The dragon clan couldn't help but burst into laughter.
After all, Nezha's round, red-cheeked face made his threats sound more adorable than intimidating.
"Chentang Pass's Li Jing? That petty mortal Li Jing?" Ao Qing chuckled. "You really think he's my match?"
He had no fear of offending the human race.
Although he had once been human in his past life, this life he was dragonkind. Naturally, his loyalty lay with the dragons. What's more, in this Mythic World, the humans had made a habit of slaying demons and monsters indiscriminately—even those that had done no harm.
Ao Qing wasn't some self-righteous saint. He did what pleased him, acted on his instincts, and crushed those who threatened his place in the world.
"You—"
Trapped in Ao Qing's claw, Nezha scowled and tried to retaliate. But before he could speak another word—crack!
Ao Qing crushed him with a single squeeze. The boy was reduced to a splatter of blood and flesh.
Moments later, a radiant orb appeared, gently floating in Ao Qing's claw. It glowed brilliantly, streaked with hints of black and gold—identical to the Demonic Marrow Pearl from Birth of the Demon Child.
"This is half of the Hun Yuan Pearl… the Demonic Marrow Pearl?"
Killing Nezha had been as effortless as squashing an ant. But Ao Qing knew that Nezha wasn't easy to kill. He was, after all, a major figure in the Investiture of the Gods. His destiny was to aid King Wu in toppling the Shang.
Ao Qing had crushed him not to defy fate—but to make a statement. Slaying Nezha would generate massive notoriety. And keeping him alive would only mean future trouble for the dragon race.
Especially since Nezha and Ao Bing were fated to clash.
Nezha had backers like Taiyi Zhenren to help reshape his body from lotus roots. Ao Bing had nothing. He died a pointless death in the original tale.
To Ao Qing, the dragon clan had become little more than stepping stones for Nezha's rise. He would not allow history to repeat.
Meanwhile, the Demonic Marrow Pearl pulsed in Ao Qing's hand. Even from a distance, he could sense its mysterious aura—a blend of divine and demonic energy.
Ao Qing recalled how the original Hun Yuan Pearl was forged from the entanglement of righteous and demonic forces. Its avatar was so powerful that not even Taiyi Zhenren, one of the Twelve Golden Immortals, could defeat it.
The fact that Ao Qing could sense this power from so far away explained why Yuanshi Tianzun had split the pearl and cast its two halves into the world for reincarnation.
Without this Demonic Pearl, Nezha wouldn't have been so formidable.
Under Ao Qing's potent dragon aura, the glowing pearl dimmed, turning into a pitch-black orb.
"Congratulations! You have obtained the Demonic Marrow Pearl! Nezha's Fate has transferred to you!"
"Congratulations! Your Fortune has increased!"
"Congratulations! Your Dragon Clan Fortune has increased by 5 points!"
A pleasant chime rang out, catching Ao Qing off guard.
Nezha's Fate?
He quickly understood.
Figures like Nezha were Heaven-ordained protagonists. They were the Chosen Ones, blessed with Main Character Fate. Now that he had seized the Demonic Marrow Pearl, that fate had shifted to him.
What surprised him was that even his clan's fortune had surged—and by no small amount.
Never underestimate the value of Fortune.
Fortune was the root of destiny. Individuals and nations with high Fortune were more likely to encounter good luck, avoid calamities, and give rise to prodigies.
That was why powerful dynasties could last centuries—because their fortune remained strong.
The same held true for Nezha. His life had been smooth and blessed, full of resources and treasures, because he carried Heaven's favor.
Now, that favor belonged to Ao Qing.
He already had a golden finger. Now he had another protagonist's Fortune on top of his own.
Ao Qing couldn't help but smirk.
In the future, treasures like the Fire-tipped Spear, Wind Fire Wheels, Demon-Slaying Sword, and Hun Tian Ribbon—they were all fated to be his!
"Ao Bing."
He turned to look at the younger dragon beside him.
Ao Bing met his gaze and nodded seriously. Curiosity shone in his eyes. "This… is the Demonic Marrow Pearl?"
Back when the Hun Yuan Pearl split in two, Shen Gongbao had helped the dragon clan acquire one half—the Spirit Pearl—and embedded it into the newborn Ao Bing, hoping it would help reverse the dragon clan's misfortune.
But now, with Ao Qing here, the Spirit Pearl seemed unnecessary.
Ao Bing didn't hesitate. With a flicker in his eyes, the Spirit Pearl flew from his forehead into Ao Qing's hand, merging with the Demonic Marrow Pearl.
Moments later—
"Congratulations! You have obtained the Spirit Pearl! Ao Bing's Fate has transferred to you!"
"Congratulations! Your Fortune has increased!"
"Congratulations! Your Dragon Clan Fortune has increased by 5 points!"
Ao Qing grinned.
As he expected, Ao Bing was another child of fate. But the dragon clan could only have one Chosen One—and that would be him.
It wasn't selfishness. Ao Bing simply lacked the strength and drive to lead their kind to glory. Why waste the Spirit Pearl on him when Ao Qing could wield it to its fullest?
Unaware that his fate had been completely transferred, Ao Bing merely felt a subtle sense of loss. But that didn't stop him from being overjoyed.
With Ao Qing at the helm, their clan was destined to rise!
Boom!
At that moment, the Spirit Pearl and Demonic Marrow Pearl collided in Ao Qing's hand. Initially, they glowed blue and black, respectively. But as they fused, their color twisted into a strange, shimmering violet.