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If the pirates were just a loose group, they would indeed scatter at sea, forming small groups and turning into countless roving bandits that harassed the shore. However, Xu Hei couldn't let his army become a rogue army. They had already suffered heavy losses in this battle, and the troops he had were his last resort. How could he lose control?

He wanted to control the situation, but he couldn't command his men. The news of the attack on Qiongzhou and Ning Fu's disappearance had already spread, as he hadn't been able to defend them. The fear of a surprise attack on their base had made the leaders, both large and small, unwilling to fight, let alone stay behind to cover the rear. It was only Xu Hei's prestige that prevented the army from disintegrating.

Because of this, this huge fleet was constantly pushed and became increasingly narrow and long, like a wounded whale surrounded by a group of sharks, unable to break free.

Who could have thought that the death-fearing sea merchants and the cowardly government troops could be so brave? Coupled with the extremely sophisticated encirclement and division of the Red Flag Gang, Xu Hei did not dare to stay for a moment and could only rush forward with gritted teeth.

The battlefield shifted continuously, from Wuyuan Island to Luoling Island, and then eventually leaving Luoling Island behind. The entire fleet was practically scrambling to survive, with countless ships left behind and devoured alive. Fortunately, the pursuit of naval battles ultimately came to an end. Even the victorious Red Flag Gang gradually became a tailspinner, losing their previous desperate stance.

Yet Xu He dared not relax for a moment. No one knew what Qiongzhou was like now. What if those bandits were bombarding the port? What if the main camp had already been captured and fallen into enemy hands? And then there was the missing Qingfeng Gang. Who knew when they would reappear and launch a two-pronged attack? That would be fatal. Perhaps dividing the forces now was the best option. Hold off the enemy first, and then spare the strength to rescue Qiongzhou.

After figuring it out, Xu Hei acted decisively, sending his trusted confidants forward while he, along with a small group of centaurs, turned the ship around and personally engaged the enemy. The battlefield had moved closer to the border between Qiongzhou and Leizhou, the traditional dividing line between the two gangs. Perhaps having racked up enough victories, the merchants had vanished, and the government troops had long since halted their advance. Only the Red Flag Gang's fleet remained. While the morale of the two factions differed significantly, their forces were evenly matched, and a battle was still possible.

"We've been tricked by the Red Bandits and betrayed by the government, and the losses have been truly devastating. However, my foundation was built on the sea. Even if I lose soldiers today, I can rebuild tomorrow. Even Qiu Sheng couldn't do anything to me back then, so how can this girl succeed now?" Xu Hei's eyes widened as he shouted angrily, "Follow me to stop the pursuers and avenge our previous humiliation! Whether the Long Whale Gang can gain a foothold in the South China Sea depends on today!"

This call from a high place really boosted morale and made people feel like they were going to fight to the death.

The enemy suddenly turned around to fight, which indeed caused the Red Flag Gang's fleet to stop chasing.

"They want to stop us so that we won't be attacked from both sides." Cheng Xi breathed a sigh of relief standing at the bow of the ship. "I'm afraid something has happened in the Changjing Gang."

This battle went too smoothly, much easier than she had expected, and she didn't see any signs of Ning Fu's hand. This inevitably gave her some doubts. She had fought cautiously and precisely, not putting all her cards on the table. Now that she saw someone stop to cover the rear, she was truly certain of one thing: Ning Fu probably didn't have command in this battle, otherwise he wouldn't have used such a harsh method.

However, a hard-line approach, even a desperate desperate one, was no problem for her, as the outcome was already decided. Her allies included not only the merchants and the Xisai people, but also the Qingfeng Gang, a surprise force that had been dispatched long in advance. Given Shen Feng's abilities, she wouldn't miss out on this piece of juicy meat, and dividing her forces was the most advantageous option for them.

Without hesitation, Cheng Xi gave the order: "Deploy the fleet in a goose formation, fighting and retreating at the same time to tie down the enemy."

Facing the enemy's angry counterattack, the Red Flag Gang's fleet took the center as its base and began to stretch out its wings while slowly retreating, just like a crane with its wings spread out and its body leaning back, seemingly trying to escape, but in fact hiding its sharp beak and claws, just waiting for a thundering strike.

This formation did indeed confuse the long whale thieves who were crazy with killing intent. The thin formation seemed to be broken with a single charge, which made them concentrate their forces and rush towards the center army desperately.

