Chapter Fifty-Seven: Request to Enter the Battle!

Dealing with these lower-ranked opponents posed no real challenge for Jiang Yuan; the only difficulty lay in their sheer numbers. Even so, it took him the time of a whole incense stick to slaughter several hundred men. At first, every kill was accompanied by the system’s notification, but as he continued, Jiang Yuan noticed the system no longer informed him of any new Tyrant Value gained.

Had this damned system swallowed his Tyrant Value?

Only after dispatching the final member of the Witch Tribe did the system’s notification sound once more.

“Ding! Congratulations, Host, for completing the task of extermination. Reward: 300 Tyrant Value. Current Tyrant Value: 703.”

Jiang Yuan frowned at this number, dissatisfied. Even if each person he just killed was worth a single point, the total should far exceed this value. Not to mention he already possessed fifty-seven Tyrant Value prior—could it be that the system truly devoured some of his points?

“Damned system, show yourself!” Jiang Yuan roared inwardly.

“?”

“Why did you give me so little Tyrant Value after all that killing?” Jiang Yuan demanded coldly.

“The Tyrant Value obtained by killing is limited, Host. The greater the gap between your realm and your victims’, the lower the maximum Tyrant Value you can acquire. The system encourages the Host to become a tyrant, not a devil.”

Jiang Yuan found the explanation acceptable. Otherwise, if he could endlessly accumulate Tyrant Value by slaughtering weaker beings, he might as well roam the borders hunting foreign tribes. After the Witch Tribe, there’d be the Ghost Tribe, Demon Tribe, and Water Tribe, and the Tyrant Value would be inexhaustible.

Clearly, the system wouldn’t allow him to exploit such loopholes. But what about when his realm grew higher? What if he ascended to Demi-Sage or even Sage? Was he supposed to round up a group of Demi-Sages to slaughter? Yet, the only Demi-Sage he knew was Bai Ze, and from their previous conversation, Bai Ze seemed to favor him.

Or should he simply assassinate a Sage? Jiang Yuan doubted he’d ever have such an opportunity. It was impossible. At the Sage level, the world itself responded to their presence; any murderous intent toward them would be sensed in advance.

Their ability to avoid calamity was formidable. Otherwise, those Sages attempting to overthrow the Shang Dynasty and end the rule of the Human Emperor wouldn’t have resorted to such elaborate schemes.

The karma involved was immense, unbearable even for Sages.

No wonder so many fought desperately for a seat during Hongjun’s teachings—becoming a Sage was truly harder than ascending to heaven.

The more Jiang Yuan thought, the more frustrated he became. Was his ultimate task doomed to failure? Tyrant Value was truly hard to earn!

“Damned system, give me more tasks! I suddenly feel so poor,” Jiang Yuan complained.

“The Host has only one task. Hidden tasks will trigger only at specific times,” the system replied, showing no intention of helping him.

“Go eat shit, you damned system!” Jiang Yuan cursed, ending the exchange.

When he glanced at Zhang Kui and Nezha, he found both gazing at him with great spirit.

Zhang Kui’s eyes shone with comfort, while Nezha was visibly excited, his face full of admiration.

“Your Majesty is divine and invincible, slaughtering thousands of foes. Our great Shang shall prosper!” Zhang Kui said sincerely.

Jiang Yuan was a little surprised. Had he really killed so many Witch Tribe members?

Nezha, full of anticipation, approached Jiang Yuan and asked cautiously, “Those moves you used sounded so powerful—where did you learn them? Could you teach me?”

With a calm expression, Jiang Yuan placed his hand on Nezha’s head and spoke earnestly, “I can teach you a shortcut, if you want to learn.”

Nezha nodded eagerly. “I want to learn, I want this shortcut!”

Jiang Yuan lifted his hand from Nezha’s head and smiled, “The quickest way is to read. As long as you read enough, these techniques and spells will naturally come to you.”

“Read? Can you really learn them by reading?” Nezha asked skeptically, doubt clouding his face.

Jiang Yuan merely nodded and left him with, “Believe it or not, it’s up to you.”

Of course—if it weren’t for all the novels I read in my previous life, I wouldn’t have been able to invent so many moves on the fly.

Young man, trust me: reading is for gathering material to show off in the future.

Half-convinced, Nezha watched Jiang Yuan, who radiated the aura of an expert as he walked toward the Third Elder, and gave up on further questioning. Instead, he looked to Zhang Kui in confusion. “Is what he said true?”

Zhang Kui had been suppressing laughter, and now, seeing Nezha’s innocent question, burst out laughing.

“Hahahahaha! His Majesty is truly a character!”

For the first time, Zhang Kui uttered such a bold remark, and felt that his king wasn’t so difficult to approach after all.

Nezha was baffled by Zhang Kui’s inexplicable laughter and grew even more puzzled.

“General Zhang, what are you laughing at? Tell me, can we trust your king’s words?” Nezha asked, perplexed.

After a while, Zhang Kui sobered and answered seriously, “How could His Majesty ever be wrong?”

“Oh,” Nezha replied with difficulty.

No wonder Old Jiang’s moves were so impressive—it was because he read so much. To Nezha, the words in books were more formidable than any demon or monster.

Still, for the sake of fighting with flair in the future, Nezha decided to read diligently!

Jiang Yuan approached the old man who had previously cursed them and asked coolly, “Tell me, where is the Grand Preceptor?”

Name: Corpse Night

Position: Third Elder of the Evil Corpse Tribe

Realm: Profound Immortal

Possessions: Du Long Cane, Sea Burial Token

Cultivation Technique: Corpse Manipulation

Loyalty: 0

Favorability: 0

Tyrant Value obtainable: 60

Good heavens—this Profound Immortal dared cast curses on Jiang Yuan and his companions? No wonder he suffered backlash; such meager Tyrant Value hardly interested Jiang Yuan now.

Corpse Night sneered at Jiang Yuan, spat, and said with disdain, “You’re dreaming! I’ll never reveal the Grand Priest’s location! Prepare to collect Wen Zhong’s corpse!”

“Are you sure you won’t talk?” Jiang Yuan raised an eyebrow.

“I won’t say a word. What can you do to me? Even if you are the Human Emperor, if I don’t want to tell you, you’ll never save Wen Zhong!” Corpse Night growled viciously.

“If you dare, kill me!”

Without another word, Jiang Yuan raised his Thunder Sword and sliced Corpse Night’s throat.

After so long in this world, he’d never encountered such an outrageous demand. Did Corpse Night think Jiang Yuan wouldn’t find the location himself if he refused to talk?

“Ding! Corpse Night slain. Tyrant Value gained: 60. Current Tyrant Value: 763.”

Jiang Yuan resolved to plan his use of these Tyrant Points carefully.

Just as he finished off Corpse Night, Zhang Kui appeared at his side, watching warily into the distance.

Jiang Yuan followed Zhang Kui’s gaze and said coolly, “I thought I’d have to search for the location myself, but it seems another group has come to court death.”

“Your Majesty, these foes are not weak. I request permission to engage!” Zhang Kui said solemnly.

Jiang Yuan replied indifferently, “Go ahead, General Zhang. I’m rather tired anyway.”

Nezha’s eyes lit up. “Can I join the fight too?” he asked Jiang Yuan.

Jiang Yuan nodded with a smile. “Of course. Just leave a few alive—and the strongest ones must be spared.”

Save them for me; they’re living Tyrant Value, after all.

“Got it!” With permission, Nezha stepped onto his Wind-Fire Wheels and charged ahead.