My left and right hemispheres fight each other.

Shadows loom over my face, dampness keeps me awake.

Chen Xin felt as if he were sleeping in a coffin, and that the coffin had sunk to the bottom of the sea.

"Chen Jing, why does my chest and abdomen keep hurting? Is my internal organs growing muscles too?" The outside environment was cold, and his internal organs were burning. Unable to bear it any longer, Chen Jing couldn't help but ask his own heart.

"Actually, since we took that punch from Wang Yu, our internal organs have been severely injured. However, I have been suppressing the pain and blocking negative feedback to repair them as quickly as possible," Chen Jing said calmly.

"What?" Chen Xin was shocked. He hadn't expected that Chen Jing had been hiding his injuries all along.

He recalled the scene from earlier that day where Chen Jing battled a five-meter-long fish underwater, and couldn't help but wonder, "Is Wang Yu that powerful?"

"Otherwise what?"

"But didn't Ge Yan say that the big fish with horns is as powerful as a lion or tiger in underwater combat?" Chen Xin asked incredulously.

"Lions and tigers are indeed the kings at the top of the predator hierarchy, but have you ever seen one break a knife with its muscles? Have you ever seen one being knocked ten meters away by a single blow?" Chen Jing rolled his eyes.

"So... what level of combat power does Wang Yu possess?"

"I guess his overall combat ability index was around 25 or even 26 in his final state. Of course, that's assuming I didn't destroy that much of his muscle tissue," Chen Jing recalled.

"Chen Ying, based on Chen Jing's understanding, what level would a comprehensive combat ability index of 25 or 26 be roughly?" Chen Xin asked.

"The ultimate individual Blue Star Hippopotamus has an overall combat capability index of approximately 25 in mudflats; the ultimate individual Blue Star Great White Shark has an overall combat capability index of approximately 26 in open waters," Chen Ying responded immediately.

"Hippopotamus... Great White Shark... What level is this?" Chen Xin thought to himself, referring to the two names. In his mind, the majestic Lion King should be the one who rules over hippos, so it was surprising that their combat strength was so different. He had heard a little about the ferocity of the Great White Shark.

"In your familiar terms, this is Wang Yu's bare-handed fighting level in his red-hot state. If you gave him a horse-slaying sword, he could probably chop the Central Continent Elephant in half," Chen Jing laughed.

"Chen Jing, do you remember what Chen Muqing said about the overall combat capability index of Isolde that she discovered?" Chen Xin asked with a serious expression.

"Judging solely from his unarmed, stationary state, his combat power is 30." Chen Jing's expression turned serious as he called out, "Chen Ying."

Chen Ying understood: "Based on Mr. Chen Jing's knowledge, Isolde, with an overall combat ability index of 30, is evaluated by Chen Ying as the ultimate individual of the Blue Star Black Continent Elephant."

Chen Xin wasn't quite sure how powerful the hippopotamus was, but he did know the name of the Black Continent Elephant.

Flesh and blood tanks, heavy armored vehicles, with no mechanics but all stats, and they're still the ultimate individual... They're behemoths that even a Tyrannosaurus Rex would have to warm up before it could fight!

"Can someone so skinny take on an African elephant with his bare hands?" Chen Xin couldn't imagine such a scene.

"What's most terrifying is that he has all sorts of trump cards and tricks up his sleeve, and he also possesses human intelligence." Chen Jing shook his head and said nonchalantly, "Normally, this is absolutely not someone that someone like us, who haven't even left the beginner's village, could challenge."

"Moreover, this might not even be his true, normal level," Chen Jing said with a sarcastic smile.

"The data obtained by those tourists were all different, which probably meant that Isolde exceeded the scope of the basic 'parameter identification' that could be reliably judged, or that there were means that could interfere with the observation."

"The data Chen Muqing obtained is only the closest reference value."

"Chen Ying, what is the upper limit of the comprehensive combat capability index that we can assess?" Chen Xin asked.

"Before your access level reaches 4-0, the maximum score you can achieve for basic 'minor' assessment is 50."

"Based on Chen Jing's understanding, what level is a comprehensive combat capability index of 50 roughly?"

"Blue Star Blue Whale Ultimate Individual," Chen Jing and Chen Ying said simultaneously.

