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 289, The Second Pill's Location - Read The Steward Demonic Emperor Chapter 289, The Second Pill's Location Online - All Page - NOVEL NEXT

Chapter 289, The Second Pill's Location

"Report!"

A shout caught their attention. A man was rushing over sweaty and in ragged garments.

He fell to one knee before them, "Y-young masters, we have found the second Brimming Sacred Pill's location."

"Eh?" They all perked up. Zhuo Fan's advice did the trick but even so, they were still yearning to go out there and get the pill themselves.

Was it that easy to just let this chance pass by? It held the promise of getting a new Radiant Stage expert in their house and increase their power significantly.

Then came their united reply, "Where?"

"Fifty miles out, Killing Blood Marsh!" The man cupped his hands. He truly rendered a service worthy of a reward, "Five days ago, we were tasked with finding young master Zhuo. By happenstance, we stumbled into a vial of Brimming Sacred Pill in that place. Whether a coincidence or not, the pill is now deep in the nest of a 3rd level spiritual beast, Blood Croc. We opted to report rather than risk our lives."

Blood Croc?

That put a damp on their joyous moods.

The Blood Croc was a pack spiritual beast, and very territorial. Despite a mere 3rd level spiritual beast, their numbers deterred even a Radiant Stage expert from approaching.

The easiest way to establish their strength was to look at how big this nest was.

Long Xingyun spoke, "How many?"

"Oh, forgive my forgetfulness. It is around thirty thousand heads!" The man stammered.

Sss~

The shock was easily seen on everyone's faces.

Thirty thousand Blood Crocs. Not even ten Radiant Stage experts or a hundred Profound Heaven experts could come out unharmed out of such a scuffle. Least of all their rabble of two-three thousand men.

The instant they charged, the Blood Crocs would tear them to pieces.

Thus they all turned their heads to Zhuo Fan to see his take on this.

The man in question was eerily calm, dissing the trouble with a wave, "Lead the way."

"Brother Zhuo, you can do it?" They looked on in hope.

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With a vague smile, Zhuo Fan was playing coy, "Ha-ha-ha, we'll know when we get there."

And proceeded to walk southwest. Being all mysterious worked, making the rest follow him in shock.

No wonder a puny and forgotten Luo clan reached such a height. This guy was overpowered. He always came through despite adversities.

Luo Yunhai, Xue Ningxiang and the hundred people Zhuo Fan brought followed him the instant he made a move. For the first two it was an obvious choice, as for the hundred people, vassals to different houses, they went after Zhuo Fan like sheep after a shepherd.

Besides, what difference would it make if they were behind Luo clan when the houses they were vassals to were all allies? [You should at least go with your master even if so!]

They couldn't help it though, not when Zhuo Fan was a beacon of safety, willing to follow him everywhere with unflinching determination.

Too bad the lucky Luo clan had yet to become a house, or these guys would've switched camps on the spot.

"The kid is taking everyone from us. I can already see how the Esoteric Debate ends. With half of our vassals willing to follow Luo clan." Long Xingyun sighed.

Xie Tianshang shrugged, "That's how charisma works. Be it a mighty emperor or just a clan head, they all have to have some amount of personal magnetism. We all do! But in Zhuo Fan's case, while ours is but a mere glint, his shines like a radiant star!"

Xie Tianshang followed closely as well. Long Xingyun chuckled right behind him. Chu Qingcheng thoughtfully watched the prideful and solitary figure in front before coming too.

The wood exit was soon barren of people, all going for the Killing Blood Marsh.

The audience beyond the wood National Elemental Stone found the entertainment waning and returned to the seats Dugu Zhantian provided.

All while speculating how Zhuo Fan managed to relieve Huangpu Qingtian of the pill.

It was clear by his appearance that no blows were traded, so how...

The man in question was now taking a stroll. Perhaps the exhaustion of the past few days never left him and only made him grow weary, culminating in this slow pace.

Yet it only worked to put Long Xingyun's group on edge. They were itching to get to the Killing Blood Swamp first. It was funny how the Esoteric Debate of this century had been reduced to an 8th grade pill hunt.

Zhuo Fan was not in the least bit hurried, taking his sweet time. While he was at it, he had the others scout the surroundings as they made their way forward.

The way he saw it, Brimming Sacred Pill was merely a reward to the winner of this final battle. It made little sense to look for it when the exits and keys held a far greater importance.

With them on his hands, he had to find a way out, especially for a certain useless bunch. It just so happened to be working fabulously in easing his burden too.

So he toned down on his speed, using this time to have the rest search for the keys. Long Xingyun's group found it incomprehensible. They wished nothing more than to charge in and get that 8th grade pill.

"Big brother Zhuo, I found a key!" Xue Ningxiang skipped over in glee, presenting a red crystal.

Zhuo Fan saw the fist sized red crystal. It was cold to the touch, telling him this was the yin key of the fire exit.

All he had to do now was find the yang fire key and Xue Ningxiang would be home free!

Leaving him room to go all out to his heart's content.

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Zhuo Fan brightened and patted her cute head, "Well done, Ning'er!"

Xue Ningxiang giggled, at which Long Xingyun sighed, "Miss Xue, finding a Brimming Sacred Pill would be so much better. You won't just be doing a great service to us houses, but even hold youself in favor!"

Zhuo Fan merely shook his head. Xue Ningxiang would have none of that, "Humph, I won't even go for some mystical pill. That's your delusion. I only care about what big brother Zhuo wants!"

Shuddering, Zhuo Fan looked queerly at her.

He never said what was on his mind even after being in contact for the past few days, yet Ning'er easily found out what he wanted. While not even his allies could, this genial and harmless lass...

Long Xingyun shook his head, "Miss Ning'er, you're wrong. With how strong Brother Zhuo is, why would he want a bunch of keys? Only cowards would look for a way out. While a man of virtue like Brother Zhuo must be far more interested in the Brimming Sacred Pill. Am I right?"

Long Xingyun turned to Zhuo Fan, talking as if it was the norm.

[Damn you, of course I want the keys to dump your sorry asses. Stop mooching off of me! Only Ning'er truly knows what I want.]

Zhuo Fan cursed inside, but couldn't refute Long Xingyun's bright smile.

[Maybe for my reputation's sake, or they'd go calling me coward instead. If I explain it, they'll think I'd be a hindrance and affect our alliance.]

Zhuo Fan could only nod, "Yes, brother Long makes perfect sense. Brimming Sacred Pill is far more important than some keys. "

Long Xingyun looked smug and taunted Xue Ningxiang with his eyebrow. She was saddened on the spot, looking at Zhuo like a kicked puppy, "I still think I'm right. Big brother Zhuo wants..."

"Uh, Ning'er, don't feel sad. The thing is this key..." Zhuo Fan was frantic in his explanation, but then stopped. A yellow light aimed for his face tended to do that.

Zhuo Fan easily caught it and found it to have the same feel as the red crystal, albeit yellow. Zhuo Fan was overjoyed, "The yin metal key!"

Zhuo Fan turned to look from where the crystal came. [Who did me such great service? Explain!]

But Zhuo Fan twisted his head away awkwardly soon after.

Chu Qingcheng bore her cold haze into him, coming over to Xue Ningxiang and taking her somewhere, "Come, let's go after the other keys!"

"But big brother Zhuo said he doesn't want them!"

"Stop paying attention to his hypocrisies!" Chu Qingcheng snorted.

Zhuo Fan felt a cold shiver, [There's two of them now who can understand me!] Long Xingyun was watching the two women perplexed, "That's odd. It's normal for a naive girl like Ning'er to mistake Brother Zhuo's intentions. But Edifice Lord Chu is a refined and ambitious woman, so why is she wasting time looking as well?"

"Ha-ha-ha, you're asking me?" Zhuo Fan let out a dry laugh, masking the sigh in his heart.

He was your typical lone wolf, with hardly anyone catching on to his thinking. But now two women showed up at the same time defying all logic.

[Is this the legendary bosom buddy?]

A chuckle escaped his lips. He, a cold-stone demonic cultivator, was oblivious to matters of the fairer sex as a close friend and yet, [This feeling ain't bad. Ain't bad at all.]

Zhuo Fan resumed walking for the Killing Blood Marsh, leaving a puzzled Long Xingyun behind.

What should have taken five days, thanks to Zhuo Fan taking it easy, they arrived after ten. But not for nothing, considering the riches he fetched along the way. Of the ten total keys, they found four, with the metal key the only complete one. All that was left was to look for the metal exit.

Be that as it may, the slow march had its downside. Someone beat them to it...

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Chapter 290, Acting Commander

Translator: StarReader

Editor: Elitecoder

A sudden red sandy beach spread out for miles and miles. All they could see beyond red, was more red. And what made it worse was the queasy feeling when the smell wafted into their noses.

This was the lair of the 3rd level spiritual beast, Blood Croc.

This beast left their lair in packs to hunt, then dragged their quarry back to mangle and feast on their kill. This made for a gory sight as well as the endless gushing blood. This led to their domain soaked in red and made impossible for anything else to grow.

Hence the name Killing Blood Marsh.

The group looked amazed, certain this place was the lair of Blood Crocs. What was truly baffling was in fact the lack of Blood Crocs on their way here. Not to mention they took their time.

With a frown, Long Xingyun voiced his doubt at the scout, "Did you actually see any Blood Croc here, or even the Brimming Sacred Pill?"

"Yes, young master Long. I'd never lie to you. When I got here earlier I saw thousands of Blood Croc and even caught a glimpse of a vial in their midst." The man pointed.

Long Xingyun believed him and pressed on after a quick look at the others.

But they soon had to stop again and shudder. Their faces grew grave and their eyes revealed shock.

[What's this monster doing here?]

They were at the edge of a sunken area, with a familiar figure in its center. Despite looking at his back, they had no trouble recognizing him.

"Too slow. I've been waiting here for ages!" Huangpu Qingtian made a show out of turning around and directed a snicker Zhuo Fan's way, "I'll let you hog the first pill, for now. But the second one is mine, ha-ha-ha..."

The faces of everyone sank. [Does that mean the second pill already landed in Huangpu Qingtian's hands?]

[How did he find out? He knew our objective and waited us out?]

[Is there a spy among us?]

The horror of the situation dawned on them. In this perilous area, any internal conflict would have devastating repercussions.

With a mole within their midst, the dangers would grow exponentially.

All of them started looking at their neighbor with a critical eye and became on guard. Any trust they had had gone up in smoke.

The tri-house alliance was on the verge of crumbling.

Grinning, Zhuo Fan said, "There's no need to doubt. It was I who told him."

"You?!"

Xie Tianshang was the first to complain and looked at him with thirst for battle, "Why?"

Rolling his eyes, Xie Tianyang provided the explanation, "Big brother, that's him talking nonsense. With him being the strongest, if he wanted to be a spy, he'd have done it from the start. Why waste time with this convoluted ploy?"

"Uh, then..." Xie Tianshang didn't get it.

Luo Yunhai chuckled, "Big brother Zhuo is trying to say that doubting each other will be buying into the enemy's trap and make us weaker. We will talk later about the spy matter. Now it's time for all of us to unite and fight!"

They all nodded and attached greater importance to Luo clan.

The sinister and deceitful Zhuo Fan wasn't the only one with a full grasp of the situation. Luo clan's future Clan Head was also wise. He lived up to his name as the fifth godson of Dugu Zhantian.

Taking this into account, Luo clan's rise was imminent!

The three houses' top disciples nodded in praise as well. Although the Luo clan had ridiculous growth over the years, so much so they felt scared, they were nonetheless eager to see what would become of this fledgling clan.

In the eyes of the crowd, the clan head and servant glowed with unprecedented brightness...

"Big brother Zhuo, something's off here!" Luo Yunhai glanced at his surroundings as he whispered to Zhuo Fan, "This place is prone to ambushes. We need to be extra cautious."

Nodding, Zhuo Fan gave the area a once over, "In your eyes, how do you think they'll do it?"

"A frontal assault with a pincer move, followed by an ambush from behind." Luo Yunhai's eyes were firm, convinced of seeing through the other's scheme.

Zhuo Fan smiled, "You've learned well from that old geezer. You haven't let me down. You and your team deal with the back ambush while I will handle the front. "

Zhuo Fan then shot forth with a calm look.

Luo Yunhai was startled then nodded.

He knew the frontal assault was the enemy's main force. What Zhuo Fan chose was the hardest and most dangerous mission.

Then again, recalling Zhuo Fan's dreaded power and mystical abilities, Luo Yunhai set his mind at ease.

"Where is Zhuo Fan going?"

Xie Tianshang was left clueless, as were many others. He was about to chase when Luo Yunhai stopped him, "I ask of you all to listen to my orders, lest we be routed!"

After the shock subsided, they looked at him in derision.

They all admired Luo Yunhai, but not to the point they'd be in awe of this young man who lacked the almighty power Zhuo Fan had.

Which among these future house lords would ever let a runt tell them what to do?

If there was anyone from Luo clan who they'd ever accept, it would be Zhuo Fan! But letting a tyke boss them around?

Humph!

All he got was snorts.

Luo Yunhai's face grew grave, knowing there was nothing else he could do. Every aspect of him, be it experience or power, lacked in making these houses' geniuses trust him, let alone listening to him.

But it was at this crucial moment a cold, yet charming, voice echoed, "Is it Zhuo Fan's decision?"

Luo Yunhai looked up startled, to see Chu Qingcheng's cold and critical eye. He nodded.

She looked back at the man's imposing figure walking in front of them and sighed, "Then what is your plan?"

That got a reaction out of the crowd. [The grand Edifice Lord Chu is actually listening to a damn kid?]

[You may fancy Zhuo Fan and want his favor, but don't go throwing away Drifting Flowers Edifices' reputation!]

Surely they all hung on Zhuo Fan's every word. The mighty Soaring Demonic Dragon could fight toe to toe with Huangpu Qingtian, no? So what reason did they have to treat a brat the same way?

The other two houses refrained from commenting.

To Xue Ningxiang, the world's number one innocent, more like delusional, missus, the intricacies this decision held to the other houses went right over her head as she shouted, "Yunhai, I'll listen to you! You got us out of that impasse last time. You may not be on big brother Zhuo's level, but you're still stronger than these guys, who only know how to lose!"

Restraint was not in Xue Ningxiang's vocabulary, making Long Xingyun and Xie Tianshang's faces aflame. Ever since they came to Beast King Mountain they hadn't won once. Nor lost with dignity.

And that was the truth of it. All they ever achieved since coming here was a big fat nada.

They felt ashamed even more now, with Xue Ningxiang there to poke their wounds. It also had something to do with Xie Tianyang being her shadow, safeguarding her every step of the way. If it was any other vassal clan, even with Sword Marquise Abode's amiable stance, they'd still get a trashing.

Would any lord allow their vassal to act like so?

"Ning'er, don't say that. Leave them with some dignity!"

They were all on the same side after all, practically brothers. Xie Tianyang had to curb Xue Ningxiang's willfulness. He then turned to Xie Tianshang, "Big brother, all of us house disciples are usually focused on cultivating. Fighting alone is out of the question, but when it comes to joining a team, it's best we leave it to Yunhai. If I know that punk Zhuo Fan well, he never did things he wasn't sure of. So let's go along with his decision."

Luo Yunhai nodded in gratitude at Chu Qingcheng, Xue Ningxiang and Xie Tianyang. Then turned nervously to Xie Tianshang.

Xie Tianshang squinted but gave his consent, "What would you have us do?"

Luo Yunhai was overjoyed. He finally had Sword Marquise Abode's support.

Long Xingyun saw how two of his allies caved and shrugged, in lack of a better option, "Since Drifting Flowers Edifices and Sword Marquise Abode approve, I will also listen to you."

Luo Yunhai was excited.

He had now become the tri-house alliance's acting commander. He had the power to move thousands of people, that of the thee houses and their vassals.

As long as Huangpu Qingtian didn't butt in, he was certain nothing could stand in the way of him and his army.

Luo Yunhai put on a serious face and spoke, "From my discussion with big brother Zhuo we've concluded that we are surrounded. We will have to break through the encirclement. Listen up, everyone, the vassals are to split in three groups, those belonging to each houses.

"The Drifting Flowers Edifices division will form a column, awaiting my order to attack our behind. The other two will form our flanks as we move in tandem. Keep cool and don't break formation as you fight. Be mindful of your position in the formation to not let it crumble." Luo Yunhai shouted with confidence.

He knew full well that Zhuo Fan was the sole reason they listened. But come the aftermath of the battle, he was certain their views will change.

[My five years in the army weren't a waste.]

Luo Yunhai vowed...

Chapter 291, Charge

Zhuo Fan went over to Huangpu Qingtian, his gait casual, his tone calm, just like seeing an old pal, "Young master Huangpu, since this is the second round, you should've told me. Where's the pill then?"

"Ha-ha-ha, please. It'd be the same as dangling the Brimming Sacred Pill in your face. Now that I've seen what Steward Zhuo can do, let's see you try getting it now!" Huangpu Qingtian raised a taunting eyebrow.

Zhuo Fan shook his head. There was no point in doing anything, not when he had no clue of the item's location.

"Young master Huangpu, since you won't tell me, take it as my loss this time. Let's meet again in round three!" Zhuo Fan waved and was about to retreat, as if scared.

Huangpu Qingtian snickered, "Steward Zhuo, I admit that I have no way of stopping you from leaving. Nor do you have a way of stopping me. But I can't say the same for them."

Hinting at Luo Yunhai's army, Huangpu Qingtian snickered with a light clap.

Furious roars filled the marsh, storming for the group of allies from both sides. Just as Luo Yunhai predicted.

The attack was formed of two armies led by Yan Bangui and You Yushan, respectively. There was no sign of Lin Xuanfeng.

The guy was double the cripple, true, but a Profound Heaven expert regardless. He wasn't about to miss out on springing an ambush.

With such an obvious answer, Luo Yunhai easily predicted the guy was waiting for them to retreat in his direction.

"Nice, you live up to the name of Tianyu's Fifth Tiger!" Xie Tianshang showed his admiration. His opinion of Luo Yunhai grew a notch.

The same went for the others.

If not for Luo Yunhai's tactic, the sudden charge of so many enemies would've crushed them where they stood. Some would chose to flee and run into Lin Xuanfeng's team, sealing any means of escape.

Luo Yunhai may be weak, but his art of war was leagues above anyone from Six Dragons and One Phoenix!

Luo Yunhai just shook his hand. The praise didn't get to his head as he kept his cool in dealing with the sudden dual charge, "Listen up. Only act when I give the signal!"

They all nodded, fully trusting Luo Yunhai.

Huangpu Qingtian watched it all with a smile, "Steward Zhuo, your allies look positively rooted in fear. They huddle together like lambs, about to break, flooded by my men."

"Isn't it what you wanted anyway?" Zhuo Fan smiled back, completely confident of Luo Yunhai's abilities.

Squinting, Huangpu Qingtian felt something amiss.

His side had ten thousand men doing the charge and even laid down an ambush. While the tri-house alliance numbered three thousand at best, outnumbered five to one!

With them holding the field and numerical advantage, anyone would think this battle was in the bag. So what did Zhuo Fan based his confidence on?

Huangpu Qingtian would find out soon enough.

"Kill!"

With an earth shaking roar, Luo Yunhai pointed behind him and his army followed.

Yan Bangui and You Yushan's armies were stunned in bafflement.

[We haven't even made contact, so why are they charging behind? The ambush hadn't sprung yet either!]

The two were oblivious to its meaning and took it as a good thing. Regardless of what trick they pulled, it would only work to show a hole in their formation. [This will make things easier, killing them down to the last man!]

The two only grew excited in their charge.

How could they have known their crass assumption couldn't be farther from the truth?

Luo Yunhai's army did charge, but its flanks did their job in keeping the center shielded. Despite the flanks clashing with the enemy, they showed no weakness in their defense as they also didn't engage in a heated fight, moving with the center's charge as well.

Yan Bangui and Yan Bangui's armies found themselves in the worst situation. They felt as if each man was facing five people. Just as they attacked the front, a sudden retaliation came from the back.

The tri-house alliance moved like the sea, crushing the enemy armies in waves. Amidst the turbulent waters, Yan Bangui and You Yushan found their numbers culled.

As for the lucky survivors, they landed far behind the battle, looking on at the endless strings of corpses left by the alliance's charge.

They had the numbers, they had the flanking, but now they had the biggest losses. While Yan Bangui and You Yushan looked positively glum, Huangpu Qingtian gnashed his teeth.

[You've got your ass handed to you even when five to one?! Just what do I keep you idiots for anyway?]

You Yushan's back tingled from Huangpu Qingtian's seething bloodthirst and he gave the signal to Lin Xuanfeng.

A three-pronged attack ought to save them from a gruesome and cruel death, no?

But as Lin Xuanfeng eagerly led his five thousand men to beat someone when they were down…

He heard a loud boom and his army was blown away. Luo Yunhai's vanguard, Drifting Flowers Edifices, was mowing his men like grass.

His only reaction… slackjawed.

[What. The. Hell?]

[Weren't we supposed to catch a fish in a barrel at this point? Why the hell do I still see them holding strong?]

[How the hell does a huge fish like this just slip right past you?]

[Yan Bangui and You Yushan, are you more useless than manure? What are you doing letting a pristine army charge here? How am I supposed to stop them?]

While he was here cursing his allies, the duo cursed right back.

[You damn cripple! Is this how you lead an army? Are your men meant as cannon fodder? I don't expect you to stop them, but you could at least curb their charge somewhat!]

[You're 100% garbage is what you are! You got what was coming to you when Soaring Demonic Dragon took an arm and a leg!]

As the trio cursed each other like no tomorrow, Luo Yunhai had no problem punching his way through the encirclement.

Zhuo Fan laughed from pride.

When it came to armies, ambushes were the norm. This couldn't have been a better test for the fledgling Marshal. The way Luo Yunhai set his army was the typical echelon formation, excelling in counter attacking the pincer attack and allowing high mobility.

This formation puts a price on speed above all else. Once it was formed and picked enough speed, nothing could stand in its way.

Zhuo Fan flicked a grin to Huangpu Qingtian, "Young master Huangpu, my guess is that it wouldn't be so hard for them to get away."

Face twitching, Huangpu Qingtian looked ahead with a scorching gaze. He wished nothing more than to kill those three wretched allies of his.

The reason for one's defeat wasn't an unbeatable enemy, but wretched allies.

[Those morons have higher numbers yet were still smacked around. All they managed to do is drag my reputation through the mud. They're nothing but utter imbeciles!]

Taking a deep breath to quell the surging anger, Huangpu Qingtian laughed coldly, "Ha-ha-ha, Steward Zhuo is erudite in pen and sword. You've had this planned all along…"

"No, no, no, there was no planning. They did it all by themselves. One must give credit where it's due, and not take it for oneself." Zhuo Fan cut him off with his snide remark.

Which only got Huangpu Qingtian even more worked up.

Zhuo Fan's deceitful character was common knowledge, so losing to him was hardly shameful. But those three sods of his lost to the likes of some broads from Drifting Flowers Edifices. To make matters worse, it was the tyke from Luo clan leading them.

With his allies having lost any semblance of dignity, it was quite sensible for their leader to blow a gasket.

Grating his teeth and fuming mad, Huangpu Qingtian's face took on a vile tone, "Steward Zhuo, I never wished to drag them into this. You leave me no choice but to…"

"What, go and snap their necks yourself? Ha-ha-ha, you'll have to go through me first." With his trademark evil grin, Zhuo Fan's urge for battle flared.

Huangpu Qingtian nodded, "Our fight is foreordained. But first, let's see if you can save them!"

Huangpu Qingtian's eyes flashed with cruelty and roared at the sky.

"Ooh~!"

Shockingly enough, Huangpu Qingtian's mere shout sounded closer to a dragon than a human.

Zhuo Fan squinted, but his reply was a calm gathering of eerie power in his eyes.

That dragon roar was a special martial art, just like his Wraith Style. They both originated from dragons!

But no man could ever release a dragon's roar, short of being a dragon himself.

Zhuo Fan shook that thought away, finding it utterly ridiculous. A true dragon had the power of at least Gu Santong.

Despite being called a monster, his might had yet to shed the realm of mortals. [So why then…]

Zhuo Fan's train of thought was cut off when the earth rumbled with a dreadful sound…

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Chapter 292, Blood Croc Army

Boom~

As the rumbling continued, the sound only grew louder. Not even the chaos of battle could drown it.

Luo clan and Drifting Flowers Edifices stopped their charge. So too did Yan Bangui and You Yushan cease attacking their flanks.

Ally and enemy alike watched dumbstruck at the source of the noise. What dreaded creature could make such a 'riveting' entrance?

Roar!

They got their answer in the form of an endless stampede of blood-red creatures crawling towards them from behind Huangpu Qingtian. Regardless of where one looked, all they saw was a crawling red mass.

Now that they got a closer look, the creature was a fanged blood crocodile of five meters in length. They were pack animals crawling on the ground, yet that didn't stop them from having incredible speed and tough bodies like peak Bone Tempering experts.

"3rd level spiritual beast, Blood Croc!"

Everyone cried out in alarm. Who wouldn't, when watching ten thousand Blood Crocs marching towards them with relentless force.

A lucky few Profound Heaven experts would just fly out, while the rest were doomed to be ripped limb from limb in the jaws of a croc.

Luo Yunhai turned grave, "Godfather told me the Quanrong are expert beast masters, sweeping the battlefield with their beast army. This army can use formations and could hold its own at a numerical disadvantage, but I never imagined Huangpu Qingtian would resort to the likes of this. This is bad!"

"What, Huangpu Qingtian called them?" Long Xingyun snapped his head at the smirking figure, just as the Blood Crocs simply bypassed him. Now a believer, his face sank, "This monster is already strong enough, but now he can call upon a beast army as well? We can't fight them. Our only choice is to run or get trampled!"

The others took one last fearful look at Huangpu Qingtian and nodded. Huangpu Qingtian's talent had reached a godlike level!

But was running that easy? Sure, the few flying ones could take some passengers, but what about the other couple thousand?

They were fated to end up as broken corpses under the Blood Crocs' stampede.

Chu Qingcheng frowned and sighed.

Yan Bangui, You Yushan and Lin Xuanfeng snickered as they flew away with their Profound Heaven experts, uncaring to the fate of the rest.

Xie Tianyang looked at Zhuo Fan's broad and straight back, "Our fate now rests solely in his hands."

Everyone looked at Zhuo Fan in frustration and helplessness.

Zhuo Fan's abilities were eerie, to say the least, of great power, but could one man stop the flood?

They held no hope in Zhuo Fan.

Even Luo Yunhai, always confident of Zhuo Fan's invincibility, faltered, "I and big brother Zhuo had anticipated the enemy launching a frontal assault. It was our ignorance that led us to assume they'd be men and not thousands of Blood Crocs! Humans are susceptible to fear. A bit of trick here and there from big brother Zhuo would be enough to buy us plenty of time. But when facing a horde of savage spiritual beasts, they won't falter for anything…"

"Damn it! Is there no other way?" Xie Tianshang cut him off in anger. His eyes were burning from rage, "Huangpu Qingtian is inhuman!"

The others got what he was saying.

Yes, he was inhuman. No man was able to subdue a Blood Croc horde and use it for himself. No one would be so cruel to his fellow men, to even throw away his own men's lives to be ground beneath the marching horde of his beasts.

Then it dawned on them, [Eh? Isn't that strikingly similar to Zhuo Fan?]

They turned to him now. The man was taking a deep breath and looked on heavily. Like a cold-blooded monster, he also possessed power no man could.

But how much could this monster slow the horde down? [We don't ask for much, just enough to let us get out alive.]

They held little hope for Zhuo Fan pulling through for them, but they still did hope!

His talent was unseen in this world as well, but he was a human like the rest. How could he possibly slow the beast flood down?

Well, one delusional girl thought this was right up his alley. Xue Ningxiang clenched her fists and said, "No worries. Big brother Zhuo can do it…"

She had now crossed the point of no return, becoming an eternal Zhuo Fan's, uh, fan. She didn't care about hows or whys, just as long as Zhuo Fan did something, everything would be alright.

Funnily enough, she was right!

Luo Yunhai begged to differ however. Zhuo Fan had no problem dealing with a bunch of men charging over, but as for spiritual beasts…

In the face of the ravenous flood, Zhuo Fan looked like a dinghy floating about, ready to tip at any jolt.

However, this dinghy was quite calm, and smiling, "Young master Huangpu, who knew you can tame beasts."

"Ha-ha-ha, you're too kind. It is but a mere parlor trick." Huangpu Qingtian acted casual but couldn't hide the conceit in his eyes from Zhuo Fan.

As Zhuo Fan took pride in his blinking art, Huangpu Qingtian was confident of his beast taming skill.

It was akin to providence. As if Heaven went out of its way to lay everything at this king's feet so that no man, or beast, could defy his righteous conquest.

Zhuo Fan could tell what he was thinking and grinned, "Young master Huangpu, you sure are confident in your ability."

"Not confidence, but a given!" Huangpu Qingtian smiled with his head held high. The Emperor declared, "In this world, be it armies, the ground beneath their feet, the officials, and even these savage beasts, all are fated to bow before their true king!"

[Show off!]

Zhuo Fan's inner outcry summed it up nicely. While his reply was a snort and shake of the head, "What do you say to a wager then?"

"On what?" That got Huangpu Qingtian's attention. [The kid has time to bet when his life is at stake? What's he up to?]

Bang! Zhuo Fan drew a heavy line with his foot, sneering at Huangpu Qingtian, "I wager your beast army won't cross it. Even if just one of them does, I lose."

"Pretentious!" Huangpu Qingtian only had anger for his haughty boast.

He knew what Zhuo Fan was capable of, but never once believed the punk had the power to quell the beast tide of tens of thousands! Huangpu Qingtian only managed to do it with that little secret deep within him. As for power alone? Impossible.

Zhuo Fan's crass words undermined his authority. Was the ability of a regent that easily dispelled?

Zhuo Fan only mocked him, "Well then, oh young master Huangpu, do you accept? The stakes are the Brimming Sacred Pills we each hold. The winner gets the other's pill!"

