Gao Wu: You have science, and I have magic!

Dark clouds loomed over the East China Sea.

Seven crystal-clear ice ships cut through the waves, their prows adorned with black bird statues that gleamed coldly against the gloomy sky.

Ye Qingzhou stood on the deck of the flagship "Xuan Niao", her clothes fluttering like banners.

He closed his eyes slightly, his fingertips gently caressing the double dragon pendant on his chest—the pendant was emitting an unprecedentedly intense pulse.

"Master, a large number of ships have been spotted in the waters ahead."

Silver Blade lay prone at Ye Qingzhou's feet, its wolf ears twitching slightly. Relying on sound to pinpoint the enemy's location, it received all the enemy's information: "Thirty-four ships, all flying the British flag."

Ye Qingzhou slowly opened his eyes, his pupils shimmering with golden light like molten gold: "You've come at the perfect time."

Three miles away from the fleet, the British Far East Fleet was deploying in battle formation.

On the deck of the flagship HMS Wellesley, Rear Admiral George Elliot, Commander-in-Chief of the fleet, held up his binoculars, his face filled with disbelief.

"My God, what kind of ships are those?"

He lowered his binoculars and turned to the staff officer beside him. "It looks like it's made of ice?"

The staff officer wiped his glasses and looked again: "It is indeed unusual, General. But whatever it is, it is no match for the Royal Navy. Our steam gunboat 'Nemesis' is more than capable of crushing any Eastern vessel."

Yi Lu's lips curled into a contemptuous smile: "Notify all ships to prepare for battle. Since we've already collided, let these yellow-skinned monkeys see the power of a modern navy."

The order was quickly relayed via flag signals, and the British fleet adjusted its course, the dark muzzles of its cannons all turning eastward.

The roar of steam turbines and the billowing of sails intertwined to form the most powerful maritime force of the industrial age.

"Master, they are aiming at us."

Silverblade's hair stood on end, clearly sensing the threat from the cannon. "Should we strike first?"

Ye Qingzhou stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze piercing through the rain and landing on the British flagship: "No rush, let's see what tricks they have up their sleeves."

Boom~~
The first salvo shook the sea, dozens of shells piercing the sky and crashing through the waves, creating towering columns of water around the ice ship. However, the closest shell, when it was still ten feet away from the "Mysterious Bird," was suddenly deflected by an invisible barrier and fell into the sea.

"what?"

Yilu's eyes widened. "Keep firing! All ships fire at once!"

The second and third rounds of shelling followed one after another, but none of them could penetrate the invisible defenses surrounding the ice ship. Ye Qingzhou remained unmoved, not even the hem of his clothes was ruffled by the sea breeze.

"General, our shells don't seem to be able to harm them!"

The staff officer's voice began to tremble. He had traversed the oceans and faced warships from Spain, Portugal, and even the Dutch, the "sea carters," but he had never seen such a defensive tactic.

"impossible!"

Yi Lu slammed his fist on the railing, unwilling to slink away like this. "Order the 'Nemesis' to close in and fire! The rest of the ships, prepare for boarding action!"

The steam gunboat spewed black smoke as it accelerated forward, with all the gun ports on both sides open, revealing menacing cannon barrels.

At the same time, more than ten British warships launched small boats, fully loaded with sailors, and rowed toward the ice ship.

Seeing this, Ye Qingzhou finally sighed softly, "Stubborn to the end."

He raised his right hand, his fingertips crackling with azure lightning: "Disciples of the Heart Martial Sect, listen to my command: protect the ice ship. I will personally deal with these foreigners."

The three thousand disciples responded in unison and each formed a hand seal.

In an instant, hundreds of beast-shaped Dharma images appeared in the sky above the ice ship, forming an insurmountable barrier.

The British sailors looked up at the phantom images of giant wolves, eagles, and tigers, their hands, which were filling gunpowder and cannonballs, involuntarily froze.

Ye Qingzhou took a step forward and floated in mid-air.

