Chapter 497: Keeping the Bottom Line
“The Human Sovereign really does love joking as always. This old dragon just hasn’t been resting well – a good sleep will fix me right up. Death is still a long way off.” The Old Dragon King laughed heartily, struggling to rise as if to prove his vitality.
The Old Dragon King sat on the edge of the bed, his beard trembling and body swaying like a pendulum clock, seemingly ready to collapse back onto the bed at any moment.
“I… I can still live another two hundred years, two thousand years…”
A foul stench emanated from the Old Dragon King’s mouth, so potent that even various fragrances couldn’t mask it.
As the Old Dragon King’s emotions fluctuated, his body sweated at an accelerating rate. The maids took turns trying to wipe him down, but couldn’t keep up.
“All of you, get out!” The Old Dragon King, finding the maids useless, flew into a rage and emitted a terrifying aura, intending to sweep them all away.
Jiang Li showed a look of pity and stepped forward, gently pressing down on the Old Dragon King’s wrist.
These maids couldn’t withstand even a casual strike from the Old Dragon King.
Jiang Li waved his hand, signaling the maids to leave. The current Old Dragon King was extremely dangerous – if this continued, the maids wouldn’t just disappear but would truly die.
“Old Dragon King, if you want to survive, you must face reality – face the reality that your lifespan is nearly exhausted.”
“I told you, I can still live a long time!” The Old Dragon King, fearing death, stubbornly refused to acknowledge reality.
Jiang Li sighed softly and left with Li Nian’er, Ao Chengcheng, and Mo Ruoyu.
“I’ll be waiting for you at the longevity banquet.”
Before departing, Jiang Li left only these words. The vast bedchamber now contained only the Old Dragon King alone.
On their way back to the longevity banquet, the group remained silent.
Li Nian’er gently bit her pearly white teeth, feeling that what she had just witnessed overturned her understanding. She murmured softly, “Dragon Grandfather wasn’t like this before…”
Jiang Li nodded: “Five hundred years ago, when I traveled through the Eastern Sea, I met the Old Dragon King. At that time, he was humble, generous with his wealth, charitable and kind-hearted. He didn’t judge heroes by their cultivation level nor discriminate against humans. His attitude toward me was the same as toward the dragon princes and princesses.”
“However, his current state doesn’t surprise me either.”
Li Nian’er looked confused.
Jiang Li turned his head to look at Li Nian’er and continued: “How many people can truly face life and death with equanimity? Knowing one’s time is near, it’s understandable that one’s mindset would change.”
“Especially those who have lived long lives – the longer they live, the more they fear death’s approach. They’ve enjoyed worldly prosperity and know its wonders, so they want to extend their lifespan to continue enjoying life. In this process, their hearts may become distorted and deformed.”
“This is the ‘discontent with one’s current state’ among the Five Decays of Heavenly Beings.”
“But no matter what, the Old Dragon King has ultimately maintained the bottom line of a living being. He is a senior worthy of respect.”
With the Old Dragon King’s 2,800-year lifespan, he certainly knew how to practice demonic cultivation. Regardless of whether demonic cultivation could help him break through to the Tribulation Transcendence Stage, he never attempted it – this is quite remarkable.
Jiang Li had seen too many cultivators facing their end who chose to consume humans.
Li Nian’er nodded with partial understanding, feeling that Uncle Jiang was both talking about the Old Dragon King’s situation and teaching her something.
…
The Old Dragon King leaned blankly against the headboard, his eyes vacant.
Of course he knew he was dying. He knew his body best – better than anyone else.
But he didn’t want to believe it, and didn’t dare to believe it.
He knew he would die one day, but he never expected it to come so soon. The day he competed for the fifty-second Human Sovereign position felt like just yesterday, when he narrowly lost to that beautiful girl.
The Old Dragon King subconsciously stroked his beard a few times, then looked down at the white beard that had no connection to youth, finally realizing he was no longer the proud dragon clan member in his prime that he remembered, but an old dragon head emitting unpleasant odors.