Huangpu Qingtian mulled over the trickery Zhuo Fan planned to include in this wager, but still held supreme confidence that nothing the punk did could change anything. As such, for honor and hubris, he nodded, "Show me then your futile attempts to stop tens of thousands of spiritual beasts!"

"My pleasure!" With a crafty grin, Zhuo Fan turned to the charging Blood Croc tide.

Filled with barbaric and unrelenting savagery, these Blood Crocs had only one answer to this suicidal kid, gaping maws filled with teeth and sharp claws.

Chu Qingcheng, Xue Ningxiang and the rest watched on unnerved. Huangpu Qingtian had a cold smile, calm and uncaring to the lonely man facing a flood.

Hum~

Zhuo Fan's eyes then flashed in a strange light.

The Blood Crocs were about to tear into him, with one of them even having his head in its maw. It only needed to chomp and that would be the end of Zhuo Fan.

But the Blood Crocs' eyes shrank in fear. Under the astonished looks of the bystanders, the beast army began to shiver.

Roar!

A mewling cry from somewhere among them signaled the rest of the Blood Crocs to turn tail and scamper from whence they came.

The wild eyes and stumbling gait only hinted at the horrors these beasts had seen. They were even faster in retreat!

This spectacle left everyone slackjawed. Chu Qingcheng was dumbstruck, Xie Tianyang was shell shocked, You Yushan was speechless, Lin Xuanfeng jumped out of his skin and, naturally, Huangpu Qingtian was floored.

He still had a clear picture in mind, of Zhuo Fan being torn apart, only to be replaced with an image of a cowering beast army.

What made it worse was the unknown element of how he'd done it.

Huangpu Qingtian stood there like a statue, his eyes lost, mindless of even the fleeing spiritual beasts zipping by…

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Chapter 293, First Contact

"What… just happened?"

You Yushan was floating about in the air, looking dazed at the scampering blood tide. When he finally managed to return to his senses, he said to his two allies, "Wasn't that eldest young master's trump card?"

The two were still out of it by the looks of it.

Huangpu Qingtian had laid it on pretty thick with his boasting. That once Blood Crocs came into play, the tri-house alliance would be left in mangled pieces. They were so excited to see Zhuo Fan finally falling short in something, getting with the program of suffering like everyone else.

The boasting got them hyped as well, eager to see Zhuo Fan in tears.

That wasn't meant to be however, not when the sure kill method was running away at top speed.

The three sank into depression, followed closely by the sharp decline in Huangpu Qingtian's grandeur.

Even Heaven-shaking Dragon Lord got the same treatment as them. He boasted and flounced, sure, but do that in front of Soaring Demonic Dragon and you'd get bitch slapped.

[He had met his bane!]

Luo Yunhai's side was on the verge of breaking down at the sight of the savage beast tide. They felt the end coming, their future robbed.

But looking at it now, they knew the earlier panic was quite pointless. There was no need to fear, as long as Zhuo Fan was here!

The acting commander of the tri-house alliance shook his head at the casual Zhuo Fan, "Sigh, it seems even I don't know big brother Zhuo well. He shrugged the beast army of tens of thousand like it was nothing."

"Forgive me, friends. I have made the grievous mistake of doubting big brother Zhuo's abilities. With how Huangpu Qingtian can do it, it's quite obvious big brother Zhuo can do it too. It's a fallacy to think otherwise!"

Luo Yunhai gave a solemn bow to the vexed crowd.

It made sense though. Having gone through so many events with Zhuo Fan, there was one undeniable truth all of them should've figured out by now. Nothing was impossible for him.

If even he met with an impossible conundrum, then all hope was lost.

Huangpu Qingtian could control spiritual beasts? Humph, then so could Zhuo Fan. The basis? He was Zhuo Fan, of course.

In the blink of an eye, Zhuo Fan's fan club found its ranks greatly bolstered.

One had to admit that even a fan was right, sometimes. Just look at Xue Ningxiang, bouncing around with unbridled joy, "See that? What did I tell you?"

Chu Qingcheng shook her head. Although her love rival, she still found her innocence pleasing to the eye.

Xiao Dandan's eyes had hearts in them, watching Zhuo Fan with an intoxicated leer.

Zhuo Fan's cold tone gave her quite the scare back then, but with him striking the alpha male pose, she threw that fear out the window. Dying by his hand would be a dream come true at this point.

[I'd rather be a ghost by a hero's side than the wife of a lousy bum!]

The lust was strong with this one. Xiao Dandan simply wanted to gobble Zhuo Fan up. Dong Xiaowan saw the other's galls in envy.

They all fought over Zhuo Fan's attention, but not her. She was of low status and being unable to follow her heart left her in misery…

"These monsters are capable of anything!" Xie Tianyang glanced at Xue Ningxiang's red face with jealousy.

The others paused for a second then nodded unanimously.

One man controlled a beast tide while the other shooed it away with a wink. Could a human being ever do that?

The two became a beacon of shock and awe to every onlooker.

Zhuo Fan reigned totally supreme. He did have the upper hand and all…

Rumble~

Amidst the ever shaking earth from the fleeing Blood Crocs passing him by, Huangpu Qingtian's face twitched. His fists scrunched up and he spat through gnashed teeth, "Stop! I command you all to stop!"

Not one Blood Croc minded his rave. They had bigger things to worry about.

[You moron of elephantine proportions. You're merely a king on earth and can command some of us, but that man is an emperor over everyone. You don't compare!]

[Go home, wash up, and sleep tight!]

No Blood Croc who passed him showed any intent of ever stopping, even if he roared himself hoarse.

Roar!

Huangpu Qingtian was pissed. He released a dragon roar deep enough to resound even through the deaf Blood Crocs.

Zhuo Fan looked on with a quizzical look.

Only now did the Blood Crocs stop and look at him.

Huangpu Qingtian smiled in joy, having regained some semblance of his regality. But then the Blood Crocs lowered their heads again and scampered off like naughty children.

The man's eyes were bloodshot and his anger exploded.

He was a king and no one defied him. Especially not some mongrels!

Thump!

An iron fist lashed out and blood blossomed. The punch blew up the head of a Blood Croc.

"Stop or die!" Huangpu Qingtian wailed with his hand dripping blood.

Not that it had any effect. The Blood Crocs didn't give a rat's ass about his commands.

In a fit of anger, he blew up five more Blood Crocs but the beasts took it in a stride, running as fast as their legs could carry them.

As anger gave way to despondency, this king found himself dethroned, standing there in absent shock as the Blood Crocs streamed by…

"Why won't they listen? I am their king!" Huangpu Qingtian muttered under his breath in bewilderment.

All this while the Blood Crocs ignored him. He didn't strike a kingly figure anymore, but that of a beggar now that he had lost his throne. He was a nobody!

The rest of the Six Dragons and One Phoenix, foe and ally alike were watching it all in stunned shock. The day had finally come for the mighty Heaven-shaking Dragon Lord, Huangpu Qingtian, to be lost and despondent.

The defiance of his orders thwarted by Zhuo Fan's ability had a far greater impact on this proud and majestic king. It was too much for even him to bear!

The watchful shadow from the sides sighed, "These two are natural enemies. Yet each is a genius seen once every ten thousand years. The death of even one of them would be such a tragedy. Should I… take them both?"

He threw away that thought with a shake of his head and snickered, "He-he-he, nah. The world isn't big enough for both of them. Their fight is preordained. It's only a matter of time. The most sensible choice is to let them go at it and pick the winner, hi-hi-hi…"

No one knew such a creepy and uncertain element had snuck its way into the Esoteric Debate.

Zhuo Fan scratched his nose, feeling quite disappointed in himself, "Uh, Young master Huangpu, don't be so down. There's no shortage of people who had and will lose to me. By the looks of it, I seem to be the winner in this little wager of ours. Will you honor our deal?"

With all the Blood Crocs gone, Huangpu Qingtian raised his head to reveal a crazed pair of eyes as he snapped, "Humph, my word is gold. What do you take me for, a welsher?"

Huangpu Qingtian took out a vial from his chest. Zhuo Fan knew it to have the Brimming Sacred Pill.

Huangpu Qingtian was afraid Zhuo Fan would snatch his ring again so he hid it in his clothes.

Any cultivator out there had the means to store their things, be it rings or bags. It was arguably the safest place to keep, unlike on your own body.

But Huangpu Qingtian's thinking went the other way around. He chose the most important item to hide on himself. The most dangerous place was also the safest. It even caught Zhuo Fan off guard.

Zhuo Fan would never have found it even if he snatched all the storage rings.

Zhuo Fan laughed, "Ha-ha-ha, Young master Huangpu is so crafty. I never saw it coming. I was still of a mind you gave it to that cripple for safekeeping! "

"Humph, you take me for a fool to leave it on him after the first pill?" Huangpu Qingtian flicked and the vial flew at Zhuo Fan, "Humph, take it!"

Whoosh!

The vial shot through the air, leaving eerie sounds as it passed. Even space shimmered.

Zhuo Fan felt a sudden immense pressure slam into his shoulders just as it neared. It even made the likes of him stagger.

Startled, Zhuo Fan threw his hand forward to block it.

Thump!

The impact had him slide five meters and even found his arm that caught the vial numb.

He was shocked to find what a mere flick could do. No wonder Chu Qingcheng and the other two lost against Huangpu Qingtian even though they joined hands.

[This guy is a monster, a monster body cultivator!]

Besides Gu Santong, he would definitely be the most outstanding talent of the younger generation.

Zhuo Fan knew that even his Diamond Body was a far cry from Huangpu Qingtian's physique!

[Elder Li was right, this guy is a true monster, stronger than me.]

After this first true contact with Huangpu Qingtian, Zhuo Fan now realized the full extent of the power the head of Six Dragons and One Phoenix wielded…

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Chapter 294, Release the Beasts

Whoosh!

A black figure blocked Zhuo Fan.

He was still staggered from the previous blow when another strike came out of the blue.

Squinting, Zhuo Fan blocked the strike with his hand.

Boom!

The immense power of the strike cracked earth under him, caving it for a hundred meters around. But it hardly mattered compared to the pain coming from his arm. It was on the verge of being broken!

Astonished, Zhuo Fan found himself face to face with a sinister looking Huangpu Qingtian, his eyes beaming with murderous intent.

"Zhuo Fan, I can't let you live!" Cackling, Huangpu Qingtian spun a kick into Zhuo Fan's waist, aiming to split him in two, "You're the first to ever rile my desire to kill!"

His brow shuddering, Zhuo Fan faced the sky splitting leg. Since he couldn't block, he had his right eye flash golden.

Instant movement!

Whoosh!

Huangpu Qingtian had cut Zhuo Fan in half, only to find it was his afterimage. While the man himself got some much needed distance between them, gasping for breath.

He didn't anticipate Huangpu Qingtian would ever resort to sucker punching him. What he did just now must've really pushed the guy's buttons and had now driven him mad with the sole purpose of slaughtering him.

The onlookers from farther away were astonished.

This was the third time Zhuo Fan and Huangpu Qingtian were at each other's throats. First in Dragon Cloud City, cut short by Dugu Zhantian's meddling. Second was pill stealing, though no one was there to witness exactly how it went down. And as the saying went, third time's the charm. They truly let loose in this round, no holds barred.

The result? Zhuo Fan's prospects at winning just hit rock bottom. He was on a total defensive. And if not for that mystical ability of his, he'd be a goner.

Huangpu Qingtian's overwhelming dominance crushed Zhuo Fan!

Not even Zhuo Fan could face this monster.

Gnashing his teeth, Xie Tianshang was tense. You Yushan, however, was cackling mad. Both side's leaders had monstrous talent, but when it came to measuring fists, Huangpu Qingtian won by a landslide. Zhuo Fan had no way to fight back!

The uninvited guest in the shadows nodded, "Huangpu Qingtian has the advantage in body, but Zhuo Fan is far more flexible and crafty. He is better by far. And this is when he isn't even in the Profound Heaven Stage. If the two were of equal cultivation, this fight would've ended a long time ago. "

Huangpu Qingtian drew the same conclusion, which only fueled his desire to kill to new heights.

Zhuo Fan presented himself as a real and tangible threat to him. He never got the same feeling from the other Six Dragons and One Phoenix, and only looked at them with disdain even when forced to deal with their cooperation.

On the other hand, Zhuo Fan was a great threat to him. Even more so now that he saw Zhuo Fan cower the Blood Croc horde and trampled all over his royal face.

It was a wake up call. That Zhuo Fan was the same as him, qualified to be king.

With a cold glint in his eye, Huangpu Qingtian barked, "Zhuo Fan, is your art only good at running away?"

"Yep!" Zhuo Fan was blunt as a birch stump, not forgetting his evil grin as he counted on his fingers, "Running, assassination, scouting, spying, and let's not forget my favorite, ring stealing. It has quite wonderful applications, don't you think?"

That only pissed Huangpu Qingtian off. He was looking to mock the man into attacking.

But Zhuo Fan was way too calm, ignoring the cheap taunt and making a kingly comeback. His desire to murder Zhuo Fan on the spot spiked again.

The shadow nodded. He knew how to appreciate talents.

Detached from everything and looking at things with cool and critical eyes were the makings of a great arriviste. At the same time, Huangpu Qingtian's image fell a notch in his eyes.

The shadow slowly began to be partial towards Zhuo Fan, finding him to be the better seed…

Taking a deep breath, Huangpu Qingtian found himself in distress. Zhuo Fan was unlike Chu Qingcheng and the like. He could come and go as he pleased, with no one to stop him. He was the biggest headache there ever was when made an enemy.

That magical art gave him an insurmountable advantage.

So Huangpu Qingtian pointed at his allies and barked, "What are you gawking at? Kill them already!"

The trio woke up with a start. Why had they stopped? [We gotta box them in.] Thus they gave the signal.

Luo Yunhai's echelon formation was still shaken from the Blood Croc horde and their momentum slacked. They were losing.

With the enemy surrounding them, the couple thousand army had sunk into despair against the ten thousand enemies. Few were of Chu Qingcheng's level to escape, while the rest would find their lives driven into the mud.

Panicking, Luo Yunhai commanded, "Three round formation!"

In an instant the three divisions became rotating barrels, blocking the enemy's onslaught. You Yushan wasn't worried though. This formation was a defensive one. They would just have to whittle them down with numbers.

Grinning, the three looked on coldly.

Zhuo Fan frowned a bit. As long as his friends were stuck here, he was going nowhere and would sooner or later end up just as dead.

You Yushan leading the ten thousand army not only entrapped Chu Qingcheng's group but also bogged down Zhuo Fan - two birds with one stone.

"Ha-ha-ha, Zhuo Fan, see how I trample them!" Huangpu Qingtian snickered.

He was forcing Zhuo Fan to face him.

Squinting, Zhuo Fan sported a cold smile, "You'd lower yourself to such an extent? Moreover, you'd have done it already if you wanted to."

"Ha-ha-ha, indeed. I despise them, but now that you're here, things have changed. I'll take great delight in tearing them apart before your very eyes."

Zhuo Fan tensed and secretly sighed. Just like he thought. Huangpu Qingtian left them alive, just so he could restrain him.

But the cold smile never changed, "Young master Huangpu, do you really think I'd let them drag me down?"

"Oh? But isn't your young master with them as well?" Huangpu Qingtian's eyes glinted, having seen through him. He charged for the armies.

It was also then when a wind whistled straight for him.

This was what he was waiting for. He blocked the kick with his hand, releasing a metallic sound.

Looking closer, he found Zhuo Fan eying him coldly.

"He-he-he, finally decided to attack." Huangpu Qingtian gave a crafty smile from having found Zhuo Fan's achilles' heel. He threw a devastating punch.

The blow had the power of a mountain behind it.

Zhuo Fan vanished, letting the punch pass him.

The earth caved in tens of meters over a kilometer as a result of the massive impact.

It kicked up a cloud of dust and shocked even the clashing armies from the immense power display.

What power could do this?

Zhuo Fan was sweating now. Blocking that would've earned him a quick trip down under.

He looked at his friends helplessly, forced to clash this monster head on.

Huangpu Qingtian cackled at the floating Zhuo Fan, filled with scorn, "I wonder for how long can you stop my advance!"

Zhuo Fan gnashed his teeth and charged.

The effect each time was minimal, barely stalling Huangpu Qingtian's progress. His teleports saved him from the worst, but there was no way to escape unscathed.

Huangpu Qingtian was inevitable. He royally took one step at a time towards his target as he unleashed his power.

The sight of Zhuo Fan being played around like a mouse left the others in despair. Not even their last hope could stop the mighty Heaven-shaking Dragon Lord.

But only Chu Qingcheng saw through it and said nervously, "It's for us. Huangpu Qingtian is forcing Zhuo Fan's hand. We have to get out of here!"

It dawned on them what a disgrace they were. They became Zhuo Fan's shackles.

"But how are we supposed to break out when we're outnumbered? What do we do?" Luo Yunhai sighed.

For even Luo Yunhai to come out empty, it showed how truly desperate a situation they were all in.

Chu Qingcheng turned to her two allies, "Have you brought your spiritual beasts?"

Their eyes lit up, reminded how their houses provided them with some high level spiritual beasts. They were pressed at every turn all this time that they'd completely forgotten.

The two nodded.

Chu Qingcheng smiled and spoke heavily, "Use our trump cards. Release the beasts and clear a path!"

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Chapter 295, Qiao'er's Appearance

Shriek~

A bird cry pierced the sky, heralding the appearance of a snow white beast and plunging the area into a freezer.

To the shock of everyone, they found a five meter large white eagle looming overhead. It kicked up a snowstorm with each flap of its wings. Biting cold winds pierced the enemies in their charge, slowing them and freezing the hapless.

"5th level spiritual beast, Nether Wind Falcon!" Chu Qingcheng shouted.

Xie Tianshang and Long Xingyun weren't slow either.

Roar!

The reverberating roar drew one's attention to a ten meter golden leopard. Its piercing eyes unnerved the staunchest of hearts, ready to pounce on them and maul their flesh.

"5th level spiritual beast, Golden Cloud Leopard!" Xie Tianshang shouted.

"And mine, 5th level spiritual beast, Heaven-seething Lava Serpent!" Long Xingyun pointed at a fifty meter long python covered in rocks. Its eyes shooting flames.

The descent of three 5th level mighty beasts struck fear in the hearts of the enemy. Each one was equal to a Radiant Stage expert. With three of them unleashed, the tri-house alliance's power was greatly boosted.

Roar! Shriek! Sss!

The only sensible reaction in the face of such a display was to shirk back. The three spiritual beasts started raining havoc within the enemy lines, darting to and fro unhinged. Not even Profound Heaven experts faced them.

As the cries of agony reached the sky, Chu Qingcheng's team made a breach, even if that gap was now littered with corpses.

"Yunhai, use the path to get us out!" Chu Qingcheng pointed at the clearing.

Luo Yunhai was about to do just that but three cold laughs revealed You Yushan and his two allies looking down on them still.

You Yushan only mocked them, "Chu Qingcheng, aren't we all from the seven houses? You think you're the only ones with pets? Don't take us lightly. Our reserves aren't the least bit weaker than yours!"

You Yushan snapped his fingers and revealed a blazing falcon thirty meters long, "5th level spiritual beast, Scorching Eagle!"

"Mine as well, 5th level spiritual beast, Hundred Eyes Pestilence Spider!"

Yan Bangui revealed a fifty meter long, black as night tarantula.

It spewed a thick miasma that cut off the path ahead.

Chu Qingcheng's group found themselves back at a standstill.

Lin Xuanfeng snickered at their grave faces, "It's time for you to feast your eyes on my 5th level spiritual beast, Nine-clawed Wind Stoat!"

A sharp wind brushed by and revealed a short one meter long skunk bearing its claws at them.

The six spiritual beasts started fighting, with no clear winner in sight. The shockwaves blew away any poor soul too slow to react.

These were the ripples from six Radiant Stage experts' attacks. Even a Profound Heaven expert would be sent to his death.

The morale began to sink as fear set in. But the most feared were still the seven houses.

Only the likes of them could dish out 5th level spiritual beasts that could fight a Radiant Stage expert to a standstill!

The reveal of the six spiritual beasts only furthered the tug of war. You Yushan's side stayed back in fear of not being dragged into their battle, but Chu Qingcheng's group now had no way of breaking out either.

It now became clear that they were doomed to wait for Huangpu Qingtian to come reap their lives.

Chu Qingcheng turned to the others, "This stalemate is the worst outcome for us. Does anyone have a 5th level spiritual beast that can help?"

All she got was eye rolls.

[What do you take us for? You think we're that well off to raise a 5th level spiritual beast?]

Chu Qingcheng sighed in sorrow while You Yushan's side was having a field day at their expense.

The longer this dragged on the greater the danger.

Huangpu Qingtian glanced over satisfied, before turning to Zhuo Fan, "I didn't think they would use their trump cards so soon. A shame it changed nothing."

Zhuo Fan frowned and his hand trembled.

"Ha-ha-ha, worried? Then I will help you feel at ease by not making you waste time on a bunch of soon to be corpses!" Grinning, Huangpu Qingtian shouted, "Flaming Lion King, end them!"

Roar!

The imposing power pierced the hearts of everyone as a flaming winged lion pounced on Chu Qingcheng's army.

"6th level spiritual beast, Flaming Lion King!"

They all gasped in fear. None saw it coming, that Huangpu Qingtian's spirit animal would be a 6th level spiritual beast.

It was going to throw the stalemate in the enemy's favor!

The tri-house alliance's spiritual beasts shuddered from the lion's roar. Their power cut down, they were pushed back by the other three spiritual beasts.

"We're finished!"

Chu Qingcheng's army was filled with despair and frustration as the savage lion unleashed waves of flame in its path.

Even though they'd die either way. Up till now they at least had the chance to take as many as they could down with them. With even some Profound Heaven experts cherishing the faint hope of survival. But now that the lion king was here, all hope was lost.

Their lives were now waiting for the flames of war to burn them to cinders.

You Yushan's side laughed. Zhuo Fan kept on shuddering. He didn't get to act as a twisted and maniacally voice grated his ears.

"If you leave, who's to hold me back?

Huangpu Qingtian cackled. He was having a blast seeing Zhuo Fan so conflicted. After suffering at his hand for so many times, he finally had vindication. It felt good.

Taking a deep breath, Zhuo Fan found himself in a bind.

With two threats on a collision course with Chu Qingcheng's group, he could only pick one. It was such a nerve wrecking decision that he felt lost regardless of what he picked.

But then, his Thunder Ring flickered. Zhuo Fan felt the impatience and hatred within.

Qiao'er?

He was startled and perplexed at its impatience. But he soon knew why.

Flaming Lion King was the same beast who had killed his mother. Although a different one, the thirst for revenge remained. Its hatred ran bone deep for what it had done to its mother.

But how was the young Qiao'er going to fight against the Flaming Lion King? It was only a 4th level spiritual beast.

The answer was picked for him as Qiao'er had reached its limit and the Thunder Ring flickered stronger.

[Sigh, it's not like it will change anything.]

Zhuo Fan gnashed his teeth, having made a decision, "Young master Huangpu, I may not be able to split myself, but what you have, well so do I!"

With a snicker, Zhuo Fan flourished, "Come, Qiao'er!"

In a flash of purple, a purple lightning shot for Flaming Lion King. Qiao'er only had one thing on its mind, revenge.

"What is that?" You Yushan peered at the lightening glow.

Yan Bangui said, "It appears to be a Thunder Skylark, a 6th level spiritual beast. But why is it purple?"

"What, 6th level spiritual beast? He has one too?" Lin Xuanfeng panicked, "Won't this end up in a standstill again?"

Yan Bangui took a closer look, before giving a deprecating shake of his head, "Relax, that won't happen. This Thunder Skylark is only a chick, at the 4th level. It's no match for an adult Flaming Lion King! Besides, an adult Thunder Skylark would fare no better."

Lin Xuanfeng laughed, "Ha-ha-ha, what's up with Zhuo Fan then? Is he so fed up with his useless spiritual beast that he wants to give it to the lion king as a snack?"

That set the other two laughing.

While on Chu Qingcheng's side, they were hopeful a treacherous man like Zhuo Fan had to have an amazing spirit animal.

Only to feel their hopes crumble at the sight of a young Thunder Skylark, a mere 4th level spiritual beast, and they resumed despairing.

Even Zhuo Fan felt how hopeless it was to even let such a meager support out.

Ha~

With great hope came an equally great disappointment as they all sighed, resigned to their fates…

Huangpu Qingtian wasn't about to let this golden chance go and mocked the chick as well, "Zhuo Fan, are you that desperate to even send your useless spiritual beast to its death?"

"What can I say? If it wants to die, I can't stop it!"

Shrugging, Zhuo Fan didn't seem to care, but the worry in his eyes was unmistakable. Even he didn't know of Qiao'er's power. Common sense dictated that a 4th level spiritual beast wouldn't be considered even a side dish to a 6th level spiritual beast.

Qiao'er's chances were between nil and infinitesimal.

Catching on to Zhuo Fan's worry, Huangpu Qingtian capitalized on it to put his own worries to rest. [The punk has no overt scheme in play at all. He is on the ropes.] That last one made his day and he smiled from ear to ear.

In the meantime, Qiao'er was already behind the Flaming Lion King.

It had everyone's full attention. Even their breath was caught in their throat at the imminent clash…

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Chapter 296, Purple Lightning's Superiority

Roar!

Flaming Lion King's roar grated ears as it showed its dominance. The six 5th level spiritual beasts had long stopped to watch.

You Yushan's group's spiritual beasts bent a knee and bowed their heads before the mighty lion king. While on Chu Qingcheng's side, their spiritual beasts knew when they were overpowered and shuddered as they inched backward again and again.

It only worked to further let arrogance get to Flaming Lion King's head, showing a scornful smile. It escaped his notice or, better yet, it brushed off Qiao'er's existence entirely.

And it went the same for the other six spiritual beasts.

What could a 4th level spiritual beast possibly do in this hopeless situation?

Chu Qingcheng's side's spiritual beasts were vexed. [It makes no difference even if you come, fowl. You're dead anyway.] While the enemy's beasts looked on with mockery.

Chu Qingcheng's faction was plunged deeper in despair. If the purple Thunder Skylark instilled a trickle of hope earlier, it was now thoroughly squashed.

A spiritual beast's senses were accurate. If they looked down on the chick, then it was clearly worthless…

Shriek~

Not that Qiao'er cared what any of them thought of it. It only had eyes for Flaming Lion King. It cried from behind to call out the lion king with a gaze burning with hatred and thirst for battle.

Flaming Lion King swished his head back, glaring at Qiao'er, itching to eat it and quench its anger.

[You dare challenge me?]

Qiao'er's plumes flickered and purple sparks traveled all over it. If that wasn't clear enough, then the thick bloodthirst made it abundantly obvious it wanted the lion king's head on a platter.

The lion king was royally pissed when Qiao'er didn't stop its cries.

[You wretched and filthy whelp, no Thunder Skylark can match me, but you, a chick, thinks it can? For you to challenge my authority, the punishment is death.]

Roar!

With another angry roar, Flaming Lion King started showing its violent side. The frightened six spiritual beasts were already meek, not even squawking. Qiao'er was the only exception, its eyes were fixed on the bronze lion and its screeches never stopped taunting it.

The fully incensed Flaming Lion King opened its maw and spewed a three meter big fireball.

Not even a Profound Heaven expert could block such a blow. He'd be turned to ashes.

Everyone watched on edge, worried for the Thunder Skylark's fate. Xue Ningxiang was panicking, turning to Xie Tianyang, "Brother Tianyang, big brother Zhuo's bird looks so pitiful. Please save it!"

Ugh!

Cold sweat filled the silent Xie Tianyang. He turned to the unbearably naive Xue Ningxiang with an aggrieved look, "Ning'er, if the bird is pitiful, I am even more so! Have you forgotten our time in Allbeast Mountain Range, of the fight between Flaming Lion King and Thunder Skylark? Now you are asking me to save a 4th level spiritual beast when I am nowhere near as strong as a 6th level spiritual beast?"

"But… it's just so pitiful!" Xue Ningxiang was saddened.

Xie Tianyang shook his head, "Blame Zhuo Fan. He knows it too yet insists on sending it to its death."

His words got nods from all around him, puzzled as to why Zhuo Fan took this reckless course of action.

Zhuo Fan himself tightened his fists from worry. [Qiao'er, you are the embodiment of lightning and faster than Flaming Lion King. You must dodge!]

Huangpu Qingtian snickered, "You must be thinking Flaming Lion King can't catch up to Thunder Skylark's speed, right? Ha-ha-ha, have you forgotten whose spirit animal the lion king is?"

Huangpu Qingtian gave Flaming Lion King a look.

Flaming Lion King nodded and flapped its wings.

A blazing tornado engulfed tiny Qiao'er, sealing all means of escape. Just as the fireball approached.

With its biggest advantage sealed, its fate was without a doubt certain death.

Zhuo Fan panicked inside, [How is the brash and overbearing Flaming Lion King capable of such refined skill?]

"Ha-ha-ha, you have a spirit animal and you don't know? Unlike spiritual beasts, a master can teach and train its pet martial arts according to their attributes. As I and Flaming Lion King are weak in speed, I devised this move to deal with quick enemies." Huangpu Qingtian snickered.

Zhuo Fan's anger swelled.

He had always been a lone wolf. And since he never raised spirit animals before, he was oblivious to its implications. Now he didn't even have the time to regret.

This was Qiao'er's decision and all he could do was support it. All consequences were for it to bear.

This was the demonic path he treaded!

He hatched Qiao'er from a mere egg and was practically kin. Of course it would walk the same path as him…

Boom!

The fireball exploded on Qiao'er. It combined with the fire tornado in a tremendous bang, releasing a torrent of flames.

Xue Ningxiang clutched her ears, ducking behind Xie Tianyang in fear as she observed the flaming explosion in dismay. The others sighed.

[Here lie the bones of an overconfident creature.]

Zhuo Fan gnashed his teeth, refraining from looking and clenched his fists further.

