Chapter 447: The 30-Second Man

"Novel: Dominion of the Nine Heavens ()" Find the latest chapter!

The Abyssal Dragon Sea, along the mermaid shipping route, a merchant fleet was sailing with the ocean currents.

The fleet leader, Nan White, was scanning the surroundings with his telescope until his eyes ached. Only then did he lower it, licking the salt stains from his lips. "Damn Nine-Headed Dragon, damn Secret Treasure, damn it all!"

Cursing under his breath, Nan White pulled out a white silk cloth and carefully wiped the enchanted lenses of his telescope. It was these precious enchanted lenses that allowed him to see farther and clearer than the lookout in the crow's nest...

Damn those rune masters—why did they have to sell these lenses for such an exorbitant price?!

Nan White cursed everything again. In the past, he wouldn’t have needed to stand here, enduring the biting sea wind and risking a cold just to do the job of a mere lookout.

But ever since the Nine-Headed Dragon returned to the Abyssal Dragon Sea, nothing had been normal. Logically speaking, the Abyssal Dragon Sea was vast—why did this damned dragon have to settle right on the busiest mermaid shipping route to build its nest?!

Fine, it could build its nest, but why couldn’t it be like other dragons—preferring peace and sleep, staying motionless in its lair for years at a time? Instead, this one loved to wander around, meddling in everything. Any merchant ship passing through its territory would be scrutinized. If it liked what it saw, the ship would be spared; if not, it would be sunk and its crew eaten... What unsettled the merchant fleets most was that this Nine-Headed Dragon had a habit of roaming hundreds, even thousands of nautical miles from its nest, effectively turning nearly half the Abyssal Dragon Sea into its hunting grounds.

To stay on the dragon’s good side, every fleet now carried a hundred sheep at all times—specifically the spiral-horned breed favored by dragons.

Nan White had already prepared a batch of meticulously cleaned spiral-horned sheep, along with two barrels of red wine for pairing. His biggest worry now was failing to spot the damned Nine-Headed Dragon in time, leading to the disastrous misunderstanding that they weren’t offering tribute...

But compared to appeasing the dragon, what worried Nan White even more was the recent rumor that a great treasure was about to emerge in the Abyssal Dragon Sea...

"Damn this treasure! Everyone’s rushing in like mad, not even stopping to think if they’ll get a share. Competing, fighting—competing to die, more like..."

Because of this cursed rumor, the already chaotic Abyssal Dragon Sea had been flooded with even more pirates and sea raiders. This forced merchant fleets that had planned to avoid the mermaid route to return to it. Compared to being plundered by pirates, gambling on the dragon’s mood was the lesser evil.

A gust of icy wind slapped Nan White’s face, jolting him awake. He pulled out a silver flask filled with rum from his coat, but before he could unscrew the cap, a violent tremor shook the ship’s hull. The faint red glow of warning runes carved into the ship’s deck flared to life. Nan White quickly stowed the flask—something massive was ramming the ship from below.

Just as the alarm bells rang, a massive geyser erupted hundreds of meters away, sending towering waves crashing toward the fleet. Amid the chaos, Nan White spotted a hundred-meter-long *Giant Crab Aizai* suspended mid-air, as if gripped by an invisible hand. Its pincer shells were shattered, revealing the bright red flesh beneath.

*Giant Crab Aizai*!

Nan White recognized it instantly—this was the infamous Sea Demon that once terrorized the mermaid shipping route. After pledging allegiance to the mermaids, it had become their official guardian in the Abyssal Dragon Sea.

Yet now, this mighty demon was being held aloft like a helpless chick.

Nan White raised his telescope again, straining to see. Several kilometers away, a colossal figure reared its nine heads and roared at the sky...

"Hell’s teeth!" Nan White broke into a cold sweat. Of all the scenarios he’d prepared for encountering the Nine-Headed Dragon, he’d never imagined stumbling upon it mid-battle!

"Boss, should we release the sheep now...?"

The mercenary chief rushed over, his face etched with worry. Nan White stared at him like he was an idiot. Offering tribute mid-battle? What kind of genius idea was that?!

The mercenary chief grimaced. He wasn’t stupid, but if they didn’t show proper respect now, wouldn’t the Nine-Headed Dragon turn its fury on them once the *Giant Crab Aizai* was gone?

......

The Nine-Headed Dragon was thoroughly enjoying itself, toying with the *Giant Crab Aizai* in mid-air. Today’s luck was good—it had finally caught this stubborn old crab that had been playing guerrilla warfare in its territory. A mere peak-tier spectral beast, without any of those wretched humans’ gear, runes, or potions... Claiming to be under the mermaid princess’s command? Bah! This old dragon loathed those scheming mermaids the most. Tch, this shell was tougher than expected, but no matter—it loved prey like this. It had been restless lately. Originally, it had planned to cull a few more humans for revenge, but those little sheep they offered were surprisingly tasty. It was a reasonable dragon, after all. If that merchant fleet over there could keep it fed with sheep...

