Although most of the crew was reluctant, Tuoba Jie had already given the order, and they had no choice but to steer the ship closer. At the same time, many crew members whispered among themselves, voicing their complaints.
"Do we really have to go over there?"
"That's the Dominant Feather Pirate Crew we're talking about. They've just made a name for themselves. Even the Yaksha and Sandstorm Pirates combined couldn't stand against them. Although the Flying Sky and Overlord Pirates didn't deploy their full strength, their combined forces were equivalent to a top-tier pirate crew, and they still chose to retreat. They didn't get any advantage."
"We might be a strong pirate crew, but we probably can't match the Flying Sky or Overlord Pirates, right? Aren't we just asking for a beating?"
"I feel like the Captain is being reckless, like a brute."
...
Tuoba Jie naturally heard these comments, and his expression darkened as he roared.
"All of you, shut up!"
Immediately, the crew fell silent.
Tuoba Jie declared confidently, "Who do you think I am? You haven't seen my true strength yet. The power of my Devil Fruit ability will soon be revealed, and you'll understand why I'm so confident. As for leading you into a beating? Impossible! I, Tuoba Jie, will only lead you to feast and prosper on these seas. Leading you into a beating? That's out of the question!"
This sparked some anticipation among the crew. Indeed, they hadn't seen the Captain go all out yet, as their adventure had just begun, and they hadn't encountered any formidable enemies.
...
Meanwhile, after Ye Yu unleashed his Conqueror's Haki, 70% of the creatures on the island were knocked unconscious.
The remaining ones were powerful Exotic Beasts and Ferocious Beasts.
The crew was excited, ready to fight for the treasure.
Ye Yu drew his Black Blade Night, preparing to swiftly eliminate the strong creatures, as doing so would also grant him valuable experience.
Just then, a crew member alerted him.
"Captain, a sizable pirate ship is approaching from the distance. We've identified it by the flag—it's the Drought Pirates. Their Captain is also a prodigy, with a ninth-level Talent. He's eaten the Zoan-type Elephant Elephant Fruit Ancient Zoan, Mammoth Form, which is a rare and powerful Devil Fruit. Should we conserve our strength? To avoid being taken advantage of later."
Ye Yu, however, wasn't concerned. If it were another powerful pirate crew, he might have chosen to conserve some energy, but since it was this guy...
"No need to hold back. Everyone, fight with all your might. Even after the battle, we won't be too exhausted. If they dare to come, we'll fight them. Even if we're somewhat drained, it'll be enough."
"Understood, Captain."
...
With that, the crew began to fight with full force.
As the battle progressed, Ye Yu felt a sense of joy. Fighting these creatures was no less challenging than battling a formidable pirate crew, so the experience gained from the treasure would undoubtedly be substantial. At this moment, the treasure was indeed a precious find.
For a while, the island was filled with the roars of various creatures—tigers, monkeys, wolves, and bears.
At the same time, various attacks erupted across the island.
Whenever someone was injured, they would immediately stop fighting, allowing those in the rear to step in and take their place, while Qiao Ling'er provided healing.
Once their injuries were quickly healed, they would rejoin the battle, and new injured crew members would take their turn.
Thus, Qiao Ling'er played a crucial role within the pirate crew.
The Slow-Slow Fruit also proved to be an incredibly powerful ability, as it slowed down many of the creatures' movements.
The all-out battle of the pirate crews allowed Ye Yu to eliminate the combat strength of the Dominant Feather Pirate Crew, solidifying their position as one of the top pirate crews.
"Devil Wind Leg!"
"Burst Pheasant Beak!"
"Fire Fist!"
"Certain Kill, Gunpowder Star!"
...
On the ship, Sun Long watched the scene with itching hands, filled with envy and a strong desire to join the fight.
"Ah, I really want to go, but the responsibility of guarding the ship has been entrusted to me, so I can only watch. This island is huge. If I could participate, I could fight to my heart's content, move swiftly across the island alone, seek out powerful creatures, and then board the ship after the battle. That would be perfect."
...
However, part of the reason was that Ye Yu was afraid Sun Long might get lost. The island was indeed vast, with various thickets and small ravines, making it quite challenging to navigate.
At this moment, the Drought Pirates could already see the battle erupting on the island.
"Have they not noticed us? If they had, they wouldn't be fighting so recklessly; they would choose to face us first."
"Then they haven't discovered us yet."
"Captain, should we stop for a while? If we wait until their battle is almost over, our chances of winning will be greater."
...
Tuoba Jie frowned slightly.
"Captain, this isn't cowardice; it's strategy. We believe in your strength to defeat them, but if we can minimize casualties, that would naturally be better."
"That's right, Captain. Facing them after their battle, we can win more easily."
...
Tuoba Jie was displeased: "Easily? I don't like that feeling. I want a thrilling fight. Finally, we've encountered formidable opponents; we can't miss this opportunity."
"Captain, Ye Yu is very strong. I believe even after their battle, he can still give you a satisfying fight."
Tuoba Jie didn't agree: "As a Non-Ability User, he relies entirely on his own strength in combat, so his physical exhaustion will definitely be greater than that of a Devil Fruit user. I don't think he can give me a thrilling fight after the battle."
"Captain, in terms of top-tier combatants, the Dominant Feather Pirate Crew has more. So when the time comes, you, the powerful Captain, can take on multiple opponents alone. Ye Yu, Xia Ling with the Ice Fruit, Zhao Yan'er with the Flare-Flare Fruit, and Sun Long, the head of the executives, will all be left to you. You'll definitely have a thrilling fight."
Hearing this, Tuoba Jie nodded.
"Alright, let's not approach yet. We'll wait until their battle is almost over before moving in."
...
On the island, the sounds of battle continued to roar, and the fight grew increasingly intense.
An hour passed, and the roars gradually subsided, signaling the end of the battle.
Tuoba Jie, who had been waiting, was eager.
"Finally, it's time to make our move."
"Captain, wait a bit longer. Let them secure the treasure before we act."
Tuoba Jie had no choice but to endure a little longer.
Half an hour passed, and the battle was completely over. All the creatures on the island had been dealt with.
Many of the crew members were panting heavily, exhausted and injured. Yet, they were all still excited.
"Take the treasure!"
Ye Yu leaped up, retrieved the treasure, and opened it to find it filled with gold coins, bracelets, and necklaces.
These were different from the gold bracelets before the mutation. Those valuable items couldn't be exchanged and didn't count as treasure. Only these did, as the gold coins and bracelets emitted a faint golden glow, which was the key to distinguishing true treasure.
Ye Yu ordered, "Board the ship, find a city to feast and rest, then set sail for the designated Treasure Pool location."
"Whoo!!"
The crew boarded the ship, filled with joy.
In the distance, the Drought Pirates were stunned.
"They still seem to be full of energy."
"It doesn't look like they've expended much."
"So impressive? I thought there would be heavy casualties, with them supporting each other, weak and exhausted, but it's completely different from what I imagined."
"In that case, should we still go over?"
"Captain, I used the telescope to look. That Ye Yu doesn't seem to have expended much. Should we continue to engage them?"
...
Tuoba Jie was furious: "Whoever is afraid, I'll kill them! Being so cowardly, what can you achieve in this vast sea? Even if their consumption isn't as great as we imagined, so what? Who do you think I am? I'll say it one last time! Bring the ship over!!"