Huangpu Qingtian beamed. He wasn't in the habit of letting an opponent's weakness pass by, making sure to drive home as much hurt as he could muster through his condescending, "Zhuo Fan, you truly are empty inside. To even send that young spirit animal to its death…"

Boom!

A thunder cut his mockery short. It came from within the fiery blaze. Purple lightning streaked the skies and pulverized the flames into nothing. Qiao'er was revealed at the center of the purple lightning, its eyes were raging as before, bent on killing the lion king where it stood.

[How in god's name is that possible?]

Shock and awe was prevalent down below. The worst off were the six 5th level spiritual beasts. Not in a million years had they considered it possible for a 4th level spiritual beast to survive the lion king's head on assault.

"W-what skill is that?" Huangpu Qingtian was no different, "Since when did Thunder Skylark have such a skill?"

Zhuo Fan looked at the sky in frown. Only to see Qiao'er wrapped in a purple cocoon of lightning. The errant purple lightning hammered the flames and evaporated at mere touch.

Zhuo Fan was speechless. He found the purple shield familiar and realized where it came from. It was the same as Lightning Canyon's protective barrier. [Is it…]

He didn't complete his thought as Qiao'er was on the move again.

Shriek~

Qiao'er called out Flaming Lion King once again. But it wasn't all talk now, releasing its all in the upcoming clash.

Purple lightning snaked from its body, twisting space itself. The pressure grew from such a mighty display, to the point it felt as if the end of days was upon them.

The 5th level spiritual beasts weren't the only ones terrified of the imminent danger, even humans found Qiao'er dreadful.

[Why is a 4th level spiritual beast far more dangerous than a 6th level one?]

Even Flaming Lion King squinted, moving backward with a grave face.

Who'd have thought the same Thunder Skylark he slighted would unleash such power?

Long Xingyun's side was dumbfounded. They were more than a little familiar with Qiao'er's power.

"Little Kui, Little Jie, don't you find that lightning…" Long Xingyun stared wide-eyed.

Long Kui nodded, "Yes, it's Uncle Jiu's purple lightning. But… far stronger!"

Long Xingyun gasped, shocked to the extreme.

He had never dreamed he'd ever see the might of Godeye Long Jiu, the power he was famed for, Purple Lightning God Eye, being displayed here, and on a far greater scale and power. On a spiritual beast no less.

Huangpu Qingtian was completely floored, "Z-Zhuo Fan, t-that's a Thunder Skylark?"

"In the flesh. The one I reared myself!" Zhuo Fan grinned, sponging off another's achievements without even a twitch. He pointed at the lion and barked, "Qiao'er, put an end to that eyesore!"

Ding!

Its pair of eyes shone with bloodthirst as Qiao'er's sharp claws glinted. With a flap of its lightning wings, it zoomed for Flaming Lion King like a thunder god.

All eyes were on Qiao'er.

The next moment, the entire sky flashed purple and people's heart's seized…

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Chapter 297, Turning the Tide

Translator: StarReader

Editor: Elitecoder

Roar!

This time people found the shout a bit off. One could feel the haughtiness subside and even detect a hint of fear.

Flaming Lion King's shaking body kept moving backwards as it stared at incoming purple lightning. Franticness touched its eyes and it started spitting fireballs and flapped its wings to keep the dreaded purple lightning at bay.

Fireballs dozens of meters big flew out accompanied by blazing tornadoes – anything to stop Qiao'er.

This power was enough to sunder earth and burn the sky. The six 5th level spiritual beasts had long since cowered away in fear.

The power of a 6th level spiritual beast!

However, Qiao'er was relentless. Lightning streaked its body as it slipped through the cracks in the flames, arriving five meters from the Flaming Lion King and coming face to face with a firestorm. Its eyes squinted and whirled. It charged through, with the purple lightning wrapped around it acting as a drill, piercing the flames and rendering them void.

Boom~

The struck fireballs exploded in a spectacular fashion. Flaming Lion King was beside itself in fear and the next thing it knew was its reflection in Qiao'er's cold eyes!

Pff!

Qiao'er ran through Flaming Lion King's chest before he could even think about dodging. Scarlet blood gushed from the hole like a flood. Flaming Lion King was watching its wound paralyzed.

It, a great 6th level spiritual beast, had actually found its end at the claws of a young Thunder Skylark, a 4th level spiritual beast, in one move!

Its eyes grew heavy, its body colder, evident from the flickering flames over its body. Flaming Lion King felt itself slipping into the dark abyss. Yet it still wanted to go on.

However, the hole in his chest was too great and he soon found his sight go black before collapsing…

Sss~

Gasping, the crowd never saw it coming. A 4th level spiritual beast killing a 6th level spiritual beast? Ridiculous!

Zhuo Fan was just as shocked.

Qiao'er had exceeded his expectations. Especially that killing blow. The average Thunder Skylark didn't have such skills.

Thunder Skylark was a mild 6th level spiritual beast. It only knew to use its lightning to cover its body in defense, but never to focus it into an attacking skill.

This was where Qiao'er differed from the norm. It used the 4th Heaven purple lightning and even comprehended two skills, one for defense and another for attack. It was uncontested proof of its sentience.

Other spirit animals, like Flaming Lion King, were trained in skills by humans, while Qiao'er picked them up by itself. The difference was obvious, like comparing heaven and earth.

And what did it mean if a spiritual beast gained sentience?

The chance to evolve into a sacred beast!

This had never happened among spiritual beasts, nor the appearance of someone like Qiao'er either. A never before seen spiritual beast born from purple lightning!

Zhuo Fan did not yet know where the purple lightning came from. He was still debating if the Heavenly Emperor created it or obtained it somehow.

But one thing he did know was, purple lightning wasn't just sparkles to instill such fear into even the likes of sacred beasts. Qiao'er had bathed in this almighty power and had a high chance of evolving.

The last thought really got his blood flowing. [Am I going to have a sacred beast spirit animal?!]

While he was in his own little world, the others were dazed – the six 5th level spiritual beasts included. They all looked wide eyed at the purple figure.

Who knew a 4th level spiritual beast ever had it in him to kill a 6th level spiritual beast? Surely not them. Not to mention it was overkill how it happened.

[T-this is insane! Illogical, absurd!] It went beyond human and beast comprehension alike, neither side was capable of staring truth in the face.

Huangpu Qingtian was the prime example. Seeing his strongest spirit animal killed like nothing, it had messed up the mind of this poor king. [What the hell is that thing?]

Everyone was so out of it and looking at the slight figure in the air until…

Shriek~

Qiao'er flapped its wings celebrating its conquest. The cry pierced through the people's haze but the fear still lingered.

[The little guy is Zhuo Fan's equivalent in the spiritual beast world. A monster!]

[Sigh, like master like pet.]

The people lamented, watching the purple figure in envy.

Zhuo Fan's eyes shined, "Qiao'er, clear a path for them to break free!"

The crowd was in complete shock.

While only You Yushan's side was panicking. [That thing is stronger than a 6th level spiritual beast.] Clearing a path meant going through them.

Chu Qingcheng's side was jubilant and Zhuo Fan's image grew in their hearts.

[That's our Zhuo Fan. He always pulls through for us!]

Shriek~

Qiao'er complied with his order and dived. He began by peppering the three 5th level spiritual beasts with purple lightning.

Boom~

The lightning smashed down like hail, forcing the spiritual beasts to scatter to and fro in fear.

[Where did this freak come from? And why is this abnormality set on us?]

You Yushan's side was nervous. It wouldn't be long before their beasts would be bombarded to pieces. All the crying in the world wouldn't bring them back then!

Robbed of any choice, in fear and anxiety, You Yushan's side recalled their spiritual beasts. As long as Qiao'er was looming overhead, no one dared take their spirit animal out ever again.

Having lost its targets, Qiao'er flew around unhinged, releasing purple lighting like a veritable thunderstorm and killing all in its path.

Cries of horror pierced the sky and the ears of You Yushan and his two allies as they scattered for cover and their lives. Who the hell had the time to keep Chu Qingcheng in a deadlock?

Luo Yunhai soon found their path cleared and just strutted out like the enemy wasn't even there.

Quite understandable when the same enemy was now screaming and running for their lives.

The eyes on Qiao'er were that of awe, shock and fear. Looking at it dominating the battlefield with its power and valor left them sighing.

[If Zhuo Fan's spirit animal could turn the tides so easily, why didn't he take it out from the start?]

How were they supposed to know Zhuo Fan had no clue of Qiao'er's true might. You'd think he'd keep it stashed away instead of showing off otherwise?

Xie Tianyang looked lost, his face stiff, "Ning'er, do you still find the bird pitiful?"

With a veritable symphony of screams and wails gracing her ears, Xue Ningxiang went beet red as she said, "Uh, no, but the men facing it sure are."

"Everything that Zhuo Fan throws out is insane. Not even his pet is normal!" Xie Tianyang sighed.

Just how did he do it? How the hell did he raise such a monstrous spiritual beast?

"Enough chatter! We need to get out of here first!" Chu Qingcheng snapped, then gave a nod to Luo Yunhai who signaled, "Charge!"

With Qiao'er providing cover fire, they breezed through the enemy lines. No one wanted to stop them either, not unless they wanted to be left smoking and sizzling after a bath of purple lightning.

Huangpu Qingtian stared wide-eyed at the escaping prey and raved, "A bunch of useless mongrels dare foil my plans? You have another thing coming!"

"Ha-ha-ha, what if you include me?"

Whoosh!

Zhuo Fan popped up before him and kicked his face. Huangpu Qingtian mocked, "Humph, you think you can stop me? The only reason you've lived so far is because I was toying with you! You truly believe me to be this weak?"

Huangpu Qingtian's punch this time left the impression of a rock fifty meters tall crashing down on Zhou Fan.

Bam!

Yet when the two attacks clashed, Zhuo Fan's leg flickered purple. A boom resounded as Huangpu Qingtian felt an incredible force stagger him.

Followed closely by Zhuo Fan's evil grin, "Ha-ha-ha, who wasn't?"

Boom!

Huangpu Qingtian was forced back five steps. Zhuo Fan didn't let him recover and punched this time, his hand wrapped in purple lightning.

"Young master Huangpu, we're the same, you and I. None of us will use our aces until the last moment."

Squinting, Zhuo Fan's smirk widened and he hammered Huangpu Qingtian's chest.

Huangpu Qingtian rushed his hand to defend.

Boom!

Another powerful blast revealed purple lightning streaking across the ground, now disintegrated in a thousand meters range. His punch was not one bit less than Huangpu Qingtian's earlier strike…

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Chapter 298, All's Within My Grasp

As dust billowed, the boom traveled a thousand miles.

You Yushan's side couldn't pierce the veil of dust and were beside themselves with shock. Who knew Zhuo Fan was capable of such power? So much so that it almost overwhelmed Huangpu Qingtian!

The worry was prevalent in all, but none ventured forth to clarify it. They were too afraid to interfere between Soaring Demonic Dragon and Heaven-shaking Dragon Lord's deathmatch.

When the dust settled all they saw was a mess. When they double checked the two were nowhere in sight, they scrunched up the little courage they had and investigated the disaster.

But the sudden explosion scared them back. Looking at the source, they found Huangpu Qingtian shooting from the ground, wretched and dirty.

He may look unseemingly, but there was no apparent wound on him.

The shock was palpable at Huangpu Qingtian's state. Taking into account the force behind that fist yet him coming out unharmed in the least, surged them with joy and admiration.

"Eldest young master, you're ok!" You Yushan's gang dashed over.

Taking a deep breath, Huangpu Qingtian's eyes glinted coldly, but he wasn't looking at them, "Where's Zhuo Fan?"

"Uh…"

The three were confused, until You Yushan came forth with a bow, "Eldest young master, Zhuo Fan's punch unleashed a cloud of smoke. Once the dust finally settled we only saw the eldest young master appear. We saw no trace of him. I suspect he has already fled."

Brow shuddering, Huangpu Qingtian spread his Discerning Field for a more precise investigation. Certain that Zhuo Fan was gone, he said, "And Chu Qingcheng's group?"

Blushing, the three hanged their heads, "Forgive us, eldest young master! W-we let them escape!"

Huangpu Qingtian's eyes flashed icily.

Reeling, the three broke out in sweat.

They wished for Huangpu Qingtian's cursing so badly right now. At least it would vent some of his anger. Anything was better than this eerie silence. The fear of not knowing his thinking was only mounting.

One day Huangpu Qingtian may very well be so angry as to strike them down!

The three shuddered in horror, trying to scour for a gesture, anything that betrayed his state of mind.

Huangpu Qingtian kept silent for a long time before finally smiling, "Let them run. It won't change anything."

The three were stunned, having never seen Huangpu Qingtian like this and didn't know how to react.

[Wait, is this the same cold-blooded eldest young master? Not only did his scheme come apart at the seams, but he also lost a Brimming Sacred Pill and a 6th level spirit animal. No to mention he invested so much effort in this plan too, but even after gaining nothing from it, he isn't flying into a rage?]

[Am I dreaming?]

[Did he flip?]

Baffled by the sudden turn of events, they looked on at him in bewilderment. Like he was a different man.

Easily picking up on their thoughts, Huangpu Qingtian showed a vague smile, "Don't forget our mission in this battle!"

"How can we? It's the position as head of the seven houses!" Lin Xuanfeng let it slip.

Having nothing but scorn for the man, Huangpu Qingtian shook his head, "Regent Estate has been the head for a thousand years and not because of this child's play, but by raw power! We don't need this insipid game to prove anything. Not now, not ever!"

Huangpu Qingtian instilled fear in each one of them with his declaration.

[That's the Regent Estate we know, unchanged for a thousand years.]

"Is it for… Brimming Sacred Pills then?" You Yushan ventured.

Grinning, Huangpu Qingtian shook his head again, "Brimming Sacred Pill is a rare 8th grade pill that even the Regent Estate covets. However, that is hardly our goal!"

"Then please enlighten us, eldest young master!" Yan Bangui bowed.

Huangpu Qingtian's eyes burst with coldness as he clenched his crackling fist, "Zhuo Fan!"

[What?!]

The crowd was in complete shock.

Sure, Zhuo Fan was like a disease, but the Esoteric Debate was held once a century to settle the power struggle between the clans. Yet he was saying that Regent Estate only joined because of one man?

[Aren't you overthinking things?]

His cold eyes swept the crowd, lingering longer on his three allies, then Huangpu Qingtian clarified their doubts, "Do you believe Zhuo Fan and Esoteric Debate to be two separate matters?"

Despite everyone avoiding his powerful and steady gaze, there were nods.

"Humph, ignorants!"

Huangpu Qingtian mocked, "Fools! You have that wretched mentality that says he is only a talented cultivator, that you will sooner or later put him down with the power of your houses. What if I tell you that as long as he's around, Luo clan will stand abreast the seven houses in ten years, surpass us in twenty, and in thirty, it will be the strongest clan in Tianyu that not even all seven houses together can oppose! Will you still think this Esoteric Debate to be nothing but a boring game?"

[This can't be…]

This was too much to bear. You Yushan was even denying it as he second-guessed Huangpu Qingtian's words, "Eldest young master, aren't you exaggerating? The legacy of the seven houses is a thousand years old. He won't reach our level in a century, not to mention decades!"

"Humph, exaggerate? Ha-ha-ha, if it was me saying that, your reaction would be inexcusable, albeit understandable. However… "

The crowd was hanging on every one of his words.

Huangpu Qingtian snickered, "What if it came from Sir Leng? Would you doubt the words of a cunning man with ineffable plans like the Unwonted Contriver?"

"What? Leng Wuchang said that?"

They just got the shock of their lives. For even Leng Wuchang to say that, it meant the prediction had to be true!

They just couldn't wrap their head around how Zhuo Fan being a monster gifted with such godlike skills.

Huangpu Qingtian smiled at their skepticism, "Sir Leng said he is of incredible talent, equal to Zhuge Changfeng. He only needs to grasp power and he will soar beyond anyone's reach. That is why we need to clip his wings before he can fully spread them. Or the seven houses will soon be no more. Shame Drifting Flowers Edifices, Veiled Dragon Pavilion and Sword Marquise Abode are too blind to see it. They are playing with fire standing behind him and will find one day robbed of everything!

"But the Luo clan is under the imperial family's protection, and they have Dugu Zhantian for support. We are without means to strike him down in any other circumstances. The only way to eradicate him is to do it within the bounds of the Esoteric Debate!"

Huangpu Qingtian turned his bloodthirsty eyes to them, "That is why our main mission in the Esoteric Debate is to get Zhuo Fan's head. Everything else is secondary!"

The others turned grave, realizing Huangpu Qingtian had finally revealed Regent Estate's real objective for the Esoteric Debate.

But this was nigh impossible to achieve. Harder than gathering the Brimming Sacred Pills and facing spiritual beasts.

After witnessing Zhuo Fan's mystical abilities, they came to realize that he was unrivaled beneath the Radiant Stage.

Even the Heaven-shaking Dragon Lord, the strongest of Six Dragons and One Phoenix, had allegedly barely overpowered him. But when they thought about ignoring him, that was an absolute no.

[Or Huangpu Qingtian would've turned him into a bloody damn smear by now! Why waste so much time explaining it to us?]

"Uh, eldest young master, how are we to go about purging Zhuo Fan? Our best chance was when we had everyone cornered and Zhuo Fan was forced to stay. But now they will be on guard and make it even harder!" You Yushan sighed.

Grinning, Huangpu Qingtian said, "That was our best chance? Ha-ha-ha, merely bait. The punk has bit on it and all that is left is to wait for the poison to take its effect."

Everyone was clueless.

Ignoring them, Huangpu Qingtian turned towards where Chu Qingcheng's group was last seen, "Ha-ha-ha, they thought they'd escaped when in fact they fell right for it! Not even the cunning Zhuo Fan has hope of breaking out of Sir Leng's personally designed master plan. Relax, all's within my grasp… "

The others shuddered, clueless as to what got into him.

And since Sir Leng intervened himself, then this should be a done deal. Sir Leng was hailed as the number one schemer, with a zero fail rate.

The shadow tailing them was startled, [I've heard of Tianyu's Unwonted Contriver, but never imagined he will lower himself to deal with a junior. Heaven-shaking Dragon Lord is talented and powerful, but now he even has Leng Wuchang behind him. Zhuo Fan, you are up against peak experts in both brawn and brains.]

"If you fail, it's only fair I discard you. But if you win… you just became a hot commodity, he-he-he…"

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Chapter 299, Array Map

Rustle~

A shadow streaked the sky, flashing in and out of view every mile.

When he finally stopped, he had crossed tens of miles, listening to the ruckus a few miles out. He just gave a nod, more to himself, and was gone again.

The final appearance was in the middle of the group.

"Who?" Xie Tianshang shouted, sword at the ready. He saw everyone look on with joy, "Oh, you're finally back."

"Yeah, so what are you standing with your weapon drawn for? Put it away, will you." Zhuo Fan rolled his eyes.

Xie Tianshang shook his head as he did just that, "Brother Zhuo is right. I wish to learn a lot from you in a spar, but it doesn't seem appropriate to do it in the middle of a crisis."

Zhuo Fan's face twitched.

[That's a martial fanatic for you. His mind is ever skewed in thinking fighting came first. At least he isn't a lost cause and a complete battle maniac, yet.]

Zhuo Fan's return was met with jubilation all around. As if he had become the true winner of that little skirmish back there. Even the vassals forgot about their true masters and they looked up at him in reverence.

It was only a matter of time. With the three houses now willing to follow Zhuo Fan's every word, it was obvious who the little clans would choose.

Zhuo Fan's earlier turning point was the crux. If not for his timely help in clearing a path, they would've been mowed down.

They had witnessed it themselves. It was no wonder he was hailed as a savior. Zhuo Fan's image soared in their minds…

"Zhuo Fan, are you hurt?" Chu Qingcheng came over. She saw the light scratches and spoke softly. Her face was calm, but the eyes spoke volumes of the deep care and worry she had for him.

Zhuo Fan brushed it off and switched topics, "It's fine. But Huangpu Qingtian isn't a pushover… Oh, what of Ning'er and my spirit animal?"

Chu Qingcheng dimmed, knowing he didn't want to talk about it. She was so aggrieved for not being able to make sense of his thinking.

Dong Tianba graced her with a thorough analysis of Zhuo Fan's heart's ranking, but it was just that, guesswork. In the end, only Zhuo Fan knew what he was thinking.

And this got Chu Qingcheng vexed the most. Any woman wished to know if the one they love thought about her the most. Then there's Zhuo Fan, who was always so vague and dodgy that no one could get a single clue what went on in that big brain of his…

"Brother Zhuo, your spirit animal is so fierce none of us dare even approach. What is even stranger, it seems to have taken a particular liking to young miss Xue and second young master Xie. Look for yourself!" Long Xingyun smiled and pointed above.

Zhuo Fan was dumbstruck.

He saw a purple lightning drifting through the clouds. And on Qiao'er's back was a man and woman having a blast. Who else but Xue Ningxiang and Xie Tianyang?

Zhuo Fan felt depressed at their entertainment. [A Thunder Skylark is a high level spiritual beast, so what is it doing getting so attached to strangers?]

But then it dawned on him.

Xue Ningxiang and Xie Tianyang wore Thunder Rings he refined from Qiao'er's mother. They held its mother's scent.

Such an outcome was obvious.

Shaking his head, Zhuo Fan sighed, "Fate, I guess."

That threw the others off. Qiao'er noticed Zhuo Fan and chirped cheerfully. Seeing where they were flying, Xue Ningxiang waved, "Big brother Zhuo, welcome back!"

Only Xie Tianyang's mood sank. [Here comes the third wheel…]

Smiling, Zhuo Fan gestured for Qiao'er to come next to him. Xue Ningxiang jumped off the bird and skipped over with rosy cheeks and a sweet smile, "Big brother Zhuo, i-is it the same Thunder Skylark young we found in Allbeast Mountain Range?"

"Yeah. I got it to hatch." Zhuo Fan ruffled her hair.

Xue Ningxiang bobbed her head and treated Qiao'er as seeing an old friend, "How adorable, just like its mother!"

Her words set the crowd off in a round of twitching. Zhuo Fan wasn't exempt.

If there was anyone among them who'd call Qiao'er adorable, then that would be the ever naive Xue Ningxiang. They recalled with dread how Qiao'er flew in a circle once and blasted experts to smithereens. [How in hell is that adorable?]

They all went silent, having no clue how to break it.

Shriek~

Qiao'er's sharp cry and piercing eyes raised everyone from their stupor to demand, [You dare say I'm not? Go on, make my day…]

Shivering, they all bobbed their heads, completing the image with a bright smile and a soaked back. Having got its wish, Qiao'er chirped and gave Xue Ningxiang a smile.

Zhuo Fan shook his head at how fast the beast and girl had hit it off. [Is Qiao'er taking Ning'er as its mother?]

Zhuo Fan's cheeks went ablaze as his mind spun. He was Qiao'er's dad and Ning'er its mom. Then he and Ning'er…

"Oi, Zhuo Fan, how the hell have you been raising it? It's no less monster than you are. Mind… giving it to me?" Xie Tianyang showed his greedy side.

That caught Xie Tianshang's attention, looking at Zhuo Fan expectantly.

He wasn't thinking what an asset such a strong spiritual beast would be to Sword Marquise Abode. Oh no, he only saw the spiritual beast as an endless sparring partner to hone his edge.

Martial fanatic. Did one need to say more?

Zhuo Fan arched an eyebrow, "What do you think?"

"Uh, no." Xie Tianyang's face twitched.

"Then cut the crap." Zhuo Fan glared. [Who in their right mind would give away a potential sacred beast?] He didn't have a screw loose.

Xie Tianyang shrugged, "Just saying. Jeez, can't you take a joke?"

Though the envy had yet to fade from his eyes every time he saw Qiao'er. This spirit animal was just too damn overpowered! Just the fact that Zhuo Fan had such an insane spirit animal was enough to spur Sword Marquise Abode's desires.

Xie Tianyang saw Xue Ningxiang cuddling Qiao'er and his heart sank. Though no one noticed…

Once the pleasantries were over and done with, it was time to return to the grim and bitter reality.

"Brother Zhuo, what do we do now?" Long Xingyun asked.

Zhuo Fan muttered, "Our main priority is to find the keys and exit stones. To leave this place at once! We'll just ignore Brimming Sacred Pills, as life is far more precious. I can search for them myself if I have to."

The words cut deep and they sighed with hanged heads.

He didn't need to be so blunt about it for them to understand. They were dead weights, pure and simple. The earlier battle was proof enough. They were the reason for Zhuo Fan's limited actions. If he was alone he could come and go as he wished.

They all turned bleak, but knew the truth in Zhuo Fan's words. In this battle, they had no advantage whatsoever and would sooner or later end up as Huangpu Qingtian's pawns in this damnable place if they lingered.

None spoke as they watched Zhuo Fan gloomily.

Xie Tianshang broke the silence with his sigh, "We still want to fight, but brother Zhuo is right. With how weak we are, it's better we leave. Long Xingyun, take it out. We and brother Zhuo need to consult on the best way to leave this place."

Zhuo Fan looked at them puzzled. [Do they have a secret weapon?]

Easing a breath, Long Xingyun revealed a piece of silk, "I am a man living in the present. I do not care as much about the Esoteric Debate as brother Xie does. But going home in such a wretched state is not what I want to see."

Zhuo Fan unfolded the silk and cried, "Beast King Mountain's array exit map?"

On the detailed map, five points stood out, the five National Elemental Stones meant to take them home. With the yin-yang metal keys, all they had to do now was get to the metal exit and they'd be home free.

Zhuo Fan stared at the others, "Can it be trusted?"

Long Xingyun spoke seriously, "That's what we would like to know by consulting you."

With a shout, some Profound Heaven experts were hoisting two scared people over. At the sight of them, Zhuo Fan sported an odd look as he said, "You again!"

The two were bitter and shuddered on the ground with lowered heads…

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Chapter 300, Battle of the Minds

"Cai Xiaoting, Sun Yufei, didn't I tell you to beat it home? What are you doing here, and captives again no less?" Zhuo Fan mocked them for all their little worth.

The two kneeled there bitterly and wretched. Not once making eye contact with Zhuo Fan.

Long Xingyun said startled, "Brother Zhuo, you know them?"

"Meet the Luo clan traitors. His father was an elder in the clan and even close to the old Clan Head. Despite their transgression, Yunhai had a good heart and spared them." Zhuo Fan shrugged, "Oh, and why did you capture them? Don't you know killing them is far easier?"

Long Xingyun gasped then said solemnly, "To tell you the truth, we stumbled upon them not long after we escaped the Killing Blood Marsh. I wasn't planning on sparing them, but we found this map on them as well as two keys and a Brimming Sacred Pill…"

Ahe-he-hem!

Long Kui's signal came a tad too late however. The damage was done.

Long Xingyun now realized the error of his ways. [Telling him about the map and keys was enough. What was I thinking bringing up the Brimming Sacred Pill?]

Zhuo Fan perked up at the mention of those three little words and his eyes practically shined, "Brother Long, what of the vial?"

"Uh, we found it."

"I realize that, but won't it be safer with me?" Zhuo Fan's demonic smile came next, followed by a genial smile, "What if it were to fall in Huangpu Qingtian's hands? That would be awful. We can't have everyone's interests be laid to waste because of one man, now do we?"

Zhuo Fan's righteous speech didn't forget to include the public interest. Long Xingyun lost the moral high ground and handed the pill in defeat.

He had hoped to enter the Radiant Stage with this pill, but now… That ship had sailed!

Long Xingyun wished he could tear his running mouth off. How could he be so stupid?

Xie Tianyang and Long Kui knew Zhuo Fan's character the best and only had sighs of pity. [Once it's in Zhuo Fan's clutches, there's no getting it back.]

With a gratified flash of light, Zhuo Fan tucked the pill in the safety of his ring. He looked at the despondent Long Xingyun even more pleased.

With three Brimming Sacred Pills in the bag, uh, ring, only the last one was left and he'd have milked the Esoteric Debate dry.

Finding two extra keys on Long Xingyun as well, were the icing on the cake.

It just so happened that he had a pair of keys as well. He could already open the fire and earth exits now!

He could now leave this place whenever he wished with his spoils. Victory was at hand! The only problem was punching through Huangpu Qingtian's blockades.

Alone, he'd be home by now. But with so many people dragging their feet behind him…

Zhuo Fan's eyes landed on the kneeling duo, "Brother Long fears the map may be a trap."

"That is what I assume, yes."

Long Xingyun brushed past Zhuo Fan's open appropriation of his wealth and said, "They say as early as two weeks ago, Huangpu Qingtian sent them in search of the keys to have full control of the battlefield. But I still feel this is too much of a coincidence. We just got out of danger yet met with these two who had the map we wanted. The more I think about it the more I suspect it. That is why I had them on a leash until Brother Zhuo returned to discuss it."

Zhuo Fan nodded inside. Long Xingyun was sloppy by nature, but he had a good head on his shoulders at least.

The array map was clearly dubious, but for this fleeing group, it held absolute interest. The odds for a trap waiting for them was most likely certain.

Even if he absolutely knew about it being a trap, its value outweighed the risks.

[This is one bait I can't refuse.]

Zhuo Fan squinted at the pair, "You better answer my every question. If I found out you're lying, I'll make it so even death would be your most cherished wish!"

The two shuddered but nodded, the fear had them soaked in sweat.

Zhuo Fan began, "Did Huangpu Qingtian make you wait for us?"

"N-no. Like we said, we stumbled upon you as we searched for the exits. There's nothing else to it!" Cai Xiaoting blurted.

Zhuo Fan stared him down. The man was frantic, but finding no lies, he continued, "Did you make this map after finding the arrays?"

"No, the arrays are too spread out. It's impossible for us to find them." Cai Xiaoting shook his head. Fearing Zhuo Fan would find his answer lacking, he rushed with, "There were five teams of us, each with its own area to search. We used a jade slip to keep in touch and made the map."

"What of the two keys and pill?"

"We found them along the way. We used to have two pills, but a Profound Heaven expert stole one to take the credit and you took the last one…" Cai Xiaoting was heartbroken, his voice trailing off.

