The world inside and outside of Great Yi were like two entirely different realms.
The changes brought by the Imperial Nectar were simply too immense. Monsters that once acted only on instinct—whether fierce beasts or sea beasts—had now begun to evolve. When transformed into demons, their intelligence increased dramatically. They no longer acted irrationally, but began gathering with others of their kind, forming factions. The strong rallied the weak, consolidating into organized forces.
The level of difficulty in dealing with them had multiplied many times over.
This transformation was still intensifying daily. Without proper measures to contain it, these creatures would become an overwhelming threat to the world. But of course, for the demon race, this environment was a tremendous boon to their rise.
The contrast between inside and outside Great Yi was stark.
"The demonic aura here is far denser than anywhere in Great Yi's seas,"remarked Gan Ning, clearly feeling the difference.
The Caribbean Sea Region was blanketed in layers of demonic mist, interwoven and thick, making the region far more ominous and dangerous.
He couldn't help but sigh—Great Yi was truly superior. The difference was like night and day.
Within Great Yi's borders, by imperial decree, all fierce beasts and sea beasts were forbidden from transforming into demons; all plants and trees forbidden from gaining sentience.
This edict had become Heaven's law, covering all of Great Yi's territory. From the moment it was issued, no being could become a demon or spirit unless it was already born as one. They could only become "spiritual beings," not demons or monsters.
And as Great Yi continued to expand, this law followed, spreading naturally across new lands. One day, when the entire Caribbean Sea was under Great Yi's rule, it too would undergo this transformation.
Though existing demons could not be reverted, new ones would no longer arise from nature. If existing demons gave birth, their children would still be demons, per the laws of the world.
So long as they lived, demon bloodlines could not be severed.
But clearly, the Caribbean was home to numerous sea demons. From the moment they entered, Gan Ning and his troops could sense it.
However, these demons were hiding deep beneath the sea, clearly wary of the Red Legion's might. Gone were the days when they recklessly attacked—now they suppressed their auras, keeping to the shadows.
Unless provoked, Gan Ning had no intention of hunting them.
Their primary mission was to eliminate pirates and scout the surrounding region.
The skyships sailed swiftly, advancing thousands of kilometers into the Caribbean waters.
"Something's not right…"muttered Vice Commander Zhou Dahai, eyes narrowing.
"You sense it too?" Gan Ning responded with a frown. "According to the scouts at the Iron-Blood Great Wall, pirate ships were often seen in this region. Though wary of Great Yi, they were always active nearby. Now, even after traveling this far… not a single pirate in sight. That's suspicious."
Indeed, the absence of even a trace was troubling.
"Correct," came the calm voice of Wu Yong, dressed in white robes and gently fanning himself. "According to our intel, the Caribbean is infested with pirates—they raid islands, attack trade ships… but now? Utter silence."
"If something seems off—it is. Alert the entire army. Increase vigilance."
As a strategist from the Heavenly Strategy Pavilion, Wu Yong had already scanned the surroundings. Not only were there no pirates, there wasn't even any lingering aura—meaning no pirate activity had occurred here for at least two to three days.
"There's definitely something going on.Release the Skyhawks—search for clues."
Gan Ning gave the order.
Immediately, mechanical hawks soared into the sky—majestic and awe-inspiring. But these weren't living creatures; they were puppet beasts, crafted using mechanical arts and rune systems.
This knowledge came from Gongshu Lin's inheritance, one of the highest legacies in the field of mechanisms. These beasts had two components:
Mechanical Body – built with supreme craftsmanship, indistinguishable from real beasts.
Soul Core – formed from the souls of powerful birds, giving them limited intelligence and absolute loyalty to their master.
These Skyhawks could transmit messages, and were excellent scouts—especially outside of Great Yi's borders.
Capable of covering thousands of kilometers rapidly, they were the perfect reconnaissance tool.
Before long, the hawks returned.
Their reports confirmed the worst: no pirates detected.
However, they had spotted numerous islands nearby.
Though the islands weren't large by ocean standards, some could house millions or even billions of people, enough to form kingdoms or Imperial.
"There are signs of life—multiple factions and races, including humans and other species. The people haven't vanished.Only the pirates have."
Gan Ning frowned.
"To find the truth, we need to speak with the locals," Wu Yong said with a smile. "They live with this pirate threat constantly—no way they wouldn't know what's going on."
After all, few would welcome pirate rule. Most would want to resist, and certainly would be aware of major changes.
"There's a nearby island with humans—black hair, black eyes, yellow skin.They're our kind. Communication should be easier."
Gan Ning nodded, agreeing.
The fleet adjusted course and sped toward the new destination.
The warships cut through the waves, massive and majestic, like sea monsters advancing on their prey.
Soon, a large island came into view.
It had a wide, oval shape, and was known in the Caribbean as Coconut King Island (Yewang Island).
It got its name for the abundance of coconut trees growing across the land.
These weren't ordinary coconuts either. The juice was sweet and delicious, the flesh exceptionally nourishing. Even commoners who ate them became stronger and healthier.
Cultivators could even enhance their true essence and magic slightly from the juice—making these coconuts nearly equivalent to spiritual fruits.
The most prized tree on the island was the Coconut King Tree (Yewang Tree)—a true spiritual tree. The fruits it bore contained spiritual liquid, considered top-tier cultivation resources.
Each tree was so valuable that ownership triggered bloody conflict—it could support an entire faction, even be exchanged for rare treasures.
These trees evolved from ordinary coconut trees under special conditions. Based on assessments, a mature Coconut King Tree had reached Earth-grade spiritual root quality—quite rare.
Coconut King Island traded coconuts with other islands for resources and had gained quite a reputation in the region. But it was also a prime pirate target.
Many races lived on the island—humans, scorpionfolk, sea serpents, and others.
The humans had gathered together and built a massive city: Coconut King City.
Surrounding it were numerous villages, all under its jurisdiction.
The fisherfolk who lived on the shores were visibly strong and vigorous, their bodies enhanced by coconut consumption and ambient energy. They were far more powerful than ordinary civilians in other realms.
In such a perilous sea, weaklings couldn't even escape, let alone survive.
"Look! A ship!"
"Is it pirates?!"
"Wait—it's a red warship… that's a military vessel!"
"Look at that flag! The Mountain-River Ten-Thousand-Dragon Flag—pirates don't have anything like that!"
Fishermen on the shore initially panicked at the massive fleet's approach.
But upon seeing the flags, they paused in awe and curiosity.
And as the skyships approached…
A massive "Yi" (易) character rippled in the wind, fluttering boldly across the seas.