Pretending To Be A Boss

Tang Xian felt utterly speechless about his encounters today; it was truly a case of waves receding only for new ones to arrive.

Indeed, through peripheral vision, Tang Xian noticed two figures slowly closing in.

Junlin's recovery of vitality naturally could not compare with Tang Xian and the Red Emperor, but after so much time had passed, its combat strength had also recovered significantly.

It came to the Red Emperor's shattered body, which was like ashes, and looked on with a complex gaze.

The Sea Demon's eyes were tinged with a hint of loneliness, and it seemed somewhat dazed:

"According to the rules, this battle can only have one victor. Although you both challenged together, the supreme glory can only be awarded to one person."

It wasn't targeting Tang Xian; the Sea Demon was just stating the facts, even though it did indeed relish watching fights. Over the years, influenced by the Ghost Coral, this desire had become instinctive.

These words, when they fell on Tang Xian's ears, spelled doom.

Not long ago, he was majestic and indomitable, but now he was weak, delicate, and pitifully vulnerable.

Tang Xian simply lay there; though his consciousness was clear, he couldn't speak. Every inch of his muscles was in a state of refusal to function.

Junlin, looking at such a weakened Tang Xian, truly recalled the mission entrusted to it by its master.

This mission was extremely important; otherwise, the Black Robe wouldn't have entrusted the Eden's Pandora's Box to Junlin.

Junlin also heard the conversation between Tang Xian and the Red Emperor very clearly.

[So you're the human my master warned me about, not some Sea Coward Beast. You and I are mortal enemies, excellent!]

This was the worst scenario; Tang Xian had not expected that the final fisherman would not be himself, but Junlin.

The Sea Demon had no intention of avenging the Red Emperor, because this was their destiny. However, it was pleased to see that this little creature, who had calculated everything, was ultimately defeated by fate's hand.

Yet Junlin just looked at Tang Xian and in the end didn't make a move.

The atmosphere turned somewhat strange.

After staring at Tang Xian for a long time, Junlin finally spoke slowly:

[The Red Emperor's defeat of me was my humiliation. Now that it has perished, but since you defeated the Red Emperor, we must battle. Killing you now would be easy, but in retrospect, I would regret it. I want to defeat you squarely, pulverize you into dust during a true contest!]

The Sea Demon was astonished; could Junlin be even more naïve than the Red Emperor?

Tang Xian also wondered if he had misheard.

He really hadn't anticipated Junlin's pride to reach such an extent.

[The feat the Red Emperor failed to achieve, as long as I accomplish it, will prove I am stronger. Before that, do not die at the hands of another, for I alone am entitled to kill you!]

Having said that, Junlin spread its wings, and to Tang Xian's surprise, left without looking back.

The gusts of wind surged, and Junlin's figure quickly disappeared into the ocean.

What was left was a perplexed Tang Xian and the Sea Demon.

Long after, the Sea Demon finally snapped out of it and said to Tang Xian:

"You are the luckiest person I have ever seen."

If one does not account for some metaphysical probability concerning the Heart of Eden, Tang Xian would probably admit this was true.

His luck today was indeed very good.

The Red Emperor and Junlin were essentially alike, both born fighters.

He had just not expected to encounter two in one day.

Recalling the Red Emperor's final words before its death, it was no wonder it wanted Tang Xian to spare Junlin's life.

Because Junlin had greater potential; in the Red Emperor's view, Junlin might well be the next Destructor.

But... returning empty-handed might not allow Junlin to get past the Judge.

An odd energy descended on Tang Xian, interrupting his thoughts.

The Sea Demon looked at Tang Xian, saying:

"Although I don't particularly like you, you did defeat the Red Emperor, so you will receive the master's power. For hundreds of years, you are the only person whose essence neither I nor the Red Emperor could see through. The one who could kill you has left; I won't let you die here."

Tang Xian understood the Sea Demon's logic.

At this moment, the Sea Demon was healing him, which finally put his mind at ease.

He did not anticipate any further twists on this long day.

The Sea Demon furrowed its brows.

The Red Emperor's ability was destruction; its own was restoration.

Together, they had governed this formidable place for hundreds of years, but it was the first time the Sea Demon had encountered a case like Tang Xian's.

"Why can't I heal you..."

Tang Xian knew the answer but was unable to speak.

The side effect of burning his talent was not that it inflicted some serious injury on his body. Rather, it brought his body's abilities back to an almost nonexistent state for a certain period of time.

Now Tang Xian, with no regenerative abilities or strong vitality, could not utilize any other fighting skills.

Naturally, the Sea Demon could not change that state.

All that remained was to wait.

And wait... for a whole three days.

On the first day, the Sea Demon talked incessantly to Tang Xian about itself and the Red Emperor, aware that Tang Xian could not speak, it monologued as if it could hear Tang Xian's responses.

On the second day, the Sea Demon, tired of talking, began to "fiddle with" Tang Xian.

It pondered why a human, the weakest existence in the Myriad Beasts Realm, had managed to defeat the Red Emperor? Was there some secret hidden within Tang Xian?

"What would happen if I ate you?"

When the Sea Demon uttered these words, it genuinely frightened Tang Xian, who hoped the Sea Demon would not improvise further.

Fortunately, the Sea Demon was just bluffing and showed no interest in a morsel too small to fill the gaps between its teeth. Having seen Tang Xian's previous act of diving into the belly of a sea beast, it was even less likely to consume him.