Chapter 364 - 198: Great Victory at Fulong! Harvesting the Vermilion Fruit

Chapter 364: Chapter 198: Great Victory at Fulong! Harvesting the Vermilion Fruit

"Are you alright?"

Sun Yuzhi’s gaze fell on Chen Sheng, her eyes filled with undisguised concern.

In her view, for someone who had just entered the Primordial Sea Realm to defeat Zhou Kuohai—a peak Thunder Sound Realm master—Chen Sheng must have paid an immense price, even with a powerful Divine Technique like the Nine Nether Yin Fire.

"I’m fine."

Chen Sheng waved his hand with a relaxed expression, the corners of his mouth even turned up in a slight smile.

The battle had indeed been perilous and difficult. Had it not been for the Nine Nether Yin Fire, his final trump card, the outcome would have been uncertain.

But now that he had succeeded, there was no need to dwell on the dangers.

"After this battle, Chen, I’m afraid your name will shake the entire Ning’an Prefecture."

Li Jizhou stepped forward at the right moment, his tone filled with clear admiration and warmth.

He had even quietly changed his form of address, becoming more familiar.

Hearing this, Chen Sheng merely smiled humbly and said nothing more, but a profound light flashed in his eyes.

In the nine months since his transfer from Changshan County, Chen Sheng had gone from a nobody to making a name for himself, and then to becoming famous in Ning’an. Every step he took was as steady as a rock.

And now, he had finally reached the top echelons of Ning’an Prefecture.

Sun Yuzhi listened to Li Jizhou’s words, then looked at Chen Sheng’s profile—calm, yet with a sharp edge hidden within.

Her usually stern expression softened unconsciously, and a quiet warmth of pride for him bloomed in her heart.

...

The battlefield cleanup and tallying proceeded quickly and in an orderly fashion.

Under Chen Sheng’s command, all matters were handled methodically.

The preliminary tally was soon reported.

The Jingwu Bureau had lost eighty-three members in the battle, with forty seriously injured and over two hundred with minor injuries.

The losses were undeniably heavy.

But the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance’s side was far more disastrous.

According to the captives’ testimony, the six hundred-plus elites Zhou Kuohai had brought with him were practically the last of the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance’s core forces.

In this battle at Fulong Creek, nearly four hundred were killed on the spot or later died from their injuries. It was a devastating blow to their vitality, their very foundation ruined.

After this single battle, the great scourge of water bandits that had plagued Ning’an for decades existed in name only.

After a brief discussion, Chen Sheng, Sun Yuzhi, and Li Jizhou decided on a strategy to divide their forces.

Chen Sheng and Sun Yuzhi would lead two hundred Jingwu Guards who were still in good condition, along with several dozen surrendered Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance bandits who were genuinely willing to cooperate and knew the way, to immediately head for the Alliance’s main headquarters.

Their mission: to eliminate the remaining enemies and seize their wealth.

Li Jizhou, meanwhile, would be responsible for escorting the wounded, the prisoners, and the bodies of their fallen comrades back to Yunze City. He would also report the battle situation to Governor Nie Xuanfeng and Lord Xie Jingze and begin preparing the merit reports.

After Li Jizhou and his detachment departed, Chen Sheng stood alone on the deck of the flagship, his gaze slowly sweeping over the two hundred Jingwu Guards who remained.

Wherever his gaze landed, whether on a Captain, a Peacekeeper Envoy, or an ordinary Jingwu Guard, they all subconsciously lowered their heads slightly. In their eyes, beyond the original awe, there was now a deep, heartfelt shock and submission.

If their obedience to this young superior before had been mixed with considerations of his background and potential, then today, the heroic figure at Fulong Creek who stood atop the Golden Bell and incinerated his enemies with crimson flames had used undeniable strength to completely crush any and all reservations.

A Mystic Realm master in his twenties, who had single-handedly slain a major bandit lord... Such a feat was enough to make anyone submit with wholehearted admiration.

It was no exaggeration to say that after this battle, Chen Sheng’s prestige within the official circles of Ning’an Prefecture had soared to a whole new level.

"Set out! Target—the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance headquarters!"

Chen Sheng’s voice was not loud, but it was clear and steady, carrying an unquestionable decisiveness that spread across the somewhat empty expanse of water.

"Yes, sir!"

The two hundred Jingwu Guards responded in unison, their voices perfectly synchronized, carrying the sharp, seasoned aura of those tempered by blood and fire.

...

With surrendered bandits who knew the waterways and hidden posts to guide them, the rest of the journey went much more smoothly.

The fleet traveled along secret channels, and the several watchtowers and small strongholds set up by the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance along the way were either easily eliminated or surrendered upon hearing of their approach.

The few loyalists who tried to put up a desperate fight or send warnings were swiftly crushed with overwhelming force.

Chen Sheng’s methods were simple and ruthless: surrender and live, resist and die.

Along the way, blood stained the turquoise waves, but it was the fastest way to clear the path to the main headquarters.

Finally, a massive water fortress built against a steep cliff came into view.

They gazed at the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance’s main headquarters, which took advantage of the natural mountain terrain and blended cleverly with the aquatic environment, its walls high and its arrow towers numerous.

A flicker of admiration couldn’t help but cross Chen Sheng’s eyes.

Zhou Kuohai truly had been a remarkable man to build such an establishment in this place.

This place was easy to defend and hard to attack. If he had been given more time to set up a Village Protection Array, even if the Government Office had found this location, they would have paid a bloody price to assault it. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ

Only an expert above the Mystic Realm could have perhaps breached it with ease.

At a signal from Chen Sheng, Zhan Fusheng walked to the bow, gathered his True Qi, and shouted towards the silent Water Stockade:

"The Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance Leader, Zhou Kuohai, has been executed! Listen up! Surrender your weapons and open the gates now, and you might be spared! If you continue to resist, when the stockade falls, not even a chicken or dog will be left alive!"

Before his voice had even faded.

"WHOOSH!"

A jet-black Crossbow Arrow, its tip glinting with a cold light, shot out from the highest arrow tower on the stockade wall.

It tore through the air with a piercing shriek, aimed straight for Zhan Fusheng’s face.

The vicious Qi Force clinging to it revealed it to be a Breaking Gang Crossbow arrow, one made specifically to pierce Protective Gang Qi.

Zhan Fusheng’s face went pale with terror, and he scrambled to dodge.

In a flash, a figure appeared before him like a phantom.

Chen Sheng’s expression was serene. With a mere flick of his sleeve, an invisible wave of Gang Qi rolled out. The Breaking Gang Crossbow arrow, powerful enough to threaten an Innate Martial Artist, seemed to slam into an invisible wall of air.