[How could we be so down on our luck? The two pills were our promise to greatness.]

But at some point, their other Profound Heaven expert team member took one for himself and when they thought the other was enough to get something good, they ran into these guys.

[Forget about merits when we're having enough trouble keeping our heads!]

The two fell deeper in despair.

Zhuo Fan saw them squirm and nodded. Long Xingyun added, "Brother Zhuo, what if this is a trap as well…"

"There's no need to say it. They were once part of the Luo clan and understand them enough to know if they lie." Zhuo Fan's eyes glinted.

Long Xingyun and the rest were overjoyed.

That validated the map as being genuine. They could survive this!

Zhuo Fan shook his head however, "Don't be so quick to celebrate. The map could still be fake."

[What?!]

The crowd was stunned.

Grinning, Zhuo Fan revealed a deep gaze, "They are truthful, yes, but that doesn't guarantee Huangpu Qingtian was honest to them as well."

Now they looked puzzled as to why Zhuo Fan was still smiling.

[Doesn't that make this map useless?]

In another place, Huangpu Qingtian pointed at an identical map Zhuo Fan had, "You Yushan, you will set up an ambush at the metal exit. Yan Bangui, you will stake out the fire exit. Me and Lin Xuanfeng will be watching the earth one. Remember what I said. Others do not matter but one person has to breathe their last at all costs. Make sure they die in excruciating pain and suffering."

The three felt uneasy.

"Eldest young master, we understand your wish. But will killing this person have any effect on Zhuo Fan?" You Yushan frowned, "With how we handed the exits' locations along with keys and even a Brimming Sacred Pill, they can now flee without worry. Wouldn't it have been better to give them a fake map?"

With an evil grin, Huangpu Qingtian mocked, "Imbecile, you think you can fool Zhuo Fan's cunningness with a fake one?"

"But, isn't he far too paranoid to believe even the real one?" Yan Bangui frowned.

Huangpu Qingtian smiled, "All the more reason why we gave him everything, to believe. Even the two prisoners are real. The two were purposefully kept in the dark, limiting their knowledge to the array map, keys and pill. It's all because my men guided them from the shadows. Their words are without a doubt genuine. He will never realize we'd even lie to our men all so we could trap him. No matter how shrewd he is, he will never get one falsity out of those two."

The others lit up, with Lin Xuanfeng giving a thumbs up in his flattery, "Eldest young master is wise. Versed in pen and sword!"

"Humph, this is part of Sir Leng's plan. I have nothing to do with it." Huangpu Qingtian shook his head, holding the very last Brimming Sacred Pill vial in his hand.

You Yushan looked at it with a sigh, "Of our three pills, we only have one."

"What are you so worried about? With Zhuo Fan's greedy nature, he won't be satisfied with just three. He will want the last one as well! We just have to deal with him and the others will be easy pickings!" Huangpu Qingtian sneered, "Follow the plan and we will have the three vials as well as his head. Ha-ha-ha…"

Huangpu Qingtian's cackle got everyone excited.

The operation to eradicate Soaring Demonic Dragon was a go…

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Chapter 301, Mole

A group of people were resting in the dense forest, while Long Xingyun, Xie Tianshang, Chu Qingcheng and Zhuo Fan inspected a map.

Long Xingyun was the first to speak, "Brother Zhuo, do you see something wrong with the map to call it a fake?"

"None whatsoever. Be it the captives or the map, they are both beyond reproach." Zhuo Fan shook his head and his gaze hardened, "But there's no way I'd take it for granted when something so good just comes and falls into my lap. It goes double for something we need the most."

Silence pervaded for a while, then Chu Qingcheng ventured, "Maybe… we do not need this map. We could go opposite-"

"Who says we don't need it?"

Zhuo Fan butted in with a smile, "If it's real, that turns it into a trap. This makes it worth using it. Since they went out of their way to plan against us, we'll just beat them to the punch!"

The others didn't know where he was going with this so Zhuo Fan held out the three sending jades. He left a message on them then left one to each of them with a crafty smile, "Wait for five days then read it."

Zhuo Fan jumped to his feet and barked, "Listen up. We're moving out. Form three divisions around the three houses and split up for the three exits!"

"Split up?"

Why make them weaker than they already were? Zhuo Fan handed over the exit keys and said, "Yes, split up! With our size, it's very easy to be spotted. Smaller teams will allow us to move unnoticed. In the case of an enemy encounter it would also be simple to flee and hide among the thick trees. "

While others nodded, Chu Qingcheng pulled Zhuo Fan to the side, "What if the map is fake and the exits hold nothing but traps?"

"We won't know unless we try. We finally got an exit route as well. Even if we clash a few more times in the Beast King Mountain it will be easy to escape while whittling down their Bone Tempering experts number. It will end with them being reduced to nothing. This is our best bet."

Zhuo Fan put on a smile and turned to the rest, "Each team will send out three Profound Heaven experts to scout thirty miles ahead, reporting back on the hour."

"Understood!" They all replied and Zhuo Fan said to Chu Qingcheng, "Even if they meet a trap, they can get an early notice."

Glaring at him, Chu Qingcheng shook her head, [You're full of tricks.]

As they all got ready to set off, Luo Yunhai's team followed behind Drifting Flowers Edifices just as Long Xingyun brought the two prisoners, "What do we do with them?"

"Let them go." Zhuo Fan spoke coldly.

The others whipped their heads around in shock. Long Xingyun was the most affected, "They'll betray our plan if they're found."

"It will happen regardless. Recall what happened in Killing Blood Marsh? We have a mole among us. These two's situation has already been reported back. Letting them go or not won't make a difference." Zhuo Fan sighed.

What a shocker!

[How could we forget? We still have a spy unaccounted for.] Everyone looked around suspiciously.

Zhuo Fan said, "This isn't the time to draw him out. We'll do that once we get back to the safety of Dragon Cloud City."

"But a spy implies great danger." Xie Tianshang's face hardened.

Zhuo Fan sneered, "What danger? He'll only rat out our movements. As long as we're fast enough, any information will be worthless and they won't be able to act on it. On the contrary, if we suspect each other all the time, it will be a disaster only they will profit from. So get a move on. Reach the three exits on the double!"

The people were startled for a second then their opinion of him grew. They never knew you could deal with a spy like that.

Ignoring him yet moving faster than he could report would be the same as turning him useless.

The way Zhuo Fan boldly did things got even the army-experienced Luo Yunhai in a daze.

Not even Dugu Zhantian led his army with such valor.

[Big brother Zhuo is a true man of ambition to have so many great figures set their eyes on him.]

"Set off! Let's see each other in Dragon Cloud City in five days!" Zhuo Fan shouted and the other replied in high spirits as well.

Only Chu Qingcheng and her two allies knew his true meaning.

The nearest exit was a week away, while the farthest was ten days. He was speaking for their own benefit, to check the sending jade five days later.

The three noticed Zhuo Fan's slight nod and smile.

The group thus split into three divisions according to Zhuo Fan's orders. They moved swiftly, curious to see if they or the spy's leaks were faster.

The forceful way Zhuo Fan dealt with the spy left the people fired up and eager for battle. Despite being a mere race to defeat the spy, to them it felt like they were battling against their greatest enemy, and winning too.

They started to get a feeling of holding everything beneath them, of indomitable spirit, just like Zhuo Fan usually was. Everyone was united in their goal and hearts!

Cai Xiaoting took an ashen Sun Yufei away. As they passed Zhuo Fan, he asked, "W-why let us go?"

"No reason. Maybe I'm showing kindness for taking care of Luo clan in the early days. Or maybe I wish to see your agony for my sick humor. But I will admit to this, when it comes to garbage, killing or throwing it away makes no difference."

Zhuo Fan left as well, not minding them one bit.

Cai Xiaoting sighed and muttered, "Thank you."

Then he slowly walked away with Sun Yufei.

They had lost the hatred they clutched to so dearly and it was now replaced by solitude.

Recalling their derisory look when Zhuo Fan entered the Cai clan, it all seemed like a poor joke now. He was a true man of ambition and had brushed them off from the very start. It was them who kept having their goals growing higher and higher.

The man had a clear vision of what he wanted, never changing, all while theirs did.

He finally realized that eight years ago when Zhuo Fan left Blackwind Mountain, he and his father were in awe of the man's talent, but never held him in respect. It came to him that even his father belittled Zhuo Fan.

Zhuo Fan had such a talent lesser clansmen like them couldn't even begin to compare.

Sighing, they slowly disappeared among the trees…

"Big brother Zhuo, you're not coming with us?" Xue Ningxiang ran to him.

Zhuo Fan shook his head, "There's something I must do. You and the Xue clan should go with Sword Marquise Abode. Xie Tianyang may be unreliable, but his brother is there to make it up for him. Few are his match, except Huangpu Qingtian. You'll be safe."

"Oi, what are you implying? Who are you calling unreliable? What did I ever do to you to badmouth me to Ning'er?" Xie Tianyang was annoyed and grabbed Ning'er's shoulder, "Ning'er, don't worry. No one will hurt you with me around."

But Xue Ningxiang didn't even register his presence. Her eyes fixed on Zhuo Fan, her voice soft, "When will we see each other again?"

"In five days!" Zhuo Fan smiled.

"That's a promise. You have to come see me in five days." Xue Ningxiang held out her Thunder Ring, "You can't lie to me like you did in the Allbeast Mountain Range."

Smiling, Zhuo Fan took out his own Thunder Ring and let them touch as sparks flew, "I won't."

Xue Ningxiang smiled brightly, to the rancor and jealousy of Xie Tianyang.

Xue Ningxiang then dragged a stiff Xie Tianyang back to Sword Marquise Abode's division. Zhuo Fan shook his head and left in another direction as he heard Xie Tianyang's incessant begging.

"Ning'er, let our rings touch as well."

"No!"

"Why? I beg you…"

Zhuo Fan shook his head, then turned to the aged man following Luo clan, "Grandmaster Liu, come with me. I need your help."

Liu Yizhen jerked, but got there on the double.

The two flitted through the trees and were soon gone. Half a day later, they stood atop a mountain peak.

Regarding the breathtaking view, Zhuo Fan took a deep breath and felt so free, relaxed and soothed, "Those dead weights are about to leave. I haven't felt so at ease in ages."

Liu Yizhen smiled inside as he bowed, "In the Esoteric Debate this century, the three houses' alliance hardly did anything. They could only hold on because of Grandmaster Zhuo's support, while they were holding you back."

"You couldn't be more right!" Zhuo Fan cocked his head with a smile.

Liu Yizhen probed, "Then, Grandmaster Zhuo, what are your orders?"

"Oh, no orders. I only want to know where Huangpu Qingtian is right now. Doesn't he have another Brimming Sacred Pill? I should pay him a visit and receive it." Zhuo Fan's eyes flashed coldly.

Liu Yizhen felt a shiver crawl up his spine…

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Chapter 302, Tangled

"Uh, Grandmaster Zhuo, I do not understand. How can I hope to see into Huangpu Qingtian's faction's movements?" Swallowing dryly, Liu Yizhen froze, stammering and darting his eyes anywhere but Zhuo Fan.

Grinning, Zhuo Fan shook his head, "My dear Grandmaster Liu, you're saying that even now? How would you leak our info if you didn't know his position?"

His heart beating out of his chest, Liu Yizhen panicked as he explained, "Grandmaster Zhuo, I don't understand what you…"

"It's fine. You don't have to say it. I won't make it hard on you either. Just deliver a message for me and put that oh-so-great and stuck-up Heaven-shaking Dragon Lord on the spot." Zhuo Fan brushed his panic off.

Liu Yizhen's beard shook, his face haunting. Zhuo Fan's inscrutable smile unnerved him the more he saw it.

[Is he faking it or omniscient? This is disturbing!]

Zhuo Fan's laugh came as an answer to his thoughts, "Grandmaster Liu, you should know by now of my character. If not by seeing, at least from rumors. I don't need to justify myself when I want to kill someone. I just do it. On the other hand, if I want one alive, regardless of how vile and deceitful that person is, I won't lay a finger on him.

"Anyway, I've had my suspicions on you from the start. I could've killed you whenever I wanted too. But I think it's safe to say my actions prove there will be no killing from my part. Coming out clean won't make much of a difference either at this point. Who doesn't yearn for glory and power? But didn't I let Cai Xiaoting walk free?" Zhuo Fan's daunting eyes stared Liu Yizhen down.

Liu Yizhen was in a quandary, but nodded in the end, "Grandmaster Zhuo is sharp beyond any man. I admit, it was Unwonted Contriver Leng Wuchang who ordered me to get close to Grandmaster Zhuo. I do not know how he knew but he found out you and I were once acquaintances. So he made me spy on you. I refused at first, but then…"

"Fine, fine, the reasons are pretty much typical for any spy. If not out of glory and power, then from a threat. I totally get it." Zhuo Fan's nonchalant wave cut him off.

Liu Yizhen hung his head. [Zhuo Fan is incredible. He knows everything!]

It was one thing to say power, glory or constraint, but how many could escape their clutches?

Zhuo Fan stared at him, "Now that that's out of the way. Send a message to Huangpu Qingtian."

"What message?" Liu Yizhen was stunned.

Zhuo Fan's conduct was baffling. He just got a hold on the enemy's spy and he wasn't going to tear him asunder? And instead he was taking a step further, leaving the spy alive to send word to the enemy. It was as if they were on the same side!

It totally floored the calm alchemist Liu Yizhen.

Ahe-he-hem!

Zhuo Fan's straight face revealed a haughty air, "Grandmaster Liu, when you see Huangpu Qingtian, this is how you'll behave. You'll curse him. Stupid head Huangpu pup, ignorant and trifling clown, your's truly has seen through it all. So tone down the drama and your petty tricks! I've been playing this game from before you were even born!"

Face twitching, Liu Yizhen sweated buckets. He ventured, "Uh, Grandmaster Zhuo, could you perhaps maybe ease on the rancor? I won't be able to imitate you."

Was this a joke? Zhuo Fan was having a blast here cursing and wailing like he owned the place. But when the guy met Huangpu Qingtian face to face, was he going to stick to the real message? Not if he wanted to come out alive.

"Ha-ha-ha, fine, as you wish. Just make sure he catches my drift." Zhuo Fan looked uncaring but his face turned deadly the next, "However, this line you must say it word for word!"

His hand flashed and was now holding four Brimming Sacred Pill vials.

Liu Yizhen was slackjawed. Zhuo Fan easily read his shock and smiled coldly, "Tell him this. Huangpu Qingtian, you call yourself insidious and brilliant, but not even you would've imagined the last Brimming Sacred Pill was with me all along. And you even laid out the stage to trap me? That's rich!"

Liu Yizhen blinked, counting the vials. It was clear as day there were four, but the absurdity of it all made him second-guess it.

He'd been next to Zhuo Fan all this time yet never knew where the guy got all the Brimming Sacred Pills. So he always assumed Zhuo Fan only had the three, yanked from Huangpu Qingtian's very hand too. That there never was a fourth.

[Is this another pill he robbed?]

Liu Yizhen showed his shock, "Grandmaster Zhuo, if you already took Huangpu Qingtian's last pill, why make me a messenger?"

"Shhh…" Zhuo Fan put a finger on his lips, "The last pill wasn't taken, but slipped off of him. He's still oblivious. He knows what I can do so telling him my message will make him understand. Make sure you get a clear view of his blind rage when he flips out and comes back to me, he-he-he…"

Blinking, Liu Yizhen sighed.

They both knew Huangpu Qingtian was gruesome and yet Zhuo Fan swiped his pill without the slightest indication? Unreal!

[Zhuo Fan doesn't look to be lying either. He wants me to shame Huangpu Qingtian further with that message.]

By all accounts, it didn't look fake at all. Zhuo Fan actually swiped the oblivious Huangpu Qingtian's Brimming Sacred Pill from right under his nose.

Taking a deep breath, Liu Yizhen's face hardened, "Grandmaster Zhuo is incredible. There's nothing you can't do. I will pass on Grandmaster Zhuo's words, although the wording might not be as… taunting."

"I get it. What matters is the essence. He will surely be pissed when he hears it, ha-ha-ha…" Zhuo Fan chortled.

Liu Yizhen took two steps away before stopping, "Grandmaster Zhuo, could you please clarify something for me?"

"Shoo."

"Uh, since when have you doubted me?" Liu Yizhen asked.

Grinning, Zhuo Fan said, "From the moment I laid my eyes on you in Beast King Mountain."

"That fast?" Liu Yizhen was stunned. He couldn't for the life of him see what gave him away.

Zhuo Fan shook his head, "One, I never believe in coincidences. The Esoteric Debate is held on Beast King Mountain, yet it just so happened for you to be here looking for herbs? Highly unlikely. You must've got here thanks to Huangpu Qingtian's storage ring. Two, when I accepted you as a disciple, all you showed was respect and not joy. It was a complete contrast from how you reacted the first time you asked."

"I had my suspicions right then. And using apprenticeship as an excuse to help Luo clan, sealed it. All combined made your purpose in getting close to Luo clan obvious."

Liu Yizhen looked long at Zhuo Fan in shock, "Sigh, I failed as a spy. You saw through me the moment we met. But why didn't you get rid of me then?"

"To figure out Huangpu Qingtian's plans of course!" Zhuo Fan sneered, "Each time you used the sending jade, I figured it was to leak our numbers, position and members. This gave me an easy time figuring out what Huangpu Qingtian was cooking, that he was aiming for those around me."

Liu Yizhen's face twitched in shame.

He not only failed as a spy, but was an utter disgrace. The info he sent was faulty and went as far as exposing his lord's master plan.

Liu Yizhen's face was scorching, "Grandmaster Zhuo, you truly are cunning. No wonder Leng Wuchang stepped in personally."

Liu Yizhen flew away, leaving Zhuo Fan in shock. It was his first time hearing it, even considering that the mastermind wasn't Huangpu Qingtian, but Leng Wuchang!

In such a case, [I have to hurry up!]

Zhuo Fan flew after Liu Yizhen, in the shadows.

A day later, a light flew nearby. Zhuo Fan caught the sending jade, which wrote, "The soldiers return, the dragon king is at peace."

"Sure enough, the array map is a trap." Grinning, Zhuo Fan shot three sending jades to his three allies.

He then looked at the one in his hand and praised, "Perfectly done!"

He resumed tailing Liu Yizhen.

Letting Cai Xiaoting off wasn't out of the goodness of his heart or, like he put it, out of indifference. But to use them and gauge Huangpu Qingtian's reaction.

If Huangpu Qingtian raged, the three exits would be safe. If Huangpu Qingtian didn't blame the two, then it all went according to the man's plan and he needed to change the routes of his three allies.

This was all made possible thanks to the spy he meticulously placed near Huangpu Qingtian.

Zhuo Fan wasn't beneath Leng Wuchang's capacity for treachery when it came to covert ops. While the factions looked subdued at a first glance, the darkness revealed a tangled mess…

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Chapter 303, Outplayed

Translator: StarReader

Whoosh!

Huangpu Qingtian and Lin Xuanfeng were leading their men to the earth exit when they spotted a light trailing the sky.

A figure landed with a boom and Huangpu Qingtian frowned, "Liu Yizhen, what are you doing here? I thought I told you to stick to Zhuo Fan! Don't tell me…"

Bitter, Liu Yizhen bowed, "Eldest young master, I was exposed."

"What? Then how are you still alive?" Huangpu Qingtian's brow pursed, his suspicion raised, "A vile and insidious man like Zhuo Fan actually let go of not just Cai Xiaoting but you as well? He just discovered and released two spies. What the hell is going on in that mind of his?"

Sighing, Liu Yizhen's heart went cold. He could tell the two held no hopes for his return. They had thrown him away from the start.

Who told him to climb aboard? He had no choice now but to go with them…

Taking a deep breath, Liu Yizhen bowed, "Eldest young master, Zhuo Fan sent word for you."

"Speak." Huangpu Qingtian's eyes were grave.

Liu Yizhen mulled for a bit before, "Zhuo Fan said your schemes are as clear as day and should not bother yourself with them."

"That's it? With his temper, that doesn't sound like him." Huangpu Qingtian mocked.

Bowing again, Liu Yizhen continued, "Eldest young master is right. But as his true words are crass and rude, unfitting for the eldest young master's ears, I altered their wording. The meaning is the same."

"Ha-ha-ha, are you afraid I'll take my anger out on you?" Huangpu Qingtian read him like a book, "It's fine anyway. I don't feel like listening either. It's ironic how he thinks himself all-knowing, surrounded as he is by a thick fog he can't even see."

The two next to him were clueless, but Huangpu Qingtian's overconfidence deterred any questions.

Then Liu Yizhen turned nervous, bowing again, "Eldest young master, Zhuo Fan has one more thing to say."

"I don't want to hear it. It must be some pointless boasting, trying to throw me off my game. Let him sink into his delusions!" Huangpu Qingtian brushed him off.

Liu Yizhen cupped his hands, "Eldest young master, Zhuo Fan does intend to shame eldest young master, but I have to make this report."

"Eh?" Huangpu Qingtian turned grave, "Speak."

"Eldest young master, the fourth Brimming Sacred Pill you are using to entice him has long since been in his hands. He was mocking you saying how ignorant you were of it all…"

"What?" Lin Xuanfeng cut in, "Impossible, eldest young master had the fourth pill placed in my care from the start. How can it be with him?"

"Young master Lin, I didn't believe it either, but then he showed me four vials. I had never seen them the entire time I was with his group. He also said that you all know what he can do…" Liu Yizhen trailed off…

Huangpu Qingtian squinted, the seed of doubt planted. Lin Xuanfeng was panicking, "Did he steal it with that weird art of his?"

Lin Xuanfeng's hand flashed with the Brimming Sacred Pill vial.

Lin Xuanfeng only then eased a breath, "Ha-ha-ha, the punk is messing with us. We still have it!"

Huangpu Qingtian was too deep in thought to care. Then his face changed, "Fool, don't take it out!"

Lin Xuanfeng froze for a second, enough time for the vial to vanish.

"Z-Zhuo Fan!" Lin Xuanfeng stammered.

Not far off, Zhuo Fan's cackle came from among the trees, "Ha-ha-ha, thanks a bunch, young master Huangpu. I shall accept your generosity!"

Lin Xuanfeng blinked, still frozen on the spot. Liu Yizhen was still out of it from shock, [Zhuo Fan has been behind me all this time?]

Huangpu Qingtian held his head and sighed, "Morons, the lot of you. This was the plan to draw out Zhuo Fan and he had no idea where I hid the Brimming Sacred Pill. Then you guys just handed it over on a silver platter. What were you expecting?"

Lin Xuanfeng's eyes widened and threw his rage on Liu Yizhen, "Traitor! You now collude with Zhuo Fan? I'll kill you!"

"Young master Lin, I-I am just the messenger. I don't know anything!"

Liu Yizhen was scared out of his mind. He was under the false impression that Zhuo Fan sent him on a mere errand to make Huangpu Qingtian look bad with his message. Who even conceived it possible that there was a scheme involved? The worst part was that he made the old man a scapegoat.

With the two before him pissed, since they couldn't grab Zhuo Fan, who else were they going to take their anger out on? Not even washing in the Underworld River would absolve him!

He began as a spy for Huangpu Qingtian's faction, only to end up dying at his hands. He was dubbed a double agent no one would take pity on. Quite fitting for a spy, and ironic.

He had now witnessed Zhuo Fan's capacity for savagery and cruelty. There was no getting out scot-free from him. With the double agent blame smacked on his shoulders, the insidiousness of the ploy finally dawned on him.

Huangpu Qingtian signaled Lin Xuanfeng, "Stop, it's not his fault. He was also used."

"Eldest young master is brilliant!" Liu Yizhen bowed and wiped his brow.

Huangpu Qingtian gave him no attention and turned to the forest, "Since you came, why don't you come over for a talk?"

"Ha-ha-ha, what's there to talk about? But since you insist, I'll meet you. I want to see with my own eyes the scowling and miserable face of a loser!" Zhuo Fan walked from among the trees with a smile.

The rest of the men there paled and tensed. Soaring Demonic Dragon was just as notorious as Huangpu Qingtian.

"Your men… sure look terrified of me." Zhuo Fan mocked.

Huangpu Qingtian smiled coldly, not angered at all, "Zhuo Fan, there's a saying which fits you perfectly right now. Stop showing off or you'll be struck down by lightning."

"Ha-ha-ha, I've been doing it since I was born but no lightning has touched me so far. Though it makes me wonder, what would it feel like? It must be quite the thrill!" Zhuo Fan laughed.

Shaking his head, Huangpu Qingtian grinned, "You will soon find out."

Squinting, Zhuo Fan stared into Huangpu Qingtian's eyes with unease.

"By the way, Zhuo Fan, the vial you used to fool the old man must be the one you found at some point but never took it out. So when old Liu saw four vials, he jumped to conclusions. He would never dare lie to me otherwise." Huangpu Qingtian's lips twisted into a smile.

Zhuo Fan rose an eyebrow, "Look at you, Young master Huangpu. You're not as dumb as other muscle brain fools around you."

"Ha-ha-ha, I am destined to be king. How can I be a fool? But to be entirely honest, it's not easy to see through it in an instant. I realized the truth because of something that is happening right now."

Huangpu Qingtian snickered, "Zhuo Fan, don't you have the two keys for the water exit yet keep them to yourself? "

Zhuo Fan cried out, "H-how did you… don't tell me…"

"Correct. I sent my men to place them on your way when you were with Luo Yunhai's group. I didn't doubt for a second you'll miss them. So when Liu Yizhen reported you not mentioning them when you met up with Chu Qingcheng, it made me realize you were planning on using them when it mattered most. You once said we're both the same, that we won't show our hands so easily. Ha-ha-ha, a shame I already know of two of your cards! "

Shuddering, Zhuo Fan showed fear for the first time. His mind put two and two together and his brow was soaked.

Huangpu Qingtian's heart burst with joy at his expense, "Sir Leng said the pinnacle of the art of war is to make the most of a situation. Not just get the enemy to fall for your traps, but to control their every move, to guide them where you wanted. Zhuo Fan, from the moment you met with Luo Yunhai, your actions, your objectives, have all gone according to my plan!

"Including those fights we had. Although your fancy art gives me headaches, letting you win every time was all part of my plan. All so you would become the de-facto leader of the alliance. It was the best way to insure you will follow the road to hell I painstakingly paved for you. What, don't tell me you haven't wondered how smooth your journey has been so far.

"You really think highly of yourself, able to face thousands of men and save everyone from the jaws of death? Humph, you lost, all because of your arrogance. Case in point, the Killing Blood Marsh skirmish. Did you ever think about why I didn't unleash all my power? You thought I was too cocky, thinking I had you all like fish in a barrel so I was going to take pleasure in toying with you? Ha-ha-ha, I threw the match…"

Zhuo Fan shivered, recoiling three steps then shooting into the air after the three teams.

[I have completely lost…]

Zhuo Fan shouted in his mind, never had he been so out of control as he was now. Huangpu Qingtian's side was having a blast however, cackling arrogantly.

Zhuo Fan was finally beaten back…

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Chapter 304, Deeper Into the Mud

Translator: StarReader

Lin Xuanfeng's eyes trailed Zhuo Fan as he vanished in the distance, "This is the first time I have seen that punk so out of it. What on earth happened?"

"Ha-ha-ha, nothing much, just him sending his own friends to an early grave." Huangpu Qingtian had a vague smile. He then turned to pat Liu Yizhen's shoulder, "Old Liu, well done. Just as I expected."

"Eldest young master, I don't deserve it. I've been found out since the start, ugh… "

He didn't finish as Huangpu Qingtian squeezed his throat with a thin smile, "No, Old Liu, you don't have to be modest. You did great…"

Huangpu Qingtian smiled, but his hand only clutched harder. The smile looked downright sinister at this point, instilling dread in the puzzled old man.

How had he erred? Why had Huangpu Qingtian stopped Lin Xuanfeng from killing him, yet was now doing it himself?

Eyes bulging, Liu Yizhen could only let out hoarse sounds. Liu Yizhen was just as perplexed as the victim, "Eldest young master, what…"

"Ha-ha-ha, I stopped you only because Zhuo Fan was nearby. I didn't want to put on a show for him. But now, this old geezer has outlived his purpose. It wouldn't do if he fell into Dugu Zhantian's hands. Killing him here will spare me the trouble." Huangpu Qingtian's eyes glinted and the vile snicker on his face grew. He put just a touch more force in his grip and the body shuddered for a moment, then Liu Yizhen's limbs went limp.

Flinging the corpse away, Huangpu Qingtian clapped. Lin Xuanfeng gasped, his mind overwhelmed.

[Huangpu Qingtian is a beast to dispose of those he no longer has use of. He has not a shred of conscience. Will I end up the same?]

Huangpu Qingtian knew this was coming so he patted his shoulder, making him shiver, "Worry not. Even if a cripple, you're the next in line to lead Merry Woods. You're so much more valuable. As long as you are by my side, I will do you no harm."

Liu Xuanfeng's face twitched. He gave a hollow laugh while wiping his brow. Looking at Liu Yizhen's body again, he sighed inside.

[Who is to say it won't change?]

But then Liu Xuanfeng brightened, "Eldest young master, since you could bring Liu Yizhen, why didn't you do the same for the elders of our houses? Finishing off Zhuo Fan then would've been so much easier."

"Fool, you take Dugu Zhantian in charge of Dragon Cloud City's defenses for a prop?" Huangpu Qingtian snorted, "I only managed to bring him after treating him like a spirit animal, placing him in my storage ring. It is because of his insignificance that he went unnoticed. If it were an elder from the seven houses instead, it would send an alarm to Dugu Zhantian and get us observed. If not for our low numbers keeping it under wraps, our plan would've fallen through!"

Lin Xuanfeng bobbed his head, accepting the tongue lashing while not forgetting to polish Huangpu Qingtian's rear with endless flattery.

Huangpu Qingtian waved him off, "We're setting out for the earth exit at once!"

"Uh, is there a point going there now that Zhuo Fan knows our plan?" Lin Xuanfeng was bewildered.

