I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, So I’ll Max Out My Defense

Chapter 993: Chapter 994: Ao Yun and the Two Old Men
 

Li Xiaobai shattered the cage, releasing a group of cultivators.

“Thank you, Young Master Li, for your timely assistance!”

“Who would’ve thought that when we met again, our situation would be even more wretched.”

The vicious foursome felt somewhat ashamed; being suppressed in the Linglong Pagoda at their last encounter was embarrassing enough, but now they had been directly thrown into iron cages, an utterly humiliating experience. In contrast, the youth before them had grown even more formidable. Such that he could casually slay an Immortal from the Central Origin Realm, they were no longer on the same level.

“It’s good that you are all unharmed.”

Li Xiaobai nodded and broke the shackles binding the crowd.

“What is the current situation in the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace?”

“The matter is quite complicated. A young master from the Central Origin Realm has come, and he sucks the Bloodline Power from our Sea Clan cultivators daily to strengthen himself. In these days alone, at least nearly a thousand cultivators have died by his hands. These cultivators from the Central Origin Realm are his accomplices. The seabed has completely fallen, and all living beings and citizens have been imprisoned, with no freedom to speak of.”

“Poor” said this, among the four his condition was slightly better.

Li Xiaobai continued to inquire, “How is the Old Dragon King?”

“All have been suppressed and imprisoned. Once the Bloodline Power of our group of cultivators is drained, it will almost be the royal family’s turn!”

“Poor” shook his head and sighed, powerless to resist against the Central Origin Realm.

“I see, Please go ahead to the city gate and rendezvous with the shrimp soldiers and crab generals. Tend to your wounds. Once I’ve dealt with these Central Origin Realm ‘seafood’, I will come back to provide some nourishment for everyone and calm your spirits!”

Li Xiaobai spurred on his golden chariot, heading towards the Imperial Palace.

Along the way, his Sword Qi swept across, liberating all cultivators bound by chains and shackles.

…

At the same time, within the Imperial Palace, inside the Linglong Pagoda.

A line of carriages transporting prisoners stopped on the first floor of the pagoda; the space was filled with densely packed iron cages, numerous men, women, elderly, and children were crammed into the cages like livestock, and each cage was tagged with a label detailing the cultivation level and Bloodline Power of the cultivator within.

Dozens of Sea Clan cultivators were maintaining order and tallying the number of cages.

“Young master, all cultivators containing our Sea Clan’s Bloodline Power within the entire Eastern Sea Dragon Palace have been brought here; please decide their fate!”

A young cultivator in blue listened quietly to the reports and nodded in satisfaction.

“Very well, the usual rules—keep half for my cultivation needs, and send the rest to the Sea Clan in the Central Origin Realm. Please ask the clan elders to distribute them accordingly. Although the Bloodline Power of these poor creatures is weak, it is better than nothing. After refinement, it is still quite beneficial for the younger generation to use for their cultivation advancement.”

The young man in blue stood with hands behind his back, speaking indifferently.

To him, these cultivators of the Central Origin Realm were merely pure cultivation materials, akin to goods.

“Ao Yun!”

“Do you not fear retribution for such deeds?”

“All of the Sea Clan under heaven originated from one family; fratricide is something that our ancestors in the netherworld will not tolerate!”

Inside the cage, the Old Dragon King spoke vehemently, distressed at the sight of his people being led to slaughter. He had spent most of his life nurturing this great land, yet the destruction caused by the Central Origin Realm happened in an instant. Now he seemed a hundred years older, his hair streaked with more silver.

“The weak have no right of choice, they can only become lambs to the slaughter. As the king of the Eastern Sea, you should understand this principle. Within our Sea Clan, the law of the survival of the fittest is well understood; it’s precisely the ‘fit’ who survive. Fratricide has been unfolding since our birth; it is the fundamental reason why our Sea Clan has been prosperous and strong generation after generation.”

“Even the slightest residue of Bloodline Power in your body is a blessing to be absorbed by this young master!”

The young man named Ao Yun said calmly, pointing casually at the cage containing the Old Dragon King, “I want the people in this cage too. The Bloodline Power of a clan leader should be considerably rich.”

“Yes!”

Two cultivators standing guard immediately stepped forward, lifting the cage containing the Old Dragon King and others to the side.

“Wait, what is up with this cage? Why are there only two old men locked inside?”

Ao Yun’s gaze was swiftly drawn to a metal cage in the corner, different from the others teeming with people. This cage held just two decrepit old men, disheveled and unprepossessing in appearance.

The label outside the cage bore two large characters: Mortals!

“Reporting to Young Master,” said a middle-aged man respectfully, “these two were discovered within the Sea Dragon Palace in the past two days. I cannot sense any cultivation level within them, yet I vaguely perceive an unusual power in their bodies, suggesting they might possess some Bloodline Power.”

“To ensure their safety, I took the liberty to separate them from the cultivators.”

These two old men had been found looking utterly bewildered, devoid of any cultivation level. Mortals could easily be mistaken and injured if mixed with cultivators, hence a separate cage was specially constructed to detain them.

“So they really have no cultivation level, just two mortals with Bloodline Power?”

Ao Yun approached the iron cage, his eyes blazing as he stared down the two elders.

“What are your names?”

“Hehe, replying to the lord, this humble one is Zhang San!”

“This humble one is Li Si!”

The two elders replied with jest and laughter, a stark contrast to the somber crowd, seemingly unconcerned about the fate that awaited them.

“Why are you here? Are you not afraid of having your Bloodline Power drained?”

Ao Yun continued his interrogation.

“We heard that following the lords would get us some food, so we came over,” both old men said cheerily.

“Want food? Here’s your reward, eat up!”

Casually scooping up a handful of soil, Ao Yun tossed it into the cage with an indifferent voice.

“Thank you, lord!”

“Thank you, lord!”

“The lord is an Immortal from the Central Origin Realm, and the soil given by an Immortal must surely be celestial soil. It must not go to waste!”

The two old men scrambled for the clump of earth and started gnawing on it greedily; their aged faces even showed signs of pleasure.

“Two idiots, oblivious even on the brink of death!”

“This kind of trash should be left for the other brothers in the clan to enjoy!”

Watching the demeanor of the old men, Ao Yun felt a flicker of disgust deep within and waved his hand, prompting a cultivator nearby to move the cage.

“Open the altar, and send this batch of swine to the top!”

“Yes!”

The cultivators silently awaited the opening of the altar. The Old Dragon King and others showed a look of sorrow and rage. Sent into the waters of the Central Origin Realm meant certain death, just as staying inside the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace would turn them into nourishment for others. Either way, this day marked their last farewell.

Inside the Linglong Pagoda, an Aura of Death prevailed, a cloud of gloom over everyone’s head that no one could sweep away. What no one noticed was the flash of sharpness in the eyes of the two feigning insanity in a seemingly invisible corner.

As the gigantic vortex in the void started to take shape, forming a spatial passage, the two men in the cage threw their handful of earth aside and exchanged glances, both seeing elation in the other’s eyes.

“Old Lou, we can return to the Central Origin Realm now!”

“Master Yan, our era is on the verge of a resurgence!”