As the two armies continued to come into contact, the formation moved and changed into a pocket formation that was approximately "U". It was not until this time that the Red Flag Army on both wings took advantage of their firepower.

"Fire!" Yan Yuan ordered coldly, and the warships on the left flank opened fire without hesitation. Their firepower was not as great as the two-tiered cannons of the barbarians, but their accuracy was quite reliable, especially when engaging the enemy head-on. Previously, they had been engaged in pursuit and defensive battles, failing to fully utilize their firepower. Now, they would not be stingy with their ammunition.

This relentless bombardment crippled the Long Whale Gang's formation. However, Xu Hei was no pushover. Years of fighting the barbarians had made them adept at defending against artillery fire. The originally tight formation gradually broke apart, shattering into small groups of three or five, charging towards the flanks.

This was an attempt to take advantage of the weakening of the formation, split it up, and tear it apart. For a regular government army, such a change of formation would be a death sentence, but for pirates who excelled at fighting in small groups, the advantage was self-evident.

Unfortunately, this was what Cheng Xi was waiting for. The central army, which had been slowly retreating, showed its fangs, turned around, and rushed towards the enemy's empty main camp.

In an instant, the intensity of the battle reached its peak, and the two armies' centers collided head-on. This was a classic king-on-king battle. Xu Hei's eyes turned red as he shouted, "Charge! Defeat the enemy's center and kill that bitch! I'll reward you with gold and silver!"

His shouts, his hatred, and his rewards were indeed effective, and his confidants also worked hard and were not afraid of death. However, he faced a strong army that was well fed, well rewarded, trained hard, and had to protect their homeland. They were truly as strong as iron.

After days of desperate fighting and pursuit, with barely any time to rest, the two armies, already at the end of their strength, collided fiercely. The sound of artillery fire, shouts of killing, and the whirring of arrows and crossbows surged like waves.

The battleship's formation shifted dramatically, swaying unsteadily. Cheng Xi, however, stood remarkably steady, peering through the narrow telescope at the enemy before her. A smile soon played on her lips. "Xu Hei's flagship is just ahead! Gather your forces, tear through the enemy formation, and charge!"

As soon as these words came out, everyone around them began to breathe heavily. This was the leader of the Long Whale Gang, the culprit behind this war. If they could kill him, the enemy would immediately flee.

"Kill Xu Hei!"

"Capture the black thief alive!"

A roar rang out, and the ships on both sides rushed forward. This attack was too fierce and too fast, dealing another heavy blow to the already shaky front.

Faced with the raging attack, Xu Hei's face changed. His anger, hatred, and resentment were all suppressed at this moment, and his desire to survive quietly rose.

He couldn't get into a desperate situation here, nor could he give his life away in vain. He didn't even have to defeat the enemy, he just had to block the pursuit and avoid being attacked from both sides.

What he faced was a navy as powerful as before, war drums beating at the same rhythm as before, and the orphan of the undefeated god of war. However, he no longer had a military advisor to rely on.

Ning Fu escaped. Did he guess this outcome?

Once courage is crushed, the battle is over. The flagship in the center of the army began to retreat without noticing, and when the general's flag retreated, there was no question of military morale.

The pirates, who had been fighting desperately, suddenly collapsed into a pile of scattered sand, began to retreat, began to turn around, and no one was willing to fight to the death. Who would persist in something that had no benefits? If the robbery failed, they would just move on.

This rout was so sudden and swift, like sand swept away by the receding tide. Although the Red Flag Gang's pocket formation was well-planned, it could not capture the fleeing enemy.

Xu Hei was indeed a master at escaping. After abandoning his fleet, his elite troops were more than enough to break through the encirclement. Unfortunately, before he could breathe a sigh of relief, the drums and horns sounded again, and a mighty fleet with green flags appeared in front.

That was the Qingfeng Gang’s army.

Cheng Xi laughed and shook his head: "This guy really knows how to seize the opportunity."

With their presence here, the battle on Qiongzhou Island must have ended, and Xisai's fleet must have passed safely. But instead of intercepting the detached troops, they turned back to help them intercept the enemy. Did they guess Xu Hei was here?

Without Black Whale, the leader, the vast Long Whale Gang would likely fragment, each one its own. They would desperately fight for their former territory and compete with the Xisai people for the strait, leaving them with little energy for anything else. The ownership of the South China Sea was undisputed.

This battle is finally over.