Huangpu Qingtian's snide reply came, "Idiot, we're going so that he'd walk right into our ambush! All the traps are in place. Despite knowing that, he has no way to foil them. Not when he had a hand in making it possible. That heartrending regret, the gnawing guilt, must be quite the torment, ha-ha-ha… "

Huangpu Qingtian cackled evilly. Lin Xuanfeng still didn't get it, but did as was told.

In another place, Xie Tianshang's team had been heading for the metal exit for three days now when a sudden light flew over. Xie Tianshang caught it, knowing to be Zhuo Fan's sending jade that said, "Now you can look at the jade slip."

Xie Tianshang was quite puzzled.

[Wasn't I supposed to do that after five days? Why so early?]

But since Zhuo Fan said so, he of course obliged. Five simple words entered his eyes, "Head for the water exit!"

Ugh!

Xie Tianshang was floored, [What does that mean? Change course on the spot? Why? Is the metal exit dangerous?]

Xie Tianshang shouted without delay, "Hold! We're changing directions. Follow me!"

Xie Tianyang pulled Xue Ningxiang to the front among the baffled stares, "Brother, what's up? We've been running for three god damned days and you suddenly want to change course? Is it an enemy attack?"

"No." Xie Tianshang shook his head, giving him the jade slip, "This is the jade slip Zhuo Fan gave me before we split, saying to inspect it five days later. But I just received word from him to look at it now. And it said…"

Xie Tianyang looked at the jade, "Head to the water exit? What the hell?"

"I don't know either. But since Zhuo Fan said so, he must have his reasons." Xie Tianshang's eyes were firm.

Xie Tianyang shook his head, "Brother, since when did you became a fan? What if he's wrong?"

"How many times was he wrong in the past days he was with us? We hardly ever suffered any setbacks as well. While in a situation I cannot fathom, listening to his judgment is a sound decision." Xie Tianshang's mind was set.

Xue Ningxiang spoke first before Xie Tianyang could, "Brother Tianyang, has big brother Zhuo ever been wrong? Listen to him."

"Don't you recall the Allbeast Mountain Range? Didn't he fall for You Guiqi's ploys time and time again…"

"But with no You Guiqi around, big brother Zhuo is the strongest, right?" Xue Ningxiang was zealously defending Zhuo Fan's honor.

Xie Tianyang's mouth twitched, feeling his heart ache. And since he could do nothing to Ning'er, he could only compromise.

And so, led by Xie Tianshang, the Sword Marquise Abode team turned towards the water exit. Chu Qingcheng and Long Xingyun's team received Zhuo Fan's message as well and were heading in the same direction.

None knew however of the ten thousand strong army waiting for them there led by Yan Bangui and You Yushan.

On top of a majestic mountain, You Yushan looked on in the distance but didn't spot anyone. He took out his jade slip and sighed, "Ol' poisoner, what's your take on eldest young master's action? Giving us a jade slip to open a day later, only to have our course changed to the water exit and set an ambush here. Why didn't he say so from the start? Why make us waste so much time first going to the fire and metal exits?"

"Hmm, he was afraid of having the info leaked." Yan Bangui's grim face shuddered in fear.

You Yushan raised an eyebrow, "Does that mean there's a spy among us? Ha-ha-ha, you crack me up. Any spies will be on their side. Is there any lesser clan out there willing to offend Regent by becoming a spy? Not to mention the dozens of vassals on their side willing to lean on the Regent Estate, giving us their movements of their own accord!"

"Be that as it may, it never hurts to be on the safe side. Especially at such a crucial moment in our plan." Yan Bangui muttered, "As this is Sir Leng's ploy, we only need to follow it."

You Yushan nodded as well.

The two saw Leng Wuchang's mind infallible, his plans perfect. All they had to do was just do what he said.

"Senior brother, young master You, the 3rd grade array below is set!" Yan Fu bowed in respect before the two.

Nodding, Yan Bangui waved him off, "Junior brother, you worked hard. Withdraw."

"Thank you!" Yan Fu bowed and left.

You Yushan mocked the retreating figure, "The kid has been quite meek as of late. Not even a hint of dissatisfaction on his face either. Well he is a rare genius alchemist Pill King Hall raised after all!"

"Ha-ha-ha, ever since Zhuo Fan killed Vicious Pill King, he lost all support. He must've finally accepted his fate to turn so quiet. Those two only ever looked at others from their high horse!"

"Even you?" You Yushan raised an eyebrow.

They traded a glance then jeered.

The mockery from above slammed into Yan Fu's ears. His fists clenched, and his eyes glinted with savagery. [One day you'll get what you deserve and I'll be there to watch you die!]

In the meantime, Zhuo Fan was rushing towards the water exit. With no time to notify the teams, he could only hope he'd make it in time to rescue them.

His mind kept drifting to the worst case scenarios, making him clench his jaw and plagued him with worry.

He told them to go for the water exit and was sure they would follow it. This was what made it ever worse, riddled with guilt, and yet in complete awe of the mastermind behind it all.

To be seen through so thoroughly that even implicated his allies in this trap, he felt toyed, like how a cat did to a mouse.

The mastermind was no ordinary man to make even the great Zhuo Fan fall for his schemes. This man's schemes were on a whole another level from You Guiqi's.

[Unwonted Contriver, Leng Wuchang!]

Zhuo Fan gnashed his teeth in rage.

He had already guessed the true architect behind all this framing. It was not that arrogant prick, Huangpu Qingtian, but Regent Estate's steward, the second greatest mind of the Tianyu Empire, Leng Wuchang!

Revenge was out of his sight, for now. All he could do was to try everything in pulling through this desperate situation.

Then, Zhuo Fan sensed a bone-chilling air as he passed. Looking below, he found a clear pond releasing cold air from its center. A thousand year old Frigid Pond!

Eyes squinting, Zhuo Fan dived…

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Chapter 305, Ambush

Translator: StarReader

Before the water National Elemental Stone, on Dragon Cloud City's side, everyone had gathered close to observe the show as it unfolded.

Since three days ago, the audience saw Yan Bangui and You Yushan leading ten thousand men over. Some speculated that the two had found the keys to the water exit and were about to return.

In time, it became clear that they had no such intention. Instead of getting closer, they were setting up an array nearby, clearly an ambush.

Yet for three days, all was quiet.

The audience was observing unnerved, especially Grandmother and Long Yifey's group. All the preparations were clearly meant for Chu Qingcheng and company. But were they going to fall for it that easily?

Noone knew what was happening on Beast King Mountain, adding to their worries, their frowns never leaving their faces. They prayed with all their heart for their successors to not fall for it.

Regent Estate's side was smiling.

"Estate Lord, eldest young master has entered the final phase of the plan." Leng Wuchang stroked his beard. His eyes shined and his mouth perked up in a proud smile.

Huangpu Tianyuan nodded, "Sir Leng's mind is brilliant. I have no doubt you can purge that evil this time. As long as Sir Leng intervenes, not even that demon can escape."

"You're too kind, Estate Lord. I may have presented eldest young master with the plan, but it was his remarkable wits that led it to fruition. I do not dare take all the credit." Leng Wuchang faked modesty.

With an odd smile, Huangpu Tianyuan said, "No, Sir Leng. This is all thanks to you. If it were you leading the operation, it would've been finished much sooner. "

Leng Wuchang looked at him deeply and nodded.

He knew of Huangpu Tianyuan's dissatisfaction for his son, scared the young master earned enough merit to depose him. So he'd rather let Leng Wuchang take all the credit, all to undermine Huangpu Qingtian's achievements.

[Sigh, such is the Regent Estate. Where father and son are fighting tooth and nail in pursuit of power. ]

Leng Wuchang shook his head as he mocked them.

"Sir Leng, are you sure ten thousand men are enough to deal with Zhuo Fan?" A smiling voice drifted over. Leng Wuchang turned to see Zhuge Changfeng flanked by his elders coming over with a crafty smile.

Eyes flashing, Leng Wuchang shook his head, "My meager skill is only good for entertainment. I wouldn't dare boast before the great Prime Minister. As for this ambush, it isn't to deal with Zhuo Fan."

"Oh?" Zhuge Changfeng raised an eyebrow, but then he said after a moment of pondering, "First deal with the horse then the rider, right?"

"Prime Minister Zhuge is truly wise!" Leng Wuchang nodded, "You know the saying, 'those whom god wishes to destroy, he first makes them mad'! Zhuo Fan is not only powerful, he has many odd tricks up his sleeve. And let's not forget his devious mind and penchant for schemes. If we do not rob him of his reason, not even a foolproof plan conceived by us two together would work!"

"By the sound of it Sir Leng has already found his weakness. Or you wouldn't be so open with your designs." Raising his eyebrows, Zhuge Changfeng smiled, "Who is it then? Luo Yunhai, or…"

Leng Wuchang shook his head, his wording vague, "Prime Minister Zhuge, you will know soon enough. I believe not even sir would conceive it possible who his fatal weakness was."

Zhuge Changfeng's reply, "Ha-ha-ha, Sir Leng, you're even holding me in suspense. Very well, I'll just have to see for myself then, how that demon loses his mind."

Leng Wuchang smiled back at the water National Elemental Stone…

At this time, a group appeared on the big screen.

Grandmother and Long Yifey froze at the sight of them. Their hearts tensed and cold sweat filled their fists. They wished nothing more than to shout at them, to warn them of their demise.

A darn shame the Teleportation Array was one way only. Their warnings would fall on deaf ears.

While Leng Wuchang and Huangpu Tianyuan showed a snicker, [They're finally here!]

Two teams were clearly distinguished, Sword Marquise Abode's and Veiled Dragon Pavilion's. They were far quicker than Chu Qingcheng and even met along the way.

"Just what was Zhuo Fan thinking when sending us here? We're clearly wasting time wandering all over the place!" Xie Tianyang was holding a leaf in his mouth. Brushing away a bush while complaining of boredom.

Long Xingyun laughed, "Second young master Xie, ever heard of the 'lies in truth, and truth in lies' used in the art of war? To deceive one's enemy you must deceive your allies. Those three exits were nothing more than a lure for the enemy, while we changed our course midway towards our real purpose!"

"Yeah, brother Tianyang, you need to learn from big brother Zhuo. Even he knows more than you about what's going on!" Xue Ningxiang jumped in, pointing at Long Xingyun while calling out Xie Tianyang's flaws.

Xie Tianyang sneered in silence, while his heart bled from anger, [You're saying as if Zhuo Fan's every word is the unblemished truth!]

Long Xingyun nodded first, then his face twitched.

[The lass sure has a mouth on her. What do you mean by 'even he knows'? Are you saying I'm usually an ignorant philistine? Do I look that stupid to you?]

Then, a cry broke their ceaseless argument.

Long Kui shouted as she pointed at the shining water crystal, "There's the water exit. The map is real!"

The others perked up thrilled at the prospect and rushed over.

"Ha-ha-ha, the water exit is here. Brother Zhuo was right all along!" Long Xingyun laughed, running as well.

Xie Tianyang mocked though, "Why are you so chipper? We don't have the key, do we?"

"Dunce, since brother Zhuo told us to come here in particular, he must've gotten the keys without even us realizing it!" Long Xingyun was over the moon, so much so he forgot who just spoke and cursed back.

Xie Tianyang was annoyed but didn't let it show. Xue Ningxiang, the picture of ignorance, fanned the flames, "Yeah, dunce. Do you have rocks for brains? You think big brother Zhuo would have us come here on a whim?"

The speaker was clueless to the damage, while the listener found the words intentional to spite him.

Xie Tianyang's flames of rage burnt hotter than lava. His fists clenched, his teeth grinded.

[Why does everyone look up to Zhuo Fan and always take me down a peg?] He didn't much care about the rest but even Ning'er, the one he cared the most about, did it. He just couldn't accept it.

A seed of hatred was planted in his heart, towards his brother who he went though life and death once.

A change no one there noticed…

Before the water National Elemental Stone, Grandmother's group was so keyed up, their hearts practically flat lined as they prayed, [Don't come any closer… It's a trap…]

The utter powerlessness they felt watching their clansmen walk into the jaws of death was so strong she felt like her heart was being stabbed over and over, one step at a time…

Leng Wuchang and Huangpu Tianyuan watched them getting closer and the grins turned sinister. It soon turned into joy at the expectancy for bloodshed that followed upon noticing a dainty figure among them.

All around the water exit, Yan Bangui and You Yushan's forces laid in wait. Once the two noticed the carefree figure among their prey, they signaled, "Our target's here. Attack!"

They both shouted in unison.

Then, a glow started rising from beneath everyone's feet. 36 light pylons shot for the skies, trapping them all.

At the same time, each of the pylon beams was shown to be housing a person. As the scenery began changing, the water exit vanished, soon replaced by bloody skies, and blood tainted air.

They seem to have found themselves in another world. Not Beast King Mountain of Tianyu Empire, it was such an odd place they may not even be in the Martial Emperor Continent!

"A 36-man array!" Long Xingyun cried, "Damn it! We've been trapped!"

It was clear as day to all. This was not an array controlled by a single man, but by thirty six people. Such a meticulous array needed ample time to be set in motion.

In other words, this was a well thought out ambush, so much so it began well before they even rushed here!

But how? Zhuo Fan told them to come here. Why would he lead them into a trap?

None could accept what was before them and chose to deny reality. But the facts were laid bare for everyone. Zhuo Fan had sent them to hell.

"Give them no quarter!"

A shout unleashed a flood of ten thousand men coming at them from all directions. They were so panicked they couldn't tell where the enemy was coming from, thinking of nothing else than of escape.

But trapped as they were, with all sides painted red, they had no way to distinguish the exit.

Add to that the constant roars of the enemy, the fear gnawed at any semblance of reason they had left, waiting to be culled…

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Chapter 306, Deadly Miasma

"What do we do, brother?" The frightened Long Kui turned to Long Xingyun.

Long Xingyun wasn't fairing any better, his eyes darting everywhere. Noticing the 36 pylons, his face grew grave, "If we want to survive we have to first get out of the array. The 36 lights are tied together, making it impossible to break the array from the inside. We need to find the exit if we want to escape!"

Long Kui and the rest were even more restless. Looking at the flood of enemies charging, their faces were ashen.

How were they supposed to do that when that army would make sure to keep them trapped here even tighter than the array?

The array's only use was to rob them of their chance to escape. It made even Profound Heaven expert's flying impossible, to the extent that even Six Dragons and One Phoenix were incapable of doing it.

Everyone hung their heads in despair, having lost their will to fight.

"Humph, it's just finding an exit. Is that so hard? We'll just have to try them one by one!" A snort came just as a black figure flashed into the enemy's ranks.

Golden light blossomed as it flew in every direction. Wherever it landed, explosions resounded, paving the ground with hundreds of corpses. The blood flew into the air, only to fall right back down, onto the scattered limbs.

They saw how the twisted smiles of the enemy had now turned into ones of horror at the sight of this man.

Sword Marquise Abode's eldest young master, martial fanatic Xie Tianshang!

Xie Tianshang rested his sword, but his cold eyes glinted like daggers. Any that met his gaze would feel as if stabbed by a thousand swords.

His dauntless figure stood unchallenged like an unparalleled sword. The enemy was deterred, in fear of what might happen if they got even an inch closer.

Long Xingyun blinked, then turned ecstatic, "Brother Xie lives up to be a true martial fanatic. How dependable!"

"But of course. My brother has been obsessed with martial arts since young, training day in day out without a rest. If not for those two monsters, my brother would've been invincible!" Xie Tianyang spoke with pride.

Everyone else sighed inside.

[Xie Tianshang is the number one swordsman in Tianyu. Not even Six Dragons and One Phoenix can match his talent.]

Just that Heaven-shaking Dragon Lord upstaged him, followed closely by that bad apple Zhuo Fan, sealing any chance at showcasing his might.

With those two out of the picture, the world would finally bear witness to the true might of this martial fanatic!

Rolling his eyes, Long Xingyun roared, "Brother Xie, clear a path. We're right behind you!"

Grinning, Xie Tianyang said, "Brother Long is so shrewd in bringing up the rear. When my brother pushes through the array and is too exhausted to carry on, you could just run off!"

"Ha-ha-ha, brother Tianyang, no need to split hairs. We are allies here. You help me now, and I'll help you later. We will both benefit!" Long Xingyun pointed at Xie Tianshang, "Moreover, don't you find your brother quite willing to be made use of?"

Sure enough, Xie Tianshang's eyes lit up at this proposal, as if he was just waiting for it, "Alright!"

Every swing of the sword sent golden light everywhere. Flowing Space's Nine Forms were performed to the full extent of their splendor, at the expense of crushed enemies and strewn corpses. It only took seconds for the casualties to reach a thousand.

As the surroundings glowed bloody, now so too did the earth!

Xie Tianyang shook his head as his brother was hell bent on mowing through the enemy like they were training dummies.

[Sigh, the martial fanatic side of my brother is once again rearing its head. Nothing short of exhaustion or defeat could ever stop his blade now.]

The others found Sword Marquise Abode's eldest young master's bursting courage contagious. It reached a point where some even wanted to join the man in his charge.

But taking a closer look, one saw a bloodshot Xie Tianshang, slaughtering every which way with a manic grin on his face.

That threw a bucket of cold water on their enthusiasm. [He'll kill us just the same!]

Long Xingyun rubbed his chin, nodding at the crazed figure. He guessed there was no pressure in finding the exit. At least with Xie Tianshang on a killing spree, the enemy would swiftly be disposed off.

At the very least, sans Zhuo Fan and Huangpu Qingtian, Xie Tianshang had become the de-facto God of War, killing gods, demons, buddha and what not.

"Xie Tianshang, don't be so smug. Face me for a change!" A shout revealed a black figure charging Xie Tianshang.

Xie Tianshang was overjoyed, "Ha-ha-ha, Yan Bangui, you're just in time. I grow tired of killing ants. Now I can finally hone my sword on you."

Xie Tianshang pointed the sword at the sky.

The sword energy burst with incredible might and sharpness.

Yan Bangui squinted and leaned out of the way. The sword energy grazed his shoulder, peeling his flesh and making him clench his teeth from pain.

The sword energy shot for the skies, where it exploded and rattled the 36 pylons. The men inside even had to spit blood.

It dawned on everyone how mighty Xie Tianshang's sword truly was, of the danger he represented.

Yan Bangui couldn't afford to dodge again, forced to face Xie Tianshang head on. A green miasma drifted from his hand as he made a palm attack for Xie Tianshang's face.

Xie Tianshang turned serious and dodged in a rush.

The miasma struck the earth with a bang, catching others in its path unprepared. It bored into them, eliciting a wail of agony, all while blood flowed like rivers from their twisted visage.

In mere seconds, all that remained were foul and reeking puddles of blood, good only to make one's stomach turn.

Xue Ningxiang hunkered behind Xie Tianyang as horror set in. The rest weren't faring any better, shocked at Yan Bangui's capacity for cruelty.

Xie Tianshang squinted, his face stony, but not a trace of fear.

Xie Tianshang's sword danced in his hand as he unleashed the nine forms. Yan Bangui dodged in panic, not for a second was he going to take the brunt of such deadly force. They hammered the array and the 36 men in the light pylons heaved blood for a total of nine times. Even the bloody sky dulled.

The array was about to break!

Yan Bangui was soaked in sweat, his heart a mess. If this kept up, he wouldn't even win, least of all kill the enemy.

They had worked painstakingly in removing Zhuo Fan from the mix, only to meet another freak, Xie Tianshang.

It was common knowledge that the Six Dragons and One Phoenix, Huangpu Qingtian excluded, were on the same level, more or less. But this guy…

Yan Bangui's face sank, [If this operation fails, the plan to end Zhuo Fan will fall through.] Huangpu Qingtian wasn't going to take his failure lightly, that was for sure.

Yan Bangui gnashed his teeth and released a seven colored miasma, the signature move of Pill King Hall, Rainbow Cloud Palm!

The miasma spread, swallowing enemy and friends alike, leaving behind naught but a bloody cesspool of festering pus.

In the hands of Yan Bangui, with his poisonous body, the Rainbow Cloud Palm was even more devastating!

It was not without its demerits either. As the poison grew in strength, so too did his agony. Rainbow Cloud Palm was a double-edged sword, each time it was used it gnawed at the user's body. And because it was him using it, the poison traveled through him far faster than any of his clansmen.

Yan Bangui's face visibly darkened, with thick green blood dripping from his mouth. The wound on his shoulder festered as well, looking to turn him into a blood puddle.

But he bore it, his hands still releasing that devastating miasma.

He had to complete Huangpu Qingtian's mission, or he'd be dead either way…

Xie Tianshang stared at the source of the miasma. He flicked his sword a few times, but the thick miasma swallowed them all like nothing.

Xie Tianshang jumped back in the face of the spreading disease, next to Long Xingyun.

They watched as hundreds of their enemies died a gruesome death, tormented amidst the drifting pestilence.

"How vicious. Not even his allies are spared!" Xie Tianyang gnashed his teeth.

Long Xingyun's face grew hard, "We have no antidote for Pill King Hall's Rainbow Cloud Palm. He is invincible. Numbers are useless when facing him! Once Rainbow Cloud Palm is in play, his dominance is assured. More so now, in this array. It's just a matter of time before his poison kills us all."

"Isn't there anything we can do?" Xie Tianshang trembled.

Long Xingyun's eyes glinted, "Of course there is. Break the array and the poison will scatter."

"Easy for you to say! I struck it ten times but it is still holding strong. I need more time, time we do not have…" Xie Tianshang sighed at the dull bloody sky.

The others gnashed their teeth as well, drawing back just as the miasma crept nearer.

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Chapter 307, Breaking the Array

The 36 pylons created a sealed space, trapping everyone within its borders and preventing any outsider from looking into it.

Not even the audience watching the water National Elemental Stone could pierce the veil. All they saw were the beams of light, mounting their unrest. Regent Estate's side was the calmest of the bunch, going by their broad and sinister smiles.

Within the bushes just ahead of the pylons, Chu Qingcheng's team, a late arrival, was looking at the scene in bewilderment.

They couldn't make heads or tails of this recent change. Why did Zhuo Fan have them come here?

"A 3rd grade array?" Chu Qingcheng squinted.

Luo Yunhai nodded, "It also comes with a hidden army. For the ambush to succeed, the easiest would be an array with multiple controllers. Being slow on our way here had worked in our favor. For the trap to be sprung already, someone must've fallen for it. "

"What? Are you saying Zhuo Fan had us walk into a trap?" Chu Qingcheng cried in disbelief.

Luo Yunhai nodded, "Although brother Zhuo's every scheme has come to fruition and is unlikely to make such a mistake, our pressing matter at this point is to break the array!"

Chu Qingcheng nodded after a pause, then shouted, "Men, on me. We will break the array core and get them out!"

"Understood!" The men cupped their hands and charged alongside her.

Grandmother's side was extremely worried. But Chu Qingcheng's sudden arrival promised hope. At least the other two teams wouldn't suffer total defeat.

Boom~

Chu Qingcheng struck the glowing pylons several times, until it was shuddering and flickering. But when there were 36 of them, each lending support, stabilizing the weaker link.

As such, Chu Qingcheng's powerful Yuan Qi spread evenly among them. They were shaken but far from breaking.

The rest assaulted the other beams, however pointless it was.

Grandmother's side was by themselves with worry. They were in a race against time. The longer they took the heavier the casualties to the ones trapped inside.

In the trap, Long Xingyun and company were driven into a corner by the encroaching plague. When they ran out of places to retreat, some random subordinates were even pushed in front to make space.

[You are our vassals. Sacrificing yourself for your lord is downright honorable of you!]

They understood this logic as well and stepped forward without their master's urging. They braved the impending miasma, only to end up a festering pool of blood.

Xue Ningxiang was wrecked with sadness, tears streaming down.

[Aren't we all humans? Why must they sacrifice themselves?]

Therein laid the cruelty. If not them, who? The seven houses? No matter how willing Long Xingyun and the rest were, which they weren't, the vassals would never accept it either.

It was easy to guess why. If they escaped this hell by the grace of their master's sacrifice, what future would their clans have?

Extermination!

So while this act looked quite virtuous and dauntless on the surface, at its core it all came down to saving their bloodlines. And who knew if their masters in their infinite mercy, would perhaps look kindly upon their clans.

The stream of sacrifices was endless, but the miasma forced them into a corner, with no way out.

Long Xingyun turned glum. He turned to the dozen scattered men with a heavy heart, "Any further sacrifices are pointless. It will hardly give us more room. Will we find our end here?"

His words made others lower their heads in grief.

The earth, soaked in blood, only added to their sadness.

Thousands of people came here, only to end up with barely enough to count on two hands. They couldn't deny their fate, certain to end up another bloody smear on the ground, joining the others. [Oh, the tragedy!]

Boom!

The sky shook at the sudden sound and the bloody images around them dimmed some more. In Long Xingyun's eyes a faint hope blossomed, "Someone is attacking the array!"

"Yes, but what good will it do? By the time the array is broken, we won't even have bones left!" Xie Tianshang looked at the sky, sombre and dejected.

His words cut at the others' expectation, at their hope.

Long Xingyun waved him off, "Don't say that. They might succeed."

Long Xingyun patted the shoulder of the man next to him, "Brother, what clan are you? For how long have you served the Veiled Dragon Pavilion?"

"Chen clan from Tenebrous City. 150 years ago, we swore fealty to the Veiled Dragon Pavilion!" His sunken face revealed he understood Long Xingyun's meaning. He bowed, "I wish the eldest young master would look after my clan!"

"You have followed my house for so long and today's sacrifice won't be in vain. I, Long Xingyun, will never forget your devotion!" Long Xingyun nodded gravely.

The man's jaw was set, his eyes firm and he charged at the miasma. Yet he barely touched it and the poison was already gnawing at his flesh. Everyone watched as his blood soaked the ground in a matter of seconds.

Xue Ningxiang wailed, burying her head in Xie Tianyang's shoulder.

Xie Tianyang sighed and patted her hand in consolation. It came as no surprise to him, not how often he saw the seven houses abuse their privilege.

Long Xingyun stood cheerful in the freshly emptied spot. His calm face begged the question, did he even bother to remember the man's clan's name?

Well, since someone was bashing the array, hope slipped into his heart. A second ago he wasn't intent on making more senseless sacrifices, not when they were doomed to die together. But now, even if he were to die, he'd make damn sure he was going to be last!

What if he lived?

Chu Qingcheng and her men had struck the pylons of light dozens of times now without any result. Each failure mounting their worry. Grandmother was sweating as well, while Xie Xiaofeng and Long Yifey, fearful of their sons' fate, were devastated.

No one there was more disturbed than them.

Dugu Zhantian stood straight like a blade among them, eyes fixed on the image in silent worry.

Dugu Lin muttered, "Marshal, this 36 Heavenly Stars Array…"

"Stop, Yunhai should know a way!" Dugu Zhantian waved his hand, his eyes confident.

The tigers nodded, watching the young man in the National Elemental Stone with a smile.

Luo Yunhai scrutinized the array and said, "Edifice Lord Chu, the 36 Heavenly Stars Array is laid in accordance with the 36 stars of the Big Dipper. If one holds, they all do. If one crumbles, they all collapse. Only by attacking the life gate will we tear the death gate open and break the array!"

"You have a way?" Chu Qingcheng asked.

Luo Yunhai nodded, "This array is commonly used in the army. I've followed the godfather for two years to learn about this array and ask Edifice Lord Chu to lend me all authority!"

"Done!" Chu Qingcheng agreed on the spot.

Luo Yunhai turned solemn and shouted, "Listen all of you. Dong Tianba, take three hundred men and attack the life gate in the center west. Xiao Dandan, take three hundred men and attack the second death gate in the east. The rest will be with me in attacking the seal gate!"

The men set off at once.

Like dragons, the three teams started raining havoc on the 36 pylons of light.

When Dong Tianba attacked the light pylons at the life gate, he sent a ripple to the other beams. Then Xiao Dandan and Luo Yunhai's teams attacked their own targets and things changed.

The other two ripples prevented the first from spreading to the other pylons.

The three ripples converged onto a single pylon, stopping it from letting the others share the load. Soon, the man inside the pylon cried out and as the pylon vanished, the man blew to pieces.

The 36 light pylons had lost their balance and they could no longer support each other.

Dugu Zhantian laughed, "Nice! The kid didn't waste the two years he was next to me!"

The Four Tigers of Tianyu nodded in pride. They were the ones who brought up this younger brother with them and seeing him make a name for himself in the Esoteric Debate filled them with glee and pride.

Grandmother's side nodded, glad as well. Who'd have thought the Luo clan didn't just have creepy Zhuo Fan worthy of notice, but the young Clan Head as well? Surely not them.

What surprised them the most were Zhuo Fan's decisions.

They all knew who brought Luo Yunhai into the limelight, Zhuo Fan. With Zhuo Fan always taking the lead in schemes and battles, the third rate clan's kid would hardly show his face, would hardly prove his worth of being under Dugu Zhantian's care!

Chu Qingcheng was glad inside. Happy this array that had many of them vexed over popped open with a little effort from Luo Yunhai.

Luo Yunhai didn't let this minor success cloud his judgment, "The viewing gate is open. Attack the pain gate!"

"Understood!" The men responded, filled with zeal.

Regent Estate's side turned glum, with only Leng Wuchang ever sporting that faint mystifying smile, "Ha-ha-ha, it's of no consequence… "

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Chapter 308, The Real Target Is Her

Boom~

Booms sounded everywhere as Luo Yunhai commanded his three teams left and right. The 36 pylons of light were reduced to 26 in a matter of seconds.

The others were stunned, cheering for the Luo clan. Their young master had grown up at last. [He will make a fine Clan Head!]

When half of the pylons crumbled, the array formation was constantly shuddering from the strain. 18 pylons were hardly enough to sustain such a large array.

Luo Yunhai shouted, "Fall back!"

They all rushed away, but some were too slow in their retreat and the exploding array engulfed them.

Boom!

The force of the blast smashed into the surroundings, while the unfortunate few who got caught in it were sent everywhere in pieces. Robbed of life before they could utter even a whimper.