With each step he took, an ice lotus bloomed beneath his feet, supporting him, and his Seven Emotions Armor shone brightly in the lightning.

When he arrived over the British fleet, the entire sea suddenly fell into an eerie silence, and even the waves stopped surging.

"Stranger".

Ye Qingzhou's voice was not loud, but it clearly reached the ears of every British sailor: "You have crossed the ocean to offend our China, and your crime is unforgivable."

Yi Lu drew his rare revolver and fired three shots at the figure in the air, but the bullets turned to dust in mid-air.

His face was ashen, but he forced himself to remain calm: "Who are you? I am George Elliot, Commander-in-Chief of the British Far East Fleet, here on the Queen's orders to subdue the Qing Dynasty. If you know what's good for you, you'd better leave immediately!"

"Suppression?"

Ye Qingzhou sneered, "You barbarians riding iron coffins, do you even deserve to talk about conquering China?"

He formed a hand seal, and the double dragon pendant on his chest suddenly shone with dazzling golden light. Dark clouds in the sky began to swirl, forming a huge vortex within which lightning surged and roared.

"Don't you believe in natural selection and the survival of the fittest? Today I'll show you who the weak are."

Ye Qingzhou formed a sword shape with his right hand and pointed it straight at the sky: "Nine Heavens Divine Sword Thunder Control True Technique - Heavenly Tribulation Thunder Strike Sword!"

Boom~~
A bolt of lightning as thick as a bucket descended from the sky, coiling around Ye Qingzhou's fingertips. At the same time, the Emperor's Dharma Image appeared behind him, a chaotic Dharma Image with nine heads and eighteen arms, wielding various weapons, its oppressive aura as deep and boundless as the sea.

The British sailors watched in horror; some knelt in prayer, while others collapsed and lost control of their bladders.

Yi Lu gripped the gunwale tightly, his fingernails digging into the wood: "Fire! Open fire!"

But it was too late. Ye Qingzhou flicked his sword, and lightning transformed into a hundred-foot-long giant sword that swept out horizontally.

The Nemesis was the first to be hit and was cut in half. The steel hull vaporized directly at the extremely high temperature, and there was no time for an explosion to occur.

The greatsword continued its relentless advance, piercing through seven British warships in succession. The struck ships either disintegrated instantly or burst into an inextinguishable aura of spiritual fire.

The sea was filled with sailors jumping ship to escape, their cries mingling with the sound of the waves.

“He’s a devil! He’s a devil!” A British officer had a mental breakdown and jumped into the sea.

Ye Qingzhou remained expressionless, his sword pointing at her changed again.

Dozens of lightning bolts split from the thunderclouds in the sky, striking the remaining British ships with pinpoint accuracy. The masts of the flagship HMS Wellesley were the first to be struck, followed by the detonation of the ammunition magazines, and the entire ship was reduced to a fireball in a deafening explosion.

In just three minutes, the once invincible British Far East Fleet was completely annihilated.

Burning wreckage and struggling sailors floated on the sea, and black smoke obscured half the sky.

Ye Qingzhou stopped his attack and stood still, his chaotic dharma form gradually fading away. He looked down at the tragic scene on the sea, his eyes devoid of joy or sorrow: "Silver Blade, rescue those who have fallen into the water and await further judgment."

"Yes, Master."

Silver Blade bowed and accepted the order, then sounded the horn. Hundreds of wolf-shaped Dharma disciples leaped into the sea to begin the search and rescue of survivors.

When Ye Qingzhou returned to the "Mysterious Bird," Black Hawk was waiting with documents seized from the British flagship: "Prophet, these documents show that the British are preparing to attack Yangcheng and launch a war of aggression against the Eastern world."

"A mere barbarian from Ansa?"

Ye Qingzhou frowned. "Do you know who started the war?" "It was David Sassoon of the Sassoon family. Because Lord Lin banned their illegal trade, a group of business factions led by the Sassoon family pushed the British government behind the scenes to launch a brazen invasion of the Eastern world."

