Jiang Che Turns into a Smooth Talker, Xu Rong Switches Allegiance

"I've already planted a demon seed inside you. If you dare betray me, it can take your life in an instant," Jiang Che said nonchalantly.

Qiu Lin's eyes widened in shock.

A demon seed? That definitely didn't sound like anything good.

And when the hell had Jiang Che planted it inside him? Was this the power of a Martial God? Controlling him without him even noticing?

Absolutely terrifying!

But at the same time, Qiu Lin felt a surge of relief. If Jiang Che had gone through the trouble of planting a demon seed in him, that probably meant he wasn’t going to kill him outright.

The weight in his chest finally lifted.

"Martial God, I swear I will never betray you! From now on, I will charge into battle for you, even if it means sacrificing my life!"

Watching the little dragon-man kowtow frantically before him, Jiang Che almost couldn’t keep a straight face.

All that talk about "demon seeds" and "dao heart corruption" was complete nonsense—just another one of his lies. After all, when you’re out in the world, your cultivation and identity are what you make of them.

This Qiu Lin was a total turncoat. One moment he was swearing loyalty to the Dragon Princess, and the next he was pledging his life to Jiang Che?

Absolutely shameless!

But Jiang Che loved these kinds of spineless underlings. They were easy to control.

"Since you still have some use, I’ll spare your life for now. Work hard—recruit more sea creatures and expand this Dragon Palace. Make it huge. I need a proper royal residence!"

Qiu Lin: "..."

"Martial God, the palace I’m building is already massive. Once it’s finished, it’ll cover nearly half of the Atlantean ruins..."

The dragon-man looked conflicted.

"Half? What would the Dragon Princess think if she saw such a shabby palace? Expand it! Double the size—no, make it ten times bigger!"

Jiang Che scoffed. With so many sea creatures preparing to invade the surface, they needed to be kept busy.

And how do you keep them busy?

Make them work, of course.

Qiu Lin’s heart sank. Just as he suspected… this guy also had designs on the Dragon Princess.

His own chances were now even slimmer.

As for the noble Dragon Princess, he had only ever seen her in memory stones—special recordings sold across the Nine Heavens. After all, the Nine Heavens was vast, and for ordinary people, catching even a glimpse of a divine maiden was nearly impossible, let alone getting close to one.

Meanwhile, Chen Hao and Xu Rong, who had been standing nearby, were utterly stunned.

Compared to Qiu Lin’s words, they were far more terrified of Jiang Che.

Martial God?!

When the hell had Jiang Che reached Martial God realm?!

This speed was insane!

Even a rocket couldn’t climb this fast!

Just over a year ago, when they first took notice of Jiang Che, he had barely stepped into the Transforming Force stage.

One year.

In one year, he had leaped through Grandmaster, Great Grandmaster, Skybreaker, Divine Transformation… and finally comprehended the complete laws to become a Martial God?

A cultivation speed like this would scare people to death even in the Nine Heavens!

Though they were baffled, the terrifying pressure Jiang Che had exuded just moments ago was undeniably real. It lasted only an instant, but it nearly made them piss themselves.

Chen Hao’s expression darkened. Damn it… Jiang Che had gotten even stronger!!!

His original reason for striving for power had been to save Ningshuang. But now that Chen Ningshuang had completely fallen into darkness, all he could do was prove himself stronger than Jiang Che.

Yet the gap between them was only widening.

[No good… There just aren’t enough targets to exploit in the mortal realm. Once the opportunity arises to cross into the Nine Heavens… I’ll have to wipe out the entire Destiny Seeker Association!]

Chen Hao clenched his fists.

As he plotted, his gaze shifted to Xu Rong beside him.

Deputy Chief… You’ll be my first test subject.

Chen Hao’s expression suddenly shifted, turning enthusiastic.

"Brother Jiang! It’s me, Chen Hao! This here is our Deputy Chief, Xu Rong!"

With that, he yanked Xu Rong forward.

Xu Rong: "..."

"Uh… Good evening, Brother Jiang," Xu Rong greeted awkwardly.

"It’s morning," Jiang Che replied with a smile that sent chills down Xu Rong’s spine.

"..."

Just as Xu Rong was at a loss for words, Chen Hao spoke up for him.

"Brother-in-law, our Deputy Chief’s Super Divine Gene System needs dragon blood to evolve. Do you think this little dragon-man could spare a few vials?"

Chen Hao rubbed his hands together. He knew full well that since his sister Chen Ningshuang was Jiang Che’s woman, Jiang Che wouldn’t lay a hand on him unless he went too far.

But Xu Rong? That was a different story.

Qiu Lin, standing nearby, nearly jumped out of his scales!!!

What the hell?! He didn’t even have ten drops of blood essence in his entire body, and this guy was casually asking for multiple vials?!

Xu Rong was equally horrified.

Shit! This bastard Chen Hao was screwing him over again?!

He just revealed his golden finger—the Super Divine Gene System—right in front of Jiang Che?! Was he even going to survive this?

"Oh? A Super Divine Gene System?"

Jiang Che feigned surprise.

Xu Rong immediately noticed the amusement in Jiang Che’s gaze. A half-step Divine Transformation cultivator like him was now drenched in cold sweat.

He wanted to kill Chen Hao right then and there!!!

"Y-yes! My system is the Super Divine Gene System, but it’s pretty low-tier… practically bottom-of-the-barrel in the system hierarchy."

Xu Rong humbled himself to the extreme, almost saying outright—my system isn’t as good as yours.

"Not exactly bottom-tier. With the spiritual revival underway… your system can absorb the blood essence of all living beings. That’s pretty impressive."

Jiang Che’s words only deepened Xu Rong’s dread.

I’m done for.

Yet, Jiang Che made no move against him.

The Destiny Seeker Association in the mortal realm had little contact with its counterpart in the Nine Heavens. Jiang Che planned to take control of them now.

That way, whenever he needed a new system, he could just "procure" one from them.

"Deputy Chief Xu…"

"Brother Jiang, you flatter me. Just call me Little Xu."

"Little Xu, to be honest, I’m quite interested in your Destiny Seeker Association."

Just as Xu Rong tensed up, Jiang Che’s next words made his eyes bulge.

"I’m guessing you haven’t been in touch with the main branch in the Nine Heavens for a while, right? How about working for me instead?"

Jiang Che then turned to Qiu Lin. "Dragon-man, give me a drop of your blood essence."

Qiu Lin: "..."

Reluctant as he was, one drop was better than a whole vial.

"At once, Martial God."

Qiu Lin sliced open a scale near his heart, and a single crimson drop of blood essence floated out, shimmering with a faint bloody glow.

Only cultivators at the Skybreaker stage or above could produce blood essence.

And the moment Xu Rong saw it, his breathing turned ragged.