Slaying the Fish King

No one had expected that, under the Fish King's command, the deep-sea piranhas would possess such devastating power.

With just a single charge, they could snap a ten-meter-long escort ship in half --- truly beyond imagination.

This was no longer a mere fish swarm; it was more like a horde of fish demons.

Even an ordinary deep-sea piranha posed a significant threat --- let alone these creatures that had seemingly gained sentience.

Not only were they larger and fiercer, but their vitality was also terrifyingly strong.

Despite the fleet being armed with various guns and cannons, they still found themselves flustered in the face of thousands of these monstrous piranhas.

Li Wenxing’s black battle robe, embroidered with python patterns, fluttered in the sea breeze, revealing a jewel-encrusted sword at his waist.

He stared at the escort ship that had been split in two --- the firelight on its deck flickered amidst the crashing waves before being swallowed by the ink-black sea.

"Pass my order!" Li Wenxing drew his sword and pointed it at the fish swarm, the blade reflecting the glow of bronze lanterns. "Portside cannons, aim for the densest cluster of fish! Starboard Martial Division, form a shield formation --- block all deck breaches!"

A deafening barrage of cannon fire erupted, iron shells tearing white trails across the sea, fish corpses splashing down like hail.

Yet the piranhas, as if possessed of intelligence, surged through the gaps between cannon blasts. At the stern, a breach had widened to several meters, and dozens of silvery-grey fish shadows were clambering up the slanted deck. The scraping of their fangs against the wood made everyone’s skin crawl.

“Your Highness! The shield formation at the southeast corner won’t hold much longer!” a military officer roared. His left arm had already been gnawed to the bone, but he still held up his shield with grim determination.

Li Wenxing leapt over the broken mast, his sword energy flashing like a silver serpent, slicing three attacking piranhas in half in an instant.

Dark green fish blood splashed onto his face, reeking with a pungent stench.

"Use fire oil!" he shouted, kicking aside a twitching fish corpse on the deck. "Pour it down the ship’s sides!"

Soldiers rushed to fetch clay jars. Amber fire oil flowed along the hull, shimmering with a ghostly blue glow in the sea wind. Li Wenxing flicked a spark from his fingers --- flames raced along the oil trails, igniting a wall of fire half a meter high around the ship.

Shrill cries echoed as the piranhas scorched in the flames, their charred bodies thrashing violently. Yet some still slipped through the blaze, their burning bodies crashing into the deck.

Just then, the Fish King burst from the waves --- its three-zhang-long (10-meter) body bringing with it a towering wave as it slammed into the ship's bow.

The ornately carved dragon-head prow shattered instantly. Splinters mixed with shards of bone scattered through the air. Three soldiers, too slow to evade, were struck by the massive tail and hurled like broken kites into the fish swarm below.

“It fears fire!” Li Wenxing suddenly noticed --- as the Fish King passed through the flames, its eerie blue pupils contracted visibly.

Li Wenxing cut down the fish clinging to the ship’s anchor and shouted, “Throw all lanterns and torches to the bow!”

Dozens of bronze lanterns were hurled forward. The flames spun in the wind like golden wheels, illuminating the Fish King's figure --- and revealing its one vulnerable spot: a patch of bare, white flesh beneath its belly where no scales grew.

Seeing his chance, Li Wenxing grabbed a pack of explosives from the deck. The fuse hissed as it ignited in his palm. “Commander Zhang! Bring ten deathsworn soldiers with me!”

Ten figures dashed across the rocking deck, their martial auras forming protective shields above them, blocking the falling rain of fish.

Li Wenxing was the first to leap onto the gunwale, stepping off a leaping piranha and using it as a springboard --- skimming across the waves, leaving behind a blur of shadows.

Sensing danger, the Fish King opened its massive jaws --- two rows of fangs glinting with toxic blue light, its putrid breath nearly suffocating.

“Now!” Li Wenxing hurled the explosive pack at the Fish King’s exposed belly, slicing down at the fish swarming his legs as the fuse burned out.

Using the force of the blast, he flipped back onto the ship. A deafening explosion followed --- the Fish King's massive body convulsed in the firelight, its dark green blood pouring down like a storm.

But the colossal beast wasn’t dead. Roaring in fury, it slammed its tail into the sea, sending a towering wave crashing toward the ship. The “Dragon Vanguard of the Seas” nearly capsized under the impact.

Li Wenxing clung to the edge of the deck, heart sinking as he watched the gaping wound on the Fish King’s belly begin to regenerate rapidly --- the monster had a healing factor too!

“Shoot its eyes!”

He bellowed the order.

A barrage of cannon fire rained down, targeting the Fish King's face.

A torrent of green eye fluid burst forth. The beast let out a deafening roar, thrashing violently. The hull groaned under the strain, and the cracks in the deck widened even further.

“Bring the iron chains!” Li Wenxing’s voice was hoarse from shouting. “Wrap them around its dorsal fin!”

Five soldiers hauled chains as thick as bowls, leaping onto the Fish King's back at great personal risk. As the chain looped through the dorsal fin's bone spikes, Li Wenxing plunged his sword into the wound. Channeling inner energy through the blade, he shredded the creature's internal organs.

The Fish King's body stiffened. Its massive jaws opened and closed weakly --- and finally, it rolled over in the waves, belly-up.

Leaderless, the piranha swarm fell into chaos --- some slammed into the hull blindly, others turned tail and fled. Li Wenxing stared at the floating corpses, remembering an ancient text that said: “Piranhas fear the blood of their own kind.”

He immediately gave the order: “Collect the Fish King’s blood and pour it into the sea!”

The thick, green blood flowed from the deck into the ocean. As soon as it spread, the remaining piranhas scattered as if fleeing a plague. Even those stuck in the deck cracks struggled to retreat.

By the time the smoke cleared, dawn was breaking in the east.

Li Wenxing leaned on the shattered railing, gasping for breath. His battle robe, soaked in blood, clung to him --- but he still stood tall.

The surviving soldiers collapsed on the deck. Some were wrapping their wounds with scraps of cloth, others simply stared blankly at the sea. In the morning light, the tattered sails of the “Dragon Vanguard of the Seas” flapped like a bloodstained banner.

“Report casualties,” Li Wenxing said wearily.

“Your Highness… 46 dead, 27 seriously wounded,” the adjutant stammered, clutching the record book with trembling hands. “Three escort ships sunk. The main ship is badly damaged --- we’ll need at least three days for repairs.”

Li Wenxing gazed at the now calm waters, the ocean once again a brilliant blue --- as if last night’s bloody battle had never happened.

“Pass down the order. Begin repairs immediately --- not a moment of delay. I will be the first to set foot on Penglai Island!” he shouted.

At this point, no matter what obstacles lay ahead, he would reach Penglai Island and retrieve the elixir.

Even if it cost him the entire fleet --- he would not hesitate. - Ton

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