Chapter Thirty-Two: The Frail Young Master

Jiang Yuan was no fool. If he allowed himself to be swayed by Ao Qin’s pitiful act, then he had no business being King Zhou. Let alone survive the machinations of the sages.

Ao Qin, in human form, looked as wretched as could be. His hair and beard were white, his face full of deep lines, his breath weak—he was the very image of a decrepit old man.

“Just now, I was overcome with grief for my son and lost my senses for a moment, offending Your Majesty,” Ao Qin explained.

“Hmph! That was more than just an offense!” Jiang Yuan snorted coldly.

“Forgive me, Your Majesty!” Ao Qin pleaded.

“Why aren’t you still avenging Ao Xi?” Jiang Yuan asked with a mocking smile.

Ao Qin replied respectfully, “That rebellious son deserved death for defying Your Majesty.”

If Ao Xi were still alive, his father’s words would have angered him to death. Defying King Zhou? He was merely riding a wave—how was that wrong?

“Just now, did the South Sea Dragon King not claim absolute loyalty to the Great Shang?” Jiang Yuan raised his brows, no longer dwelling on what had just happened.

To Jiang Yuan, Ao Qin was already a dead dragon.

“I am absolutely loyal to Your Majesty!” Ao Qin declared with resolve, seemingly convinced of his own words.

Jiang Yuan had never seen someone with such thick skin and such skill at acting—was this the advantage of living so long? If not for the system indicating Ao Qin’s loyalty and goodwill hadn’t changed, Jiang Yuan might have believed him.

This time, Jiang Yuan said nothing. He dismounted the Purple Jade Qilin, stepped through the air to stand before Ao Qin, whose face was full of sincerity.

Suddenly, he kicked Ao Qin, sending him flying!

He growled viciously, “Do you take me for a blind man, Ao Qin? Don’t blame me for not giving you a chance! If you dare utter such words of loyalty to my Great Shang again, I’ll take your life right now!”

“If you truly were loyal, why has there been no rain on the South Sea’s edge for years? If you were loyal, why have so many of my people starved to death from barren harvests?”

“How do you explain all this to me?”

Ao Qin scrambled up, terror written all over his face. “Your Majesty, this is not my wish! Such acts that damage virtue—I would never willingly do them!”

“Then tell me your reasons!” Jiang Yuan roared.

“I did all this under orders!” Ao Qin said, aggrieved.

“Oh? Speak, let’s hear it.” Jiang Yuan’s interest was piqued.

He knew Ao Qin acted under orders; otherwise, how could a mere South Sea Dragon King dare move against Shang, which was protected by Heaven and Earth? In the days before the Dragon-Phoenix calamity, the dragon clan had been mighty, but now? They were just a scattered aquatic lineage.

“This... I dare not offend the one who gave the orders,” Ao Qin stammered.

“So you dare offend me?” Jiang Yuan spoke not another word but kicked again, pulling out his Thunderblade, clearly ready to end Ao Qin’s life then and there.

Ao Qin was caught between a rock and a hard place, much like the Marquis of the North had been. There was no way to please both sides; he would have to offend either Jiang Yuan or the sage.

Any clever person would know what to choose now—the sage was far away, but Jiang Yuan’s sword was at his throat.

“Your Majesty, please calm yourself. What is it you wish to know?” Ao Qin asked respectfully.

“Tell me who ordered you to betray Great Shang,” Jiang Yuan asked quietly.

Ao Qin hesitated, but finally spoke. “Your Majesty, the one who commanded me not to bring rain to Shang is Chi Jingzi, one of the Twelve Golden Immortals under the Prime Lord of Heaven.”

“What, not daring to say it was the Prime Lord himself?” Jiang Yuan arched his brow.

“It was indeed Chi Jingzi who gave the command,” Ao Qin replied helplessly.

Jiang Yuan pursed his lips, saying nothing, but worry crept into his heart. So, the Chan sect was getting involved now?

“What do you intend to do with your shrimp soldiers and crab generals?” Jiang Yuan asked Ao Qin calmly.

“I’ll dismiss them at once,” Ao Qin said hurriedly. With so many troops under his command, they posed a threat to the Human Emperor. His own life was in Jiang Yuan’s hands; he naturally wanted Jiang Yuan reassured.

“No need. Let them witness what happens to those who offend Great Shang,” Jiang Yuan replied offhandedly.

“What does Your Majesty mean?” Ao Qin’s heart skipped—was King Zhou planning to deal with him as well? Had he not acted humbly enough?

Jiang Yuan raised his sword and walked slowly to Ao Qin, Zhang Kui close behind, ever alert should Ao Qin lash out.

“Is my meaning not clear enough? Your attack against me can be forgiven, but my people cannot die in vain. Ao Xi alone is not enough to accompany them in death. You should go too—don’t let your son be lonely!”

With that, Jiang Yuan plunged his sword into Ao Qin’s heart, piercing him through—but Ao Qin did not die.

He stared in disbelief at the Thunderblade lodged in his chest, then his face contorted in rage. He shrieked at his troops, “Hear me! As South Sea Dragon King and leader of the aquatic tribe, I command you: South Sea’s water tribe and Shang are foes to the death! Attack!”

Jiang Yuan looked at Ao Qin with disdain, sneering, “Who knew you’d be so tenacious without your powers.”