"Is this a huge leap?" Chen Xin was embarrassed.

"The higher the overall combat capability index, the greater the range between each integer," Chen Ying explained.

"Nothing surprising. According to Chang Song's data, the Zijing is estimated to be nearly 60 meters long, with a beam accurate to 11.2 meters. Its full-load draft is approximately 4.5 to 4.6 meters, and its displacement is close to 1,000 tons. It carries over 50 cannons of various types. With such a scale, its speed can be consistently around 15 knots. Slaughtering Blue Whales? Heh, even without considering that monstrous captain, it's more than enough." Chen Jing recited the Zijing's data fluently, then sneered, "He probably didn't make it up; it's about what I expected. It's truly a terrifying flagship. I suppose even the so-called Pirate Emperor's personal vessel isn't much different."

"We shouldn't underestimate human wisdom and the power of collective strength. No matter how high a pile of flesh and blood is, it can still be taken down with two shots." Chen Xin nodded.

Chen Jing paused for a moment: "This is the difference between animals that evolve and evolve, and humans who are proactive and powerful. It's a bit difficult for a police pistol loaded with five hollow-point bullets to kill a crazed African elephant before it gets close, but for Isolde, it's absolutely impossible."

Thinking about the "background information" that Cao Hui and Ge Yan had gathered, Chen Xin said with a touch of longing, "This world must truly have witchcraft or magic."

The great Captain Isolde was a legendary pirate renowned throughout the nine seas.

He commanded a pirate fleet with the Bauhinia as its flagship, along with five escort ships.

The secondary flagship, named Black Kite, is an all-rounder among three-masted corvettes, with firepower and endurance all on point. While having a displacement of 580 tons and a draft of 4.4 meters, it can also maintain a speed of 15 knots, comparable to that of the main ship.

The two-masted, fast sailing ship named Qingying is an extremely lightweight and swift sentry vessel. Its 180-ton displacement and shallow draft of only 3.2 meters allow it to easily perform all tasks, including reconnaissance, early warning, messenger delivery, pursuit, and shoal exploration. Lacking heavy armor and heavy cannons, it is a top-tier scout that relies solely on speed and visibility. If necessary, it can also intercept enemy small boats and harass larger ships; after all, with a stable speed of 17-18 knots, it is the undisputed king of speed.

Named the Golden Warehouse, this fortified transport schooner served as a mobile cargo hold and war bunker for the Bauhinia Fleet. It featured a specially constructed, thickened hull with numerous watertight compartments while maintaining a 40% cargo hold ratio. Although it retained only defensive guns, it was resilient to ramming and damage. Its only drawback was that, to avoid sacrificing the fleet's overall cruising speed, it traded a displacement of only 420 tons and a draft of 4.5 meters for a speed of 14 knots.

The Red Shark was an extreme firepower ship, a privateer completely transformed into a gunboat. It sacrificed cargo and range for a short deck and a low center of gravity, and of course, a broadside firepower density approaching that of a warship. It was said that the Red Shark carried a group of madmen willing to die for Isolde; in critical moments, they were capable of suicidal charges, ramming into enemy formations, or even taking the entire ship's powder kegs with them! Their existence represented the Bauhinia's last lifeline.

The most mysterious Blue Ghost was a gold-devouring beast that Isolde had been grooming, but unfortunately, no one knew what its true purpose was.

Because the newly emerged Blue Oni, along with the loyal souls of two hundred pirates and too many officers and soldiers like brothers of Isolde, had perished in the last fierce naval battle.

Just two weeks ago, Isolde engaged in a massive, earth-shattering naval battle with the infamous Captain Destroyer.

Captain Destroyer's fleet was no match for the professional command rhythm and well-coordinated combat that none of the pirates possessed. However, by threatening the life of one of Isolde's former lovers, he had actually colluded with the Royal Navy of a certain great power, intending to strangle this arrogant and self-proclaimed admiral legend on the high seas.

The supposedly indestructible Golden Warehouse was almost completely destroyed, and the Black Kite, the admiral's deputy, was also badly damaged and in a terrible state.

The once-fierce Red Shark, which dared to engage in head-on battles with naval destroyers, frigates, and even battleships, lost its temper and its flames went out. It wasn't that it had lost its courage, but rather that it had nearly emptied its ammunition reserves.

