Chapter 346 - 191: You Knelt Before I Even Made a Move?
Ning’an Prefecture, deep within the Yunze Waters.
Islands dotted the vast, misty expanse of water.
On one particular island—strategically positioned with perilous terrain and surrounded by water on three sides—a sprawling complex of stockades clung to the mountainside.
The stockade walls were high and thick, a composite of massive logs and bluestone. Battered by the elements over time, they exuded a rugged, formidable air.
And this was the headquarters of the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance, an organization that had dominated the waters of Ning’an for years and been a constant headache for the Government Office.
However, unlike in its boisterous and prosperous past, the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance was now shrouded, inside and out, in a heavy, oppressive gloom that was impossible to dispel.
Its inhabitants rushed about with grim purpose, many of them wrapped in blood-stained bandages.
The faint scent of blood and medicinal herbs mingled in the air.
The shadow of defeat and loss seeped into every corner of the waterfront fortress, as pervasive as the cold, damp mist.
On the highest watchtower of the stockade wall.
Zhou Kuohai, Alliance Leader of the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance, stood with his hands clasped behind his back. Draped in a slightly worn cyan cloak, his frame was still as imposing as ever.
But his eyes, which usually gleamed with the domineering spirit of a conqueror, were now as deep and still as a dark pool. His brow was tightly furrowed, all traces of the heroic bravado from his glory days—when he ruled the waters and laughed in the face of all challengers—were gone.
The reason, of course, was the Alliance’s current, extremely precarious situation.
Their recent plot to raid a Jingwu Bureau prison had backfired, leading them straight into an ambush.
Not only had they lost a Vice-Alliance Leader at the Mystic Realm, but the majority of their dozens of core, mid-ranking members at the Innate Realm had also perished. It was a devastating blow to their strength.
Immediately following that, the Government Office launched a thunderous crackdown. The Alliance’s branches, established over many years throughout the counties of Ning’an, were being uprooted at an astonishing speed, like leaves in a hurricane.
The messages that made it back to headquarters each day were, nine times out of ten, disastrous reports: a stronghold breached, a revenue stream severed, a chieftain captured or killed in action.
Zhou Kuohai knew that at this rate, it wouldn’t be long before the Government Office completely clipped the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance’s wings across the entire prefecture.
When that happened, the full might of the Government Office’s army would descend upon their headquarters deep within the Yunze.
Although the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance headquarters was hidden deep within the Yunze and protected by multiple layers of defenses, it was by no means impenetrable.
In fact, Zhou Kuohai suspected the Government Office had likely already tracked down the location of their headquarters.
’So, I have to find a way out of this!’
He couldn’t just sit back and watch the empire he had painstakingly built over two decades crumble to dust.
That was why, when Manor Master Lu Canghai of Luoyun Manor came to him with a proposal for a calculated "cooperation," Zhou Kuohai had listened—even though he knew Lu Canghai was just using him as a borrowed knife and trying to divert disaster onto the Alliance.
After weighing the pros and cons, Zhou Kuohai had gritted his teeth and agreed.
Of course, Zhou Kuohai had another motive for agreeing.
His only son, Zhou Chengzong, was still imprisoned in the Jingwu Bureau’s Demon Suppression Tower, his life hanging by a thread in the hands of his enemies.
If he could capture Chen Sheng—who was now an extremely important figure in the eyes of the Government Office—he could use him as a bargaining chip to secure Chengzong’s freedom.
’Perhaps... there’s still a sliver of hope.’
This was one of the main reasons he was willing to take such a risk.
After all, the Chen Sheng of today was no longer an ordinary man.
After the battle at Wushan Mountain, his reputation as "Ning’an’s greatest talent in a century" had spread throughout the Prefecture City.
From what Zhou Kuohai had observed, the young man was not just a trusted subordinate of Nie Xuanfeng’s.
He was also held in high esteem by that Female Demon, Sun Yuzhi.
’Trading him for Chengzong... Yes, he should be valuable enough for an exchange.’
In truth, Zhou Kuohai had been entertaining this idea for some time.
But with the Government Office constantly cracking down on the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance, his entire network of informants had been dismantled. To get accurate intelligence on Chen Sheng’s movements, he had no choice but to rely on Luoyun Manor.
Furthermore, Zhou Kuohai suspected something else.
Luoyun Manor was likely not the only faction that wanted Chen Sheng dead and was willing to join forces with him to make it happen.
Lurking behind the scenes, there were probably others: Golden Spring Temple, the Iron Sword Sect, perhaps even other top-tier powers.
The reason was simple.
Chen Sheng had simply become too much of a threat.
His reputation for being "invincible below Profound Mastery" was far too well-known.
He had become a latent threat to all the major powers.
’What if Chen Sheng breaks through to Profound Mastery, or even higher?’
’The balance of power in Ning’an Prefecture, currently maintained by the Government Office and the six great powers, could be shattered.’
’Therefore, Chen Sheng had to die.’
Unfortunately, he had only met with Lu Canghai. He had no concrete evidence of the other factions’ involvement, only his own deductions.
As for Lu Canghai’s promises—that if he killed Chen Sheng, Luoyun Manor and the other powers would pressure the Government Office to call off its campaign against the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance—Zhou Kuohai didn’t entirely believe them.
’After all, the six great powers are hardly saints. How could I place all my hope in them?’
Zhou Kuohai’s true hopes lay with Taiping Dao and the Blood River Sect.
The former was a true top-tier power, one that had once stirred up turmoil across two provinces, forcing the imperial court itself to mobilize its full strength to quell the rebellion.
The latter was not as formidable, but the Blood River Sect was still immensely powerful.
Most importantly, the Blood River Sect also wanted to establish a foothold in Ning’an Prefecture, which created a common interest between them. If they could eliminate just one of the six great powers, and the other powers followed suit by applying pressure, perhaps the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance might have a slim chance of survival.
"Alliance Leader."
As Zhou Kuohai was lost in thought, a figure quietly appeared at his side.
The newcomer wore a brown brocade robe. His face was lean and gaunt, and a sharp light glinted in his eyes with every blink. It was none other than the Grand Elder of the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance, Gu Shuangjia.
"Grand Elder, we have news about Chen Sheng. He’s shown himself at the Jingwu Bureau. I’m preparing to deal with him personally. For the next few days, I’m leaving the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance in your hands."
Zhou Kuohai said, his focus returning as his expression turned solemn.