Samsara Paradise: Dream Weaver of Connections.

It must be said that once money and a big stick were used to pave the way, these pirates were very efficient.

In such places, the simplest rules are the most effective rules.

If you have power and wealth, the pirates will treat you like royalty.

If you lack the ability and flaunt your wealth, they will pounce on you like sharks smelling blood, devouring you until nothing is left.

Now that they had demonstrated their strength and offered benefits, the pirates naturally knew how to treat the guests on the ship.

Not long after, several pirates strode over from a distance.

The leader was an old man with only one arm. His hair was sparse and gray, and his face was covered with deep wrinkles, eroded by the sea breeze and sun like the bark of an old tree.

He wore a dark gray coarse cloth robe and had a rusty short knife at his waist, looking no different from the ordinary pirates on the dock.

But Lin Yi noticed the tattoo on his face.

A crow.

The Black Sea King's men.

Moreover, judging from the respectful attitude of the pirates following behind him, the old man's status was definitely not low.

The one-armed old man walked to the side of the Doomsday Ship and stopped, looking up at the people on the deck.

A smile squeezed out of his wrinkled old face, making him look very kind, like those benevolent old fishermen on the beach.

But Lin Yi sensed an extremely dangerous aura emanating from him.

The danger wasn't like Su Xiao's overt and sharp danger, but rather like an old shark that had been sleeping for many years. Although it looked lazy, it could bite anyone's neck as soon as it opened its mouth.

“Sir, I am Thurt.”

The one-armed old man spoke, his voice hoarse but full of energy.

He raised his only remaining arm and made a simple greeting gesture, as casually as if he were greeting an old friend.

Mad Manatee Stuart.

A renowned figure in the Viking Sea, the second mate of the Black Sea King.

Despite his current gaunt appearance, he once wrestled with an extraordinary sea beast in the ocean when he was young, and strangled the beast to death in his arms, thus earning the name Mad Manatee.

To have risen to the position of second mate under the Black Sea King, this old man's strength is definitely not to be underestimated.

"This way, please, Black Sea..."

Turtel paused abruptly at this point.

His cloudy eyes narrowed slightly as his gaze swept quickly over Su Xiao, Lin Yi, Shang Yue, and Mond, before finally settling back on Su Xiao's face.

The pause lasted for about two seconds, then a meaningful smile appeared on his lips.

"The great Black Sea King is already waiting."

Turtle gestured for them to proceed and then turned and walked deeper into Turtle Island.

His one-armed figure walked at the front, his steps steady and firm, each step solid, not at all like the posture one would expect from a seventy or eighty-year-old man.

Lin Yi and the others followed behind him.

After walking inland from the pier for about five minutes, the surrounding scenery began to change.

The chaotic piles of goods on the dock gradually disappeared, replaced by rows of relatively orderly buildings.

These buildings are more exquisite than those on the dock, some even two or three stories high, with exterior walls painted in various colors that appear quite vibrant in the sunlight.

The streets have become wider and smoother. Although the stone-paved roads are still bumpy, it's clear that they are maintained regularly.

There were fewer people on the street than at the dock, but everyone was dressed more presentably.

Some wore dark leather armor with exquisite scimitars hanging at their waists.

Some were wearing long robes and carrying account books or similar items, walking in a hurry.

There were also a few guys leaning against the wall, looking lazy, but their waists were bulging, clearly hiding weapons.

This is no longer a place where ordinary pirates can come.

Only those who hold a certain position under the Black Sea King, or those who are big businessmen who can do business with the Black Sea King, are qualified to enter this area.

Lin Yi's gaze swept across both sides of the street.

Outside a shop with a huge whale bone sign, several sailors were carrying wooden barrels, from which a strong aroma of rum wafted.

Across the street was a weapon shop, with several well-crafted scimitars and short swords displayed in the window, the unique patterns of relics faintly visible on the blades.

Further ahead was an exchange, with a long queue of merchants waiting to exchange their goods.

