The emergence of twenty more Blessings of the Goddess of Light sparked the first large-scale sea battle in the Demon Sea Region.
The discovery wasn't made by just one side—but simultaneously by both pirates and the navy.The result: a war involving tens of millions of combatants.The sea turned crimson with blood.Countless ships and soldiers sank beneath the waves.
The gemstones were quickly seized and scattered.
Their effects were confirmed again:
Swallow one – immunity to seawater for ten years.
Swallow two – immunity for thirty years.
Swallow three – permanent freedom from Devil Fruit vulnerabilities.
The Blessings of the Goddess of Light plunged the entire region into absolute madness.
One report followed another.
Rumors flooded the sea.
All claimed to have found more Blessings—on other islands, reefs, the seabed, even deep inland.Some only had one stone.Others had dozens.
Each appearance incited bloody conflict.The Demon Sea Region, with its countless Devil Fruit users, descended into unending chaos.
Every day, gems surfaced.
Every day, they were fought over.
Every day, new corpses fed the sea.
Each gem was purchased with the blood of thousands.
The frenzy was no longer limited to the ocean.
It spilled onto land.
Even civilians began battling for the treasure. The price of each gemstone soared.
Initially: 5 million Celestial Dragon coins
Then: 8 million,
10 million,
Eventually hitting 30 million per gem
The bidding war only further inflamed the chaos.The carnage deepened.
"Good. All we need now is to let the Demon Sea spiral deeper into turmoil."
Jia Xu, seated in the City Lord's manor, sipped tea, calmly overseeing the strategy's execution.
"We'll maintain this chaos indefinitely," he said."Let the killing never cease. Let this battle engulf the entire region."
Every so often, a new batch of Blessings would be released.
"Notify our covert agents from the Hall of Calamity.Make sure their identities remain secret. If exposure is imminent, they are to handle it themselves.No one must discover we are behind this."
The current state of the region was entirely under Jia Xu's control.
"We'll sit back and enjoy the show—while they bash their brains out over divine trinkets."
"The gems are the keystone of the strategy," said Wu Yong with a laugh."No Devil Fruit user can ignore them. Even if they knew we were behind it—they'd still fight for them."
The Goddess of Light's Blessings were never intended for this use.
Originally, they were spiritual treasures grown on a mysterious divine tree:
the Tree of Light, now dubbed the Goddess of Light Gem Tree.
Its fruits could be swallowed, or used in forging sacred artifacts, or even to repel evil beings.
Then came the accidental discovery—the gems could neutralize Devil Fruit side effects.
That revelation changed everything.
Jia Xu immediately partnered with Heaven Strategy Pavilion to hatch this plan:
Find the enemy's soft spot. Strike without warning.
Kill with a single move.
This was his specialty.
He had once shattered the Han Empire with a single imperial edict. Now, with a mere gem, he had cast the Demon Sea into upheaval.
Even the Celestial Dragon Empire might fall.
Such is the power of a strategist:
a whisper in the dark, a scheme in the shadows, that sends nations toppling.
And this time, it was no secretive plot.
It was an open conspiracy—one so tempting, even knowing the trap wouldn't help anyone escape it.
Meanwhile...
While the Demon Sea burned, something stirred at the edge of the Dead Sea Region.
Suddenly, four figures appeared.
First, a man clad in bone-white armor, mounted on a skeletal warhorse.A tiny flag fluttered behind him with the word "Invincible" scrawled on it.Twin fires flickered in his eye sockets.
He was the Invincible General.
Second, a bizarre humanoid wearing nothing but green shorts.He stood upright like a man and clutched a comb, obsessively smoothing the green fur atop his head.It gleamed with such sheen, it nearly reflected light.
He was the infamous Green Emperor.
Third, a figure in azure robes, moving with exaggerated sneakiness.His hand moved reflexively in a grasping motion—like trying to steal something invisible.
He was none other than Si Kong Zhaixing, the Sky-Picking Thief.
Fourth, a man in a tight black outfit, with sharp eyes that constantly darted about.A Luoyang shovel was slung across his shoulder.He radiated mischief.
This was Liu Qu, the Northern Tomb Robber.
They stood back-to-back, striking dramatic poses.
"East Emperor!" Green Emperor called, combing his fur solemnly."West General!" the Invincible General replied coldly."South Thief!" said Si Kong Zhaixing with pride."North Robber!" Liu Qu announced, raising his shovel.
"Together, we are the Four Heavenly Kings—Loved by the living, chased by the dead!"
Their shamelessness knew no bounds.
"It's been so long since we reunited," Si Kong Zhaixing said, eyes gleaming with nostalgia."Only when I'm with you guys do I feel truly alive."
They thrived on the thrill of chaotic missions—and this one was a big one.
"I received a secret order from the Sacred King," the Invincible General declared."We're heading into the Dead Sea Region. It's full of undead—my kind of battlefield."
"If I perform well, I might be promoted from city lord to Provincial Governor—or even Regional Lord (Prefect)."
Regional Lord—a rank above all, ruler of an entire realm.
It meant controlling an entire world zone under the Great Yi.
That was a dream worth fighting for.
"I heard the Dead Sea is to be opened for inter-world commerce between the realms of Yin and Yang," said Green Emperor."Our job is to destabilize the undead factions here."
He had begged Yi Tianxing for this assignment.
"I've heard the Dead Sea holds countless ancient tombs," Liu Qu grinned, licking his lips."This time, I'm gonna dig like crazy!"
Indeed, the tombs were said to hold great treasures and terrifying dangers.Only the brave (or reckless) could hope to claim them.
Liu Qu was more than confident.
"Heh, we're counting on you, Liu," chuckled Si Kong Zhaixing."There's treasure in them tombs, and I can already feel my hands itching."
Their mission involved finding vast quantities of Yin Jade,the core material needed for constructing ritual formations in the Dead Sea Region.
Most Yin Jade could only be found inside ancient tombs.
This wasn't just tomb-raiding—this was Sacred tomb-raiding by decree!
Liu Qu had never been happier.
"Move out!" the Invincible General barked.
And with that, the Four Heavenly Kings entered the Dead Sea Region.
"Southeast—there's a large tomb," Liu Qu declared, using his feng shui detection skills.
As they stepped in, the sky above the Dead Sea darkened.
A fierce wind howled.Thunder rumbled.
It was as though destiny itself had shifted.
In hidden forbidden zones, whispers echoed:
"This omen... is ill."