The Steward Demonic Emperor

by Little Merger

Zhuo Yifan was the Demon Emperor. One day, he managed to lay his hands on an ancient emperor’s book, the Nine Serenities Secret Records. As the book was coveted by many, he was targeted by experts and was even betrayed by his student. After his passing, his soul took over another’s body. Brought back to life, in the body of a family servant named Zhuo Fan. Because of the regrets of

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The Steward Demonic Emperor #Chapter 257, Killing With Intent - Read The Steward Demonic Emperor Chapter 257, Killing With Intent Online - All Page - NOVEL NEXT

Chapter 257, Killing With Intent

"Huangpu Qingtian, why have you harmed my godsons?" Dugu Zhantian barely contained the beast raging inside.

Huangpu Qingtian was calm, "Because they were in my way!"

"And why were they in your way?"

"They carried out Marshal's orders to prevent me from having a grudge fight."

Tightening his fists, Dugu Zhantian's eyes spat fire, "In other words, they aren't at fault here!"

"No, they aren't." Dugu Zhantian was about to blow a gasket. Huangpu Qingtian said coldly, "I also said that they are not fit to enter a grudge fight with me, not when they're so weak. Therefore it does not fall into defying Marshal's order! As for my fight with Steward Zhuo, that was indeed a grudge fight. But your five sons were already downed by that point. So it can be said that they weren't hurt from doing their duty."

Huangpu Qingtian knew Marshal Dugu was a man of integrity so he used sophistry! Saying that the five tigers had voluntarily, and of their own volition, stepped in his way and he thus inadvertently harmed them while running through them!

Although pedantic, Dugu Zhantian was no moron to not notice the way he shifted blame. His eyes only grew colder as his knuckles popped, "What you're saying is that my godsons were wounded without your intention?"

"Precisely so. They ran into me and wounded themselves!" Huangpu Qingtian jutted his chin and spoke righteously.

"And what of my fifth godson? What happened to his leg? And don't go saying he broke his leg running into you!" Dugu Zhantian's eyes were bloodshot, his voice rumbling and thick with bloodthirst.

Shaking his head, Huangpu Qingtian said, "That wasn't me, it was Lin Xuanfeng. Out of respect for you, Marshal, I was extremely lenient on your godsons!"

"Where's that Lin Xuanfeng then? I have a score to settle with him!" Dugu Zhantian's eyes darted around.

With a slow stretch of the hand, a finger pointed out the gasping Lin Xuanfeng. Huangpu Qingtian said, "Marshal, there's no need for that now! Steward Zhuo had, in front of everyone, taken matter into his own hands on behalf of his master. Is Marshal still going to continue?"

Ugh!

Dugu Zhantian spotted the pool of blood in which the pale face of the crippled Lin Xuanfeng lay.

His anger washed away in an instant!

The guy was on his last leg, quite literally, given the circumstances. And even if saved, he'd be left a waste. His fate was far worse than his godson's!

He suddenly felt awkward, even in the wrong. As if he was the accuser in this case, especially when they were worse off than his side by a dozen times!

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Zhuo Fan, of course, didn't think so. Availing of Dugu Zhantian's presence, he was giving his very best in blowing this sky high, "Ol' Marshal, don't listen to his lies. You have no idea of the cruelty and harassment he put us through! When I arrived, the four had ganged up on my young master, humiliating and trampling him!

"My loyalty to my master is unquestionable, coming to his rescue at once. But I was also a victim of their assault. It was impossible for me to fight the four alone, leaving me riddled with wounds. Out of carelessness and sheer coincidence, they made a mistake and lost a leg. But we are the victims here, we were the ones abused! Please give us justice, Marshal!" Zhuo Fan's voice took a mournful and stuttering tone, filled with pain and agony, "They saw our clan small and weak and decided to harass us. They are low and despicable people!"

Pff!

Everyone there spurted blood. Even Huangpu Qingtian's face twitched. Even he, with his upbringing, was finding it hard not to flip out.

[What's with this guy? He twists everything!]

Although cunning, his speech was based on sophistry. Yet never had he seen someone of Zhuo Fan's ilk, running his mouth and spouting such outrageous lies!

[You rotten bastard! Look around you! Look at the witnesses! How can you be so despicable?]

Despite his perfectly reasonable thinking, Luo Yunchang also picked this time to add oil to the fire, "Steward Zhuo downplayed it slightly, out of worry for the Luo clan, but this is indeed the situation. Please help us, Godfather!"

Pff!

With another round of blood from the crowd, all eyes were on Luo Yunchang, [The hell? What is young miss Luo doing copying Steward Zhuo?]

[Sigh, another one falls under Zhuo Fan's bad influence!]

It was followed by a round of sighs and head shaking, [Oh, you poor poor thing. Coming from an upright clan yet unable to escape this man's devious corruption!] Luo Yunchang and Zhuo Fan shared a sly grin!

Face twitching, Dugu Zhantian already had a taste of Zhuo Fan's grandstanding and wasn't buying it this time. [Then again, this is the perfect chance to get back at Regent Estate.]

So, Dugu Zhantian nodded, "I see, Huangpu Qingtian. I have banned grudge fights and yet you all started harassing the weak with numbers. A much viler act than a mere grudge fight. Is this what you thought of my orders? I will take this matter to each of your houses and get a thorough explanation from them!"

"Marshal, you only heard his side..." Huangpu Qingtian was flustered for the first time.

Raising an eyebrow, Dugu Zhantian's eyes gleamed, "Oh, one-sided? Ha-ha-ha, alright then, let's see what the witnesses say!"

Dugu Zhantian turned to the ones on the ground and asked, "What Zhuo Fan said, is it true?"

They looked at each other, clearly getting his drift. Since Dugu Zhantian was siding with Zhuo Fan, of course they nodded.

Especially the Five Tigers of Tianyu. These guys were quite frank and upright but not dumb. Of course they'd help their kin!

Face twitching, Huangpu Qingtian was swept by anger. [They're clearly aiming for us!]

"Marshal, I thought you were a righteous man, but now I see..." Huangpu Qingtian clenched his fists and jaw.

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With a bright smile, Dugu Zhantian mocked, "See what? You heard them. Is there anything you would like to add?"

"Humph, they are clearly siding with Zhuo Fan while on our side Lin Xuanfeng had his leg ripped out!" Huangpu Qingtian was finding it hard to restrain his towering anger, evident from his loud voice.

Dugu Zhantian roared back, "You have one victim while they are all down! So who's side is the real victim here? Who was it that harassed others with their power? Are you so damn blind?"

Huangpu Qingtian's eyes twitched. He had never been so furious in his life.

Most of all, never ever had he been taken advantage of!

Yet here, against Zhuo Fan, he could do nothing as the man had spun a trap around him. Even Dugu Zhantian was against him!

He, who had always seen himself as a king, an emperor, was now reaching the limits of his patience!

"Soaring Demonic Dragon, your title sure is apt in going after me, Heaven-shaking Dragon Lord. Humph, we'll just have to see how you will end!" Huangpu Qingtian squinted then up and left.

He knew arguing any longer would be a waste of time.

Zhuo Fan raised an eyebrow and pointed at him, "Marshal Dugu, you're just gonna let him go? He just threatened me! My poor little life is on the line here..."

Hum~

A sudden ripple spread and Dugu Zhantian jumped in front of Zhuo Fan, releasing a ripple of his own.

A boom reverberated as the space warped visibly.

Huangpu Qingtian snorted at Zhuo Fan in anger, "Soaring Demonic Dragon, you're lucky this time. But when the Esoteric Debate starts, when the seven houses battle, hope you'll have the same amount of luck then!"

And he took his two allies while dragging Lin Xuanfeng with them.

Dugu Zhantian looked at him in shock, "This kid, he is a peak Profound Heaven expert yet can use killing with intent that only a Radiant Stage expert can use. He truly is the number one talent in Tianyu. His future is limitless!"

The others jerked in fright. Huangpu Qingtian had long surpassed them. He was on a whole different level!

The next time they meet, they might not even come out alive. Against killing with intent, no amount of speed would help.

Zhuo Fan only chuckled, "A mere bluff!"

Dugu Zhantian towered behind him and cuffed him, "What damn bluff? That's power! Do you have any idea how dangerous that was? I know you're a body cultivator and perhaps can win in a brawl against him, but that was a soul attack, killing with intent! You'd never even realize when your life was taken from you!

"I see no way for you to win against that monster!" Dugu Zhantian eyed them and sighed.

The others frowned and sighed as well. Zhuo Fan had given a thread of hope to all, but now it was all crushed to dust.

No one beneath a Radiant Stage could survive an intent attack.

Zhuo Fan had his freaky ability but not even that would save him.

Yet the man in question hardly cared, he had stopped caring for as long as five years ago...

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Chapter 258, Conscription

Dugu Zhantian had some soldiers take the wounded to the marshal's residence for immediate treatment. Yet none of them noticed a spindly figure further away, watching them.

Upon closer look, one would identify him as Unwonted Contriver Leng Wuchang, Regent Estate's steward!

Leng Wuchang twirled his mustache as he kept watching, Zhuo Fan in particular, "This kid is not as heartless as I thought..."

It had been six hours since they arrived at the marshal's temporary residence in Dragon Cloud City. Time in which the wounded were placed in a side wing and administered pills.

Luo Yunchang and Ning'er, the only ones who came out unharmed from this ordeal were the caretakers. As for Zhuo Fan, he was there as well, expressing his heartfelt thanks to his three paralyzed allies.

"Thank you all for such hard work. If it weren't for your help, our clan's line would've been severed!" Zhuo Fan held each of their hands.

Long Jie and Long Kui felt odd seeing the kind and gentle smile on his face.

They had been arduous in cultivating these past five years, just so they could bridge the gap between them and this monster. And yet he just showed up and instead of getting closer, they had only fallen farther behind.

Even though this guy was still a shameless Bone Tempering cultivator, how could his power be classified as one?

As this was Long Xingyun's first time seeing this freak in the flesh and in action, he was quite moved, "Brother Zhuo, now I see what my father was thinking. Only after seeing you have I realized how much time I've been wasting."

"Sigh, youth is wasted on the young. But even so, you should live your life to the fullest and take some time off to enjoy it. Ha-ha-ha, don't take it to heart!" Zhuo Fan patted his shoulder.

But the more he paid attention the more Long Xingyun felt it was fake. [Is this your way of consoling me?]

Xie Tianshang's eyes were filled with fighting spirit, wishing nothing more than to jump on his legs and have a go with the man, "Zhuo Fan, once I'm healed, how about we have a match?"

Zhuo Fan blinked, completely not getting what he was going for, "We just met and never have I gotten on your bad side, so why do you want to fight me?"

"Ignore him. My elder brother is a martial fanatic. He wants to fight any expert that catches his eye!" Xie Tianyang jabbed. Having known Zhuo Fan for so long, he had no qualms whatsoever.

Zhuo Fan nodded, [Ah, another one. I see, I see. Just like Elder Li. It's best that I keep my distance.] He wasn't so idle as to waste time sparring with a martial fanatic every day.

So Zhuo Fan gave him a wide berth, going over Xie Tianyang.

"Hey, wait, you didn't answer me..."

Xie Tianshang watched Zhuo Fan with a fervent gaze. He was sorely wishing right now that he could just jump and exchange hundreds of moves with Zhuo Fan. But would Zhuo Fan listen? He treated martial fanatics as basket cases.

Tangling with him would only net Zhuo Fan a huge waste of time.

And so, Xie Tianshang's grumblings were firmly and undoubtedly ignored. Zhuo Fan walked next to his little brother instead, and knocked his head a few times, "Brother Xie, you did a good job today. I must say, you sure gave your all for Ning'er."

"Zip it. My life belongs to Ning'er!" Rolling his eyes, Xie Tianyang was quite frank, making the nearby Xue Ningxiang blush and glare back. She was clearly signaling not to spout such things around Zhuo Fan.

Zhuo Fan laughed carefree.

Xie Tianyang's eyes turned serious, his voice tinted with worry, "Zhuo Fan, do you always stand out wherever you go? You've got my Ning'er to swoon over you every time she sees you. Can't you tone it down a little so I can have a shot?"

Shuddering, Zhuo Fan remained silent.

Xie Tianyang seemed to be joking, but how could Zhuo Fan not sense the worry within. If this went on, the three's relationship would become more complicated or, worse, break apart!

Zhuo Fan sighed after a moment, "Sorry, that's how heavens made me. If I don't show off, who else will? Just focus on getting better!"

Patting his shoulder, Zhuo Fan left with a stiff smile.

Xie Tianyang laughed dejectedly. He knew Zhuo Fan had yet to make a decision on this and was making a tactical retreat. Or was it an attack? Although he made himself seem ruthless, who could guard against feelings creeping up on oneself?

He went around spreading thanks to all the clan's helpers, including but not limited to the four tigers. But the tigers saw him as an enemy, something he couldn't wrap his head around as to why.

[I stole no wife of yours, so what the hell is with the glares?]

But when he reached the final patient, he spun on his leg and walked away.

"Stop!"

The charming voice came from Chu Qingcheng, who was watching him in reproach, "Y-you aren't going to even talk to me?"

Iris and Peony Overseers were staring daggers. As if accusing him of abandoning his wife!

"Uh, thank you Drifting Flowers Edifices, for helping our clan in our desperate hour..."

"That's not it and you know it!" Chu Qingcheng cut him off, "I just want to know why. Why didn't you see me one last time before leaving Drifting Flowers City?"

Steeling himself, Zhuo Fan said, "I killed and took what I needed. I fulfilled my goal and had no reason to stay."

"No reason at all?" Chu Qingcheng blinked. Her pretty eyes demanded an answer.

Zhuo Fan didn't know how to respond. Then a sudden giggle came, "Steward Zhuo, Marshal is calling you. Leave things here to me!"

Luo Yunchang came over with a smile, faking obliviousness. Saved by the bell, Zhuo Fan grabbed the excuse like his lifeline and bobbed his head, "Then I'll go right now. Young miss, take good care of them!"

And he was gone, despite the doe eyes Chu Qingcheng was giving him.

Luo Yunchang turned a hard stare at Chu Qingcheng, "Edifice Lord Chu, Steward Zhuo is a boor. If he has hurt you with his words or actions, please forgive him. I'll be taking care of you in his place!"

Luo Yunchang's words were full of propriety and good nature, but the true meaning was, [He's mine!]

Chu Qingcheng had taken care of Drifting Flowers Edifices for so many years since an even younger age than Luo Yunchang. How could she not hear the veiled threat? She laughed coldly, "You're far too kind. Zhuo Fan's transgressions are too grave to measure. How could I possibly ask Clan Head to take the blame? I will have Zhuo Fan supply me with the appropriate resolution. But thank you for your offer, young miss."

I.e. [This is between me and Zhuo Fan. You've got no business here, so scram!]

Sparks were flying off between them soon after.

The others looked away from the cat fight and lamented.

[Sigh, this is a woman's war. It's best we don't get caught in between.] But Xue Ningxiang looked on in distress, feeling somewhat excluded...

Going back to the culprit behind all this, Zhuo Fan was speeding towards Marshal's house across from the wounded ward in jubilation. [Perfect timing!] He was truly caught in the trap back there.

Who would have thought facing Chu Qingcheng was more exhausting than fighting Huangpu Qingtian! He'd rather go against a hundred Huangpu Qingtians than see Chu Qingcheng again.

But when he entered Marshal's home, the old guy laughed heartily, putting him on high alert.

"Ha-ha-ha, you came, kid. Sit, I have something to tell you!" Dugu Zhantian laughed and gestured at the chair nearby.

Zhuo Fan was on guard as he eased into the chair. Dugu Zhantian's critical eye from his seat of honor had Zhuo Fan's hair stand on end.

"Uh, Ol' Marshal, you wanted to see me?" Zhuo Fan broke the silence.

Dugu Zhantian grinned, "It's nothing much, just your conscription!"

"Conscription?" Zhuo Fan shook his head vehemently, "No no no. I am not army material. Find someone else!"

Glaring, Dugu Zhantian's beard trembled as he cursed, "Cut the crap! Who on earth is born a soldier? Even that brat Yunhai got trained into shape by me! With your talents, a year tops, and you'll be taking my job!"

"If you're so confident, go find someone else. Why do you want me?" Zhuo Fan shook his head.

Dugu Zhantian sighed and his eyes were glazed with worry, "It's easy to train an army, but it's so hard to find a good array master! In the field of war, there are many array masters using their skills in the form of formations. We are sorely lacking in array masters and that has made our recent losses disastrous!"

"Don't look at me. I'm a meathead. I don't know anything when it comes to arrays or formations!" Zhuo Fan made up a lie.

But Dugu Zhantian wouldn't have it. He had looked into the kid before calling him. Such a flimsy lie wouldn't fly with him, "He-he-he, oh please. I already know everything. Your old Clan Head has long been dead and you are the one running the show. Including the four 5th grade arrays!"

Dugu Zhantian's eyes shined when he reached this point. He was sorely lacking an outstanding array master and wanted to have Zhuo Fan without fail. The latter felt trapped in the old guy's gaze and didn't know how to get away.

He felt like crying.

This was exactly why he wanted to slink through Dragon Cloud City and never cross paths with the Marshal. He already saw this coming and wanted to avoid it for as long as possible...

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Chapter 259, The God of War's Fright

"Ol' Marshal, I truly cannot do this. Please find someone else!" Zhuo Fan shook his head and rose to leave.

Whoosh~

In a flash of blue, the Dragonslaying Crescent Blade was nailed in front of him, followed by, "Why?"

Zhuo Fan was in despair, [Isn't it obvious? I don't want to!] Since he was asked for a reason, Zhuo Fan had to oblige. So he stuck out his neck and refused, "They say that a good man doesn't enlist..."

"Bullshit!"

In reply to his most eloquent words, Dugu Zhantian spat in his face, "Those are the words of friggin' morons. Zhuo Fan, you are a wise man, so how can you lower yourself to a commoner's thinking? Also, did you not take the helm of the Luo clan after the Clan Head's death, looking after the siblings? Why then?

"I only see loyalty. Kid, your actions speak for yourself, of your loyalty and devotion! So what's the problem with being loyal to one's nation. Isn't that the same? It should be the same thing to you! Why do you insist on avoiding enlisting?"

The walls were quite thin here and the wounded next door heard Dugu Zhantian's raving loud and clear. [Dugu Zhantian wants Zhuo Fan in the army!]

[But can he rein in this Soaring Demonic Dragon?]

Luo Yunchang and Chu Qingcheng thought this as well. Even though their glaring never faltered, their ears were idle to pick up on the Marshal's shouts!

Taking a deep breath, Zhuo Fan gritted his teeth. [This old guy just won't quit.] And sighed, "Marshal Dugu, we are neither friends nor enemies. Please refrain from dragging me into this hell!"

"How is the army and fighting for your nation, hell?" Dugu Zhantian was stunned.

Zhuo Fan squinted and roared, "As they say, after three years in the army, even an ugly broad would look like a courtesan! This will deal a devastating blow to my standards and ruin my prospects to raise a family!"

Pff!

The girls in the wounded ward stifled their giggles. While Luo Yunchang and Chu Qingcheng sure had an active imagination, evident by their red cheeks.

Then their eyes met and jealousy reared its ugly head. [Which one of us is that punk going to take to raise a family?]

The Four Tigers of Tianyu and Luo Yunhai were awkward, to say the least. They've been in the army for five years. Did that mean their standards were out of whack?

But Dugu Zhantian's shout came soon after to save their image, "More crap! Where the hell did you hear that nonsense? How could three years lead to such a drastic change?"

The five in the ward nodded. [Well said, Marshal!]

Dugu Zhantian then followed with, "That only happens after five years! My four godsons need six years, by the looks of them, to see any girl a babe. As for Yunhai, it's too soon to tell!"

The five wanted to crawl into a corner and die. The feel of the others' eyes on them only made it worse!

[Godfather, enlist him if you want to, but why in god's name are you dragging us into this?]

[It was fine and all if these old army stories helped but all you are doing is making yourself look bad! Us as well!]

[What a rotten godfather!]

The five sighed and buried their heads in the pillows...

Dugu Zhantian was being serious now, "None of that matters. Didn't I tell you? You'll be a soldier for one year then be my staff officer. Those things don't apply to you!"

"Why not make me one from the start?" Zhuo Fan scratched his head.

Dugu Zhantian squinted and snapped, "Impossible! In my army one needs to do military service. One can only be promoted based on merits. How can I just make you one from the start? Everyone will object. But don't worry, once in the corps, I'll give you plenty of chances to show your ability and you'll be promoted in no time!"

Zhuo Fan sighed. Seeing Dugu Zhantian so stubborn, like a hustler, he left Zhuo Fan without a way to deal with him.

"Fine, fine, but on one condition!" Zhuo Fan nodded in the end.

Dugu Zhantian's eyes sparkled, "Name it! I'll do my best to accommodate you! "

"Uh, Ol' Marshal, would you be so kind as to lend me your status for a short month? I could get used to being a Marshal myself!"

"You think the army is a game?" Dugu Zhantian shook his head, but then he eyed Zhuo Fan skeptically, "What for?"

"What else? To sweep the land and pacify the empire!" Zhuo Fan roared his loyalty.

Dugu Zhantian said in a rush, "Stop messing around. This army can't move as you wish!"

"He-he-he, it's fine. Won't I have the appropriate rank a year later? At that time, I can just kill and smash whoever and whenever." Zhuo Fan giggled.

Panicking inside, Dugu Zhantian now realized he had only paid attention to Zhuo Fan's talent and not his many remarkable 'feats'.

[I can't take the same approach I took with Luo Yunhai when teaching him. Or when he gets the army at his beck and call, he'd leave the nation wide open for attack!] His eyes were swiveling, unclear what choice was best here.

[No, I can't have him fly through the ranks. I'll have to stamp out his rebellious nature in the army!]

Zhuo Fan had a knowing grin, "He-he-he, I know what you're planning. But no matter, I'm the best there is when it comes to roping someone to my side! It won't take me even a year to turn the three million Dugu Army into the Zhuo Army. At that point, being a General or not would hardly make a difference!"

"You don't say. I am giving my all here, but who knows when we will have to face Regent Estate on the field of battle. But if you think you can wrest control of one of the Four Pillars, the empire's army, then be my guest."

Zhuo Fan laughed, "I have never thought about it like that. But now, Marshal, you have to enlist me! Even if you have your whole army infected with gayness rather than some twisted broads, I'd still go for it!"

"No!"

It seems someone had a change of heart. Dugu Zhantian was frantically shaking his hands and sweating buckets!

[That was close! I almost welcomed the devil with open hands!] Granted he was talented, but if there was one thing he truly excelled at, it was blowing things out of proportion! [In the off chance I can't tame him, the Dugu Army will be under his thumb and will corrupt the empire's greatest weapon!]

[I better reconsider whether to let this guy in!]

Dugu Zhantian said bashfully, "Uh, Zhuo Fan, since you find enlisting to be such a pain. I won't force you..."

"No, I think it'll be a blast, Ol' Marshal..."

"No no no, I've never forced anyone to do anything in my life. It's best you stay and look after the Luo clan. Oh right, the three house lords are here as well. I better go see them!"

"What about my enlistment..."

Zhuo Fan shouted after the scampering Dugu Zhantian.

Zhuo Fan watched the mighty and awe-inspiring Dugu turn into a scaredy cat with a snicker.

[Tch, I get far more out of developing the Luo clan than stealing your three million army!]

[Then again, having Dugu Army by my side is not bad either!] Zhuo Fan mused, his eyes flashing.

Dugu Zhantian just left the room and turned to the wounded ward.

It seemed that Sword Marquise Abode, Veiled Dragon Pavilion, and Drifting Flowers Edifices' leaders were also present. They all saluted Dugu Zhantian, "Thank you Marshal for coming to their rescue!"

"No thanks needed. This is my responsibility. Although someone else saved them in the end, while I was only a mediator!" Dugu Zhantian waved.

The leaders chuckled.

Grandmother then frowned, "Marshal, I was meaning to ask. Are you intent on conscripting Zhuo Fan? Could I ask you to postpone it until after the Esoteric Debate?"

"Of course. As for conscripting, I still need to consider it. there's no need to fret!" Dugu Zhantian stated.

Zhuo Fan's vision of the army had scared the crap out of him!

[The kid seems capable of anything! He may very well have a way of turning the Dugu Army into his personal army!]

And he wasn't about to give his army away just for one array master! Dugu Zhantian was thankful he came back to his senses and avoided a disaster!

Zhuo Fan took this moment to enter and greet the house lords.

The three nodded in reply. They could finally breathe easier seeing him safe and sound.

To be blunt, there would be no Luo clan without Zhuo Fan, the truest underdog. Luo clan wouldn't stand a chance in the Esoteric Debate, whether as an ally or enemy.

But with Zhuo Fan back in town, the clan was in full force.

"Steward Zhuo, the entire Luo clan is injured. We can't make it to tomorrow's fight! Will you, as their steward step forth?" Grandmother smiled widely, hoping to see the miracle that was Zhuo Fan in action after a five year break.

Shrugging, Zhuo Fan said, "Of course, it is my duty to represent the Luo clan! It is time for the Luo clan to stand abreast with all of you!"

"That will depend on Steward Zhuo's first battle!" Long Yifey raised an eyebrow.

They all looked at each other and burst out laughing, all eager to see Zhuo Fan put on a good show tomorrow...

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Chapter 260, We Will Kill Zhuo Fan

The next day, Dragon Cloud City's fighting stage was enveloped by a roaring crowd shouting their cheers.

On the stage, two youths stood thrilled and panting, surrounded by either dead or wounded people.

"The winner of today's battle hails from Crescent Sword City, the Xue clan! They are advancing to the final battle!" A Profound Heaven expert stepped on stage and gestured at the youths.

The crowd exploded with applause, raising the excitement of the two. They left the stage and walked to their cheering clan.

"Big brother, second brother, congratulations!"

Xue Ningxiang gave them a hug and a sweet smile.

The two were Xue Gang and Xue Lin. After the horrors of Blue Expanse City, Xie Tianyang saved them and their clan became Sword Marquise Abode's vassal.

It was the only way they could have joined the Esoteric Debate.

"Gang'er, Lin'er, you've done well. You are now ready to join the final battle and help Sword Marquise Abode's young masters in their fight!" Xue Wanlong laughed with pride, "Remember, never let down our clan and protect the two young masters!"

Patriarch Xue Dingtian nodded at the side.

Thanks to Xie Tianyang, their clan was under Sword Marquise Abode's wing, cared for and well supplied. But this left them uneasy, and they were going to use this chance to repay their help! This was the reason for joining the Esoteric Debate.

Xue Gang and Xue Lin nodded, filled with battle spirit.

Xie Tianyang stood next to Xue Ningxiang, sighing, "Uncle, why did you let the brothers join such a cruel battle? This time's battle will be far more deadly and vicious than any of the past ones. I fear..."

"Second young master, I have made my decision. We cannot go on receiving Sword Marquise Abode's grace without giving anything back. Please give us this chance to show our gratitude!" Xue Wanlong cupped his hands.

Xie Tianyang sighed.

The Profound Heaven expert on the stage suddenly said, "The next fight will be between Drifting Flowers City's Dong clan and Flood City's Yu clan!"

Two familiar figures walked on stage. Xie Tianyang's eyes brightened, "Who knew we'd see them here?"

"Aren't they brother Dong and sister Wan'er? You know them as well?" Xue Ningxiang was startled.

Xie Tianyang looked at her instead, "Ning'er, how do you know them?"

"Drifting Flowers Edifices and Sword Marquise Abode are allies. We met when the two houses gathered for negotiation. Brother Dong is somewhat frivolous, but Wan'er is very nice!" Ning'er smiled, "How do you know them? Disciples of the seven houses hardly ever meet with people from second rate clans."

"Uh, we met in Drifting Flowers City. I hear that Dong Xiaowan and the kid have something going on between them." Xie Tianyang grinned, thinking of having a little payback.

Xue Ningxiang looked closer at Dong Xiaowan and muttered, "No wonder she never said anything when the topic about who she likes came up..."

Correct, the two Dong siblings were those Dongs.

Because of their ties with Zhuo Fan back in Drifting Flowers City and having gotten familiar with Drifting Flowers Edifices' leaders, the Dong clan had been on a swift rise. They had long outstripped the title of vassal clan and moved to Drifting Flowers City to become their trusted aide.

The old master of the Dong clan couldn't be happier and stated that they had to go and see their most treasured benefactor in the flesh.

Of course, such a thing wasn't so easy to achieve, not with how busy Zhuo Fan was. If he wasn't blowing something up, he was beating the life out of someone. The likes of him could hardly squeeze a meeting between his murderous rampage and endless mayhem.

Thanks to Drifting Flowers Edifices' help, Dong Tianba had entered the Profound Heaven Stage, displaying his majestic air on today's stage. In but half an hour, he and his sister won over their opponents and arrived next to their clansmen and friends.

"Young master Xie, uncle xie, sir Xie, brothers Xie, how do you do?"

Dong Tianba cupped his hands in pride. Dong Xiaowan bowed as well with a smile. The others nodded, while Xue Gang had eyes only for Dong Xiaowan and her charming smile.

Everyone could tell what he was thinking.

"Brother Xue, how have you been? I never thought our clans would enter the final battle. We will be fighting alongside it seems, ha-ha-ha..." A portly man came over.

Dong Tianba and Dong Xiaowan cupped their hands, "Dad!"

Xue clan greeted in kind, but only when he saw Xie Tianyang did the old man greet back.

He was the Dong Clan Head.

Dong Clan Head pointed at Xue Gang, "Young master is of great talent. Could I be so bold as to ask if you're married?"

"Uh, no." Xue Dingtian smiled, his meaning clear.

Dong Clan Head nodded and smiled at his daughter, "What a fine coincidence, neither is my daughter. I find our clans so friendly that I was wondering..."

"Dad!" Dong Xiaowan gave him the stink-eye and was sullen.

Xue Ningxiang could see herself in her and shook her head. The two already had someone and were not going to just change their minds at the drop of the hat.

Meanwhile, the Profound Heaven expert on the stage said, "The next fight is between Sun Spire City's Hong clan and Blue Expanse City's Sun clan!"

Shuddering, the Xue clan turned to the stage. Blue Expanse City used to be their turf while being Hell Valley's vassal. Since betraying their patron, Blue Expanse City fell under another clan's jurisdiction.

Bluntly put, the Sun clan was their replacement, Hell Valley's brand new lap dog.

The Sun clan only sent a man and a woman to fight against fifty Bone Tempering experts led by two Profound Heaven cultivators.

Such power among second rate clans made it a seeded clan, closely approaching the qualifications to be a first rate clan.

Against such strength, the Sun clan sent merely two, a really odd pair. Their eyes released a bloody glow, and closely resembled monsters rather than humans. Not even their appearances could be distinguished.

The sight of them standing there sent shivers among many. As if they were demons who sprang out of hell. But upon closer look, they were only peak Bone Tempering cultivators.

"He-he-he, two peak Bone Tempering cultivators want to mess with fifty experts?" The leading youth snickered, "From your demonic look, living must've been hard and you've come for the sweet release of death, right? Ha-ha-ha..."

The others laughed as well.

That demonic man however was wrapped in black energy as it suddenly jumped from him with a roar.

A veritable fountain of blood bloomed, while the Hong clan youth fell with a perplexed look.

He was still wondering how a peak Bone Tempering cultivator killed him.

Sss~

The others gasped. Hong clan's laughter died and watched the pair of enemies in shock.

How could a fresh Profound Heaven expert die in one blow?

[A sneak attack for sure!]

With a shout, the fifty men from Hong clan stormed the pair. The two only had a creepy grin as they turned into black mist and roamed among them.

The slaughter began. Not of the pair, but of those fifty experts as the two crazed monsters were unleashed upon them.

Wails, sobbing, and horror grated on the audience's ears. In just fifteen minutes, they were the only ones standing, while the corpses around them had their throats ripped out.

Blood soaked into the arena and the dead stare of the bodies gave a glimpse into the cruelty they had just suffered.

Xue Ningxiang had long since covered her eyes. Xie Tianyang's brow was furrowed, [What made these guys act with such brutality?]

The girl on stage suddenly snapped her head back and pointed at the Xue clan with a nasty grin, "Traitor of Hell Valley, you will die in the final battle, by our hands. None of you will live. We will cleanse the Hell Valley of its traitors! Your time will soon come, hi-hi-hi..."

The Xue clan felt a shiver run down their very core.

This pair was way too abnormal. Not just the sons, but even the father and patriarch felt their hair stand on end.

Xie Tianyang stepped up and shielded Xue Ningxiang as he roared, "Stop barking! I would like to see you try and touch the Xue clan!"

