The Serpent's Blood Conspiracy

Deep within the Lin Hai County yamen, the Criminal Affairs Office was brightly lit, and the atmosphere was heavy.

After the enormous corpse of the Unicorn Evil Squid had been dismembered and processed, its most valuable materials had been properly sealed away, awaiting further handling or submission.

However, while examining the relatively "ordinary" remains and tissues that had been sent in, the experienced coroner and several Monster Hunters hired by the County yamen discovered a trace of something unusual.

"Your Excellency, please look."

An elderly Monster Hunter with graying hair pointed at a dark-purple, slightly withered fragment of tentacle on the tray.

Apart from the marks left by being frozen, its cross-section revealed several dark-golden patterns deep within the muscle fibers. They seemed to twist faintly like living things!

"This was not formed naturally, nor could it have been created by the Evil Squid's own demonic power. It looks like... like traces of having been forcibly eroded by some higher-order demonic power."

Another coroner also presented his report. "County Lieutenant, after examining the demon blood, I discovered that aside from its inherent properties, it also contains a trace of an extremely faint yet abnormally violent and indescribable aura. It is completely incompatible with the Evil Squid's nature, yet has fused with it in a bizarre way. It seems to be, yet not quite..."

County Lieutenant Gao Mingyuan and Martial Hall Master Zhao Canghai, who had hurried over after hearing the news, listened in silence, but their gazes grew increasingly sharp.

"Erosion and transformation by higher-order demonic power... An abnormally violent aura..." Gao Mingyuan lightly tapped his fingers against the table, his voice cold.

"As expected, this was no coincidence. This Evil Squid was artificially created—or rather, a monster that had been 'spawned' and 'strengthened.'"

Zhao Canghai gave a slight nod, his gaze falling on the dark-golden patterns. "To carry out demonic-power modification of this degree, its strength is by no means ordinary."

"It could be a Great Demon in the Blood Changing Realm, or even... a terrifying existence possessing a True Spirit Bloodline. But its condition seems special. It did not act personally; instead, it used this beast to do its bidding, intending to create chaos."

This conclusion made everyone present suck in a cold breath. A Great Demon in the Blood Changing Realm? It might even be connected to a True Spirit?

The things implicated behind this were far too horrifying. What was a True Spirit? They were the mightiest "Yao Saints" and even "Great Sages" among the Demon Race. Descendants of True Spirits could feast on rosy clouds and consume qi by relying on their bloodline alone, transcendent from birth.

"If Martial Hall Master Zhao had not possessed godlike saber skills and decisively slain it with a single strike..." Gao Mingyuan looked at Zhao Canghai, his tone carrying lingering fear and relief.

"If it had escaped, or even continued growing, the consequences would have been unimaginable. We would have had no chance of discovering the traces of this demonic-power modification!"

It was precisely because the modified Evil Squid had been slain intact that its corpse could be brought back, allowing these minute yet crucial pieces of evidence to appear before them.

Zhao Canghai's gaze was deep, and he did not reply. The irrational chaos in the giant demon's final moment flashed through his mind once more... Had that truly been a flaw caused by its injuries?

"Investigate!" Gao Mingyuan slammed his palm onto the table and rose abruptly, murderous intent spilling from his eyes.

"Conduct a thorough investigation. The past six months—no, the past year. Every suspicious person entering or leaving Lin Hai County, especially anyone who has had contact with the East Sea; every record concerning abnormalities in the sea region; every clue that might be connected to this kind of demonic power. Even the slightest connection must not be overlooked!"

Under Gao Mingyuan's fury, the enormous machine of the County yamen began operating with unprecedented efficiency.

One order after another was issued, countless overt and covert agents mobilized, and a mass of case files was pulled out and examined anew... A vast net aimed at the potential mastermind began tightening rapidly.

And the source of all this was the giant demon that should have escaped, but had instead been left behind.

At the same time, a hundred li from the coastline, deep within the Chishui River Estuary, which remained shrouded in a thin mist, a remarkably hidden underwater cavern lay concealed.

The cavern entrance was cleverly obscured by naturally formed reefs and dense aquatic plants, while the interior held an entirely different world.

The cavern walls were smooth, as though polished by some force. Strange mosses that emitted a dim glow were embedded in them, providing a faint light.

The air was damp and stifling, thick with a pungent fishy odor and the scent of water and rust. Deeper inside, several waterborne strongholds had been built against enormous reefs.

This was the true lair of the Chishui Bandits, as well as the greatest secret of their leader, the "Chishui Flood Dragon," Zhang Kui Tao.

Inside the largest stronghold's main hall, the atmosphere was terrifyingly oppressive.

An exquisite jade wine cup was smashed viciously onto the ground, shattering to pieces.

Seated in a tiger-skin chair, Zhang Kui Tao's face was livid. His chest heaved violently, and his eyes were filled with fury, heartache, and a trace of disbelieving dread.

Unlike the fierce bandit-lord image spread by rumors, the Zhang Kui Tao before them had a sharp, hardened face and sinister eyes.

