Chapter 165: The Hall of the Other Shore

This was truly a headache for Lin Qiu. He was now forced to ponder how to quickly elevate his authority within the East Sea.

"Someone from the Nether Fish clan has sent a representative, requesting an audience with the Young City Lord."

Just as Lin Qiu was deep in thought regarding this matter, Prime Minister Turtle pushed open the door and entered. Hearing these words, a flash of curiosity crossed Lin Qiu's face.

Why would the Nether Fish clan send someone to see him? Clearly, outside the secret realm, he and the Nether Fish clan had clashed. Why would they take the initiative to seek him out now?

"Are you certain you haven't mistaken this?"

There was a hint of skepticism in Lin Qiu's voice. Prime Minister Turtle chuckled in response. "The person sent by the Nether Fish clan is Dou Ming. Surely I could not be mistaken about that? I have settled him in the main hall."

"Then accompany me to take a look. This is certainly a peculiar turn of events."

Upon hearing that it was Dou Ming who had come calling, Lin Qiu's curiosity deepened. He then led Prime Minister Turtle toward the main hall.

Arriving at the hall, Dou Ming, who was seated in a chair, immediately stood up upon seeing Lin Qiu approach. "Greetings, Lord of the Othershore City."

It could be said that Dou Ming had lowered his posture completely, entirely devoid of the arrogance typically associated with the secluded clans. Facing such a demeanor from Dou Ming, Lin Qiu was well aware that they must be asking for a favor; otherwise, why would they humble themselves to such an extent?

"It has been quite some time since our parting in the secret realm, has it not?"

Lin Qiu instructed Prime Minister Turtle to pour a cup of tea, speaking leisurely and showing not the slightest trace of haste.

He was waiting for Dou Ming to state the purpose of this visit. After exchanging some idle chatter with Lin Qiu, Dou Ming finally cut to the chase. "City Lord, I have come under the orders of my clan. We wish to form an alliance with you."

"What kind of alliance precisely? Under the current circumstances, why would you come to seek an alliance with me? Are you not afraid that the other clans will unite to ostracize your Nether Fish clan?"

Hearing Dou Ming's words, Lin Qiu furrowed his brow slightly and shot back with a direct question.

In the East Sea today, the majority of marine clans held a hostile attitude toward the Othershore Royal City. If the Nether Fish clan chose to ally with him at such a critical juncture, were they truly unafraid of being collectively ostracized by the other clans?

"We wish to obtain the protection of the Othershore City. In return, we are willing to offer a chance to utilize our clan's secret art: opening the passage between life and death."

Dou Ming did not answer Lin Qiu's rhetorical question, instead laying out the pre-arranged terms, trading an opportunity to traverse the passage between life and death for the protection of the Othershore Royal City.

It must be said that the condition offered by Dou Ming stirred a certain degree of interest in Lin Qiu. Although he had no immediate need to travel between life and death, that did not mean he would never require it in the future.

Upon second thought, Lin Qiu could roughly deduce the plight currently facing the Nether Fish clan. It was undoubtedly because he had spared Dou Ming and extended a helping hand within the secret realm, leading others to believe that the Nether Fish clan had sided with Lin Qiu.

Under such circumstances, it was hardly surprising that the other clans would unite to target the Nether Fish clan.

No wonder the Nether Fish clan had taken the initiative to seek him out, hoping to secure his protection. To shield a single clan from the combined assault of the secluded clans was a feat only Lin Qiu's Othershore Royal City was capable of pulling off.

"Furthermore, you only need to protect us for a limited time, not indefinitely—just until the ancient predecessors of our clan awaken."

Dou Ming spoke once more. The sole reason the Nether Fish clan required Lin Qiu's protection was that their slumbering elders had yet to wake. Once those ancient beings awoke, the strength of the Nether Fish clan would experience an exponential surge.

By that time, they would no longer need to fear the hostile targeting of other clans. Having listened to Dou Ming's explanation, Lin Qiu carefully calculated and weighed the pros and cons in his mind before finally making his decision. "Very well. Have your entire Nether Fish clan migrate into the Othershore City."

No matter how he looked at it, this was a highly profitable deal. In any case, he had already thoroughly offended all the secluded clans, so he certainly did not fear adding one more incident to the list.

"I shall return to my clan immediately to report this outcome."

Seeing that Lin Qiu had agreed to their demand, a hint of joy surfaced on Dou Ming's face. After offering his farewells, he turned and departed.

"What are your thoughts on this matter?"

After Dou Ming left, Lin Qiu turned to Prime Minister Turtle to ask for his perspective on the affair.

Even now, he did not entirely trust the Nether Fish clan. What if this was merely a bait thrown out by the secluded clans? Such a possibility could not be entirely ruled out.

"I will have people tail Dou Ming the entire way."

Hearing Lin Qiu's words, Prime Minister Turtle naturally understood the misgivings in his heart, and thus replied without the slightest hesitation.

Lin Qiu nodded in acknowledgment.

Meanwhile, at the twenty-eight ancient cities.

Bi Cang and Divine Sword were welcoming the emissaries of the secluded clans. Both of their expressions were deeply respectful. The emissaries dispatched by the secluded clans were none other than Gu Li and Battle Tiger, the two prodigies who had narrowly escaped with their lives from Lin Qiu's hands within the secret realm.

At this moment, they showed none of the disarray they had exhibited in the secret realm, wearing instead an air of supreme arrogance.

"Are the twenty-eight ancient cities so feeble when combined that their assault on the royal seal yields such negligible results?"

Battle Tiger gazed at the projections of the twenty-eight ancient cities continuously battering the royal seal, his tone dripping with disdain.

Hearing these words from Battle Tiger, Bi Cang and Divine Sword merely smiled faintly. Although dissatisfaction churned within their hearts, neither dared to display it.

"The terms of this alliance have already been laid down by our secluded clan coalition. All operations must be spearheaded by our side, and all resource distribution must likewise be prioritized according to our demands..."

Battle Tiger rattled off a long list of conditions, every single one of which heavily favored the secluded clans—a blatant exploitation of the fact that the twenty-eight ancient cities were no match for Lin Qiu.

Prior to this, the twenty-eight ancient cities had indeed engaged in a confrontation with Lin Qiu, the ultimate outcome of which had forced the twenty-eight ancient cities to submit to Lin Qiu's will and release Prime Minister Turtle.

It was precisely by seizing upon this weakness that the secluded clans dared to append so many tyrannical clauses to the alliance terms. Under normal circumstances, they would never have resorted to such heavy-handed tactics.

"You are simply taking advantage of our plight!"

Even Bi Cang's expression turned intensely dark upon hearing these tyrannical terms. He directly confronted Battle Tiger and Gu Li, demanding, "I suspect that you have no intention of allying with us at all! These clauses are nothing short of an insult to us!"

As Bi Cang reached this point, Divine Sword very cooperatively drew his weapon, projecting the distinct impression that at Bi Cang's single word, he would immediately drive Battle Tiger and Gu Li out.

Witnessing the well-coordinated double act put on by Bi Cang and Divine Sword, Battle Tiger and Gu Li exchanged glances, a trace of a smile flashing across both of their faces.