"Second young master Xie, our house lord's son will deal with you and we will deal with the traitorous Xue clan!" Snickering, the girl threw her head back.

The creepy way she talked and her posture only worked to deepen one's fear.

The man next to her said, "Don't forget our main objective, the Luo clan. Xue clan is just a side dish!"

"You're after the Luo clan?" Xue Ningxiang was worried.

On the other hand, Xie Tianyang felt relief. A few days back he would've been worried as well, but not now.

Because the Luo clan had recovered their pillar, the Demon Archon Zhuo Fan.

With him around, these weirdos looked like imps in comparison. Going after the Luo clan was a death sentence.

But the man saw Xue Ningxiang's distress and reveled in it, "Yes, we will find the Luo clan and slaughter them all! Especially that Zhuo Fan. We will tear him limb from limb!"

Xue Ningxiang's pure heart was stuck in her throat, vexed over Zhuo Fan's safety.

[Brother Zhuo, two bad men are after you!]

While Xie Tianyang almost burst out laughing, [Dude, have you even seen Zhuo Fan? Have you seen his power? What is your boasting based on, hot air? Not even a moron will believe such a lame joke!]

But then he saw Xue Ningxiang sick with worry and amended his thoughts with a twitch of his cheek, [Ning'er excluded.]

She was no moron, just naive...

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Chapter 261, Limelight

"Look, Hell Valley's men are here!"

Someone from the crowd shouted and everyone turned their heads to see You Wanshan and his elder detail. He stood on the highest point with a sombre look, flanked by You Ming and the rest of their other disciples participating in the final battle.

As this place was the fighting grounds for third and second rate clans, with how not even first rate clans would come here to watch, least of all the seven houses, there were no honorary seats for them.

What stirred the biggest shock was the sudden appearance of Hell Valley, taking seat at the highest position. They could see the whole stage from there, but it was also a strategic position to emphasize the usual disdain the seven houses had for these puny clans.

But what was up with this sudden arrival? Who had caught their eye?

Were they going to enjoy the show alongside them, or was there a new star on the rise no one knew about? If it was the latter, who was this person and what was he capable of to garner such ostentatious audience?

The crowd grew restless with their speculations.

Sun clan's creepy guy noticed You Wanshan's imposing figure and showed a morbid smile, "See? Valley Lord You came to personally watch us crush your clans. This is how much Hell Valley values us!"

"Yeah, we're not like those Xue traitors. Valley Lord finds us indispensable!" Sun clan's creepy girl showed a morbid smile herself.

Xue clan only gave the duo a cursory glance, while being concerned about Hell Valley's real intentions. Hell Valley came to cheer for the Sun clan? How is that even possible, when they have never shown such care for any vassal before?

Xie Tianyang mocked, "Cocky brats, You Wanshan isn't so bored as to watch a couple of aberrations."

"Say that again! What else would Valley Lord You be here for? There's only us around who is Hell Valley's vassal!" The girl roared.

Xie Tianyang shrugged.

The seven houses only ever cared about each other and never about some squirming ants trying to get some praise. [You're disillusioned if you think he came here to cheer for you!]

And then another sudden cry of shock came, followed by another unexpected arrival.

And while Hell Valley's men were emitting deadly auras, the newcomers were graceful women with thin veils.

Drifting Flowers Edifices!

Grandmother was in the lead as Chu Qingcheng was still nursing her wound. Behind her were her entire overseer contingent and the Drifting Flowers Edifices' disciples participating in the final battle.

Even Xiao Dandan was among them, darting her eyes around and looking for her special someone.

[He-he-he, here comes another lovesick lass. That punk will be so annoyed, Xie Tianyang snickered. Dong Clan Head puffed up his chest and took on a prideful air, "Ha-ha-ha, I didn't expect Drifting Flowers Edifices' overseers to come support us. Our Dong clan is so cherished. We may be Drifting Flowers Edifices' trusted aide, but to receive such care, ha-ha-ha..."

The guy was grinning from ear to ear and making the Xue clan envious.

His position seemed to be so high that even the Edifice Lord came in person.

Only Xie Tianyang sighed.

[It seems narcissism is an inherent trait of these vassals, not just aberrations are susceptible to it but even normal people. What in the hell gave you the idea that the seven houses came to see you specifically?]

Then came the third cry of the day. Xue clansmen watched overwhelmed with joy.

Why? Because Sword Marquise Abode's Xie Xiaofeng was leading Xie Tianshang and his elders over.

Patriarch Xue Dingtian was touched to the core as he showed off to the Dong Clan Head, "Ha-ha-ha, Clan Head, Sword Marquise Abode values us quite a lot as well..."

"Wait!"

He didn't get to finish his haughty words, as Xie Tianyang interrupted him, "Everyone, I know fully well my words may sound crass, but could you cool off for a second and stop with the self-important attitude? Those house lords haven't even looked at you once, so how can you say they've come for you?"

The sudden wake up call made them realize the wisdom in his words.

[If not for us, then who?] This was a fighting stage for the seven houses' vassals!

Xie Tianyang shook his head.

If there was anything the seven houses paid attention to, besides each other of course, was strength. [Who else but that punk could stir up so many of them to come here?]

While they were vexed by this conundrum, Pill King Hall appeared with a fourth cry. Yan Bogong led Yan Bangui and Yan Fu with his elders over. They were soon followed by Merry Woods's House Lord Lin coming with his elders and a bouncing Lin Xuanfeng.

After a night of healing, Lin Xuanfeng's wound was closed. Even though he hopped about with a pale face. The audience was amazed, [Is this Forest Fleeting Dragon, one of the Six Dragons and One Phoenix? Why does he have only one leg? How would he fleet through the forest now?]

Few were aware of the circumstances regarding Forest Fleeting Dragon's misery. How the vile Soaring Demonic Dragon ripped his leg clean off!

But the biggest shock of all was what came next.

The head of the seven houses, Regent Estate!

Huangpu Tianyuan was leading the group, with Regent Estate's steward, Leng Wuchang on his left, and his eldest, the head of Six Dragons and One Phoenix, Heaven-shaking Dragon Lord Huangpu Qingtian on his right. Behind them was a team of Profound Heaven elders, thirty in number!

The frightening display made everyone's hair stand on end. The other six houses also paused at their entrance.

Regent Estate's power was unquestionably the highest among the houses!

It had the ambition to swallow the others for good reason. It would've been a waste of their might if they didn't aim for at least this much.

Under the riveting gazes of the crowd, Huangpu Tianyuan made his way forward with a regal air and boundless power that stopped anyone from breathing within three hundred meters.

Only when Regent Estate took the foremost position did the man slowly withdraw his power, but the damage, or deterrence, was done. In his wake, the people were left shivering and gasping.

That was enough to rouse up even the narcissistic trio of clans from their arrogance. The presence of all the seven houses had nothing to do with them at all.

Thinking about what loudmouths they were seconds ago, they started blushing like crazy.

The Dong, Xue, and even the Sun clan's aberrations were stiff and awkward.

This only helped to fuel their curiosity. Why were they all here? For whom?

Xie Tianyang knew it all along of course.

The Profound Heaven expert on the stage stood on pins and needles under the stare of all those mighty figures. He shakily took out the roster.

He was the king of this stage, but not anymore. 'Cause now he was a bottom feeder among all these big shots!

He swallowed down while shaking and shouted, "The next fight will be between Zephyr City's Wan clan and Windgaze City's Luo clan!"

Every head turned to the dark entrance of the stage to see the greatest underdog in this Esoteric Debate, Luo clan!

Even though the Luo clan's 28 strong men were quite something, the more they advanced the harder it became. Case in point, they left the last battle while supporting each other.

Their opponent, the Wan clan, was a renowned second rate clan. It even had three Profound Heaven youths.

The crowd was eagerly awaiting for the Luo clan, but their prospects at winning were slim at best.

Tap, tap, tap...

A light noise was heard as Luo Yunhai was coming out on crutches, leaning on his sister towards the stage.

The crowd's shock passed and was replaced by sighs.

They all saw Luo Yunhai's valor and might, fearless as a tiger. And this tiger was an indispensable force in the Luo clan's team.

Yet now he had an unexplained wound, which only crippled their chance of victory even more.

Wan clan's twenty strong men were already on the stage and were now snickering. [Victory's ours!]

But then a plain figure slowly made itself noticed by walking behind the siblings. He caught the attention of all the houses.

Regent Estate, Hell Valley, and their other two allies bore a deep hatred for Zhuo Fan. They suddenly released a deadly aura that made the audience shiver.

[It all makes sense now. The seven houses came for him!]

Playing with his flickering Thunder Ring, Zhuo Fan walked without a care in the world. His deep gaze, his far off look seemed to find everyone beneath him.

This was how Zhuo Fan followed after Luo Yunchang, with a charming and faint smile.

The biggest shock was received by those who didn't know Zhuo Fan.

[Who is he? Why are the seven houses here for him?]

Dong Tianba and Dong Xiaowan went slack jawed. They never ever thought they'd meet him here.

Dong Xiaowan in particular, her gaze was filled with complicated emotions. Joy, sadness, and a hint of relief...

Xue Wanlong and Xue Dingtian were shocked as well. They never thought that the young brat they met in Allbeast Mountain Range would appear here.

"S-Soaring Demonic Dragon!"

The shout had caused another round of shock among the crowd as their eyes never strayed from Zhuo Fan!

[He is the Luo clan's strongest? The same Soaring Demonic Dragon on par with Six Dragons and One Phoenix?]

The Luo clan's main force has come out in the open!

The crowd watched eagerly, thrilled to witness a good show...

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Chapter 262, Cheerleaders/Groupies

"Old Pang, stay here and look after them." Zhuo Fan spoke behind him to Captain Pang and the young guards before walking on stage alone.

The crowd wondered, [Alone against Wan clan's 20 strongest?] But then recalled that he had a title akin to the Six Dragons and One Phoenix and got excited at the prospect.

This was what everyone wanted to see. The extent of power one man possessed to make the seven houses pay so much attention to.

"Brother Zhuo, fingers crossed!" Xue Ningxiang cheered with an adorable face.

Staggering for a second there, Zhuo Fan waved back slightly with a smile.

Dong Xiaowan waved as well, but found him not even noticing her and was peeved, "Ning'er, are you and brother Zhuo close?"

"He saved my clan's lives!" Xue Ningxiang nodded, but then found Dong Xiaowan gloomy and mumbled, "Uh, sister Wan'er, sorry…"

"It's fine. He never even looked at me anyway." Dong Xiaowan shook her head sullen.

Dong Clan Head gleaned something out of all of this and asked Dong Tianba, "Is that youth who I think it is?"

Dong Tianba nodded and sighed.

His sister had been lovestruck since back in Drifting Flowers City. Her crush never spared her a glance, while she pined for him every moment.

[I can't tell if she is foolish or silly.]

"Darling, good luck! Crush them all!" A cute voice came from Drifting Flowers Edifices' side and slammed into the ears of the audience. Xiao Dandan was practically jumping in her seat, gesticulating wildly to make sure he saw her.

Zhuo Fan held his head, [What's this idiot doing here? Is Drifting Flowers Edifices so understaffed? How is she fit to join the seven houses' final battle with her cultivation? Cannon fodder is more like it!]

Pulling Xiao Dandan back down, Peony Overseer cursed, "Why can't you act proper instead of some lovesick maiden?"

"Humph, me and darling have already tied the knot. He'll come around!" Xiao Dandan pouted, still clinging to her hope.

Sighing, Peony Overseer said. "This girl has lost it."

On the other hand, Xie Tianyang was laughing his head off, using this chance to gossip with Xue Ningxiang, "Ning'er, see that? This punk is a womanizer. He got another one just like that! And I can attest to having seen them kissing in public myself… "

Xie Tianyang laughed inside, [Time to cash in on the scheme I cooked back in Drifting Flowers Edifices.]

Xue Ningxiang's eyes were fixed on Zhuo Fan, having a sinking and uncomfortable feeling in her heart.

The looks Zhuo Fan got from the audience were odd, to say the least.

[This kid's the bomb. He goes around the seven houses, spreading chaos and destruction, while not forgetting to sow the seeds of love!]

[Lady Killer Demonic Dragon is far more appropriate!]

"Steward Zhuo, you are a true man of mercy, to show such restraint in your travels!" Luo Yunchang towered behind Zhuo Fan with a sweet smile. And yet the killing intent in her eyes made her close to a demon.

Zhuo Fan shrugged it off, "I only did what I had to. The rest was a force of circumstance, out of my control."

"Force of circumstance you say?" Luo Yunchang teased and held his face.

Zhuo Fan was caught off guard, "What are you doing?"

"Force of circumstance." Grinning, Luo Yunchang looked at him longingly and smooched him.

Zhuo Fan felt her soft lips but didn't get to relish in the sensation as Luo Yunchang swished her head away blushing. But the look in her eyes, was that of a blissful maiden.

"Steward Zhuo, good luck!" Luo Yunchang batted her eyes at him then shot a glance towards Drifting Flowers Edifices.

Chu Qingcheng's eyes were spitting fire right about now. Her teeth crunching so hard even Grandmother could hear.

Xiao Dandan was having a hard time swallowing down her anger. She was ready to jump at that hussy's throat. Fortunately, Peony Overseer was there to rein her in.

"Who is she? How dare she force herself on darling?"

"That's their clan's matter. It has nothing to do with you." Peony Overseer sighed.

Xiao Dandan whined, "That's my darling! Of course it has…"

Xie Tianyang found the ever sweet and cheerful Xue Ningxiang wearing a mask of anger and sorrow.

[This is a cat fight only a man can stir. But why do I get the feeling even my cute and lovely Ning'er wants to join the battlefield as well?]

The audience was even more shocked, [That's no Demonic Dragon, that's a Love Doctor I tell you!] While actually, they felt jealousy and anger, [Being a skirt-chaser is a skill as well.]

Huangpu Tianyuan twiddled his mustache with a cold eye, "Sir Leng, who among these girls is his Achilles heel?"

"They all have a crush on him, but he ignores them completely. It's too soon to tell if any of them can be called his weakness. This needs further observation." Leng Wuchang's eyes flashed.

Huangpu Tianyuan nodded.

Zhuo Fan was out of it for a second there, then saw Luo Yunchang's rosy cheeks and rubbed her head, "Young miss Luo, you're not getting weird on me, are you?"

"You're the weird one. Now get on stage!" With a glare, Luo Yunchang pushed him forward.

With that charming and touching look, she made quite a number of hearts skip a beat in the crowd.

Zhuo Fan shook his head and went on.

Just then, two figures wrapped in black energy popped up in front of him. The Blue Expanse City's Sun clan duo!

Looking at the two creepy aberrations, Zhuo Fan was stunned, "You need something?"

"Hi-hi-hi, Zhuo Fan, you can't tell who we are?" The man let out an eerie laughter, followed by the girl.

Zhuo Fan shook his head, "Sorry, I've sinned so much I don't keep track of how many I've wronged. If you're here for revenge, kindly wait your turn. I'll be with you in a second to send you to the afterlife!"

"Hi-hi-hi, Zhuo Fan you're as arrogant as ever. But we aren't the same as before. This time it's you who dies!" The man's eyes flashed bloody red.

Zhuo Fan nodded, "I get it now. I've never seen such ugly freaks in my life. Going through such a nasty makeover, of course I couldn't recognize the current you!"

The crowd erupted in laughter.

Even the girls who were glaring at each other giggled, breaking off their cat fight. Only the duo on stage was pissed.

"Zhuo Fan, that's enough!"

Another shout came and two more figures wrapped in black smoke appeared as they landed in front of Zhuo Fan. They were old men in the 5th layer of Profound Heaven Stage.

But their faces were as creepy and disturbing as the duo's.

"Zhuo Fan, you've mocked and derided us ever since we met. It's because of you we look like this. Today, we will take your head as revenge!" One of the old men said savagely.

Luo Yunchang frowned, "You came for revenge but we do not even know how we've offended you."

"Humph, Yunchang, have you forgotten? Destruction of our clan, being cast out, are these not reasons enough?" The old man spat.

Luo Yunchang was still puzzled, but Zhuo Fan caught onto something and mocked, "Oh, so it's you. Who knew you ended up so pathetic and turned into freaks. Now that you've lost all reason to live, you've come to me for reincarnation?"

"We came to kill you, or die together!" the old man's mind was set.

Snickering, Zhuo Fan said, "Even if you came to kill me, you ought to get in line. After I deal with the ones on stage, I don't mind finishing off the lot of you as well."

The four nodded.

As the saying went, know thyself and your enemy and you'd be ever-victorious. It payed to know what the other party was capable of.

So the four cleared a path for Zhuo Fan to go on stage.

By now, the 20 strong fighters on stage were grave. They had lost the mockery and disdain they had for the Bone Tempering Zhuo Fan.

They just found out that he can stand tall like Six Dragons and One Phoenix and changed their thinking.

How were they going to beat such a monster? Heck, not even a first rate clan could do him in!

But since they were on stage already, the fight was unavoidable.

They came to Esoteric Debate in hopes of coming under the wing of the seven houses after all.

This made every fight a chance to show their spirit and worth. A chance they would never miss.

"Soaring Demonic Dragon, come!" Wan clan's leader cupped his hands, ready for battle. He was sweating buckets, but that didn't stop him from braving through the fear.

"Wait!"

Zhuo Fan smiled, "My Luo clan will definitely enter the final battle and this is too much of a hassle. So in order to move things along, let all clans, from third to first rate step in. If I lose, we walk. If I win, we'll go straight to the final battle, fighting with the seven houses!"

Sss~

A round of gasps echoed. He wants to fight every clan, alone? That was just too outrageously cocky!

His words only sparked anger in every clan present. While only the seven houses looked on calmly.

They were the only ones who knew all too well of Zhuo Fan's cunningness and deceit…

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Chapter 263, A Shocking and Devastating Strike

The clans were outraged at Zhuo Fan's haughty declaration while also terrified of the one they called Soaring Demonic Dragon.

The Profound Heaven expert directing the fights said to Zhuo Fan, "This isn't in the rules!"

"What matters is strength, that's how one earns their right to participate in the final battle!" Grinning, Zhuo Fan stuck out his chin as he turned to the seven houses, "And it's a perfect time to show them who they're up against!"

Such ego to consider himself the seven houses' equal!

He instantly earned the disdain of the crowd. While those that knew of his exploits with the seven houses thought, [The kid sure is qualified.]

Huangpu Qingtian stepped forward and watched the stage coldly.

The appearance of Regent Estate's eldest young master shocked them all.

They soon heard a clear and mighty voice ringing in their ears. The words had such impact they almost had a heart attack.

"Do as per his wishes. But..." Huangpu Qingtian drew his arm over the crowd, "I declare that anyone who brings me Zhuo Fan's head, their clan will become Regent Estate's vassal!"

Sss~

After a round of gasps, a deathly silence ensued. The clans were so overwhelmed they couldn't dare believe their ears!

[This is godsent!]

One little head was enough to skip the cruel and deadly Esoteric Debate's last battle and just come under Regent Estate's wing.

What they didn't know however was that this dream was closer to a nightmare than reality.

But the promise of greatness robbed their minds of what was to come. Their eyes were fixed on Zhuo Fan, wishing they were already holding his head!

All they were waiting for now was that Profound Heaven expert's signal and they'd be onto him like wolves.

No one even stopped to think that this free meal could be too hard to even chew. Was Zhuo Fan's title of Soaring Demonic Dragon, on par with Six Dragons and One Phoenix, for naught?

"Young master Huangpu, you're sending them to their deaths!"

Zhuo Fan was carefree as he showed an evil grin to Huangpu Qingtian.

Huangpu Qingtian responded with the same smile, "Isn't this what you wanted?"

Then they laughed.

Zhuo Fan wanted to cause a sensation alright, to establish Luo clan's position in the upcoming final battle. So the more people that jumped on his sword the better. While Huangpu Qingtian never once believed these second and third rate clans had any good seeds among them to even harm Zhuo Fan.

He was using them to see Zhuo Fan's limit and develop contingencies.

Each side understood the other's intent flawlessly, all while using each other.

It was a win-win scenario. The only losses here would be just your run-of-the-mill rock for brains suicidal morons.

The seven houses noticed this as well and they were stunned looking at the laughing duo.

[These two are devious and cruel men of ambition. They gaze far into the horizon!]

In this Esoteric Debate, the winner would come from one of them.

But as the world wasn't big enough for the two of them, they had to settle their score here and now. Or the world would be plunged into chaos at their hands, ripped apart and burned to cinders.

The house lords watched them with glinting eyes.

The Esoteric Debate was going to revolve around these two monsters, Huangpu Qingtian and Zhuo Fan. Each leading his own faction of houses, something unheard of in the past Esoteric Debates.

The battle for unification was underway and nothing or anyone could stop it. All that was left was to see who had the last laugh!

This was something privy to the seven houses only. Those crickets downstairs only knew how to fight among each other for scraps...

The presiding Profound Heaven expert got his nod of approval and flew up high, soon followed by his clear words.

"Luo clan's qualifying fight for the final battle begins!"

Roar!

The clans flung themselves like mindless beasts at Zhuo Fan. They were all spectators turned opportunists. What used to be innocent bystanders, were now fired up by the smell of blood and glory.

They were all just one gory head away from becoming the foundation of their clan's endless fame. Who could fight the temptation? Perhaps they were lucky enough and would even get it.

And the number who thought so was by no means small.

As such, the referee's words were marked by a veritable flood of people storming the stage. It was close to ten thousand people, with plenty of Bone Tempering and Profound Heaven experts joining as well!

The Wan clan already on stage was overwhelmed.

Zhuo Fan was their opponent but, as things stood, did they even have a snowball's chance in hell to rob the guy's head from the masses?

Luck was with them in that regard, being so close and all. Yet when they looked deep into Zhuo Fan's bottomless gaze, the 20 strong men found themselves frozen.

The incoming tide behind them was oblivious, rushing onwards like clueless children swept by the promise of reward as they launched attacks on Zhuo Fan.

The thousands of people swallowed Zhuo Fan until he was no longer visible.

Xue Ningxiang was worried, "Will brother Zhuo be fine?"

"Totally. With that punk's luck, not even the seven houses can do anything to him, let alone these pests!" Xie Tianyang comforted Ning'er but he was nonetheless frowning, "But isn't thousands of people at once perhaps an overkill? The punk is amazing, sure, but there is also the danger of dying from exhaustion. Why is he waiting them out? Why isn't he thinning the crowd?"

"Hi-hi-hi, no matter how strong, he is all alone against the tide! He is finished!" A creepy laughter jarred his ear.

The audience, or what was left of it, turned to the creepy man to hear him say, "A shame we are already under Hell Valley and cannot throw our lot with Regent Estate. We would've been in there cashing our luck otherwise."

"En, true!" Dong Clan Head nodded.

Wan'er glared at him.

Dong Clan Head shook his head as he looked at the sea of people on the stage, "These are cruel words, but that is reality. Regent Estate's bait is too enticing for anyone to resist. Not even the kid would've thought his egotistical words would stir such a reaction."

"Even if he dies, he only has himself to blame." Dong Clan Head sighed, as did Xue Wanlong and Xue Dingtian.

Xue Ningxiang and Dong Xiaowan watched on, plagued with worry. Dong Tianba and the Xue clan's youths were frowning. But only Xie Tianyang had a mocking smile.

[Egotistical? Of course he is!]

[But have you ever seen how cautious he is? How could a brash and obnoxious kid ever manage to toy with You Guiqi?]

Xie Tianyang was not one bit worried for Zhuo Fan's fate.

He knew Zhuo Fan showed cockiness on the outside but never actually did something unless he had a plan set in motion.

Hu~

An invisible ripple spawned in the center of the stage, swallowing it whole.

The force of it had Huangpu Tianyuan squinting. He watched as the tide of people on the stage had blank stares before collapsing.

All the contestants dropped on the ground one at a time, with the crazed and thirsty greed frozen on their faces.

Those outside the stage stopped in their charge, watching the stage tensely.

Zhuo Fan touched the buffed guy in front with his finger and let him collapse.

The ground around him was littered with bodies, not that he cared, stepping over them in his conquering march.

Like a king, he was stepping on the bodies of his enemies as he took his throne.

Xue Ningxiang and Dong Xiaowan were overjoyed while Dong Clan Head, Xue Clan Head were shellshocked.

"What just happened? What's wrong with them?" The shock on everyone's faces was palpable.

Zhuo Fan was uncaring, looking over the leftovers, still standing and cocking his finger with a nasty grin, "There's still a thousand left. Come and take my head if you want it."

Swallowing dryly, they were now faltering. Their previous high had passed, as did their courage. The sight of an evil and grinning Zhuo Fan in the middle of thousands of bodies tended to do that to a feeble mind.

"Killing with intent!" Huangpu Qingtian's eyes trembled.

His quiet voice spread everywhere among the deathly silence.

In an instant, everyone looked at Zhuo Fan in shock.

[Isn't that a Radiant Stage expert's ability? Why is a Bone Tempering cultivator wielding it?]

The fear in their eyes couldn't be more pronounced.

This was why so many people dropped lifeless without even a chance to fight back. The one that killed them was on par with a Radiant Stage expert...

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Chapter 264, Tyrant

All the big shots from the seven houses were overwhelmed at Zhuo Fan's power having exceeded their expectations by a long shot.

What was considered a freak body cultivator, harder than diamonds, had in a single step crossed over the Profound Heaven Stage and went straight to using Radiant Stage's abilities, leaving these old fogies eating dust.

Bluntly put, these seven houses' big shots were so daft that not even one had touched upon the Radiant Stage.

And that shame came crashing down, evident by their flushed faces.

[What is wrong with this generation? One freakier than the last.] If these bags of bones were of Zhuo Fan's age, they'd be dancing in joy if they had the hope of even entering the Profound Heaven Stage.

[But now, it only brings us tears!]

[Out with the old and in with the new, they always say. But the new has kicked us to the curb with this display! Sigh...]

As the old bones watched the imposing and daunting Zhuo Fan on stage, their eyes glistened with tears, feeling as if they had aged a few centuries on the spot.

Huangpu Qingtian was having a hard time containing himself, evident by the gnashing teeth and clenched fists.

He showed off killing with intent last night, to flounce his almightiness and scare the living daylights out of Zhuo Fan. But come tomorrow, Zhuo Fan replied with the same coin, making his act anything but of a circus clown.

Such a display of power would leave anyone wallowing in their refuse from fright. As to what Zhuo Fan did after this display, not only bitchslapped him but threw him from the highest peak into the deepest abyss.

The more he thought about it, the more he realized that his act yesterday was of foolishness.

Zhuo Fan picked on his shame and did what he liked doing best, egging Huangpu Qingtian on with an exaggerated middle finger and a quirk of his eyebrows. Words were hardly necessarily at this stage in getting his point across.

[Dumbass!]

Huangpu Qingtian's eyes were spitting flames at this point, having long crossed the limits of his tolerance.

But Leng Wuchang held his shoulder, stopping him from acting out.

By getting rid of these third and second rate clans, Zhuo Fan spoke aplenty. By "killing with intent" taken as his weapon of choice, he spat on Huangpu Qingtian's bravado while also slapping him around for good measure. Could any living being take it?

And yet he did. He knew this was neither time nor place for such an altercation.

"Ol' poisoner, have you ever seen the eldest young master lose his cool?" You Yushan walked over to Yan Bangui.

Shaking his head, Yan Bangui's face was grave, "Not even once."

"Same. But the punk sure knows how to push the eldest young master's buttons." He chuckled for a second before sighing, "By the looks of it, the final battle revolving around Six Dragons and One Phoenix for so many centuries has now turned into Heaven-shaking Dragon Lord versus Soaring Demonic Dragon. All we can do is stay back and cheer, like mere squires. We were so useless yesterday as well..."

Yan Bangui recalled how Zhuo Fan had popped up in his face and shuddered from how powerless he felt. He didn't want to admit it, not with how he scrunched his teeth.

Since when their prestige as Six Dragons and One Phoenix was seen with mockery?

Yan Bogong, leader of Pill King Hall, glanced at the two with calm, "Don't sell yourself short. You are very much needed in the plan to get ourselves rid of that little monster."

Shuddering, the two recovered their fighting spirit.

"Yeah, we just need a good plan and together we will waste him for good!" Yan Fu grinned with hatred.

While the two were quite, You Yushan mocked him, "We? Ha-ha-ha, what can you possibly do? Since when are you on the same level as us?"

Yan Bangui couldn't help but smile and Yan Bogong chuckled.

Yan Fu was furious, but there was nothing he could do.

Ever since his master, Yan Song, suffered an untimely demise, he lost all support in Pill King Hall. His alchemy was very much well regarded still, but his poison arts paled to the likes of Yan Bangui so he was kicked to the curb.

It only worked to fuel his hatred for Zhuo Fan to new heights. He lost everything because of him!

Back on the stage, all those greedy and power hungry clans finally woke up from the allure of fame. They started drawing back, further and further away.

The referee landed on the corpse filled stage and sighed at Zhuo Fan's insane power.

In the millennium that passed, and in all the Esoteric Debates that were held, never had the preliminaries to the final battle yielded so many casualties.

Although sad, he had no sympathy whatsoever.

Their greed got them their deaths. They bet their lives for power and fame, but lost in the end.

They got their just desserts!

"In this qualification round for the final battle, Luo clan is victorious!" The old guy shouted.

They all heard it but they didn't applaud. Those that laid at Zhuo Fan's feet were their brothers, part of the same clans.

Why would anyone congratulate their enemy for killing their men? Did that even make sense?

The only thing they felt when looking at the slaughter was pain. Zhuo Fan had stepped on their kin to enter the final battle. Why the hell would they applaud? Their hearts were only capable of unbridled hatred now.

Not that Zhuo Fan cared. Every general climbed to his rank by stepping over a mountain of corpses. He had no need for eulogies and acclamations, only to be feared and obeyed!

"Old Pang, make a list with all the dead people's clans. I will pay a visit to each and every one of them." Zhuo Fan pointed at the corpse filled stage.

Old Pang got to work immediately.

The relatives watched disgruntled, and some even had the courage to voice their indignation, "Zhuo Fan, we don't need your hypocrisy. Don't think that some poor apology will be enough to atone for this slaughter!"

This earned the nods of the crowd.

"Apology, atone?"

Quirking an eyebrow, Zhuo Fan felt he had heard the biggest joke ever, "Ha-ha-ha, are you stupid or what? Since when did I start having regrets from killing? And you even went as far as thinking I'd apologize for squashing mere ants?

"Humph, let me be perfectly clear. When you went after me just now, wishing to get my head, I made sure to burn each one of you in my mind! I only want the list so I can pay a social visit and send you off with the rest of your clan and avoid any meddlesome folks in the future. Apologize? Atone? Unlike all those stories where the guy gets the girl, I will be sure to take her from right under your noses, morons!"

Sss~

Gasps of fear resounded everywhere.

[Is this guy human? He slaughtered so many and yet he won't rest until he has committed genocide?]

Gone was vengeance from everyone's minds and instead they shivered in fear worrying if they'd even have a future. [Maybe moving into mountains and avoiding this Demon Archon is for the best.]

They all paled and forgot everything about revenge.

Leng Wuchang snickered a praise, "This brat sure is crafty. People seek revenge out of survival. But when that is at risk, all the hatred evaporates. They will most likely run home and cover all of this up, while leaving him a free path to the final battle!"

"But this punk is a tyrant. He does not care for the people!" Huangpu Tianyuan said.

Leng Wuchang shook his head, "A tyrant is called that only in the moment of his fall. That is when others gather their nerves to call him that. If he keeps on winning, he will always be a righteous lord. His actions will have no impact whatsoever as well. As you can see from his choice today, he instilled a powerful image on all present here that getting on Luo clan's bad sides or on the seven houses' bad side made no difference. They'll end up dead either way. So who then will go against the Luo clan besides us?"

Gasping, Huangpu Tianyuan nodded, "He is both ambitious and a ruler material. We need to nip him in the bud!"

Huangpu Tianyuan stood up and left.

Seeing Regent Estate following their Estate Lord, the other six houses glanced one more time at Zhuo Fan before leaving as well. Staying any longer wouldn't net them any new information anyway.

They had been introduced already to Zhuo Fan's other grand ability.

Zhuo Fan sighed watching them go and went to Xue Ningxiang and Xie Tianyang, "What a coincidence. You are also joining the Esoteric Debate?"

He failed to notice, however, Leng Wuchang pausing and looking back at him with a wide grin.

"Estate Lord, I may have found this brat's weakness." Leng Wuchang beamed at Huangpu Tianyuan.

Huangpu Tianyuan raised an eyebrow, "Sir Leng found out the cause behind his vanishing acts?"

"No, but it is akin to a spacial array. We can only use another array to seal this ability!" Leng Wuchang shook his head.

