Chapter 631: Chapter 632: Pulling the Tiger’s Skin to Wave the Big Flag
“What do you mean by that?”
Madam Hua Dan’s beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, revealing a hint of dangerous light as she stared intently at Li Xiaobai.
Blustering and bullying wouldn’t work on her.
“My meaning is quite simple. All the trouble that I, a mere passerby, have stirred up in the dungeon will be taken care of by the Old Dragon King. Rest assured, with powerful backers behind me, my time in this dungeon is simply a formality, and I’ll be out soon. In the meantime, senior, you can take a rest.”
“Any losses incurred in the dungeon will be compensated for by emissaries of the Dragon King later on.”
Li Xiaobai spoke with a calm composure, his seriousness for a moment even managing to fool Madam Hua Dan.
She knew that he had been captured personally by the Old Dragon King, and from her experience, it must have been some unworthy descendant who had displeased the Old Dragon King, hence he was thrown here to temper his personality and to be trained.
Indeed, no matter how it was put, the man had significant backing, possibly even that of the royal family. He was not someone she could afford to offend.
“I understand. However, Young Master Li must remember one thing, don’t cause too much trouble within the dungeon. There are many desperados here; it’s best not to provoke them. Otherwise, the consequences will be unimaginable.”
Madam Hua Dan warned.
“Mm, thank you for the advice. I will be cautious. Senior, just watch. Also, please inform the other prison guards to avoid accidental friendly fire.”
Li Xiaobai said cheerfully.
What he didn’t know was that at this very moment, in the great hall of the Imperial City’s Dragon Palace in the Eastern Sea, over a hundred people were watching his every move.
Seated on the throne, the Old Dragon King’s face was livid with rage, his nose almost askew with fury.
That Li Xiaobai had the audacity to masquerade under his name in front of the court officials and deceive people, blustering around with his false status. If not for his prior word, the Old Dragon King would have been sorely tempted to split him in half with his palm.
Blatantly stealing over a thousand Luminous Pearls from the dungeon and then leaving the mess for him to clean up. Extorting wealth under the guise of the Eastern Sea Old Dragon King. How could there be someone with such a thick face?
“Cough cough, My King, with all due respect, he is not worthy of the princess!”
There was a glint of pleasure in the eyes of Tortoise Prime Minister; the heavens were aiding him. Such behavior was despicable and not that of a person who should be entrusted with a lifetime commitment.
“Indeed, My King. This man is the epitome of greed and utterly shameless, lacking any reverence for the Eastern Sea whatsoever. Keeping such a person around would only be inviting disaster. It is our view that he should be beheaded!”
A civil official agreed.
“Such a statement is misguided. I personally believe that this man knows how to weigh the current situation and how to make the most of his advantages to obtain benefits. He’s not like some bookish fools who are so dull from reading that they can’t think flexibly, adhere rigidly to rules and never adapt.”
General Long disagreed with the Tortoise Prime Minister’s statement and glanced at him sideways, speaking coldly.
“General Long, what are you implying with that remark?”
“Are you suggesting that we are useless?”
The civil official who had spoken earlier asked with a displeased expression.
“Do not misunderstand; I am not targeting anyone. I’m merely stating that we must weigh the pros and cons of every situation and see the full picture. One must not be prejudiced!”
General Long said indifferently.
“Ah, that guy is making a move again!”
“What is he planning to do now?”
While the sides engaged in their verbal duel, a voice of surprise drew everyone’s attention back to the scene unfolding before them.
In the image, Li Xiaobai had left Madam Hua Dan’s dark chamber and returned to the cave dwelling where Dao Zu and the others were waiting.
“Sir, did everything go smoothly?”
“Did the warden give you any trouble?”
Seeing Li Xiaobai return unharmed, a gleam of joy flashed in Dao Zu’s eyes as he tentatively asked.
“Ha, what could happen to me? I was merely visiting an old friend. Don’t worry, I’m familiar with the people around here; nothing will happen. Just focus on your work, and once this affair is concluded, all of your sentences will be reduced!”
Li Xiaobai gave a faint smile and slowly said.
“Thank you for your kindness!”
“Reporting back, I have already spread the news, just as you instructed before. Soon, every cultivator in this dungeon should be aware of the information.”
Dao Zu quickly replied, his eyes full of confusion, not understanding why the other party would act in such a manner.
“Good. Mark out the residences of all the leaders in the prison for me. I will visit them one by one. Meanwhile, you take your men and scavenge for Luminous Pearls from door to door. If anyone dares to obstruct or resist, just invoke my name.”
In front of a huge cave dwelling, Li Xiaobai stood at the entrance.
“My name is Li Xiaobai, and starting from today, I’m the boss of this place!”
“Who dares to challenge me!”
The stone door to the cave dwelling swung open, and a red-clothed elder, bristling with anger, rushed out. Upon seeing Li Xiaobai, his expression suddenly changed. He hadn’t expected the one shouting outside his door to be a fellow death row inmate, and seemingly a master at that.
“Who are you? I’ve never seen you among the death row inmates here in the prison.”
The elder asked with a slight frown, speaking indifferently.
“I am Li Xiaobai, a new death row inmate who arrived today, coming to take over your territory,” Li Xiaobai said.
“So you’re a newcomer, no wonder you’re so audaciously ignorant. This prison is full of masters; it’s not something you can take over just because you say so,” the elder sneered.
“Then there’s no helping it,” Li Xiaobai said, flipping his wrist and a longsword appeared in his hand, which he casually swung down.
The elder’s face changed, not expecting his opponent to strike without a word. He quickly shifted to dodge the blow, but at that moment, he felt the Spiritual Power he had been channeling in his Dantian suddenly subside.
Not only that, but he also felt an urge to kneel and accept the sword, and his body uncontrollably moved close to Li Xiaobai, knees buckling, arms raised high, as he knelt at Li Xiaobai’s feet.
“What… what is this?”
“Young man, what have you done to me?”
The elder lost his composure instantly. Neither his body nor his cultivation level were under his control, and to kneil before his opponent in such a humiliating pose was an unspeakable disgrace.
“Old man, have you recognized the gap between us?”
“The difference in our strength is more than just a little bit.”
Li Xiaobai looked at the elder and said faintly.
“Who… who exactly are you, and what do you want to do?”
“Behind me stands the Dragon Palace of the Eastern Sea. The Old Dragon King personally sent me here to undergo training, and I need not elaborate on the specifics, right?”
Li Xiaobai said with a smile, proudly waving the big banner as his own, for in this dungeon, no one knew the exact details, and everything depended on his own fabrications.
“You are someone from the royal family!”
“Just like Long Tian, you have the bloodline of the Dragon Race?”