I Can See Your Combat Power
Chapter 1785 - Two Hundred and Eighteen: The Wager

Chapter 1785: Chapter Two Hundred and Eighteen: The Wager

"Your Excellency speaks too soon; who can determine what the future holds?"

The violet pupils radiated a brilliance akin to thousands of stars bursting forth. Beneath the calm demeanor of the Dragon Beast lay an unparalleled confidence: "I reside here in Luyang City. Should Your Excellency change your mind, I will always prepare an honored reception."

Having conveyed its message through sheer thought, the Dragon Beast shifted its gaze. After surveying its surroundings, it raised a hand toward Lu Zhongyan, who stood observing at a distance. A massive surge of Primary Qi condensed into a misty shroud and rushed toward him in an instant. Sensing imminent danger, Lu Zhongyan let out a frenzied roar and spewed forth Dragon Flame. The blazing inferno, capable of melting iron and gold, collided with the incoming mist but dissipated as though a flame meeting snow, vanishing in an instant.

Startled and panicked, Lu Zhongyan tried to evade, only to be engulfed completely by the encroaching mist.

He thrashed and struggled, but within this thin, fog-like cage, the Dragon Beast’s immense strength felt utterly futile, leaving it at the mercy of its captor.

Just as despair gripped Lu Zhongyan’s heart, the seemingly unbreakable mist suddenly shattered with a popping sound.

"Hmm?"

The colossal Dragon Beast turned its gaze back to Tang Luo, the sinewy muscles bulging between its eyes betraying its displeasure: "What is the meaning of this, Your Excellency?"

"These two Dragon Beasts are inconsequential,"

Tang Luo replied indifferently. "I was hoping, sir, that you’d set them free."

"Heh."

The Dragon Beast’s brows eased, revealing an expression of deep mockery: "For countless millennia in this vast, desolate world, the weak have never possessed freedom. Even if I were to release them, merely skittering about these small mountain ranges—could that be considered freedom?"

"Within these mountain ranges, they have their choice, their independent will."

Tang Luo’s garments fluttered in the wind as he calmly said, "How can that not be considered freedom?"

"Hahaha, Your Excellency’s words are amusing."

The Dragon Beast laughed heartily, its monstrous voice causing the surrounding mountains to tremble: "But those two lesser creatures have long lost the ability to choose. Now, what they can imagine is only what I permit them to imagine; what they can do is only what I permit them to do. With just a single thought, I could alter the decisions they hold dear or even erase all their self-awareness and memories."

"Do you believe that leaving them here or taking them to Yancang makes any difference, given their current state?"

Uttering the cruelest truths in the calmest tone, the self-satisfied arrogance in the Dragon Beast’s voice only deepened the despair of Lu Zhongyan and the Dragon Beast sprawled on the mountainside.

It turned out that their so-called escape for survival was but meaningless struggle. From beginning to end, they remained under Cao Lie’s complete control.

Disoriented and overcome with regret, Lu Zhongyan reminisced about many things.

When they met with the dean and learned they could not regain their human forms, they contemplated suicide repeatedly. Time and again, they made preparations, yet before acting, the beauty of the world would unexpectedly call to them; they’d think of delaying for a few more days, then a few more still.

They never knew what they were stalling for, but they found themselves incapable of tidying up all their emotions and departing cleanly.

Now, upon reflection, everything carried an undeniable strangeness. Every time they resolved to die, that resolute decision dissipated, and the desire to live surged anew.

Initially, they thought this survival instinct arose from the Dragon Beast’s innate will to live. But now, they realized it was but evidence of Cao Lie’s subtle influence, unnoticed until now.

What independent will, what existence, what...dignity...

At this realization, Lu Zhongyan completely gave up. The Dragon Beast’s spine collapsed, leaving it slumped like lifeless mud, its aura suffused with the sorrow of death.

Even the Dragon itself had resigned. Cao Lie could not comprehend what further obstacles remained. With a casual wave of his hand, he prepared once more to capture the Dragon Beast. Yet before the mist could coalesce, it scattered once again into midair.