The lucky survivors saw before them a foul thick mist. They drew a breath, rejoiced having come out unscathed, only to be swallowed whole by the towering miasma. They wailed and cried even as their flesh dissolved into blood and pus, soaking the mud.

Chu Qingcheng cried, "Watch out! It's Pill King Hall's Rainbow Cloud Palm!"

A layer of ice appeared on her body as she spoke. She gathered her palms and erected a cold barrier.

The miasma touched the barrier and let out hissing sounds, eating through it in moments.

Chu Qingcheng was shocked. Not even Vicious Pill King's poison was that toxic.

The saying that no one could defend against Yan Bangui's Rainbow Cloud Palm, who had a poison body, wasn't unfounded!

Gnashing her teeth, Chu Qingcheng's only option was to retreat. Made painfully aware by the increasing number of victims the miasma swallowed and dissolved.

"Ha-ha-ha, Edifice Lord Chu, you're just in time. I'll never forget this life debt!" Following the unbridled laughter, people trapped inside noticed Chu Qingcheng.

Long Xingyun and Xie Tianshang's teams were free now. Just that they were reduced to less than ten people. The core of the two houses was safe, while the vassals had gone to the underworld.

Technically there was one vassal who had pulled through, the Xue clan's siblings.

Thanks in no small part to Xie Tianyang and Zhuo Fan's fame, or who knew when in this ordeal they'd be used as 'honorable' sacrifices.

Luck was with them at least, with the array giving way just as the miasma was about to devour them. They flew away the instant they could, joining up with Chu Qingcheng.

Long Yifey and Xie Xiaofeng saw their sons safe and sound and eased a breath they didn't know they held. But looking at the sky covered in poison, then at the bloody mud below their feet, the gruesome hellscape left them soaked.

The Esoteric Debate of this century was far more malicious. Perhaps the fact that the seven houses were officially at war had something to do with it.

For appearances' sake, the seven houses abstained from a full out war, letting their vassals be their proxy. But now, the vassals weren't the only ones turned into rivers of blood, the seven houses were tearing into each other just as savagely.

It was easy to imagine what would've happened if Chu Qingcheng was even a moment slower in her rescue. The Sword Marquise Abode and Veiled Dragon Pavilion's bloodlines would've been cut short at the hands of Yan Bangui.

The house lords of the two victimized houses sobbed inside. They prayed that the two could come out alive from the most cruel and savage battle that had ever happened over the past millennium.

Hall Lord Yan Bogong's face bloomed with the most genial smile conceivable. He even made obvious signs to his allies, as if to say, [See that! That's the true power of our top art, Rainbow Cloud Palm!]

[With one hand, the world's my oyster. No one would dare come closer!]

Everyone gave him a cursed look. Their disdain for this petty man's flair for the dramatic was evident. One had to admit though, Rainbow Cloud Palm turned Yan Bangui into a killing machine.

In case of any one else using it, willpower was capable of pushing the enemy through adversity and come out alive. But replace the user with Yan Bangui and they would dissolve into a bloody stain on the ground before they could even reach him.

This was the horror, Yan Bangui of Six Dragons and One Phoenix - the Plague Dragon - brought to life!

Only Regent Estate was shaking their heads, clearly unimpressed by the Rainbow Cloud Palm…

On the other side, Chu Qingcheng's team was pushed back further and further away from the spreading miasma. It ate through trees and even the toughest rocks, with the first turned to dust, and the second into an acrid liquid.

The few cultivators too slow to keep up were swallowed by the toxic fumes, with only screams as an indication of what awaited on the other side.

Chu Qingcheng's brow was set in a heavy scowl, "We have to stop him or all our men will die."

Long Xingyun nodded, "True. Every great clan and house in Tianyu is watching us from beyond the water exit. It would be a stain on our honor to allow Yan Bangui, a single man, push us three back. I have a way, but we need to combine our power. The risk may be high, but are you willing?"

Chu Qingcheng and Xie Tianshang traded looks then nodded, "Speak."

The two's eyes lit up and nodded while a grinning Long Xingyun whispered in their ears.

The three stopped shirking away from the pestilence and charged instead, giving others quite the shock.

[Are they suicidal? Not even Six Dragons and One Phoenix are exempt from dying from that poison!]

But what happened next was the true shocker.

Xie Tianshang took the lead, then slashed. A bright golden and unbridled energy cut into the miasma. The poison was forced to scatter, revealing a clear path ahead.

The three followed the path, just as the miasma was coming back with a vengeance and trapping the trio.

Chu Qingcheng's prompt response was in the form of a flash of cold. Her hands moved, raising an ice wall around them and keeping them safe from the miasma.

But the constant hissing bore testament to the poisons' power, and the short life of the ice wall.

Then again, it was enough to buy them an instant and that was all they needed. Long Xingyun finally released the attack he had built up all this time in his palm. A dragon image pierced forth, forming a new path the three followed.

The ice wall gave away under the acidic poison behind them. But the sealed exit didn't seem to bother them. They had come here with no intent of retreating!

In such a manner, Xie Tianshang and Long Xingyun showed the way, while Chu Qingcheng kept the miasma at bay. They soon found themselves at the heart of it, the source of the poison.

Xie Tianshang's last attack parted the thick poison, revealing Yan Bangui constantly spewing blood.

Yan Bangui jerked in shock.

Sustaining the Rainbow Cloud Palm for so long has seeped the poison into his organs, and it was in his worst hour that the trio revealed themselves before him.

He was too weak to even hold back one, least of all a team of three.

Panicking, Yan Bangui was ready to bolt, but Long Xingyun had a different plan in mind, appearing next to him.

[He-he-he, this is a once in a blue moon chance. I am an avid believer of 'one man's pain is another man's gain.]

Snickering, Long Xingyun struck.

Boom!

The palm attack sent the defenseless Yan Bangui tumbling through the air. He was heavily wounded.

The moment he flew was also the moment the miasma vanished.

The three surrounded the wheezing Yan Bangui, noticing the glee in each other's eyes.

Hall Lord Yan Bogong raved, "Despicable and shameless bunch!"

All he got from the crowd was contempt. [This is a house war! You call three on one unfair? What about Yan Bangui's army outnumbering others five to one just moments ago?]

Yan Bogong noticed his slip of the tongue and went red.

Grandmother and Long Yifey were ecstatic. But a peek at Regent Estate's unphased reactions sank their moods.

[Just what are they up to?]

Then, Chu Qingcheng's raging caught their attention.

"Yan Bangui, you have no respect for human life, not an ounce of mercy to be using such foul art. You deserve death!" The earth soaked in blood was testament to the thousands of lives his pestilence had reaped. Chu Qingcheng couldn't stop herself from cursing the weakened Yan Bangui.

Long Xingyun waved her off, "Ha-ha-ha, Edifice Lord Chu, don't be upset. Capturing Pill King Hall's Yan Bangui makes all those thousands of sacrifices worth it. Not to mention that most of the deaths were from his side. This is clearly a worthy victory, ha-ha-ha… "

Chu Qingcheng and the other women snorted at his laughter.

[You're saying that in war, it will all be fine as long as their side has the higher casualties? Do their lives mean nothing? Are all men that cold-blooded?]

They only dared complain in their hearts, having understood now the cruelty of war…

"Ha-ha-ha, you're not the only winners!" With a bang, Xie Tianyang was sent flying.

His spot was instantly replaced by Hell Valley's You Yushan.

"By eldest young master's orders, the more gruesome this lass' death is, the better! I was vexed on how to go about achieving this, but now I have figured it out."

With a dark smile, You Yushan turned to the panicking Xue Ningxiang. Her eyes reflected the claw clutching at her neck. The man exclaimed jubilantly, "Miss, you should be honored. We sacrificed so many people just so we could let him see your twisted and mangled face, ha-ha-ha…"

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Chapter 309, Ghost Hand

"Ning'er!"

Xue Gang and Xue Lin cried out and attacked. The notion of fighting someone way out of their league was lost on them in their frantic worry for their sister.

You Yushan spared them no glance, only a wave. A gale dealt with the pesky brothers, sent them flying and they were left to fall powerless on the ground.

But their eyes still brimmed with concern for Xue Ningxiang.

Xue Ningxiang shouted, "Big brother, second brother!"

"Ha-ha-ha, easy now. They're fine. I have no interest in swatting down flies." You Yushan's malicious grin widened as he had the fragile girl in his grip.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, a sword flashed by. Xie Tianyang had picked himself up at some point and was aiming for the man's throat, "Flowing Space's Nine Forms, Empty Net!"

The space froze and even You Yushan looked slowed as the only moving object was the swift sword attack at his throat.

Unfazed in the slightest, the man merely pinched the glinting cold blade. The sword stopped dead in its tracks.

The next thing he knew, Xie Tianyang found You Yushan's sneer entering his ears, "Humph, I would've been a bit worried if the Flowing Space's Nine Forms came from your brother, but you… ha-ha-ha, never mind!"

You Yushan shifted and both sword and man were seen shooting through the air.

Slamming into the earth and spitting blood, he found no energy left in him to get up. All he could do was painfully witness You Yushan's vile hand squeeze Ning'er's neck.

Chu Qingcheng, Xie Tianshang and Long Xingyun rushed over. You Yushan merely displayed a frown and placed Xue Ningxiang towards them as he shouted, "Don't come any closer, or the lady gets it!"

The three halted on the spot. They slowly put down their feet and turned grave.

The lady was from a trifling second rate clan, no different from a vassal, but her status was a bit special. She had strong ties with Sword Marquise Abode's Xie Tianyang and Soaring Demonic Dragon Zhuo Fan.

Whether it was for the ones behind her or for herself, they had to avoid playing a part in her death at any cost. You Yushan's threat wouldn't have worked on them otherwise.

With both sides fully knowledgeable of the delicate balance, You Yushan regarded them with hatred and a twisted grin, "Who'd have seen this coming? High and mighty disciples from three houses are now shaking in their boots in fear of seeing a second rate clan's miss' head falling off. What a sight, ha-ha-ha…"

You Yushan turned to the said miss with a raised eyebrow, "See that, my lady? They care for you so much. And the one who made it all possible is that man. Ironic how it includes your current predicament as well. If only he didn't exist, who among us would waste time to mind a small and insignificant lady?"

Xue Ningxiang gnashed her teeth, knowing fully well who he was talking about.

The three close by knew it too. The focus behind all this planning and ambushing had been Zhuo Fan all along.

This proves how dear Xue Ningxiang was to Zhuo Fan, making it obvious why the enemy would throw away all their honor and go after a frail girl. It all came down to dealing with Zhuo Fan.

All the more reason why the trio couldn't be hasty, lest they find themselves short of Xue Ningxiang and with an enraged Zhuo Fan breathing down their necks.

The three gave each other a hidden nod, being overt as they looked for a chance. You Yushan was one of Six Dragons and One Phoenix after all, so how could he leave an opening for the three to exploit?

The scene turned into a standstill, with neither side moving on the other.

The audience beyond the water exit were shocked by the sudden development. A mere second rate clan's miss was Zhuo Fan and the other's weakness? Go figure.

Luo Yunchang clenched her fists, worried sick.

She had long been made aware of Ning'er's importance to Zhuo Fan. Neither she nor Chu Qingcheng could reach the same place as that girl in Zhuo Fan's heart.

She refrained from waking Zhuo Fan to this realization out of worry and fear. Fear that Zhuo Fan would further distance himself from her.

It had reached such a point where before the final battle, Zhuo Fan's heart was a mess. He kept flipping out yet never could find the root of the problem, blaming it all on his restless mind.

Only Luo Yunchang knew this was jealousy over Ning'er and Xie Tianyang seeing each other every day.

With Zhuo Fan's one track mind for cultivation alone, his knowledge about love and anything skirting around the subject was a huge void. Without knowing what caused such deep unrest within him, he chose to force himself to be stone-cold.

His mind had found peace, but all he did was stop the flood by building a dam around it.

And once that dam cracked, the surging tide would consume him.

Luo Yunchang could practically see Zhuo Fan's pained face. She turned to the trapped Xue Ningxiang, praying for her safety.

[Ning'er, you must survive. Or Zhuo Fan will go mad.]

Among all viewers, the only ones who truly cared for Xue Ningxiang were her father and grandfather. Seeing their daughter and grandchild in the hands of You Yushan robbed them of their breath. Their hearts were about to break.

[Why has the kind and cheerful Ning'er met with such disaster?]

Zhuge Changfeng took everything in with a glint in his eye, "Sir Leng, is this the fatal weakness you've been mentioning?"

"Ha-ha-ha, Prime Minister, I have conducted a thorough observation and that girl is Zhuo Fan's biggest worry. He might not even realize it himself!" Leng Wuchang smiled.

Zhuge Changfeng raised an eyebrow, "How did Sir Leng find out then, if even he doesn't know?"

"Ha-ha-ha, simple. A man will always reveal what he yearns for without even realizing it. When Zhuo Fan first came to Dragon Cloud City, he and our eldest young master clashed. That time he saved two women, one was the Luo clan's young miss, while the other was the Xue girl."

"That was all it took?" Zhuge Changfeng smiled.

Leng Wuchang shook his head, "It wouldn't have been that simple, but his eyes naturally drifted to the Xue girl. It begged the question, if he would ignore even the safety of his clan's young miss, and since he's only interested in the other girl, what place does she hold in his heart?"

"Also, on the fighting stage, when Zhuo Fan was taken by his awe-inspiring first victory, who was it that he went to first? Ha-ha-ha, when a man shows his heroic side, he wants to share it. Not with his drinking buddies, but with the woman he loves. These are all subconscious actions, but also the ones that betrayed his heart the most."

Zhuge Changfeng nodded in understanding, "Sir Leng is truly perceptive. From just two encounters you have grasped the kid's weakness. I have to say that I'm impressed."

"You're far too kind, I don't deserve it. The Prime Minister's wisdom is matchless. I dare not compare. I have never been able to see through the Prime Minister's thoughts, not one bit." Leng Wuchang gave a half bow, in respect. But the way he was looking at Zhuge Changfeng in the eye, it was more akin to a challenge.

With a glint in Zhuge Changfeng's eyes, the old man laughed, "Sir Leng is interested in me as well? Am I to assume I am your next target?"

"How can that be? I'd never dare do that to you, Prime Minister." Leng Wuchang shook his head.

Zhuge Changfeng gave a cold smile in return, not minding it, "I don't mind playing a round or two once Sir Leng has dealt with that monkey."

Shuddering, Leng Wuchang's eyes shined with battle spirit.

Of Tianyu's three great minds, he had always been second to Zhuge Changfeng. He now had the chance to face the man and although he was somewhat uncertain, the excitement prevailed.

Every man with power would do anything to fight for the title of number one in the world, Unwonted Contriver included…

On the other side, You Yushan saw the trio unmoving and turned to the frightened Xue Ningxiang, "Girl, that ol' poisoner wanted to dissolve you into a bloody smear on the ground for that kid. But I found such a revenge lackluster and figured out a much better way."

"You wish! Big brother Zhuo will definitely save me!" Xue Ningxiang struggled as she cursed, her hand tracing the Thunder Ring.

Each time the Thunder Ring flickered, Zhuo Fan was bound to swoop in and carry her from the jaws of danger.

[Big brother Zhuo!]

Her heart cried those three little words, absolutely convinced of her delusional fairy tale.

Xie Tianyang gnashed his teeth, crawling forth to save his love. He didn't go far, once again taken by weakness. Only his bloodshot eyes never left You Yushan, wishing nothing more than to devour him.

Shaking his head, You Yushan ignored his surroundings and enjoyed making the lass squirm, "Girl, your man won't come. While we ambushed you he was going to Huangpu Qingtian to fight over the fourth Brimming Sacred Pill. Ha-ha-ha, now that I recall, weren't you supposed to be a cauldron for us? Although late by a few years, it's never too late to receive your fate!"

You Yushan touched her head as it released eerie sounds and gray energy.

Everyone cried, "Ghost Hand? H-he wants to take Ning'er's essence!"

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Chapter 310, You're Too Late

Translator: StarReader

"Ning'er!"

Xie Tianyang shouted himself hoarse. No matter how much he wanted and tried to save her, he just couldn't muster the strength to even get up.

Essence was a soul's foundation, its core!

Its role was to condense divine sense and anchor the soul. Once taken away, the soul would scatter while the flesh would keep on living merely as an empty shell.

Chu Qingcheng jerked. You Yushan wasn't using her as a bargaining chip, but putting her to death. Her team acted at once.

Far too late however.

You Yushan's gray energy rippled and he lifted the hand placed on Xue Ningxiang's head. As if pulling something.

Xue Ningxiang's face grew ashen, sheer terror painted on her face as she spoke faintly, "B-big brother Zhuo… save me…"

Hum~

Then, the top of her head flashed in a blinding light and a pure mote of energy rose above.

Xue Ningxiang's eyes dulled, having lost the energy to stand, even her cheerful nature dissipated, as she fell to the ground.

You Yushan was overjoyed at the dazzling light, intoxicated even, "Such pure essence is rarer than rare. What a waste letting her live for so long. Fortunately it has found its use in the end."

You Yushan placed the essence in a censer, then sealed the lid before putting it away.

"You Yushan, release Ning'er's essence!" Chu Qingcheng's delicate voice came, just as her palm was poised to attack.

You Yushan replied in kind.

The two attacks met and were both forced back. You Yushan took the recoil to his advantage and flew away in laughter, "Ha-ha-ha, without her essence her soul will last for a few more days, enough for that punk to say his last goodbyes. Pass this along, would you? If he wants revenge, we'll be waiting at the earth exit!"

Chu Qingcheng glared in hatred at the fleeting You Yushan.

Just then, Long Xingyun and Xie Tianshang flew in front of him and cut off his retreat.

"You Yushan, don't think you can get away from me with murder!" Xie Tianshang's sword flew.

The bright and thick sword attack crossed the entire sky. Long Xingyun snickered, "He-he-he, now that you're here, don't even think about leaving!"

Boom!

The incredible sword and palm attacks startled You Yushan. With two against one, Six Dragons and One Phoenix at that, he had no hope of escaping.

In his desperation, he released his spirit animal to take the brunt as he escaped.

Pa, pa!

The Scorching Eagle was struck as it was still making sense of its surroundings. The two Profound Heaven experts' attacks weren't that threatening, but the eagle still cried in pain.

It turned its head dumbfounded.

[Where's master?] He had let him out but there was no sight of him.

Xie Tianshang and Long Xingyun were stunned, [He is lower than vermin! To even use a 5th level spiritual beast to cover his ass, he is scum!]

[But we'd be far worse if we wouldn't accept this sacrifice!]

Xie Tianshang and Long Xingyun smiled coldly and attacked the spirit animal.

The duo released their own beasts to attack You Yushan's beast and put it down for good.

The Scorching Eagle was devastated, [What the hell? Can someone please tell me what is going on? Why am I suddenly in a deadly situation?]

No one cared enough to enlighten the beast. The two beasts and their masters surrounded it. They beat it into submission and tears, turning it into spoils of war.

The fleeting You Yushan sighed and cried.

[Sorry partner, everything is for the mission.]"

"Brother You, wait!" A panicked cry reached him. You Yushan found Yan Bangui next to him.

"Ol' poisoner, how did you escape?" You Yushan was stunned.

Smiling at his fortune, Yan Bangui said, "It's thanks to you distracting them. I slipped away after taking a pill."

"If I had known I wouldn't have used my spirit animal! Oh, and why didn't you take out your own spirit animal to save me?"

Yan Bangui smirked, "Sure, and what good would three men and three beasts do against one man and two beasts? It would only end up sacrificed like your own in the end."

Faltering, You Yushan's face twitched.

[This is our mission, not mine alone!] He had lost the most in this.

Yan Bangui was quite hurt as well, yet pleased as punch, ready for his reward. You Yushan's anger only rose.

Back to Long Xingyun, the man and beast team clobbered the Scorching Eagle down to its last breath then placed it in his ring. Only then they flew to provide help to Xie Tianyang and others.

Chu Qingcheng's girls helped Xue Ningxiang up, but her dead eyes and fading life force left them in grief.

Chu Qingcheng's eyes teared and placed a hand on her head. Dong Xiaowan cried, "Edifice Lord Chu, what are you doing?"

"With lady Ning'er's essence taken, her mind is in chaos and her soul is about to scatter. The agony is no different from having one's marrow pierced by a thousand needles. The pain is enough to harm the soul. It's better to release her from the torment!" Chu Qingcheng gnashed her teeth, her heart bleeding at the injustice.

Dong Xiaowan was stunned. She looked away as tears streamed down.

The Xue clan and Xie Tianyang weren't by Ning'er's side but the words cut them deep still.

They hoped to save Ning'er, even if it was a flimsy hope. But none wanted to put her through such torment.

Only Leng Wuchang nodded, "Not a bad way to die. At least better than muddying the ground with blood. You Yushan showed quite the initiative in this mission."

Huangpu Tianyuan smiled…

…

"Ning'er, please don't blame me." Looking at Xue Ningxiang's pale face, Chu Qingcheng's palm was ready to strike. But then…

Chu Qingcheng looked stunned as Xue Ningxiang's dainty hand stopped her.

With barely any strength left in her, even with her eyes dull, she still held on to the last bit of energy, holding back the attack. A deflated and weak smile graced her lips, "Edifice Lord Chu, please… give me more time. I want to see big brother Zhuo one last time…"

Chu Qingcheng's words were stuck in her throat.

She knew the pain of having one's soul scattered, but nonetheless, Ning'er wished to wait for Zhuo Fan. As a woman, especially a woman who loved the same man she did, Chu Qingcheng's heart was in such pain that she turned around.

Xue Ningxiang gave a faint smile, "Thank you."

Once Xue Ningxiang and the Xue brothers recovered enough with the help of pills, they rushed to Xue Ningxiang's side.

The pale face and increasingly weakened figure filled them with sorrow.

Xie Tianyang wanted to go get her essence back, but Xie Tianshang held him back. The other side had Huangpu Qingtian and neither of them were his match.

Xie Tianshang may be a martial fanatic, but he knew his limits. Before they could do anything else however, they had to wait for Zhuo Fan and discuss it.

But even after two days, Zhuo Fan was nowhere in sight. Xue Ningxiang only got worse, at the brink of death.

Xie Tianyang was always by her side, in tears.

In the afternoon of the third day, Xue Ningxiang and Xie Tianyang saw their Thunder Ring flashing.

Xue Ningxiang was moments away from passing, but her eyes shined and a smile appeared, "He came…"

Boom!

Lightning crashed and Zhuo Fan landed. He saw less than one thousand men and his heart seized. He asked Chu Qingcheng nervously, "I-is everyone alright?"

Their faces were dull and words had left them.

Zhuo Fan's heart skipped a beat, feeling the gravity of the situation.

Xie Tianyang's bloodshot eyes turned to him, his voice laced with hatred, "You're too late. Far… too late. "

Zhuo Fan was taken aback seeing the brother he went through life and death with, show such an expression. But then he noticed something and his lips quivered, "H-how is… Ning'er?"

Xie Tianyang only closed his eyes, but tears never stopped flowing.

Zhuo Fan grew more nervous as he approached slowly with shaky legs. He didn't want to accept that because of him, Huangpu Qingtian had moved against Ning'er, a sweet and frail girl…

As the sad and despondent people slowly made way to reveal a delicate figure, Zhuo Fan's mind was blown away, rooted on the spot…

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Chapter 311, Berserk

Translator: StarReader

"Brother Zhuo… you're back?" Xue Ningxiang was so weak that her eyes were now dead voids. But she forced herself to show a smile, to ease everyone's minds. They all knew she wasn't long for this world.

Hum~

Zhuo Fan released his Discerning Field. He shook for a moment and gnashed his teeth.

"Ning'er's essence…" Zhuo Fan's hands tightened, "How long?"

Chu Qingcheng spoke dully, "Three days…"

Taking a deep breath, Zhuo Fan closed his eyes. He felt something warm flowing down his face.

Once essence left the body, it had to be returned in maximum one day for the person to be saved. With three days passing, even if he had the power to return it, he couldn't save her.

Xue Ningxiang understood his pain and smiled, like everything would be alright, "Big brother Zhuo, you said you'd come for me five days later. You didn't lie to me. You came back."

Xue Ningxiang struggled to raise her hand, the Thunder Ring flickering on her finger, "Big brother Zhuo, you held our promise."

Listening to her faint and concerned voice, Zhuo Fan still kept his eyes shut. He was afraid that after looking at her, he wouldn't be able to take it, his heart giving in to the flooding emotions.

Then Zhuo Fan forced those impulses down, achieving calm. He opened his tranquil eyes, his voice plain, "Ning'er, I was late. I…"

"Big brother Zhuo, it's alright. You weren't late. To me, today is the fifth day." Xue Ningxiang said to him, "Big brother Zhuo, will you touch your ring to mine and fulfill our promise?"

Zhuo Fan drew closer to the weakened girl, showing his flickering Thunder Ring.

Xue Ningxiang could not see, but the sound reaching her ears made her show a smile, "Big brother Zhuo, I know you must be feeling guilty, but it wasn't your fault. I believe you were just as taken by their schemes as we were by their ambush. I do not blame you. They even said they came to kill me for you. I am happy. This proves big brother Zhuo cares about me the most for them to pay attention to a girl like me."

Tightening his hands, Zhuo Fan fell silent, but his eyes exploded in rage.

"Brother Tianyang, didn't you want to touch rings as well? What are you waiting for? I don't have much time. I still long to hear our three rings flicker." Xue Ningxiang smiled at Xie Tianyang.

Xie Tianyang's heart was consumed by grief, tears flooding his eyes as he touched his ring to the other two.

The three Thunder Rings let out a bright light and intense crackling. Xue Ningxiang closed her eyes, at peace, "I wish we could return to those days in the Allbeast Mountain Range…"

Pa!

Xue Ningxiang's hand slacked. She was gone. But there was no pain or regret on her pale face.

It was impossible for anyone who died from a scattered soul to show such an expression. Because the agony of having one's soul ripped to pieces would twist their face into a horrifying visage.

But not Xue Ningxiang, she only showed content.

Even Zhuge Changfeng, Leng Wuchang and Dugu Zhantian beyond the National Elemental Stone showed a reaction. They had never seen such a pure and innocent girl.

It was a true loss for her to suffer such a gruesome death.

Zhuge Changfeng sighed, "No wonder the kid is so touched by this girl. She is a true rarity."

"An evil soul will always look for pure souls to lean on for comfort. But once the pure soul leaves, the evil soul would find itself alone and maddened. No one can prevent it." Leng Wuchang caressed his beard. His sigh showed compassion, but the glint in his eyes spoke another truth.

Zhuge Changfeng eyed him coldly, "Sir Leng, when playing with an angry beast, beware not to get mangled yourself!"

"Ha-ha-ha, it's fine Prime Minister. The most feared are the cold and calculating beasts. While rampant ones are mere brutes, easy to handle." Leng Wuchang showed a crafty smile.

Zhuge Changfeng shook his head and sighed looking at Zhuo Fan, "Kid, how could you fall so easily to their games…"

Xue Clan Head and patriarch were paralyzed watching Ning'er leave this world. Luo Yunchang rushed to help them, although just as overwhelmed with grief.

Xue Gang and Xue Lin wailed by Ning'er's side.

Xie Tianyang panted, his eyes red, his sword clenched in his hand, "Zhuo Fan, Huangpu Qingtian is waiting for you at the earth exit. Let's go together and avenge Ning'er!"

"That's suicide. You're walking into a trap. Here we have the water exit and we can win the Esoteric Debate as long as we return to Dragon Cloud City." Zhuo Fan's eyes never strayed from Xue Ningxiang. He was calm, his eyes an endless abyss.

Xie Tianyang's vein popped on his forehead and he glared at him, "Bastard, is that all you have to say? Ning'er died because of you and that's all you can think of? Are you a cold-blooded animal?

"That's exactly what I am. Haven't you figured that out yet?" Zhuo Fan deadpanned, "My objective is to win the Esoteric Debate. The human cost is irrelevant. Entering Beast King Mountain means you've assumed the risk of dying. There is no one you can blame for the choices you make…"

"Bastard!"

Xie Tianyang's swing sent Zhuo Fan flying as he raved, "I don't care how you treat others, but Ning'er died because of you!"

Zhuo Fan picked himself up, blood trickling from his lips, yet his tone was as flat as before, "As I've said, after coming to Beast King Mountain, you have no one else to blame for your fate. But this girl… shouldn't have come. She was too weak."

Xie Tianyang was shuddering, his eyes flashing with bloodthirst. Chu Qingcheng and her girls looked at Zhuo Fan with no little reproach and blame.

[Has this man become dead inside? How can he say such cruel things, now of all times?]

Long Xingyun was the only one who nodded, "Brother Zhuo is right. The Esoteric Debate is fraught with danger and no one can guarantee one's survival. The top priority is unchanged, to leave this place as soon as possible. Brother Zhuo, I heard you snatched the fourth Brimming Sacred Pill. Don't forget your brothers and leave us one as well."

"I will." Zhuo Fan nodded.

Whoosh!

Xie Tianyang had had enough, his killing intent spiked, his eyes bloodshot and his sword pierced for Zhuo Fan, "Bastard! I knew this was all a diversion. You threw us along as bait while you went for the Brimming Sacred Pill. You killed Ning'er!"

"What? That's… Flowing Space's Nine Forms. Stop, Tianyang!"

Xie Tianshang cried for him in panic. For him to use Flowing Space's Nine Forms on Zhuo Fan, he was fully intent on killing him.

[They were as close as brothers, so how did it come to this…]

He was too late. Xie Tianyang's attack shot for Zhuo Fan, who merely laid on the ground.

When the sword attack was upon him, a mere flash of golden light from his eye blinked it out of existence. He then popped behind Xie Tianyang and struck his neck.

Boom!

Xie Tianyang laid in a meter wide hole, out cold.

The shock was palpable on everyone's faces.

They knew of Zhuo Fan's power, but hearing about it and seeing it for themselves were two different things. The second young master of Sword Marquise Abode was dealt with in one blow.

Xie Tianshang cupped his hands, "Brother Zhuo, please forgive my reckless brother…"

"No need. We're leaving." Zhuo Fan's hand flashed and two blue crystals sank into the water exit's groove.

