fired brazenly, a streak of fire shot through the sky, and amidst the explosion, barbed wires disintegrated, high walls crumbled.

In an instant, smoke rose everywhere!

Dancing fierce flames rose upon the ground, thick smoke spread within the drizzle, the dim world once again became a hellish scene.

The doctrine of the Great Group is to wage slaughter.

Once the decision to act is made, one must lurk and wait until the opportune moment appears... strike like lightning!

This deviates entirely from the path pirates and Water Ghosts were familiar with; this era favors bullying the weak and fearing the strong. Even when dealing with tough nuts like this, pirates try every trick to first weaken the enemy, using poison, betrayal, or long-term threats and wandering — that is the optimal strategy.

However, regrettably, none of this worked on Ji Jue, that damned thing.

The seemingly vulnerable Xinquan secretly was impervious, with omnipresent surveillance giving no room for treachery. And fighting guile against these Embers rising in the plains would be self-destructive in the attrition… Ji Jue fears wasting time the least!

Through long-term management, Xinquan was like an extension of a factory, to defeat the opponent one must immediately strike at the core, withering!

Disregarding sacrifices, ignoring costs, striking straight at the heart of the Dragon!

With the fastest speed, the most brutal method, the most direct approach, preventing any chance for variables to arise!

Now, the force of a myriad pounds came roaring with the storm!

"Is that Ji Jue?"

At the highest point of the deck, within the swirling Blood Flames, Pacquiao raised his eyes and glanced towards the highest place in Xinquan, at the top of the Coastal Industry building, the figure standing there with an umbrella overlooking everything.

Completely different from the warm appearance in the photo, no, it should be said, like two different people!

Beneath the black umbrella, the face illuminated by the residual light showed no signs of wavering or panic, remaining calm as ever.

Serenely, looking this way.

In an instant of mutual gaze, staring at that unfamiliar face, similarly expressionless.

However, the eyes were completely different...

One violent and menacing, the other indifferent and contemptuous.

In the blink of an eye, amid the crisscrossing gazes, Pacquiao finally saw the faint curve at Ji Jue's mouth… so mocking!

"Quite interesting."

Ji Jue murmured softly, overlooking the turbulent Xinquan below, sighed lightly: "Pity, not much."

At that moment, his finger finally rose slowly, gently waved, bestowing grace and gospel, amidst endless Silver Radiance flashing, Spiritual Light shining upon all!

——[Mechanical Descent]!

In an instant, the complex circuits of Fei Gong emerged from that palm, rebirthing all phenomena!

Everything hidden in darkness trembled suddenly, countless Spiritual Circuits buried beneath Xinquan abruptly lit up, expanding, covering the entire town.

Blazing beams re-illuminated from the spotlights, illuminating all

Countless sounds of steel friction echoed across the world, sharp and piercing sounds layered, seemingly converging into tides. And then... amidst the cries of joyous shout, suddenly screams emerged.

Boom!

On the outskirts of Xinquan, in the ruins of the collapsed watchtower, suddenly amidst the fierce flames, a mechanical hand stretched out, grabbing a nearby neck.

With a casual flex of seven fingers, it crushed completely!

Blood splattered, spilling and sizzling on the glowing metal face!

Twisted steel frames grinding against each other, collapsing, when fierce flames parted from the center, a metallic giant over three meters tall slowly walked out, dragging a heavy anchor-like impact gun, sweeping!

The heavy gun body, like a giant pillar, easily smashed another pirate in half at the waist. Then, pressing on under the hasty concentrated fire of countless firearms, it moved forward.

Under the machine gun fire, the muzzle of the gun in hand lifted, and the trigger was pulled!

A searing metal bolt shot through the air, piercing through countless oncoming pirates. Under the aid of Isis's targeting, it spanned hundreds of meters through thin rain and fierce flames, penetrating the distant pirate ship.

A machine gun exploded with a roar, the operating pirate soared into the air, dragged by the metal bolt and pinned to the ship's hull, exploding on the spot!

This was just the first one.

Then the second, third, fourth...

In the flames and intense light, the clanging of footsteps overlapped into one, like the beating of drums.

One by one, dark and massive figures trampled the flames and walked out in great numbers!