*Crack!*

A bone-crunching snap abruptly cut off the dragon’s pleasant musings. The crab’s shell shattered mid-air, its contorted form falling limp as it stopped struggling entirely...

The Nine-Headed Dragon froze for two seconds—then exploded in rage.

It had been counting on this crab to stave off today’s boredom, and now it was dead?!

*"Unforgivable! Unforgivable!"*

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Terrifying spiritual energy erupted from the Nine-Headed Dragon, instantly darkening the clear sky with thunderclouds. Amidst the flashing lightning, a colossal phantom of the Nine-Headed Dragon dominated half the sky. Rain fell in torrents as a whirlwind slowly formed on the sea's surface. Within the storm, the Nine-Headed Dragon's raised heads spewed energies of different attributes. As these energies collided, an inky-black thunderbolt suddenly blasted toward the Crab Demon...

In an instant, the once-mighty Crab Demon was reduced to nothingness by the dark thunder.

The Nine-Headed Dragon, unsatisfied, abruptly turned its nine heads toward the distant merchant fleet.

Nan Huai-te was terrified—he wet himself in terror, in fact. He knew it wasn’t just him; even the battle-hardened mercenary chiefs reeked of fear. Under the Dragon's wrathful aura, even seasoned warriors lost control of their muscles...

"Quick, release the sheep! And the wine!" Nan Huai-te shrieked.

Fortunately, the crew in charge of the sheep were the most experienced sailors. Though immobilized by the Dragon’s oppressive aura, they knew this was their only chance. Staggering, they rushed to the cargo hold and cut the pre-set ropes. As the hatch opened, the poor little sheep slid one by one into the sea.

"Honorable Nine-Headed Dragon, please accept our meager offering!"

The Dragon’s fury subsided slightly at the sight of the curved-horn goats. Dragons were inherently capricious, and the Nine-Headed Dragon even more so. Spotting the floating wine barrels, six of its nine heads began drooling... With good food, boredom didn’t seem so bad after all...

Boom!

With a thunderous flash, the clouds dispersed, the rain ceased, and the raging whirlwind calmed into gentle waves.

The sheep were snatched up by the nine heads, each with its own personality—some gulping down whole, some savoring slowly, and others breathing a puff of dragon breath before eating...

------

Somewhere in the Dragondeep Sea, an unnamed island...

Pirates were brutal, yet they often formed alliances. Only immense profits could turn them against each other.

This time, with rumors of the Secret Treasure emerging in the Dragondeep Sea, pirates from the Lower Five Seas quickly formed a temporary coalition.

Inside a hastily built wooden hall on the island, pirate captains were arguing fiercely.

A bald, burly man slammed the table. "I disagree! Working with nobles only makes us their cannon fodder!"

"No, no, no, Bald Hai. Just because you’ve been burned by nobles doesn’t mean you should fear them forever. We use them just as they use us—mutual exploitation, understand?"

Sessis sat to the side, chewing betel quid as he listened to the chaotic bickering. None of these so-called "independent" pirate captains were truly free; each had hidden allegiances, some even secretly backed by humans or sea clans.

The Supreme Sage Teacher’s ancient decree forbade humans from entering the Upper Three Seas, just as sea clans were barred from the Lower Five Seas.

This very rule created the perfect breeding ground for lawless pirates—even fostering "pirate diplomacy." Officially, neither humans nor sea clans acknowledged it, but reality outweighed hollow declarations and token crackdowns.

Even Sessis himself had ties to the southern beastfolk. But everyone kept their affiliations hidden, revealing their final cards only at the last moment.

Sessis stayed out of the pointless debate. Many others shared his mindset. They all knew the true Pirate King was still en route. No matter how much they argued now, nothing would matter unless Redbeard Karlos gave his approval.

Still, while avoiding futile squabbles, he could exchange whispers with allies.

Grotesque-face Jason shot Sessis a look, and Sessis winked back.

Soon, the two found an excuse to slip out of the hall.

"Old Sessis, what’s your play this time? Gold or the treasure?"

Sessis rolled his eyes. "Let’s figure out how to even get our hands on the Secret Treasure first. Just the two of us? Not a snowball's chance."

The scramble for the secret treasure in the Dragon Abyss Sea has already gathered thousands of pirate crews here, and it’s foreseeable that the navies of the Nine Gods and the League of Blades will do everything they can to intervene. Two Ghost-tier experts are simply not enough to handle this.

"What if we add Redbeard into the mix?"

Sessis’s eyes lit up. "Hell, Freakface, when did you board Redbeard’s ship?"