If only Zhuo Fan was here to hear this, he'd have the shock of his life, and praise Leng Wuchang's cunning eyes. The Divine Eye of the Void's 1st stage's weakness was indeed a sealed space.

"But how do we trap him in an array? He is just too insidious to fall for it!" Huangpu Tianyuan frowned.

Leng Wuchang showed a vague smile, "He is trickier than a fox, proving to be a hard opponent even for me. But even smart people act like an average person sometimes!"

"Hoh, Sir Leng must have a plan ready then." Huangpu Tianyuan's eyes flashed.

Leng Wuchang nodded and smiled...

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Chapter 265, A Clan Dog's Burial

"Big brother Zhuo, congratulations on getting into the final battle!" Xue Ningxiang couldn't stop the sweet smile from gracing her face.

Xue Dingtian and Dong Clan Head's hearts jumped from fear, despite knowing fully well that Zhuo Fan had always been on their side.

It was all because his power was the biggest threat.

The sight of Zhuo Fan slaughtering thousands of people with intent alone gave them the feeling of ants looking at a giant. He could kill them on a whim if he found them displeasing in any way. Who wouldn't shake in their boots?

They had a stiff smile on their faces, but their backs were soaked.

They were like deer in the headlights. The tiger had them in his sights, and even if his appetite was abated, their fear was very much real.

Zhuo Fan was oblivious to the fear he evoked, he who had become a dreaded existence just minutes ago, was now smiling and nodding.

The others nodded stiffly with an awkward smile.

He puffed up his chest as he looked at Xue Ningxiang, "That was going to happen in due time anyways. It will hardly make a difference when garbage throws itself at me, even if they are in the tens of thousands!"

They all laughed dryly, but sweat poured out harder.

His tone was haughty, but then the people thought about it from a different angle. Weren't Dong clan and Xue clan average clans as well, garbage even? What would be their future?

Wasn't he clearly mocking them in a convoluted way?

It wasn't like the two could complain. Who told him to get strong enough to end their lives with a squeeze?

[Just smile and nod.]

Zhuo Fan was minding his own business, and with how often he was around big shots, he had no idea what waves his words were stirring in these two clan head's minds.

Xue Ningxiang chuckled innocently. But then she frowned, "Uh, big brother Zhuo, will you really end their clans? They just lost their relatives. On the stage, death is unavoidable, but going so far as to kill their whole clan afterwards is cruel. My clan was also on the verge of being wiped out and I can relate. Please, c-could you just let them go?"

"Well..."

Zhuo Fan frowned. Xue Dingtian noticed the predicament and chastised, "Ning'er, Steward Zhuo had his reason for doing it. You can't go and ruin his plans with your playfulness! Moreover, a true man never goes back on his word, even more so for Steward Zhuo, who is a hero, a great..."

"Fine, no problem!"

Xue Dingtian didn't even get to teach his dear granddaughter about manners before Zhuo Fan just shrugged it off, "I only meant to scare them anyway, to dispel any thoughts of going against me. Since I got what I wanted, there's no need to exterminate them. What do you take me for, a pitiless Demon Archon?"

[Damn right!]

They all shook their heads but nodded in their minds.

[If you're no Demon Archon, what are the thousands of corpses doing on stage?]

Xue Ningxiang was ecstatic. She felt for those pitiful clans deeply, [Big brother Zhuo doesn't need to go through a pointless slaughter.]

Zhuo Fan smiled and ruffled her hair. His savage face showed a rare hint of being content.

Xue Dingtian was dumbstruck. He was looking to justify Zhuo Fan's cruel way all this time and even reproached his granddaughter.

And yet Zhuo Fan actually agreed with his granddaughter's pleading instead of giving credence to his reasoning. Where would his face go when speaking to his juniors now?

But seeing that Zhuo Fan had eyes for Ning'er alone, the old man sighed, [My face is useless here. Better leave them alone, lest I become a third wheel.]

"Hey, hands off! Don't you know mere acquaintances should never touch?"

Xie Tianyang burst into their corner of the world and flung Zhuo Fan's hand off Ning'er's head. His jealousy was already burning strong and seeing Zhuo Fan patting her was the last straw.

Zhuo Fan saw right through him and sighed.

Luo Yunchang took this moment to barge in as well, "Yeah, how could any respectable woman be touched so casually?"

Then she said in apology, "Ning'er, please don't mind it. Steward Zhuo is a boor. I'll teach him some manners when we get back."

"Uh, it's alright. Young miss Luo, don't blame big brother Zhuo." Xue Ningxiang panicked. The gullible girl thought the young miss had the power to knock some sense into Zhuo Fan.

Zhuo Fan frowned, feeling ticked off for some odd reason.

"Steward Zhuo, here's the list!" Captain Pang came with a paper.

Zhuo Fan scrunched it up and threw it, "Never mind."

Captain Pang was stumped, [What's with Steward Zhuo? Why is he so angry?]

Zhuo Fan had no clue why, but felt something amiss when Xie Tianyang flung his hand off the girl's head. It only got worse when Luo Yunchang showed up and her words stung him.

He was now sulking and had no one to vent on.

Suddenly, Zhuo Fan shouted, "Wait!"

They all looked around to see where Zhuo Fan was looking. The Sun clan's four were tip-toeing away.

They were depressed. They worked so hard on their cultivation the last five years too. They thought with their strength, it was enough to at least take Zhuo Fan to his grave together if not alone.

But then they saw that monstrous Zhuo Fan turn into an abomination, killing with intent.

The four of them had no chance whatsoever now. They would be finished in a blink!

Oh, they still wanted revenge of course, but that didn't mean becoming cannon fodder was in their plan. Only an idiot would jump right in when there was no chance of victory.

So they chose to high tail out of there!

Once Zhuo Fan figured out who they were, he no longer cared about them. But now he needed a good punching bag to blow off some steam and they became the perfect targets.

Zhuo Fan hardly ever got angry, especially the kind of dubious and inexplicable type of anger he was feeling right now.

But now that he ran into these guys, he felt like the luckiest man alive.

Staggering, the old man in front stiffly looked back as he used the same hoarse voice, "You need something?"

Are you serious?

[You're asking me? After you had the gall to shout that you'll kill me?]

Zhuo Fan smiled in anger, walking towards them while spouting, "Cai Rong, Cai Xiaoting, and the Sun clan's father and daughter, drop the dumb act!"

The four shuddered as they turned, yet they were too scared to even look him in the eye.

Luo Yunchang's group jerked. They threw the four out of their clan but who knew they'd end up looking like freaks of nature?

Zhuo Fan cared not about their flimsy explanations and appeared right in front of the four as he taunted, "Come then. Weren't you gonna take revenge? I'll take you all on and even give you two free moves!"

Their faces sank, no longer arrogant as before, but down in the dumps.

[What good will two moves do when you can kill us with intent alone?]

"Don't feel like it?"

That only got Zhuo Fan's rage to tower higher and roared, "Since you have no guts, kneel. See how I put you in your place!"

Regardless of how unwilling they were, their knees buckled.

To kneel or not to kneel? That was the question.

Kneeling was shameful, but most likely a better outcome than ending up a smear on the ground at this savage's hands.

[Life is ever precious. Face matters not, especially with our creepy looks.]

One after the other, they bent their knees and fell on Zhuo Fan's feet.

Luo Yunchang cried, "H-how did you all end up like this?"

"How else? The Hell Valley gave them some double-edged demonic method." A Demonic Emperor like Zhuo Fan saw through them in a flash as he cursed, "Just look at yourselves! You're neither human nor monster and yet you still want to live? Is this the awe inspiring power you all sought? Especially you, instead of staying as an elder in the Luo clan you went ahead and threw your whole lot with the Sun clan! What a fool."

Zhuo Fan sputtered into Cai Rong's flushed face.

Zhuo Fan had hardly had enough and kept on flinging curses, "Do you know why you look like this? It's what you deserve for being so adamant in becoming someone's lap dogs. Even as an elder of the Luo clan, you wanted to climb aboard Hell Valley. Now that you did, you're worth less than even a dog! Idiot, nitwit, dumbass, nimrod... "

Zhuo Fan was on a roll. He was thorough in cursing out every bit of respect the four ever had.

They couldn't even muster a retort.

Luo Yunchang glanced at Zhuo Fan with complicated thoughts.

"Zhuo Fan, kill us or torture us. But stop with the insults!" Cai Rong had had enough it seemed.

Zhuo Fan squinted, "Kill you? Why would I ever do that?"

The four were startled and echoed, "You won't kill us?"

"Of course not. I only care about two kinds of people. Friends, to hang out with, and enemies, to kill!" Grinning, Zhuo Fan added, "What do you suppose you are?"

"Enemy?" Cai Rong tested.

Shaking his head, Zhuo Fan snickered.

"Friends... perhaps?" Cai Rong's heart thumped with hope. Was Zhuo Fan absolving them, was he going to help them?

Zhuo Fan was cracking up, and mocked them even harder, "Wrong, you are nothing to me! Just a bunch of clowns unworthy to kill and even less to call friends!

"Beat it! Live on like the dogs you are and have a taste of worldly pain as you reflect on your mistakes. I expect a good show on your part!"

With a grin, Zhuo Fan finally felt at peace, having cursed them and humiliated them so thoroughly...

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Chapter 266, Rage

Shameless humiliation!

The faces of the four were aflame, wishing they could go out fighting, and yet they kneeled there without a peep.

Why were they here anyway? Did they come here only to get humiliated?

Luo Yunchang sighed and glanced at Zhuo Fan.

Zhuo Fan looked crazed in his enjoyment, shouting, "Why are you still here? Get lost already!"

Cai Rong's group shook their heads and left, but not before they heard Zhuo Fan sinking one last insult, "Do it like dogs! What are you standing around for when you're not even humans?"

Shuddering, the four bit their lips fiercely. Zhuo Fan was towering over them with his mighty air and arrogance yet all they could do was suffer.

He was just that strong!

Cai Rong wept as he crawled away with the other three. Their image in the evening sun struck the picture of degradation, of stray dogs begging for mercy.

Zhuo Fan barked on and on, trying to dispel that queer rage completely.

People watched Zhuo Fan being thorough in humiliating these four, leaving them without a shred of dignity. The more they saw, the greater their fear of Zhuo Fan became.

They said a warrior could be killed but not shamed. And yet when these Clan Heads watched such naked display of abuse and mockery, they felt it was even worse than having their entire clan wiped out.

Because visiting the Underworld may be cruel and sad, but all clansmen would meet again in the afterlife. While the shamed would have to live on with this disgrace, in this nightmare built by harsh and cruel words, a fate worse than death.

While Zhuo Fan was raining curses, his every word stung Xue and Dong clan like daggers.

[Are we dogs or warriors?]

[The Luo clan had Zhuo Fan as their pillar that even the seven houses regarded with importance and thus they could maintain their integrity.] While to the average clan in this word, not being dogs would end up becoming their destruction. How could one have integrity when his entire existence was threatened?

Oftentimes they never wished to rise above their station, simply to survive. That was why they had integrity on the surface, while acting like dogs through their actions.

Just that these two clans were lucky enough to get a good master, Drifting Flowers Edifices and Sword Marquise Abode. Unlike how the cruel Hell Valley treated their vassals.

So they may be dogs, but could venture in calling themselves dogs with pedigree.

Taking deep breaths, Xue Clan Head and Dong Clan Head glanced at each other then shook their heads. Zhuo Fan and Luo clan were worlds apart from them...

"Steward Zhuo, calm down. Why are you so angry? It's not worth stressing yourself over this." Captain Pang came to Zhuo Fan with a smile.

Zhuo Fan shrugged, his face calm, "I'm fine. I am not one to get angry over the likes of them. They are not worth it. I only abused them since it worked to show off my pretentious style."

Captain Pang reeled and laughed dryly. [What a reason to curse someone. How freakish!]

Only Luo Yunchang bit her lip watching Zhuo Fan.

"Oh, sorry everyone, there are matters that I need to deal with. I shall take my leave." Zhuo Fan cupped his hands and left with Luo Yunchang and company.

The others replied in kind.

Only Dong Xiaowan watched him grumbling, "He never even looked at me..."

Dong Clan Head patted her shoulder and shook his head, "Wan'er, you and him are of different worlds. It's impossible."

Dong Xiaowan closed her teary eyes...

In Luo clan's residence, the ever quiet Luo Yunchang spoke up, "Zhuo Fan, miss Ning'er and you..."

"What's wrong?" Zhuo Fan asked puzzled.

Luo Yunchang looked at him long, then shook her head, "Nothing."

Zhuo Fan blinked obliviously.

Luo clan stayed in a small courtyard in Dragon Cloud City. After coming here, Zhuo Fan called for Lei Yuntian and the twenty Profound Heaven fakes.

"With Steward Zhuo as our bulwark, we will always achieve absolute victory!" Lei Yuntian cupped his hands and laughed.

Zhuo Fan merely barked at the fakers, "Elder Lei, cane these things a hundred times each, personally!"

Lei Yuntian was startled. [Why is Steward Zhuo angry? Did he lose?]

[No way!] Whenever Zhuo Fan entered the fray, he only came out winning, not to mention this was an easy matter. The twenty fakers were stumped as well, [What did we do?]

They've been well behaved as of late. [We never showed off either.]

Zhuo Fan snorted, "You think I forgot about you since I didn't pay you any attention last couple of days? Luo clan was attacked yesterday and even our allies and outsiders came out with heavy wounds trying to protect our masters. While you just picked a corner to let this play out. You think you'll get out of this so easily?"

"B-but they were Six Dragons and One Phoenix! We have no hope of defeating them, would've only died for nothing!" One of the twenty said with fear.

Squinting, Zhuo Fan's flick sent him flying as he roared, "You call that a reason? When you were imperial guards, did you run away as well? You are now the Luo clan's guards and the least you could do is be our shields. We are never to die before all of you. Didn't Elder Lei and Captain Pang act just the same? You don't have the Luo clan's wellbeing as your priority and must be punished."

Lei Yuntian nodded after a pause. He was right and these guys had to be put in their place.

"Elder Lei, what are you standing around for? Do it!" Zhuo Fan barked.

The twenty fakers jolted in fear.

Lei Yuntian was about to execute the order when he froze.

[Wait, a hundred canes per faker? Won't my old body give out after two thousand hits? Steward Zhuo, are you punishing them or taking it out on me?]

But then again, only he was the best person suited for the job since if anyone else did it, it wouldn't count as punishment.

[But two thousand canes...]

Lei Yuntian looked at Luo Yunchang bitter, "Yunchang, what happened today? Why is Steward Zhuo so irritated?"

Luo Yunchang shook her head, "Never mind, Uncle Lei. Just give them twenty canes each, but a bit harder."

They all eased a breath in relief.

The fakers rejoiced, as did Lei Yuntian. They were blessed to have this young miss above Demon Archon Zhuo. Two thousand canes turning into four hundred was far more manageable...

Back in his room, Zhuo Fan sat down, and emptied the teacup at the side in one gulp and sighed. He was finally calm.

Luo Yunchang and Captain Pang entered to which Zhuo Fan said, "How is Elder Li and the others? They should be close."

For Dragon Cloud City to keep the peace, no house was allowed to bring in Radiant Stage experts. So Zhuo Fan guessed Li Jingtian's group had to be waiting on the outskirts of town.

Captain Pang shook his head, "Young miss Lei and Elder Yan hadn't come since you had plans for them."

"Correct. I indeed told them to move around this time. And the others?" Zhuo Fan nodded.

Captain Pang muttered, "Uh, the others didn't as well."

"Why?" Zhuo Fan finally had the time to mind Luo clan's situation and was stunned by what he heard.

"It was my idea." Luo Yunchang said, "Dragon Cloud City doesn't allow Radiant Stage experts in and you said not to expose our cards too soon. So I..."

"Fool!" Zhuo Fan snapped, enraged again, "The seven houses didn't bring Radiant Stage experts because of their power, while you have none. If you and Yunhai die here, the Luo clan is finished. What would be the point of all my plans and my efforts to help the clan? To throw it all away in the end?"

Luo Yunchang bit her lip and tears threatened to fall down her cheeks. But instead of succumbing to them she snapped back, "Yes! I am not so astute and failed to see the big picture! And you? After being gone for five years, you instantly scream at anyone you find an eyesore. It'd have been better if you hadn't bothered coming!"

Luo Yunchang slammed the door as she left.

Captain Pang was awkward, "Uh, Steward Zhuo, please don't take it to heart. She didn't mean it. She missed you day and night..."

"Fine fine, I know. This isn't the first time she has acted like this anyway." Zhuo Fan sighed and squinted, "Old Pang, send a messaging jade slip for Elder Li to provide us support. I have a feeling we will have a falling out with Regent Estate."

Captain Pang nodded.

Zhuo Fan was soon left alone with his thoughts.

He closed his eyes as he considered.

He knew something was off about him today. Irritated by everything and lashing out at anyone. He was this close to trading blows too. This couldn't go on.

If anger got the best of him, he would force his way forward which was not a good thing. He had to control himself at all costs. Or there was a high chance he would do something he would regret.

But why was he so ticked off all of a sudden?

Taking a deep breath and closing his eyes, he calmed down and started cultivating.

Suddenly, a shout echoed and Zhuo Fan clutched his right eye as he fell to the ground soaked. The golden ring in his eye flashed on and off as a faint second golden ring appeared.

[Am I about to achieve Divine Eye of the Void's 2nd stage?]

Zhuo Fan was excited...

Chapter 267, Cold-blooded

Rustle~

With a few flicks of his arms, Zhuo Fan set up a defensive array and sat cross-legged, calmed his mind and readied himself to advance. He felt his right eye burning red hot as the golden ring flashed. Zhuo Fan took a deep breath and focused his entire soul power on his right eye.

The Divine Eye of the Void had an intrinsic connection with one's soul. Each advancement would tax one's soul greatly.

Three days passed within a blink in this manner, with Zhuo Fan focused on his task and no one disturbing him either. However, the morning of the fourth day Zhuo Fan opened his eyes with a sigh.

"It still failed. Is it because my soul is weak or because of my restless state of mind?" Squinting, Zhuo Fan began regretting. It was such a rare chance to get stronger and he had thoroughly wasted it.

Recalling his impatience four days ago, Zhuo Fan shook his head. [Why couldn't I be calm? I need to temper my heart and remove all distractions.]

Zhuo Fan took a deep breath and closed his eyes. The next time he opened them, they were crystal clear with no ripples across them.

Zhuo Fan stood up, undid the array and walked out.

He was met with Luo Yunchang and company. One look was enough to tell him something was up.

"What's wrong?" Zhuo Fan eyed them.

Luo Yunchang muttered, "Pavilion Lord Long has sent word that they want to discuss the final battle among the seven houses with you. But you were cultivating these past days and..."

"Alright, I got it."

Zhuo Fan interrupted her and walked away without even looking at them. Like a lone wolf.

Luo Yunchang looked at his back for a long while and then said, "Captain Pang, did you also notice that he has changed?"

Captain Pang swallowed, "Steward Zhuo didn't change, he has only returned to how he was eight years ago. He looks the same as back then in Misty Forest."

Luo Yunchang watched the prideful figure with an aching heart.

[Is he... leaving again?]

A demonic cultivator only ever cared about themselves.

With Zhuo Fan having met so many people over the years, each encounter had a faint influence, each tainting his heart and ultimately rattling his usually peaceful state of mind.

He was of the belief that this was the sole reason for his failure to advance Divine Eye of the Void to the 2nd stage. After careful consideration, he had cast out every influence, along with the ever growing emotions.

The strong had no need for dead weights.

Surveying the white clouds floating about the blue sky, Zhuo Fan's eyes were crystal clear. So much so that they looked dead.

[So much better.]

Sighing, Zhuo Fan walked with purpose to a courtyard ten times larger than the Luo clan's.

This place had high ranking people watching the gate.

"Brother, the killing with intent you used has opened my eyes!" Long Jiu laughed.

Zhuo Fan nodded unaffected, "Long time no see, brother Jiu!"

Long Jiu paused for a second. [Why is brother so cold today?]

"Darling, you were so cool!" Xiao Dandan skipped over at some point with a rosy face. Peony Overseer held her face and sighed.

Zhuo Fan glanced at her and said, "Lass, do that again and I'll make sure it will be your last!"

Reeling, Xiao Dandan watched him like he was some stranger. She had gotten used to Zhuo Fan talking like that, but this time she could see the bloodthirst glinting in his eyes.

She was certain that if she opened her mouth at this instant, Zhuo Fan would rip it off!

Peony Overseer saw her disciple being picked on and glared. But before she could spring in defense, Zhuo Fan's cold, emotionless eyes snapped at her, "And you, deal with your disciple before she meets with misfortune. When that time comes, you'll only have yourself to blame for not educating her properly!"

Zhuo Fan then walked inside without sparing the women a look.

Zhuo Fan had long lost his joking mood and was ready to follow up on his threats.

[What's wrong with this kid? He's like another person.]

While those familiar with Zhuo Fan were stifled, the rest were even more afraid of earning his ire.

Zhuo Fan was surrounded by a constant air of savagery as if he was standing above all. No one dared to stand closer than three meter around this mighty lord.

His far away look and his power let them know that the best he ever felt was when he was alone.

This Zhuo Fan left them all cold and shaken inside.

Rumble!

Zhuo Fan walked in through the heavy door, where the three clans sat around a round table. They all smiled at his coming, Chu Qingcheng especially.

He nodded and smiled in reply, but ignored Chu Qingcheng as he took a chair.

"Steward Zhuo, the qualification round has concluded. Because of your involvement, a large number of clans were eliminated. This makes the final battle planned a month later be moved two days from now." Long Yifey explained.

Zhuo Fan nodded, "So the reason you wanted to see me is..."

"Seeing how the Luo clan has never participated in the final battle of the seven houses before, there are some things you have yet to learn." Long Yifey smiled, "Actually, the final battle is held in a different area each time and rules change accordingly. What remains the same is how cruel and brutal it is."

"So it isn't held in Dragon Cloud City? Hasn't it been a tradition for Esoteric Debate to be held here for the past thousand years?" Zhuo Fan raised an eyebrow.

Long Yifey shook his head, "This is the imperial family's scheme. Only by constantly changing the environment could they see the true power of the seven houses. And with how powerful the disciples from the seven houses are, so too will the terrain become of a much greater difficulty. This time it is expected to be the worst so far!"

Zhuo Fan squinted, still out of the loop.

Grandmother giggled, "Steward Zhuo needn't be baffled. The Dragon Cloud City has a large 8th grade Teleportation Array to send us anywhere within the Tianyu Empire. And that is where the final battle will be held. This is also to prevent anyone from setting an ambush."

Zhuo Fan nodded. [Imperial family thought of everything. But using such a large Teleportation Array only for Esoteric Debate is such a waste.]

Zhuo Fan shook his head in the end.

If the imperial family wanted to waste their coffers, how was that his problem? He was better off focusing on the final battle.

That was the whole reason why they were gathered here.

Xie Xiaofeng smiled, "Steward Zhuo, your skills have opened our eyes. But we still wish to ask, how confident are you in facing Huangpu Qingtian?"

Squinting, Zhuo Fan snickered, "None whatsoever. But you can rest easy knowing that I can hold him down. With how one of the other three is a cripple, can you handle the remaining two?"

"With Steward Zhuo holding off that monster, the other two and a half men will be easily taken care of. The seven houses' ranking will be in upheaval!" Xie Xiaofeng anticipated with joy.

The others laughed with him.

They discussed further details then adjourned. Zhuo Fan walked to the door when a graceful figure blocked his view.

Zhuo Fan eyed Chu Qingcheng.

"You need something?" Zhuo Fan said flatly.

Chu Qingcheng watched the impassive Zhuo Fan in anger, "Zhuo Fan, I want an answer. Did you have no reason to stay in Drifting Flowers City longer?"

"None!" Zhuo Fan was resolute, "I told you, I only did it out of self interest. Since I had achieved my goal and got what I came for, I had no reason to stay."

Chu Qingcheng gnashed her teeth and clenched her fists, "What about the days spent in that shack..."

"You call playing house being real?" Mocking, Zhuo Fan sneered, "Without sacrificing a few days of my youth, you would've never given up Bodhi Jade Sap so willingly..."

Pa!

Chu Qingcheng slapped him before he could finish.

Grinning, Zhuo Fan giggled despite her raging eyes, "Silly girl, you're so easily duped that I worry how Drifting Flowers Edifices will survive after Grandmother's gone. Why not give it to me?"

"Bastard, you are dead inside!" Chu Qingcheng glared, her fingers dug into her palm drawing blood, trailing her flawless skin.

Smirking, Zhuo Fan no longer looked at her as he left, but his mockery stung nonetheless, "Ha-ha-ha, I am and always will be a demonic cultivator. Even if that time made me feel anything, so what? You think you can hook me in?"

Pff!

With heart wrenching pain, Chu Qingcheng watched him leave with a face filled with tears. Zhuo Fan paused but never turned around. His face forever cold as he walked away alone.

Peony Overseer and the rest rushed over, seeing Chu Qingcheng's state and starting cursing Zhuo Fan.

Zhuo Fan hardly cared about the pesky cawing, leaving with a cold smile on his face.

He had just left the courtyard and soon noticed some blood seeping from his mouth.

He wiped it off unfeeling and mechanically.

To become a Demonic Emperor he had to be cold-blooded and to never allow a trace of emotion to get a hold of him ever again...

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Chapter 268, Prologue of the Final Battle

Dragon Cloud City's westernmost side had a towering mountain going by the name of Transfer Peak.

Right on top of this huge hunk of rock laid a grand 8th grade Teleportation Array. Some said that even before Tianyu Empire came to be, the Yuwen imperial family used this precise array to send its troops to every corner of the empire.

But as the chaos made way to peace, it didn't see much use, serving now just as a means to blow off the seven houses' ever accumulating rancor through the Esoteric Debate.

At this particular moment, hundreds of clans were gathering on it en masse. They all looked at the array with nervousness, excitement and awe.

Anyone would be excited when it came to joining the final battle, knowing their rise was just around the corner, as was their destruction. And they were nervous as well at having qualified for this final battle. Besides the first rate clans still holding their ranks, the third and second rate clans went through a shuffling. Few were those that rose to become first rate, with new and incredible power.

The final battle, however, wasn't as cushy as the qualification round. Not that the entry fights were ever easy to begin with, but when taking the final battle into account, its cruelty was way worse than the qualification battles. Thus, it was easy to imagine how nervous these clans were feeling.

That went farther for a particular underdog, the Luo clan of Windgaze City. With Soaring Demonic Dragon Zhuo Fan on par with Six Dragons and One Phoenix as vanguard, was there anyone capable of pushing them back? What was on the clans' minds however was whose vassal were they, for whose sake were they fighting for?

The worry hit many hard.

"Look, the Luo clan!" A shout snapped hundreds of heads in Luo Yunchang's direction as she led the Luo clan alongside Zhuo Fan.

Finally healed, Luo Yunhai could now show his heroic aura, and thirst for battle. A youth still, yet the Fifth Tiger of Tianyu would never just be another face in the crowd.

Their proceedings instilled a certain heavy air around the onlookers.

The Luo clan was a veritable wolf strutting through a sheep herd. It was so bad that the people made a ten meter wide space for them. Everyone feared getting close to this savage beast.

And yet, there were always exceptions...

"Big brother Zhuo, you're all here!"

Xue Ningxiang skipped over hyped and waving. The Xue and Dong clans behind her earned not few raised eyebrows.

What was their connection for these two clans to get so close with this wolf?

But the appearance of Sword Marquise Abode's second young master, Xie Tianyang, making his way there as well, cleared all doubts. [So they're allies!]

There was no shortage of rumors flying about the Luo clan, especially about its supporters. It so happened that Sword Marquise Abode was among these rumors, and today only validated it.

This only worked to make the people even more envious of this upstart clan. [So this is why the Luo clan jumped from third to first rate and had a free path to the final battle. They have a house behind them!]

[What kind of sheer dumb and rotten luck had they stumbled upon to have a house treat them so?]

Thinking of how mountains of wealth were literally flung at this third rate clan to reach such a position, [If it were us in their stead, we'd have reached the moon by now, tch...]

People always looked at the surface of things, unaware that the Luo clan of today wasn't because of the support of some houses. And it was what they were today that had caught the seven houses' attention.

It was painfully obvious to see who here was a dog or a man...

Xue Ningxiang gasped as she reached them with a sweet and innocent smile. Zhuo Fan's mouth quirked and he ruffled her hair, "What are you doing here? Haven't you always hated watching people die?"

Luo Yunchang retorted as she watched him longingly. It was her first time in days that she caught Zhuo Fan show a carefree smile. But why wasn't it directed at her?

Luo Yunchang sighed feeling the ache deep within.

"It's fine, big brother Zhuo. Xue clan is joining as well and I'll be going too!" Xue Ningxiang giggled, brandishing her cute little fists to show her battle spirit.

Zhuo Fan shouted anxiously, "You can't, Ning'er! This is a vicious battle, not a game. A girl like you has no place on the battlefield!"

"I don't care, because I know big brother Zhuo will be there to save me whenever I'm in danger!" Xue Ningxiang blinked her bright eyes, watching Zhuo Fan eagerly. She then looked at the Thunder Ring, "Whenever I'm in peril, the Thunder Ring will flicker and you'll appear. Isn't that right?"

Zhuo Fan squinted, then nodded in defeat, "Fine, I'll look after you."

"You don't have to worry about that. You have Huangpu Qingtian to deal with. Ning'er will be in my care!" Xie Tianyang stormed next to Xue Ningxiang and held her shoulder, making a claim on her.

Xue Dingtian only now arrived and smiled awkwardly, "I can't stop her. This girl is too stubborn. But don't worry, she will be in her brothers and young master Xie's care so she won't be in any trouble."

On cue, Xue Lin and Xue Gang cupped their hands.

Startled, Zhuo Fan gave them a once over and nodded, despite the sense of loss taking hold on his heart. He felt that he and Ning'er were only growing apart. With mountains rising between them, they could never return to the blissful times they shared in Allbeast Mountain Range.

[This is for the best.] He wanted to numb his heart, and severing those memories of their past encounters was for the best.

With a deep breath, Zhuo Fan regained inner peace, like a stone-cold killer. He said to Xie Tianyang, "Take good care of her and make sure nothing happens!"

"It goes without saying." Xie Tianyang nodded.

"Zhuo Fan, I'm coming as well!" Luo Yunchang spoke up.

Zhuo Fan raised an eyebrow, "Why, didn't I say I and Yunhai and ten guards are enough? Why do you want to come all of a sudden? How..."

"No reason, you'll protect me so it'll be fine!" Luo Yunchang batted her eyes.

Shaking his head, Zhuo Fan said, "No, too dangerous!"

"Are you worried about me?"

"That's not it!" Zhuo Fan scratched his nose, "I'll be in danger if I have to constantly look after you!"

The others chuckled.

Luo Yunchang glared as she kicked his shin. [You make me a dead weight while you said you'd protect Ning'er? What am I then?]

Zhuo Fan let her vent on his leg, stiffened for a second as his face went cold. Luo Yunchang kicked him once but the second kick didn't come, for her heart grew forlorn the more she looked at Zhuo Fan.

Zhuo Fan had closed off his heart under lock and key. He was like a prideful hero, wishing to bear everything alone...

"The seven houses are here!" The shout got everyone's attention. With Regent Estate in the lead, the seven houses strutted forth.

Chu Qingcheng was there as well. She glanced at Zhuo Fan only to see his face ever cold and impassive which made her clench her fists.

[Grandmother was right. He is dead inside, not worth any woman's attention.]

Scoffing, she ignored him and walked behind Grandmother with a frosty gaze.

"Marshal Dugu has arrived!"

Dugu Zhantian brought ten thousand soldiers to surround this area. He did it as a safety measure to instill order.

But the thick scent of blood and steel shuddered the nerves of every disciple here, they who had only known life in the clan.

Laughing, Dugu Zhantian stopped before Zhuo Fan and patted his shoulder, "Ha-ha-ha, kid, I was ready to come out and save you that day, but you have Radiant Stage abilities already. You hid them so well that you even had me worried!"

"Marshal was there as well?" Zhuo Fan raised an eyebrow.

Dugu Zhantian nodded with a smile, "How could I not? Just the day before Huangpu Qingtian showed off his intent. I had to watch over you. Who knew, who friggin' knew, you are both made of the same cloth, monsters the lot of you! I was worried for nothing, ha-ha-ha..."

Laughing on, Dugu Zhantian turned to Luo Yunhai and gave him some warnings before leaving. The Four Tigers of Tianyu offered their encouragement as they left as well.

Reaching the forefront, Dugu Zhantian surveyed the crowd of clans, "Please step before the array. The Esoteric Debate's final battle will begin shortly!"

