He absolutely could not die here, nor did he want to.
With his strength at the Innate Realm, he could enjoy a life of luxury and splendor even in the Prefecture City. How could he possibly die here?
"Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance?"
Chen Sheng’s eyes narrowed slightly, and the hand gripping the other man’s neck loosened its hold by a fraction.
Yu Qiantong imdiately latched onto this subtle change as if it were a lifeline. He gasped for breath and hurriedly added:
"Right... right! I’m a special envoy for the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance. If you kill , you’ll make an enemy of the entire Alliance! They’ll issue a kill order and hunt you to the ends of the earth. When that happens... e-even if you’re part of the Governnt Office, you won’t escape death."
Seeing Chen Sheng’s apparent hesitation, Yu Qiantong’s will to survive surged, and he hastily offered a deal:
"Daoist friend... No, Sir! I am utterly convinced of your strength. But... but this stretch of waterway in Changshan is crucial to the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance. They will never give it up. Why don’t... why don’t we discuss this in private?
I... I’m willing to offer ten Elental Crystals to buy my life!"
Hearing this, the corners of Chen Sheng’s mouth lifted into a cold, cruel smile:
"If I kill you, your Elental Crystals... will be mine all the sa."
Before his words could fade, killing intent surged.
Chen Sheng gave him no more chances to spew nonsense. Pure, tyrannical Innate True Qi instantly converged on his left palm, forming an indestructible blade that he thrust forward.
"SQUELCH—!"
His hand pierced through Yu Qiantong’s abdon without resistance. The berserk True Qi was like a furious dragon plunging into the sea, instantly obliterating the Spirit Seed within his Dantian—the very core of his Innate foundation.
"GAAAH—!!!"
Yu Qiantong let out a choked, unwilling, and wretched roar. The backlash and excruciating pain from his shattered Spirit Seed sent blood gushing from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. The aura around him dissipated as quickly as a bursting dam.
His eyes were locked on Chen Sheng, filled with terror and utter disbelief.
"I... I am from the Cyan Flood..."
"You are nothing."
Chen Sheng cut him off, his voice cold and devoid of any emotion.
"You are nothing but a stepping stone for my advancent."
With that, Chen Sheng flicked his arm, tossing Yu Qiantong’s still-twitching corpse onto the deck of the Yang Family’s rchant ship as if he were discarding a piece of trash.
"THUD!"
The heavy corpse slamd onto the wooden deck, leaving a shallow indentation.
Yu Qiantong’s eyes remained wide open, his pupils frozen with ultimate terror and defiance. His body trembled violently and unconsciously, as if he was trying to say sothing more. But with foul blood pouring from his mouth and nose, he couldn’t even manage a single complete final word before his head lolled to the side and he breathed his last.
Chen Sheng’s expression remained impassive at the death of an Innate Powerhouse, as if he had rely swatted an annoying fly. His calm gaze shifted to the pale-faced water bandits on the pirate ship opposite them. He spoke softly, but his voice carried clearly across the surface of the river:
"Slaughter them all. Leave no one alive."
"SHIIING—!"
His blade let out a clear ring as it slid back into its sheath, spotless.
"As you command!"
"We obey the Commander’s orders!"
Xu Shenzhi, Yan Ming, Li Huai Sheng, and the others roared their assent, their voices thundering across the river. An instant later, several figures leaped like cheetahs, pouncing toward the pirate ship with vicious killing intent.
Yang Yi, snapping back to his senses, suppressed the shock in his heart and roared:
"By order of Commander Chen! n of the Yang Family, follow and slay these bandits!"
"KILL—!"
Dozens of figures followed right behind them, pouring onto the pirate ship in a continuous stream.
In an instant, the clash of steel, the wails of the dying, and the desperate cries for rcy all rged, shattering the deathly silence of the Qinglin River.
Chen Sheng, however, seed oblivious to the slaughter behind him. His figure drifted down from the air, landing lightly on the deck.
A quick-witted soldier hurried to place a Taishi Chair behind him. Chen Sheng glanced at the soldier and gave a slight nod before sitting down, calmly observing the one-sided massacre before him as if he were watching a play.
With Yu Qiantong dead and Li Qianlang grievously wounded and out of the fight, this branch of the so-called Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance was left with only two Martial Masters at the Marrow Transformation Realm to hold the line.
