Chapter 36: Tricking Hai Bodong
"Are you serious?" Hai Bodong asked, his face turning red with disbelief.
The news was too shocking. He had long suspected that Yun Shan wasn't dead, but he had never been certain.
And now, Wu Tian was telling him that Yun Shan had plans to destroy the entire Jia Ma Empire?
That was absolutely terrifying.
Wu Tian met Hai Bodong's gaze without saying another word.
Hai Bodong took a deep breath he knew Wu Tian wasn't lying.
Unless the Guardian Elder of the Serpent Tribe was bored out of his mind, there was no reason for him to come all the way down here just to tell him this.
Cold sweat formed on Hai Bodong's wrinkled forehead.
If Yun Shan really did become a Dou Zong, and if he had truly joined forces with such a powerful faction, then Jia Ma Empire was doomed.
The only remaining Dou Huangs in the empire were Jia Xingtian and Fa Ma.
As for Yun Yun… she was part of Yun Lan Sect.
Hai Bodong didn't even want to think about it anymore.
Jia Ma Empire was in grave danger!
He slumped onto a stone chair, his face pale.
Then, he suddenly lifted his head and stared at Wu Tian.
Wait a second…
Why was he telling him all this?
Did the Guardian Elder of the Serpent Tribe… actually want to protect Jia Ma Empire?
Wu Tian, seeing Hai Bodong's changing expressions, smirked slightly.
"That's right," Wu Tian said. "You got it. I'm telling you all this because I want to protect Jia Ma Empire."
Hai Bodong was shocked.
Wu Tian continued, "You probably sensed the battle from a few days ago. I already forced Jia Ma Empire's forces back, and Jia Xingtian was injured.
Right now, if I wanted to take over Jia Ma Empire, it would be ridiculously easy.
But what good would that do for the Serpent Tribe?
Because, according to what I know…"
Wu Tian's voice dropped slightly, his tone becoming more sinister.
"That powerful figure helping Yun Shan breakthrough to Dou Zong?
He's already a Dou Zong himself."
Hai Bodong's face turned even paler.
Even Hua She'er and Yue Mei, standing behind Wu Tian, were visibly shaken.
As for the snake man guard who had been watching over Hai Bodong…
He fainted on the spot.
Some information was just too much for weaker minds.
But Wu Tian ignored their reactions and continued speaking.
"Hai Bodong, my current strength is Dou Huang Peak. But…"
His eyes narrowed.
"I do have the confidence to defeat that Dou Zong."
"But whether I defeat him or kill him, it won't change anything."
"Because that terrifying faction… has more Dou Zongs waiting in the shadows."
"If I take down one, more will come.
And when that happens, no matter how strong I am, I can't fight an army alone.
Jia Ma Empire will still be destroyed."
Hai Bodong sat there stiffly, unable to even process the information anymore.
The sheer scale of this threat was too overwhelming.
Wu Tian pressed on.
"The only way to change this outcome…
Is to gather more strong fighters.
Her Majesty, Queen Medusa, hasn't recovered yet, but once she regains her Dou Zong strength, she will be strong enough to counter Yun Shan.
And once she unseals your power, you Hai Bodong will return as the Ice Emperor.
As for the rest of Jia Ma Empire's strong fighters…
That part will be your responsibility.
Because let's be honest they wouldn't believe me."
Hai Bodong nodded slowly.
It made sense.
Wu Tian's actions spoke for themselves if he had wanted to destroy Jia Ma Empire, he would have done it already.
Instead, he was warning him, planning ahead, and even helping Queen Medusa recover.
That was proof enough that everything he said was true.
At that moment
The timid, submissive "slave" Hai Bodong vanished.
In his place, the legendary Ice Emperor returned.
His posture straightened, his expression hardened, and his aura became sharp and powerful once again.
He was done pretending.
The only reason he had acted weak before was to stay alive.
But now
He didn't need to act anymore.
His brows furrowed as he asked solemnly,
"Respected Guardian Elder…
What do you need me to do?"
The way he addressed Wu Tian changed.
Before, he had called himself "this old man."
But now
He addressed Wu Tian with respect.
Because Hai Bodong understood something.
The man standing before him wasn't just a Serpent Tribe Elder.
He was someone trying to protect both the Serpent Tribe and Jia Ma Empire.
For that, Hai Bodong respected him.
Wu Tian, internally grinning, maintained his serious expression.
This was exactly the reaction he had been waiting for.
Keeping his face calm, he said,
"I can't completely unseal your strength, but…
I can restore a portion of it."
As soon as he finished speaking, he waved his hand.
A blue flame like energy wrapped around Hai Bodong's body.
At that moment, a layer of his seal was lifted.
Unlike Queen Medusa's primary seal, which had suppressed him down to Dou Ling,
This was a much weaker secondary layer something even a Dou Huang could remove.
Wu Tian had intentionally asked Medusa to place it,
Just to mess with Hai Bodong.
It was purely for humiliation purposes to ensure that he couldn't escape on the way to Serpent Tribe territory.
But now that the "fun" was over,
Wu Tian easily undid it.
The moment his seal was lifted, Hai Bodong's aura surged.
A wave of icy energy erupted from his body
Only to immediately disappear as he forcibly suppressed it.
He wasn't stupid.
If he released too much power, Wu Tian might decide to seal him again.
After regaining some strength, Hai Bodong asked,
"What now? What do I do next?"
Wu Tian lightly tapped his fingertips against the stone table.
After a moment of thought, he replied,
"Hai Bodong, you need to go to a small town called Wu Tan City."
"Once you're there hide your identity and join a clan called the Xiao Clan."
Hai Bodong frowned.
"The Xiao Clan?"
Wu Tian smirked.
"That clan isn't as simple as it seems."
"Just go there, lay low, and don't interfere with anything.
When the time comes, I will personally find you and tell you the Xiao Clan's secret."
Hai Bodong hesitated for a moment, but then nodded.
"Understood."
But…
As he was about to leave, something suddenly clicked in his mind.
Wait.
Something felt… off.
He blinked.
Hold on.
Why the hell am I listening to him so obediently?!
Since when did I
Hai Bodong, the mighty Ice Emperor
Start taking orders from this guy?!
He glanced at Wu Tian, who was still sitting there calmly smiling.
And then it hit him.
I'VE BEEN TRICKED!
HE FREAKING SCAMMED ME!
Hai Bodong's face twisted into a miserable grimace.
Damn it.
How did this happen?!
(∑(°△°|||)︴)
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