“Over two thousand years… Qing Luo, has it really been that long since I lost to you?”
The fifty-second Human Sovereign was named Qing Luo.
Recently, the Old Dragon King often fell into illusions, returning to the era when over a dozen Human Sovereign candidates competed for the position. He would defeat the other candidates again and again, only to ultimately fail to escape his predetermined fate of losing to Qing Luo.
Even so, the Old Dragon King enjoyed immersing himself in these illusions, relishing reunions with old friends, enjoying those joyful times of crying and laughing together with friends.
After more than 2,600 years, all his old friends had vanished in the endless flow of time. Even Qing Luo, the only one who broke through to the Tribulation Transcendence Stage, had perished under the claws of the Outer Realm Demons.
Only he remained.
“Over 2,600 years have passed, even Old Buddha has passed away atop Sumeru Mountain. The only one who witnessed my growth is probably Commander Liu.”
“All my old friends have succumbed to the relentless march of time, turning into handfuls of dust. What more can I ask for?”
“How ridiculous that someone my age still dares not acknowledge reality, letting juniors see me as a laughingstock.”
“The timing is about right – I should attend the longevity banquet now.”
The Old Dragon King leaned on his cane and hobbled toward the longevity banquet.
As soon as the Old Dragon King appeared, the originally lively banquet instantly grew quiet. The odor from the Old Dragon King had become so foul that no fragrance could mask it, and anyone could see the Old Dragon King’s condition was seriously wrong.
The Five Decays of Heavenly Beings.
All sea tribes shared the same thought, realizing the Old Dragon King was approaching death. Perhaps today was both the Old Dragon King’s longevity celebration day and his mourning day.
For the sea tribes, the Old Dragon King had made indispensable contributions. They had all benefited from his grace to varying degrees. Seeing the Old Dragon King in this state, they knew he was truly at his end.
The sea tribes instinctively looked toward Jiang Li, hoping this supremely capable, peerless Human Sovereign could think of something. But they saw Jiang Li’s face as calm as an ancient well, completely unperturbed, with no intention of intervening.
All these changes occurred within just a few breaths. After several breaths, the sea tribes acted as if they couldn’t smell the foul odor and unanimously chose to continue raising their cups in toast, celebrating the Old Dragon King’s 2,800th birthday.
The festivities reached an even higher level.
They wanted the Old Dragon King to leave this world smiling.
The Eastern Sea Dragon King recited well-memorized birthday congratulations to heat up the atmosphere.
Then came the birthday gift presentation segment.
“The Eastern Sea Dragon Clan congratulates Dragon Grandfather on his longevity, presenting a set of bronze lotus lanterns. We wish Dragon Grandfather blessings as vast as the Four Seas.”
“The Eastern Flood Dragon Clan congratulates Dragon Grandfather on his longevity, presenting twelve night pearls. We wish Dragon Grandfather eternal brightness and clarity.”
“The Golden Clam Clan congratulates Dragon Grandfather on his longevity, presenting three drops of moonlight essence. We wish Dragon Grandfather heavenly comfort.”
“The Mermen Tribe congratulates Dragon Grandfather on his longevity, presenting a box of premium mermaid tears. We wish Dragon Grandfather constant smiles and laughter.”
“…”
“The Dharmakaya Sect congratulates Dragon Grandfather on his longevity, presenting a set of True Dragon Dharma Body cultivation methods. We wish Dragon Grandfather eternal True Dragon existence.”
The Old Dragon King could barely keep his eyes open. After taking the seat of honor for the birthday star, he had remained with closed eyes, half-asleep and half-awake. Hearing Li Nian’er’s clear and vibrant voice, he struggled to open his eyes slightly wider, revealing a hint of greed in his gaze.
Youth, vitality – such beautiful concepts.
“I remember you, Little Two and Chengcheng’s child… Come here, let Dragon Grandfather take a closer look at you.”
The Old Dragon King wanted to beckon, but lacked the strength. He could only curl his fingers a few times, pretending it was a beckoning gesture.