On the Governnt Office’s side, however, there were four Marrow Transformation Realm Martial Masters, including Yang Yi.
With such a stark disparity in power, the outco was never in doubt.
The battle was a one-sided slaughter from the very start. Many of the water bandits had already lost their nerve, throwing down their weapons, dropping to their knees, and begging for rcy, hoping for amnesty from the Governnt Office.
However, Chen Sheng’s order had been to "slaughter them all."
And no one dared to disobey.
Soon, so of the water bandits who were strong swimrs, seeing things were hopeless, tried to jump ship and escape by diving into the river.
However, the mont they hit the water, soldiers from the Military Preparation Camp, who had been waiting at the ship’s rails with bows drawn, unhesitatingly loosed their strings.
"WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH—!"
Arrows sliced through the air, plunging accurately into the churning water.
In an instant, more than a dozen crimson blossoms blood on the river’s surface before being swept away by the swift current.
Chen Sheng didn’t personally deal with these small fry for two reasons. First, it was unnecessary.
Soldiers fight soldiers, and generals fight generals; he needed to give his n opportunities to earn rit and prove their worth. Second, he was not as relaxed and effortless as he appeared.
Dealing with Yu Qiantong, he had indeed held a crushing advantage thanks to the power of the Six Extres Golden Bell Technique.
The problem was, however, that he had only just entered the Innate Realm, and his reserves of True Qi were not yet substantial.
Maintaining the astonishingly powerful Innate Protective Golden Bell, in particular, consud an imnse amount of True Qi. He had expended nearly half his reserves on the Golden Bell during that single fight.
At this mont, he only had about a third of his Innate True Qi left in his Dantian.
Concealed by his wide official robes, no one could see his lowered hand tightly gripping an Elental Crystal, silently absorbing the pure Primordial Qi within to replenish his depleted True Qi.
.....
About fifteen minutes later, the sounds of battle on the river finally began to die down.
Yan Ming strode up to Chen Sheng. He reeked of blood, but his face was flushed with excitent. He bowed, his voice booming:
"Sir, reporting! All seventy-six water bandits on the pirate ship have been executed. We suffered only three minor injuries and no deaths."
"Well done."
Chen Sheng nodded slightly, then gave his order: "Have the n take the heads of all the water bandits. Bring them back to the county office to be put on display for all of Changshan County to see."
’This was his victory, and it naturally had to be publicized.’
Then, Chen Sheng’s gaze swept over Xu Shenzhi, Li Huai Sheng, and Yang Yi, who were standing at attention. His voice suddenly sharpened, ringing with indisputable authority:
"Xu Shenzhi, Li Huai Sheng, Yang Yi! Attend to my orders!"
"Sir!"
"I am here!"
"You will imdiately split into three forces. Clan Leader Yang, you will act as guide. You are to head to the Cyan Wolf Water Stronghold and the other main bandit nests."
A chilling light glinted in Chen Sheng’s eyes, his killing intent as cold as ice. "Today, I will take this opportunity to wipe the slate clean. We will eradicate every last water bandit in the Changshan County Region and completely purge the Qinglin River."
The top experts among the bandits had been annihilated. The rest were nothing but cannon fodder.
’And the wealth they’ve accumulated through years of plunder will serve as a bonus reward for this battle, perfect for filling my coffers.’
"Yes, we obey!"
Xu Shenzhi and Li Huai Sheng acknowledged the order with grim determination.
"Rest assured, Commander Chen. I will do everything in my power."
Yang Yi also bowed hurriedly, his attitude even more deferential than before.
’Having witnessed Chen Sheng’s Innate power, his awe only deepened. He understood that a true dragon like Chen Sheng would soon leave the shallow waters of Changshan.’
’Doing more for Chen Sheng before he leaves, and in doing so clearing more obstacles for the Yang Family, was the wisest course of action.’
"Mm. Go, and be quick about it." Chen Sheng waved his hand, satisfied.
After most of the n had received their orders, leaped onto the pirate ship, and departed, Chen Sheng addressed the soldiers who remained:
"Back to the city."
"Yes, Commander."
The soldiers acknowledged the order and imdiately began to turn the ship around.
Chen Sheng, anwhile, bent down and picked up Yu Qiantong’s still-warm corpse. He turned and headed for a cabin room; the body of an Innate Realm Martial Master was well worth the effort of a thorough search.
——————
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