Chapter 48: Crisis! The Furious Dragon Gang is attacking |
"Flood Dragon Gang?"
Chen Xiuwu's face also changed, becoming extremely grave.
All along, the Flood Dragon Gang had been the overlord of several commanderies along the An River, monopolizing the entire river's shipping trade. They had signed exclusive agreements with the various clans along the river.
For the clans' goods trade, they didn't care if you used land routes. But if you wanted to use the waterway, you were restricted to your own commandery. If you wanted to transport goods to other commanderies via the An River, you had to go through the Flood Dragon Gang.
The reason the Flood Dragon Gang was so domineering was also related to their backers. It was rumored, just rumored, that there was a royal commandery prince backing them. Moreover, the gang leader of the Flood Dragon Gang was a renowned Zifu Realm cultivator.
Overall, the strength of the Flood Dragon Gang was no less than that of a fifth-grade Purple Mansion Clan.
However, the Flood Dragon Gang also had significant limitations; their business was confined to the An River, with the East Sea estuary as their boundary.
Logically speaking.
According to the agreement between the Flood Dragon Gang and the various clans, the Donggang Chen Clan's fleet helping the marriage alliance transport goods did not violate the agreement. After all, the Chen Clan's river fleet at most stopped at the Changning Garrison's Changning Guandu, and then the Qian Clan's land caravan would distribute the goods throughout the commandery.
Several times they tried to negotiate with the marriage alliance but were met with resistance and opposition. Because of this, the Flood Dragon Gang bore a grudge and had several clashes with the Chen Clan's river fleet on the An River.
Both sides had concerns, so the conflicts remained at the level of provocations and verbal spats.
But this time, a few of the Flood Dragon Gang's river ships sailed to the outskirts of Donggang, seemingly attempting to enter Donggang. This naturally violated the agreement with the local clans.
After all, Donggang's location was right at the East Sea estuary.
No wonder.
Chen Xiuwu and Chen Fanghua's faces became so heavy.
***
At the same time.
The three river ships flying the ferocious Flood Dragon flag were not transport ships of the Flood Dragon Gang. They were specially designed combat ships for rapid deployment and patrols.
The gang members on the ships wore red and black tight-fitting clothes, with inner layers made of tanned spirit fish skin, and carefully crafted water armor. They carried water-piercing spikes or short blades at their waists and held bows and crossbows for ranged attacks.
Each of them had sharp eyes and steady breaths, clearly elite members specialized in naval combat. The weakest among them was at the third level of the Qi Refining Realm, with most at the fourth or fifth level.
Some were even elites at the sixth or seventh level, and captains at the eighth or ninth level.
Each of the ferocious Flood Dragon combat ships had a Lingtai Realm commander overseeing it.
Such dedicated combat ships, even if just one was deployed, could suppress an ordinary ninth-grade clan. If three were deployed together, even an eighth-grade clan wouldn't dare to confront them head-on.
Moreover, the ferocious Flood Dragon combat ships excelled in naval combat, and the gang members were all skilled swimmers. Ordinary merchant ships wouldn't dare to oppose them.
At the bow of the leading ferocious Flood Dragon combat ship stood a middle-aged man. He wore a set of soft armor made from high-level fierce beast skin, his head was shaved to a gleaming shine, and a deep scar ran from his left eye to the corner of his mouth, making him look ferocious and menacing.
Even the two Lingtai Realm commanders behind him held their breaths, not daring to make a sound.
This bald, scarred man was none other than one of the Flood Dragon Gang's infamous Celestial Realm experts—"One-Eyed Flood Dragon" Zhao Wuqing.
Zhao Wuqing originally came from an ordinary eighth-grade clan in a certain commandery. He was accomplished in both academics and martial arts from a young age, and his family nurtured him as a future Celestial Realm talent, placing their hopes on him. He also had a childhood sweetheart, a distant cousin, by his side.
Logically, Zhao Wuqing's life should have been happy and fulfilling.
But, as fate would have it.
For some unknown reason, he suddenly contracted a strange illness. His meridians became blocked, preventing him from circulating profound energy to refine his blood and strengthen his body.
His cultivation level plummeted day by day, and because he couldn't refine his blood, his vital energy accumulated, causing him to become increasingly obese. From a dashing young man, he gradually turned into a fat nerd who panted after a few steps.
