Chapter 27: Who Is Your Father!

How could Zhang Kui not see which one of them was getting beaten up? He was simply looking for an excuse to join the fray. Seeing this, Yin Jiao grew anxious and quickly waved his hand at Zhang Kui, saying, "General Zhang, you've misunderstood. Leave this dragon to me—just go back and protect my father."

Zhang Kui smiled at the crown prince who was trying to stop him. "I have come to assist by the king's command."

Hearing this, Yin Jiao became even more flustered. Did this mean his father was dissatisfied with him? In his agitation, he vented his anger on Nezha.

"It's all your fault, you brat! You've made me lose face before my father!"

Nezha sneered, looking at Yin Jiao with contempt. "I haven't even started on you! It was a fair duel between the two of us, and you had to call for reinforcements? Think I have no one backing me up?"

"Let me tell you, if my supporters showed up, you'd be scared out of your wits!"

"Come on then, let's keep fighting—see who's afraid of whom!" Yin Jiao, still a youth himself, was instantly provoked by Nezha's taunts.

Poor Ao Xi, neither of these two even considered him worthy of being an opponent—he was utterly ignored!

Zhang Kui found himself at a loss, watching the scene unfold. It seemed neither of them was taking him seriously at all. Why was it that, even after he stepped in to mediate, they still quarreled among themselves?

Nezha eyed Zhang Kui warily, saying, "Hey! You can have that dumb dragon, but you can’t interfere when I fight Yin Jiao afterwards!"

Zhang Kui looked helplessly at the crown prince, who, instead of speaking up for him, looked at him with annoyance and said, "General Zhang, just deal with the dragon, leave me be. Today I must teach this kid a lesson he won't forget!"

"By the way, this dragon is probably close to the South Sea aquatic clans—don’t kill him yet, just capture him for now."

"Yes, your Highness." Zhang Kui was inexplicably irritated by Nezha and Yin Jiao's behavior.

What was this situation? He was clearly the most powerful elder present, yet these two juniors treated him as if he were nothing.

Ao Xi sensed that something was wrong too. The two wild kids, each with three heads and six arms, no longer cared about showing him up in secret—they were ready to fight openly.

As for the one who was coming for him... Ao Xi took one look and knew he'd hardly last a few rounds against this human.

Without hesitation, Ao Xi tried to sneak away.

He’d had enough of the two unruly children; as for Zhang Kui, an old hand, he'd avoid him if he could.

But Zhang Kui instantly saw through Ao Xi's intentions. With a cold sneer, he said, "If I let you escape right under my nose, I’d lose all face before the king!"

With that, he flashed forward, darting toward Ao Xi at lightning speed.

Even though they were on the sea where he couldn’t use his earth-burrowing technique, Zhang Kui’s Golden Immortal cultivation was no joke.

Ao Xi knew he couldn’t escape even from the two kids, let alone this human whose mere glance made his heart tremble.

"Father, save me!" Ao Xi cried out desperately.

"Even if the Jade Emperor himself showed up, you’re not getting away today!" Zhang Kui laughed menacingly.

He dismounted from his one-horned Black Gullet Beast, his Xuanlei Saber crackling with electricity in hand, and without another word, slashed at Ao Xi.

Ao Xi cursed his luck—he’d only gone surfing on the sea for a bit of fun, how had he provoked such calamity?

Not yet at the peak of the Immortal rank, Ao Xi was no match for Zhang Kui. In no time, his mana was sealed, and he was left limp as a dead snake in Zhang Kui’s grip.

Meanwhile, Yin Jiao and Nezha, both with three heads and six arms, were in a fierce contest. With their endless magical treasures, the sea sparkled with rainbow light, and the air rang with their taunts.

"You little brat, barely out of your split pants, you’d better surrender now, or I'll make you suffer when I knock you down!" Yin Jiao snarled.

Nezha, never one to back down, shot back, "Quit spouting nonsense! All you have is a sharp tongue—say that again after you’ve beaten me!"

Yin Jiao knew Nezha’s temperament by now—fearless and reckless, always worried his mischief wasn’t enough. After getting scolded for skinning a dragon in the North Sea, he’d come south to vent his anger.

A true troublemaker, if ever there was one.

He wasted no more words, grabbing the Heaven-flipping Seal and hurling it at Nezha like a brick.

For someone of Yin Jiao’s True Immortal rank, handling such a treasure was already a stretch, but his master Guangchengzi had been generous to let him take it to Chaoge.

Nezha was not about to let him have his way. He swung his Universe Ring, smashing it against the Heaven-flipping Seal.

The two exchanged blows, neither gaining the upper hand. Though Yin Jiao’s cultivation was slightly higher, it would take time before anyone tired.

All Zhang Kui could do was watch, since the crown prince had explicitly ordered him not to interfere—and as a subject, he couldn’t disrespect his prince in public.

Besides, he thought Yin Jiao had the advantage, being the stronger of the two; eventually, Nezha would run out of energy first.

With nothing else to do, Zhang Kui returned to Jiang Yuan to report.

Jiang Yuan watched the duel with keen interest, barely acknowledging Zhang Kui, lost in thought about how to win Nezha over.

It was clear that Nezha, indoctrinated with anti-Shang ideas, was even more rebellious than Yin Jiao. With his fearless, trouble-seeking nature, it would be hard to win his loyalty.

Should he really just kill Nezha? In truth, Jiang Yuan admired Nezha’s bold and passionate spirit. Without him, Heaven’s court would not be nearly so lively in the future.

The greatest rebel in heaven—no matter who attacked the heavenly court, Nezha would always lend a hand.

"General Zhang, what do you think? Should a prodigy like Nezha die?" Jiang Yuan asked quietly, his conflict evident. If he didn’t know what Nezha was, it would be easier, but it was clear now—Nezha was a weapon forged by Perfected Taiyi to oppose Shang.

There would be more such tools in the future: Yang Jian, Lei Zhenzi. Jiang Yuan both hated and pitied their fate, yet felt powerless—after all, wasn’t he the villain now?

Zhang Kui replied respectfully, "If Your Majesty says he must die, then he must die!"

Jiang Yuan smiled, no longer dwelling on it, and instead turned his gaze to Ao Xi in Zhang Kui’s grip.

Name: Ao Xi
Title: Fourth Prince of the South Sea Dragon King
Cultivation: Profound Immortal
Possessions: Rainbow Scale Armor, Azure Wave Umbrella
Cultivation Manual: True Dragon Infinite Sacred Canon
Loyalty: 0
Affinity: 0
Tyrant Value Obtainable: 100

Seeing the 100 Tyrant Value above Ao Xi, Jiang Yuan’s eyes lit up!

He shouted, "Speak up—who is your father?"