Chapter 396: Ghost Tide

Sailing northeast from Jiliu Island allows one to exit the Screaming Sea; the land visible to the south at this time is the northwestern part of the Wushan Mountains.

Using this land as a reference and heading east will lead to the northern part of the Wubei Territory.

In terms of the overall voyage, even without Kaierluosi to correct the course, the probability of going off-course is low with the aid of the Telescope.

Luoning chose to follow this time partly because it was a maiden voyage of commemorative value, and partly as a precaution.

After giving a few suggestions on the heading, he ducked into the passenger ship's cabin to study the design of the Steam Engine, as well as a "manufacturing plan for a Steam Engine based on the Level 4 Flame Beam Magic."

Recently, as his mastery of the Heart of the Earth has become proficient, he has been able to shape slightly larger iron components.

Furthermore, as his operation becomes increasingly skilled, the strength of the components is also gradually improving.

Presumably, in a little while, he will be able to begin experiments with a small Steam Engine.

Now that the Wubei Territory has a Coal Mine, resources are not lacking, but Magic has the characteristic of releasing more heat in a faster, shorter amount of time; combining the two methods may well be a good approach.

On the second day of the voyage, perhaps due to the favorable wind, they had already exited the Screaming Sea.

"My Lord!"

Lusen knocked on Luoning's cabin door, "There is a situation outside."

Hmm?

Luoning put away all the draft paper on the small table and walked out of the cabin, "What situation?"

Lusen reported: "I just used the Telescope to check the sea area ahead and discovered two ships approaching us from the northwest of our course. Looking at the map, there is neither a continent nor an island in that direction; there shouldn't be any ships there."

Luoning frowned slightly, "Let's go, take me to see."

The two arrived on the deck, and Luoning took out the Telescope, adjusting the distance of the eyepiece to see the appearance of the approaching ships more clearly.

They were two ships similar to the passenger ship they were on, flying white flags with a black skull painted on them.

"Weike."

"My Lord, at your command!" Captain Weike immediately ran over.

"White flag with a black skull, what flag is that?"

Luoning asked: "Blood Sail or Ghost Tide?"

He could only think of pirate groups active in the Screaming Sea that would fly such a flag.

Weike was startled upon hearing this.

"My Lord, that is the flag of the Ghost Tide Pirate Group!"

He looked at the ships approaching in front, but the distance between the two sides was still somewhat far, so he could not see the specific details of the flag.

Although he came from the White Whale Pirate Group, he still feared pirates.

Luoning's mouth curled up: "Interesting!"

He put away the Telescope, "Lusen, have the personnel on the ship stand by; I will go meet them."

"My Lord..."

Lusen had just wanted to say that he should let the Lord act with them, as that would be safer.

But he thought of the giant dragon in the sky and the fact that the Lord himself was a Great Archmage, so the words he hadn't spoken were stifled back.

Luoning used Wind Wings and then cast Rapid Magic on himself instantly; as his mind stirred, his whole body flew out like an arrow released from a bowstring.

Seeing this scene, Lusen and the crew all revealed expressions of envy and reverence.

If they could also fly, would they be as dashing as the Lord?

Luoning chose to take the initiative mainly because he did not want the pirates to get close to his ship.

After all, once the distance was close, a single moment of negligence allowing the opponent to blow a hole in his passenger ship or cargo ship, just like the Dennis No. 3 back then, would be too great a loss for Luoning.

"These pirates are also good people, knowing my ship is insufficient, they insist on sending me such a heavy gift on this vast ocean!"

At this moment, on the two ships of the Ghost Tide Pirate Group, the person in charge was looking out at the ship on the distant sea surface.

"Everyone prepare, once we are within one hundred meters, use the Magic Cannon to blast their ship directly!"

A bearded man roared loudly: "We don't need to board and rob; we just need to blast a hole in their ship and sink it!"

"Sink it!"

"Sink it!"

"Sink it!"