Starting with Regent Estate, the seven houses took the first line in order of the previous Esoteric Debate's ranking.

Next were the clans, never even entertaining the thought of cutting ahead. The clans either stood behind their master or the house they wished to become a vassal of.

Obviously, Regent Estate had the numerical advantage.

But typical of Regent Estate, that didn't mean these clans were going to be accepted. While other clans with modicum of strength settled for standing behind other houses they wished to follow.

Dong clan went behind Drifting Flowers Edifices, and Xue clan behind Sword Marquise Abode.

Zhuo Fan glanced at Luo Yunhai and nodded.

Luo Yunhai strutted under the shocked gaze of the people right abreast the seven houses, next to Drifting Flowers Edifices!

The rest of the clan's members puffed up their chests right behind him.

The shock was understandable. The crowd now realized that the Luo clan was no one's dog but stood on their own!

But this was a direct challenge to the seven houses' authority. Would they be able to handle it?

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Chapter 269, The Most Enticing Reward

The seven houses turned their heads but the calm look on their faces said it all. They were expecting this. That only fueled the crowd's uproar. [The seven houses are accepting the Luo clan's rise?]

But how could they allow anyone to stand at their level? The Luo clan did have Soaring Demonic Dragon Zhuo Fan, that insane monster, but the rest of the clan was a whole another matter entirely.

Huangpu Tianyuan snickered at the narrow minded clans around him. Were they so blind to see it coming ever since Zhuo Fan started having a field day with the seven houses' elders?

So even though Luo clan was overstepping its bounds, per usual, none of the houses found it worthy of a reaction.

"Oh, your ambition for power and status sure is commendable. Ha-ha-ha, in the end you still abided by his wishes and showed up." An aged voice echoed.

The crowd turned around in shock.

They found three old men coming over. The leader being the head of Four Pillars, Prime Minister Zhuge Changfeng flanked by his Yin Yang elders. Even from afar, the people could sense the hidden and thick power they exuded, enough to crush this entire area.

[Why is this geezer here?]

Dugu Zhantian held his beard with a stern face. Huangpu Tianyuan's side was put off by the presence of Tianyu's number one mind.

This old bean had extended You Wanshan and company a hand in wrestling out of the emperor's grip one time, but it was a known fact that no one could truly unravel the real reason behind his 'kindness'.

His mind was unreadable! Yesterday's friend could very well turn into today's enemy. But the worse was the constant anxiety one was in not knowing when that would happen.

Leng Wuchang eyed the hunched figure then shook his head and sighed. Not even he could read the old man.

Hailed as Unwonted Contriver, with everyone an open book before his scrutiny, he had no confidence when it came to reading Zhuge Changfeng!

Zhuge Changfeng sported a vague smile as he walked next to Zhuo Fan, "Have you thought it through? Or are you going to be swept away by the storm?"

Gasps of shock resounded everywhere, [What is the Luo clan and Zhuge Changfeng's connection?]

They now understood why Luo clan had risen to challenge the seven houses.

[Blast it! With two pillars behind you, the young master under a Marshal and the Prime Minister cheering you on, not even the seven houses would dare slight such a clan!]

[So this... is Luo clan's true backing!]

People's faces twitched and their hearts sank. [Why does this never happen to me? Just what tricks did this Luo clan pull to grab hold of two pillars?]

Huangpu Tianyuan's side was also stunned. They never saw it coming. Zhuge Changfeng came for Zhuo Fan! With even Zhuge Changfeng helping them, they had no chance to finish off the Luo clan. Ever!

Huangpu Tianyuan's face sank as his knuckles went white.

Leng Wuchang dismissed his worries, "Estate Lord, Zhuge Changfeng is different from Dugu Zhantian, a pragmatic. Even if he intended to get close to Luo clan, it will only be because of Zhuo Fan's skills. Once Zhuo Fan is out of the picture, they will fall like a ton of bricks!"

"It only makes this time's Esoteric Debate of paramount importance, to stomp that punk dead!" Huangpu Tianyuan's eyes flashed with bloodthirst.

Leng Wuchang nodded, turning to the only one who could achieve this feat, Heaven-shaking Dragon Lord Huangpu Qingtian.

Yet the man in question was oblivious to their conversation. His eyes showed he was raring to go turn the entire battlefield upside down.

[Perfect.]

Leng Wuchang chuckled, finding everyone dancing his tune.

Going back to Zhuo Fan, the man smiled, "Prime Minister, how do you know if the Luo clan isn't in the eye of the storm already?"

Zhuge Changfeng raised an eyebrow, "I trust your judgment. It's fine as long as you aren't forced into it. I am eager to see the day Steward Zhuo achieves his ambitions."

Zhuo Fan nodded and Zhuge Changfeng laughed. He took his Yin Yang elders to Dugu Zhantian, "Old Marshal, please don't take it hard on me for dropping unannounced."

"I would never. You are the honorable Prime Minister of our empire. It is only natural to come see the grand Esoteric Debate," Dugu Zhantian's beard trembled, his tone cold.

Zhuge Changfeng laughed, "Old Marshal, don't be so stiff. I'm here by myself out of boredom. Don't think too much of it."

[Humph, as if.]

The crowd cursed inside as well. Since when was Zhuge Changfeng that bored to come here without rime or reason. The game was most definitely afoot.

The old fox's schemes aside, Dugu Zhantian had no time to mind him. His orders were to make sure Esoteric Debate ran smoothly.

Recalling the emperor's explicit and repeated warnings, a caution the emperor never showed before, led this old general to believe the Esoteric Debate of today had national ramifications.

Dugu Zhantian barked, "By His Majesty's grace, the Esoteric Debate will allow clansmen below the age of thirty to participate. No one older is allowed entry or I will personally cut them down! The rules will be explained to you shortly by one of Divine Dragons, Jade Flute Divine Sword Fang Qiubai!"

Whoosh!

A whistle of white clothes signified the entrance of an old man holding a jade flute and exuding a dominating air, Fang Qiubai.

Rustle~

A flick of his hand sent five jades taller than two people around the Teleportation Array. Looking at it, the people saw the stone form five huge gates.

"8th grade Army Transfer, National Elemental Stones!"

Looking at the red, yellow, green, blue, and brown stones, Zhuge Changfeng and the seven houses took a step back in shock.

Fang Qiubai nodded, "Correct, this is indeed the array passed down by imperial ancestors!"

Fang Qiubai then made a sign and the stones shone, each reflecting a beautiful scenery, of beasts and birds.

A 3rd level spiritual beast soon passed by and watched the crowd curiously. Then came a 4th level spiritual beast and howled, but was left to claw away at an invisible barrier, unable to reach them.

Fang Qiubai's voice roused them from the shock, "I will now present you all with the rules for this Esoteric Debate. As you have seen for yourselves, the center and the stone arrays are both unidirectional. You will shortly stand in the center array and I will then send you to the location of the final battle. But to return, the only way is through the National Elemental Stones!"

The crowd looked puzzled.

Fang Qiubai continued, "The five National Elemental Stones are a one way door, but from the final battle location to here! To activate it you will need to find not only these stones but also their key! However, each array has a yin and yang key that must be joined to return. And the order of your arrival will mark your ranking."

"Simple enough." Huangpu Qingtian smiled. The others nodded, finding it pretty straightforward. It all came down to finding some keys and the way back.

The greatest danger was merely deadly battles between clans, nothing of importance.

Fang Qiubai raised an eyebrow, and snickered, "Simple is it? You won't be saying that after you find out the location."

The clans stared at him distraught.

"Beast King Mountain!" Fang Qiubai mocked.

Sss~

Gasps echoed around and some even felt their knees shaking.

Beast King Mountain wasn't as deadly as Allbeast Mountain Range, but high level spiritual beasts were nevertheless present. There were many 5th and 6th level spiritual beast kings roaming, hence the name Beast King Mountain.

Even Profound Heaven and Radiant Stage experts would have a hard time scouring that place for anything, not to mention the plenty of Bone Tempering cultivators among the clans.

There was no need to even fight when the spiritual beasts would kill them off before they could even meet.

The hearts of everyone sank in despair. Why was this time's battle so cruel and deadly?

Only Six Dragons, One Phoenix and Zhuo Fan were the picture of calmness.

Glancing at these monsters left them stomping in indignation. Was this place chosen with these freaks in mind? [If you take away the eight monsters, you'd only have average people! This is ridiculous!]

Fang Qiubai grinned at their silent protest, "But of course, no danger comes unwarranted. It is slightly dangerous this time around, but the reward is up to the risk. These are five 8th grade pills, Brimming Sacred Pill. It will be up to each one of you to earn it!"

[Say what?!]

Zhuo Fan and Huangpu Qingtian were both affected.

The Brimming Sacred Pill was of most value to a Radiant Stage expert or those on the brink. Across the whole of Tianyu, this pill was the rarest of all. Not even the seven houses had one.

Huangpu Qingtian, Huangpu Tianyuan and other peak Profound Heaven experts needed just one little pill and they would jump right into being a Radiant Stage expert with no strings attached.

While to a Radiant Stage expert, it would boost their soul many times over.

"Worth it!"

Huangpu Tianyuan was moved as he looked at his son. He had been stuck at peak Profound Heaven Stage for decades. This chance was godsent.

And yet, Huangpu Qingtian's face left him cold.

[God damn it! If this brat gets it, he'll eat it on the spot!]

Zhuge Changfeng frowned as he twirled his mustache, "The old man has come out swinging. He is eager to begin his plan!"

While the second and third rate clans looked on in forlorn depression.

[This is clearly meant for those monsters! Where among us do you see a Radiant Stage or peak Profound Heaven expert? Taking it will only make us pop like fireworks!]

It came with great fear and trepidation as to how cruel this event would be for them.

This stage was practically designed to be the death of them. They were nothing more than cannon fodder! But to climb aboard a house, a timely help would get the attention they desperately yearned. Even if they were cannon fodder, they'd still risk it...

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Chapter 270, Beast King Mountain

"Alright, youngsters. Time to go!"

Fang Qiubai made a hand sign and pointed at the dark mass in the center of the array.

In a dazzling fashion, a pillar of light sprung up straight to the sky and forced people to squint.

Every clan's younger generation rubbed their eyes and their mouths twitched. But no matter how unwilling, they all walked on.

[Go! Go! Just go and die!]

They all cursed. No matter how they thought about it, Fang Qiubai's 'cheering' felt more like a blatant wish for an untimely death!

Not like they had a choice in the matter. So on they went, for their clan's honor, and for their future!

Whoosh~

People sank into the pillar of light one after another, gone for good.

Zhuo Fan glanced at the array and said to Luo Yunhai's group, "The Teleportation Array is random and will split us up. No matter what happens, you are to search for each other first and foremost!"

"Yes, Steward Zhuo!" The ten young guards nodded and Luo Yunhai spoke gravely, "Don't worry, brother Zhuo, my godfather put me through some scouting lessons and I'll quickly find you."

Grinning, Zhuo Fan said, "It was a good thing after all, leaving you in Marshal's care all those years. I can rest easy now."

Luo Yunhai's eyes shined with resolve.

"Let's go!" Zhuo Fan took his group through the light pillar. Luo Yunchang's side looked from afar and prayed for their safety.

"Zhuo Fan, I will make you pay for killing my master!" A sudden roar caught Zhuo Fan's attention. Yan Fu watched him filled with revenge and hatred, more obvious now that the white light separated them.

Zhuo Fan was stunned, [Damn, forgot about that twerp.]

[This guy is a coward anyway. He only waited for me to get in the array before barking!]

[Ah, what a chicken.]

Zhuo Fan shook his head and sighed. He was gone.

Yan Fu however was over the moon. He actually managed to provoke the monster. Yan Bangui walked over and mocked, "Spineless brat, try to refrain from being so despicable next time."

The other houses also snickered.

[Waiting for your enemy to be unable to do anything to you, if that isn't cowardice, what is? You've gone long on the path of a gutless rat!]

As they looked at him in ridicule, the rest of the seven houses entered the pillar of light as well. Yan Fu gnashed his teeth, his face flushed as he followed them.

The bustling place from moments ago soon turned quiet.

Fang Qiubai found all participants gone and closed the array with another hand sign. Yet beyond his perception, two shadowy figures slipped past just as he finished...

Whoosh!

The towering light pillar died and Zhuo Fan found himself in the heart of a forest. He didn't even get to make sense of his surroundings as a roar grated his ears.

With a rancid smell and whistling wind signaling its arrival, a dozens of meter tall bear rose behind him. With his rock splitting paw, it smashed right for him.

Even a 9th layer of Bone Tempering cultivator would be hard pressed to face such power.

Snapping his head back, Zhuo Fan frowned, "4th level spiritual beast, Mountain Crushing Bear?"

The giant paw was right in his face, yet all Zhuo Fan did was have his eye flash azure.

The fierce bear paw came to a grinding halt and the giant bear was scared out of his mind as he ran with all his power.

Zhuo Fan watched the disappearing humongous bear with a snicker.

[The azure flame's use isn't limited to Allbeast Mountain Range. All spiritual beasts are under its influence.]

This would make the trip to Beast King Mountain a breeze. While others had to painstakingly pay attention to any high level spiritual beasts on the prowl, he was out on an evening stroll.

The Beast King Mountain was his home turf.

On the other hand, it was a nightmare for the rest of those poor suckers. Particularly those that had yet to enter the Profound Heaven Stage.

Since he was welcomed by a 4th level spiritual beast, the others ought to be receiving more or less the same honor, no?

"I have to find Yunhai fast!" Frowning, Zhuo Fan's wings unfolded and he took to the skies.

Some flying spiritual beasts shot straight for him, but a flash of azure flame from Zhuo Fan's eyes cut their intent clean off.

Whoosh~

Flashes of white dazzled the sky for the better part of the next hour yet Zhuo Fan never met another person. He sighed at how ridiculously vast the Beast King Mountain was.

If he didn't find the others fast, who knew what might happen?

"Save me!"

A charming voice entered his ears.

Zhuo Fan paused. [With how vicious the Beast King Mountain is, no normal person would be stupid enough to come here. This person has to be a contender!]

Among the many clans that joined, Drifting Flowers Edifices had the most girls!

[Should I or should I not?]

Zhuo Fan mulled it over for a second before flying down.

[I guess it won't be nice to watch your own ally bite the dust without helping. Since I won't find Yunhai anytime soon, I better lend a helping hand.]

Zhuo Fan sent out a soul ripple and locked onto the source of the sound in an instant.

He saw a huge lake in the distance, wide enough that it was impossible to see the other shore. The place was verdant and lush, framed perfectly by the sun's rays. But the water of the lake started to roil and billow as huge waves rose all over the place.

A charming girl slammed into the water in great distress. Across from her was a quarter mile long scarlet venomous serpent. It's eerie pair of sharp eyes looked at the panicking girl with hunger.

"6th level spiritual beast, Overpowering Flood Dragon?" Zhuo Fan squinted in shock.

That was no ordinary snake, but a water serpent descended from the mighty Flood Dragon. Such a spiritual beast was a natural king. It was a peak existence even among 6th level spiritual beasts!

Not even a common 7th level spiritual beast could contend with it.

Zhuo Fan gasped in awe at the Beast King Mountain hiding such a monster. Even more so to the bad luck this missy had, in landing not just in its turf, but its home waters. In fact, she popped right in its goddamned open maw! It couldn't get any worse than that...

Sss~

Flicking its red tongue, the serpent opened its maw ready to swallow the girl whole.

The girl shuddered and curled up, giving up on herself.

Zhuo Fan's right eye flashed with a golden ring and he appeared next to her. With another flash, they were gone.

The savage serpent bit down but got nothing but fresh water. It looked around agape, [Where'd she go?]

The more it looked around, the more shocked it became.

Not for a second did the serpent believe that she was fast enough to escape its range. The only plausible answer was, [An illusion?]

It lifted its huge tail, creating a fifty meter wide splash.

It rubbed its head with the tip in bewilderment.

[How come? Am I growing senile and have started seeing things?]

In another area, the girl closed her eyes and shivered in Zhuo Fan's embrace, waiting for the jaws of death to rob her life. She waited yet nothing came, not even pain.

She only felt a bit chilly as the breeze traced her curves.

The girl cracked her eyes open to see a broad chest and the blue sky.

Zhuo Fan was paying attention to where he flew with a cold stare. But when he felt her squirming, he said, "You're alright, ah..."

Zhuo Fan's voice was stuck in his throat and his scalp went numb watching the nubile figure. [The girl's naked!]

The girl looked at him and then at her silky smooth and uncovered skin before blushing and wailing, "Ah~, you rogue! Don't look! Close your eyes!"

"You're the damn rogue! What are you doing coming here without clothes? Since when is Drifting Flowers Edifices so deviant?"

"What Drifting Flowers Edifices? I know no Drifting Flowers Edifices. I thought I told you to shut your eyes! Don't you dare look!"

"Zip it. It's perfectly normal for a man to look, especially now. Go and wear something if you don't like it!"

"You..."

She glared at him and huffed. Her eyes sparkled, on the verge of tears and her face was growing flushed by the second...

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Chapter 271, Beast Mistress

Ding~

In the thick forest, Zhuo Fan was facing away from the bush behind him in silence and focus. He could even hear some clear ringing coming from that bush.

Zhuo Fan sighed.

[No good deed goes unpunished.] He went and saved the damsel, only to find her naked. So they made a pit stop at a bush to dress up. But this chick was taking her sweet time doing it. [Can't you just put on a coat or a robe and be done with it? Look at me!]

Rustle~

The grass crunched behind him and Zhuo Fan turned. He was in for the shock of his life.

He hadn't gotten a good look at this damsel, with the rescuing and all, but now that he had, she was quite the looker. She had a cute button nose, more than generous curves, and big eyes to reflect complex emotions.

Considering her clothes, it was a striking difference from the refined and graceful silken robes. They were made with ease of movements in mind. The constant ringing finally drew his attention to her bracelet having a bell attached, completing her wild look.

[She's a foreigner!]

Zhuo Fan watched on speechless. Never had it crossed his mind that in a place filled with his clans' disciples, he would find a girl not native of Tianyu!

Noticing the obvious look she was getting, the girl blushed. She was squirming with shyness, but still had the guts to give him a sharp glare, "What are you looking at? See how I'll poke your eyes out!"

"Tch, not that there's anything to see. Why are you so feisty?" Zhuo Fan jabbed.

The girl blushed harder and felt disgruntled. She was a pure and single girl and then she stumbled upon this stranger who had got more than an eyeful. How could she face the world now?

She was mortified, wishing to bury her head in her chest.

[Go die!]

All this while Zhuo Fan was walking away cursing, "God friggin' damn it! I saved the wrong damsel and wasted all this time too..."

Glaring, the girl spat, "What's the meaning of this? You regret saving me?"

She skipped in front of him and fixed her piercing eyes on him.

Zhuo Fan's words struck a nerve and she got over her shyness in a jiffy.

[I'm an exotic beauty, a man's dream! It was your greatest fortune getting to save me and even getting an eyeful.]

[What's with that tone, as if you were the one found naked? I am the one hurting here. You ruined me!]

[Humph, greedy pig!]

The girl's eyes were staring a hole into Zhuo Fan, wishing to tear him a new one.

And Zhuo Fan's response? Pushing her aside in mid stride, "Move, I've wasted enough pointless time on you as it is."

The girl eyed the proud Zhuo Fan walking away and blinked.

[And you call yourself a man?]

This was a first. All the men she had met so far were quite taken with her, not cold as ice like this one. Then she recalled the desire in his eyes when he got an eyeful in the sky and it was clear that this guy was a man from head to toe. [So why?]

Then it hit her. What was she doing looking hopeful instead of getting her due for staining a girl's reputation? [Ah, how mortifying...]

She cupped her blushing cheeks, her mind drawing all kinds of untoward conclusions.

Not that Zhuo Fan had a mind to care. He ignored this 'fated' encounter and was this close to forgetting her as well. What was the point in remembering every bystander?

Roar!

A sudden gust signaled the appearance of a golden panther as it jumped down from a tree up above.

It stared savagely at Zhuo Fan, bearing its reeking fangs as well.

"4th level spiritual beast, Mountain Crossing Golden Panther!" The girl cried in fear.

Zhuo Fan only frowned with slight worry.

With 4th level spiritual beasts being the order of the day on Beast King Mountain, he was plagued by what might happen to Yunhai.

The girl figured Zhuo Fan was rooted to his spot from sheer terror and rushed to his rescue.

The spiritual beast started laughing at Zhuo Fan's outlandish reaction.

[He-he-he, I scared the kid witless with my entrance. Purrrfect, it has been days since my last feast!]

Roar!

The kitty pounced, its maw ready to swallow Zhuo Fan whole.

Zhuo Fan smiled as his eyes were about to flash the danger away, just as a graceful figure jumped in front and blocked the savage beast.

Ding~

The girl's bracelet rang melodiously as she faced that savage pair of eyes with her charm. The girl then started moving her waist to the ringing, just like a dance.

All the beast could do was gawk in a trance at the dancing girl.

Zhuo Fan was stunned. He never knew you could deal with spiritual beasts in such an outlandish way.

Through dancing and soul power, one charmed their opponent. Humans were hardly affected, but spiritual beasts with their tiny minds gobbled it up on the spot.

As the girl went along her dancing routine, the spiritual beast's head was lolling about and its eyes glazed.

Then the girl clapped.

The savage beast's head cocked and slumped. The fear and dizziness in its eyes made a stark contrast with the contentment on its face.

Left gasping, the girl wiped her brow.

Zhuo Fan smiled, "Ha-ha-ha, you're really something. This world sure is wide and there are many approaches to the same problem."

"Hey, don't just stand there and comment on my skill from your high horse!" Snapping her glare on him, the girl said after a pause, "Looking at you, you're just a 9th layer Bone Tempering cultivator. No wonder this 4th level spiritual beast scared you silly."

"Right back at you. Who was it I wonder, that had her bare ass saved from that lake?" Zhuo Fan snickered. The girl now had his full attention.

Blushing, the girl stuck out her head, "How is that the same? That thing in the water was a 6th level spiritual beast... Wait! How are you able to fly as a Bone Tempering cultivator? How did you save me? I am in the 2nd layer of the Profound Heaven Stage myself, but not even I could escape that monster!"

Finally getting her wits about her, she realized the sheer ridiculousness of it all. How was she spared from ending up a 6th level spiritual beast's lunch?

Zhuo Fan wasn't about to blurt all his secrets to a total stranger and only showed off his Lightning Wings with a smile, "These things are quite fast, enough to outrun a water serpent."

The girl blinked for a second and nodded, "I see, a 6th grade flying spiritual weapon."

The sight of those lightning-streaked wings had the girl musing. Then she said in all seriousness, "Oi, kid, since you saved me and I saved you, we're even!"

Zhuo Fan nodded. Though technically, he could've easily dealt with the kitty.

"But..." The girl flushed again for some odd reason and was plagued by indecision. Her voice grew fainter to such a degree, even Zhuo Fan would've had a hard time hearing if not for his cultivation.

"You still owe me for seeing me naked..."

"Oh, that makes sense."

Zhuo Fan nodded and chuckled, "I totally understand you. Don't worry, I am not one to leave a debt unsettled. One moment."

Zhuo Fan then removed his sash.

The girl became bug eyed and turned away in embarrassment, "What are you doing, rogue?"

"You said I took advantage of your plight, so I'm only returning the favor. This should make us even. He-he-he, rest easy m'lady, I will definitely won't ask anything in return, including integrity." Zhuo Fan snickered, sizing the shivering lady with a curious eye.

The girl was fuming now, "Damn pervert! That's not what I meant!"

"What else is there? You mean you want more?" Zhuo Fan grinned, "Fine, my magnanimous self will never be so petty as a certain girl. Go ahead, feel me up as much as you want. Ha-ha-ha, do as you wish with me, I won't complain. Really, not one peep."

"Ahh~, rotten pervert! I've had it with you!" The girl was stomping and pouting, "I-I only want you to help me get some Shaping Spring. I don't need to see your... your..."

"Shaping Spring?"

Zhuo Fan's playful mood was gone, replaced by dead seriousness.

[This matter... is starting to become interesting...]

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Chapter 272, Shaping Spring

Shaping Spring was an underground river flowing for millions of years. Subjected to constant heat from the core, it was formed of earth's essence and it was priceless.

While Ice Heart Moon Soul of Xue Qingjian was a peak water treasure of yin, the Shaping Spring was a yang water essence.

Just like Diamond Sand, the Shaping Spring was among the best ingredients, if not the best itself. They said Diamond Sand was the blood of the earth, while Shaping Spring was earth's blood's blood. Diamond Sand was a hard ingredient and Shaping Spring a soft one. Diamond Sand made strong spiritual weapons, while Shaping Spring allowed a spiritual weapon to go through endless changes.

Water had no form, shape or size, and with just a drop of Shaping Spring placed in a spiritual weapon, it would turn into a sacred item, free to change its size at will.

Big and unstoppable as a hammer of a thousand pounds, or small and sublime like an invisible needle.

There was one more incredible property the Shaping Spring had the others didn't know about. It matched with a body refining array. Zhuo Fan grinned as his mind drifted to the tall pillar in his Thunder Ring.

It not once crossed his mind to take this direction, since he never could. But now he had a chance at getting the Shaping Spring and with it, he could complete that art written in the Nine Serenities Secret Records. He may very well gain the same freakish power Gu Santong exhibited!

Zhuo Fan was very excited to try.

If he could get his hands on the same power that made Gu Santong invincible in Tianyu, then the father and son pair... but not even his imagination could fully grasp the extent of such power.

The danger of achieving such a godly refinement was thousands of times greater than when he refined his body with Diamond Sand.

Hesitation had him for a second, but he shook his head clear. [There's no time to delay. That thought comes after I can get it.]

Then his trademark evil smile graced his face once again, "Miss, what would you have me do?"

The girl eyed him skeptically. [Why is this punk so warm all of a sudden? Odd...]

But taking a look at Zhuo Fan's cultivation in the Bone Tempering Stage, her worries were put to rest.

What could a 9th layer of Bone Tempering Stage possibly do when he only had a 6th grade spiritual weapon built for speed?

The girl smiled in kind, "Come with me. Help me get the Shaping Spring, and what you did to me... uh, it'll make us square."

The girl blushed.

Zhuo Fan nodded with the same hypocritical smile as always.

He felt like sighing. [Oh, so many people judge me by my cultivation, only to be swallowed whole by me.]

[This girlie is no different.]

He followed close behind her with a cold smile.

For some very odd reason, she shivered from a creepy feeling striking her very core. Yet her response was to cock her head in bewilderment...

Ah, another lady got duped...

The duo soon arrived at the edge of a lake. Zhuo Fan's eyes trembled, [Isn't this the same lake I saved her from?]

The girl smiled, "Hey, do you know why I was in danger last time?"

"Do you even need to ask? Bathing in some else's home is the same as taking a leak in it. If I was that water serpent, I'd swallow you in one gulp too." Zhuo Fan said sagely.

Blushing, she seethed, "W-what bathing? Who would do that in such a dangerous place? Where do you come up with all these dumb conclusions?"

"What else is there? Weren't you going all natural when I got you out?" Zhuo Fan scratched his nose.

Yet for some reason, despite his unfazed face, his body was quite honest. Two trails of blood flowed down his nose.

Zhuo Fan was stunned, "Eh, why am I bleeding?"

The girl was flushed and smacked his head in resentfulness, "Stop having errant thoughts or I... I..."

"I what? Make me bathe naked for you to look?" Zhuo Fan snorted.

The girl was stomping in anger, red as a tomato. Why was she so unlucky to meet this creep?

Then again, only by working together with this creep could she get the Shaping Spring and she sighed. She reigned in her indignation and turned grave, "Do you see that cave across the lake?"

Zhuo Fan followed her fingers to see endless fog surrounding a mountain. There was also a faint image of a man sized cave entrance at its foot, half of it submerged in water. Zhuo Fan nodded, "What of it?"

"That is the serpent's cave." The girl said.

Zhuo Fan asked, "How, that thing was five hundred meters long. The cave is too small for..."

Zhuo Fan's eyes jumped. The girl giggled and made good use of this rare chance to mock him, "He-he-he, you're not as dumb as you look. Yes, that serpent is definitely eating the Shaping Spring. It allows it to change its size and enter that cave."

"What makes you so sure Shaping Spring is in there? Perhaps the venomous serpent ate it somewhere else, or maybe it's in the middle of eating..." Zhuo Fan frowned.

Whoosh~

With a flash of light, a golden-tailed carp jumped in front of him, splashing his face with icy cold water.

Pff!

The girl giggled, reveling in his misery, content she finally managed to get some retribution. Zhuo Fan wiped his face, uncaring that she did it on purpose, "I see. You have a 1st level water type pet you used to scout the poisonous serpent's cave while it was away."

"Clever boy."

The girl winked and smiled, "I've been staking out the strange 6th level spiritual beast since I found it a month ago. Until three days ago, it only kept to the cave. So I used my 1st level spiritual beast, Golden-fin Fish, to find that it really contained Shaping Spring. But that poisonous serpent was truly vicious, coming back just an hour later. So I waited the past three days for it to come out. But since it didn't, I had no choice but to go in and confront it."

Seeing the girl's charming smile, like she had hit the jackpot, Zhuo Fan jabbed, "So you got naked and tried working your wiles on it? Wait, that ain't right, you're different species. Even if you forced yourself on that 'hunk', it would only see you as lunch."

"W-what nonsense are you babbling? Who would ever seduce that beast?"

Blushing, the girl gnashed her teeth in anger, "I-I only intended to use my beast controlling art to tame it. There is nothing obscene about it!"

"Beast taming? What does that have to do with you running around in all your glory?" Zhuo Fan raised an eyebrow.

The girl's glare sharpened a notch, "Oy, could you stop with the vulgarities? My clan's beast controlling art pays special attention to being one with nature. The more in tune one is, the stronger the art. Since I can only tame a 4th level spiritual beast at most, I had to give my body and soul in joining with nature this time around. But I failed anyway because its soul is stronger than average and almost lost my life at its jaws of death."

Zhuo Fan nodded. The venomous serpent was related to the Flood Dragon. Dragon blood flowed through its veins. How could it be just a mere 6th level spiritual beast? The girl was in over her head trying to charm the beastie with her skill.

"Oi, brat, weren't you quick at flying? Draw the venomous serpent out and let me fetch the Shaping Spring! Do that and I will cross out the crass attitude and disrespect you showed me."

The girl showed a bewitching smile and batted her big puppy eyes.

That might have worked on your average hormone riddled male to fire him up in braving any dangers. But Zhuo Fan, however, was a stone cold killer.

"My thoughts exactly." Zhuo Fan showed his trademark evil smirk.

The girl's eyes shined with glee, but Zhuo Fan could easily see a spark of contempt hidden there. One that said, [All men are the same.]

[Humph, ignorant bint, now that I know where Shaping Spring is, you've outlived your usefulness.]

Snickering to himself, Zhuo Fan flew to the cave. The girl stared at him all the way with an increasingly wider smile.

She could practically hold the Shaping Spring in her arms.

Yet something nagged her in the corner of her mind. [Isn't this perhaps a little too easy? Is this man that much of a fool, so easily taken in by some eye batting and exploited to his literal death?]

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Chapter 273, Great Haul

Bang~

Zhuo Fan pummeled the entrance wall. The gonging sound was eerily similar to someone knocking on a metal door.

The girl looked on dazed, from a very safe distance. [This punk has nerves of steel, I'll give him that. Or is he plain indifferent to the 6th level spiritual beast just waiting for him inside.]

[Speaking of his insensitivity, was he that easily taken in by my charm?]

The girl looked at him closer, [Something isn't right here.]

Splash~

Then, the sound of water was heard and a meter long water serpent swam out of the cave. It shook as its body expanded.

It was back to its five hundred meters long size in a blink, which created a huge splash as he hissed at the two humans.

Hiss!

The stench licked his cheek and Zhuo Fan clutched his nose as he sized the snake.

[This guy ate Shaping Spring alright.]

The girl was waving her hand down yonder in panic. Not out of worry for Zhuo Fan, of course, but his death would mean her venture would abruptly end with a big fat zero haul.

[Why is this brat just standing there? Is he scared shitless? God damn it, why did I fail when I'm so close?]

The girl gnashed her teeth in annoyance.

The venomous serpent thought the same, laughing out loud and looking with contempt.

[This brat must be so naive to knock at my home. Now that he has basked in my royal glory, he's scared witless. Ha-ha-ha, it's only natural. Even I am in awe of my glorious self most of the time, ha-ha-ha...]

Glancing at the delusional snake, and its wagging tail, Zhuo Fan could read him like a book. He grinned as he simply flew inside the cave.