This time, Cao Lie finally expressed dissatisfaction. Violet irises radiating dangerous light, he fixed his cold gaze upon Tang Luo and asked, "What guidance does Your Excellency offer now?"

"I propose a wager,"

Tang Luo’s eyes gleamed with Divine Light as he spoke softly from the summit.

"What shall we wager?"

"On a single, fleeting thought."

The mountain wind swept through, Tang Luo’s robes dancing with its sway. Like a celestial sage standing amidst ancient black firs, he pointed at the crumpled form of Lu Zhongyan: "I believe that human willpower can transcend the boundaries of any realm."

"Intriguing."

Cao Lie grew unexpectedly intrigued: "How will the wager unfold?"

With hands clasped behind his back, Tang Luo descended from the mountain peak with the grace of a drifting leaf. He landed beside the Dragon Beast, whose body exuded a lifeless aura.

"Stand up."

The voice, infused with strength, was like a beam piercing through the cloudy skies. The Dragon Beast, trapped deep within the eternal purgatory of despair, seemed directed by this blazing light. Yet, it was so drained that even glimpsing illumination lent no energy to rise.

"You fear death not, yet you submit to such a being. Does this not feel remarkably degrading?"

Seeing the Dragon Beast unmoved in its despondence, Tang Luo chuckled: "Right now, there exists a chance to struggle for survival. Care to bet on it?"

The recurring voices finally reawakened the Dragon Beast’s awareness. But upon recognizing the reality, Lu Zhongyan had lost all will to resist. Hanging his head, he muttered, "There’s no chance. A student cannot even die if they wish."

"To seek death is indeed fruitless. But to seek life—that remains uncertain."

Tang Luo seized the Dragon Beast by the back of its neck, lifting Lu Zhongyan up as he spoke firmly: "Why not give it a try? After all, you’ve nothing left to lose."

"Then... let’s follow the dean’s counsel."

Though raised to his feet, the Dragon Beast retained its defeated demeanor, as if resigned to its fate: "What must I do?"

"Nothing at all."

Releasing his grasp, Tang Luo replied steadily: "Just remember that you are a person, and possess a will that no one can manipulate."

"Is that sufficient?"

Lu Zhongyan seemed somewhat astonished.

"That is, indeed, sufficient."

Smiling, Tang Luo patted the Dragon Beast’s round belly before stepping aside and addressing the massive Dragon Beast: "Sir, you may begin!"

"No need to rush. Since this is a wager, ought there not be stakes?"

A trace of amusement flickered across the Dragon Beast’s features: "If I win, I’d like to invite Your Excellency to Yancang to assist with soul-path research for a decade—how does that sound?"

"Should you lose, however, I request you remove the soul imprints from both of them and grant them freedom."

Tang Luo’s expression remained composed as he stated his terms.

"It’s a deal."

Grinning widely, the Dragon Beast declared, "It seems Your Excellency is destined to collaborate with me for ten years. By the way, might I inquire your name?"

"One should wait until prevailing in the wager before asking such questions."

Spreading his fingers, Tang Luo gestured for the stage to be taken by Lu Zhongyan before quietly stepping aside.

Meanwhile, thousands of miles away in Yancang’s Luyang region, Cao Lie, enclosed within his quiet chamber and surrounded by soul markings identical to those of the Dragon Beast, unleashed an extraordinary surge of spiritual willpower. The sheer force warped the objects within his vicinity.

In an instant, Lu Zhongyan felt an overwhelming and unfathomable force rise from his soul, as though another self had manifested within his body.

The alien sensation threw him into a panic. Screaming in fury, he exclaimed, "What is this?! Get out of my body!"

Most instinctive reactions yield nothing but vulnerability. The descending king’s thought naturally exploited such chances, invading the Sea of Consciousness and seeking to crush and seal Lu Zhongyan’s awareness.

This was a task he executed with ease, for he was intimately familiar with the strength of will possessed by Shi Sanke, Lu Zhongyan, and Fu Yuanshan.

In the face of his sovereign thought, it was akin to solidified, cooled lard meeting a burning, red-hot branding iron—utterly impossible to withstand.