Chapter Thirty: The Sea-Gazing Sage, Encounter with the Black Marauders Once More!

On the bronze Dao Tree, such words appeared, blazing with radiant light like fire, only to subside after a brief moment.

“So this is how it is. If the feat of hunting a whale represents individual strength, then fulfilling a position on a fishing vessel also enables a fisherman to advance on their path,” Bai Xuan realized inwardly.

If he continued diligently as a fisherman, accumulating Dao Insight over time, he could eventually, after many years, gather several hundred or even a thousand points, enough to force the Profound Blossom to bloom.

But if he could continue progressing along the fisherman’s path, the Profound Blossom’s time of blooming would arrive sooner, and the Dao Insight required would be lessened!

“To bring the blooming forward by ten years, and only reduce the required Dao Insight by a third—it must have originally needed a full thirty years of accumulation for the Profound Blossom to open,” Bai Xuan marveled to himself.

Thirty years of unwavering devotion to a single pursuit—only then could the Profound Blossom bloom?

“No wonder it is called the Tree of Longevity.”

Several days passed.

The ship sailed into the deep sea and began fishing. In the blink of an eye, a month slipped by.

With his ability to gaze into the sea, Bai Xuan directed the crew in their fishing, greatly improving efficiency—by about thirty percent each day.

Do not underestimate this thirty percent. It was already a remarkable increase!

This alone further raised Bai Xuan’s standing and credibility among the sailors; all were filled with admiration.

At the very least, no one doubted Bai Xuan’s personal ability anymore.

During this process, Bai Xuan’s own Dao Insight as a fisherman continued to accumulate. Directing the fishermen brought in Dao Insight faster than fishing alone.

...

“Deep-sea Serpentbone Fish truly are difficult to catch,” Bai Xuan murmured, standing at the ship’s rail and gazing down at the ocean.

In over a month, he hadn’t caught a single Serpentbone Fish—luck was not on his side.

Though he could see through the vast currents, there were reasons for his empty nets. These great fish hid in the deepest waters, beyond the reach of his current Seagaze ability.

“Longevity Tree!” Bai Xuan’s heart stirred.

In an instant, the three points of Dao Insight he had accumulated merged into Seagaze. Branches and leaves unfurled, emitting a faint blue glow.

Seagaze (Proficiency: 34%).

Bai Xuan closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them again, in the endless ocean below, deep in the darkness, points of light appeared, revealing the presence of schools of fish.

“The Serpentbone Fish require substantial food to gather… Where are the large shoals?”

Just then—

“Pirates!” the lookout atop the mast shouted.

A horn blared across the ship, the standard signal for pirates. The entire crew sprang to alert; dozens of sailors skilled in martial arts rushed to the deck, bracing for battle.

In the distance, two pirate ships bearing skull flags cut through the waves.

“Pirates...” Bai Xuan, standing on deck, narrowed his eyes.

He remembered pirates well—once, Luo Yun had struck so fiercely that he had shattered harpoon cannons and brought the entire Kaiyang under his control in an instant.

“Ready the ship’s crossbows! Draw your blades! Prepare for battle!”

This time, Bai Xuan felt no fear. Even if battle erupted, he had the strength to protect himself now!

At Bai Xuan’s command, the sailors formed ranks; the weak and elderly went below decks, while the able-bodied gripped their weapons and stood guard by the crossbows.

Members of the whaling team stood ready, their blood and energy about to erupt, bodies honed by hard training, braced for combat.

Bai Xuan now commanded a certain authority aboard, and with his precise orders, a chilling atmosphere of battle settled over the ship.

Soon, the ships drew close, tension thick in the air. The sailors clutched their swords, watching as the pirates across the water grinned and licked their lips.

On the Thousand Currents, the crew stood as if facing mortal peril.

Bai Xuan remained silent, calm, hands at his sides.

He waited for the captain’s command. Even when pirates met at sea, immediate violence was rare; at sea, combat left no room for mercy—once unleashed, it would be a fight to the death.

