Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Three: The Battle of the Ten Generals

“Everyone below the rank of major general, ascend to the high platform of the Forward City at once! That man is not someone you can handle! He already wields the dual attributes of thunder and fire in his natural elemental power, and his swordsmanship rivals that of a peak master swordsman. He is extremely dangerous!”

A lieutenant general, hovering midair with a steady stride, spoke gravely. His own aura was terrifyingly imposing, but unfortunately, all of Shumingyuan’s attacks targeted the sea surface, rendering their defenses largely ineffective.

Upon hearing this, several naval officers at the colonel level immediately rushed toward the Forward City. Only five major generals and five lieutenant generals remained on the scene, their navy banners fluttering fiercely in the sea breeze, symbolizing justice.

Magellan and Rain Shiliu watched intently. Ten officers of general rank facing a single bounty hunter with a bounty of merely 380 million—on paper, the navy had a significant advantage. Yet how much of their strength they could bring to bear in a naval battle remained uncertain.

Their opponent, however, was a reckless and formidable beast, making the outcome of the battle difficult to predict.

If this confrontation had taken place on land, each of them was confident they could engage the bounty hunter in a fierce fight, even boasting they could eventually capture him.

“Ten generals, huh? The navy certainly values me. On land, I might have turned and fled, but on the sea, I am invincible!”

Shumingyuan chuckled lightly, his expression calm and composed. Each naval general officer possessed the capability to apprehend pirates with bounties exceeding a hundred million. With ten generals personally involved, even a commander of the Four Emperors could be captured with ease.

On the sea surface, many wooden planks floated amid the wreckage of the destroyed warships. The ten officers each stepped onto a plank, spreading out to encircle Shumingyuan imperceptibly.

A powerful aura emanated from their bodies, stirring the surrounding seawater into waves. Each individual’s presence was no less formidable than that of the bounty hunter before them.

“Bounty hunter, you have committed an unforgivable crime, and your punishment is death!” Lieutenant General Ghost Spider said coldly. Eight spider-like legs protruded from his back, each holding a long sword. His aura was chilling, his visage fierce. Even among the navy, he was an exceptionally powerful lieutenant general.

“Punished by death, huh? Afraid to die, are you? So… all of you, come at me together.” Shumingyuan raised his eyes with calm indifference.

“Impudent!”

Ghost Spider roared in fury, swinging his sword in a powerful arc. Two fierce slashes split the seawater, cutting ruthlessly toward Shumingyuan.

“The sea beneath your feet is unsteady and ever-shifting, Lieutenant General Ghost Spider. How much force can your sword truly wield?”

Shumingyuan saw through the ruse at a glance. As a swordsman, to deliver a perfect strike, power must flow seamlessly from the legs, waist, back, and arms. Any weak link renders the strike imperfect, meaning he could not unleash his full strength.

He stomped hard, sending waves over a meter high radiating outward from him. The floating planks bobbed violently, making it difficult for the ten officers not only to attack but even to maintain their balance. The scene resembled Diamante’s “Army Flag,” which turns the ground into a soft canvas.

But here, on the vast ocean, the shaking was far more intense, as Shumingyuan could easily raise waves several meters high.

The two slashes cut through the waves, but Shumingyuan gripped his Thunder Cutter sword and swung horizontally, thunderous sounds emanating as he effortlessly shattered the attacks. His body followed the waves, hardened by Armament Haki, and he launched a punch toward Lieutenant General Ghost Spider.

Ghost Spider’s vision was blocked by the waves, but his Observation Haki allowed him to clearly see the man behind the water, moving swiftly, almost riding the crests of the waves.

“Metal!”

He shouted low, gathering energy at his chest, which soon reflected a steel-like luster. Shumingyuan’s punch struck hard. Ghost Spider did not retreat, but the wooden plank beneath his feet and the seawater within ten meters exploded from the sheer force, sending water surging skyward.

As a highly skilled lieutenant general, Ghost Spider appeared unharmed. He stepped into the air, propelled by his Moonwalk technique, and countered with a whirlwind kick.

Shumingyuan’s gaze sharpened. A lieutenant general’s strength was indeed a high naval power; even when unleashed on the sea, it was not to be underestimated. That punch, if delivered by an ordinary major general, would not have been so easily withstood by Ghost Spider.

He was grateful the trap laid for him was chosen by the navy to be at sea. He held the geographic advantage. Had this been in the Forward City prison, the outcome might have been entirely different.

At the level of naval generals, each rank leap represented an astounding difference in strength, especially between lieutenant generals and admirals, whose power could not simply be measured by numbers. At the admiral level, the difference was fundamental—each move possessed cataclysmic might.

Shumingyuan struck out, shattering the slash from the whirlwind kick. As he emerged from the waves, two hidden clones suddenly burst forth from the seawater beneath Ghost Spider and kicked him hard in the back.

“Shadow Dance Leaf!”

“Lion Volley!”

Simultaneously unleashing two martial arts techniques, Shumingyuan flashed above Ghost Spider and struck down with a whip-like leg.

“Boom!”

Like a cannonball crashing into the sea, a towering splash erupted, and Ghost Spider was kicked deep into the ocean.

“Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!”

Forming hand seals midair, Shumingyuan unleashed a massive fireball onto the sea surface. The terrifying heat instantly vaporized the water, shrouding the area in thick fog.

The remaining nine naval generals, along with Shumingyuan, were enveloped in this mist. Visibility was severely limited—objects half a meter away could not be seen. With this move alone, Shumingyuan easily separated the remaining navy officers. Unless they all possessed Observation Haki, they would have to rely solely on their keen senses to respond, or be blind.

Shumingyuan spread his hands, extending his Observation Haki radius to eighty meters. Within the fog, he clearly perceived all movements—the positions, reactions, and intentions of everyone. He knew them all intimately.

To those within the mist, Shumingyuan was like a swift phantom, always striking and retreating at once, showing no desire for prolonged combat. These general officers were no pushovers; they responded decisively to any potential threat at the last moment.

[PS: Something came up, so this chapter is late. Sorry about that. Tomorrow, updates will be on time as usual.]