Looking at all this, Su Xiao suddenly asked, "Is there a place around here that collects sea beasts?"

Turt didn't stop walking and turned his head to glance at Su Xiao.

“Yes,” he said, a hint of curiosity in his voice. “Sir, you want to sell sea creatures?”

Su Xiao shook her head.

"purchase."

Turt paused for a moment, then smiled.

“Sir, you have quite the generosity.” He didn’t ask any further questions, but simply pointed ahead, “Walk two more blocks, and there’s a large courtyard on your left with a sign that looks like a sea monster’s head hanging at the entrance. That’s the Black Sea King’s purchasing station; the best quality sea monster meat on the entire Turtle Island is there. If you want to buy some, that’s the best place for you.”

Su Xiao nodded and made a mental note of the place.

Hunting sea creatures one by one is too slow.

Although he had Mordrak's help, the giant beast was, after all, an outsider and not very familiar with the distribution of sea creatures in this area.

Instead of searching slowly on our own, we might as well buy them directly from the pirates.

Pirates have a long-standing tradition of hunting sea creatures. Capturing a sea creature alive and transporting it to Turtle Island to sell to the Black Sea King's purchasing station would bring them a huge windfall.

Now that he has a lot of gold coins, he can easily intercept them before the pirates can make a move.

Pirates would be willing to sell any sea creature that had recently died, or even one that was still alive, as long as the price was right.

This was a win-win situation for Su Xiao—he saved time and effort in hunting, and the pirates saved themselves the trouble of transportation and processing.

As for the sea monster flesh and blood that the Doom needs, the fresher the better.

The group continued forward.

After walking for about ten minutes, the view ahead suddenly opened up.

The town is named Langhua Town, a name that is indeed refreshing and elegant, evoking the beautiful image of waves crashing against the rocks.

But the situation in the small town was not so rosy.

The streets were crowded with all sorts of people.

Merchant, adulterer, assassin—two of the three oldest professions are found here.

A scantily clad woman leaned against a second-floor window, flirting with a passing sailor. Before the sailor could react, he was dragged into a nearby alley by several burly men who were lying in wait.

Several pirates, clearly drunk, staggered out of the tavern, arms around each other's shoulders, singing obscene tunes they didn't recognize. They would take a few steps and then fall into the mud by the roadside, only to get up and continue singing.

A man in a black cloak hurried through the crowd. He had his head down, so his face was not visible, but dried bloodstains could be faintly seen on the scabbard of the curved knife at his waist.

This is everyday life on Pirate Island.

Chaotic, disorderly, yet brimming with a strange vitality.

Turtel ignored these sights and continued walking forward.

After passing through the busiest street in Langhua Town, the buildings ahead gradually became sparser, and the surroundings became much quieter.

After walking for a few more minutes, Turtel stopped in front of a small building.

It was a two-story building with a light red exterior that stood out prominently in the sunlight.

The courtyard was small and surrounded by a low wooden fence.

It is planted with all kinds of rare plants, including shrubs with small purple flowers, tropical plants with large leaves, and several vines that climb all over the fence, with clusters of white flowers.

In the center of the courtyard is a small garden with a winding path paved with pebbles leading to the entrance of the building. Low-lying flowers and plants are planted on both sides of the path, and they are neatly trimmed.

It must be said that the Black Sea King's hobbies are somewhat inconsistent with his status as a maritime overlord.

Turtel pushed open the gate, walked along the path to the building entrance, and then stopped.

He turned around, his only remaining arm hanging at his side, and slightly turned his body aside to make way for the doorway.

"The adults are waiting for you on the second floor."

His voice was calm, but a meaningful glint flashed in his cloudy eyes.

He looked at Baha and Amu, who were following behind the group, and raised his one arm to stop them.

"These two, please stay here for now."

Baha's bird eyes narrowed slightly, as if it was about to say something, when Su Xiao turned its head and glanced at it.

Baha immediately shut his mouth, folded his wings, and landed on Am's shoulder.

