RRRIP.

The blood cocoons ruptured.

From among the twelve blood cocoons, six marauders who had "turned over a new leaf" stood up.

The shattered cocoons behind them dissolved back into crimson tendrils, merging into their bodies.

A bloody gleam shone with an unnatural light in their eyes!

"A fifty percent success rate for this transformation, then?" Su Ye nodded slightly.

He smiled, walking toward the Ghostly Flood Dragon’s ’new crew members’ and applauding them softly.

He was like a parent who had just learned their child scored exceptionally well on an exam.

"Congratulations. From now on, you are members of the Ghostly Flood Dragon."

"Now, show me your cursed abilities."

Su Ye commanded.

"Yes, Captain..."

SWISH.

The new crew members’ limbs abruptly mutated!

On one new crewman’s right arm, countless crimson tendrils spread out.

In an instant, his right arm transformed into a gigantic, blackish-red scythe nearly half the height of a man, its edge glinting coldly!

The other crew members underwent similar mutations, revealing their inhuman nature!

Amidst this pack of monsters, the handsome, black-robed youth reached out to stroke a creature’s mutated limb, a satisfied smile on his face.

"Not bad. Hmm... what’s your name?"

Su Ye turned to the new crewman who had manifested the flesh-and-blood scythe.

Before the transformation, he had been at the sixth level of Qi Refining, the strongest among the prisoners.

After the transformation, once he revealed his Cursed Form, Su Ye estimated his combat strength was no weaker than that of a ninth-level Qi Refining cultivator.

"A name..." His expression froze, a hint of confusion showing on his face.

’Did they forget even their own names after the transformation?’

’It seems the original marauders are dead...’

A thought struck Su Ye, and his brow furrowed slightly.

He looked at the panel.

[Crew Members: 60/60 (25%)]

It hadn’t increased.

As expected, these ’new crew members’ weren’t counted among the ’crew’.

In fact, through his sense of Harmony, Su Ye felt that these ’new crew members’ were more like a part of the Ghostly Flood Dragon itself!

The Ghostly Flood Dragon had ’dissolved’ the original marauders, using their memories as raw material to create cursed crew members!

Any living beings they hunted would be directly absorbed into the Soul Abyss Blood Prison.

The attribute bonuses Su Ye applied to the ship could also be partially channeled to them.

He could even command these ’new crew members’ to merge with the Ghostly Flood Dragon to repair its hull?

’These transformed "new crew members" can no longer be considered human. They’re more like vessels for a curse...’

Su Ye sighed softly.

It seemed this new ability of the Ghostly Flood Dragon still needed to be perfected.

For now, it couldn’t be used to strengthen old crew members like Zhao Li...

Realization dawned on Su Ye.

"In that case, you will be called Blood Scythe. You’ll be in charge of the new crew members."

Su Ye said casually, looking at the scythe-wielding crewman.

"Yes, Captain!" Blood Scythe dropped to one knee, demonstrating his loyalty.

"Alright. I have a mission for you now: gather living souls..."

Su Ye instructed them with a solemn and serious expression.

He ordered Blood Scythe to lead the transformed cursed crew, take a sloop, and go out to hunt for living souls.

They were to prioritize demonic beasts and supplement with marauders. Unless absolutely necessary, they were not to attack mortals and were to remain hidden...

They should capture marauders alive whenever possible and bring them back to the Ghostly Flood Dragon for ’transformation’...

"Yes, Captain! Your command is our reason for living!"

Blood Scythe and the other cursed crew members listened intently to the orders and gave their guarantee.

In fact, this was the absolute truth.

As the captain of the Ghostly Flood Dragon, Su Ye could completely control their every move and force them to maintain a constant, high level of loyalty!

"Mm... go. I will provide you with more manpower and equipment later..."

...

On the deck of the Ghostly Flood Dragon.

Su Ye stood there, gazing after Blood Scythe and the other new crew members as they departed, lost in thought.