"Your damn sister’s the one who boarded Redbeard’s ship! Screw you—want me to slash you three times? Redbeard came to me. He wants the treasure and will split the money with us." At the mention of money, Freakface gestured grandly with his hands, then made a zipping motion over his lips. "Serious money. Unless you’re not interested, pretend I never approached you. You know the drill—let’s get the ugly part out first. Besides Redbeard taking the lead, someone’s gotta be the bait. Don’t think you can just be the lookout and reap the rewards. Who’s the bait and who’s the lookout will be decided by draw. Once the lots are drawn, no backing out."

The bait attracts the heat, while the lookout hangs back, watching our backs, only stepping in at the critical moment. Naturally, being the lookout is the safest bet.

"Bullshit, that’s the old rule. If Redbeard’s taking point... count me in. Who else is with us?"

"Only Lancet and Lavir so far."

"How’s the money split?"

"Depends on the treasure’s grade. If it’s national treasure level, Redbeard cuts us in for a hundred mil each. For a major treasure, it’s still around ten million."

"I’m in."

………

Mermaid Royal City of Alonzo

The Palace

"Your Majesty, the secret treasure in the Dragon Abyss Sea is about to emerge. Those damned humans are attempting to seize it. I implore Your Majesty to make a call soon," reported a sea general.

The Eldest Princess, Shayelona, remained indifferent, while the Third Princess, Valena, cast a frosty gaze. The sea general was one of Shayelona’s trusted aides, and since the Dragon Abyss Sea had always been under her jurisdiction, his words signaled Shayelona’s intent to extend her influence there.

"Queen Mother, there’s a saying: 'When the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman profits.' The Dragon Abyss Sea is our territory, and the treasure is rightfully ours. But we must be wary of the other two clans and the humans. Those who charge ahead aren’t always the ones who laugh last," Valena stepped forward. "Rather than obsessing over the treasure’s emergence, I believe the NineHeaded Dragon menace must be dealt with first."

"Indeed. That NineHeaded Dragon has grown increasingly brazen along the mermaid trade routes. Recent commercial taxes have dropped sharply, and many merchants complain, some even opting for longer detours rather than using this route. I beseech Your Majesty to decree the Dragon Abyss Legion to clear the route," the tax official jumped in to report.

Due to the historical ties between Princess Knalius and the Supreme Sage, the Dragon Abyss Sea had always been mermaid territory. Though mermaids refrained from direct intervention, all commercial activities there were taxed by Alonzo. The mermaid trade routes, aided by ocean currents and monsoons, had been a goldmine for centuries and a key advantage over the whale clan and the sea dragon clan.

Valena’s lips curled slightly. The tax officer was her subordinate. If the Dragon Abyss Legion could be mobilized to sweep the routes, she—who oversaw the Dragon Abyss Sea—could leverage this to infiltrate military authority. Compared to the Eldest Princess, who had strong ties with many generals, Valena’s military influence was limited. The Dragon Abyss Legion was a perfect opportunity to bridge that gap.

"Nonsense! The mighty Dragon Abyss Legion is not meant for such trivial tasks! Clearing routes for merchants? The cost of mobilizing an army versus the gains? The NineHeaded Dragon isn’t some pushover—slaying it would incur heavy losses. Who would compensate for that?" Shayelona’s loyal sea general retorted sharply.

On the throne, the Queen remained composed. The NineHeaded Dragon was a scourge, even a "calamity," but the ocean was vast. If not for its impact on mermaid interests, a few more wouldn’t matter. More than dealing with the dragon, she wanted to observe the rivalry between her daughters. A worthy Queen must rise through the fiercest struggles to lead the mermaids to greater glory. "The NineHeaded Dragon is not the immediate priority, nor should we rush the treasure’s emergence. Both matters are put on hold for now."

"As you command..."

The courtiers chorused in deference.

Just then, the Second Prince, Yero, stepped forward. "Queen Mother, I have something to report."

"Oh?" The Queen regarded her son with interest.

"Regarding the mystic potion 'Eye of the Sea God,' Clara has delayed excessively, burning through resources. I suspect she’s deliberately stalling to embezzle. From what I’ve learned, her Golden Shell Trading House has had unusual fund movements. I propose reprimanding her."

Valena snorted. "Why bother with reprimands? Just snatch that Wang Feng and be done with it."

Shayelona smiled. "Third Sister, you’re out of the loop. Do you know Wang Feng’s current status? Abduct him? You’d drag our clan into the humans’ mess. Queen Mother, regarding the potion, I volunteer to visit the human world and oversee progress."

The Queen’s cool gaze swept over Shayelona before settling on Yero. "The Eye of the Sea God is of utmost importance. Yero, since you raised this, you’ll go to Aurora City. Tell Clara: failure is not an option. These words apply to you as well."

The cheers around the Zenith Arena gradually died down as the match inevitably reached its final round.

"Fifth match!" An Nanxi signaled for both sides to step forward.