Am looked down at Baha, then at Su Xiao. His honest face was expressionless. He simply moved a few steps to the side and leaned against the fence to wait.

As for Mondstadt and Shangyue, Thurt merely glanced at them without making any attempt to stop them.

He's not blind.

Stopping them would only cause trouble for yourself.

Lin Yi stepped into the small building.

The chaos inside the building was completely different from the pirate enclave outside.

A faint, refreshing fragrance wafts into the nostrils, seemingly the scent of green citrus, delicate and elegant, bringing a sense of tranquility.

The floor was covered with dark wood flooring, polished so bright that it reflected people's images.

The walls are light-colored, and several oil paintings hang there, all depicting seascapes with delicate brushstrokes and soft colors.

Against the wall stood a simple wooden table with a few books and a vase filled with dried flowers.

This doesn't look like a pirate king's residence at all; it's clearly the boudoir of a noble lady.

Mond followed Lin Yi in, and as soon as he stepped through the door, he couldn't help but sneeze.

The sneeze was so loud it shook him.

Mond rubbed his nose, his rugged face full of confusion.

He looked around at the exquisite decorations, then sniffed the faint, refreshing fragrance in the air, his brows furrowed so deeply they could trap a fly.

For Mondstadt, the smell was far too overpowering.

He still preferred the scent of blood and battle; that was the familiar taste he knew.

Upon smelling this aura, Shang Yue's expression changed.

Her silver eyes narrowed slightly as she quickly scanned the room, finally settling on Lin Yi and Su Xiao, and whispered something.

"The Black Sea King is actually a woman."

Her voice was soft, but there was a hint of surprise in it.

According to the records of the Feathered Clan, the leaders of the three legendary pirate groups in the Viking Sea were all men.

Redbeard is a man, Bone Sheep is a man, and Black Sea King should also be a man.

But now the furnishings in this room, and that pleasant fragrance, all hint at a completely different answer.

Lin Yi did not respond, but continued walking up to the second floor.

The stairs were made of wood, and they made a slight creaking sound when you stepped on them.

A delicate copper lamp hung at the corner, with a candle burning inside, casting a warm, soft glow on the staircase.

The second floor is smaller than the first floor, but the layout is more exquisite.

A large desk stood against the wall, piled high with various documents and ledgers. Next to it was a huge bookshelf, neatly stacked with books, their gilded lettering gleaming under the light.

A recliner with thick cushions sits by the window, and a cup of steaming tea sits on a small round table next to it.

The most eye-catching thing is the large wooden chair in the very center.

The wooden chair is made of dark wood, with an intricate vine pattern carved on the backrest, and the seat and backrest are covered with deep red velvet, making it look like a nobleman's throne.

A figure sat leaning back in the wooden chair, facing sideways towards the stairs.

She held Nigadi's severed right arm in her hand, carefully examining the grayish-white exoskeleton with a magnifying glass.

The magnifying glass reflected a soft light under the lamp, swaying slightly with her movements.

She wore a dark robe, simple in style and without any unnecessary decorations.

She wore a pair of brown riding boots, the boot shafts reaching all the way to her knees, with thin leather straps hanging down from her calves, swaying gently as she raised her legs.

"No need to look anymore, I am the Black Sea King."

Her voice wasn't loud, but it was clear enough. It wasn't as high-pitched as a typical woman's voice; instead, it had a unique deep and languid quality that was very pleasant to listen to.

"You don't need to ask me why I'm a woman, I'm just born with this structure."

She finally put down the magnifying glass and the severed ancient god's arm, and turned around. The face was younger than Lin Yi had expected, looking to be only in his early thirties.

She has delicate features, fair skin, and a hint of languid weariness in her eyes.

Her long hair was casually draped over her shoulders, with a few strands falling in front of her chest, gleaming softly under the light.

The title "Black Sea Empress" is indeed more fitting for her than "Black Sea King."

"I didn't expect to meet again so soon. It must have been back in Siren Port before."