The water exit then released a light pillar towards the heavens.

Zhuo Fan pointed, "The array is open, let's move."

At Zhuo Fan's invitation, Xie Tianshang and the others breathed easier. He carried his brother, while Xue Gang took his sister's body. They passed through the light and arrived in Dragon Cloud City.

At the familiar sight, they all relaxed as if they had escaped hell.

Zhuge Changfeng smiled, "Sir Leng, by the looks of it, the savage beast hasn't gone mad. In fact, he handled everything with exceeding calm."

Leng Wuchang frowned as his eyes were skeptical, [Was I wrong?]

Chu Qingcheng came to Zhuo Fan, but didn't walk through the exit, "Zhuo Fan, I was wrong about you. A cold and ruthless man like you isn't worthy of a woman's love."

Zhuo Fan just stood there.

"Darling, you…" Xiao Dandan shook her head in disappointment then went away as well.

Dong Xiaowan's group merely sighed before following.

They were the winners, but nobody felt like one. The prevalent mood was glum and despondent.

The only one left was Chu Qingcheng. She walked to the array without sparing him a second look. But then she caught sight of the bloodstains on the ground and was stunned.

Looking closer, Zhuo Fan's hands were so tightly clenched, his nails had dug into his flesh and blood trailed between his fingers.

Zhuo Fan had the Diamond Body. Just what kind of power did he wield to even harm himself?

Chu Qingcheng cried, "Zhuo Fan, you…"

But Zhuo Fan pushed her through the pillar and she found herself back in Dragon Cloud City.

Chu Qingcheng was worried sick now, looking at the water National Elemental Stone. She shouted at the cold Zhuo Fan beyond the veil, "Zhuo Fan, what are you doing?"

A pity the array only worked one way…

No one could make sense of Drifting Flowers Edifice lord's outburst, why was she so distraught.

It was soon made clear however.

Zhuo Fan pulled the keys and threw them away.

His bloody hands spread, his body shivered, his eyes were bloodshot as lightning crackled. All that was heard was his roar, "Ning'er!"

The rage had been held back long enough and it now consumed his mind…

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Chapter 312, You're Life Is Mine

Translator: StarReader

Lightning twisted around him like snakes. It donned him with an armor that flickered purple.

Zhuo Fan's eyes were bloodshot as he roared at the heavens. His veins popped one by one out of his skin, threatening to burst. With the sharp Lightning Wings stretching a meter in every direction increasing the lightning output, a hundred meters around him was pulverized.

Zhuo Fan was now the avatar of a demon god, bent on spreading chaos and slaughter. And that horrifying face was twisted to such a degree, even the audience watching beyond the veil felt weak in their knees.

Even the seven houses' Profound Heaven experts were shaking at the mighty display.

Chu Qingcheng struck the National Elemental Stone calling out his name as tears fell from her eyes, evidence of the pain in her heart. They were wrong about him. He was the one hurting the most from Xue Ningxiang's passing.

He chose to suppress his grief, to take them all to safety before going to slaughter Huangpu Qingtian.

Luo Yunchang was choking with emotion seeing Zhuo Fan go mad from the pain of loss. Luo Yunhai was startled, "I have never seen big brother Zhuo lose control like that!"

Captain Pang nodded, his knuckles white.

Zhuo Fan had always been wise and collected, an indomitable mountain, just like a true leader. Only now he realized their tough and resolved Steward Zhuo had a weaker side.

Zhuo Fan's howls and twisted features evoked silent cries from the Luo clan. [What pain, what torment must his heart be enduring for him to show such grief?]

The entire Luo clan turned to Regent Estate.

For the first time ever, this meager barely ascended second rate clan was looking at the head of the seven houses with a thirst for battle.

Luo Yunhai's eyes flashed as they took in Huangpu Tianyuan and Leng Wuchang. They burned with endless rage, wishing nothing more than to purge the two from this world.

Uncaring of the looks the ants gave him, Leng Wuchang smiled, "Prime Minister, you were saying?"

"A hero always falls for the princess. I never expected for such a cautious kid to get wrapped up in such a cliche. A shame really." Zhuge Changfeng sighed.

Leng Wuchang laughed, "It's because of his paranoid nature, of his dead heart, that a man who by all intents and purposes shouldn't have weaknesses would lose his mind in the simplest fashion. Emotional people have normal reactions when they are excited. While those dead inside, the tiniest spark could set them off and collapse them from within!"

Zhuge Changfeng nodded helplessly.

[Monkey, you cannot fight an old fox after all…]

"Huangpu Qingtian, your life is mine!"

Zhuo Fan's roar broke everyone out of their reverie and even Chu Qingcheng's shouts stopped. They saw him shoot for the skies and he was gone the next second.

"Zhuo Fan, don't go! You know it's a trap…" Chu Qingcheng smashed at the National Elemental Stone, crying herself hoarse. But her voice was unable to pierce the veil.

Zhuo Fan wouldn't have stopped even if he did hear her.

He had long passed the point of no return. His emotions were scarring his heart and the madness was the only sign showing what he was going through. He was driven by one thought alone, fueled by his inner turmoil. Nothing mattered more than ripping Huangpu Qingtian's head from his shoulder in offering to Ning'er…

Chu Qingcheng was crying and shouting long after he was gone.

Grandmother held her, "Child, he's doing it for another woman, not you. So why are you…"

"Grandmother…" Chu Qingcheng looked at her through tears, "Didn't you say he was cold and ruthless? How did he change?"

Ugh!

Grandmother was lost for words.

[How should I know? I am not his shadow!]

She had to admit however that not even she, who had raised three generations of Drifting Flowers Edifices' elders, noticed Zhuo Fan having such strong affection for someone.

Sighing, Grandmother shook her head.

Chu Qingcheng closed her eyes and said, "I knew I had made the right choice back then."

Startled, Grandmother nodded helplessly, "Perhaps…"

"Do you want to save her?" An aged voice pierced Chu Qingcheng's ears.

Chu Qingcheng turned in the voice's direction, "You don't have to speak. If you are intent on saving her, come see me in the forest thirty miles from here. But you better hurry, lest the window closes. She only has two hours left."

Shuddering, Chu Qingcheng pulled out of Grandmother's embrace and flew away.

Grandmother was stunned, but Chu Qingcheng's impatient voice came next, "Grandmother, I have something to do. I'll be back soon."

Grandmother frowned.

She used to know everything when it came to Drifting Flowers Edifice. [Just what is Chu Qingcheng going to do?]

But she trusted her enough not to question her motives.

When the clamor died down and Zhuo Fan left the water exit, everyone turned to the earth National Elemental Stone. Huangpu Qingtian had long been waiting there gathering his men, waiting for his quarry.

"Eldest young master, are you certain the punk will fall for such a painfully obvious trap? Just now I saw the water exit activating. Wouldn't it make more sense for them to leave for Dragon Cloud City with the four Brimming Sacred Pills?"

Turning to the ten thousand men's ambush, You Yushan sighed, "With neither the pills nor winning the Esoteric Debate, we would truly lose this time."

The other two nodded.

Huangpu Qingtian mocked them, "Humph, ignorant fools. I've already stressed what our main objective is. As long as Zhuo Fan lives, nothing else matters. And above all else, Sir Leng is never wrong. The others may return, but Zhuo Fan won't. Wait and see."

The three bowed.

They had no clue what was happening on Zhuo Fan's side, but the audience was clear on one thing. Zhuo Fan was on his way over to the earth exit. They were cast reverent gazes onto Leng Wuchang standing among Regent Estate's clansmen.

[As expected of Unwonted Contriver's ploys. Even Demon Archon Zhuo Fan fell for it. He truly is the empire's sage!]

Leng Wuchang was basking in the gazes of everyone, straightening his beard in pride.

He felt like his glory had surpassed even Zhuge Changfeng's. But the latter didn't bother, eyes fixed on the National Elemental Stone, contemplating…

A day passed and Huangpu Qingtian was still sitting peacefully before the earth exit.

The sudden thunderclap scared off the birds in its path. The frantic and erratic power threatened to crush everything.

Huangpu Qingtian opened his eyes and grinned looking in the distance, "Ha-ha-ha, finally. Yan Bangui, You Yushan, Lin Xuanfeng, get ready. We can't let him escape!"

"Understood!" The three cupped their hands, vanishing among the trees.

With the fall of lighting, it revealed a gruesome face. Zhuo Fan's eyes knew nothing but bloodlust at this point.

Huangpu Qingtian was thrilled. His presence here proved that the plan had worked, "Ha-ha-ha, Zhuo Fan, I used to think you had the same royal air as myself. How come you're riddled with emotion, how could you stoop so low? Now I see that I am the only one worthy to be king here!"

"Huangpu Qingtian, your life is mine!"

Zhuo Fan roared, throwing himself at Huangpu Qingtian.

Huangpu Qingtian sneered, "Only kings are worthy of my attention."

Three shouts followed his words and a flood of people came from all directions, more than ten thousand.

There were even hundreds of Profound Heaven experts leading the charge, wielding 4th grade spiritual weapons with the sole purpose of piercing that Diamond Body of his.

Zhuo Fan roared, "Get lost, ants!"

His voice powered by his intent spread all around, only to meet another intent along the way.

With a bang, the two intents canceled each other.

Huangpu Qingtian's eyes widened. He didn't take Zhuo Fan to be capable of outdoing him in the strength of soul. But he made sure to cover it up with mockery, "Humph, you'll never get to use intent as long as I'm around!"

Squinting, Zhuo Fan was still unfazed. If the easy way failed, he'd just have to kill them the hard way.

Zhuo Fan sped up and made contact with the ten thousand men's army.

Tens of spiritual weapons fell upon Zhuo Fan, akin to being hit by a cannonball each time.

Even You Yushan and his two allies looked startled at the onslaught.

Not even a Radiant Stage expert could escape the blows of tens of Profound Heaven experts all coming at once. They'd be picked apart.

[Zhuo Fan has truly lost it to charge head on!]

The audience beyond the veil was of the same opinion. They finally realized the horrifying difference between a calculative beast and a mad one.

Zhuo Fan had now lost all reason, all inhibitions, but regardless of how strong he was even he would fall against an army.

Luo Yunchang and others were watching in worry.

What happened next was beyond anything they had ever dreamed of, even Regent Estate was floored.

"I thought I told you. Get out of my sight, you insects!"

Following his roar, the purple lighting enveloped his body and under the stunned audience's watch, he moved like a tornado with his wings spread.

Whoosh~

The attack hacked through metal and flesh alike. Tens of Profound Heaven experts and their spiritual weapons were bisected before they could make contact.

The Lightning Wings wrapped in purple lightning were the ultimate killing weapon…

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Chapter 313, Demonic Dragon's Might

Translator: StarReader

Utter shock!

Every single person who was watching went slack jawed, no exception. Leng Wuchang was quite certain a couple dozen Profound Heaven experts wouldn't do Zhuo Fan in, but he didn't go as far as to assume they'd die in an instant!

Not even a Radiant Stage expert with their intent sealed could pull it off.

And yet…

Leng Wuchang's gaze grew firm, as did his frown, "I knew the kid was hiding his strength. Now we finally see his limits!"

Xie Tianshang's eyes shrank, the hand on the hilt tightened.

Till now he saw Zhuo Fan as a convenient target to challenge and better himself, only to find out that the guy was an even bigger objective than Huangpu Qingtian had ever been!

Zhuo Fan's mad slaughter was that of a tyrant, trampling all that stood in his way. The bloody and gruesome 'battle' had even this martial fanatic's blood pumping.

He was totally regretting it now. Why couldn't he have stayed back in Beast King Mountain? He would've been fighting alongside Zhuo Fan right about now, getting his fix of killings.

Huangpu Qingtian's eyebrow moved. Zhuo Fan had defied his projections, with those Lightning Wings of his even capable of cutting through 4th grade spiritual weapons like butter.

Taking a leap further, it wasn't that much of a wild guess that those wings could pierce his own hardened body…

"Attack!"

The instant death of dozens of Profound Heaven experts struck fear in the rest, but Huangpu Qingtian was there to make sure they would stop at nothing to kill him.

For a moment, nobody knew what to do.

While the others were in a conundrum over their literal existence, Zhuo Fan had no such qualms. He jumped into the fray, waving his wings and fists in every direction.

Bam~

Another few dozen Profound Heaven experts bit the dust, cut right down the middle. Zhuo Fan's hands weren't idle either, punching the still beating hearts out of the chest of two others.

He squeezed, sending blood and gore around, while the two 'decorations' on his arms blew apart. His eyes though, were just as brutal and bloodshot as when he started this bloody mess. They were a window into his heart, consumed now by slaughter.

The legs of the rest wobbled, their hearts gripped in fear. Zhuo Fan was the very personification of a savage beast, killing regardless of who barred his path.

Some that broke out into a mad run for their lives were swiftly caught up and killed with impunity.

At this moment, valor pushed through the fear and everyone came to one conclusion. Since they were destined to die either way, they'd rather go down fighting. They fell upon him like a flood, as the thirst for murder in Zhuo Fan's eyes grew and grew.

Huangpu Qingtian had a satisfied smirk, "I finally understand what Sir Leng was talking about. The collected Zhuo Fan would never engage in senseless slaughter, breeding hatred all around, but go for scare tactics. We may be ten thousand but the ones engaged in fighting only amount to a mere handful. But with his mind consumed by rage, he forced everyone to see no escape from death, lest they kill him. He has completely aroused their self-preservation. Revenge is so deeply ingrained in his mind that he is no longer feared, ha-ha-ha…"

"Eldest young master is a genius. We won't even need to intervene now. The punk will sooner or later end up dying, swallowed by our ten thousand men!" You Yushan snickered and added a thumbs up.

Huangpu Qingtian waved him off, "Hardly. Ants are just that, ants. They won't ever get to wring his life. Their only use is to chip at Zhuo Fan's stamina and reveal any meddlesome aces he has tucked away. It will be up to me to cull this demon for murder . No one else is worthy, not even you three."

The trio looked at each other, their hearts filled with dissatisfaction and anger, but none retorted.

Going back to the slaughter at hand, Zhuo Fan was found to have reaped through hundreds of experts. The trio nodded inwardly.

[Eldest young master has a point. The monster has gone berserk but we're still no match for him.]

"Now then, it is time we added to the challenge. Activate that 36 array!" Huangpu Qingtian watched the slaughter with a cold and detached eye.

Yan Bangui gave a signal to the ones hiding in the forest. The men's hands weaved through gestures and a bright light enveloped the battlefield.

Zhuo Fan, who saw only red before his eyes, suddenly stopped and his knees buckled.

Looking down, he saw a silvery light, Meteor Array!

Zhuo Fan's instinct told him this was a 1st grade array, putting pressure on him and sealing his movements.

He could tear through such a low grade array with his Yuan Qi alone. But it was easier said than done when being assaulted from all sides by endless waves of enemies. Those Profound Heaven experts wielding spiritual weapons were waiting for this golden opportunity and stabbed him.

A dozen of them chose to aim for the Lightning Wings instead.

With the Lightning Wings nailed to the ground he was like a lamb to the slaughter.

"He-he-he, Soaring Demonic Dragon's head is mine!" One excited Profound Heaven expert saw endless glory within reach.

But then a curse came from behind, "Don't you dare get greedy! Stick to the plan and hold down his wings. Any mistake now will turn the eldest young master's wrath on you!"

Shuddering, the man woke up from his reverie, moving from Zhuo Fan's head to the wings.

The audience beyond the veil were crying out in shock, as Luo Yunchang was sweating buckets with worry.

They only had to trap Zhuo Fan and when he was meek and helpless, the sea of people would attack and finish the job.

Huangpu Tianyuan smiled, "Sir Leng, the punk would be worse for wear if not outright killed."

"Who knows. I reckon his ultimate demise will rest in the eldest young master's hands." Leng Wuchang shook his head.

Huangpu Tianyuan snorted, [Won't that give him all the glory?]

Whoosh~

Tens of 4th grade spiritual weapons were coming for Zhuo Fan's head. Not even Zhuo Fan could take that!

Yet the man in question had the same bloodthirsty gaze, not registering the meager clowns and their parlor tricks. As the spiritual weapons approached, joy blossomed on the faces of everyone. Just then, Zhuo Fan's right eye shined with a golden halo.

Divine Eye of the Void, 1st stage, Shift!

Whoosh~

All spiritual weapons vanished without a trace, only to appear a mile away, somewhere in the forest.

They all froze in shock. They were this close to ending the monster, but their weapons vanished. [How do we kill him now? Won't we just die?]

[Thank god the monster is still in the Meteor Array and we can draw back.]

Their relief was short-lived however, as the purple lightning once again exploded from his body.

A boom announced the destruction of the array beneath him as well as the bloody pieces of Profound Heaven experts flying everywhere.

Zhuo Fan made a show of standing up and, without preamble, resumed the slaughterfest.

Only this time, the purple lightning acted as a shield three meters around him. Those unfortunate enough not to remove themselves from peril, were ejected by force, permanently and in a spectacular fashion of gory shower and blood.

Even the hidden arrays around him were detonated ahead of their time. The purple lightning tore through anyone and anything without remorse.

Zhuo Fan was charging all this while. He didn't need to do much else, with the shield blowing everyone around to pieces. In mere fifteen minutes, the death toll reached four digits, with many of the victims strewn around all over the place!

The rest shirked back in fear, not willing to face him and test his edge. Now even if Zhuo Fan chased them, they'd still flee.

The first time they had placed their trust in human wave tactics and held a glimmer of hope at overpowering the savage. While now, that notion was quite literally blown away, evident by the victims getting zapped as they tested the lightning shield, only to die gruesomely before they could even reach him. [How do you fight that?]

A man's valor grew when fighting against surmountable opponents. But in Zhuo Fan's case, the man was indomitable, and fear had soon taken root.

The battlefield had devolved into Zhuo Fan chasing around fleeing and powerless targets. No one could stop him.

Yan Bangui was soaked in sweat, now realizing the tragic and deadly extent of Zhuo Fan's purple lightning. It was worse than his poison!

Under these circumstances, the tables had turned. They were the ones with the army, and yet they were the ones ending up butchered.

You Yushan was panicking, "Eldest young master, that thing is a freak of nature! Our ten thousand men's army will be gone soon if we don't do something. Not to mention the whole of Dragon Cloud City's clan and house leaders are watching us. We've been plotting and scheming for so long to trap one man and if we still can't deal with him, we'll become the butt of the empire's joke…"

"I know. I don't need you to remind me." Huangpu Qingtian's snort cut him off. His eyes glinted with cruelty as he stepped forward, "I didn't think I'd have to step in so soon. I truly am surrounded by trash…

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Chapter 314, Dragons Collide

Translator: StarReader

People watched the earth National Elemental Stone engrossed, be it from fear or shock. Some were too stunned to even react.

Zhuo Fan had braved against a thousand men alone and killed them by the score like a true demon god. It was long past the point where the houses' elders could stay calm.

Veiled Dragon Pavilion's Long Jiu was the most affected. Zhuo Fan's murder weapon was none other than the purple lightning from his eye.

Though the difference couldn't be bigger. Zhuo Fan's purple lightning was so strong he used it as armor and all he had to do was run into the enemy unchallenged. The enemy had no choice but to flee, unable to cope with such destructive force.

The lofty figure, filled with zeal in his indiscriminate killing made the viewers secretly cry out in excitement.

One particular crazed martial fanatic felt the opposite. Xie Tianshang had long been shuddering with fervor and fighting spirit.

Whoosh!

A light announced Chu Qingcheng's return, her face filled with grief. Grandmother rushed to her side in worry, "Qingcheng, what's wrong?"

"Nothing." Chu Qingcheng shook her head, "How is he?"

Grandmother sighed and turned to the veil, "See for yourself."

Chu Qingcheng caught Zhuo Fan's howl as he tore into the ten thousand men army. His face was malevolent among the flying limbs, a picture only achieving completion with the symphony manifested by the agonized victims. The bloodshot eyes seemed to write off anyone they landed on, gone from this world.

The first thing that came to mind was a death god unleashed upon this world to spread suffering and pain.

Chu Qingcheng's heart was twisted up from pain, biting her lip in fear of crying out, even as tears fell from her eyes.

She knew very well that the crazed Zhuo Fan was in incredible pain and grief.

"Look, Huangpu Qingtian is joining!"

At the nameless cry, everyone turned to the imposing and mighty figure charging with relentless force towards Zhuo Fan.

There was not a single person out there who didn't recognize the conceited Heaven-shaking Dragon Lord!

This lifted the moods of everyone at the prospect. The two strongest geniuses of Tianyu were duking it out. Who was going to win? Who was going to be the number one clan in this time's Esoteric Debate. It would soon be made apparent, as dragons collided.

The rules were very clear though, the first to return to Dragon Cloud City was crowned champion. Though everyone knew, the returnees even more so, that it was merely an escape, cowardice.

The title of number one clan of Tianyu rested on the shoulders of these two dragons!

Gulping, every single person was watching the most anticipated battle of the century with hearts in their throat. Xie Tianshang was holding the sword hilt so tight that his hand turned white. His eyes were sparkling while his excitement shot through the roof.

Those two were the objectives he wanted to desperately surpass, but who was the best and strongest of their generation hanged far more heavily on his mind. This battle would settle who was to be his true goal!

"Zhuo Fan!"

Zhuo Fan went nuts in killing anything that moved, going so far under in his bloodlust that he lost focus of his surroundings. It was then that the shout coming from behind pierced his ears. Turning around, he saw Huangpu Qingtian charging and shouted, "Huangpu Qingtian, you will pay with your life!"

Zhuo Fan moved away from those ants and rushed towards Huangpu Qingtian. The purple lightning withdrew into his fist just as he struck.

Huangpu Qingtian roared as well, shining golden and surrounded by nine golden dragons as he met the punch, "Imperial Tyrant Body Art!"

Bam!

The staggering power of the punches smashed together.

A golden light erupted and purple lightning exploded, as the earth caved and sky trembled.

Zhuo Fan and Huangpu Qingtian's fists were now in a deadlock. But the power only grew stronger, roaming along their arms and aiming to settle the stalemate.

Huangpu Qingtian and Zhuo Fan glared at each other, with neither backing out an inch. But the sudden explosion flung both of them backwards for five feet.

The tremendous pressure swept the battlefield. The rampant golden glow along with the berserk purple lightning tore into any poor devil that crossed its path. The fallout alone robbed the lives of two thousand hapless souls, reduced to mangled flesh and adding to this hellscape.

Gasping, the survivors fled as fast as they could.

It went beyond what their feeble minds could possibly comprehend. Just the shock wave reaped through them like death. Not even Profound Heaven experts were spared from such a cruel fate.

They had finally come to realize, on their own skin, what a gulf in power truly meant.

The Profound Heaven experts knew the two of them could kill them with just their thumb. How could heaven allow for such monsters to exist? It went against the natural order!

The ones receiving the full brunt of the shock were in fact Six Dragons and One Phoenix.

They were aware of how the two were leagues above them, but nobody had imagined it would be such a steep cliff separating them.

They had a feeling that not even in the Radiant Stage would they be the two's match.

Xie Tianshang clenched his fists in frustration, but sighed in the end, "Just how am I to surpass these monsters?"

For the first time ever, this martial fanatic actually complained about one's strength. Huangpu Qingtian and Zhuo Fan's display left him utterly powerless.

…

"A stand-off!"

While the rest were awed by the power display, only Jade Flute Divine Sword Fang Qiubai's eyes squinted. They even contained a glint of amazement while looking at Zhuo Fan.

The emperor's intent for Zhuo Fan to harass Huangpu Qingtian came from his council. He had gone to great lengths in informing Zhuo Fan of every aspect of Huangpu Qingtian's traits. That a head on clash was ill-advised and he had to lean on tactics to get the upper hand.

Nonetheless, it did not lower the danger Zhuo Fan had faced in this mission.

Yet at the end of it all, the kid took merely five years to reach the level of monstrosity Huangpu Qingtian turned out to be. Something he had failed to foresee. He could go as far as to say Zhuo Fan was the truest monster of the two.

Just five years ago Zhuo Fan barely defeated Huangpu Qingtian's younger brother, who was far weaker. And here he was now the other brother's equal. It was just too hard to wrap his head around how insane it was. What blew his mind however was the two monsters' one stage gap in cultivation.

So the two may be equal right now, but Zhuo Fan's potential was inhumanly above Huangpu Qingtian's.

It was hard to fathom what the future held for the man.

[In five years, no, just three years, Zhuo Fan may very well be able to wipe the floor with Huangpu Qingtian!]

Such prospects were so ridiculous, even Fang Qiubai had to do a double take.

[It's all so obvious now why the kid was so carefree when accepting this mission. He is confident of victory! As long as he comes out alive from this battle, he will grow into the number one overlord of Tianyu. Not even Regent Estate's thousand year old legacy will be of use then, ha-ha-ha…]

Fang Qiubai sighed.

Leng Wuchang and Huangpu Tianyuan had reached the same dreaded conclusion. Zhuo Fan had now risen to the level of biggest threat on their list. [He must be stopped at all costs!]

[The kid can already cause upheavals, throwing the seven houses into turmoil. If allowed to grow for even a second more, no matter how much power the seven houses bring out, it wouldn't be worth a damn…]

Huangpu Qingtian stopped his skidding, looking at Zhuo Fan in astonishment. He couldn't believe what just happened. One of his peers actually had the power to fight him?

Zhuo Fan had so far been a thorn in his side through his cunning and sinister arts. But this clash proved they were equals. A truth he wasn't ready to accept.

The majestic and royal Regent Estate's eldest young master who had been uncontested all his life had now found his nemesis. Perhaps the one to rob him of his birthright to rule. A deep sense of danger had taken root into his heart.

Something that had never happened before.

It only worked to fuel his thirst for murder as he roared, "Zhuo Fan, today you must die!"

"Huangpu Qingtian, pay with your life!" Zhuo Fan roared back. The lightning crackled as he charged and Huangpu Qingtian did the same.

Boom~

The sky exploded in lightning as the earth was scorched. The two forces of nature in the shape of body cultivators clashed blow by blow. Tearing the world asunder and spreading death. The fallout of every clash was like a bomb, which caught the hapless fools from the vassal clans, reaping their lives in the most agonizing way possible.

[Oi, you two, we aren't collateral damage here, you know!]

[You both have a strong arm to take the punishment, but we are normal people. Show some compassion, will you? And leave us out of it!]

The two were too far gone. Zhuo Fan consumed by vengeance and Huangpu Qingtian consumed by having his status under real threat. They had no time to mind the petty ants, constantly clashing and constantly moving. Two hundred blows later, the two had no scratch on them. Though one couldn't say the same about the unfortunate souls surrounding them.

What was supposed to be an ambush, was now culled by the aftermath of these monsters. The number of casualties tallied to five thousand, at the least. It was a total tragedy, genocide.

You Yushan's group of three was shaking in their boots and sweating like pigs. They looked into each other's eyes.

[Should we… leave?]

If anyone else heard them, they'd be floored.

[What the hell, man? If even the Six Dragons and One Phoenix are scared of the two's fallout, what about us? Are we supposed to sit here and die?]

As the two's fight escalated, it had put the lives of even these three in danger.

The decision was made for them, as the frail balance between the two monsters had slowly tipped.

Huangpu Qingtian's golden dragon claw grabbed at Zhuo Fan's throat. The power behind it made Zhuo Fan flinch and lean away.

Huangpu Qingtian snickered. His attack changed as he struck down. Zhuo Fan felt an immense pressure burying him a meter into the ground.

"He-he-he, die!" With a sinister and gleeful grin, Huangpu Qingtian's claw shot for his throat, "Nine Dragons Diamond Body, Dragon Empowered Claw!"

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Chapter 315, Seal

Rip!

The space itself cracked as the golden dragon claw pierced at Zhuo Fan. The sharp gale cut at one's face.

Squinting, Zhuo Fan was shocked inside. The feeling of this power told him that this martial art was at the limit of surpassing profound rank level and entering the earth level.

The consequences would be dire if it struck.

The audience beyond the National Elemental Stone were equally shocked. Huangpu Qingtian's arsenal wasn't limited to just the Imperial Tyrant Body Art.

Xie Tianshang and his allies were the only ones who recognized that claw.

Huangpu Qingtian had used the same claw on them once before, but that time paled compared to the one he showed today. Yet even that weak claw was enough to force them into submission.

Witnessing Huangpu Qingtian going all out, it dawned on them what a deadly move it was, that it could crush mountains.

Fang Qiubai watched it all with a critical eye, "Nine Dragons Diamond Body? I never thought I'd see this earth ranked cultivation method appear again."

"What? Sir Fang… d-did you say earth ranked?"

Gasping, the rest couldn't believe their ears. Grandmother cried out, "Is this the fabled imperial family's…"

Fang Qiubai nodded, "It is precisely the earth ranked cultivation method the imperial family used at the time they founded Tianyu, Nine Dragons Diamond Body. With the cultivation method being so brutal, the pinnacle of body cultivation, one needed remarkable talent coupled with a staunch body, lest they would die a gruesome death. At the founding of the empire, the imperial family could only train in the first stage, but even that proved to be too much for some. The dragon power ran rampant throughout their body, bursting their vessels and ultimately their bodies. I would've never guessed Huangpu would attain Great Ancestor's power. More so as…"

Fang Qiubai squinted at Regent Estate, "His training of the first stage is sublime and is very likely to go beyond it!"

Eyes turned to Regent Estate with horror.

It was bad enough that Regent Estate was the strongest of the houses, but now their future Estate Lord had the talent to wield an earth ranked cultivation method. Who was there left to face them?

Regent Estate was clear on this, sticking out their heads in pride. As if to say, [Now you know our power. Be good and wait. See how we deal with anyone who opposes us!]

Grandmother and her two allies' moods sank.

There was always a gap in the seven houses' power, but that would usually be bridged with their inherited profound ranked martial art. That gave them a fighting chance.

Yet with Regent Estate using an earth ranked martial art, they had left the other houses far behind, a level they could never reach.