"Guard this place and don't come in without my say." Zhuo Fan belittled this useless thing and just waltzed in.

The venomous serpent was out of it from shock. [What did he just say? To watch the door?]

The serpent was enraged. No one ever ignored it, least of all claim its cave like he owned the place!

[Oy, punk, do you have any idea whose home this is? Do you have a death wish?]

Hiss!

The venomous serpent got closer to Zhuo Fan and hissed in his face. Covering him in drool, it hoped to knock some sense into him with its almighty majesty.

The girl was soaked from fear. [Run you fool!]

Yet Zhuo Fan only had disdain in his eyes. He wiped the drool from his face, and glared, "Behave."

Pff!

The venomous serpent almost spat blood. It had never met someone so full of themselves to ignore it and even belittle it. It was royally pissed.

The girl was scared witless.

[You behave, brat! You're pissing it off by telling it to watch the door. I get you want to die but could you at least do it down yonder? Some of us still need to get in, you know?]

[The guy's brains are on the fritz!]

She sighed. She could practically see the kid torn into pieces by the angry venomous serpent.

And that was what the serpent was about to do.

[Holy friggin' balls! I've seen many dauntless, but none so boneheaded to not even care for their lives. They look for death or, better yet, they deserve death with such an idiotic stance.]

[You're dead meat, so cut the act. Humph, as you wish, this king will send you off.]

Licking its sharp fangs, the venomous serpent hissed and went on to swallow him whole. With how the red mouth was covered in poison, Zhuo Fan would find himself melting the instant he touched it.

The girl closed her eyes and looked away. She couldn't bear the horror that followed.

Yet Zhuo Fan was cool as a cucumber as the azure flame flashed in his eyes.

Hum~

A ripple wracked the venomous serpent.

Scared, the huge serpent froze in its place.

He was soaked in sweat, even as his maw was right on top of Zhuo Fan, with fangs bared and all. And yet he just didn't chomp.

The look in Zhuo Fan's eye got him so terrified, it started shivering.

"You're so feisty to not listen when you're ordered." Zhuo Fan shook his head as he went in like he owned the place.

Leaving the venomous serpent behind like a statue, scared and dumbfounded.

[W-what power was that?]

The serpent's heart was frantic.

Spiritual beasts cared a lot about levels, more than the strength even. A 6th level spiritual beast's pup was no stronger than a 3rd level spiritual beast but no 4th level spiritual beast would dare attack it.

It was their inborn majestic aura doing its thing. No low level spiritual beast messed with a higher one, ever. It was etched in their bones, blood, and the like.

As a 6th level spiritual beast, it was invincible here. A king lording over the masses. It had the right to pick on others, not the other way around!

But it finally got his due in the form of Zhuo Fan. The guy flexed his power for a blink and scared the living daylights out of the snake.

It had no clue what level of spiritual beast that power was equivalent to, but its blood told him to surrender and lay down all hostilities against Zhuo Fan.

[Damn it all to hell! What was that?] He held such power that it made even a 6th level spiritual beast shake in its own skin.

[What savage beast could have such power? And why is it with a human? Is he perhaps a dreadful beast's young?]

The venomous serpent was sweating buckets. It was just like a beggar meeting an emperor, with only obedience in his heart.

If it was told to guard the door, that was what it'd do. What was so bad about it anyway?

It went to such an extent that the snake swam out of the cave and didn't even have the gall to look behind him.

While the girl who had struck Zhuo Fan off as a dead man, sneaked a peak all this time and was now dumbstruck.

[What the hell? Since when were vicious venomous serpents so meek? It's not only not entering the cave, but was even posing as a damn watchdog!]

[How in bloody hell did a Bone Tempering cultivator do this? Does he also have a secret beast taming art?]

The girl cocked her head, glancing at Zhuo Fan going further in with amazement and more than a little curiosity.

[This brat isn't as dumb as he looks. He may very well not have needed my help with the 4th level spiritual beast as well. Wait, if he's so strong and all, why is he hiding it? Is he planning to take it all for himself?]

The girl panicked and stomped in anger. Her wish to go in there herself was curbed by the venomous serpent guard at the door.

This time she was close to blowing a gasket. She had wasted a month staking out this place, only to let another person reap the reward.

[I was hustled!]

She then pouted and slumped on the ground, sulking...

Back to Zhuo Fan, the man in question soon arrived at the end of the cave. The view here shocked him senseless.

The cave was your average hole in the mountain, opening into a room a thousand square meters in size, but the dazzling scene was breathtaking.

He came here for Shaping Spring and actually found so many high grade herbs. There were a hundred 8th grade and at least a thousand 7th grade herbs!

Such haul could contest with the seven houses' stores.

If not even imperial family's!

[Holy mother of god! True wealth truly comes from nature.] He assumed these were all gathered by the snakey, but why didn't he eat them? [To last him through the winter?]

[More for me, I guess! He-he-he...]

Without further ado, and not caring for the beast outside, he pocketed all herbs with a wave. He even went to every corner and made sure he didn't miss anything.

Zhuo Fan cackled like mad for such a great haul.

It echoed along the cave walls and traveled outside.

Venomous serpent's heart sank and tears fell from his eyes.

The girl heard the cackle as well and almost sank into depression. [Those were supposed to be mine!]

Having already scouted the cave with her pet fish, she knew what a jackpot that cave held. She didn't tell Zhuo Fan about it in fear he'd want a bite as well.

And now? He didn't just take a bite but swallowed it whole.

The girl was wallowing in misery, tears threatening to burst out of her clear eyes...

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Chapter 274, Divine Eye of the Void's 2nd Stage

Whoosh~

Zhuo Fan drifted around in the cave, waving his ring in every direction. He could feel joy bubbling out of him with every precious ingredient being tucked away in the safe confines of his ring.

He just came to Beast King Mountain and had already made a killing. [This is the best goddamn omen of all!]

Zhuo Fan cackled, his sound chilling the snake and human outside to the bone.

After he had made sure nothing was left unappropriated, Zhuo Fan began his search for Shaping Spring in earnest. His soul sense spread to every corner.

Then Zhuo Fan rushed deeper. Standing next to a hot spring, he watched the bottom of the spring in shock.

An all natural hot spring! It was ten meter wide and had hot water coming out from the wall in front. But what was truly amazing was the thick white layer at the bottom of it.

Zhuo Fan knew right away that this was Shaping Spring.

[Isn't it a bit too much?]

Not even he had hoped to find so much of the underground miraculous treasure. Just a vial of the stuff could buy you a town!

He'd be happy with just a bowl. But he didn't just get a bowl, he instead got a whole tub!

He could literally bathe in it.

Zhuo Fan shuddered from excitement. Thinking back on this mountain, he realized that only after billions of years of accumulation could have gathered so much of Shaping Spring.

There would've been even more of it if not for a certain snake sampling it.

[This is enough as it is. Anyways, one shouldn't be too greedy. It's bad for health.]

Zhuo Fan chuckled at his egotistical thinking. Any who heard him would've spat blood. [If you're not greedy then the people in this world are all altruists.]

[Humph, greedy pig!]

Plop!

With a laugh, Zhuo Fan jumped right in. He sank until the Shaping Spring reached his waist.

Zhuo Fan quirked his eyebrows in glee.

[So deep!]

There was even more of the Shaping Spring than he thought was possible.

Zhuo Fan went right down to business. Taking out bottles and filling them with the stuff before throwing them into his ring.

Zhuo Fan's face always sported that dumb grin throughout this 'ordeal', smiling from ear to ear.

[I hit pay dirt coming to this Beast King Mountain. It's totally worth it even if I don't get that Brimming Sacred Pill. Ha-ha-ha...]

Zhuo Fan's laughter echoed throughout the cave.

Bam!

While he was hauling his booty, he touched upon something. It didn't sound like a rock, but something hollow.

He groped around blindly before taking out a blue vial. Zhuo Fan looked at it curiously.

[Why is there a vial here? Is collecting baubles another one of the serpent's hobbies?]

But the writing on it left him stupefied, "My luck can't be that good, right? Did I actually stumble upon a Brimming Sacred Pill?"

Yes sir, the vial had those exact words on it. The cap even had a seal on it to not leak its fragrance and attract spiritual beasts.

Zhuo Fan started flipping it.

Fang Qiubai threw five such pills into Beast King Mountain at the start. This one must've flown through an underground river and chanced upon this place, with the snake totally oblivious of it.

Zhuo Fan sighed, [I'm so lucky even I'm scared.]

The odds of finding a Brimming Sacred Pill among Shaping Spring was a true close to zero chance.

But was he one to waste such an opportunity? Hell no! He threw it in his ring and resumed hauling his loot. It took him half a day of 'grueling' work to capture it all, down to the last drop.

The venomous serpent outside was swimming around, peeved. [Just what are you doing in my home? Couldn't you at least leave some for me? Waaah~]

Uncaring and unfeeling for the heartbroken snake outside, Zhuo Fan had no idea about the meaning of restraint. He took one last look at the spotless walls, and nodded in satisfaction that he didn't miss anything.

Woe was the poor snake. It was now a millionaire turned pauper, wrung dry by Zhuo Fan.

If it'd only seen this spotless place, it'd be crying his lungs out.

Not that the greedy Zhuo Fan ever cared, mind you.

Zhuo Fan now took his time to inspect the Brimming Sacred Pill. He uncapped it and swallowed it.

With enemies coming out at every turn in the Esoteric Debate, he was hard pressed to find such leisure again, giving him enough time to refine the pill. It'd be best to stay in here, under the snake's watch and grow stronger.

Boom!

An explosion of soul power happened the instant he swallowed it. As if a sea was unleashed in his head, his mind threatened to burst.

Zhuo Fan never thought the pill would be so outrageously strong. Finding it painful even for him to absorb such a vast amount.

Nevertheless, he was happy as he channeled it into his right eye. With his soul at the Radiant Stage, increasing it a few more times would hardly help him in this battle.

His focus was on reaching the Divine Eye of the Void's 2nd stage with the help of the Brimming Sacred Pill!

The 1st stage had incredible power and made him practically invincible, but the 2nd stage was even more so, as it covered his deadly weakness.

His victory in this final battle solely rested on it!

Zhuo Fan's right eye burned hot as the golden ring in it flickered. Slowly, a second golden halo came into existence beyond the first.

Even if blood spilled from his eye, even if the pain was excruciating, he braced for it and remained staunch!

If he hadn't missed his chance in Dragon Cloud City, it wouldn't have been such an ordeal. But now, forced by circumstances, he chose to power his way through, multiplying his agony instead.

He couldn't even spare the attention to care though. Even as he bled from his eye, even as he was soaked in sweat, he still remained firmly seated on the ground.

Over the next couple of days, Zhuo Fan was in constant frown and veins bulged on his forehead. He was still suffering through the pain and felt the breaking point drawing ever nearer.

He reached his limit on the afternoon of the third day. He was teetering on the edge, just as the second halo formed in his right eye.

An invisible wave shot to the skies the next moment. A simple glare actually made a small hole straight through the whole five hundred meter tall mountain above him like it was nothing!

The bright sky, the warm sunlight, passed through it and shined upon the gleeful Zhuo Fan. He was spent and weary, but thrilled.

Divine Eye of the Void's 2nd stage, Void Annihilation!

The power to break through any space!

Even trapped in an array or space, he'd now have no problem blowing his way out all thanks to a little help from something called Divine Eye of the Void's 2nd stage.

"Ha-ha-ha, awesome! I am truly invincible now!" Zhuo Fan cackled, but fell the instant he tried getting up.

He guessed that he would have to wait as tending to his soul came first. A great deal of his soul power was used on breaking through and it was now time to use the rest to cultivate.

So he sat cross legged again.

The next day, his soul spread around and found everything to be far clearer. He realized the range had increased to two miles and flew out of the cave.

He had struck the motherlode coming to Beast King Mountain!

Whoosh!

Shooting out of the cave with a thunderclap, he ignored the snake and took to the skies.

With his nemesis finally out, the venomous serpent shrank his size and entered the cave.

The empty and spotless place left him wailing in rage.

The hoard he grew throughout his life was gone, just like that. Even Shaping Spring was picked clean. He licked the hot spring and found not a drop remaining.

The snake wailed, [He is worse than a bandit!]

But then he noticed the bright sky above and almost fainted from anger.

[Blast it all to hell! Have you no restrain?]

[You already cleaned me out and now you go as far as punching holes in my home? What did I ever do to you ? Waaah~]

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Chapter 275, Ruler of the World

Whoosh!

Thunder cracked across the bright sky, announcing Zhuo Fan's lightning-fast flight, his face pleased as punch.

What was that saying? One good deed deserves another. [Yeah, that's the one. I saved that annoying lass and nature replied in kind from her bountiful bosom. I'll have to rethink my approach and spread kindness from now on, ha-ha-ha...]

Zhuo Fan cackled.

Then he spotted the same girl not far ahead. She figured he was going to take off and waited for him outside.

"Oh, miss, do you need something?" Zhuo Fan raised an eyebrow.

Fuming mad, she said, "Hand it over!"

"Hand what over?" Zhuo Fan played dumb.

The girl barked, "Shaping Spring and those herbs! Think I am so stupid not to realize what you've been doing in there? But I am a woman of morals so I won't bicker. According to the laws of the cultivation world, half belongs to me by right!"

"Bint, no can do." Zhuo Fan shook his head, "You said giving you half is fair, but why would I ever do that?"

The lady played the kicked puppy card, "B-but I found it!"

"First come first serve!"

"If it weren't for me, you'd never get them! So give me my fair share!" The girl panicked.

Zhuo Fan smiled, "Did you forget I saved you? To repay me you showed me the treasury. Now we're even, buh-bye."

Zhuo Fan left laughing, but the lady blocked him again with a snarl, "You damn bastard! Out of respect for saving me, I wasn't going to argue with you and split the haul evenly. But you just don't know when to quit!"

Her 2nd layer of Profound Heaven cultivation exploded, glaring at Zhuo Fan with the clear intent to fight him over it.

Zhuo Fan yawned, "Missy, power isn't always limited by cultivation stages. Once we fight, your hopes are dashed."

"Humph, damn egomaniac, enough bluffing! You may have subdued the 6th level spiritual beast but I'm no spiritual beast. I also know taming arts and they only work on spiritual beasts. Stop trying to scare me, it ain't going to work."

She then punched straight for Zhuo Fan's face. The fierce power of the fist came barreling down towards him, backed by her 2nd layer of Profound Heaven cultivation.

It had no effect on Zhuo Fan, however, still calm and uncaring as he vanished. The girl was left speechless.

The next second she found her wrist yanked behind her back.

"Ah!"

She then started crying from pain, "Y-you're breaking my arm. Let go..."

Zhuo Fan shook his head and let go.

She jumped ten meters away and looked at him perplexed.

[How did he do that?] He was clearly in the 9th layer of Bone Tempering Stage yet overpowered a 2nd layer of Profound Heaven cultivator in both power and speed. She felt like a mouse in the claws of a hawk. [This doesn't make sense!]

[It's too damn freaky!]

Only now did she recall Zhuo Fan's words.

[This guy is a bloody monster!]

The girl gnashed her teeth and a flick of the hand revealed three roaring 4th level spiritual beasts ready to pounce at Zhuo Fan.

Zhuo Fan raised an eyebrow curiously, "You're not half bad, I'll give you that. You don't see that everyday, a lady having three 4th level spirit animals."

"He-he-he, scared?"

She stuck her chin out in her boasting, "Let me tell you, I have a dozen spirit animals, but these three are my most cherished ones and they even know how to fly. I would have drowned you in my spirit animals if we were on the ground instead!"

Zhuo Fan looked at her oddly.

Most people in Tianyu focused on personal power, with hardly any interest in rearing beasts. That made spirit animals a rarity. You were hard pressed to find even high stage experts having one.

But this girl here was quite average in cultivation yet had over ten spirit animals. It was Zhuo Fan's first time meeting someone who specialized in rearing beasts.

His odd looks however were taken as fear by the lass, who cackled, "It's too late to be scared now. But if your apology is heartfelt enough and you give me those items, I may be inclined to spare your miserable life. I will even forgive your earlier transgression!"

"Whatever gave you the idea that I'm scared? Did you forget how that 6th level spiritual beast acted in front of me? Just like a kitty. And you think some 4th level spiritual beasts will do? Ha-ha-ha..." Zhuo Fan sneered.

The girl snapped, "C-cut your boasting! Who knows what you really did to that serpent? But it can only be something similar to my own taming art, a soul attack. But these three pets of mine are linked with my soul. Their master's orders are paramount. It will be impossible for you to tame them!"

"Oh, shall I give it a shot?" Zhuo Fan snickered.

The naked contempt he showed only earned her ire, "Attack! Show him your power!"

Roar!

The three beasts were extremely loyal, jumping on Zhuo Fan the moment they were given the go signal. Yet nothing could unnerve Zhuo Fan.

The three were right on top of him, ready to tear him to pieces when his eyes flashed azure.

And, just like the 6th level spiritual beast before, the three pets froze and starting sweating like pigs.

[Mommy! Who the hell is this big shot? Why is he so scary?]

Without further ado, the scared witless beasts bolted with tail between their legs, swift as the wind.

It took a long time for the truth to worm itself into the girl's mind, sheer absurdity of it all. She then shouted for her pets to come back.

But would they listen?

What master's orders were paramount? Life was infinitely more precious!

[Blast it, is the master's brain on the fritz? Why would we ever face such horror? To die?]

The girl shouted herself hoarse, but her pets were long gone, infuriating her.

Then she sobered up and shuddered from fear.

Zhuo Fan drifted towards her with his mocking smile, "It seems being linked with your pets ain't all sunshine and rainbows. With the three of them horrified, their master is ought to feel some of that fear herself."

"W-who the hell are you?" The girl froze, watching him in horror.

Now she knew why the 6th level spiritual beast held this man in such fear, and her pets were no different.

Because this man didn't use something as trifling as his soul to subdue them, but instilled a sense of utter dread in their very being, that even robbed them of the thought of fighting back.

[But how?]

Why would vicious beasts show such fear towards one simple man? Such a ludicrous story was never heard anywhere in the world.

But this guy did it with ease! [Just who is he?]

Zhuo Fan smiled and answered her doubts, "I will one day rule this world!"

With a laugh and flap of his wings, he was gone. He left the girl shivering and staring dumbly in shock.

This mystery man had tangled with her so many times and left her with a bone deep impression. Those final words were etched in her mind.

She would scoff if it was anyone else saying them, but for some reason, hearing them from Zhuo Fan made her believe he could do it.

[How could Tianyu have such a dreadful man?]

The girl was filled with trepidation.

Whoosh!

Two black-robed men flashed in front of her.

"Lian'er, is something wrong?" One asked, while the other followed with, "Young miss, are you alright?"

She only looked at them with fear in her eyes, "Brother, Tianyu isn't something we can just attack. It's best that we fall back..."

Then her vision blurred and she fell unconscious. The two held her in worry, calling out to her.

[What did she mean?]

Chapter 276, Plight

"Young chief, young miss is only shaken up. You don't need to worry."

The night sky was brightened by the moon's glow and dazzling stars. In a dusky cave crackled a bonfire, shining its light onto the hundred black-robed figures, all with heads down and in solemn silence.

A white mustached old man glanced at the girl resting near the fire with a youth at her side.

The youth asked, "She is in extreme shock, but why? I've known my sister for all my life. She grew among spiritual beasts and is very brash. Just what could have scared her so much?"

"Well..." The old man frowned, then sighed, "It is different for everyone. I am sorry this old man can't be of any help."

The youth sighed and waved the old man away.

It was now that the resting girl's eyes fluttered and she said weakly, "B-brother..."

"Lian'er, you're awake!" The youth grabbed her wrist in happiness. The other black-robed men rejoiced but did not disturb them.

"Lian'er, what happened to you? You are strong enough to wander the Beast King Mountain for months. So why did you suddenly black out? That was dangerous!" The youth looked at her in concern.

Lian'er nodded, her eyes glistening as she said anxiously, "Brother, don't attack Tianyu. It holds our natural enemy and if we attack rashly we will suffer greatly. Our clan will be ruined!"

The youth looked at her puzzled. So she propped her weak body up and began retelling her encounter with Zhuo Fan from start to finish.

The youth was shocked, "What, Tianyu has such a mystical power to cower spiritual beasts?"

The faces of everyone around them fell.

This news was a nightmare!

"Tianyu is a true dragon among men. We can't underestimate it!"

Taking a deep breath, the youth stood and paced around with a frown, "We, the Quanrong, are experts in rearing beasts, able to sweep the lands with our beast army. Not even that God of War, Dugu Zhantian, dares face us. Only with the help of his arrays and formations can he stand on equal ground to us. But if Tianyu has someone capable of instilling fear into beasts, to the point they'd go against their master's orders, our beast army will collapse in a heartbeat."

The others nodded, having reached the same dreadful conclusion. This news broke Quanrong's strongest advantage, robbing them of any means to attack.

"Young chief, allow this general to purge this danger from the world!" A strapping middle-aged man cupped his hands.

From the powerful waves he released, this man was clearly a Radiant Stage expert!

Mulling it over, the youth shook his head in the end, "No. Tianyu is in the middle of its Esoteric Debate. We need to use this chance and inspect the Teleportation Array from the shadows. The slightest mistake on our part will endanger our entire operation."

"Brother, you still want to do it? But that guy..." Lian'er spoke in worry.

The youth came to a decision, "All the more reason. If we can't conquer Tianyu, we will never get the chance again and will lose every future war!"

They all nodded solemnly.

Lian'er sighed, "But brother, is that man truly trustworthy? Can we really take Tianyu in one move?"

"Ha-ha-ha, Lian'er and everyone needs to relax. There is no better spy in Tianyu than that man." The youth cackled. As if the world was his oyster...

Back to Zhuo Fan, he was still flying among the clouds in search of Luo Yunhai and the rest.

Suddenly, his nose twitched and he changed directions.

Blood!

Whoosh!

Zhuo Fan landed near a river soaked in blood and bodies coming from upstream.

The wounds on the bodies clearly showed they were man made. A great battle must be underway upstream and he rushed to investigate.

His Discerning Field was strong enough to scout two miles ahead in great detail. He could even see what was behind those two mountains in front.

Zhuo Fan bypassed them with his senses and saw a great deal of men gathered at the mouth of a valley. From their signatures, he easily identified them as Luo Yunhai, Xue Ningxiang, and other second and third rate clans.

Outside the valley entrance were the vassals of the Regent Estate's faction, forcing Yunhai's group into the valley. He had no clue who they were but their leader couldn't be more familiar. Zhuo Fan snickered, "Oh my, now a cripple goes out hunting? You must have a death wish."

Quite right. The man leading the attack on Luo Yunhai was Forest Fleeting Dragon, Lin Xuanfeng. Albeit a one-legged dragon, but he still had the power to shock everyone.

His dragon title was shaky now, but to the average Profound Heaven expert, he was undefeated.

Lin Xuanfeng looked coldly at his enemies and shouted, "Listen up! I only care about the Luo clan to settle a grudge. I don't have time to waste on extras so get lost. Or you could just follow Luo clan to their grave!"

The men were tense and glanced at Luo Yunhai.

It was obvious Lin Xuanfeng was taking it out on the Luo clan for having Zhuo Fan rip his leg clean off. Their grudges had nothing to do with these second rate clans.

Although vassals of Drifting Flowers Edifices, Sword Marquise Abode, and Veiled Dragon Pavilion were allies of Luo clan, they were nonetheless far from willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice in defending them.

Luo Yunhai knew this as well as he said solemnly, "Our meeting was pure chance, friends. There's no need to implicate youself as well. If you wish..."

"Useless cripple, our fate lies with the Luo clan. You don't scare us! Why don't you pick on big brother Zhuo if you have the guts!"

The charming voice cut Luo Yunhai off, with a brash and arrogant tone. Her allies were scared witless.

[Young miss!]

[If you want to defend Luo clan and die, go right ahead, we won't stop you. But could you please not drag us into this as well? And why are you even mentioning that guy's name, are you trying to piss off Lin Xuanfeng some more?]

[How are we supposed to face that whirlwind, Lin Xuanfeng?]

They all felt like crying, having their lifeline cut off without remorse.

Xue Gang and Xue Lin looked at Xue Ningxiang with a shake of their heads. They knew she liked Zhuo Fan, but going as far as ticking off Lin Xuanfeng was the worst case scenario.

Luo Yunhai looked at Xue Ningxiang, moved, "Sister Ning'er, thank you..."

"What thanks? Without big brother Zhuo around, it falls to me to keep you safe!" Xue Ningxiang patted her chest with a prideful face. She was happy as long as she could do anything for Zhuo Fan.

And yet her brothers were crying inside.

[Damn brat! How can you look after someone when you're constantly being looked after? Moreover, Luo Yunhai and his ten guards are stronger than any of us. How can we even protect them?]

Luo Yunhai scratched his nose, "Uh, I am grateful for sister Ning'er's good intentions. But it's best if I take big brother Zhuo's place and look after you."

Ning'er patted Luo Yunhai's head and smiled, "Never mind protecting me, since big brother Zhuo is surely just around a corner, ready to jump in and save me."

Luo Yunhai was puzzled.

Ning'er showed her Thunder Ring with a smile, "Each time I'm in danger, the Thunder Ring flashes and that means big brother Zhuo is here!"

Luo Yunhai sighed at how innocent and naive she was, even delusional some might say.

[It would be best if big brother Zhuo comes in the nick of time. But if you think he's going to show up each time you're in danger, won't you treat your life as a joke?]

Her brothers knew this as well and tried reasoning with her, but Xue Ningxiang turned a deaf ear.

A girl's fairy tail was impossible to dispel!

Xue Ningxiang's choice of words sure got the obvious reaction out of Lin Xuanfeng. He was pissed and filled with bloodthirst.

"Young master Lin, we..." His men glanced at him.

Lin Xuanfeng's eyes were bloodshot as he barked, "Ignorant brat! Just kill them all and be done with them!"

His roar resounded in Luo Yunhai's group's ears, scaring them. Only Xue Ningxiang was closely watching Thunder Ring for any signs, waiting for that spark of hope...

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Chapter 277, Breakout

"Kill!"

The war cry signaled the enemy's charge into the valley entrance. The thick bloodthirst in the air was that from a stampede of enraged bulls. The pressure was too great even for a Profound Heaven expert to hold on, making it harder to breathe.

They all turned pale as paper. Not only was the enemy outnumbering them many times over, but they even had the strength advantage. How were they going to come out of this one?

Even Luo Yunhai, who alongside the four tigers saw charging armies on an almost daily basis, was affected. Their side was at a gross disadvantage.

Be it in terrain or numbers, none of it worked in their favor. In war tactics, this situation could only be overcome by forcing one's way through if one wanted to get out alive.

His jaw set, Luo Yunhai turned to his side teetering on the verge of collapse and shouted, "Everyone, don't all of you have someone here you wish to protect?"

That caught their attention. Luo Yunhai's eyes flashed, "They may outnumber us but they are rabble! I can help you get your loved ones out safely. They will be in the center while we form a circle around them as we break out of the enemy attack. We will likely lose our lives but our loved ones will have the highest chance at survival!"

The dead eyes of his group finally sparked with a glimmer of hope.

"Brother, go in the middle, I'll protect you!"

"Foolish child, I'm the big brother, how can I let you give your life for me? It is my duty to keep you alive!"

"Brother..." The younger brother's eyes glistened...

"Sister, stay close to the center and don't fall behind!" Another brother patted his younger sister's shoulder.

"Brother in law, go in the middle. I'll get you out for sure!"

"Silly boy, how can I live if you died? How will I face your sister?" The man said to his wife's younger brother.

...

They soon shed the fear instilled by the enemy's war cry and their hearts held a deep feeling of warmth, spurring on their will to fight to the death.

Luo Yunhai nodded, grateful that his plan worked. Next up was the fight!

Looking back at the savage enemy marching over, Luo Yunhai took a deep breath and like a true Marshal, he took in the entire battlefield to make use of.

Zhuo Fan would be so proud if he could see this boy having grown up.

Because Luo Yunhai's words were the right tactic for a Marshal to use in this critical situation.

He had to kindle the will to fight in his men.

If he said something along the lines of 'fight alongside me to survive', the effect would hardly be noticeable.

Everyone considered their lives as the number one priority and they made sure to treasure it. But how could they overcome their fears in the face of that relentless tide marching towards them?

Even if he could make them fight for their own sake, it was a flimsy reason bound to crumble at first contact. Death would follow all the same at this point.

But Luo Yunhai was sharp in figuring out these people had loved ones mixed in this group. He appealed to their humanity, their conscience, their responsibility, and drove them to war.

Although this meant cutting their effective fighting force in half, the ones doing the protecting would give their absolute best, and more, to make sure their loved ones lived to see tomorrow.

To instantly turn these random groups of people into a cohesive unit bent on fighting to the death was the sign of a great general Luo Yunhai had the hopes of becoming.

"Yunhai, stay behind me. Sister will protect you!" Xue Ningxiang's beaming face graced his eyes. She even flexed to back up her claim.

Luo Yunhai let out an awkward chuckle, "Ha-ha-ha, I am grateful for your kindness, but I am the one commanding this charge. It's more important that I stay in front as well!"

Xue Gang and Xue Lin hoisted the overconfident, and delusional, Xue Ningxiang behind, "Ning'er, don't be willful. He's stronger than you. Listen to your brother and stay in the middle. Let your brothers get you to safety!"

Xue Ningxiang pouted, then her eyes sparked, "Then I'll stay behind Yunhai. That way I can protect him when he needs help!"

Helpless, they had no choice but to agree. Behind Luo Yunhai could also be said to belong to the center of the group, somewhat.

But Xue Gang and Xue Lin were not leaving her sides. Anything could happen in the spur of the moment, especially on the battlefield. They had to protect her.

Similar scenes happened all around them as the people were determined to get their loved ones out alive. Luo Yunhai formed them into ranks, and as he stood in front of them, an old man stepped forward.

"Young master Luo, I'll be at your side to protect you. If I am to fall, please send my words to Grandmaster Zhuo. My greatest regret is that I wasn't good enough to have him as my master..." The old man shook his head.

Zhuo Fan would have a nice dumbstruck face if he was here. Wasn't this old guy the same Liu Yizhen, who competed alongside Yan Song in the Hundred Pill Meeting?

He wanted to be Zhuo Fan's disciple, but Zhuo Fan wouldn't hear it.

But how did he end up here then?

Luo Yunhai sighed, "Grandmaster Liu is so determined. If not for sir's guards, we'd have long been mere corpses on the ground. As long as we get out alive, I will think of a way to make big brother Zhuo receive you."

"Thank you, young master Luo!" Grandmaster Liu nodded sadly, "Let's talk about this after we survive. Either way, being able to show my respect to Grandmaster Zhuo by helping him is gratification enough."

Luo Yunhai nodded, [Grandmaster Liu is so honest and righteous!]

Kill~!

The howls of war drew nearer. Luo Yunhai faced the enemy as the leader of his men, waiting. When the enemy was at the hundred meter mark, he led his own charge, "For our loved ones, charge!"

Roar!

Thunderous shouts echoed his own battle spirit and they rushed on like a tide. The enemy was baffled at the sudden development, even as the sides clashed.

Boom!

Their morale sank to half in a blink. As if a spear pierced the great skies and left a massive hole, so did the force go through them like butter.

The enemy looked dumbstruck, even the enraged Lin Xuanfeng. He was watching speechless as the wedge formation went through his group.

[They're a hundred against my thousand. How can we not even block their charge?]

The wails and miserable cries rang in his ears. He looked in time to see his men flailing their bleeding arms and leg stumps in agony. The enemy was reaping through his men like a dragon. His men couldn't put up even a token of resistance and it only drove him madder.

"For goddamn sake! What use do I have for any of you if you can't even do this much? A bunch of damn wastes is what you all are!"

The man next to him stammered, "Young master Lin, t-this isn't our fault! They suddenly used military formations. They are only a hundred but we can't even get close to them! Each time we approach it's like we're facing four or five of them! It's baffling!"

"Humph! Whats baffling? It's just some army tactic!" Lin Xuanfeng's eyes flashed eerily, "Now that I think about it, that Luo clan's brat followed Dugu Zhantian for five years. It'd be odd if he didn't know at least this much. Blast it all to hell! We can't let Luo clan get any stronger!"

Spatting, Lin Xuanfeng hopped and was gone. Then he flashed in front of the wedge formation.

"Lin Xuanfeng!" Luo Yunhai shouted.

Snickering, Lin Xuanfeng mocked, "Brat, you think you're so great now that you've been by Dugu Zhantian's side for a couple of years? You take me for a weakling? Think you can get away alive with just this?

