Chapter Thirty-One: Your Majesty, Spare My Life!

Zhang Kui was stunned. Was this truly the plan His Majesty had spoken of to deal with Ao Qin?

Jiang Yuan was equally bewildered. Was this really the medicine promised by the damned system to be foolproof?

But the one most dumbfounded was Ao Qin, the Dragon King of the South Sea. Was this, for heaven’s sake, the infamous “defecating in public” from legend?

Staring at the foul, stinking filth spreading across the South Sea, Ao Qin wanted nothing more than to disappear. What on earth was happening here? The battle hadn’t even begun, and he had already lost control of his bowels in front of everyone? If only he had the memories of Jiang Yuan’s previous life, he would have realized the gravity of his situation—he was already dead in another sense.

Social death!

“System, are you screwing me over?” Jiang Yuan furiously summoned the system.

“Did the Soul-Destroying Powder have no effect on Ao Qin?” the system retorted.

“All it did was make him crap in front of me? That’s it? What use is that? Should I be grateful I got to witness dragon droppings?” Jiang Yuan felt his intelligence trampled and ground into the dirt.

What was the point of all this? Aside from embarrassing Ao Qin, what did it accomplish? Worse, Ao Qin seemed even more clear-headed now. The more Jiang Yuan thought about it, the more enraged he became. He vowed never again to make deals with the blasted system, even if it meant letting his Tyrant Value rot.

“You misunderstand—the effects of the Soul-Destroying Powder are not yet complete,” the system replied coolly.

“Oh?” Jiang Yuan’s eyes lit up.

Could there be a twist yet?

Though Ao Qin was mortified and confused by this bodily betrayal, he quickly connected the dots—it must have something to do with the jade vial Jiang Yuan had thrown earlier.

He shot Jiang Yuan a furious glare. “What did you give me?”

Jiang Yuan, utterly unconcerned about poisoning the Dragon King, replied matter-of-factly, “You already know what it is. As for the name: Soul-Destroying Powder.”

“Petty tricks. Did you think this would throw me into disarray?” Ao Qin scoffed. “If anything, I should thank you for helping me regain my senses. Now I’m even more confident I can kill you, Tyrant.”

Ao Qin looked at Jiang Yuan as if amused.

Jiang Yuan’s face darkened at these words. Was this a case of losing both the chicken and the rice? Had his attempt at bravado backfired so thoroughly?

Clinging to a final shred of faith in the system, Jiang Yuan convinced himself the powder’s effects couldn’t be so simple. Even if Ao Qin seemed fully recovered now, Jiang Yuan felt no fear.

Walking calmly to Zhang Kui’s side, Jiang Yuan patted his shoulder and said with serene composure, “I have done all that needs doing. General Zhang, the rest is up to you. Make sure to bring this villain down!”

“If not, we will retreat and reconsider.”

His meaning was clear: My life is in your hands! If we can win, let’s fight; if not, we run—don’t get stubborn! My life is above all else! Of course, Jiang Yuan couldn’t say that out loud; he still had his pride, hoping Zhang Kui would understand.

“Your servant will not fail Your Majesty!” Zhang Kui, fired up, charged forth. So His Majesty had such high expectations of him?

Jiang Yuan sighed inwardly at Zhang Kui’s eagerness—clearly, he hadn’t heard the latter part. Perhaps he even thought Jiang Yuan was worried for his safety.

Now all Jiang Yuan could do was hope the powder’s delayed effects would manifest and Zhang Kui could defeat Ao Qin. Otherwise, he’d be forced to run for his life for the first time.

Why was the South Sea Dragon King so unafraid of the consequences of killing him?

Jiang Yuan, resolved not to rejoin the battle, was ready to flee at any moment. Bored, he turned his gaze back to the two battles raging over the South Sea.

Yin Jiao and Nezha had once again distanced themselves from the fight between Ao Qin and Zhang Kui, departing with looks of disgust. Both were naturally combative, eager for a four-way melee, but the stench from the Dragon King’s earlier accident was so overwhelming even these pampered prodigies couldn’t bear it.

Zhang Kui, hardened by battlefields littered with corpses, was unfazed by the environment. But now, with Ao Qin’s clarity restored, his strength and cunning soared. Magical treasures appeared in endless succession, spells cast with ever greater skill and subtlety.

Zhang Kui destroyed countless treasures, but Ao Qin always produced more, as if his supply were inexhaustible. Each shattered treasure was like another piece of Jiang Yuan’s heart breaking—so much Tyrant Value gone!

Still, Jiang Yuan knew he couldn’t intervene, no matter how it pained him. This was a fight to the death—no distractions permitted.

As both sides’ battles dragged on, Yin Jiao gradually gained the upper hand against Nezha. With higher cultivation and equally fine treasures, his victory was no surprise.

Jiang Yuan paid little attention to them—after all, theirs was just a duel, not a matter of life and death. At worst, one would leave battered and bruised. In his eyes, it was childish play—though either “child” could surely kill him with ease.

