Chapter 118: Chapter 115: Wukong Battles Sha Chen?【9000 words, ninth update, seeking subscription】_1
The Dragon King was stunned and burst out in anger, "What nonsense are you talking about?"
But suspicion had already taken root in his heart. Such a weak True Immortal dared to flick his forehead and even claim that he was going to die. What audacity! He must have some significant backing.
He suppressed the urge to kill and said, "If you don’t give a proper explanation, This King won’t let you off."
Li Bai said, "I have a master who has calculated that you have a death tribulation in your fate. Three hundred and sixty years from now, you will die on the Immortal Slaying Stage."
The Dragon King furiously said, "Nonsensical talk! This King governs the terrestrial water systems in the mortal realm. Even the Heavenly Court cannot do anything to me, so how could they slay me?"
Li Bai said faintly, "It is precisely because the Heavenly Court can do nothing to you that your death is certain."
The Dragon King wanted to rage, but suddenly he was stricken with fear. He was not a fool; his strategists had said similar things to him. Yet, he didn’t take it to heart because he was the Jinghe Dragon King, a true dragon of the Dragon Clan, the brother-in-law of the West Sea Dragon King, with nine children controlling the nine major water systems in China. The Heavenly Court relied on his family to oversee the rainfall, maintaining the harmony of the seasons in the human world. Why would they kill him?!
But what the man before him said made sense. If you’re in a high position and wield great power, who else would they kill if not you? He didn’t believe it usually, but now that Li Bai, a True Immortal, had said it, he believed it. The weaker the person who told him this, the more he believed it—he called it ’the truth of the weak.’
Outsiders called it being contrarian.
Li Bai was betting on whether the Jinghe Dragon King would be so contrarian.
From his demeanor, it seemed the Jinghe Dragon King was indeed that contrarian. If you spoke politely to him, he wouldn’t believe it, even adopting an air of arrogance. But if you scared him, he believed it, treating it as absolute truth.
The Jinghe Dragon King was somewhat frightened but still asked, "Who is your master?"
Li Bai said, "Asking is pointless. You just need to understand that my master sent me to save you."
The Jinghe Dragon King said excitedly, "How can you save me?"
Li Bai said, "The Heavenly Court wants you to make a mistake, then kill you, to serve as a sacrificial example for the pilgrim over three hundred years from now, thereby creating the first calamity."
A pilgrimage? This True Immortal was indeed exceptional; he even knew about the pilgrimage. And he also knew that this place was its starting point! It had to be understood that not even the Heavenly Court was aware of this matter. It was Buddhism that had secretly contacted him, informing him about it, telling him to await the pilgrim here, and they would grant him a great stroke of fortune. He had believed them.
The Dragon Clan was weak, while Buddhism was powerful. He too had wanted to align himself with Buddhism. He just hadn’t expected that this place was indeed the starting point for Buddhism’s pilgrim. Yet, it wasn’t his place of great fortune, but the pilgrim’s first calamity. And he wasn’t the person destined for fortune, but the first person fated to die for that pilgrim.
Suddenly, the Jinghe Dragon King understood many things. No wonder Buddhism had promised so many benefits, yet when he recommended his own son, he was rejected. It was because Buddhism’s target was him—the brother-in-law of the West Sea Dragon King, a rare true dragon. If he died, his children would be easily controlled. Buddhism wanted him dead to ensure the success of the pilgrim. The Heavenly Court wanted him dead to take control of his children and the terrestrial water systems, centralizing power back to Heaven. Therefore, the Heavenly Court and Buddhism had joined forces, and their target was him!
Li Bai, standing to the side, had been closely watching the Jinghe Dragon King’s changing expressions. He was carefully choosing his words, preparing to thoroughly intimidate this fellow.
As it turned out, the Jinghe Dragon King ground his teeth and said, "So that’s how it is! This King understands now. The Heavenly Court and Buddhism have indeed conspired to take my life."
Li Bai was stunned for a moment. He hadn’t even said anything yet, and this fellow had already filled in the blanks himself?! Still, it saved him a lot of trouble.
He gave a profound nod and said, "It’s good that the Dragon King understands. My task can also be considered complete."
After speaking, he made a show of leaving.
In truth, he was waiting for the Jinghe Dragon King to call him back. Otherwise, wouldn’t this trip have been for nothing?
The Dragon King stared intently as he turned to leave. Li Bai’s face almost turned green. Could it be that this fellow wasn’t afraid of dying? He still hadn’t called out to stop him?!
Just as he was about to walk out of the bamboo forest, the Dragon King hurried forward and said, "Sir, after you’ve gone to such great lengths to inform this humble King of this matter, could you truly bear to watch this humble King perish?"
Li Bai smiled. He had been waiting for the Dragon King to ask. Otherwise, this whole act of his would have been for nothing.
Turning around, he said, "Does the Dragon King trust me?"
The Dragon King said, "Naturally, This King trusts you."
Li Bai said, "Good. I’ll tell you, avoiding the fate of dying on the Immortal Slaying Stage is, in truth, not necessarily difficult. As long as you make no mistakes, the Heavenly Court cannot execute you without just cause."
The Dragon King said, "This humble King has always been diligent and conscientious. I have never made a mistake."
Li Bai rolled his eyes, rather speechless, and said, "Lately, there has been excessive rainfall in this area, already affecting the people’s livelihood. However, at times, the rain has stopped in certain places. Dragon King, do you dare say this has nothing to do with you?"
The Jinghe Dragon King broke out in a cold sweat and said, "This humble King couldn’t bear to see the people’s hardship, so I reduced the rainfall in some areas severely affected by waterlogging."
Actually, Li Bai was just talking nonsense; he wasn’t at all sure if the Dragon King had truly been derelict in his duty. Unexpectedly, this fellow had genuinely been derelict in his duty! Then again, it wasn’t surprising. He was capable of ordering his subordinates to alter the weather just to prove a point, even knowing the other party’s prediction was correct. Someone so fond of showing off was definitely not a first-time offender.
Li Bai said, "Ah, Dragon King, this is your transgression. Currently, the Heavenly Court won’t blame you because your power is overwhelming, and His Majesty the Jade Emperor has only recently ascended to the great seat; what is needed now is stability."
He stepped forward, patted the Dragon King’s shoulder, and added, "Once he has secured his great seat, that will be the time to make an example by killing, establish his authority, and furthermore, consolidate power."
Having said this much, the Dragon King was drenched in cold sweat.
He was so frightened that he knelt directly before Li Bai and cried, "Sir, save me!"