"He-he-he, first I'll break your army, then I'll break your skull!" Lin Xuanfeng snickered and was gone again.

Before anyone could react, he flashed in the middle of their formation and a blue tornado sprung up. It grew until it swallowed them all, careening them into the air and breaking the formation.

Luo Yunhai looked up from the ground in shock.

Even after Zhuo Fan ripped his leg off, Lin Xuanfeng had the power to face so many people. He really was one of the Six Dragons and One Phoenix, Forest Fleeting Dragon!

He broke their formation and flung them scattered among the enemy. They were doomed!

Luo Yunhai's heart sank, his final hope leaving him. What was left was to wait and have their lives reaped...

Translator: StarReader

Editor: Elitecoder

"Kill!"

The war cry signaled the enemy's charge into the valley entrance. The thick bloodthirst in the air was that from a stampede of enraged bulls. The pressure was too great even for a Profound Heaven expert to hold on, making it harder to breathe.

They all turned pale as paper. Not only was the enemy outnumbering them many times over, but they even had the strength advantage. How were they going to come out of this one?

Even Luo Yunhai, who alongside the four tigers saw charging armies on an almost daily basis, was affected. Their side was at a gross disadvantage.

Be it in terrain or numbers, none of it worked in their favor. In war tactics, this situation could only be overcome by forcing one's way through if one wanted to get out alive.

His jaw set, Luo Yunhai turned to his side teetering on the verge of collapse and shouted, "Everyone, don't all of you have someone here you wish to protect?"

That caught their attention. Luo Yunhai's eyes flashed, "They may outnumber us but they are rabble! I can help you get your loved ones out safely. They will be in the center while we form a circle around them as we break out of the enemy attack. We will likely lose our lives but our loved ones will have the highest chance at survival!"

The dead eyes of his group finally sparked with a glimmer of hope.

"Brother, go in the middle, I'll protect you!"

"Foolish child, I'm the big brother, how can I let you give your life for me? It is my duty to keep you alive!"

"Brother..." The younger brother's eyes glistened...

"Sister, stay close to the center and don't fall behind!" Another brother patted his younger sister's shoulder.

"Brother in law, go in the middle. I'll get you out for sure!"

"Silly boy, how can I live if you died? How will I face your sister?" The man said to his wife's younger brother.

...

They soon shed the fear instilled by the enemy's war cry and their hearts held a deep feeling of warmth, spurring on their will to fight to the death.

Luo Yunhai nodded, grateful that his plan worked. Next up was the fight!

Looking back at the savage enemy marching over, Luo Yunhai took a deep breath and like a true Marshal, he took in the entire battlefield to make use of.

Zhuo Fan would be so proud if he could see this boy having grown up.

Because Luo Yunhai's words were the right tactic for a Marshal to use in this critical situation.

He had to kindle the will to fight in his men.

If he said something along the lines of 'fight alongside me to survive', the effect would hardly be noticeable.

Everyone considered their lives as the number one priority and they made sure to treasure it. But how could they overcome their fears in the face of that relentless tide marching towards them?

Even if he could make them fight for their own sake, it was a flimsy reason bound to crumble at first contact. Death would follow all the same at this point.

But Luo Yunhai was sharp in figuring out these people had loved ones mixed in this group. He appealed to their humanity, their conscience, their responsibility, and drove them to war.

Although this meant cutting their effective fighting force in half, the ones doing the protecting would give their absolute best, and more, to make sure their loved ones lived to see tomorrow.

To instantly turn these random groups of people into a cohesive unit bent on fighting to the death was the sign of a great general Luo Yunhai had the hopes of becoming.

"Yunhai, stay behind me. Sister will protect you!" Xue Ningxiang's beaming face graced his eyes. She even flexed to back up her claim.

Luo Yunhai let out an awkward chuckle, "Ha-ha-ha, I am grateful for your kindness, but I am the one commanding this charge. It's more important that I stay in front as well!"

Xue Gang and Xue Lin hoisted the overconfident, and delusional, Xue Ningxiang behind, "Ning'er, don't be willful. He's stronger than you. Listen to your brother and stay in the middle. Let your brothers get you to safety!"

Xue Ningxiang pouted, then her eyes sparked, "Then I'll stay behind Yunhai. That way I can protect him when he needs help!"

Helpless, they had no choice but to agree. Behind Luo Yunhai could also be said to belong to the center of the group, somewhat.

But Xue Gang and Xue Lin were not leaving her sides. Anything could happen in the spur of the moment, especially on the battlefield. They had to protect her.

Similar scenes happened all around them as the people were determined to get their loved ones out alive. Luo Yunhai formed them into ranks, and as he stood in front of them, an old man stepped forward.

"Young master Luo, I'll be at your side to protect you. If I am to fall, please send my words to Grandmaster Zhuo. My greatest regret is that I wasn't good enough to have him as my master..." The old man shook his head.

Zhuo Fan would have a nice dumbstruck face if he was here. Wasn't this old guy the same Liu Yizhen, who competed alongside Yan Song in the Hundred Pill Meeting?

He wanted to be Zhuo Fan's disciple, but Zhuo Fan wouldn't hear it.

But how did he end up here then?

Luo Yunhai sighed, "Grandmaster Liu is so determined. If not for sir's guards, we'd have long been mere corpses on the ground. As long as we get out alive, I will think of a way to make big brother Zhuo receive you."

"Thank you, young master Luo!" Grandmaster Liu nodded sadly, "Let's talk about this after we survive. Either way, being able to show my respect to Grandmaster Zhuo by helping him is gratification enough."

Luo Yunhai nodded, [Grandmaster Liu is so honest and righteous!]

Kill~!

The howls of war drew nearer. Luo Yunhai faced the enemy as the leader of his men, waiting. When the enemy was at the hundred meter mark, he led his own charge, "For our loved ones, charge!"

Roar!

Thunderous shouts echoed his own battle spirit and they rushed on like a tide. The enemy was baffled at the sudden development, even as the sides clashed.

Boom!

Their morale sank to half in a blink. As if a spear pierced the great skies and left a massive hole, so did the force go through them like butter.

The enemy looked dumbstruck, even the enraged Lin Xuanfeng. He was watching speechless as the wedge formation went through his group.

[They're a hundred against my thousand. How can we not even block their charge?]

The wails and miserable cries rang in his ears. He looked in time to see his men flailing their bleeding arms and leg stumps in agony. The enemy was reaping through his men like a dragon. His men couldn't put up even a token of resistance and it only drove him madder.

"For goddamn sake! What use do I have for any of you if you can't even do this much? A bunch of damn wastes is what you all are!"

The man next to him stammered, "Young master Lin, t-this isn't our fault! They suddenly used military formations. They are only a hundred but we can't even get close to them! Each time we approach it's like we're facing four or five of them! It's baffling!"

"Humph! Whats baffling? It's just some army tactic!" Lin Xuanfeng's eyes flashed eerily, "Now that I think about it, that Luo clan's brat followed Dugu Zhantian for five years. It'd be odd if he didn't know at least this much. Blast it all to hell! We can't let Luo clan get any stronger!"

Spatting, Lin Xuanfeng hopped and was gone. Then he flashed in front of the wedge formation.

"Lin Xuanfeng!" Luo Yunhai shouted.

Snickering, Lin Xuanfeng mocked, "Brat, you think you're so great now that you've been by Dugu Zhantian's side for a couple of years? You take me for a weakling? Think you can get away alive with just this?

"He-he-he, first I'll break your army, then I'll break your skull!" Lin Xuanfeng snickered and was gone again.

Before anyone could react, he flashed in the middle of their formation and a blue tornado sprung up. It grew until it swallowed them all, careening them into the air and breaking the formation.

Luo Yunhai looked up from the ground in shock.

Even after Zhuo Fan ripped his leg off, Lin Xuanfeng had the power to face so many people. He really was one of the Six Dragons and One Phoenix, Forest Fleeting Dragon!

He broke their formation and flung them scattered among the enemy. They were doomed!

Luo Yunhai's heart sank, his final hope leaving him. What was left was to wait and have their lives reaped...

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Chapter 278, Void Annihilation's Power

Ah!

The cries of agony pierced the skies as the enemy began its slaughter. With their formation broken and outnumbered ten to one, their hopes of surviving were dashed. Just like a mouse squeezed around by a mighty dragon.

Their will to fight had collapsed, replaced by utter despair.

Luo Yunhai gnashed his teeth and got onto his feet. He wanted to reorganize his ranks. He wasn't about to give up as long as there was an inkling of hope.

But as soon as he got to his feet, he was kicked flying, with blood flowing from his lips.

Coughing blood, Luo Yunhai glared at the cocky and snickering Lin Xuanfeng, "He-he-he, brat, you're finished! So behave and wait there for me to take your head and present it to Zhuo Fan. I wonder what face he'll make, ha-ha-ha... "

"Humph, let's see you try! You think the next time he'll stop at one leg?" Luo Yunhai retorted in mockery.

Lin Xuanfeng's mood sank dangerously low.

His life was smooth sailing, the pride of Merry Woods. No one ever showed any disrespect to someone of his talent. Then he met Zhuo Fan, and everything spiraled out of control, him becoming a laughing stock.

His leg was ripped off and hence he suffered endless ridicule that had affected his state of mind to such a degree that it had cast a shadow over him. Not even he wanted to admit such a disgrace happened to him.

And yet Luo Yunhai went on poking his sore spot, earning his wrath, "Damn punk! You think we can't deal with that Zhuo Fan? Humph, let me tell you, we've long been ready to end him. He's living on borrowed time. You're the first to go and the bastard will soon follow you to your grave!"

Lin Xuanfeng lifted his Yuan Qi soaked palm, winding up for the finale.

Luo Yunhai was worried, his fists clenched, but not over his safety. It was for Zhuo Fan's.

He sensed from Lin Xuanfeng's tone that those words weren't empty threats. They may very well have grasped Zhuo Fan's weakness. He had to warn Zhuo Fan before it was too late.

How was he going to do that though, when he was too powerless to even protect himself?

Luo Yunhai's inner conflict left him in a mess.

Lin Xuanfeng took it as fear, "Ha-ha-ha, here I thought you'd be a man of courage having followed Dugu Zhantian for years, but deep down, you're just a spineless coward. Don't worry, I'll leave your corpse intact, out of respect for Dugu Zhantian."

Lin Xuanfeng launched his palm attack like a fierce storm.

"Stop! No one can harm the Luo clan's young master!" An aged voice shouted, just as a red hot flame shot for Lin Xuanfeng.

Lin Xuanfeng only snickered.

Liu Yizhen came to the rescue, with his 4th level spiritual beast flame.

But his flame looked nothing more than a candle to Lin Xuanfeng, "You senile old fool dare mess in my affairs? Get lost!"

Thump!

A flick of the hand had a blue wind scatter the flimsy flame to nothing. Liu Yizhen spat blood and collapsed, pale.

Grinning, Lin Xuanfeng turned to Luo Yunhai, "No one's gonna save you now!"

"Stop!"

It was a delicate voice this time. Xue Ningxiang popped out of nowhere and stood between them, "You'll have to go through me first!"

"You again!"

Squinting, he clearly recalled Xue Ningxiang shouting cripple left and right, "Humph, don't you worry. Once I'm through with him, you're next!"

"Ning'er!"

Xue Gang and Xue Lin rushed over but Lin Xuanfeng's flick of the hand left them sprawling and heavily wounded.

With a twisted smile, a promise of cruelty that was to come, Lin Xuanfeng's Yuan Qi exploded, "And stay down!"

"Humph, we won't die. Big brother Zhuo will save us!" Xue Ningxiang faced him without an ounce of fear.

Lin Xuanfeng jerked, looking around frantic, "Zhuo Fan, where? Is he close?"

Xue Ningxiang laughed, "Ha-ha-ha, how the mighty have fallen. I knew you're scared of big brother Zhuo!"

Luo Yunhai shook his head.

Apparently, Zhuo Fan did more than simply pull a leg. He had also scarred the guy mentally!

"You damn brat dare to lie to me! Zhuo Fan would never stand still in this situation if he was here!" Lin Xuanfeng's anger flared. Two brats got the best of the grand and mighty Forest Fleeting Dragon. They had scared him just by mentioning Zhuo Fan. He would never hear the end of it if word got out.

Lin Xuanfeng's eyes looked at Xue Ningxiang with bloodthirst, wishing nothing more than to wring her pretty neck, "Blasted bint! You two've been a pain in my rear from the moment we met!"

Lin Xuanfeng's hand was wrapped in a blue wind and slapped at Xue Ningxiang's chest.

Luo Yunhai was too hurt to try and stop him. He could only watch the sinister palm inching towards Xue Ningxiang's chest.

"Big brother Zhuo!"

Xue Ningxiang cried, her eyes focussed on the dead Thunder Ring. Then she closed her eyes and prayed for a miracle.

Luo Yunhai could only sigh. Zhuo Fan was no god. It was impossible for him to watch over her around the clock like a guardian angel.

Xue Gang and Xue Lin crawled on while bleeding in a desperate attempt to reach her. Why was their foolish sister so zealous in her faith? The last two times were sheer coincidences.

[Zhuo Fan won't always watch over you when you need him the most. So why are you so stubborn?]

Lin Xuanfeng laughed, "Zhuo Fan won't come brat! Die, ha-ha-ha... "

Though clueless, their entire drama was laid before Zhuo Fan's eyes two miles out thanks to his soul sense.

He saw how Xue Ningxiang and Luo Yunhai were together and he also saw Lin Xuanfeng's strike closing in on them.

Zhuo Fan's right eye flashed with two golden halos and an invisible beam shot out, passing through any and all obstacles, straight for its target.

Divine Eye of the Void's 2nd stage, Void Annihilation.

Whoosh!

It shot fast as light, passing through everything like they were nothing.

In the middle of the slaughter, a hum became apparent as a sudden hole appeared on the men in its path without any warning.

Blood flowed even as the men were oblivious to their doom. It was just too fast, too sudden.

Lin Xuanfeng's hand was inches from Xue Ningxiang when the hum passed, robbing him of his hand. It left behind a bleeding stump.

Lin Xuanfeng was too dumbstruck to even react.

[W-what was that? Why is my hand gone?] He didn't even feel a thing. One moment it was there, and poof, gone the next. It was faster than getting it chopped off.

Xue Ningxiang and Luo Yunhai were equally baffled.

Lin Xuanfeng stiffly looked around to see a line of men with oddly missing parts of their bodies, bleeding out.

Looking further, he saw a hole in the valley's side, black as night. Zhuo Fan used Void Annihilation from two miles away to rob his hand and anything in its path.

It was an all powerful ability able to target anyone regardless of distance!

Zhuo Fan's enemies would never know rest if they knew he possessed such divine might. Or the moment they drop their guard, their chest would sport a sudden extra large hole!

Not that Lin Xuanfeng knew that. He only looked at the black hole in dread. [This is too freaky! What the hell was that? Who could possibly kill so many men in a blink?]

It even exceeded Forest Fleeting Dragon's reaction and robbed him off his hand! What kind of godly skill was that?

In the middle of their shock and despair, Zhuo Fan used his Yuan Qi to shout, "God damn it, Lin Xuanfeng! You dare touch my people, you bastard? Don't move a muscle, I'll be right there to rip your head off myself!"

His yell passed through the black hole and into the valley, so loud it even quaked mountains.

It was as if the two mountains spoke. Such awe-inspiring power scared everyone present into freezing and paling.

[Are the mountains threatening us?]

[Balls! Did our battle wake up a local god?]

Only Lin Xuanfeng recognized the voice. He shook like a leaf. He would never forget the owner of that voice in his life, the same Soaring Demonic Dragon who ripped off his leg...

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Chapter 279, God's Position

Quiet, deadly quiet!

Everyone was horrified by this inexplicable situation, and they all stopped fighting, whether it was Lin Xuanfeng or Luo Family.

Everyone looked at the constantly vibrating mountain, shocked to speak.

Only Luo Yunhai and Xue Ningxiang were happy, their eyes flashing with excitement. From the moment that angry roar began, they had already understood that their guardian god, Zhuo Fan was here!

"Uh, Lord Lin, this"

On the side of Lin Xuanfeng, someone wanted to ask him what to do next, but he turned around and saw him immediately. I couldn't find the trace, I couldn't find it when I searched for it, I didn't feel a curse in my heart!

Your grandma's Lin Xuanfeng, shouted louder than anyone when she rushed, and called them rubbish. But when he escaped, he escaped faster than anyone else, and ran away without a sound.

Such a ruthless, unscrupulous, courageous rat generation, can actually be included in the six dragons and one phoenix, I am!

His heart was burning with anger. The man glanced around at everyone present, and saw that everyone had no morale to fight, and it seemed that there was going to be something extraordinary from the Luo family, even Lin Xuanfeng was scared away.

Then what are they doing here, waiting to die?

So the man waved his hand and shouted to everyone: "Withdraw!"

At this time, people looked back and noticed that Cyclone Lin had already run out of sight. So without saying anything, he immediately retreated.

They were originally the dominant party, but when they ran, they were extremely embarrassed. They couldn't even take care of the wounded, so they escaped as if they were the defeated party.

Seeing this scene, Luo Yunhai shook his head and sighed: "Brother Zhuo is Brother Zhuo, and he screams everywhere. A roar scared more than a thousand people away! It was more tapered than we just had. Breaking through, it's much stronger!"

Xue Ningxiang nodded proudly when she heard it, and a small star flashed in her eyes! I haven't seen Zhuo Fan's figure yet, but he is already overwhelmed by his mighty power. It's obviously his fan!

Xue Gang and Xue Lin both shook their heads and smiled bitterly. Zhuo Fan appeared in time and saved them, of course it is a good thing! But their girl, under Zhuo Fan's charm, seemed to sink deeper, but this was a bit dangerous!

At this moment, Zhuo Fan is like a god in Xue Ningxiang's heart. It seems that every time she encounters danger, he can appear in time!

This is by no means a good sign!

The two of Xue Gang and Xue Lin looked at each other. They understood, but they both shook their heads helplessly.

In the past, Ning"er could not listen to their persuasion, but now it has been repeatedly verified by the fact that Zhuo Fan appeared in time, even less able to listen to them.

Oh!

The two shook their heads for a while and sighed.

Then, in the joy of rebirth after the disaster, everyone began to look after the wounded and clean up the battlefield. After about a quarter of an hour, but hearing a thunder and exploding, a dark shadow suddenly fell.

Everyone turned their heads to look, but it was the soaring dragon that made the enemy frightened, no doubt outstanding!

Looking around, glanced at everyone, Zhuo Fan cursed, "Let Lin Xuanfeng run away again! When I run into him next time, I must remove his other leg. Let him crawl around in front of Lao Tzu in the future!"

Everyone was sweating profusely and looked at Zhuo Fan in awe!

I am afraid that in this universe, among the younger generation, there is only this soaring dragon Zhuo Fan who dares to provoke the six dragons and the phoenix so arrogantly. If you put it on them, and let them have a hundred courage, you wouldn't dare to speak such arrogant words!

For a time, people looked at Zhuo Fan with more envy and admiration.

This is a man who is not afraid of the sky and is not afraid of the sky!

I didn't care about the admiration of others, Zhuo Fan turned to Luo Yunhai and Xue Ningxiang, and cared: "Yunhai, Ning"er, are you all right!"

Xue Ningxiang could not help but shake Shaking her head, there was a bright smile on her face: "Don't worry, Brother Zhuo, I'll be fine! I know that you will be next to Ning"er in times of crisis!"

said, and raised his hands. Thunder Ring.

Zhuo Fan also smiled, also waved his hand, the Thunder Spirit Ring on his finger flashed with a strange light.

"Brother Zhuo, I have taken Master Liu's healing pill. It is already much better, and I will probably be fine soon!" At this time, Luo Yunhai also paled in his cheeks and smiled towards Zhuo Fan.

Unconsciously raised his brows, Zhuo Fan turned his head and looked at the old figure standing beside him, muttering: "Master Liu?"

"Ha ha ha Zhuo Master, it's been a long time since I saw you, don't come here unharmed!" Liu Yizhen looked at Zhuo Fan and bowed respectfully.

Zhuo Fan couldn't help but a look of doubt flashed in his eyes: "Why are you here? Isn't this time a hundred schools of thought contend for a family disciple under the age of 30 to participate? Master Liu, are you old?"

"Uh, Master Zhuo, don't get me wrong. The old man is not a disciple of the Hundred Schools of Thought, and I don't know that this Beast King Mountain will be chosen as the place for the decisive battle of the Hundred Schools of Thought. The old man is just going to the mountain to gather medicine and just meet That's it!" Liu Yizhen said bye again, explaining.

Taking a deep look at him, Zhuo Fan was still suspicious: "Really such a coincidence?"

"It's such a coincidence. Maybe this is my fate with Master Zhuo!" Liu Yizhen nodded calmly and answered.

Zhuo Fan curled his mouth in disdain, waved his hand and said: "Go go, don't get close, what fate do I have with you?"

Liu Yizhen felt stagnant and a little depressed. The ground lowered his head.

Seeing this, Luo Yunhai rushed to help out: "Brother Zhuo, in fact, we were able to survive this time. A large part of the reason is that Master Liu assisted. He is really our Luo The great benefactor of the family! I heard that he admires you very much and has the willingness to apprentice. It's better to"

"Liu Yizhen, after so many years, your intention of worshiping me as a teacher has not given up?" But not yet When Luo Yunhai finished speaking, Zhuo Fan was already staring at Liu Yizhen and questioned.

Unconsciously, Liu Yi really nodded his head anxiously: "Of course, the master Zhuo is the master of alchemy among the people seen by the old man. It is true that the old man can worship Master Zhuo. What I want in my life!"

"Such words"

His eyes narrowed involuntarily, Zhuo Fan stared at his eyes closely, and faintly said: "Also, we are missing Manpower, just your old man has caught up! If you can protect the Luo family in this controversy of a hundred schools of thought, contribute to the family and apprentice, I can think about it!"

"Oh, I will do my best As far as you can, you can live up to the great expectations of Master Zhuo!" Liu Yizhen hurriedly paid his respects.

Zhuo Fan's eyes flashed, and he nodded slightly.

Luo Yunhai was also overjoyed when he saw this, he gave Liu Yizhen a fist, and congratulated him for finally touching Zhuo Fan's heart.

Liu Yizhen also bowed respectfully to Luo Yunhai, thanking him for his support and reputation, otherwise Zhuo Fan would definitely be the same as six or seven years ago, he would never be a bird!

In this way, Liu Yizhen completely became a temporary Luo family, looking after everyone's injuries, and Zhuo Fan didn't have the time to heal other people, just sitting in Taniguchi and guarding them.

However, because he is sitting there, people can heal their wounds at ease and are not afraid of enemy harassment.

Oh, the soaring devil dragon, even if the six dragons and one phoenix dare not easily provoke the existence, there is really no more trustworthy guardian in the world!

So, for ten consecutive days, Zhuo Fan meditated in Taniguchi, while the rest of the people healed and recuperated in the valley.

However, their battle here has just subsided, another place. The war will begin again!

In a lush mountain forest, a piece of emerald jade stone as high as two persons stands right next to a tall giant tree in the sky. Look closely, it is very similar to the Five Elements Town State Stone, but it is exactly the wooden gate of the Five Elements Town State Stone in the Beast King Mountain!

On both sides of it, there are two groups of people and horses.

On one side are Chu Qingcheng of Huayulou, Xie Tianshang of Jianhou Mansion and Long Xingyun of Qianlong Pavilion, and the other side are Huangpu Sky-upholding of Emperor's Gate, Youyu Mountain of Nether Valley and Yan Bangui and others in the Palace of Medicine King!

The two sides are at war, staring at each other.

Behind the wooden gate, the major families in Yunlong City also passed through this gate to watch the confrontation between the two sides.

Huang Pu Tianyuan curled his lips in disdain, glanced at everyone present, seeming to talk to himself, but he seemed to announce to everyone: "There is no suspense, it seems that the God of Escape Pill belongs to us. Hahaha!"

You Wanshan in Netherworld Valley and Uncle Yan from the Medicine King Hall nodded together, their faces showing pride.

Following the emperor's gate, it's so confident, so arrogant and cool!

The grandmother Chu Bijun of Huayulou, the pavilion master Long Yifei of Qianlong Pavilion, and the three of Jianhou Mansion Xie Xiaofeng, their faces were gloomy and extremely ugly! Although they didn't want to admit it, they knew in their hearts that this battle was a one-sided loss. Just Huangpu Sky-upholding alone, they already have no chance of winning!

Originally, Chu Qingcheng first discovered that Yi Shen Dan fell in front of the wooden formation gate. But I didn't expect Huangpu Sky-upholding and the others to follow.

In this way, the battle surrounding this Yi Shen Dan will begin! However, they had no chance of winning in the face of the Zhentian Emperor Long!

"This monster!"

Grandma gritted her teeth bitterly and cursed secretly. Huang Pu Tianyuan laughed unconsciously, and even more glamorous!

When Zhuge Changfeng saw this, he also shook his beard and nodded slightly: "Yes, there is a strong abnormal monster on one side, but the monster on the other side has not arrived yet. This situation is indeed true. The biggest disadvantage is to surrender obediently!"

As soon as this statement came out, everyone responded!

Yes, they have Huangpu Sky-upholding over there, but we also have Zhuo Fan here! I heard that the two played against each other for the first time, and Zhuo Fan was able to restrain the emperor dragon!

But, at such a critical moment, where did that kid go?

For a while, everyone hated it in their hearts, saying that the alliance is good, and the chain will be dropped at a critical moment.

Ahee!

Facing the rising sun, Zhuo Fan sneezed loudly for no reason, and felt a cool breeze blowing behind his back!

"Grandma, a bear, who is talking bad about me behind your back?" Zhuo Fan touched his nose, his face full of suffocation.

Read Light Novel THE STEWARD DEMONIC EMPEROR – Chapter 279: God's Position

Author: Night Owl

Translation: Artificial_Intelligence

Chapter 280, The Power of One

Tap~

Huangpu Qingtian's every step instilled dignity and nobility, neither forced nor rushed. Chu Qingcheng's group was unnerved, taking steps back in contrast.

The pressure was so big, each of his step made them back away faster.

Drifting Flowers Edifices, Veiled Dragon Pavilion, and Sword Marquise Abode had thousands of people behind them, yet faced with but a single man, they all shirked further back. A truly laughable and ridiculous scene.

Yet to the parties involved, humor was the last thing on their minds. When faced with the head of Six Dragons and One Phoenix, Huangpu Qingtian, all they could feel was fear and dread.

You Yushan and Yan Bangui had thousands behind them as well that just stood there, watching the other faction with contempt.

In the face of Huangpu Qingtian, anyone would end up a sorry sight.

If they switched places, You Yushan's group had no doubt in their mind they would end up the same way.

As to why the situation devolved in such a way, it all came down to Chu Qingcheng's group's rotten luck. Or maybe having known so little about Regent Estate, yet insisting on making an enemy out of them...

"How long are you going to shirk back?" Huangpu Qingtian stopped at some point, with a beaming and noble smile, "Hand over the Brimming Sacred Pill and I'll let you go."

Frowning, Chu Qingcheng gnashed her teeth in silence. Her allies clenched her fists at the naked scorn.

Handing over what the three houses found was total humiliation.

Long Xingyun muled, [It's best we're flexible.] And smiled, "Young master Huangpu, is this how Regent Estate's eldest young master carries himself? You're no different from a shameless bandit at this point. There are four Brimming Sacred Pill out there so why are you after ours in particular?"

"Ha-ha-ha, Long Xingyun, I knew you're a smooth talker, preaching sophistry. True, Regent Estate isn't too keen on robbing you, but did you forget? This here is the Esoteric Debate, where might makes right. Everything belongs to the strongest!"

With a snicker, Huangpu Qingtian's eyes flashed with greed and snatched at the air, "That is why all of them will be mine. You better hand it over now, or..."

"Or what, fight?"

Xie Tianshang snapped as he shot in the air, drawing his sword and releasing such shocking energy it reached the skies. The sword energy shuddered all who looked at it, feeling as if ten thousands swords were about to pierce them.

Even Yan Bangui and You Yushan turned serious, eying him with a sigh.

[Xie Tianshang is a true sword talent.] It was their first time seeing sword energy reaching such a level.

Thinking about it, they were no match for him in a straight out fight.

Long Xingyun looked at the hovering figure stunned. [It had been what, a few days? How did he get so strong?]

And yet...

Huangpu Qingtian's calm demeanor left Long Xingyun sighing.

[Compared to this monster, Xie Tianshang had a long way to go.]

But even so, they had to fight regardless.

Long Xingyun shot his hands forward. Energy hummed off his hands and released a powerful attack.

There was a dragon roar echo and when the energy was upon Huangpu Qingtian, it shot for the ground.

The earth beneath Huangpu Qingtian exploded as a dragon opened its maw to swallow him.

"Profound ranked martial art, Sea Upturning Dragon Palm!" Long Xingyun roared.

He didn't finish as a loud boom splintered the huge dragon into nothingness. Huangpu Qingtian shined golden as he walked out of the attack, looking down on all creation.

Pff!

Long Xingyun coughed blood, having just been injured internally.

Xie Tianshang clutched his sword and shot for Huangpu Qingtian. The piercing light of his sword tip was as dazzling as the night's stars.

It pulverized anything it touched and left only this outstanding light.

This was Sword Marquise Abode's profound ranked martial art Flowing Space's Nine Forms' strongest attack, Extinction.

When this sword flew, everything was erased!

Abode Lord Xie Xiaofeng watched in awe and pride, his house's strongest move being unleashed just beyond the wood National Elemental Stone.

The son had surpassed the father.

With how much stronger the move was than his own, he was certain his son would become an even more remarkable Abode Lord than himself.

Huangpu Tianyuan mocked, "Abode Lord Xie, to be so prideful of your son's meager achievements, aren't you perhaps thinking so little of him?"

Xie Xiaofeng snorted, "I know of Regent Estate's eldest young master's godlike talent, but I'll have to say that not even he can take this attack without consequence."

"Oh? We shall see." Grinned Huangpu Tianyuan, and his elders joined him in mocking the man.

Xie Xiaofeng's heart seized in fright, turning to see the shocking scene beyond the wood stone.

As the glaring sword attack came closer, Huangpu Qingtian merely pointed at the dazzling dot of light.

Boom!

The space cracked and seemed to have been torn open. A bright golden light met with the sword attack, swallowing it whole.

The almighty sword attack, crumbled under the finger's power and forced Xie Tianshang into a bout of spitting blood. He was on his knees, even if having received but a light wound.

"H-how?" Xie Xiaofeng cried.

Huangpu Tianyuan laughed, "Abode Lord Xie, I told you, my son's talent is in a league of its own. Speaking of power, he has surpassed his father since five years ago!"

[Say what?!]

They were still trying to process this development yet now they found Huangpu Qingtian had long since surpassed the current Estate Lord?

It was a known fact that Regent Estate had the best talents in Tianyu, capable of holding their own if it ever came to face the other six houses. Huangpu Tianyuan was of an even greater talent and a peak Profound Heaven cultivator as well. That made him the strongest Profound Heaven cultivator in Tianyu.

Yet here he was stating Huangpu Qingtian surpassed him since five years ago. Even more so when that Huangpu Qingtian wasn't even at peak Profound Heaven Stage.

Now that he was at peak Profound Heaven Stage and mastered killing with intent, did that mean he could face a Radiant Stage expert?

[H-how on earth can one beat that?]

The faces of others sank as they cursed this rotten monster.

Huangpu Tianyuan looked awfully proud standing there, but his heart was bleeding, cursing his monster of a son as well. It was this monstrous talent that threatened his Estate Lord position.

It may very well come to be that once the Esoteric Debate was over, his son would be entitled in his demand for him to hand over his throne. That was one outcome he never hoped to see.

It went so far that he even hoped his son would die at Zhuo Fan's hands.

Of course, there was no way he'd be so open as to share his thoughts. Huangpu Qingtian was the hope of all Venerables, if not the entire Regent Estate.

Any that dared to even show a hint of dissatisfaction with him would be culled on the spot, Estate Lord included. The Venerables would make sure of that.

Huangpu Qingtian was the apple of Regent Estate, their hope for the future. And they weren't about to let it be snuffed out!

Huangpu Tianyuan looked on at the prideful and imperial figure beyond the wood National Elemental Stone with killing intent.

...

Huangpu Qingtian put his finger away and laughed at the kneeling Xie Tianshang, "Ha-ha-ha, how amusing. Who knew you could grow so strong in such a short time? You're way stronger than those two behind me. Pledge yourself to me and you won't regret it!"

They all looked shocked. This was daylight talent 'robbery'!

"He-he-he, I am from Sword Marquise Abode. It is not my choice who our allies are!" Xie Tianshang laughed, happy Huangpu Qingtian was finally giving him some time of day.