Transforming ’cursed crew members’ was a new ability Su Ye had been exploring recently.

The ability was built upon the framework of two other powers: Soul Abyss Blood Prison and Heart of the Vast Sea.

It used the living souls within the Soul Abyss Blood Prison to transform raw material into ’cursed crew members’.

Meanwhile, the Heart of the Vast Sea used its authority over the ocean to provide a binding force, establishing a connection between them and the Ghostly Flood Dragon.

However, in the arduous process of exploring this new ability,

Su Ye felt that the greatest help hadn’t come from these two powers.

But rather...

[Mysterious Attribute]

That’s right—the Mysterious Attribute from his Class Attribute Bonuses!

[Class Attribute Bonuses: Lethality +39, Protection +19, Evasion +6, Mysterious +6]

Su Ye felt that without the Mysterious Attribute, relying only on Soul Abyss Blood Prison and Heart of the Vast Sea, his envisioned transformation would have undoubtedly failed!

Even if it had succeeded, the resulting ’cursed crew members’ would have most likely been mindless, frenzied monsters...

But with the blessing of the Mysterious Attribute, he had turned decay into divinity and successfully forged this ability!

’This whole thing has a bit of an "I reckon it should work, so it does" vibe to it...’ Su Ye mused to himself.

The transformation ability wasn’t currently registered on the ship’s panel.

But Su Ye was confident that as his own cultivation realm, the Ghostly Flood Dragon’s rank, and his Mysterious Attribute all increased,

this ability would grow stronger and stronger until it was finally registered on the panel!

...

Over the next month or so, Su Ye discovered several more characteristics of the ’transformation’ ability.

First, there was a limit to the number of cursed crew members.

In its current state, it could only maintain thirty cursed crew members at a time!

If a thirty-first cursed crewman appeared,

the weakest among the previous thirty would self-destruct, turning back into a living soul and returning to the Ghostly Flood Dragon...

Second.

There was also a limit on how long the cursed crew could be away from the Ghostly Flood Dragon.

The cursed crew members had to return to the Ghostly Flood Dragon periodically, or they too would self-destruct!

However, even with these limitations,

this batch of powerful and perpetually loyal cursed crew members was still extremely useful!

Relying on them, Su Ye could hunt a large number of living souls without ever leaving his seclusion on Donglong Island!

The number of living souls in the Soul Abyss Blood Prison grew with each passing day!

...

Meanwhile.

While Su Ye was in seclusion,

an exquisitely crafted spirit boat, as swift as a Seagull, was sailing toward Donglong Island!

On the side of its hull was the striking ’Cyan Jade Lotus’ insignia of the Cyan Profound Sect!

On deck.

"Mr. Li, is what we’re doing really appropriate?"

a short, stout man asked uneasily.

"What’s inappropriate about it?"

The cold, stern youth, dressed in blue robes with a longsword on his back, raised an eyebrow.

"As a Foundation Establishment cultivator of our sect, Xiao Sheng leaving at a time like this makes him no different than a deserter. Forcing him to return is the only proper course of action."

"Besides, Donglong the Luo Clan is a vassal of the sect!"

"Zhaoxia herself is on the move, and the sect’s elites have been deployed. It is only natural that these vassal families contribute to the whale-hunting expedition!"

’Mr. Li’—Li Hengyan—said coldly.

"But... Zhaoxia specifically instructed us not to stir up trouble for no reason..." the short, stout man inwardly despaired.

"So? We’ll just make them ’volunteer,’ won’t we?" Li Hengyan said dismissively.

"Do you really believe that I, an esteemed True Disciple of Qinghe and a great cultivator at Late-stage Foundation Establishment, can’t handle Xiao Sheng and that tiny Foundation Establishment family?"

"Besides, I have justification... The Luo Family abused a Blood Dao Formation and ought to be punished. I am giving them a chance to atone for their crimes with meritorious service. That is a reward!"

Li Hengyan sneered.