His family took him everywhere seeking medical help to no avail and eventually gave up on him.
His childhood sweetheart also gradually distanced herself from him and married a direct descendant of a seventh-grade clan.
In his despair, Zhao Wuqing left home and wandered until he accidentally encountered the Flood Dragon Gang's leader—"Turbulent Dragon" Long Wuji.
Long Wuji, a man of great talent and knowledge, saw through Zhao Wuqing's "illness," recognizing it as a side effect of awakening a special bloodline constitution. He found a profound body-tempering technique for Zhao Wuqing and personally helped him clear his meridians and establish a foundation.
Soon, Zhao Wuqing overcame his "illness," and his cultivation began to advance rapidly. He abandoned his original name, adopting the name Zhao Wuqing, and severed ties with his past.
From then on, Zhao Wuqing followed Long Wuji closely, gradually becoming a formidable general of the Flood Dragon Gang. Known for his ruthless and merciless nature, he was Long Wuji's most loyal hound.
As a result, even within the Flood Dragon Gang, many members feared him more than they respected him.
***
At the confluence of the sea and river, the ferocious Flood Dragon combat ships cut through the waves, advancing against the wind and waves.
As Chen Fanghua's fleet spotted the ferocious Flood Dragon combat ships, Zhao Wuqing and his men also noticed Chen Fanghua's fleet.
"Commander."
A man with eagle-like eyes, Lu Jinyi, spoke, "Judging by the flag and formation, that fleet should be the newly expanded Baidao Fleet of the Chen Clan."
"Baidao Fleet?" Zhao Wuqing's eyes narrowed slightly, "It seems the Chen Clan's business is growing. Just a fleet in the Baidao Garrison direction consists of five large merchant ships."
"Indeed, as the Chen Clan grows stronger, they have suppressed the two ninth-grade clans, the Jiang Clan and the Li Clan of Donggang, to the point where they can't lift their heads." Lu Jinyi said, "They have already taken over ninety percent of Donggang's trade and over thirty percent of the cargo transport within the Baidao Garrison."
Lu Jinyi, stationed at the Changning Garrison's "Flood Dragon Trading Branch," was naturally well-informed about the happenings in Changning Garrison. Yes, the "Flood Dragon Trading Company" was the official business name registered by the Flood Dragon Gang with the government.
This was similar to how certain "organizations" on Earth would name themselves as companies.
"Thirty percent, heh." Zhao Wuqing sneered, his eyes gleaming with greed, "The Donggang Chen Clan, not even a seventh-grade clan, dares to be so greedy and domineering, relying on the marriage alliance with the Changning Wang Clan and the backing of the East Sea's Tantais. No wonder the Jiang Clan and the Li Clan of Donggang willingly transferred their port shares to our Flood Dragon Gang."
"Lu Jinyi, give the order to intercept that fleet."
Lu Jinyi's face changed, and he quickly said, "Commander, I heard the deputy commander of that fleet is Chen Xiuwu, the eldest son of the Chen Clan's main line. He's also the nephew of Wang Shouzhe of the Changning Wang Clan."
Although Wang Shouzhe wasn't a Celestial Realm cultivator, his status in the Changning Garrison was extremely prominent. Even the Celestial Realm cultivators of other clans were willing to follow his lead.
It was because of him that the various clans in the Changning Garrison were almost united.
However, the term "almost" indicated that not every clan was willing to submit to the Wang Clan. There were always small clans that suffered due to the rise of the Wang Clan's marriage alliance.
For example, the Jiang Clan and the Li Clan of Donggang, who usually dared not speak out but seized the opportunity to ally with the powerful Flood Dragon Gang.
"Wang Shouzhe?" Zhao Wuqing pursed his lips and sneered, "Wasn't he the one who refused to yield an inch during our previous negotiations with the Flood Dragon Gang? Just a Lingtai Realm clan leader, relying on his connections at the Purple Mansion Academy, thinks he's a local overlord."
"First, capture this fleet and take the young clan leader of the Chen Clan alive." Zhao Wuqing's scarred face twisted into a cruel smile, "Then, we can discuss the Flood Dragon Gang's entry into Donggang with Wang Shouzhe. Our previous strategy with him was too polite. A mere local tyrant, given a bit of face, actually thinks our Flood Dragon Gang is made of clay."