Huangpu Qingtian shook his head, "Stubborn fool! Whether the seven houses or the whole world, it will be ours! Those old geezers will soon find themselves between four walls and six feet under. Why would you care about their decisions? Just agree and the entire Sword Marquise Abode will agree as well. "

Huangpu Qingtian turned to Chu Qingcheng and Long Xingyun, "You two as well. Swear yourself to me and the Esoteric Debate will end here and now. The seven houses will be eternally one!"

Not just Chu Qingcheng's group was shocked, but even Dragon Cloud City's side's clan elders watched Huangpu Qingtian incredulous.

It was the leader of a clan that made decisions, not their top disciple.

Yet this Huangpu Qingtian not only circumvented his Estate Lord, but even spat in the face of the rest of those geezers. This was a gross lack of respect, a power play and disregard for the others above his station.

This was something no one, not even young masters of other houses, would dare to utter.

Yet Huangpu Qingtian did this out in the open. He didn't even care that he was stealing his father's position.

They all turned to see Huangpu Tianyuan's face ashen from anger. While the elders couldn't care less. They even nodded!

At that point, people realized that this was perhaps the true power of a monarch...

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Chapter 281, Blizzard Dragon Slash

In front of the National Elemental Stone, the people stared shockingly at Huangpu Qingtian, especially Luo Yunchang. She was sweating and plagued with worry.

If the three houses' disciples fell to Huangpu Qingtian's wild and overreaching ambition, it would be tantamount to throwing Zhuo Fan to the wolves. No matter how strong Zhuo Fan was, he couldn't face all seven houses' experts by himself!

It didn't take long for Chu Qingcheng, Xie Tianshang and Long Xingyun to reach a conclusion. They unanimously shook their heads, their minds made.

Raising an eyebrow, Huangpu Qingtian had seen it coming, but was still somewhat in disbelief, "Why make such an unwise and detrimental decision?"

"Humph, if you can scare me with some pretty words, I will never be able to hold my head up high. I will be blaming myself more than anyone else would. That is one future I don't want to see!" Long Xingyun snickered, speaking from the bottom of his heart.

Huangpu Qingtian shook his head in contempt, "What value could dignity and self-respect have in the face of true power? This is your only chance. Take it, or become my enemies!"

The three saw the determination in each other's eyes and were resolved to fight alongside each other.

Huangpu Qingtian snorted, "You asked for it. Don't come crying later when you're starting to regret!"

Huangpu Qingtian disappeared with a light step. The next thing they knew was his sudden appearance before the trio.

So fast!

The three jerked. They knew Huangpu Qingtian was the strongest, but had heard nothing of his speed, which was obviously even higher than Lin Xuanfeng.

They couldn't even react as they were already on the ground.

[How did his cultivation reach such perfection, having both unbridled power and unmatched speed?]

[Damn monster!]

The three gnashed their teeth in shock. But they were still Six Dragons and One Phoenix and recovered their calm quickly.

Chu Qingcheng grabbed her allies and covered them in a cold barrier. The two then attacked.

Xie Tianshang's sword flashed and Long Xingyun's palm held a dragon image. Perhaps Chu Qingcheng's cold had an influence, as the sword wave and the dragon image fused with the coldness while passing through the barrier. They transformed into a huge attack that slammed towards Huangpu Qingtian.

This sword attack was tens of times stronger than Xie Tianshang's previous attack. Even Huangpu Qingtian had to get serious.

"They know a combination art? How?" Yan Bangui and You Yushan cried in shock.

Those watching the show beyond the National Elemental Stone were slackjawed.

A combination art needed the users to be in tune at the intrinsic level from a young age. But for three of them to achieve it, not to mention being no more than strangers before the Esoteric Debate, it boggled the minds of all those witnessing such a miracle!

Only Grandmother knew why.

This was made possible by Chu Qingcheng! Speaking of monsters, Chu Qingcheng didn't lack in that department. Just that her monstrous talent went in a different direction.

"Blizzard Dragon Slash!" The three shouted and the sword image howled. It stormed Huangpu Qingtian freezing everything in its wake.

Even the number one monster, Huangpu Qingtian, had another thing coming if he took this attack with the same carefree attitude as before.

For the first time ever, Huangpu Qingtian's face showed shock. Who knew these three could combine their power? Who knew they could unleash such an onslaught?

Gnashing his teeth, Huangpu Qingtian grabbed the slash with his naked hand.

The worst thing to do in this case.

It exploded into nine ice dragons, hammering Huangpu Qingtian from all directions.

Boom!

A loud noise shook the heavens, but no explosion occurred. Once the cold air scattered, Huangpu Qingtian was encased in ice. He froze in the grasping motion from before, giving the impression that even his soul was frozen.

"Eldest young master!" You Yushan and Yan Bangui panicked and looked at Chu Qingcheng's trio with shock.

They could actually handle Heaven-shaking Dragon Lord, Huangpu Qingtian!

Beyond the National Elemental Stone, the audience couldn't believe what they were seeing.

The almighty Huangpu Qingtian was frozen over by a combination art. None saw it coming.

Only Drifting Flowers Edifices, Sword Marquise Abode, and Veiled Dragon Pavilion's higher ups grinned in pride. They finally turned things around!

But the eerie calm Regent Estate held itself in, threw them into worry and doubt.

[Can it be...]

Grandmother's heart sank.

Roar!

A dragon roar got everyone's attention. The smiling Chu Qingcheng and her allies had no time to celebrate as they turned to the source.

Huangpu Qingtian, in the middle of that iceberg, sported scales. They shone golden and then a golden dragon shot from him into the sky.

The iceberg exploded into pieces, setting the stage for a shiny and golden Huangpu Qingtian to step out of the remains in all his glory. The golden dragon made a circle above him before going back into his body.

"It's the same as before, in Dragon Cloud City. What is that thing?" Long Xingyun muttered shellshocked at the disappearing golden dragon.

Huangpu Qingtian's face was unsightly as he spat, "I have to give you guys credit. There's hardly anyone in this world who can bring me this close to defeat! Not bad at all! But this is precisely why I have to thoroughly beat some sense into you, so no one would challenge their king!"

Huangpu Qingtian's eyes flashed with bloodthirst as he shot forth.

The three jerked and held hands again. But Huangpu Qingtian's uncanny speed and dreadful might came at them in the form of a palm.

"Nine Dragons Diamond Body, Dragon Empowered Claw!"

Huangpu Qingtian's eyes flashed and struck without hesitation.

Chu Qingcheng covered the trio in a cold barrier, but it crumbled before the attack even arrived. With a loud boom, the earth sank, as if from a meteor strike, leaving a hundred meter wide crater.

The trio spat blood, feeling the huge pressure bearing on their shoulders, stopping them from even moving.

This was Huangpu Qingtian's power.

And this was the power of but one palm. They banded together and encased him in ice, but even that wasn't enough to even scratch him.

This monster appeared, for all intents and purposes, invincible.

The three sighed and had a defeated look, having finally realized the difference between them.

Huangpu Qingtian took in their pain, disappointment and despair, with a cold eye.

"Take out the Brimming Sacred Pill!" Huangpu Qingtian said, "Or I will go through each and every one of you here in my search!"

Huangpu Qingtian's look scared the thousand plus people behind the trio. He treated them like dirt, needing only to pinch them before popping.

Xie Tianyang wished nothing more than to give his all in fighting him, but when he recalled what his brother had said earlier, he forced it down.

But the resentment only burned hotter in his heart.

Chu Qingcheng closed her eyes and her hand held a vial. She held her shaking hand and said, "Just take it and go!"

"Humph, why go through all this trouble when you could've spared yourself the suffering by taking it out from the start?" Huangpu Qingtian sneered as he left with the vial in hand.

He was far from done mocking them though, "I'll let you guys off, this time. But in the off chance you find another Brimming Sacred Pill, do think of me and fetch it over. As you very well know, only the strong are entitled to wealth! You guys are sorely lacking, ha-ha-ha..."

The endless humiliation struck the trio hard. But not even their best could harm Huangpu Qingtian.

The audience beyond the National Elemental Stone sighed. Huangpu Qingtian was of such insane power that not even a combination art between three geniuses could do anything to him.

As they all had gotten so engrossed in the show, they had failed to notice two shadows hiding in the bushes.

One of them snickered at Huangpu Qingtian leaving, "He-he-he, this kid ain't half bad. He's just as they say, and the one we need. At least we didn't come to Tianyu for nothing."

The other shadow looked in another direction however. The first one noticed and found him eyeing Chu Qingcheng.

"Humph, by the looks of things, that crotchety geezer has found his target as well." He sneered...

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Chapter 282, Challenge

"Sister Qingcheng, are you alright?"

Xiao Dandan rushed a helping hand to Chu Qingcheng. Xie Tianyang and Long Xingyun were helped by Xie Tianshang and Long Jie with Long Kui.

All of them watched the triumphant king strut away with bitterness. Even the thousands of vassal disciples lowered their heads in despair.

Drifting Flowers Edifices, Sword Marquise Abode and Veiled Dragon Pavilion's morale was thoroughly shattered by Huangpu Qingtian. What could possibly instill a sense of courage in them now, to face the one who looked down upon them with such scorn?

Yan Bangui and You Yushan, along with the nice doggies left behind, were full of crass and haughty looks. It seemed that following a master had its perks, a perk of showing off.

By no means did they want to let this slide, but what could they do besides take the humiliation with lowered heads, trying to at least avoid the cocky faces of their oppressors.

Chu Qingcheng bit her lip until she drew blood. The sigh she gave felt like it sapped all her strength, "We need to find the key to the array now. Let's go!"

The others turned to her with a sigh and a shake of their heads.

What was originally a search for the array key, to become first and crowned champion in Dragon Cloud City, had now become an excuse for running away.

The winner wasn't the first to return, but the one who snatched all Brimming Sacred Pills.

Like Huangpu Qingtian said, only the strong could hold on to all of the riches. And they didn't fit the bill!

At her words, Huangpu Qingtian's step faltered for a second, but now he sported an even wider smirk of disdain.

His lackeys were even more obvious in their mockery, laughing it up. Beyond the National Elemental Stone, Regent Estate's top figures were sporting the same disdain, to the sinking and wretched feelings their opposing faction was wallowing in.

This battle had seemed to predict the winner. There was no point in fighting any longer. The gap in power was too huge to be even bridged...

Rustle~

At the sudden sound, Huangpu Qingtian snapped his eyes on the source with a frown, "Who's there?"

Whoosh~

A panicked and bedraggled figure hopped out. He found Huangpu Qingtian and burst in tears of joy, "Eldest young master, I finally found you! Save me!"

"Oh, it's you."

Huangpu Qingtian squinted, "Lin Xuanfeng you look like you've seen a ghost."

How the mighty had fallen. Lin Xuanfeng, of Six Dragons and One Phoenix, used to be a man of culture, of dignity. Now look at him, he was nothing but a bum scared of his own shadow. Although not undeserving, since he was also sporting a missing hand!

Not just Huangpu Qingtian's team, but Chu Qingcheng's side as well jerked. The one legged man may be half-crippled but he still had some fight left in him. He would never look so jittery even if he met some serious danger.

And yet...

Look at him now. He was like a rabbit scared of his own shadow. What could have driven such fear into a man such as him?

[And you call yourself Forest Fleeting Dragon?]

Uncaring and ignorant of the looks he got, Lin Xuanfeng dashed behind Huangpu Qingtian, shivering and pointing at the trees, "Eldest young master, save me! That freak is coming!"

"Who's coming? You mean..." Then it hit Huangpu Qingtian and his mood turned heavy. Yet all he could sense were some spiritual beasts.

Pa!

Backslapping him into the air, Huangpu Qingtian cursed, "What are you raving about? He's not coming!"

"He isn't? But I clearly heard him ten days ago how he wants to wring my neck!" Lin Xuanfeng didn't even register his red cheek, looking back from where he came with a bemused look and breathed easily.

The gratified look, the sheer joy he was expressing of having faced death and escaped, only earned him looks of pity.

[Just how terrified he must've been to show such an expression of joy?]

Beyond the National Elemental Stone, sympathizers of Chu Qingcheng's faction found Lin Xuanfeng to be in an even worse state.

Merry Woods' House Lord Lin was between red and blue. The anger he felt from being shamed by this brat was barely contained.

[You friggin'... I didn't send you to Esoteric Debate to flounce around and shame me, but to make me look good!]

Oh, the cruel, cruel irony. He was mocking Drifting Flowers Edifices and the others getting stung by Huangpu Qingtian, but now it was his turn to face the music. He saw how his disciple disgraced him so and swished his head back in shame.

[That's karma!]

Chu Qingcheng's team's eyes held a glimmer of hope.

Huangpu Qingtian glared at Lin Xuanfeng with a cold face, "You're saying you saw him ten days ago? But how did you get out alive? He could've easily killed you if he wanted to."

"Um, I, uh, never actually saw him." Lin Xuanfeng jumped in fright, then lowered his head, confused, "But I clearly heard him wanting to wring my neck."

"What? You're telling me his voice alone scared you into running around for ten days? Useless!"

Even hearing it himself got Huangpu Qingtian to blow his top, itching to cuff the man, again. Lin Rufeng gnashed his teeth, [God, how mortifying!]

[You're a damn Dragon for god's sake! How in the hell did you get so scared into running for so long? And you didn't even see his shadow!]

The rest mocked him on the inside and showed their disdain, even the audience beyond the National Elemental Stone. Some of the jokes were targeted at Lin Rufeng, who wanted nothing more than to bury his head from shame.

[Even the broads from Drifting Flowers Edifices know to fight back against an impossible enemy, yet you jumped the gun, scared from just his voice!]

Lin Xuanfeng could practically feel the ridiculous looks boring holes in his back and snapped at his snickering allies next to him, "What are you laughing at? You'd have run with your tail between your legs just the same if it were you instead."

"Ha-ha-ha, yeah, that brat sure is a calamity. We admit we'd never face him alone, but even so, none of us would be so quick to lose their heads just from his voice. At the very least, we'd wait to see him, you know? Ha-ha-ha..." Yan Bangui and You Yushan laughed it up.

This only worked to launch the ones behind those two houses into a full blown laughter. Though they did have the modesty to shut up quite fast, in fear of what Merry Woods might do.

One couldn't tell what was worse. Stifling their obvious laughter, evident from their red faces, or letting it out.

Lin Xuanfeng went purple now and barked, "You know nothing! Of how deadly that situation was! The guy didn't show himself but he took my hand from a thousand miles. You'd have run too if you met with such a creepy situation!"

Lin Xuanfeng was still hopping about, his face a mask of anger.

The laughter stopped and all eyes drew on the smooth stump of his arm. The dread creeped up their spines and robbed them of any jovial mood they ever had.

[This can't be...]

Huangpu Qingtian squinted and pulled the arm closer, "You're saying you never saw the guy, yet he took your hand?"

"I didn't even realize what happened and the next thing I knew my hand was gone. And when he was threatening me, even the mountains quaked, as if a Mountain God awoke. I was scared out of my wits! What else was I supposed to do but flee?" Lin Xuanfeng wiped his brow from the foreboding feeling.

The rest were tongue-tied.

[Someone can actually do that? Take Lin Xuanfeng's hand, without his knowledge, from a thousand miles away?]

Everyone, even the audience back in Dragon Cloud City was horrified. Such creepy ability was beyond the grasp of even a Radiant Stage expert!

Huangpu Qingtian squinted and shouted at Chu Qingcheng, "Tell that brat that we will be ten miles east of here. If you want the Brimming Sacred Pill back, tell him to look for me. I'd like to see him try taking it from a thousand miles away!"

Huangpu Qingtian flicked his hand and left filled with battle spirit.

The only one capable of stirring his will to fight may very well be Zhuo Fan in the whole of Tianyu.

Chu Qingcheng's gang was stunned, [A challenge! One handed out personally by the glorious Heaven-shaking Dragon Lord, Huangpu Qingtian!] This was the greatest respect any martial fanatic could dream of.

Xie Tianshang was practically green with envy! If Huangpu Qingtian had given a challenge to him instead, he'd be bouncing and skipping in joy all year long.

Taking a deep breath, Chu Qingcheng said "The brat is cold and ruthless, but he is our only chance at winning this! Everyone is going to go and find Zhuo Fan!"

"Yes!"

Zhuo Fan was their only and last hope...

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Chapter 283, Reversal

A hundred man team was strolling through a dark and gloomy forest. They talked and laughed as if the deadly Beast King Mountain was a mere side show.

The youth in the lead looked thoroughly bored, making sure to point it out every other step with a long drawn yawn.

He was the fear of all Six Dragons and One Phoenix, the one and only Soaring Demonic Dragon, Zhuo Fan.

Ever since he rescued this lot, he was made leader on the spot and was now taking point as they trekked through the woods.

These guys were also weak as hell, being from third and second rate clans, hardly fast enough to keep up with him. And so, he had no choice but to put a break on things and slow down.

The start of the trek was filled with a sombre mood, in fear of what was to come. But after a few encounters with 4-5th level spiritual beasts, each punctuated by Zhuo Fan's dirty look, it all changed.

They were enraptured by Zhuo Fan's power, bringing not just a little sense of security in this hellhole. It got so bad they were treating the final battle as a sightseeing trip. As long as Zhuo Fan was around, their safety was guaranteed. Relaxation was given at this point.

Zhuo Fan wished nothing more than to dump their sorry asses, but with Luo Yunhai having received Dugu Zhantian's righteous education, he was forced to bear with these dead weights in their painfully slow search for keys and exits.

Honestly, Zhuo Fan wasn't looking for Brimming Sacred Pills but for a way out.

His dearest wish right now was for an exit and keys to get rid of those pests behind him and be home free!

Bummer he was still stuck in this forest and wasting five days on top of that. Not only he didn't find a single key, the exits as well seemed bent on eluding him.

Zhuo Fan sighed for the umpteenth time, twisted his head back at the laughing bunch, and snapped, "Cut the chatter. We're not on a tour here. Be more serious and keep a close eye out for any exits or keys. Leave no bush unturned. The faster we find them, the faster we leave this place! You'll be safe then and I'll be free, got it?"

"Yes!" A shivering response welcomed Zhuo Fan's prestigious order. But gone three minutes and they were at it again. Without danger breathing down their necks every minute of the hour, anyone would chill out and relax knowing their lives were in safe hands.

Zhuo Fan's mood sank even lower, wishing nothing more than to throw these useless guys to the wolves, or any spiritual beasts for that matter.

He couldn't though, not with the genial and kind Xue Ningxiang around.

[Mercy me, since when was I such a softie?]

Zhuo Fan's anger was flaring again.

Xue Ningxiang's charming and sweet smile came just in time and she placed a bright flowery wreath on him, "Big brother Zhuo, for you. Please don't be angry."

"How could I possibly be angry?" Forcing a smile, Zhuo Fan felt like crying.

Luo Yunhai almost laughed. He was glad Ning'er was here to curb big brother Zhuo's mean streak, or the man'd be sorting this chilled and disorganized rabble into shape by now.

And if one took his cruel methods into account, any shape these guys got into, well that would've been closer to hell than anything. But the real question was, how many would've gotten out with their lives?

Luo Yunhai felt a shiver the moment he recalled the survival rate of Luo clan's guards' training regime.

His ten guards were nothing short of freaks, but they all escaped death by the skin of their teeth. At one point in Zhuo Fan's classic disappearing act, Captain Pang divulged the secret of this cruel and inhumane 'training'.

When one out of a hundred elite youths to survive was a genuine cause for celebration.

He was scared witless back then. They weren't shaping up guards, but killing machines at Luo clan's beck and call.

He was in Dugu Zhantian's army for three years by then. Although these young guards had uncanny powers now, stauncher than even a general with decades of wars behind him, the cruelty of their training left him devastated. After careful deliberations with his sister, they put a stop to it.

Luo clan was no longer welcoming youths to train.

He hadn't met with a good opportunity to break this news to Zhuo Fan either. More like he didn't have it in him. He was scared for his life that Zhuo Fan would flip out and would start cursing him to high heaven.

It got so bad that he decided there and then to keep this buried for all eternity...

Rustle~

The sudden movement from a bush earned Zhuo Fan's interest, "Who's there? Come out now or stay dead forever!"

"Uh, big brother Zhuo, i-t's me!"

A shy voice followed the appearance of Dong Xiaowan's red face followed by a sighing Dong Tianba. Every single time his sister saw Zhuo Fan, she'd swoon and turn bashful, despite the guy never giving her second looks.

And sure enough, Zhuo Fan turned to Dong Tianba. It was only Xue Ningxiang who rushed over and grabbed the girl's hands in joy, "Sister Wan'er, you're alright!"

Dong Xiaowan smiled and sneaked a peek at Zhuo Fan.

"What's wrong, did you not find any other allies? Then join us, the weak, women and the children team!" Zhuo Fan pointed back at the casual rabble.

Pff!

Xue Ningxiang and Dong Xiaowan giggled. Xue Ningxiang rolled her eyes, "Big brother Zhuo, where are we weak? We, hundred, even fought back Lin Xuanfeng's thousand. Though we were routed in the end and suffered a miserable defeat!"

Xue Ningxiang stuck out her chin, while the said hundred nodded with red faces.

In a dark brooding mood, Zhuo Fan glared back, "You dare admit it when you're now just a lousy and lazy bunch?"

"Isn't it your fault?" Xue Ningxiang smiled, her words were quite sharp, "It's your fault for being so strong. With you being our bastion of safety, we have no reason to even think about fighting."

Zhuo Fan felt like crying, [How is that sound logic?]

But thanks to Xue Ningxiang intervening, Zhuo Fan readily accepted those words. If it were anyone else, he'd kick him to the moon.

Dong Xiaowan looked at Xue Ningxiang in admiration for being able to poke fun at big brother Zhuo so casually.

Dong Tianba shook his head at his sister's infatuation and said in all seriousness, "Brother Zhuo, I'll be honest. I have been looking for you by the order of Edifice Lord Chu!"

"Chu Qingcheng?"

Zhuo Fan felt uneasy, "Uh, shouldn't she be out there looking for keys, exits, and Brimming Sacred Pills? What's she doing going after me for?"

Dong Tianba said, "It's not quite correct to say it's Edifice Lord Chu, but Huangpu Qingtian issuing you a challenge! He has a Brimming Sacred Pill with him and heard of you taking Lin Xuanfeng's hand without even showing yourself. He thus challenged you to try and take the pill from him!"

"So he picked a spot to defend, waiting for me to answer his challenge?" Zhuo Fan raised an eyebrow.

Dong Tianba nodded, "Yes."

"Then let the sucker wait. I'll just go get the other three Brimming Sacred Pills, the keys and find the exits. Only then I'll get the last pill from him and I'll be the true winner!"

Zhuo Fan grinned, "Ha-ha-ha, we now have time in spades and you guys need not worry about meeting Regent Estate. So split up and search, particularly for the Brimming Sacred Pill, and you'll be rewarded!"

"Ooh~!"

They cheered, infected by Zhuo Fan's enthusiasm.

Dong Tianba was stunned, "Wait, brother Zhuo, won't honoring the challenge make the people call you coward? You're our ally. Don't you care about our reputation? We will never be able to lift our heads in their presence, a laughing stock to the world. We are all waiting for you to bring about a reversal!"

"Fool, just say you didn't find me. It'll work just as well. Plus, what does some lame thing like honor help me anyway? Once I get everything, I'll go bitch slap him good. That's the best way to earn the ultimate victory. So what's all the need to fuss about reversals and what not?"

Zhuo Fan grinned, finally in a perky mood, "I never ever cared about such empty things in my life. What I can feel and use is what truly matters, ha-ha-ha..."

The rest laughed as well.

Soaring Demonic Dragon was unorthodox, that was for sure. Now they saw why he was Regent Estate's headache over the last decade.

[You think some measly challenge is enough to force one into showing up? For what, something as ephemeral as honor? While he in fact spits on anything remotely resembling it! He has none to begin with too!]

[So what are you going to do now, huh?]

[Soaring Demonic Dragon is not your average cultivator, he is the quintessence of demonic cultivation!]

None saw Zhuo Fan for a coward, despite how it looked. Instead of thinking he was a disgraceful and honorless bastard, they thought of him as a man of courage and deep cunning. He played his enemies like a fiddle. That was how a true leader should act.

[Following him, my future is limitless...]

Dong Tianba knew Zhuo Fan's character and sighed, "I have no choice but to report back to Edifice Lord Chu about your response. But Edifice Lord Chu won't just stand the humiliation and will one day..."

"Hold up, Huangpu Qingtian is challenging me. So if I won't go, she'd only be shamed to have such an ally. What's this stand for humiliation anyway?" Zhuo Fan bemused.

Dong Tianba sighed, recounting what happened, to the sombre Zhuo Fan.

Dong Tianba finished with, "In despair, Edifice Lord Chu told us to look for keys and go home. But Huangpu Qingtian's challenge brought about a glimmer of hope. And since you refuse to honor it... "

"Fine fine, I get it."

Zhuo Fan dismissed him. His eyes were raging, his fists clenched, "Since he started all this, then I will have to finish it!"

Dong Tianba was in glee, but not for long. What Zhuo Fan said next got him shuddering.

"He will have to pay dearly for messing with my people..."

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Chapter 284, Whipped

Ever since Chu Qingcheng got Huangpu Qingtian's challenge, her team didn't move from their spot, standing right next to the wood exit stone in the lush forest. Only the men under them were running to and fro in search of Zhuo Fan.

But even after nine days, none that returned was bearer of any good news. This only worked to sink their moods even lower, not knowing when they could turn this humiliation around.

It couldn't go on for much longer or their morale would collapse. There was no point by then to drag this Esoteric Debate out and going back home would be most advisable.

Ha~

Everyone sighed. Who knew the Esoteric Debate would be so cruel to them, to put their entire hopes on just one man?

The audience beyond the National Elemental Stone were looking quite eager. Be it Drifting Flowers Edifices, or Regent Estate, each hoped to see Huangpu Qingtian and Zhuo Fan duke it out, to see who was the real victor in this final battle.

"The wood stone exit is up ahead?"

"Yeah, Edifice Lord Chu is waiting there with the others."

A familiar voice entered their ears. Their eyes lit up and were thrilled to see the Dong siblings leading Zhuo Fan over. Even Luo Yunhai, Xue Ningxiang and many others were there as well.

They were ecstatic as they surrounded them in an instant. Xie Tianyang was thrilled as well in his laughter, "Ha-ha-ha, you're finally here. It's good that you are all alright!"

[Ha-ha-ha, that's how brothers that went through hell acts, happy to see each other. I am so happy I didn't cross thousands of mile in vain. Have no fear. Now that I'm here, I'll make it all better. See how your brother will show you his power and swag!]

Zhuo Fan smiled and opened his arms as he walked to Xie Tianyang.

Only to have his hand flicked away as the guy made a beeline for Xue Ningxiang and her brothers, "Ning'er, ever since we separated from the teleportation, I searched heaven and earth to find you. I was worried sick! I'm so relieved you're okay..."

Xie Tianyang eased a breath that didn't know he was holding. Zhuo Fan's face twitched and snapped his cold eyes on the guy, "Xie Tianyang, you didn't even care what might have happened to your dear brother?"

"You, a monster? I only care about myself, not you!" Snorted Xie Tianyang.

The others laughed at their antics. Zhuo Fan was royally pissed though, wishing nothing more than to kick him where the sun didn't shine. [The least you can do is fake it, prick. Is this how a brother acts nowadays?]

[You damn bastard clearly don't know the meaning of bros before women!]

Dong Tianba saw Zhuo Fan sulking and was reminded of Song Yu, "Ha-ha-ha, brother Zhuo, do you remember our chat in Drifting Flowers City? This is the kind of animal a man is. You're just the same so try to understand."

Glaring at him, Zhuo Fan didn't speak his irritation, [I'm not some pit pony like you guys. I'm not one to just throw my heart to any woman I see.]

Dong Tianba laughed, knowing exactly what he was thinking.

[Sometimes not even you know your true self...]

Dong Tianba turned to Chu Qingcheng and bowed, "Edifice Lord Chu, I have found Zhuo Fan."

Nodding, Chu Qingcheng's eyes never left Zhuo Fan. She walked over with a cold stare.

Zhuo Fan felt killing intent smacking into him and saw her approaching with an icy stare. Shivering for some odd reason, Zhuo Fan even felt fear, but he kept his poker face up.

"Do you know why we looked for you?" Chu Qingcheng's tone was flat.

Zhuo Fan nodded stiffly, "Uh, yeah."

"Then what are you staring at? Go already! It's high time you did your part as an ally and get to work!" Chu Qingcheng's pitiless stare bore into him. It was so cold it chilled even him.

Zhuo Fan didn't reply and simply took flight. He sighed inside.

[After what happened in Dragon Cloud City, Chu Qingcheng must be hating my guts. It's better this way. We are only allies, nothing more.]

A Demonic Emperor like him was better off casting such burdens off his shoulders as soon as possible.

Zhuo Fan's eyes snapped into focus, vanishing from their sights as he increased his speed.

Chu Qingcheng watched him leave with clear anger on her face.

[He won't even greet me?]

Xiao Dandan skipped over and said shyly, "Uh, sister Qingcheng, aren't you perhaps too hard on darling?"

"What too hard? Nothing good comes out of working with a stone-cold man like him! And you, stop calling him darling left and right. He doesn't deserve to be called that by any woman!" Chu Qingcheng turned her rage on her and glared.

Xiao Dandan jerked in fright. It was the first time she saw the proud Chu Qingcheng flaring like that.

Then, a chuckle came.

"Ning'er, you've been surrounded by an army of a thousand people, are you hurt anywhere?" Xue Ningxiang showed his worry after having heard what happened to her.

Xue Ningxiang brushed his worry off, "I'm fine. Big brother Zhuo dropped by and saved us. He even ruined Lin Xuanfeng's hand! With big brother Zhuo around, nothing can touch us!"

The rest of the newcomers nodded.

They wouldn't soon forget how safe they were with Zhuo Fan around.

Xie Tianyang's mood soured, "That prick is awesome and all, but rotten to the core. How can you stand it?"

"Big brother Zhuo is the picture of modesty! Although there are those he has to give a tongue lashing to, but he gets over his anger quite fast. We've all been having a wonderful time around him so far!" Xue Ningxiang blinked her delusion-filled eyes.

What was worse, the others nodded as well. They had been having such a nice stroll through Beast King Mountain over the days that even if they met a 6th level spiritual beast, they'd even point it out to their sons to observe. They were so carefree they turned oblivious to the dangers.

This would most likely be the only time they ever felt like this. Since the next time they'd come here and meet a spiritual beast, they'd end up as its dinner.

To sum it up, it was all by Zhuo Fan's grace that they were so carefree.

Xie Tianyang saw the worship in their eyes, the glitter in Xue Ningxiang's, and cursed inside, [Isn't this all on you? With that punk's lousy temper, he'd never waste time with this bunch.]

Luo Yunhai smiled, gratified Ning'er was there with them.

It only stoked Chu Qingcheng's range though. [How can he smile to others but be so damn cold to me?]

Dong Tianba noticed and laughed dryly, "Edifice Lord Chu, I have something to say, but it may be inappropriate."

"Get on with it!" Chu Qingcheng snapped.

Dong Tianba said awkwardly, "Edifice Lord Chu, you also know of my past dealings. Of wandering from flower to flower, leaving not even the leaves..." He trailed off.

Chu Qingcheng's glare scared him back on track as he explained, "Edifice Lord Chu, don't misunderstand, that is all in the past. Now I turned a new leaf, becoming a bastion of nobility and dignity."

"Then why mention it?" Chu Qingcheng's icy glare bore into Dong Tianba's confidence.

Dong Tianba sweated in fear, "Edifice Lord Chu, I just want to say that I may not have achievements and I'm still ignorant in many aspects, but when it comes to romance, I am unrivaled! The way I see it, brother Zhuo may be swarmed by lilies, yet only three ever caught his eye. And he isn't even aware of it!"

"Oh~?" Chu Qingcheng perked an eyebrow, "Go on."

Wiping his brow, Dong Tianba said, "With my uncanny eyes, I noticed them being Luo Yunchang, Xue Ningxiang, and you, Edifice Lord Chu! Other women he never cared about, my sister, begrudgingly, included."

"Why am I the last?" Chu Qingcheng's mood shifted on the spot, blaming him.

Drifting Flowers Edifices sweated harder, [Ah, hell has no fury as a woman scorned...] A woman wasn't even amenable to take this list of names if she wasn't first. And Edifice Lord Chu was no ordinary woman either, but the leader of Drifting Flowers Edifices!

But he still smiled, "Edifice Lord Chu, t-this is unrelated to your place in his heart. He only has feelings for you three. Please don't take it the wrong way."