Yet his entire body radiated an aura that was highly attuned to the surrounding water vapor while also carrying a faint pressure. His cultivation had astonishingly reached the peak of the Tendon Changing Realm, seemingly only one step away from the Bone Forging Realm!

But at this moment, this bandit chief who had once made passing merchants tremble at the mere mention of his name looked somewhat rattled.

"Useless! A bunch of useless trash! You couldn't even buy time, and you wasted a precious 'Cloud Flood Dragon Blood Pearl' on top of that." He growled, his voice like that of a wounded beast.

Several bandit chiefs below sat as silent as cicadas in winter, not daring even to breathe loudly.

They knew the origins of that "Unicorn Evil Squid."

Several months ago, the leader had somehow obtained a drop of extremely mysterious "treasure blood" containing terrifying power. Using a secret technique, he had forcibly injected it into the body of a captured century-old Evil Squid along with a massive quantity of Blood Food.

The Evil Squid's strength had consequently surged. Although it had gained little spiritual intelligence, it had become exceptionally savage and could now obey the leader's commands to a certain degree.

The original plan had been to use this modified Evil Squid, together with their familiarity with the waters and the mist, to launch continuous attacks on the County yamen and passing ships, creating panic.

They would firmly draw the authorities' attention toward the "ferocious Sea Beast," thereby concealing their true activities.

According to their estimates, even if the County yamen sent experts to hunt it down, given the Evil Squid's strength and cunning, it should have had little trouble escaping with the cover of mist and ink even if it was outmatched.

Who could have known... who could have known that Zhao Canghai of the Blackwater Martial Arts School would cleave it apart with a single slash!

It had not even had the chance to struggle.

Could Zhao Canghai's strength truly be that terrifying?!

What pained Zhang Kui Tao even more was that to spawn and control that Evil Squid, he had used up a precious "Cloud Flood Dragon Blood Pearl."

That was his greatest reliance and his greatest secret!

"Big Brother, what do we do now?" A leader with fish-scale tattoos on his face asked cautiously. "The County yamen must have grown suspicious and is conducting a massive investigation... Could they trace it back to us?"

Zhang Kui Tao drew several deep breaths, forcibly suppressing his surging qi and blood as well as his fury. His eyes once again turned cold and vicious. "Investigate? Let them investigate! The Chishui River Estuary is a tangled maze, and the mist never disperses year-round. Without someone familiar with the waterways to guide them, they won't even find the entrance. And so what if they do? I've operated here for so many years. Do they think I'm a vegetarian?"

Though his words were hard, a powerful sense of unease rose in his heart.

He had never expected the plan to develop such a massive flaw.

The Evil Squid had died too quickly and too thoroughly. Instead, it might have left behind clues that should never have remained...

"Pass down my order!" he said coldly. "All peripheral strongholds are to remain hidden for the time being. Suspend all activities. Strengthen the defenses within the stronghold. Without my orders, no one is to act rashly! Above all, keep a close watch on that Blood Food. Not the slightest rumor must escape!"

"Yes!" The assembled leaders hurriedly acknowledged the order and withdrew.

The empty hall was left with only Zhang Kui Tao. He walked to the window and gazed at the dense mist outside, his expression shifting uncertainly.

He subconsciously touched a hidden brand on his chest. From there came a faint trace of heat.

Many years ago, he had nearly been buried in a fish's belly during a shipwreck, only to accidentally fall into an underwater cavern. There, he had seen a sight he would never forget: a young Flood Dragon only several zhang long, its scales still showing the signs of immaturity.

The Flood Dragon had not killed him. Instead, for some unknown reason, it had bestowed upon him a precious drop of Essence Blood and taught him a few crude methods of using it.

It was precisely by relying on that drop of Flood Dragon Essence Blood that he had undergone Moulting and Bone Changing, causing his strength to soar. He had then established himself at the Chishui River Estuary and founded the fearsome Chishui Bandits.

That drop of Essence Blood was the source of his power and his greatest secret.

He regarded the Flood Dragon as his master and had secretly gathered Blood Food for it over the years, helping it grow.

The "Flood Dragon Blood Pearl" used to modify the Evil Squid had been condensed from a small amount of blood bestowed by his master. His original intention had been to give his master another source of assistance while diverting Lin Hai County's increasingly focused attention.

Yet he had never imagined that he would lose both the chicken and the rice.

"Zhao Canghai... Blackwater Martial Arts School..." Zhang Kui Tao ground out the names through clenched teeth, murderous intent flashing in his eyes. "And you too... Gao Mingyuan."

"No matter who you are, anyone who dares block my master's path or ruin my plans... must die!" He suddenly clenched his fist, and his knuckles cracked explosively.

"Hmph. No matter how high your martial skills are, how could you possibly guess that what you're facing is no ordinary bandit trouble..." he muttered, the corner of his mouth curving into a savage arc.

"When my master's cultivation is complete and he breaks through his seclusion, this Lin Hai County—even the entire South Sea... will all become our hunting grounds!"