His real concern was for Zhang Kui, who was beginning to falter. The never-ending onslaught of treasures left him hard-pressed; Ao Qin was, after all, a seasoned Golden Immortal. No matter how fiercely Zhang Kui fought back, it seemed hopeless to Jiang Yuan.

“The situation is settled. Time to run,” Jiang Yuan thought.

He considered calling out to Zhang Kui and Yin Jiao, “I’ll retreat for reinforcements, hold the line!” and then making his escape. If they had any sense, they’d follow—but what if, instead, they threw themselves into a desperate rear-guard to cover his flight?

Wouldn’t that mean losing both his dragons and his phoenixes?

Just as Jiang Yuan made up his mind to shout and flee at the first sign of Zhang Kui’s injury, the battle took another unexpected turn!

Ao Qin’s draconic body suddenly stiffened... then, without warning, another torrent burst forth.

Jiang Yuan paused his escape plans—perhaps things were about to change.

Ao Qin was on the verge of collapse.

He had nearly forced Zhang Kui to soil himself, but before that could happen, he himself had another uncontrollable, humiliating outburst.

“Argh!” Ao Qin roared, caring nothing for the aftermath or where his filth landed. He had only one thought: end the fight quickly!

Kill Zhang Kui, the greatest threat. Then kill the Tyrant, and at last, the South Sea’s aquatic clans would rise and reign supreme!

The more Ao Qin thought, the more exhilarated he became—his magic surged ever more freely. Was he about to break through mid-battle?

A glimmer of joy shone on Ao Qin’s face—could such fortune really smile upon him now? But abruptly, he realized something was wrong. What flowed out of him wasn’t just filth, but his very magical power!

What demonry was this? Ao Qin’s heart lurched. He tried to stop his power from draining, but his whole body felt weak and unresponsive—the harder he tried, the faster it bled away!

The powder’s effects had not dissipated at all; they were only now reaching their peak, erupting after a full cycle of his power.

Now, no matter how he cried out, there was no one to answer. He could feel his cultivation ebbing away; soon he would drop from the Golden Immortal realm altogether!

Panic set in. Given his earlier defiance, Jiang Yuan would not let him off easily.

His only options were to flee or defeat Zhang Kui as fast as possible.

Escape was nearly impossible; if the Tyrant had gone so far as to use such a drug, he must have prepared to block any route of retreat.

Desperation hardened Ao Qin’s face; with a savage glare, he threw himself at Zhang Kui, unleashing every treasure, no longer holding anything back. He was prepared to fight to the death.

In truth, Ao Qin overestimated Jiang Yuan—how could Jiang Yuan know what the Soul-Destroying Powder really did? He’d made no preparations at all.

The system had been secretive, but the results spoke for themselves. Ao Qin’s aura was steadily weakening! Jiang Yuan’s only complaint was the unbearable stench.

“General Zhang, can you hold him off?” Jiang Yuan asked, watching the frenzied Ao Qin.

“Rest assured, Your Majesty! I will not let this beast harm a single hair on your head!” Zhang Kui vowed, resolute.

Jiang Yuan nodded with satisfaction. At last, Zhang Kui understood—no matter what happened, his king’s life came first.

Ao Qin and Zhang Kui clashed again in a fierce melee. Meanwhile, Jiang Yuan, the instigator, sat leisurely atop his purple jade qilin, observing the battle.

He thought how wonderful it would be to have a slice of watermelon right now. Add Daji to the mix, holding a beauty in his arms while eating watermelon—what bliss!

Zhang Kui was at a disadvantage at first, but as the battle dragged on, he fought ever more fiercely. No matter how many treasures Ao Qin produced, he could not withstand the loss and drain of his magic.

Gradually, Zhang Kui began to gain the upper hand. Ao Qin’s Golden Immortal cultivation became increasingly unstable.

Suddenly, Ao Qin’s aura collapsed—he fell instantly to the True Immortal level!

Seizing the moment, Zhang Kui shouted, “Your life is forfeit!”

Seeing the battle decided, Jiang Yuan quickly called out, “Take Ao Qin alive! I have questions for him.”

Hearing this, Ao Qin made no attempt to resist. His cultivation having fallen, the drug’s effect nearly spent, he transformed back into human form and knelt in the air before Jiang Yuan.

He wailed, “Spare me, Your Majesty! I was forced to rebel against the Shang by circumstance. The pressure from the Sages is not something I could resist, but in my heart I have always been loyal to the Great Shang, and never harbored ill intentions toward Your Majesty!”

Jiang Yuan and Zhang Kui were both stunned.

Now he begs for mercy? When he was trying to kill me just moments ago, he didn’t look like this! That so-called loyalty and affection—he might as well have said he planned to eat the Tyrant!

“Detain him!” Jiang Yuan snorted coldly. He felt not a shred of sympathy for Ao Qin.

Zhang Kui, without hesitation, sealed Ao Qin’s powers and handed him over for Jiang Yuan’s judgment.

Looking down at Ao Qin, Jiang Yuan said calmly, “If you have grievances, you may speak them. But first, explain why you just tried to take my life.”