The Black Sea Empress placed the ancient god's arm in her hand on the table beside her, and looked at Lin Yi with her deep brown eyes.

Lin Yi met her gaze and frowned slightly.

He didn't immediately respond to her greetings, but instead pulled out the chair opposite her and sat down.

"You should not covet this power."

The Black Sea Empress looked at him, then at Mondstadt and Shangyue standing behind him, a thoughtful expression flashing across her exquisite face.

Of course she knew what Lin Yi was talking about.

She knew better than anyone how dangerous the power contained in that ancient god's arm was.

Ancient gods, by their very nature, represent chaos and madness.

Even a single limb of theirs contains the power to corrupt any mortal.

But on this vast ocean, to survive, you have to take a gamble.

She is the Black Sea Queen, one of the three legendary pirate captains, and a figure worshipped by countless pirates.

But that doesn't mean she has no enemies.

Redbeard was eyeing her covetously, Bone Sheep, that madman, could go berserk at any moment, and the pirate crews she had suppressed were constantly looking for an opportunity to counterattack.

What's more, there are those mad dogs who have lost their gods.

"Of course I know how dangerous this force is."

The Black Sea Empress leaned back in her chair, a complex light flashing in her deep brown eyes.

"But on this vast ocean, to survive, you have to take a gamble."

She paused, then her gaze returned to Lin Yi's face.

"They will come after you. You should have witnessed firsthand how insane the followers of the Nightmare God can be."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than the sound of flapping wings came from outside the window.

A black and red raven landed on the windowsill, tilting its head to look at the people in the room. Its eyes were blood red, gleaming eerily in the lamplight.

The Black Sea Empress waved her hand gently.

The crow let out a hoarse caw, flapped its wings, and flew away, disappearing into the night outside the window.

Lin Yi looked in the direction where the crow disappeared, then looked at the Black Sea Empress.

"Can I take that to mean you're going to side with them?"

Upon hearing this, the Black Sea Empress's lips curled up slightly.

"Of course not."

She smiled, a smile tinged with sarcasm.

"Just a pack of stray dogs that have lost their master."

She picked up the teacup on the small round table next to her, took a sip, and then continued speaking.

“Some of them always believed that they were the masters. In reality, without the God who held the chains, they went from being hounds to wild dogs.”

Her tone was calm, but Lin Yi could hear what was hidden beneath that calmness.

It's mockery.

It is a disdain for those fanatics.

When the God of Nightmares was alive, his followers were his hounds, running errands for their master, killing for their master, and offering everything for their master.

Now that the God of Nightmares is dead, they have become stray dogs, wandering everywhere, searching for new masters, or trying to become masters themselves.

But no matter how much they struggle, in the eyes of true power, they are nothing more than a pack of pitiful wild dogs.

The Black Sea Empress put down her teacup and looked at Su Xiao again.

"I heard you were looking for Terror Island?"

Su Xiao's gaze shifted slightly.

Terror Island.

That was the place they had to reach in the third round of the battle for supremacy, and it was also one of their initial goals.

But that was before we entered the Viking Sea.

Now that they have Mordrak and the sea creatures to guide them on their course, the coordinates of Terror Island are no longer a secret to Lin Yi.

However, Su Xiao did not deny it.

He also wanted to see what this woman was really up to.

The Black Sea Empress noticed his reaction, and her smile deepened.

"The only way to find out about Terror Island is to ask Redbeard."

Her voice wasn't loud, but the information contained in her words made Su Xiao's eyebrows twitch slightly.

"Of all the people on this rotation, only he knows where Terror Island is."

Rotation.

This word is crucial.

Su Xiao caught this information.

The Black Sea Empress looked at Su Xiao for a moment, a hint of inquiry flashing in her deep brown eyes.

She was waiting for Su Xiao's reaction.

But Su Xiao's expression didn't change; he just kept looking at her.

Just then, Mond, who was behind Lin Yi, suddenly frowned.

His rugged face was filled with confusion, and a hint of barely concealed disgust.