A cold glint flashed in Ye Qingzhou's eyes: "What a high-sounding bandit logic! Issue the order: full speed ahead, target: Guangzhou!"

The seven ice ships set sail again, bypassing the floating wreckage and heading south.

The sea breeze carried the groans of British soldiers who had fallen into the water, including Yilu, who was being dragged onto a lifeboat by his wolf-like disciples.

The once arrogant fleet commander was now ashen-faced, staring blankly at the departing ice ship, muttering to himself, "What kind of being have we provoked..."

Three days later, off the coast of Guangzhou.

Qing Navy Admiral Guan Zhongyin stood on a dilapidated warship, gazing anxiously at the sea.

Since Lord Lin, who advocated war, was dismissed and investigated, the pro-peace faction in the court has gained the upper hand, and the morale of his navy has been greatly reduced.

"Report! Admiral! An unidentified fleet has been spotted at sea!"

The lookout suddenly shouted.

Guan Zhong hurriedly raised his binoculars and immediately gasped.

In his field of vision, seven enormous, crystal-clear ships were cutting through the waves. They had no sails or oars, yet their speed was astonishing. Wherever they went, the seawater around them began to freeze on its own!
"This...this is..."

The old admiral's hands trembled slightly. "Has the Dragon King of the Sea appeared?"

The ice ship stopped half a mile in front of the Qing navy. A figure walked through the air and stood in front of Guan Zhongyin in a few leaps.

"Are you Admiral Guan Zhongyin of the Navy?"

The newcomer was dressed in white, with a handsome face like that of a banished immortal.

Guan Zhong forced himself to remain calm: "It is indeed I, the official. Who are you? And why have you trespassed into our country's territorial waters?"

"I am Ye Qingzhou, the Emperor of the Great Shang Empire."

The man in white smiled slightly, "I've come specifically to help my compatriots resist foreign aggression."

"Dashang?"

Guan Zhong was speechless for a moment, "This..."

Ye Qingzhou didn't take it seriously and turned to point to the sea: "Three days ago, the British Far East Fleet was completely annihilated by me in the East China Sea. Its remnants and prisoners will arrive soon, and the admiral can inquire about them himself."

As if to confirm his words, a dozen small boats appeared on the horizon, crowded with dejected British sailors, being escorted by wolf-shaped warriors and rowed toward the shore.

Guan Zhongyin and the Qing soldiers stared in disbelief at the scene. When they recognized the disheveled white officer among the prisoners as the British commander Elliot, the entire navy erupted in cheers.

"Your Majesty... Ye."

Guan Zhongyin quickly changed his form of address, his voice trembling with excitement, "You are truly my savior!"

Ye Qingzhou shook his head: "Savior is not the answer. I have returned to the East for two reasons. First, to expel foreign invaders, and second..." His eyes flashed like lightning, "to overthrow the corrupt rule and restore the orthodox Chinese civilization."

Guan Zhong's expression changed drastically: "This is utterly treasonous!"

"Does the Admiral believe that the current court still deserves to be called 'righteous'? What's wrong with me using the righteous to punish the wicked?"

Ye Qingzhou's voice turned cold, "Loyal ministers and virtuous generals have been demoted, while treacherous and wicked men hold power. What use is such a court?"

Guan Zhong was speechless. He thought of the weakness of the imperial court and the suffering of the people, and tears streamed down his face.

Ye Qingzhou patted his shoulder: "The admiral is a loyal and righteous man, I will not make things difficult for you. But please remember, true loyalty is loyalty to this land and to one's bloodline, not to the dynasty of one family or clan."

After saying that, he leaped back onto the ice ship.

The fleet set sail again, heading towards the Pearl River Estuary. Fishermen and villagers along the way, seeing this miraculous ice ship, knelt down and kowtowed, exclaiming, "The sea god has appeared!"