Raising an eyebrow, Chu Qingcheng nodded.

Swallowing dryly, Dong Tianba turned serious, "Brother Zhuo feels responsible for Luo clan's miss, showing the consideration of a kin. As for having developed into something more, I'm unsure."

Chu Qingcheng nodded. Zhuo Fan always carried himself with a cold and indifferent air, but he was always good to the Luo clan. He was indeed taking it upon himself when it came to the clan's future.

Dong Tianba then glanced at the cheerful Xue Ningxiang, "As for young miss Xue, she is innocent and naive, a rarity in this world. Brother Zhuo sees her as his little sister, although hard to say if there's anything more between them."

Chu Qingcheng looked with a lost gaze as a smile crept her lips. She was such an innocent child that even women like her would pity the lass, not to mention some rotten men!

Dong Tianba then came to the crux of it all and said fearfully, "While Edifice Lord Chu is a woman of character, lofty and refined, deserving of the title Ascending Ice Phoenix. But brother Zhuo thinks of you as..."

"What?" Chu Qingcheng asked impatiently.

Dong Tianba gnashed his teeth, "Henpecking him!"

Chu Qingcheng blushed and a sweet and gooey/sappy happiness infected her heart.

[Isn't that being whipped, under the wife's thumb?]

[That makes me the closest among the three in his heart...]

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Chapter 285, Demonic Dragon's Advent

Achoo~! Achoo~! Achoo~!

Three outbursts disturbed Zhuo Fan's smooth sailing. It got so bad that he almost took an unscheduled dive.

This had gone beyond mere cursing, they wanted to skin him alive. [Who the hell hates me so much? Is it Chu Qingcheng? Has her fury outmatched hell's?]

Shuddering to his very core, Zhuo Fan shook the thought away.

He was oblivious that it was totally unrelated to Chu Qingcheng, but instead the person responsible was his buddy-buddy brother. In fact, his intention was no different than flaying Zhuo Fan.

Thank god he had no clue what Dong Tianba said, or he'd panic, [This guy barely has any talent, yet makes for quite a love doctor. How is it that you know who my heart longs for before even I do?]

Though he had to admire him for such skill, even when Dong Tianba only skirted the waters and never actually dipped.

Zhuo Fan kept on flying in confusion. He soon arrived at his destination and released his Discerning Field.

Hum~

Zhuo Fan's eyes lit up in joy. Huangpu Qingtian, the biggest headache, wasn't there.

It couldn't be better. He'd go in there and remove the pests first. Since if they laid a trap, they would harass him to no end. [That wouldn't do, wouldn't do at all!]

He now recalled Luo Yunhai's warning. Huangpu Qingtian and company had something special in mind just for him. Lin Xuanfeng let it slip when he lost his cool and Zhuo Fan doubted he was so smart as to make it intentionally misleading.

Zhuo Fan took it to heart as well. He may have Divine Eye of the Void as his ace in getting out of almost any situation, but he wasn't about to take unnecessary risks. Triumphant pride precipitates a dizzying fall. Zhuo Fan made sure to never make such an elementary mistake as letting power get to his head!

Zhuo Fan's figure flashed and thunder struck the earth the next second, picking up dust.

People turned to look in fright. With only weak third and second rate clan members around, this loud and out of the blue noise had them on edge.

But when the dust settled, they gasped.

Soaring Demonic Dragon, Zhuo Fan?

With a twisted grin, Zhuo Fan's eyes glanced over his future victims, "I have come, as requested, for the Brimming Sacred Pill. Where is Huangpu Qingtian?"

"Uh... eldest young master waited for days so he took young master You and young master Yan in search of the other four. Sir, why not wait for them?" An honest to god man, naive perhaps, spoke up fearlessly.

This set Zhuo Fan's worries at ease. His grin grew wider, "Am I to understand you stood me up?"

"Uh, no, never. It's you..."

"I am quite angry right now, and the consequences are deadly!" Zhuo Fan cut him off with his bloodthirsty gaze, "Now, who do you think I should kill first?"

They all felt like crying. [You clearly had this idea from the start!]

[But... how does this have anything to do with us!]

[Huangpu Qingtian issued the challenge, not us. You didn't just miss the due date, but also saying that we stood you up... that's clearly bullshit!]

[We're just the little guys. Why take it out on us? Think we're easy targets, is that it?]

Fear swept their hearts as they had long heard of Zhuo Fan's power. Be it the taunts he threw at the seven houses by killing their elders, or through the slaughter of thousands on the fighting stage.

Not even Six Dragons and One Phoenix wanted to mess with him, least of all them!

But then the demon came anyway. And to make matters worse, he landed just when the big boss was out on a stroll.

Could they take him on?

The bitter and resigned faces answered aplenty.

"Z-young master Zhuo, we are just errand boys! It would be a great dishonor to you sir, if you kill us!" Someone spoke up with a calm voice, quite odd when one took in the fearful gazes of the rest.

The rest bobbed their heads and gave him a secret thumbs up.

This line was a good deterrence to most big shots. Since it brought a bad taste in their mouth hearing rumors about them picking on the weak.

The greater the man, the greater the deterrence.

Take Six Dragons and One Phoenix for instance. As long as one left them be, they wouldn't go out of their way to be heavy handed on small fries. Not because of their lofty and noble characters, far from it, but because they felt it would become a stain on their pedigree.

These guys were so puny, so insignificant, they weren't worth even tying a big shot's shoes, to say nothing of killing them.

So, with that educated guess, drawn from Zhuo Fan's reputation being equal to Six Dragons and One Phoenix, they must be in the clear, probably. A shame they were dead wrong. The likes of Zhuo Fan only had self-interest above all else, not some useless and ephemeral thing like honor and glory.

To an unscrupulous man such as him, appealing to his honor, or lack thereof, was an exercise in futility! Since in all his lives, he had stomped dead all who had ever tried it...

Grinning from ear to ear, Zhuo Fan's cold eyes snapped on the man and a ripple swept him.

His eyes lost their light and he slumped on the ground, dead.

Killing with intent!

The rest jumped back in abject fear.

Despite the rumor mill going strong about Zhuo Fan, only after witnessing the true power of Radiant Stage had a dread set in like no other.

Zhuo Fan smiled, "Whenever I kill, I do it on a whim. There's nothing else to it. As for my reputation and what not, ha-ha-ha, please, I am but a small steward of a poor third rate clan. I am far beneath your illustrious names! There's no dishonor whatsoever even if I tear you all apart."

It only worked to make them even more bitter.

[This punk is a scumbag! Since when could a bloody, rotten and vile third rate clan's little steward mock the seven houses and get away with it?]

[What modesty? He's clearly showing off!]

Zhuo Fan picked up on their thoughts with a laugh, "Yep, I'm grandstanding, and I'm only killing you to relieve my boredom. The kill count doesn't matter, what matters is the entertainment. Who told you to make an enemy out of me? Ha-ha-ha... "

Bang~

As if thunderstruck, their minds went out of commission. They stood there, frozen and lost, scared to even speak.

[God dammit all! He is a demon who escaped from hell whose sole purpose is to relieve his boredom! He is a psychopath who has no value for life!]

Not even those hedonistic disciples from the seven houses were that bent on a murder spree.

[This guy has lost it, he's psychotic!]

The fear was closely working its way up to their tipping point, but Zhuo Fan's last words remained nonetheless, [Who told you to make an enemy out of me?]

It couldn't be a more fitting description. They were all gripped by the fear of ending up another bloody smear on the ground, but in the back of their minds, an obsession was ingrained. None could fight Zhuo Fan, he was out for blood!

And that was what Zhuo Fan aimed for all along.

He may not get the respect of everyone, but he would get their fear. Humans clung to life, tooth and nail. As long as they feared him, they'd never dare do anything against him. Regardless of what plot Huangpu Qingtian was cooking, if he got the help of these simps, he'd foil it when Huangpu Qingtian least expected.

While also gifting these helpers of his a heart demon.

And to make sure the heart demon wasn't going away anytime soon, his eyes flashed and three more people collapsed.

They were positively despairing at this point.

"Ha-ha-ha, how amusing. While we wait for Huangpu Qingtian, I'll take out my boredom on you! Now, who's next?"

Zhuo Fan broke into his trademark evil grin.

The targets of his creepy glinting eyes shivered and crumbled from fear. But there was one who shouted, "Run!"

That woke them up somewhat. If they didn't flee now, they'd be toyed to death at this point.

They all broke out into a frantic scramble to keep their poor lives intact.

Zhuo Fan smiled, but didn't budge. He didn't really want to kill them, not that many at least. He merely wanted to drive the fear of the devil in them.

Although, to make this play of his more believable, Zhuo Fan took merely two steps and killed another five Bone Tempering experts.

The rest thought Zhuo Fan was on the hunt and ran like mad. With so many of them and only one of him, someone was bound to get out alive. Right?

Each hoped he'd be the lucky winner.

They prayed for it too, never slowing down for a second.

Zhuo Fan cackled from behind, instilling the horrors of what was to come into their very souls. He found them almost out of his sight, but all he did was shake his head.

He wasn't an addict getting his fix by killing, it was all so he could shroud them in a thick and unshakable shadow so that when the time came, they'd foil Huangpu Qingtian's big plan from the inside.

Since he drove his point quite clean through, chasing them had lost its purpose.

And that guy was right about one thing, Zhuo Fan would never care about some small fries.

Smirking, Zhuo Fan's eyes flashed, waiting for Huangpu Qingtian.

But then he heard a faint breathing.

Squinting, Zhuo Fan flipped around and snapped, "Come out!"

Zhuo Fan moved faster than the other person and grabbed at the target's hiding place. But what he saw left him speechless...

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Chapter 286, I'll Send You to Hell Together

"Yan Fu?"

Zhuo Fan shouted.

Yan Fu was Vicious Pill King's prized pupil. When he got Yan Song to work under him, among other reasons, he also threatened Yan Fu's life, ultimately making Yan Song cave.

It was obvious how much Elder Yan cared about the kid.

So, as a good steward, Zhuo Fan was looking for the chance to get Yan Fu to switch sides as well, and bring the master and disciple back together in one big happy family. Though a chance never came, until now.

It wasn't like he was swamped with work, but more along the lines of he couldn't find Yan Fu. He lucked out by bumping into him in Dragon Cloud City, but there was no way he could talk to him in front of the seven houses, that was for sure.

Who'd have ever conceived it possible, the two of them would finally reconnect after many, many years. Though the circumstances were perhaps particularly awkward to explain his way out of.

It wasn't either about Huangpu Qingtian finding out he'd be stealing him from right under his nose. What was a little more hatred when there was no love lost between them to begin with.

Just that it would get this guy in the crossfire, and whittle down his life to nothing. Yan Song would never forgive him for this.

He never ever owed anybody anything, and the same applied to everyone.

Yan Fu found his leg in Zhuo Fan's clutches but realized the demon wasn't going in for the kill. He looked on oddly and stopped shivering, trying to calm his errant heart as well.

Scared out of his mind his taunt earlier would earn him a gruesome death, he ducked for cover the instant Zhuo Fan touched down. Only to hear him wanting to have a blast at the expense of others' lives, driving such horror into his heart he couldn't even move.

His only hope was that the demon would leave once he had his fill of killing.

Who was to know once the dust settled, the demon himself would come after his head? He even found his hidey hole like nothing!

It terrified him!

But figuring out Zhuo Fan had no intention of harming him emboldened him, perhaps the death of his master had some part in this as well. Yan Fu stuck out his chin and bellowed at Zhuo Fan, "Humph, you damn demon! I vow to get revenge for killing my master!"

"And how exactly?" Zhuo Fan raised an eyebrow.

His mood sinking, Yan Fu gnashed his teeth in humiliation, "Yeah, with my power I can never defeat you! And now I'm in your clutches. Kill me if you have the guts. Let me go see my master! I am unworthy of taking revenge, but the least I can do is go serve him in the underworld."

Zhuo Fan nodded inside.

[The kid is a coward and a lecher, but he is filial to his master, I'll give him that much. I can see why Elder Yan doted on him.]

"Rest assured, I won't kill you. As for your master..." Zhuo Fan was about to explain, but a sudden noise cut him off.

Whoosh~

Four figures landed a hundred meters off Zhuo Fan, with Huangpu Qingtian in the lead. The other three were Yan Bangui, You Yushan and Lin Xuanfeng.

The three looked grave while only Huangpu Qingtian took it easy. But there was no way to hide the raging battle lust in his eyes.

"You're here." Huangpu Qingtian said.

Zhuo Fan grinned, "How could I possibly refuse young master Huangpu's invitation?"

Taking in the dozen corpses around, Huangpu Qingtian said, "You're Soaring Demonic Dragon in name and reality. You won't spare even the weak!"

"Humph, with your strength, you're only shaming yourself stooping so low!" You Yushan vented his ire.

Zhuo Fan just shrugged, "I was only playing around. Don't tell me they're worth crying over."

"Of course not, but now that I'm here, if you still want to play, come after me!" Huangpu Qingtian shook his head, hardly caring about some low lives.

He then turned to Yan Fu, "Finish the kid off if you want to. Then I'll teach you true power!"

Yan Fu shivered from indignation.

Ever since his master kicked the bucket, he was reduced to being treated like those common third and second rate clansmen. And not just Huangpu Qingtian looked down on him, not even his clan's Yan Bangui spoke in his defense!

[Ha-ha-ha, I'm a true pariah now!]

[It won't matter now. For us master and disciple to die at Zhuo Fan's hand is only fitting. At least Zhuo Fan is our enemy. If I would've died because of my clansmen, I'd truly die with regrets.]

Forlorn, Yan Fu sighed and closed his eyes. He may have thought so, but how could he let go so easily after being cast out by his house?

His hatred now changed from Zhuo Fan to the same house that raised him...

Zhuo Fan nodded inside. He grabbed his neck and hoisted him and spun on his feet. Intentional or not, it just so happened to block Huangpu Qingtian's vision.

"Yan Fu, a man of your grief and emotion, letting you live will make the pain so much sweeter! He-he-he, I just love seeing my enemies trudge through life in pain and suffering. I won't kill you now. but if you still yearn for death, come find me! I'll send you to hell, to see the ghost of your master. "

Zhuo Fans ended on a heavy tone and a slap at Yan Fu's chest. Out of anyone else's notice, he also slipped a jade in his clothes.

Yan Fu's eyes shot wide open, but then he saw Zhuo Fan's vague smile, "Remember, if you find life to be too much of a torment, come find me! I'll surely send you off to hell to your master!"

Zhuo Fan then flung him away.

Yan Fu was dirty and wretched, but his eyes lit up and clutched his chest.

Huangpu Qingtian looked skeptical, "Zhuo Fan, I never knew you for your mercy, especially on a waste!"

"What can I say, I'm a saint!" Zhuo Fan shrugged.

Everyone rolled their eyes. [If you're a saint then the whole world is filled with demons!]

Squinting, Huangpu Qingtian played around, "Since you don't want to land the final blow, let me help you!"

Huangpu Qingtian struck a palm at Yan Fu.

Yan Fu was rooted in place from fear as he cried.

Yan Fu was useless, true, but he was their waste. [Why would the eldest young master kill off one of his own?]

Yan Fu was close to peeing himself when the almighty strike stopped just an inch off his head. The wind it picked up ruffled his black hair, but also paralyzed him.

Squinting, Huangpu Qingtian turned to Zhuo Fan who watched the strike in interest, knowing full well what he was doing.

He also seemed to encourage Huangpu Qingtian to finish the waste off. As if he was eager to see the allies tearing each other up.

Huangpu Qingtian took back his palm, still staring at Zhuo Fan.

[Was I mistaken?]

"What's wrong? Why stop?" Zhuo Fan urged him full of eagerness.

Huangpu Qingtian said, "He is useless and I want to deal with him as well, but what do you know, I'm also feeling a bit of a saint myself."

The two burst out laughing.

While the four witnesses looked on in fear.

[These two vile tyrants are that damn rotten to call themselves saints?]

[Humph, degenerates, the both of them!]

Of course, they kept it to themselves if they knew what was good for them. With Heaven-shaking Dragon Lord and Soaring Demonic Dragon's tempers, these savage beasts would tear them limb from limb otherwise.

Case in point, one only had to throw a look at Forest Fleeting Dragon's sorry state.

Glancing at the one legged man, the other three knew perfectly well when to keep their mouth shut. Huangpu Qingtian and Zhuo Fan were not ones to take any complaints without dishing out extra punishment.

Yet they all failed to realize a shadow peering out as they were engrossed in the play.

"Eh? Is that Heaven-shaking Dragon Lord, Huangpu Qingtian? The same one who doesn't care about anyone? Ha-ha-ha, how amusing, he isn't average at all! But compared to him, Zhuo Fan is more along my tastes as a demonic cultivator! Nice power, good skills, but... who is stronger among them? I am not one to pick up trash and take back the loser!"

Snickering, the shadow spoke as if he was fetching livestock.

"Who knew Tianyu birthed so many wonderful goods? I didn't waste time coming here, ha-ha-ha..."

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Chapter 287, Blindsided

"Well, let's get to it. You must be here for the Brimming Sacred Pill I wager. But don't think for a second it's going to be that easy to take it from me."

Having dispensed the probing, Huangpu Qingtian snickered as he flashed the storage ring on his finger, "Come, show me what you're made of!"

Zhuo Fan raised an eyebrow and shrugged, "Ha-ha-ha, you take me for an idiot? Fighting on your turf and on your own terms is retarded!"

"Yes, exactly so!" Huangpu Qingtian nodded as he boasted, "But if not for that, what are you even doing here? And without defeating me, you'll never get this pill..."

Whoosh~

He didn't finish as his ring vanished, now in Zhuo Fan's hand.

Zhuo Fan's right eye flashed golden as he mocked, "You were saying?"

Everyone watched on in shock.

They shuddered incredulously at what they just witnessed. Even the ever calm and stalwart Huangpu Qingtian had a reaction.

[How did he do that?]

The observer in the shadows also cried out, "What art did this kid use? It's so weird even I couldn't sense it!"

Zhuo Fan mocked, "I only came for the Brimming Sacred Pill. With that done, buh-bye!"

Zhuo Fan unfolded his wings and shot into the air before vanishing.

The rest were so out of it they couldn't even react. They were in complete fear of his mystical art.

When they finally did snap out of it, Huangpu Qingtian's face twisted. Toyed around like that never happened to him.

"Eldest young master..." You Yushan began.

Huangpu Qingtian dismissed him with a wave and turned to Lin Xuanfeng, "Give me the ring!"

Lin Xuanfeng hopped over with flattery, "He-he-he, eldest young master is amazing, leaving the ring with the pill in my care. Zhuo Fan would be blowing his top when he finds out all he got was nothing, ha-ha-ha..."

Huangpu Qingtian was not in the least bit amused of having duped his enemy. He took the ring as he sounded morose, "I only did it to not lose the pill. He'd never realize I'd be willing to leave the pill to a cripple. But never thought it would show its worth so fast."

"Zhuo Fan is not easy to deal with!" Clenching his fist, Huangpu Qingtian spat.

Lin Xuanfeng was sullen. Huangpu Qingtian only referred to him as a cripple nowadays. The other two nodded solemnly.

But then Huangpu Qingtian found an eerie breeze pass by him and when he opened his palm, the ring was gone.

Huangpu Qingtian's heart sank as he raved, "Zhuo Fan!"

"Tone it down. What do you want with me anyway?" Zhuo Fan grinned victoriously as he came from a bush.

The three lackeys jumped behind Huangpu Qingtian in fright. [Didn't he just fly off? What's he doing back?]

Huangpu Qingtian glared, "It was you just now!"

"Yep, what was I supposed to do with a fake ring anyway?" Zhuo Fan tossed the two rings around, taunting, "Young master Huangpu, who knew even you are scared of something, unwilling to give me the true location of the pill and tried to cheat me out of it instead. Are you perhaps afraid you were gonna lose?"

Huangpu Qingtian trembled as the rage got the best of him, "I never said the pill was on me, just waving my hand around. It's your fault for jumping to conclusions."

"Ha-ha-ha, sophistry!" Zhuo Fan put the two rings on his fingers and snickered, "But I got the pill this time, so I'll be going. For real this time. Later people!"

Zhuo Fan was gone.

They all watched in shock, coming and going without a sign. Huangpu Qingtian released his soul sense in fear Zhuo Fan might be playing another trick.

Only after he knew the coast was clear, did Huangpu Qingtian ease his breath.

His mood dangerously low, Huangpu Qingtian felt horrendous having suffered so much. He had gone and challenged Zhuo Fan in front of so many people...

And what did that get him? Losing the pill faster than he got it. How could he possibly take it at face value?

You Yushan inched closer to Huangpu Qingtian in worry, "Eldest young master, short term gains aren't important. Zhuo Fan is too much of a variable with mystical abilities. We need to find a way to deal with his disappearing acts. If we can't trap him, the day we fight he'll take us down one by one while we won't even touch him. We can't have that!"

The other two nodded. They felt utterly powerless in the face of Zhuo Fan's shifting around unrestrained.

"It doesn't matter."

Huangpu Qingtian's eyes flashed, "Sir Leng already predicted this. Isn't our earlier plan all to deal with him?"

"You mean..." You Yushan said, "I see. I'll gather the scattered people and instruct them harder..."

"No."

Huangpu Qingtian waved his hand, "Zhuo Fan terrified them. They are obsolete. Just leave them to die on Beast King Mountain. Go after our vassals that are still missing. Have them help instead."

They were all shocked by Huangpu Qingtian's cruelty. These people had only been with them for around ten days and were quite hard working. And yet they were cast away like broken toys.

Huangpu Qingtian could tell what was on their minds, "Do you know the difference between a help and a burden?"

They shook their heads.

Huangpu Qingtian mocked, "A help assists me in achieving what I want and a burden works against me. It will one day mean the difference between life and death!"

The three blinked, still unconvinced. They knew of this of course, but weren't getting where he was going with this.

Huangpu Qingtian snickered, "They would've helped me before, in dealing with this spawn. But now, they are terrified of Zhuo Fan and will be an inconvenience to us. Letting them participate regardless will pose a grave danger to us, even death. This is why I threw them away. Or would you rather have Zhuo Fan kill you because of some dead weights?"

They finally understood and looked at him in admiration.

[Huangpu Qingtian is the eldest young master for a reason. Such insight, such cunning, like a true emperor!] The shadow nodded from afar, pleased by Huangpu Qingtian's character.

Glancing at them, Huangpu Qingtian continued, "You Yushan, weren't you curious why I let Drifting Flowers Edifices' group off? Ha-ha-ha, I'll tell you. Because they are all Zhuo Fan's burdens. If they die, Zhuo Fan will be uncontrollable, even to us. But now, with Chu Qingcheng helping us without knowing, we will grasp this chance to deal with him for good!"

The three gave their thumbs up.

Even lumped together, Chu Qingcheng's gang was still as weak as if they were alone. While if Zhuo Fan was left alone, he may one day come to reap their lives.

Using these people to tie Zhuo Fan down was the best bet.

It was such an obvious trap that even Zhuo Fan had no choice but to jump right in.

Huangpu Qingtian's eyes shined, regaining control of the situation.

Meanwhile, Zhuo Fan was cruising the skies, yet didn't feel like a winner at all. He already guessed Huangpu Qingtian's thinking, but he still couldn't get himself to cast aside all those people.

And that was the least of his worries. The biggest headache was how easily Huangpu Qingtian could do it while he found it impossible.

Just now after he let Yan Fu go, Huangpu Qingtian grew suspicious of Yan Fu. His suspicions had no real reason and yet he made the prompt decision to attack Yan Fu.

If not for Zhuo Fan being an Oscar level actor, Yan Fu would've been a smear on the ground.

He was cruel enough to kill any doubts than let any mistake slip by. He always watched Zhuo Fan even as he attacked, but stopped short of killing to not give Zhuo Fan more reasons to mock him.

Other than that, Yan Fu would've been totally dead!

In this way one had so many burdens on his shoulders, while the other had nothing tying him down. Zhuo Fan found himself at a disadvantage in this psychological warfare, having to accept everything he was attacked with.

[Even though I say the demonic path is cruel and pitiless, going to battle with so many burdens will be hard!]

[I need to get the keys and exits to let them out as soon as possible!]

Zhuo Fan gnashed his teeth as he shot for Chu Qingcheng like lightning...

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Chapter 288, A Hero's Return

Translator: StarReader

Editor: Elitecoder

Whoosh!

With a crack of thunder, Zhuo Fan made his entrance before Chu Qingcheng.

They all whipped their heads towards him, their eyes glinting. Their entire morale rested on whether or not Zhuo Fan could bring back the stolen Brimming Sacred Pill.

Jitteriness rose as all eyes took in his prideful stance, keeping them in suspense.

And the audience beyond the wood National Elemental Stone was no different.

This was the first contact between Zhuo Fan and Huangpu Qingtian, the strongest duo in this battle. Losing it would plunge their morale to rock bottom and the only sensible choice would be going home.

But it didn't stop there. Their vassals' trust in the three houses would splinter, weakening their image in the populace's eye. It was the worst outcome as it affected their growth, especially now when an all out war with the Regent Estate's faction was just around the corner.

A trickle of sweat fell down Grandmother, Long Yifey and Xie Xiaofeng's cheeks as the tension spiked.

Zhuo Fan took a deep breath before grinning. He juggled the two storage rings and snickered, "Now which ring holds the Brimming Sacred Pill, you reckon?"

The words still hadn't sunk in, from their momentary daze. But the next reaction was explosive. Everyone cheered.

Zhuo Fan obviously got the pill!

Everyone was moved at that point.

Thinking back a few days ago, Huangpu Qingtian's overpowering might had plunged them into despair. How were they supposed to even face such a monster?

But Zhuo Fan came back victorious, recovering the pill from the clutches of that monster. Such a feat worked wonders for their battered hearts from fear and shame, surging in them the will to fight.

Even the ever composed Grandmother showed a rare trace of joy on her features. She turned to her two allies and burst out laughing.

Dugu Zhantian eased a breath, nodding at the figure beyond the National Elemental Stone, "The kid is a loose cannon, but he always comes through when it counts. If it were a war, the act of recovering the pill would instill our army greater morale than any won skirmish could ever do."

Fang Qiubai smiled thinly. This only confirmed he made the right choice when he braved in picking him to face Huangpu Qingtian. He was the only one of the younger generation who could achieve it.

But then Fang Qiubai caught onto something and brought it to Dugu Zhantian's attention, "Old Marshal, what is that?"

Dugu Zhantian squinted and cursed inside. [That punk isn't a pushover in the least. He even dares to go against my orders!]

In a remote corner, among the three allied houses' group, Liu Yizhen was seen on and off, cheering.

Esoteric Debate only allowed those below the age of thirty to participate, the old geezer was clearly out of the question. Dugu Zhantian, himself, even stated he was going to cut down with impunity, any and all cheaters. But wasn't that guy a man of the Luo clan?

"Uh, Sir Fang, my eyes must've failed me. I can't see anything amiss." Dugu Zhantian played the fool.

Fang Qiubai laughed. In any case, both of their priorities were skewed in Luo clan's favor. But who'd have thought the old marshal, the one immovable and strict man, would cover for Luo clan!

[Since when did a friggin' Radiant Stage expert's eyesight go bad?]

He must really like that fifth godson of his to be this biased. He'd never do this otherwise, not with how righteous the man was.

That was for the best, since it was all for His Majesty's sake. In protecting Luo clan, one had to be flexible and ignore 'minor' hiccups.

Fang Qiubai was worried this would've ruffled Dugu Zhantian's feathers.

"Ha-ha-ha, it's fine. I just saw an interesting spiritual beast that caught my attention. But since Marshal's eyesight is poor, nevermind."

Fang Qiubai rubbed his beard. Dugu Zhantian blushed, knowing fully well he was teased, so he chose to turn a blind eye.

Plus, he vowed this would be the first and last time he'd ever cross his own word.

Zhuge Changfeng kept a close eye on Zhuo Fan as a smile played on his lips. Then he gave a long look at Huangpu Tianyuan before chuckling, "Ha-ha-ha, Estate Lord Huangpu, it seems in this skirmish, the young master came out at the bottom!"

"Victory and defeat are common in war!"

It was the steward, Unwonted Contriver Leng who deigned a response to Zhuge Changfeng's provocation.

The way it came at no surprise to the Regent Estate, he seemed to have foreseen a long time ago that Huangpu Qingtian would lose.

Zhuge Changfeng squinted, "Oh? Sir Leng was expecting this, I see. I take it you've taken ample preparation as well."

"Ha-ha-ha, you're too kind. I made a fool of myself before Prime Minister with my coarse skills. They are merely useful in dealing with pests." Leng Wuchang's eyes shined.

Zhuge Changfeng nodded, returning to watch the National Elemental Stone, the cheering bunch therein, and sighed, "These kids are quick to celebrate. It won't matter if this trifling victory has gotten to the heads of the weak ones, but Steward Zhuo, if even you are taken in by it, I'd be dreadfully disappointed..."

Zhuge Changfeng watched him hailed by the crowd as a hero...

The man in question took the Brimming Sacred Pill's vial from the ring and showed it off to all, "See here? I've returned triumphant!"

"We see!"

They all shouted in joy and respect.

With a wicked grin, Zhuo Fan stashed it into his own ring, weirding out the crowd.

The 8th grade pill was a treasure in and of itself that not even the seven houses had one. The least he could do was popping the cork to let them catch a glimpse of it.

Zhuo Fan merely coughed and changed the subject, "Alright, the show is over, break it up. We need to find the other pills and keys. Our goal is to win this Esoteric Debate!"

Ugh!

They all looked at him with dark faces.

"Zhuo Fan, are you planning on hogging the pill?" Xie Tianyang's face twitched.

Zhuo Fan put on a pained look as he cursed, "Xie Tianyang, is this how my brother, going through thick and thin, should act? Don't you trust me? Am I one to just hog it to myself? Am I that selfish?"

"Yes!"

The crowd had spoken. Xie Tianyang said coldly, "It's because of the endless troubles we've passed. I know exactly just who you are! Zip it and hand it over. Nothing is safe in your hands, especially that 8th grade pill."

The others joined in, but only as a joke. With Zhuo Fan as the strongest there, no place was safer than with him.

Zhuo Fan feigned anger, "Since you don't trust me, then I'll eat it right in front of you. Besides, I got it back with my own efforts. Try to take it from me if you want it!"

"Tch!"

They all flicked their hands. Xie Tianyang even went a step further, "See that? I know this friggin' guy's character better than I know myself. If hustling is a bust, he just switches to daylight robbery. Not to mention anything that ends up in his hands will never see the light of day!"

The others cracked up. Xue Ningxiang was bursting with joy, not caring at all of the value of that bauble.

The mood made them seem like one big happy family, laughing their troubles away. They seemed to have returned to the peaceful and safe days of Allbeast Mountain Range a while back.

This was all thanks to Zhuo Fan. He instilled courage in their hearts while also dispelling the thick dread Huangpu Qingtian cast over them.

It just came to them that even the almighty Huangpu Qingtian wasn't infallible. At the very least, Zhuo Fan was there to give them a fighting chance.

Once the cheerfulness passed, the three houses' head disciples began discussing serious matters.

Xie Tianshang began, "Brother Zhuo, you are the strongest here and also brought the Brimming Sacred Pill back. That makes it yours. The stronger you are, the greater our chances!"

The rest nodded.

They were all quite keen on having it for themselves, but with it being Zhuo Fan's spoil, it belonged to him by right. Moreover, a boosted Zhuo Fan would give them an edge in getting the other pills out there. This was the best outcome for their alliance.

Zhuo Fan shook his head though, "I can't, brother Xie. Did you really think Huangpu Qingtian waited ten days for me with the 8th grade pill instead of eating it? Just so I could steal it?"

Xie Tianshang frowned.

Zhuo Fan smiled, "Because he won't dare!"

"What?" came their shocked response while Zhuo Fan explained, "It takes a long time to absorb it completely. If an enemy comes in that time, the slightest distraction would render it wasted, if not incur a heavy wound. So before a clear outcome has come from our conflicts, neither side would be willing to eat it."

The sudden realization made them look at Zhuo Fan in a new light.

Thanks to his reminder, they could now curb the irresistible lure of the Brimming Sacred Pill the moment they found it. They were grateful for having avoided death if an enemy found them in such a vulnerable moment.

They were clearly overthinking things though. Why would Huangpu Qingtian get rid of such delicious bait and help Zhuo Fan instead?

Not to mention, Huangpu Qingtian was sure to drop by the instant any of them found one, and appropriated it. They'd never get the chance to even swallow it!

These thoughts left Zhuo Fan sighing, [The sooner I send them home the better...]

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