Following standard Federation tactics, they held up huge armored shields in one hand, wielding various weapons in the other, covering and coordinating with each other to form a new defensive line.

As if an iron wall had suddenly arisen.

Countless Water Ghosts rushing head-on turned into a muddy pulp in an instant!

Over two hundred heavy exoskeletons were reactivated, and fully equipped war machines no longer concealed their purpose, wantonly ravaging their close opponents and enemies.

Like chopping melons and vegetables...

At this moment, even the most fanatical and excited Water Ghosts couldn't help but feel creepy... Damn, could it be they've taken the wrong path and intruded into Hai Province's garrison base?

Heavens have mercy, what the hell is this equipment on the other side, and what's ours?!

At most, we just have some guns and are wearing bulletproof vests!

Don't tell me that these exoskeletons are nothing to fear.

If something looks like power armor, feels like power armor, and tears through fodder like power armor, then what's the difference to the Water Ghosts?!

Relying on these trashy organizational abilities and equipment, they can't even scratch the upper limit of heavy exoskeletons, let alone talk about weaknesses or flaws.

Like a meat grinder roaring to life.

Roaring sounds, screams, wails, and shattering noises filled the air.

Anchor impact rounds, heat blade shock axes, electromagnetic impact hammers, and even vehicle-mounted heavy machine guns... Ji Jue almost copied all the famous armored weapons from the Federation Empire, creating countless youthful versions. Even if they can't match the originals, they're cheap!

Cheap enough that there's plenty for everyone!

Now, in front of those steadily advancing tactical teams, the endless Water Ghosts suddenly broke apart, and those who ran slower or were more stubborn faced only one outcome: a nuclear death!

Death! Death! Death! Death! Death!

The massacre like chopping melons and vegetables had only just begun.

"Where are the cannons?! The cannons!!!"

The leading pirate ship was already at its breaking point, and the deputy on the deck shouted angrily, urging, "Tell the people at the front not to retreat, hold the line for me.

And you all better start firing, fire!"

"We have, we have fired!"

The second officer in charge of artillery was almost in tears: "It's broken, all of it is fucking broken, even the machine guns..."

Before he finished speaking, a thundering roar suddenly erupted from the deck.

The sound of cannon fire boomed.

The deputy was instantly enraged, slapping hard across the face, "Isn't it capable of firing? What's broken? You tell me what—"

Before he could finish speaking, he heard screams from the ship's stern, followed by violent turbulence.

When he looked over, he found that the second-hand naval cannon, which had cost an unknown amount smuggled from the Federation Navy, had exploded into smithereens.

Countless fragments scattered like reaping wheat, leaving innumerable stains of blood and broken limbs on the deck.

It actually... exploded?!

At this moment, fine rain continued to fall from the sky, making everyone shiver with cold. Among the countless flames and remaining light, those tiny raindrops shone like gems.

Few could notice the insignificant silver radiance in those lights.

Mercury!

Isis's Ten Thousand Hands had already silently extended to them.

After the initial round of shelling, the shipborne firepower on dozens of pirate ships began to exhibit problems at a visibly rapid pace. Countless strands of steam coalesced into flowing liquid mercury, infiltrating everywhere, solidifying or obstructing at critical points.

At first, it was just sluggish steering and delayed targeting, but then it began losing responsiveness, and now the sounds of chamber explosions were endless, like continuous firecrackers.

EMP?

Ji Jue was almost amused when he saw it—you think you're the only ones with it?

This was because Young Master Lou had been recently focused on outpacing everyone. No matter how much Ji Jue enticed him, he refused to go out. Otherwise, he'd definitely let these country bumpkin beggars experience what it means to have an all-around Magic Ban, what it means to have an Absolute Spirit Extinguishing Domain!

The change was sudden.

The situation in Xinquan grew precarious in an instant, but then again, it was they who were being beaten and scrambling.

In a moment of amazement, countless voices resounded over the comms.

"What's going on! Pa... General!"

A slightly trembling voice rang out, it was the leader of the foremost ship. Now, because they were too far forward, they bore the brunt of 80% of the firepower, and the whole ship was about to blow up. With a heavy heart, nearly going mad.

But no matter how heart-wrenching and panicked, at the moment of questioning, the tone and pitch inevitably lowered, asking tearfully: "You never said there would be such a situation!"

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