It seemed to be an exciting thing, and the Knights and sailors on the ship cheered wildly.

Several Knights had already pushed out the Magic Cannon.

The Magic Cannon on one ship could release Ice Cone, the same as the Magic Cannon of the White Whale Pirate Group that attacked Luoning that time;

The Magic Cannon on the other ship could release the Level 4 Wind-type magic Tear, which was used for the sails of enemy ships.

While they were shouting loudly, Luoning's figure slowly descended onto the deck.

Suddenly, everyone's throats seemed to be gripped by an invisible hand.

Luoning's face faintly carried a smile: "Do you mind if I watch how you sink the ship?"

"Gr... Gr... Gr..."

Dick, the leader of the Ghost Tide Pirate Group, pointed at Luoning, shocked and stuttering.

"Correct, I am a Great Archmage."

Luoning said: "I want to know, whose orders are you following to intercept my ship here?"

Dick finally straightened his tongue, "My Lord, this is all a misunderstanding; we happened to pass by here, we..."

Whoosh!

An instantly cast Wind Blade grazed Dick's face; he only felt his cheek grow hot and couldn't help but touch it, only to find a hand full of blood, and touching it again, his left ear had been cut off!

"I don't want to talk nonsense with you."

Luoning said coldly: "Who told you to intercept Jiliu Island's ships here? Mailun Fleming?"

He did not believe that the Ghost Tide Pirate Group would appear here by such a coincidence.

"I'll fight you to the death!"

Dick drew the longsword at his waist; knowing he could not escape, he threw caution to the wind, attempting to close the distance to Luoning.

In his view, as long as he got close, even if the opponent was a Great Archmage, there was a chance for a Golden Knight to kill him.

Swish!

Dick's speed was very fast, but Luoning's reaction was faster.

He swiftly dodged the sword slashed over by the opponent, then quickly raised his leg, driving his knee into the opponent's abdomen, while simultaneously swinging his right fist into the opponent's chin, directly shattering the opponent's jaw.

Before Dick could even figure out what had happened, he collapsed onto the deck, blood flowing out from his mouth.

For a Golden Knight to frantically launch a charge at a Silver Moon Knight, there was no difference between that and courting death.

"Flee!"

Seeing this situation, Naxi, the vice-leader on the other ship, dared not linger any longer and immediately shouted for the captain to turn around and retreat.

But just at this moment, it seemed as if a giant beast was growling in his ear, and its scorching breath made his whole body stiffen.

"Ah!!!"

"A Magic Beast!"

"A flying Magic Beast!"

The panicked screams conveyed their terror; the crew members didn't even dare to steer the ships, as they looked in horror at the colossal creature in the sky.

Naxi slowly turned his stiff neck to look behind him, only to see a colossal creature over ten meters long in the air, staring at him with eyes cold to the extreme.

"G... Good heavens, what is this monster!"

Naxi rolled his eyes back and fainted on the deck.

Kaierluosi spat out a breath of icy frost, letting the opponent die quietly in the freezing cold.

The public appearance of the dragon not only made the Ghost Tide pirates panic, but even the people on the two ships from Jiliu Island were shocked.

"Everyone, do not panic; this is the Lord's Magic Beast!"

Lusen shouted: "It will not harm us!"

The panicked shouts of the crowd gradually ceased, replaced by expressions of disbelief.

"My god, this thing actually belongs to the Lord!"

Someone shouted out.

Amidst their relief and shock, their eyes were filled with awe for Luoning.

Luoning bent down to pick up the longsword Dick had dropped to the side, and in turn, held it against the opponent's neck, "Tell me the answer, otherwise I will make you dragon dung."

"I, I..."

Dick was so nervous he was about to cry; had he known it would end like this, he would rather have died than leave the Screaming Sea.

"Spare my life, my lord, spare my life, my lord; all of this was what Qiaosi made me do!"

Qiaosi?

Luoning frowned; he was not familiar with this name. (End of this chapter)