The news spread like wildfire, and by the time the ice ship arrived at Humen, tens of thousands of people had already gathered on the shore.

They were overjoyed to see the captured British soldiers and to hear the news of the great victory in the East China Sea.

Standing at the bow of the ship, Ye Qingzhou's voice resounded across both sides of the strait: "Fellow Chinese compatriots! From this day forward, you need not fear the guns and cannons of foreigners! I, Ye Qingzhou, hereby swear that I will restore glory to the land of China!"

A deafening cheer erupted from the crowd, and a scholar-like man suddenly shouted, "Long live Emperor Ye!"

Soon, the cries merged into one, resounding through the sky.

Looking at the enthusiastic people, Ye Qingzhou knew that the time was ripe to overthrow the Qing Dynasty.

He turned to Black Hawk beside him: "Pass down the order to set up a recruitment hall in Guangzhou in three days to attract talents from all over the world. At the same time, send disciples to go deep into the countryside to teach the Way of Mind and Martial Arts."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Black Hawk bowed and replied, "However, the Qing court will probably not stand idly by."

Ye Qingzhou looked north, a slight smile playing on his lips: "I'm waiting for them to arrive."

…………

Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation in the Forbidden City, an urgent memorial was thrown to the ground, its yellow silk cover stained with tea.

"You scoundrel! Where did this foreign traitor come from, daring to presume to call himself emperor!"

The Daoguang Emperor's face was ashen, his thin fingers gripping the armrests of the dragon throne tightly, his knuckles white. "Where is Yishan? Summon him to see me immediately!"

The Grand Councilors in the hall fell silent, trembling with fear. Chief Grand Councilor Mu Zhang'a bent down to pick up the memorial and cautiously said, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. According to the report from the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi, this Ye Qingzhou claims to be a descendant of the Shang Dynasty. He returned from overseas with seven ice ships, first destroying the British fleet and then subduing the Guangzhou navy..."

"fart!"

Emperor Daoguang suddenly coughed, and the eunuch hurriedly handed him a spittoon. "What descendant of the Shang Dynasty? He's clearly a charlatan! Guan Zhong, because of this good-for-nothing, actually allowed this traitor to bewitch the people!"

Mu Zhang'a's eyes darted around: "Your Majesty, Ye Qingzhou's ability to annihilate the British fleet is probably quite extraordinary. Perhaps... perhaps we should temporarily avoid his sharp edge and appease him first..."

"absurd!"

A Manchu prince slammed his fist on the table and exclaimed, “Our Great Qing Dynasty has stood for two hundred years. How can we allow such wicked people to run rampant? We should immediately send troops to wipe them out!”

The Grand Councilors split into two factions and began arguing. Suddenly, hurried footsteps came from outside the hall, and a secret memorial from General A Jing'a of Yangcheng arrived.

After reading the secret memorial, Emperor Daoguang's face grew even more grim: "This sorcerer... this sorcerer actually set up a 'Hall of Recruitment' in Guangzhou, openly recruiting rebels! And the common people even call him... 'Emperor Ye'?"

Mu Zhang'a suddenly lowered his voice: "Your Majesty, this servant has a plan. Since Ye Qingzhou has a grudge against the British, why not... why not secretly contact the British and use their hands..."

"shut up!"

Emperor Daoguang was furious. "I would rather the country perish than join forces with the barbarians!"

But after making those harsh remarks, a hint of hesitation flashed in his eyes.

A deathly silence fell over the hall. After a long while, Emperor Daoguang wearily waved his hand: "Issue an imperial edict appointing Yishan as the Grand General for Pacifying the Rebels, leading 10,000 elite Eight Banner troops from the capital, along with 20,000 Green Standard Army soldiers from Liangjiang and Huguang, to immediately march south to suppress the bandits. Furthermore, order all coastal provinces to rigorously investigate any accomplices of these sorcerers; anyone spreading the 'Way of Heart and Martial Arts' shall be executed without mercy!" (End of Chapter)