For some reason, he always felt that the woman in front of him had ill intentions.

Just like those annoying guys from the Feathered Clan.

They may appear polite and speak gently on the surface, but who knows what kind of wicked schemes they might be plotting?

Mondl hates people like this the most in his life.

Why can't you just say what you mean? Why do you have to beat around the bush?

He glanced at Shangyue beside him and noticed that the woman's expression was also quite subtle.

Mond snorted inwardly.

The Feathered Clan is indeed the Feathered Clan; they are very cunning.

However, this time Shangyue had the same idea as him.

This Black Sea Empress is definitely not as simple as she seems.

Lin Yi ignored Mond and Shangyue's reactions and continued to watch the Black Sea Empress.

"So, what are you trying to say?"

The Black Sea Empress leaned back in her chair, placing her hands folded on her knees, her posture elegant and composed.

"What I'm trying to say is, I can help you find what you want."

She paused, her gaze sweeping between Su Xiao and Lin Yi.

"But I also need you to do something for me."

Lin Yi did not respond immediately, but waited for her to continue.

The Black Sea Empress tapped her fingers lightly on the armrest.

"That madman, Bone Sheep, has been getting more and more restless lately."

Her voice was still languid, but there was a hint of coldness in her tone.

"He's been active in the Dark Seas lately, capturing many of my merchant ships. He killed everyone on board, stole all the cargo, and sank the ships."

Upon hearing this, Lin Yi understood what she meant.

"You want us to help you deal with the bone sheep?"

The Black Sea Empress nodded.

"It's not about helping me deal with him, it's about taking him out directly."

Her voice was flat, as if she were talking about something very ordinary.

"With him dead, fewer people will have designs on him, which won't do you any harm. Of course, I also know you need sea beast meat. As long as you kill the Bone Sheep, all the sea beast meat in my territory will be given to you at cost price."

Lin Yi remained silent for a few seconds.

This proposal is indeed attractive.

They were originally going to find the Bone Sheep, but now that the Black Sea Empress had brought it up, it was just a convenient thing to do.

Why don't you do it yourself?

When the Black Sea Empress heard this question, she sighed softly.

“Redbeard is watching me. If I make a move, he will make a move. If we start fighting, the one who will benefit is that madman Bone Sheep.”

She paused, then continued, “You are different. You are outsiders, not part of this circle. If you go to deal with Bone Sheep, Redbeard won’t react much.”

Lin Yi nodded; this explanation made sense.

"make a deal."

A satisfied smile appeared on the Black Sea Empress's face.

She picked up an envelope from the side and pushed it in front of Lin Yi.

"This is a map of the Bone Sheep's recent activity area and flight path. It also shows the location of his Bone Island."

Lin Yi took the envelope, but didn't open it; he simply put it in his pocket.

The Black Sea Empress stood up, walked to the window, and turned her back to them.

"I'll have someone put in a good word with Redbeard."

She paused, then turned her head to look at Lin Yi.

"Good luck to you."

Lin Yi stood up, said nothing more, and turned to walk downstairs.

Shortly after the others left, Turtel entered the exquisitely decorated room.

Turtel stopped three steps behind her and lowered his head slightly.

"Sir, are we just going to give them information about the Bone Sheep like this?"

The Black Sea Empress did not turn around, but simply hummed in response.

"Those people are much more capable than we imagined."

Turt paused for a moment.

The Black Sea Empress put down her teacup, a complex light flashing in her deep brown eyes.

"That severed arm belongs to Nigardi, the god of nightmares."

Turtel's pupils contracted slightly.

Nigadi.

It is an existence that has lived for countless years.

It is a deity worshipped by countless believers.

"You mean..."

The Black Sea Empress nodded.

“They killed Nigadi.”

Turt fell silent.

"Those who can kill gods are not people we can afford to mess with."

Her voice was soft, but every word was clearly audible.

"Give them what they want and let them deal with the bone sheep. It won't hurt us who lives or dies." (End of Chapter)