Cultivation in the Pirate's World

The morning sun painted the sea in shades of gold as walls of living coral rose before them, their blue-green surfaces stretching as far as the eye could see. The Red Hair Pirates' ship anchored at the edge of a natural harbor, where the coral formations created deep channels perfect for smaller boats.

"Azure Reef," Benn explained, exhaling a stream of smoke. "Famous for its rare materials and herbs that grow nowhere else. Though getting to them..." He gestured at the maze-like structures. "That's the tricky part."

Xiaojin circled above, its flames reflecting off the coral surfaces as it surveyed the area. Below, schools of fish darted through the crystal-clear water, their scales glinting in the sunlight.

"The coral creates natural mazes," Shanks added, grinning as he watched several crew members prepare the smaller boats. "Get turned around in there, and you might never find your way back out."

Lucky Roux peered over the rail, a piece of meat forgotten in his hand. "Captain, those fish... are they supposed to be that big?"

Indeed, what they'd initially taken for normal fish were considerably larger than average, their bodies adapted to life among the towering coral.

"The reef provides plenty of food," Benn noted. "Everything grows bigger here."

They divided into two groups for the exploration. Shanks led one team to search the outer edges, while Xiao Yan's group, including Uta and Lucky Roux, ventured deeper into the reef's channels.

As their boat navigated the natural corridors, Uta's voice rose in a cheerful song that echoed off the coral walls. Schools of colorful fish seemed drawn to her melody, creating shifting patterns in the water around them.

"Look!" she exclaimed suddenly, pointing to a cluster of plants growing along the coral wall. "Those flowers... they're beautiful!"

The plants in question bore blooms of deepest blue, their petals seeming to capture the very color of the surrounding water. Xiao Yan studied them with interest, recognizing their potential value.

"Blue Coral Flowers," he said. "Known for their healing properties."

Lucky Roux leaned forward to get a better look – and nearly capsized their boat in the process. "Oops," he grinned sheepishly. "My bad."

Their progress through the reef was steady, marked by discoveries of various herbs and materials that grew in this unique environment. Xiaolong swam alongside them, occasionally surfacing to point out promising locations with gentle sparks of electricity.

The peaceful exploration was interrupted by a sudden surge in the water. A massive fish, easily twice the size of their boat, rose to investigate the intruders in its territory.

"That's... a big fish," Lucky Roux observed unnecessarily, his hand tightening on his weapon.

Before anyone could react, Xiaojin swooped down, its presence causing the giant fish to reconsider its approach. The phoenix didn't attack, merely established its position in the natural order. The fish, displaying more wisdom than usual for its kind, decided to seek easier prey elsewhere.

"Your phoenix has a way with the local wildlife," Uta giggled, watching the fish retreat.

Their collection continued, with each member of the party contributing in their own way. Uta's singing kept their spirits high, Lucky Roux's strength proved useful in gathering samples from difficult spots, and Xiao Yan's knowledge helped identify the most valuable specimens.

By midday, they had gathered a impressive variety of materials: Blue Coral Flowers for healing, sturdy vines that grew stronger than normal rope, and several types of shells with unique properties.

"A successful expedition," Xiao Yan noted, carefully storing their findings. "Though perhaps we should head back before—"

A distant explosion interrupted him, followed by Shanks' distinctive laughter echoing across the reef.

"Sounds like the captain found something interesting," Lucky Roux grinned.

"Or something interesting found him," Xiao Yan replied dryly, already turning their boat toward the sound.

Another day of adventure on the seas, marked not by ancient mysteries, but by the natural wonders that made the world of pirates such a fascinating place to explore.