King Yuanli's heart trembled as a surge of anger overwhelmed him.
"What a joke! I'm a King who has survived nine brushes with death and fought through three entire worlds, a true veteran of the King clan! And now, facing another King, I'm being mercilessly mocked?"
As a King, he stood among the elite of his own world. To be called weak by someone else was nothing short of humiliation.
"You're calling me weak? Fine. Let's see if you can back up those words."
"I'll make you pay for this."
King Yuanli's fury twisted into a bitter laugh. A cold light danced in his eyes. But before he could continue, he was abruptly cut off.
Qin Yi moved.
"I didn't expect to encounter another of my kind in this world. What a delightful surprise," Qin Yi said, suddenly diving downward. His ten tails whipped through the air, sending ice shards flying in every direction. In a heartbeat, he landed directly in front of King Yuanli.
A raging wind struck as an astonishing aura crashed down. King Yuanli, moments ago consumed by anger, now shivered from head to toe.
"So terrifying…"
He was frozen. Face-to-face with Qin Yi, he could feel the overwhelming, boundless power radiating from him, a strength that far exceeded his own.
His face twitched in disbelief. He realized he couldn't move at all.
He had survived three worlds and mastered countless techniques, but all his inner strength was now useless.
He was utterly crushed by Qin Yi's presence.
"A weak King… You've caught my interest."
"Into my hands, now!"
Qin Yi's giant hand shot out, grabbing King Yuanli.
There was a sharp crack as he lifted King Yuanli by the neck, hoisting him straight into the air.
Behind him, a thousand of his elite warriors went pale. Panic rippled through their ranks.
"Your Majesty!"
"King Yuanli!"
They gritted their teeth and prepared to charge forward to save their King, but Qin Yi's ten tails swept out again. A deafening roar filled the air as a single mighty tail swept through the thousand soldiers, scattering them like leaves, leaving them no chance to resist.
"All the foes I've faced before were far stronger than me… I didn't expect to meet such a weak King in this place."
Qin Yi looked down at the gasping King in his grip.
"L-Let me go." King Yuanli hissed, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
He never imagined that this King named Ying Zheng would possess such overwhelming strength. He couldn't even withstand a single attack. The caution that had protected him through three worlds had turned into arrogance, and now that arrogance filled him with regret.
He had underestimated the heroes of this world!
Even though this world stood higher in Civilization Rank than his own King's World, he had thrown caution aside, thinking he could succeed without effort.
Without reverence, there can be no survival.
"Tell me, what use are you?"
"Otherwise, die here!"
Qin Yi's voice was ice cold as he loosened his grip just enough for King Yuanli to catch his breath.
This was the first time Qin Yi had ever captured another King.
King Yuanli inhaled deeply, desperate to stabilize his energy.
"I, I… I have…"
Suddenly, a cold light flashed in King Yuanli's eyes. His right hand trembled, and the soft sword at his waist coiled like a snake before snapping straight.
Pale energy crackled from his palm, racing along the sword and amplifying its power.
"Perfect!"
The tip of King Yuanli's soft sword shot straight toward Qin Yi's forehead, and in a flash, it struck his brow.
"Success!"
A surge of triumph flooded King Yuanli's heart. Finally, a reversal! He had seized the momentary lapse of his opponent, using cunning and skill to let the weak overcome the strong. He almost felt proud of himself for pulling it off.
But in the very next second, his pupils shrank, and his expression froze in horror.
"How… how is this possible?!"
Crack! Crack!
King Yuanli's hands trembled as the sword he had painstakingly forged from the rarest metals, infused with the essence of an entire realm, shattered into fragments.
Qin Yi's forehead, however, remained completely unmarked, not even a scratch.
"His body's durability… it even surpasses my blade!"
King Yuanli's breathing quickened, shock and disbelief clouding his face.
"Inner Strength? True Qi? For a mortal world, perhaps it's fearsome… but before me…"
Qin Yi raised his other hand, his expression calm. His fingers curled into a fist, and a thunderous boom echoed through the sky.
"Do you understand what it means to flaunt your skill before a true master?"
With that, he swung.
Boom!
King Yuanli's body bent violently as blood sprayed from his mouth. His organs twisted painfully, and his Dantian, meridians, and True Qi shattered under Qin Yi's punch.
"Since you're useless… then die here."
His words were cold enough to freeze the soul. King Yuanli's entire body trembled.
"No… please, no!"
"I, I can serve you! I can become your Subordinate King!"
His voice shook with raw fear.
"Subordinate King?" Qin Yi narrowed his eyes, watching him closely.
Facing death, stripped of pride, King Yuanli dared not conceal a single truth.
"Between Kings, submission is possible. The laws of the universe are cruel, but even within that cruelty lies a chance to live. When two Kings meet, they can either fight for supremacy… or submit."
"I… I, Li Yuanli, am willing to become your Subordinate King. I'll serve you, Qin Yi, Elder Brother! I'll conquer the Myriad Realms in your name, build a Supreme Divine Nation, and unify the cosmos!"
"From heaven to earth, you shall reign above all, looking down upon the skies and everything below!"
Li Yuanli's declaration rang with conviction, almost passionate despite his battered state. Qin Yi found it both ridiculous and strangely intriguing.
"Empty talk." Qin Yi broke the silence, his voice cold as steel. But even so, he released his grip.
Li Yuanli collapsed to the ground, coughing violently as he gasped for air. Qin Yi watched him quietly. Though he didn't yet understand the full meaning of this so-called "Subordinate King," having such a subject could only be to his advantage.
As he searched his mind, Qin Yi found no information about this bond. It seemed that the awakening of Kings' powers wasn't universal; even those of similar Civilization Ranks possessed entirely different gifts.
Interesting. With Li Yuanli, this might become… useful.
"Cough… cough!"
Li Yuanli's body shook, his fear palpable.
"Don't… kill me! Please!" He was terrified. His path as a King had only just begun, he refused to let it end here.
Qin Yi turned his head slightly, his gaze icy.
"A Subordinate King… it requires some kind of ritual, doesn't it?"
Li Yuanli's whole body quivered. His eyes filled with grief and submission.
"Royal Subject Li Yuanli, greets King Qin Yi!"
(End of Chapter)
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