He didn’t withdraw the Thunderblade; instead, he twisted the blade, slicing Ao Qin in half.

“Ding! Congratulations, host, for slaying Ao Qin. You gain 500 Tyrant Points! Current Tyrant Points: 700!”

“Ding! Congratulations, host, for acquiring Trident, Dragon King’s Basket, Heavenly Dragon Armor, Ancestor Dragon Blood (thin), Holy Water of Tianyi...”

“Ding! Congratulations, host, for acquiring South Sea Dragon King’s Reverse Scale, Dragon Tendon! Can be exchanged for 80 Tyrant Points!”

Hearing this string of notifications, Jiang Yuan let out a long sigh of relief. At last, he was a minor tycoon! In this Investiture of the Gods world, he could finally stand his ground.

At that moment, his thoughts flowed smoothly and his whole body felt refreshed. The realm he’d found so hard to break through by cultivation alone now began to loosen. Without spending a single Tyrant Point, Jiang Yuan broke through from the Celestial Immortal stage to the Primordial Immortal stage!

The most satisfying thing was not the breakthrough itself, but that it didn’t cost him any Tyrant Points—the system had finally taken a loss.

Zhang Kui soon noticed the change in Jiang Yuan’s aura and asked curiously, “Did Your Majesty just break through?”

“Just a little insight,” Jiang Yuan replied calmly.

“Congratulations, Your Majesty!” Zhang Kui was overjoyed—his king truly was a prodigy!

Now was not the time for celebration. In the distance, the shrimp soldiers and crab generals, weapons in hand, eyes glinting with murderous intent, were ready to attack.

“South Marquis’s reinforcements should be arriving soon?” Jiang Yuan asked indifferently.

“They’re not far behind us, should be here any moment,” Zhang Kui replied. His cultivation and divine sense were a bit higher than Jiang Yuan’s, so he could sense Huang Feihu and his party approaching.

“Hmm.” Jiang Yuan nodded calmly. He didn’t regard the shrimp soldiers and crab generals as threats.

Without South Sea Dragon King Ao Qin, the entire South Sea posed no danger to him.

“How does Your Majesty intend to deal with the South Sea water tribe? Shall we wipe them out like the serpent demon clan?” Zhang Kui asked respectfully.

Before Jiang Yuan could reply, South Marquis E Chongyu and Huang Feihu arrived at the head of 150,000 reinforcements, their momentum rivaling that of the South Sea troops. Only, the shrimp soldiers and crab generals could tread water and stand atop the waves.

They looked more impressive than the 150,000 soldiers.

“Forgive us for arriving late, Your Majesty!” E Chongyu and Huang Feihu pleaded as they approached.

Jiang Yuan would have liked to punish them—it was certainly late. The battle was already over, and only now did they arrive—how precise was their timing?

“Rise. With General Zhang here, I am unharmed. South Sea Dragon King Ao Qin has been executed; the South Sea should be peaceful for a time.”

“Your Majesty’s divine might!” E Chongyu praised him.

Huang Feihu felt a pang of envy—once again, Zhang Kui had stolen the spotlight! He resolved to prove himself in front of the king.

“Your Majesty, how should we deal with these South Sea water tribe?” Huang Feihu pointed at the shrimp soldiers and crab generals.

Jiang Yuan didn’t answer. Instead, he turned toward the South Sea camp and asked calmly, “Are you sure you wish to rebel?”

The shrimp soldiers and crab generals looked at each other, uncertain. Should they rebel? They wavered.

At that moment, a pale-faced middle-aged man stepped out from the South Sea ranks. He coughed fiercely before raising his head to look at Jiang Yuan.

Name: Ao Bai

Title: Crown Prince of the South Sea Dragon King

Realm: Golden Immortal

Items: Dragon Scale Mirror, Moon-Slaying Pearl Box, Sacred Pure Mist Spear

Cultivation Method: True Dragon Infinite Sacred Canon

Loyalty: 20

Goodwill: 50

Tyrant Points available: 400

Unexpectedly, the South Sea had such a hidden master! Though he looked frail and sickly, he was a Golden Immortal!

The name... Had he once served in the palace?

“Your Majesty, perhaps it’s best to let this matter rest?” Ao Bai coughed gently as he looked at Jiang Yuan.

“And you are?” Jiang Yuan asked, though he already knew. He didn’t show a hostile face only because Ao Bai’s goodwill toward him was not low.

“I am Ao Bai, Crown Prince of the South Sea. Greetings, Your Majesty,” Ao Bai introduced himself.

“You just said to let it go? How would that work?” Jiang Yuan asked with a hint of amusement. He found Ao Bai quite interesting. Such strength, yet feigning weakness—clearly a man of deep scheming.

“I have a proposal. If Your Majesty finds it acceptable, let this matter rest. From now on, the South Sea water tribe and Shang shall not interfere with each other,” Ao Bai said calmly.

“Let’s hear it,” Jiang Yuan said, watching Ao Bai’s performance.

“The losses caused by years of drought in Great Shang will be compensated in full by the South Sea Dragon Palace. Furthermore, I guarantee that during Your Majesty’s reign, the regions surrounding the South Sea will enjoy favorable weather.”

“You seem to know something,” Jiang Yuan did not immediately accept the offer, but posed another question.

He would never believe Ao Bai was just a sickly prince as he seemed.