Although Lu Jinyi felt it was unwise and that the commander might be underestimating Wang Shouzhe, he knew Zhao Wuqing's temper too well. Defying him would have severe consequences.
Immediately, he ordered, "The commander has ordered, all Flood Dragon combat ships, attack the Chen Clan's merchant fleet."
The signalman waved the flags.
The three ferocious Flood Dragon combat ships moved in unison, forming a triangular formation, and charged at the five merchant ships like a pack of wolves.
***
"Has the Flood Dragon Gang gone mad? How dare they attack our merchant ships outside Donggang?" Chen Fanghua's face turned livid, "Quick, send a distress signal to Donggang."
The merchant ships were also armed. Besides Chen Fanghua, a Lingtai Realm cultivator, there were a dozen or so Qi Refining Realm family guards or clan members, and a total of six to seven hundred ordinary sailors.
They could easily handle small, unorganized pirates, rogue cultivators, or third and fourth-grade fierce beasts. But against the Flood Dragon Gang's specialized combat ships, they were no match.
With Chen Fanghua's order.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Fireworks were launched into the sky, lighting up half the sky even in broad daylight.
At the same time.
The five large merchant ships began to turn, heading towards Donggang port. However, these giant merchant ships, designed to carry more cargo, were bulky and slow to turn and sail.
***
"Trying to escape?" Zhao Wuqing sneered, "How foolish, do they think our Flood Dragon Gang is a joke?"
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
At the bow of the ferocious Flood Dragon combat ships, several large ship-mounted ballistae were the first to unleash their power. The arm-thick ballista bolts whistled through the air. These ballistae, made with spirit wood and high-level fierce beast tendons, were far more powerful than Earth's ballistae.
They were highly effective in large-scale battles, city defense, or against beast tides.
A single shot could pierce through a third-grade fierce beast. Dozens of shots together could deter even a fifth-grade fierce beast.
Additionally, they were quite effective in naval battles. After all, ships were slow and large targets.
One of the bolts hit a deckhand on the merchant ship, piercing through both him and the deck.
"Damn the Flood Dragon Gang!"
The young and hot-headed Chen Xiuwu was furious, "Fight back! Use the trial ship-mounted Divine Might Cannons my uncle sent."
With his order.
The family guards sprang into action. On one side of the flagship, thick waterproof tarps were pulled away, revealing several giant cannons made of refined iron. They were fixed to the ship's side but could be aimed using winches.
These Divine Might Cannons, meticulously developed by Wang Shouzhe, were based on his imagination and limited theoretical knowledge. They were gradually crafted by the family's low-level artifact refiners.
They were powerful but cumbersome. Each cannon weighed several thousand pounds, making it difficult even for a Lingtai Realm cultivator to move.
Wang Shouzhe had invested resources in developing the "Divine Might Cannons" because they had a low technical threshold. More importantly, Ping'an Town was located on the outskirts. In the event of a beast tide, it would be the first to suffer.
He never forgot the hardships the Wang Clan endured while resisting the beast tide. Even without internal strife, the losses would have been significant.
And that was just a beast tide led by a fifth-grade fierce beast. What if it were a sixth or even seventh-grade beast tide?
Undoubtedly, the Divine Might Cannon was one of the most cost-effective weapons for combating beast tides. Of course, using it against Celestial Realm cultivators would be foolish, as they could easily dodge in the sky, more agile than fighter jets.
Like ballistae, the Divine Might Cannon was also well-suited for naval use. Wang Shouzhe had ambitions and expectations for expanding into the sea.
The family guards operating the cannons had undergone initial training. Though their movements were clumsy due to nervousness, they were strong. Even Qi Refining Realm cultivators had strength far beyond ordinary humans.
Using the winches, they quickly adjusted the cannons' positions. Following the training instructions, they lit the fuses and fired.
Huge solid iron balls roared out.
Due to the choppy waters, the first two shots missed, splashing into the sea.
But even so, it startled the Flood Dragon Gang members. What kind of weapon was that, with such power?
The third shot hit the deck, shattering it and bouncing forward. Two Qi Refining Realm gang members in its path were crushed, their bodies shattered. The iron ball, dragging a trail of blood and debris, smashed through the stern and fell into the sea.
Instantly!
The ferocious Flood Dragon combat ship fell silent. The gang members and commanders turned pale. What kind of weapon was that, capable of shattering people?