Chapter Thirty-Three: I Shall Be King!

"What would His Majesty like to ask?" Ao Bai replied with a serene smile.
Such a deeply concealed figure surely has many cards up his sleeve, and his temperament must be cautious as well. Drugging him was out of the question.
This would be a character even more troublesome than Ao Qin!
"You just said that during my reign, the southern coast would enjoy favorable weather. Does that mean you believe there's a high chance I'll be dethroned?" Jiang Yuan raised an eyebrow in inquiry.
Ao Bai smiled faintly, making no attempt to hide his meaning.
"Your Majesty surely understands what I mean. Ultimately, it is the Southern Sea at fault in this matter. As for what will happen in the future, whether Your Majesty can safeguard the Shang Dynasty from the schemes of the Sages remains uncertain. I can only guarantee peace during your reign."
"A wise bird chooses the right tree to perch on. I hope Your Majesty understands."
"You seem to know some inside information?" Jiang Yuan asked curiously.
"Is Your Majesty not curious why my father would risk the backlash of heaven and earth to try and kill you?" Ao Bai asked mysteriously.
"Speak plainly, there’s no need for evasions. As for what’s true or false, I will judge for myself," Jiang Yuan replied calmly.
"Since the Great Calamity of Dragons and Phoenixes in ancient times, our dragon clan has been in decline, losing its favored status among heaven’s creatures. What the Sage promised my father was the restoration of our former glory," Ao Bai explained.
"You believe such a clumsy lie?" Jiang Yuan asked in surprise.
If a Sage’s promise could truly be trusted, would they still be called Sages?
Ao Bai shook his head. "I certainly do not believe it, and my father surely harbored doubts as well. But the revival of the dragon clan has become a persistent obsession for him. He wanted to gamble once."
"So, dying at my hands was deserved. Such a foolish man is bound to be used as a pawn," Jiang Yuan said, utterly unsympathetic.
Ao Bai smiled bitterly but said nothing. There were plenty of fools like that; his father simply had the misfortune to encounter King Zhou.
"Your father had ambition, so what about yours?" Jiang Yuan stared intently at Ao Bai.
"I'm a cripple, what ambition could I have?" Ao Bai replied helplessly.
Jiang Yuan looked at him oddly. "If you’re a cripple, then not a single person here is whole."
"What did Your Majesty see?" Ao Bai seemed a bit surprised, but still did not admit anything.
He had always been extremely careful in concealing his cultivation. No one had ever seen through him—not his father, nor the Chijing Master who had come to collaborate with his father.

He did not believe that King Zhou, at the Celestial Immortal realm, could discern his true strength, especially since he had never shown anything to outsiders.
Even his periods of closed-door cultivation were kept short, to make others believe he was talentless and weak.
In truth, Ao Bai was exceptionally gifted; if not for his need to hide, his strength would have long surpassed Zhang Kui’s. But for the sake of concealment, he forcibly curtailed his cultivation.
Jiang Yuan did not expose Ao Bai’s disguise, merely saying, “You know best what I’ve seen. With you here, even if Dragon King Ao Qin dies, the Southern Sea won’t fall into chaos.”
“Then may I respectfully see Your Majesty off?” Ao Bai probed.
Jiang Yuan waved him away. “No need for formality. You all may return to the Southern Sea Dragon Palace. I have business to attend to here.”
“Then I shall take my leave.” Ao Bai bowed respectfully and withdrew.
He was almost certain King Zhou had seen through his Golden Immortal realm. He was also certain that Zhang Kui, the strongest here, had not.
Such is the power of Heaven’s Mandate upon the Son of Man!
As Ao Bai turned to leave, Jiang Yuan suddenly called after him, “Wait.”
“What else does Your Majesty require?” Ao Bai asked curiously.
Jiang Yuan took a small jade bottle from his system’s storage—inside was the diluted ancestral dragon blood he had obtained from Ao Qin.
Ao Bai accepted the bottle, confused. What did this mean?
When he opened it and saw what was inside, shock filled his face. This was his father’s ancestral dragon blood!
Even diluted, for him it was a near-unattainable treasure—a divine item for cultivation, especially for a dragon! It could directly enhance his talent and aptitude.
Yet Ao Bai, with his deep city-wisdom, did not show much excitement. He eyed Jiang Yuan warily, asking, “What does Your Majesty mean by this?”
“Consider it a gesture to win you over,” Jiang Yuan replied coolly.
“A useless cripple like me—what use am I to you?”
“Whether you’re useless, you know best. And who orchestrated the Dragon-Phoenix Calamity, you know as well. Do you truly believe the dragon clan could ever regain its glory under the Sages’ scrutiny?” Jiang Yuan said coldly.
Ao Bai’s eyes dimmed at these words. Indeed, the Dragon-Phoenix Calamity was a Sage’s scheme. If they had caused the decline of innate beasts like the dragon clan, how could they ever allow its resurgence?
This was why Ao Bai had always concealed his talent and strength—he feared drawing the Sages’ attention, even though he was insignificant in their eyes.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Ao Bai said, his gaze complex.
"I’ve given you a choice. How you act henceforth is for your Southern Sea to decide," Jiang Yuan replied casually.
Zhang Kui and the others found themselves utterly bewildered by the exchange. Had the king and Ao Bai encrypted their conversation? Not a word made sense. What choice had the king given?
"Since Your Majesty has spoken so frankly, I have nothing more to hide. I have a question for Your Majesty."
"If, in the future, Shang rises to stand alongside the sects of the Sages, and you become a power equal to them, how will you treat my dragon clan?" Ao Bai’s face was resolute, no trace of his previous frailty.
"If I say I’ll leave your dragon clan be, let you develop freely, will you believe me?" Jiang Yuan raised an eyebrow and smiled.
"I understand." Ao Bai fell silent for a long time, then spoke only those words.
He then led the shrimp and crab soldiers back to the depths of the sea. Huang Feihu made as if to do something, but Jiang Yuan stopped him.
"Let them go. The Southern Sea will pose no threat to our Shang from now on," Jiang Yuan said calmly.

Southern Sea Dragon Palace.
A young man with two horns and a volatile temper confronted Ao Bai. "Big brother, why must we bend to that foolish and tyrannical King Zhou? Are we not to avenge our father? Don’t forget Father’s dying wish: that the Southern Sea and Shang remain mortal enemies!"
This was the Third Prince, Ao Ni. He had wanted to challenge Ao Bai on the surface, but out of respect and knowing their father had just passed, he refrained from causing discord.
Otherwise, he would have cursed already. Who did King Zhou think he was?
Ao Bai merely looked at his hot-tempered brother calmly. "We must put aside Father’s and Fourth Brother’s revenge, at least for now."
"What do you mean, big brother? I held my tongue out of respect, but now you say this? Do you think being the eldest gives you free rein?" Ao Ni’s temper flared.
Ao Bai was supposedly talentless and weak; Ao Ni respected him out of courtesy, but if it came to a quarrel, he would not hesitate to act.
And now that Father was gone, the throne of the Southern Sea...
Ao Ni stared at Ao Bai, determined to get a satisfactory answer, or else he would show no mercy.
Ao Bai walked slowly to his brother, placed a hand on Ao Ni’s shoulder, and spoke in a calm tone, "You’ve shown concern for the greater good, and as your brother, I am gratified. From now on, let me take the throne of the Southern Sea."