But that ironclad battleship was simply unstoppable, a king of the sea that could not possibly be sunk by mere pirates. What was even more hateful was that it firmly guarded the flagship of the Destroyer, preventing Isolde from making a valiant sacrifice to rescue her lover and then painfully break through the encirclement.

When the stats of a heavy tank/warrior can't be exploited, it becomes the most despairing reef, and everyone loses the courage to crash into it.

Then, something shocking happened.

That astonished the Royal Navy, and the incredibly fast HMS Blue Ghost was brought to a halt.

Then came Isolde's frantic command.

He ordered HMS Blue Ghost to launch a final assault on the Royal Navy battleships.

For some reason, the pirates, known for their betrayal and selfishness, underwent a dramatic change in temperament at this moment, transforming into heroic and loyal souls with boundless determination to die.

What's even more jaw-dropping is that the magical blue demon was blasted in half by the oncoming heavy cannons, reduced to a pile of rubble, and the wreckage still possessed divine power, sinking the all-suppressing warship king.

In this battle, not to mention the Nine Seas, Isolde's fame was unprecedented. He had the illustrious achievement of sinking the Zhenhai Overlord across the Five Oceans.

However, his cruel act of forcing his crew to die to save his lover, and his cold-blooded nature, completely alienated his men. This time, even the pirates on the Red Shark, who had always revered their captain, remained silent.

Isolde offered no explanation. After his fleet docked at Freeport, most of the pirates, except for the crew of the Red Shark, chose to leave with the reputation of sinking the ironclad.

Through constant propaganda from the pirates who left the ship, Isolde's domineering nature resulted in very few pirates joining him, until he announced that he had obtained the true relics of the pirate emperor Everstein and was willing to reveal the real map to every pirate who joined his fleet.

Fearless greedy individuals, secret agents investigating the truth, henchmen sent from all directions, and mysterious figures who came to visit after hearing the news all gathered together, trying to discern the truth of this legendary pirate's declaration.

The result is true.

The world remained skeptical, but Isolde had already set sail with a full load of believers, heading towards the mysterious imperial tomb.

The lover he risked everything to save is now the Stargazing Priest on the Zijing flagship.

"Nonsense, without some mysterious power beyond modern scientific discoveries, how could any normal human being take on the Black Continent Elephant single-handedly?" Chen Jing scoffed at his statement.

Thinking back to the old woman's words from the deck not long ago, Chen Xin was filled with doubt: "But I really can't understand why Isolde, who is so young, has an old lady as his lover?"

Thinking about this, he burst out laughing: "Could this be the real reason why the pirates left him? Domineering and ruthless may be charismatic among pirates, but you send your brothers to their deaths for grand ambitions and riches, only to have them die for a toothless old woman. Who can stand that?"

"In a world with mysterious powers, what's so strange about that? Maybe Isolde is just a seemingly young monster who's actually over a hundred years old, or maybe his lover has overspent her youth for some reason." Chen Jing stopped his wicked thoughts and instructed, "Have you ever thought about why the crew of the Red Shark would go to such lengths for him? Probably because he was respectful to his subordinates and treated them very well, but this naval battle shattered his image."

"Besides, didn't you notice the Bauhinia? You spent so much time cleaning the deck."

"The Jin Cang and other ships were badly damaged, and the Qing Gui was even buried alive, but the Zi Jing was almost completely unharmed!"

"Being domineering and ruthless is certainly not a flaw, but to cherish oneself to such an extent, and for one's brothers to sacrifice themselves for him... is truly terrifying."

"Hahahaha!" Chen Xinhuan laughed, rolling over with a thud.

"What are you laughing at?" Chen Jing asked without any suspicion.

"I never expected that someone like you would actually say that another person is scary." Chen Xin laughed until tears streamed down her face.

Chen Jing remained unmoved, simply saying, "The more emotional a person is, the more terrifying I find them."

"You still say you're not anti-human?" Chen Xin waved his fist.

Chen Jing tilted his head: "Chen Xin, to be honest, I've always been curious, why? Why is it that when emotion is clearly the cold substance and reason is the warm thing that makes humans different, you criticize reason as cold-blooded and praise emotion as the brilliance of humanity?"

