Chapter 166: Douming Arrives

This was truly a headache for Lin Qiu. He still needed to figure out a way to elevate his authority within the East Sea in a short period of time.

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

Just as Lin Qiu was pondering this matter, Prime Minister Turtle pushed open the door and entered. Hearing these words, a trace of curiosity flashed across 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 didn't mistake them?"

There was a hint of skepticism in Lin Qiu's voice. Prime Minister Turtle smiled and said, "The person sent by the Nether Fish clan is Dou Ming; surely I couldn't have mistaken him? I have settled him in the main hall."

"Then accompany me to take a look. This is quite a curious matter."

Upon hearing that Dou Ming had come in person, Lin Qiu's curiosity grew even stronger. He then led Prime Minister Turtle toward the main hall.

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

It could be said that Dou Ming lowered his posture to an extreme degree, completely devoid of the arrogance usually displayed by hidden races. Faced with this attitude, Lin Qiu knew very well in his heart that they must be asking for a favor; otherwise, how could they possibly humble themselves to such an extent?

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

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

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

"What kind of alliance specifically? Under the present circumstances, why would you come to seek an alliance with me? Aren't you afraid that the other races will unite to ostracize your Nether Fish clan?"

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

In the East Sea at present, the majority of marine races held a hostile attitude toward the Other Shore Royal City. If the Nether Fish clan chose to ally with him at this critical juncture, weren't they truly afraid of being jointly ostracized by the other factions?

"We wish to obtain the protection of the Other Shore City. In exchange, we are willing to offer an opportunity granted by our clan's secret art—the chance to open the passage between life and death."

Dou Ming did not answer Lin Qiu's rhetorical question, instead laying out the pre-arranged terms: using the opportunity of a passage that traversed between life and death to trade for the protection of the Other Shore Royal City.

One had to admit that the condition proposed by Dou Ming stirred a certain degree of interest in Lin Qiu. Although he had no immediate use for traveling between life and death right now, that did not mean he would never need it in the future.

Upon careful reflection, Lin Qiu could roughly guess the predicament currently facing the Nether Fish clan. It was nothing more than the fallout from the secret realm, where he had taken Dou Ming along and spared his life, leading others to assume that the Nether Fish clan was standing on Lin Qiu's side.

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

No wonder the Nether Fish clan took the initiative to seek him out, hoping to enlist his protection. To shield a single clan from the siege of all the hidden races, only Lin Qiu's Other Shore Royal City possessed such capability.

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

Dou Ming spoke once more. The reason the Nether Fish clan required Lin Qiu's protection now was entirely because their slumbering ancestors had not yet awakened. Once those ancestors in deep slumber awoke, the strength of the Nether Fish clan would experience a geometric growth.

By that time, they would no longer need to fear the targeting of other races. Having listened to Dou Ming's explanation, Lin Qiu carefully calculated and weighed the options in his mind, ultimately making his decision: "Very well, let your entire Nether Fish clan migrate into the Other Shore City."

No matter how he looked at it, this was a highly profitable deal. Besides, he had already offended all the hidden races thoroughly anyway; he certainly didn't fear adding one more incident to the list.

"I shall return to my clan to report this decree."

Seeing that Lin Qiu had agreed to their demand, a trace of joy appeared on Dou Ming's face. After bidding farewell, he turned and departed.

"What is your view on this matter?"

After Dou Ming left, Lin Qiu asked Prime Minister Turtle for his perspective on the situation.

Even now, he did not entirely trust the Nether Fish clan. What if this was merely a decoy thrown out by the hidden races? That possibility could not be completely ruled out.

"I will have people trail Dou Ming all the way."

Upon hearing Lin Qiu's words, Prime Minister Turtle naturally understood the thoughts lingering in Lin Qiu's mind and replied without hesitation.

Lin Qiu nodded in acknowledgment.

Meanwhile, over at the twenty-eight ancient cities side.

Bi Cang and Divine Sword were receiving the envoys of the hidden races. The expressions on both of their faces were exceedingly respectful. The envoys dispatched by the hidden races were none other than Gu Li and Zhan Hu, those two prodigies who had narrowly escaped with their lives from Lin Qiu's hands within the secret realm.

At this moment, they were by no means as dejected as they had been in the secret realm; instead, they wore airs of extreme arrogance.

"Is the impact of the twenty-eight ancient cities uniting against the royal seal really this weak?"

Zhan Hu watched the projections of the twenty-eight ancient cities constantly assaulting the royal seal, his tone filled with utter disdain.

Hearing Zhan Hu's words, Bi Cang and Divine Sword merely smiled on the surface. Although dissatisfaction brewed within their hearts, they dared not display it.

"As for the terms of this alliance, our hidden race coalition has also laid them down: all actions must be dictated by our side, and all resource distribution must also be prioritized according to our side..."

Zhan Hu rambled on at great length, every single condition of the alliance tilted in favor of the hidden races, clearly bullying the twenty-eight ancient cities because they were no match for Lin Qiu.

Prior to this, the twenty-eight ancient cities had indeed engaged in a confrontation with Lin Qiu, and the outcome of that clash had forced the twenty-eight ancient cities to obey Lin Qiu's orders and release Prime Minister Turtle.

It was precisely by seizing upon this weakness that the hidden races dared to add so many tyrannical clauses to the alliance terms. Under normal circumstances, they would never have resorted to such tactics.

"You are taking advantage of our plight!"

Even Bi Cang found his expression turning exceptionally grim upon hearing these tyrannical clauses, and he directly questioned Zhan Hu and Gu Li: "I suspect you have no intention of allying with us at all; these terms are pure humiliation!"

At this point in Bi Cang's speech, Divine Sword very cooperatively drew his weapon, giving off the strong impression that at Bi Cang's single command, he would instantly drive Zhan Hu and Gu Li away.

Witnessing the double act put on by Bi Cang and Divine Sword, Zhan Hu and Gu Li exchanged glances, both of their faces flashing with amusement.