Chapter 38: Confident Zhu Kun

"Zi Yan, since he is so sincere, why don't we forgive him temporarily?"

At this moment, Jiang Xing, who was standing beside Zi Yan, suggested a way out for her.

Zhu Kun looked at Zi Yan with a hopeful expression, eagerly waiting for her to forgive him.

Zi Yan hesitated for a moment and then said, "Okay then, I'll forgive you for now."

Zhu Kun was overjoyed when Zi Yan finally forgave him. At the same time, he did not forget to look at Jiang Xing with gratitude. If it weren't for Jiang Xing, he wouldn't have even had the chance to see his daughter, let alone receive her forgiveness.

"Zi Yan, can you come closer so Daddy can take a good look at you?" Zhu Kun asked, his voice filled with longing.

Zhu Kun was standing at the farthest point he could manage from the cave. To get a better look at his daughter, he wanted Zi Yan to come closer. However, Zi Yan hesitated.

"Zi Yan, let's go," Jiang Xing said, not giving her time to waver, and pulled her towards Zhu Kun.

Just as they were about to approach Zhu Kun, Jiang Xing suddenly stopped. Zhu Kun, who had been eagerly watching them approach, looked at Jiang Xing in confusion when they suddenly halted.

"Um… Uncle Zhu Kun, if we get any closer, will we also be trapped here?" Jiang Xing asked, a sudden realization hitting him.

He remembered that Zhu Kun was trapped because he lacked the ancient jade necessary to approach the ancient emperor's cave. He was genuinely worried that if they got too close, they might end up trapped there, just like Zhu Kun.

Hearing Jiang Xing's concern, Zhu Kun remained silent. He couldn't guarantee that wouldn't happen.

Finally seeing his daughter, but unable to get close to her... Zhu Kun's heart was heavy with regret.

Seeing Zhu Kun's hesitation, Jiang Xing felt a jolt of fear. 

Damn, Zhu Kun is so unreliable. I almost got us both trapped, he thought. If we were locked up here with no way out, how long would it take for the Soul Clan to find this place? Even if Lin Shan came down and saw them locked up, it would be useless!

"Zi Yan, let's just stay here and have a good chat with your father," Jiang Xing said quickly, taking a few steps back to what he thought was a safe distance.

Huhuhu, that was close. Medusa almost became a widow! Jiang Xing thought, breathing a sigh of relief.

Jiang Xing then gave the father and daughter some space to talk. But, as it turned out, Zi Yan still found it difficult to accept that she suddenly had a father. During the conversation, it was mostly Zhu Kun doing the talking.

Ah, how pitiful parents are, Jiang Xing thought to himself.

After a while, Zi Yan and Zhu Kun finished their conversation. Seeing the hesitant expression on Zhu Kun's face, Jiang Xing could understand the sadness he felt. But there was nothing Jiang Xing could do. It wasn't time to open the cave yet, and he didn't have the means to gather all eight pieces of the Tuoshe Ancient Jade.

Now that Zi Yan and Zhu Kun had finished their conversation, it was time for Jiang Xing to discuss serious matters with Zhu Kun.

"Uncle Zhu Kun, the Soul Clan is currently collecting the fragments of the Tuoshe Ancient Jade. I believe you'll be able to get out soon," Jiang Xing said, offering Zhu Kun some comfort.

Zhu Kun's eyes lit up, and he said excitedly, "Really?" But then he hesitated, asking, "The Soul Clan? They don't seem to be a major clan, do they?"

Zhu Kun continued, "It would take too long for them to gather all eight pieces of the ancient jade. How about this? You pass along the message to the Taixu Ancient Dragon Clan that the pieces of ancient jade need to be collected. I'm sure that with the strength of the Taixu Ancient Dragon Clan, they could gather them all in no time."

Zhu Kun's words were full of confidence, clearly still viewing the Taixu Ancient Dragon Clan as the dominant force it once was.

"Uncle Zhu Kun, actually…" Jiang Xing hesitated, unsure whether he should reveal the truth.

Zhu Kun, sensing something wrong in Jiang Xing's tone, asked, "Huh? Has something happened to the Taixu Ancient Dragon Clan?"

Jiang Xing felt he needed to be honest with Zhu Kun. Otherwise, he was afraid that when the cave was finally opened, Zhu Kun's ignorance about the current strength of the Taixu Ancient Dragon Clan could lead to disaster.

Moreover, he could use the situation of the Ancient Dragon Island to his advantage, making Zhu Kun willingly serve as his ally.

"Uncle Zhu Kun, as far as I know, the Soul Clan is now the most powerful clan on the entire continent. The leader of the Soul Clan has not only reached the late stage of Nine-Star Dou Sheng, but also commands four Eight-Star Dou Shengs and around ten Seven-Star Dou Shengs…"

As expected, Zhu Kun was stunned when he heard about the strength of the Soul Clan.

The Soul Clan's lineup was as strong as the Taixu Ancient Dragon Clan's peak strength.

"I never imagined that such a small clan could become so powerful. With a lineup like that, the Taixu Ancient Dragon Clan is indeed slightly inferior," Zhu Kun admitted, though still with some confidence in his clan.

Hearing Zhu Kun's assessment, Jiang Xing could only sigh internally.

Slightly inferior to the Soul Clan? With the current strength of the Ancient Taixu Dragon, there's no chance against even the Flame and Thunder Clan, let alone the Soul Clan! he thought.

Although the Ancient Taixu Dragon might have a few Dou Sheng elders who avoided internal conflicts, Jiang Xing doubted that they could match the strength of the Flame and Thunder Clan.

Jiang Xing estimated that, given the strength of the Taixu Ancient Dragon's bloodline, there might be two or three Seven-Star Dou Shengs among them, but no Eight-Star Dou Shengs. Their combined power might be comparable to the Medicine Clan at best.

"Uncle Zhu Kun, actually, the three dragon islands of the Taixu Ancient Dragon Clan are currently in a power struggle over the Dragon King position. The strongest member of the Taixu Ancient Dragon Clan is only at the late stage of Four-Star Dou Sheng…"

Jiang Xing had no choice but to break the news to Zhu Kun.

"What?" Zhu Kun exclaimed, shocked by the current state of the Ancient Dragon Island.

He never expected that after his imprisonment, the Taixu Ancient Dragon Clan would not only weaken so much but also engage in internal strife over the Dragon King position.

"Alright, alright. When I get out, I'll skin them alive and pull out their tendons!" Zhu Kun's anger was palpable.

His rage aroused, it was now easier for Jiang Xing to negotiate with him.

"Uncle Zhu Kun, although the three dragon islands are fighting for the Dragon King position, there is still East Dragon Island. East Dragon Island is slightly stronger than any of the other three dragon islands and remains loyal, waiting for the Dragon King's return."

Zhu Kun felt a bit of comfort knowing that there was still a Dragon Island loyal to him. However, hearing that East Dragon Island was only slightly stronger than the other three, Zhu Kun could imagine that this island was likely targeted by the other three.

Could the decline of the Taixu Ancient Dragon Clan really happen under my watch? Zhu Kun's face showed a deep sense of despair.

At this point, Jiang Xing knew it was time to offer some hope.

"Uncle Zhu Kun, the situation isn't as bad as it seems..." Jiang Xing began.