"Huh?" Chen Xin was taken aback.

"Joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness are the closest to our life instincts and are also the most selfish emotions. They rely on various hormones and neurotransmitters to regulate your body so that you can feel the emotions that your brain thinks you should feel at the right time."

"But rationality is different. Emotional hormones can make you love, but they can also make you indifferent. Rationality is the dam that protects true love and prevents the contradictions caused and accumulated by the incomprehension between people from collapsing."

"Emotion makes you grieve for tragedy, make you angry for the victims, and also makes you foolish and blind. Only reason always drives you to make the 'right' choices that you should make. Reason will never let you impulsively vent your emotions, but will lead you to truly pursue and explore the existence of justice."

"Emotions can give rise to all sorts of desires, including many harmful and evil thoughts, but what can resist them is your reason."

"You..." Chen Xin was about to speak when he suddenly felt dizzy and unable to get up.

"Go to sleep, you're exhausted." Chen Jing manipulated his brain to force it into a state of hibernation, secreting large amounts of adenosine to activate the sleep center and release neurotransmitters that inhibit brain activity.

An irresistible weariness and drowsiness swept over Chen Xin like a raging flood, and she quickly lost her strength.

"Am I driven to despair and madness by rationality that has outpaced me too much, or is my rationality gradually losing control of its frenzied emotions and feeling powerless?" Chen Jing lay down, somewhat bewildered.

"Or perhaps, I can't even be considered a person at all? I'm really just Chen Xin's lesion, not a so-called independent soul."

Chen Jing was completely limp. He weakly raised his hand to touch his face, then pinched and squeezed it, and finally began to tear at it.

But then he collapsed again, lost in delusion.

"after all……"

"I can remember every inch of the oak grain you casually glanced at, every subtle change in your emotions ten years ago..."

"My memories will never fade, my despair will never run dry..."

"Every inch of pain you suffer from falls and beatings, every bit of humiliation you feel after being insulted and ridiculed, every inch of injustice you feel after being abandoned and despised..."

"Your grief, your anger, your anxiety, your shame, your fear, all your suffering..."

"These, everything, all of them, are constantly and endlessly layered and imprinted on my soul."

"I can see every meshing gear in my body at work, and I must manipulate them to prevent them from collapsing forever, eternally, forever..."

"Why, why is your world able to be simplified, while everything I see is laid bare? Who has so cruelly dissected everything before my eyes?"

"Torment... I am a puppet imprisoned by memories, a sinner bound by the past."

"Time, which can gently heal all scars, is to me a poisoned scythe that relentlessly licks my skin."

"From all directions... densely packed... layer upon layer..."

"Everything is emerging towards me."

Soon, Chen Jing's gaze settled.

His thoughts quickly returned to normal, and he immediately forced himself into a state of deep thought.

"A flint and steel... no, a torch."

"The sky is dark and the sea is still; the candles are extinguished and prayers are offered."

"This is the scene that appears on the sea surface at night in the Fuguang Sea area."

At that moment, what everyone looked out from the black hole cannon was a holy torch of light that filled the entire sea, made up of countless twisted golden skulls burning.

The golden skeletons twisted their bodies, their faces devoid of flesh so their expressions were unknown, but without exception, everyone knew what they were doing.

prayer.

"Is that the soul?" Chen Jing pondered, his gaze becoming unfocused again.

He seemed to be finding it increasingly difficult to concentrate, though he didn't know when it started.

He tried to overcome it, and for the first time, he, who had always been invincible, felt strained.

In a daze, he saw something—a book.

What was recorded on it? The memory was too clear, but also too complicated and messy. Chen Jing studied it with a headache and finally saw some writing.

The handwriting was beautiful, yet it possessed a grand and elegant quality.

"The character '仙' (xian) is composed of '人' (ren, person) next to '山' (shan, mountain), signifying the determination to maintain the unwavering and steadfast resolve of the human heart."

"Supreme...forgetfulness..."

Before he could finish reading it, a strong sense of crisis welled up from the depths of Chen Jing's mind and body.

He turned around abruptly and looked through the darkness at the area not far away, separated by wooden planks.

"Who is it?"

Why do I have this vague feeling that I've made a huge mistake?