With a match score of two to one, Zenith needed only this victory to conclude the entire challenge. If Rose won, however, the competition would enter the highly controversial scenario of a tie.

The reason a team included a substitute wasn’t just to replace injured members—it was also to handle tiebreaker scenarios after five rounds. The outcome would then be decided by each team’s sixth member. Yet, Zenith Holy Sanctuary had no sixth player this time, which would undoubtedly spark disputes. Still, even though the possibility of a tie objectively existed, neither the Zenith audience nor the participants themselves seemed to care.

Would Tianzhe Yifeng lose? To that honey-tongued conman of a team captain? Or to that bellowing, shaggy orc?

Hah. Even if someone’s brain had been kicked in the head by a mule, no one would entertain such a thought—except, of course, the people from Rose…

Then, Rose’s final participant stepped forward. As expected, it was none other than the captain of Team Old Wang—Wang Feng.

"Go Old Wang! Long live Rose!"

"Damn it, everyone’s got two eyes, one nose, and two ears! Who’s afraid of Tianzhe Yifeng?"

"Go down swinging! President Wang Feng, crush him! A man can’t lose to his junior sister!"

"Pah! Can’t you say something lucky? Rose will win! Captain Wang Feng will win!"

The Rose supporters' section, previously weighed down by gloom, now erupted with energy. The girls waved ribbons, pom-poms, and bells, while the boys cheered like wild animals.

There was no denying that Winnie’s against-all-odds victory had reignited hope and passion in the hearts of Rose’s supporters, making them completely forget the intimidating aura of Tianzhe Yifeng’s name. They shouted at the top of their lungs, venting their emotions wildly. If Winnie could create a miracle, then Wang Feng—who had led them through countless miracles—surely could too!

Feeling the almost blind fervor of the Rose supporters around him, Gule’s emotions were mixed. He and Wang Feng had met during Thunderbolt Trials, and he held deep respect for the Rose Holy Sanctuary’s captain. He knew Wang Feng was no fool—but his opponent was Tianzhe Yifeng…

"The match is over," Xiao Bang beside him said with a smile, one of the rare few on the frenzied stands who remained calm.

"Yeah." Gule sighed. As the third prince of Long Yue, he wasn’t as easily swayed by a single victory as the ordinary disciples nearby. "Zenith Holy Sanctuary recalling Tianzhe Yifeng is borderline unfair. If it were any other opponent…"

Then, he paused, giving Xiao Bang a strange look. "Weren’t you just saying Rose could…?"

Xiao Bang knew what he meant, but he couldn’t explain further—his master hadn’t permitted him to disclose their teacher-student relationship.

In front of his master, what was Tianzhe Yifeng? Not just Tianzhe Yifeng—even the thought of that near-Dragon Level terrifying succubus being wiped out in an instant by his master’s mere gesture made Xiao Bang certain that even if Fu Changkong himself descended from the VIP stands, his master wouldn’t break a sweat if he wanted to win. Unless it was one of the legendary top-tier Dragon Levels, there was likely no one in this world who could stand against his master. Tianzhe Yifeng? Not even worth squashing!

He smiled. "Yes, the match is over. No matter how it unfolds from here, the victor will be Rose. The moment Senior Brother Wang Feng stepped forward, the outcome was already decided."

Gule’s mouth hung open. If this had come from one of the caught up in the victory ordinary disciples, he might have dismissed it—but from Long Yue’s Xiao Bang? He couldn’t fathom where this inexplicable confidence was coming from.

"One minute? Ten minutes? Or ten seconds?" Xiao Bang murmured to himself. "That probably depends on Senior Brother Wang Feng’s mood."

This guy… Gule’s jaw remained slack for a long moment before he finally managed to close it, equal parts amused and baffled. Had the third prince of Long Yue gone mad? And yet… part of him truly wished it were true.

…………

The frenzied roars of the Rose supporters finally succeeded in angering the Zenith fans, who had been keeping up appearances.

Wang Feng? Defeat Tianzhe Yifeng? Winning one match and they’ve already forgotten who they are!

"What I don’t get is how a Tiger Peak can be the captain of a Ghost Level team?"

"Because he’s silver-tongued! But you’ve got to admit, the guy’s got guts. I thought he’d send that orc out—instead, he walks to his doom. I'll give him this much. I bet he’ll at least get to keep his corpse intact!"

"Not just intact—he might even survive. The guy’s already famous in Rose as the Thirty-Second Wonder." Someone dragged up that old embarrassment from Team Old Wang’s first challenge against the Eight Tribes. It was hardly a secret—after all, Luo Lan’s people had been present back then.

The rumor rippled through the crowd, and soon the entire stands burst into laughter. "Thirty-Second Wonder! What kind of joke is that? Tianzhe Yifeng better hurry—who knows if this ‘brave’ captain will surrender from the starting bell!"

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