At that moment, the pirate leader stepped to the prow—a burly man, a scar running from his left eye down his face, looking every bit as fierce as First Mate Bai Yuanzhou.

“Could that be the infamous pirate Qian Yuan? They say he roams the East Sea, a formidable force—a disciple of a half-step grandmaster, a figure of renown among the pirates!” someone recognized the leader, their heart quaking.

Suddenly, the pirate chief grinned and leapt over ten meters in a bound, landing with a thud on the whaling ship.

Nearby sailors gasped and moved to intercept him, but a terrifying surge of energy forced them back, leaving all in shock.

A third-level breakthrough in blood and energy!

Bai Xuan’s eyes narrowed. If he had to act, he would not hesitate to reveal his strength and strike instantly to kill.

But—

“Everyone stand down,” came Captain Bai Xuanji’s steady voice from the prow.

“Old Qian, you’re frightening my crew.”

At these words, the pirate leader, having forced back the armed sailors, looked around, then burst into hearty laughter, his energy withdrawing.

“Bai Xuanji, it’s been too long. You have a new ship—I see you’ve risen even higher!”

The pirate strode over to Bai Xuanji, who greeted him with a smile and a hearty handshake.

They were, it seemed, friends.

“Your ship’s been refitted as well… Everyone, no need to be nervous. These are friends, not enemies.”

At last, the crew relaxed.

“The captain’s connections run this deep?”

“He’s even friends with pirates?”

The sailors whispered among themselves.

“Surely this isn’t a coincidence.”

Most of the sailors felt relieved, but Bai Xuan’s expression shifted subtly.

He sensed that this meeting between the pirates and Bai Xuanji was no accident.

Soon enough—

Events proved his suspicions.

“Quiet, everyone!” After conferring with the pirate leader, Bai Xuanji stood at the prow, facing the sailors with a solemn air.

“This voyage began as a simple fishing trip, but I know many of you joined me because you’re short on money—you want to earn a tidy sum before year’s end. Yet, just catching ordinary fish won’t make anyone rich.”

“Now, however, there’s an opportunity.”

“Old Qian here has found a rare school of fish, almost a hundred meters below the surface, in the deep sea. We need a capable crew to bring them up. This catch is worth a fortune—if successful, each of you will receive fifty taels of silver!”

“What do you say?”

The deck instantly erupted in excitement.

Fifty taels of silver was no small sum—a single trip could bring in a year and a half’s wages!

Ordinary sailors went to sea for one reason: money.

Who would pass up such a windfall?

“We’re in!”

“With a chance like this, how could we not go?”

Most of the sailors quickly agreed.

But some voiced their doubts.

“These pirates aren’t planning to enslave us, are they?”

“Exactly, Captain—we’re afraid we’ll go but never return.”

Bai Xuanji’s expression grew stern. “There’s no need to worry. Since I’m taking you out, I’ll bring you all back. Anyone who’s been to the Sea Market knows that pirates have a code of honor.”

“That’s right,” Old Qian chimed in.

“We believe in fair trade, cheating no one—otherwise, how could pirates dominate the East Sea for so many years? The Sea Market has existed for generations—who’s ever seen us rob anyone there? It’s business—money for goods, plain and simple. You can set your minds at ease.”

“True enough.”

“We agree!”

“And if you didn’t, what then? With so much at stake, we’d be fools not to seize the chance.”

In short order, the sailors reached a consensus.

Fortune favors the bold. Pirates may be dangerous, but their reputation for trustworthiness was well known. The risk was reasonable, and the reward tempting enough to take the chance.

Bai Xuan kept his own counsel, but remained alert.

The existence of the Sea Market was a golden signboard, announcing to all seafarers that pirates kept their word and could be dealt with.

Otherwise, if pirates became the enemies of all, they would have long since been wiped out by the allied islands.

But would pirates really conduct business honestly with their side?

Caution was always warranted!