The three houses began to lament about their future. [Was it perhaps a mistake pitting ourselves against the Regent Estate?]

Even their greatest hope of this generation, Zhuo Fan, was about to be culled. He only knew profound ranked martial arts. His talent was great, but how was he to rise up to Huangpu Qingtian wielding an earth ranked martial art?

They turned to the National Elemental Stone with a shake of their heads, assured that the worst outcome was nigh. Only Chu Qingcheng and Luo Yunchang begged to differ. In fact, they weren't thinking at all, their minds and hearts were filled with worry for Zhuo Fan, trapped there all alone and waiting for Huangpu Qingtian to strike…

"Die, Zhuo Fan!" Huangpu Qingtian cackled. Victory was at hand!

Zhuo Fan couldn't budge, but his eyes flashed golden, "The one to die… is you!"

Divine Eye of the Void's 1st stage, Shift!

Zhuo Fan vanished into thin air. Huangpu Qingtian's claw gouged a thousand meter deep hole into the ground.

Eyes trembling, Huangpu Qingtian wailed. He was about to get up when a relentless force smashed into him. A purple lightning empowered fist rammed into his back.

The rampant purple lightning rained havoc to his insides, tearing at his heart. No matter how tough Huangpu Qingtian was, he was not invincible. He spat crimson blood and was sent barreling into the hole he had just made, deepening it by another thousand meters.

Such a radical change happened too fast for anyone to comprehend or react. None saw how Zhuo Fan had dodged, only registering how his fist buried Huangpu Qingtian.

They were dumbstruck, minds blown.

Few knew about Zhuo Fan's new abilities, with only the Six Dragons and One Phoenix having seen him using it. But now everyone had gotten a taste of what he was capable of and all they could do was stare bug-eyed.

Fang Qiubai shivered, blinking in confusion. Not even this guy, peak Radiant Stage expert and glorious Divine Dragon of Tianyu, had any clue about how Zhuo Fan had pulled it off.

[What just happened? Is there a martial art in this world that I don't know of? I know all that came from Tianyu, so how…]

Fang Qiubai shook his head in the end, praising the kid to new levels, [He always liked taking people by surprise.]

Grandmother and Long Yifey's eyes lit up. Under the imminent threat of Huangpu Qingtian's earth ranked martial art, Zhuo Fan escaped unscathed and even retaliated. Their hopes of winning against Regent Estate were rekindled.

[The kid doesn't disappoint, ha-ha-ha…]

The trio laughed to themselves…

Huangpu Tianyuan watched it all with a thin smile. He spoke calmly to Leng Wuchang, but every elder heard it too, "Qingtian is no match for the little monster. We can only depend on Sir Leng's plans if we are to ever defeat him."

"Worry not, Estate Lord, everything is going according to plan." Knowing the man aimed to curb the elders' view of the eldest young master, Leng Wuchang merely nodded.

Huangpu Tianyuan smiled and enjoyed the show.

From the cloud of dust hovering above the hole, Huangpu Qingtian burst out; quite a sorry sight. He wasn't able to get his footing straight though as a sharp wind approached from behind.

Huangpu Qingtian flashed around, face to face with Zhuo Fan's bloodshot eyes. The sharp Lightning Wings traced his face, leaving a bloody gash.

Huangpu Qingtian's heart was wrecked with fear, his body shaking.

[That was too close!] Thanks to his quick reaction, he had kept his head from being impaled. It was his first time being in actual mortal danger.

As he grew increasingly cautious, Zhuo Fan's bloodthirst only rose.

Zhuo Fan was the only one to pose a threat to his life.

Huangpu Qingtian grabbed the outstretched wing and punched Zhuo Fan with the other hand.

The blow shot forth with such might, it aimed to explode his head.

Zhuo Fan wasn't worried, using the golden halo in his eye to whisk away right before it touched him.

Huangpu Qingtian once again found himself getting struck from behind. Zhuo Fan used his wing to whip the man's back and leave a nasty gash. Purple Lightning singed through the skin and forced another cough of blood out of him.

Zhuo Fan pressed his advantage, following with more blows. Huangpu Qingtian tried to put up resistance but he couldn't muster the strength.

Zhuo Fan was an enigma. He couldn't get a read on his next action and was caught by surprise each time.

The scene turned odd, to say the least. Zhuo Fan hounded Huangpu Qingtian like a ghost, whipping him from every direction. Every strike left bloody wounds on Huangpu Qingtian's body, while he was coughing blood, yet not once could he fight back.

It was more along the lines of him wanting to, but being unable to find his target.

The man moved around like a ghost, covering his tracks.

Huangpu Qingtian found himself in his most humiliating moment. As if he was Zhuo Fan's punching bag and received all the man's lashing. Fated to take it all but could never lash out himself…

The audience was speechless. [How come the head of the six dragons was reduced to being flogged?]

By contrast, Zhuo Fan was having the time of his life, consumed by the thrill of revenge.

Huangpu Qingtian had had enough at this point and roared, "What the hell are you guys gawking at! Activate the array!"

"But eldest young master, didn't you say we should wait…" You Yushan mumbled.

Huangpu Qingtian barked at him, "I can't wait any longer. Do it!"

You Yushan saw the eldest young master had lost his poise and grace. He knew time was of the essence and signaled the men in the forest.

The battlefield was then shrouded in a barrier. Zhuo Fan was just about to change places again when he was frozen stiff, unable to control space any more.

"A sealed space!" Zhuo Fan frowned and snorted inside.

He finally understood what Unwonted Contriver had cooked up. The mastermind saw even through his Divine Eye of the Void…

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Chapter 316, Limit Release

"It's too soon to use it!"

Leng Wuchang sighed, "As far as I know, the kid is quite an expert in arrays. The longer the sealed space's activation is put off, the better, as it would catch him off guard. But…"

"But Qingtian can't hold on till then." Huangpu Tianyuan smiled, "Sir Leng, does the punk have any chance of coming out of the array now that it's activated?"

Leng Wuchang shook his head, "Even as an array grandmaster, his odds are slim at best."

"It's fine then. You're just worried that with enough time he'd see through the array. Since his chances are mostly nonexistent, what's there to be afraid of?" Huangpu Tianyuan said.

"No, when I move, I make sure to rob even the most minute chance of victory from my enemy. It goes double for increasingly dangerous opponents." Leng Wuchang's eyes held a savage glint.

Huangpu Tianyuan laughed mirthless. [A clash between schemers is far crueler than any cultivator's fight…]

Microcosmic Orbit Array!

Zhuo Fan noticed the 365 Profound Heaven experts around him holding their hands in prayer and sitting down where the core of the array was. This was the 6th grade sealing array, Microcosmic Orbit Array!

Its only function was to seal off space. Set up according to the heavenly directions, a miniature world was formed, trapping anyone within.

Entering it, one would find himself in another world. The only way to escape was by employing dominating might to crush the heaven and earth of this miniature world. Anything less and it could keep even a Radiant Stage expert sealed inside for as long as the controller wished, no matter how much the victim raved.

With space sealed up, Zhuo Fan's Shift was under lock and key. It was the first time since the start of his battle with Huangpu Qingtian that he felt danger.

This battle was now inevitable and only one outcome was viable, winning or dying. All other choices were now moot…

"Huangpu Qingtian!"

Zhuo Fan's malice was directed at the snickering man. His fists clenched and purple lightning flashed as he charged.

Huangpu Qingtian did the same. Confident now that his plan was successful in sealing Shift. His eyes glinted sinisterly, meeting his enemy head on.

The two were at a stalemate again, but Huangpu Qingtian felt at ease. The earlier lashing had been miserable, robbing him of any chance to fight back. But now that he could display his overbearing might, he was filled with utter joy.

The two clashed for two hundred more rounds, with Huangpu Qingtian becoming increasingly bolder and Zhuo Fan finding himself strained.

The audience was stunned. [Weren't they equals? Why is Huangpu Qingtian holding out strong after all this time yet Zhuo Fan looks to be reaching his limit?]

[Was Huangpu Qingtian holding back from the start?]

Worry wormed into their hearts. Xie Tianshang sighed, "Huangpu Qingtian is dreadful to hold back even against Zhuo Fan. "

But then a laughter resounded.

"Ha-ha-ha, he hadn't. Zhuo Fan is the one who used too much stamina and had long surpassed his limit."

All eyes turned to Fang Qiubai, "Don't you see? The purple lightning has dimmed and his body is starting to give. He must've been relying on the purple lightning to raise his power when clashing with Huangpu Qingtian. But the toll exceeds the limit his body can bear. That strange art of his allowed him to fight back, but now that it is sealed by that array, he is on the ropes.

"He may seem to be meeting Huangpu Qingtian at every blow, but he's spent. The outcome is a foregone conclusion by now." Fang Qiubai sighed in regret.

Being pointed out, the others looked closer and noticed how Zhuo Fan was growing frantic. Wounds riddled his body and his blood was being added to the soaked mud. He couldn't take much more punishment or his body would break.

While Huangpu Qingtian was getting more and more savage, his power was unbreakable.

[Soaring Demonic Dragon has no chance against Heaven-shaking Dragon Lord. This is providence!]

Everyone shook their heads, yet the one on the receiving end didn't seem to care. Zhuo Fan still met Huangpu Qingtian head on, driven by the thought of killing his enemy even at the cost of his own life. His effort had earned him the audience's respect.

It looked like a typical case of fighting against impossible odds, but everyone took it as the eulogy of a tragic hero…

Regent Estate snickered at Zhuo Fan's plight. Xie Tianshang held his sword, filled with battle lust. He was itching to fight alongside Zhuo Fan.

Chu Qingcheng and Luo Yunchang had been crying all this time, their hearts gripped by pain. [Zhuo Fan's mind is drowned in thoughts of revenge, fighting savagely with total disregard for his own safety…]

After another hundred clashes, the lightning scattered from Zhuo Fan's body. Huangpu Qingtian availed himself of the enemy's rare moment of weakness and let out a dragon roar as he smashed an empowered fist into Zhuo Fan's face.

"Imperial Tyrant Body Art!"

Boom!

After an ear splitting explosion, Zhuo Fan was knocked into the ground for the first time. He spat blood as the earth splintered over a thousand meters.

You Yushan's side was bewildered. Zhuo Fan had taken those punches before, but this time he actually spat blood, like he had suffered a major wound. [Why now and not earlier?]

Huangpu Qingtian was the only one who understood, stepping on the powerless Zhuo Fan's chest as he mocked, "Humph, prick, where's all your power gone to now? Don't you have a bag full of tricks? What's wrong, take them out! He-he-he, you think I couldn't tell that the purple lightning was giving you power while eating you from the inside? You did this to yourself, not me. You never were my match!"

Huangpu Qingtian pressed harder and Zhuo Fan spat blood and gore, yet no sound escaped his clenched teeth.

Luo Yunchang and the women cried in pain, while the rest sighed how the Soaring Demonic Dragon was on his deathbed…

With his cunning, Huangpu Qingtian would never be his match in a one on one fight based on how many tricks he had.

A darn shame he lost his mind and now had fallen for Huangpu Qingtian's ploy.

Zhuo Fan needed but days and he'd surpass Huangpu Qingtian many times over. But that ship had sailed, and so too would his life…

Huangpu Qingtian squinted at Zhuo Fan's puny attempts, deriding him, "A pity, really. With your talent, if you had fought for any longer, the true king might have been another. But you moron, lost yourself over a dumb girl. This proves that you are unfit to be king! The only true king in this world is me, Huangpu Qingtian!"

He punctuated with a stomp on Zhuo Fan's head as he roared his victory speech, "Since you are so consumed by love, I'll send you off to join that dumb girl. You wanted revenge? Humph, you won't have it even in your next life. For that wretched girl's death to drag you down like this, made killing her all the more sweeter, ha-ha-ha… "

Hu~

Huangpu Qingtian's cackle jarred the ears of everyone. He raised his leg, ready to burst Zhuo Fan's head, as people's hearts seized and they looked down. The women's tears ran in streams.

But then, a flicker of lightning stopped Huangpu Qingtian's raised leg.

Huangpu Qingtian was in shock, finding his leg gripped in an iron vise, with purple lightning streaking over it stronger than ever.

Heart seized, Huangpu Qingtian realized that he couldn't stomp no matter how much he tried.

"Huangpu Qingtian, you will never kill me." The grim and eerie voice sounded like it came from hell. Under Huangpu Qingtian's shock, the grip flung him into the air.

He couldn't do anything to fight it. When he picked himself up, what he saw froze him.

"How does he still have so much power?" Huangpu Qingtian watched the dazzling lighting and gulped.

The others were dumbstruck.

In the middle of the lightning storm, Zhuo Fan rose to his feet, his eyes bursting with bloodlust. Although soaked in blood himself and riddled with wounds, the boundless might exploding from him hammered into the hearts of all onlookers.

Huangpu Qingtian turned grave. [Just how much power is this punk hiding?]

Zhuo Fan's eyes were dead cold, uncaring of all the wounds all over his body.

His hatred for Huangpu Qingtian was on full display. It was so thick that even the audience beyond the National Elemental Stone could feel the chill in their bones.

"Huangpu Qingtian, I will send you to hell even if I have to drag you down with me!"

Zhuo Fan gnashed his teeth, his face twisted, "Divine Eye of the Void, Limit Release!"

An even stronger purple lightning burst from his body. Zhuo Fan had unleashed all the purple lightning he absorbed back in Lightning Canyon…

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Chapter 317, Bashing of a Regent

Editor: Elitecoder

Roar!

A wail of anger mixed with pain reached the clouds. Zhuo Fan's power exploded, purple lighting gushing out of him like a flood. His madness increased as well. The overpowering might left others gasping and shivering in fear.

Huangpu Qingtian recoiled as well, fear obvious in his eyes.

He had never seen one man capable of unleashing such a raw display of power, until now. What was even more astounding was that the said man didn't blow up from the strain.

The viewers beyond the National Elemental Stone weren't there to feel it, but the sight was shocking enough.

Fang Qiubai squinted, "The kid was hiding such a move! But can he take it?"

The blood on Zhuo Fan's body only grew thicker. Just like a dead tree, he was pushing towards collapse.

Fang Qiubai frowned, worried. Chu Qingcheng and the other women's hearts went to the man's suffering, their tears flowed for him.

It was obvious that Zhuo Fan's trump card was a life for a life. Zhuo Fan from before would've never resorted to such desperate means unless it was a matter of life and death. But now, for the sake of killing Huangpu Qingtian, for revenge, he threw it all away...

Ah!

With a cry of pain, Zhuo Fan's surging power had reached a plateau. Purple lightning bathed his body, his wings turned purple as well. They crackled with lightning, releasing waves of power.

Zhuo Fan panted, his body bloodied from head to toe. The bones of his legs were visible as the tyrannical might of the purple lightning ate through his flesh. The pain was excruciating, but his eyes only grew more sinister.

Huangpu Qingtian's heart seized looking at the purple lightning show, but he still found in him one last mockery, "Zhuo Fan, I was wondering what great and all powerful ace had you been keeping all this time, only to find out it is a dumb crippling move to gain the power to beat me. Your body is so wrecked you can barely stand. You may have obtained the power now, but it's still not enough..."

Whoosh!

The lighting storm flashed in his face in the form of a palm. It flung him a thousand meters away with a bang, burying him deep into a cliff as it collapsed over him.

Zhuo Fan now took his earlier place, arm outstretched and a cold glint in his eyes.

Sss~

Be it the survivors or the viewers, everyone gasped.

They knew Zhuo Fan had the power, but the sheer speed with which he moved was mind boggling. Not even that monster, Huangpu Qingtian, could see him coming.

Rumble!

Huangpu Qingtian pulled himself out of the debris with a bloody nose. He didn't have the time to care, finding it more important to stare at the cold figure in shock.

[What was... that was too fast! And what was that power? The punk is clearly on his last leg so why does he have so much power? He's even stronger than when the battle started!]

For the first time ever, Huangpu Qingtian's heart was in fear's grip.

Huangpu Qingtian shook it away. He was undefeated, conceited into thinking he was heaven's walking gift on earth, its rightful king. How could such a lofty being ever know fear?

Gnashing his teeth and forcing himself to remain calm, Huangpu Qingtian's eyes regained their battle spirit as he looked ahead.

Only to find no one there.

Huangpu Qingtian had yet to make sense of it as a shocking force slammed into his back, a purple lightning out of the blue.

Boom!

The ground caved in for miles on end. Huangpu Qingtian was in the middle coughing up blood and getting the shock of his life.

[When did he... get behind me...]

He turned his stiff head back only to meet Zhuo Fan's icy stare and the purple lightning infused fist into his back.

Humiliation!

Being bashed around twice now without the slightest chance at retaliation was a clear and naked insult to Huangpu Qingtian. The shame only grew when he realized he was actually the weaker of the two. This was his complete and utter defeat.

In his 20 years alive, Huangpu Qingtian had never ever thought it was conceivable. It went without saying but he was in denial now.

Huangpu Qingtian's veins popped, anger overriding his heart and the bloodthirst in his eyes grew.

[Zhuo Fan must die!]

Roaring his frustration, Huangpu Qingtian bore through the pain and slapped the ground to whip around and break free from Zhuo Fan's fist pushing down on him to get some altitude. He then clawed at Zhuo Fan's face, "Nine Dragons Diamond Body, Dragon Empowered Claw!"

Rip!

Huangpu Qingtian's mighty claw made eerie sounds as if it tore into space itself. Nothing could stand in its way.

Even before it landed, the ground caved a hundred meters. Zhuo Fan merely stood there, taking the pressure like it was nothing.

You Yushan's group had been worried for Huangpu Qingtian, but they now cheered.

"It's the earth ranked martial art, Nine Dragons Diamond Body! Ha-ha-ha, the punk is dead for sure!" You Yushan laughed.

Yan Bangui's face split into a grin, "If not for that fancy art he used before, the punk would've been dead for ages. Now he is trapped in an array and won't escape no matter what trick he pulls!"

The rest of the survivors nodded thrilled. They could practically see Zhuo Fan's head rolling. The dragons' clash was about to reach its end and everyone was excited to see it happen.

Chu Qingcheng was more worried than ever. Huangpu Qingtian's earth ranked martial art wasn't something one could just take head on. Zhuo Fan had bolstered his power, but in his wounded state, she feared he wouldn't be able to take it.

Everyone watched nerve-wrecked for Zhuo Fan's fate to end.

"Ha-ha-ha, die you prat!" Huangpu Qingtian cackled, his claw landing on Zhuo Fan's head.

The hearts of everyone stopped for a second.

Only Zhuo Fan stood calm, unaffected by the pressure. But when the claw was on top of him, his fist tightened, purple lightning gathered and struck.

Bam!

The fist and claw met, releasing a terrible sound, but just as they touched, Huangpu Qingtian's claw was flung away.

Zhuo Fan's purple lightning powered fist astonishingly smashed the man's face.

Pff!

Huangpu Qingtian was flung into the sky, blood trailing behind him from his nose. Zhuo Fan was still calmly standing in the same spot, his fist held high.

The yapping around instantly grew to a halt and the people looked at the imposing figure in fear.

[Dude, that's an earth ranked martial art, you know? Personally delivered by Heaven-shaking Dragon Lord. Aren't you perhaps just a little bit condescending flicking it away with a meager fist?]

Everyone gulped, unnerved. They wrote Zhuo Fan off at first, thinking the earth ranked martial art had rooted him in place. But now they knew he was looking down on it.

[Too strong!]

Xie Tianyang's blood was boiling with excitement, [Seeing the two dragons fight, my life was worth it...]

Tuning out the senseless chatter, Zhuo Fan looked at the man he had sent flying hovering in the air. His eyes glinted and he jumped.

In but an instant, he was upon Huangpu Qingtian.

Huangpu Qingtian was startled. He didn't get to feel the extent of his wounds as Zhuo Fan came with a kick in the gut.

The blow was so fierce and brutal that even if he wasn't heavily injured before, he was now puking his guts and blood from the pain.

Whoosh!

A flash of light smashed towards You Yushan and the other two.

The trio was taken in by Zhuo Fan's ridiculous power display, but seeing Huangpu Qingtian come crashing down, they panicked, "Take cover!"

Every man for himself. Nobody wanted to get anywhere near this battle.

Not that they had the time.

Boom!

Huangpu Qingtian slammed into the ground, picking up dust and releasing a devastating shockwave. It blew apart four hundred hapless people too slow to get away. The ground was now littered with pieces of them.

You Yushan's trio watched from the air and gulped in fear. Why did they get the feeling that this plan to do Zhuo Fan in was in fact digging their own graves?

[Forget about that fiend, look at us! Our side is about to collapse.] Even their strongest, Heaven-shaking Dragon Lord, was getting his ass handed to him.

Looking into the distance, Zhuo Fan's cold and aloof image was that of a thunder god. You Yushan's trio's courage faltered, [Damn it all to hell! How do you beat that...]

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Chapter 318, Dragon Vein Soul

Translator: StarReader

Editor: Elitecoder

Hu~

The fierce wind picked up the dust and blocked everyone's sight.

When it settled, they witnessed a bloodbath, dismembered bodies and mangled limbs. The four houses' vassals participating in this ambush numbered ten thousand, yet now less than a tenth remained.

Even then, the lucky survivors were traumatized, running all over the place in fear, trying anything as long as it got them away from this hell. A shame there was no way out, not unless the 365 Profound Heaven experts opened the Microcosmic Orbit Array.

With a bang, Huangpu Qingtian jumped out of the rubble, face bloody and enraged. Zhuo Fan was so heavy handed that he had caved in the man's nose.

People all around sighed.

They had never seen the grand Regent Estate's eldest young master beaten to such an extent, to the point he couldn't muster an ounce of strength to fight back. It was unprecedented.

Everyone turned to Zhuo Fan in fear.

Perhaps only Soaring Demonic Dragon was capable of doing so much damage. Their dread only rose.

Those geniuses from the seven houses had it worse. Ever since Zhuo Fan showed up, all he ever did was bash these arrogant young masters and misses.

They accepted Huangpu Qingtian being the strongest, since he was from Regent Estate and all, the head of the houses. He was a monster through and through.

While Zhuo Fan, well, the guy came from a third rate clan! Yet he was the one who trampled all standards and obstacles with his power. It was the greatest form of ridicule.

Long Jie and Long Kui were the most bitter.

The first time they met him, they recognized Zhuo Fan's talent but looked down on his status. Regardless of how godsent one's talent was, without a house behind him, he would never surpass them.

Yet now, Zhuo Fan created miracles wherever he went. His current project involved brutalizing the strongest genius of the seven houses, Huangpu Qingtian. His display gave each of them a resounding slap to the face informing them who was the real hero here!

Huff~

Panting, Zhuo Fan's eyes steeled. He looked invincible in the eyes of others, but he knew himself best. Releasing all that purple lightning ate away at his body and he was now seriously hurt. It was highly likely that he was going to collapse before he finished Huangpu Qingtian off.

"Eldest young master!"

You Yushan's trio went to their master and helped him up. Seeing his disfigured face, they cried, "Eldest young master, the punk's power is out of this world. We have to fall back. He will kill us all at this rate!"

"Bullshit!"

Flinging his arm to make his way through the trio, Huangpu Qingtian's rage grew stronger, "As long as I'm here, failure is impossible! I've never known defeat in my entire life!"

The three felt conflicted and their faces fell. All they could do was shake their heads at the pigheaded Huangpu Qingtian.

[Dude, take a good look at yourself and don't force the issue. So what if you always won? You are losing now, when it mattered. What else can you do when even the earth ranked martial art has failed?]

[That punk is a monster among freakin' monsters! How is he so powerful?]

Of course, they knew to keep their thoughts to themselves, lest they poke Huangpu Qingtian's ego and end up a smear on the ground along with the countless others. One thing was certain though, the man's imposing air was gone.

Zhuo Fan was too strong for them to cope with...

Taking a deep breath to calm down somewhat, Huangpu Qingtian's eyes pondered. Then he came to a decision as he muttered, "No choice but to use that."

"You still have a way, eldest young master?" The trio asked in unison.

Huangpu Qingtian hesitated for a second, but the sight of the proud maniac who had reduced him to such a low state steeled his decision as he spoke defiantly, "I am invincible, no one can beat me. And you are no different!"

Huangpu Qingtian released a sound that shook the world. A golden dragon image flew out of his body and circled above him.

You Yushan's trio cried out, "W-what is that thing?"

Long Xingyun cried out, "T-this thing again? What is Huangpu Qingtian growing within himself?"

He recalled perfectly how twice they had trapped Huangpu Qingtian, but this damn golden dragon ruined all their attempts.

They took it for a martial art, but after careful inspection they found it to be something else.

Fang Qiubai felt it was oddly familiar.

He saw Huangpu Qingtian use it earlier when dealing with Chu Qingcheng's trio, but that was in defense and it had only appeared for a brief second. Even he took it for a martial art.

But seeing it circling above, like a real dragon, he began to pick up on the clues.

"Damn that bastard! Is he out of his mind bringing it out for everyone to see?" Huangpu Tianyuan clenched his fists and raved.

Regent Estate's elders were wiping their brows, looking around in fear of being overheard.

Sighing, Leng Wuchang shook his head, "He won't be able to kill that freak otherwise. I only hope it's appearance after a thousand years won't have anyone here capable of recognizing it."

The other Regent Estate clansmen nodded and rejoiced inside.

Not for long though, as Zhuo Fan's cold voice echoed in everyone's ears.

"Dragon Vein Soul?" Frowning, Zhuo Fan turned grave.

Huangpu Qingtian's face twitched and he cursed inside. [Damn rotten punk, you actually recognize this thousand year old relic?]

Regent Estate's elders almost spat blood. They wished nothing more than to get in there and kill him on the spot.

[Blast it! How did a twerp like you find out about it? This is ridiculous!]

That was all Fang Qiubai needed as he slapped his head. He and Dugu Zhantian shared a shocked look and barked, "Huangpu Tianyuan, your insolence knows no bounds. The imperial family ordered you to protect Caged Dragon City yet you secretly took out the Dragon Vein Soul from the imperial family's Dragon Vein. Are you planning on revolting?"

The people panicked. They had never seen Jade Flute Divine Sword so outraged.

The words Dragon Vein Soul had landed on deaf ears for many small clans, even a few first rate ones.

As for the leaders of the six houses, they paled and turned to Regent Estate in mute shock.

Others next to them had no clue how dreadful the Dragon Vein Soul was, but being from the elite houses, they understood its importance. And that was what gave them the biggest shock.

Regent Estate had the nerve to move a Dragon Vein Soul!

Sweating buckets, Huangpu Tianyuan's heart was in his throat.

Dragon Vein Soul was the imperial family's lifeline. It nurtured and brought prosperity to the Tianyu Empire, it was of national importance. Moving the Dragon Vein would bring about a huge change in the world. Even the third pillar, Parish's high priests, said those wielding the Dragon Vein held the fate of the land in their hands. This was why the Regent Estate was tasked with defending it.

First because the Regent Estate and Tianyu's imperial family were related, worthy of trust. Secondly, only the seven houses had the power to defend it and prevent any riots appearing from vying over it.

But Huangpu Qingtian took it out before the whole crowd. That was the same as declaring the Regent Estate planned on using it for themselves replacing the imperial family!

This was a clear act of treason and Divine Dragon Fang Qiubai had the right to destroy them where they stood.

Regent Estate had yet to unite the seven houses and their power wasn't yet up to the challenge of facing the imperial family. If a war broke out, the Regent Estate was done for.

Huangpu Tianyuan gnashed his teeth. [Damn bastard! You're so blind to see the real picture and yet you want to steal my position? How can you condemn the entire house over your disgrace?]

[Even if you lost against that freak, that still doesn't give you the right to release the Dragon Vein Soul!]

Regent Estate's elders were on pins and needles. Huangpu Tianyuan took a deep breath and was about to bullshit his way out of this but didn't get the chance.

Leng Wuchang spoke calmly, "Sir Fang, you are wrong. The Dragon Vein Soul is the foundation of our nation, but this does not, by any means, prove we wish to rebel. We are only following our duties based on His Majesty's decree."

"Did His Majesty tell you to take out the dragon soul for your own selfish use?" Fang Qiubai spat, "Humph, Sir Leng, I know your mind is sharp and cunning, but you better give me a damn good reason why I shouldn't decorate Dragon Cloud City with your heads!"

There was widespread shock, with those in the dark of the importance of Dragon Vein Soul even more so.

The mighty Divine Dragon was going to slaughter the Regent Estate? Was the emperor going to fight the seven houses and plunge the nation into turmoil?

Regent Estate's elders felt weak in their knees. Only Leng Wuchang was the picture of calmness...

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Chapter 319, Demagogue

Translator: StarReader

Editor: Elitecoder

Leng Wuchang twirled his beard as his eyes swept the crowd, ultimately stopping at Fang Qiubai, "Sir Fang, do you know what Regent Estate's duty is at Caged Dragon City?"

"To protect the Dragon Vein!" Fang Qiubai gave a flat reply.

Smiling, Leng Wuchang sneered, "Do you know why we guard it then? Out of fear of being stolen perhaps?"

Fang Qiubai stared back at him in silence.

Zhuge Changfeng smiled, "Tianyu's nine dragons Dragon Vein was sealed in Caged Dragon City by the first High Priest himself, for the future of the empire and posterity. But the dragons within the Dragon Vein are a relentless force and once they break the seal they would unleash endless death and destruction. The people would suffer and chaos would thrive. That is why Regent Estate was tasked with defending it. Rather than say it was to guard against greedy people, it was more in line to stop the Dragon Vein's collapse and ensuing devastation."

"The Prime Minister is precisely right."

Leng Wuchang gave Zhuge Changfeng a half bow then turned to Fang Qiubai, "The dragon vein is tyrannical. Only Tianyu's Great Ancestor could make one of the dragon souls accept him. After the Great Ancestor's death, none could make them submit, ultimately getting sealed in Caged Dragon City. Over the course of the millennium, there were many lusting for its power, but were devoured instead. Sir Fang stated that we have taken it out for our private use, which is absolutely ludicrous. If we were to give it to Sir Fang, would you accept it? In your capacity as a Divine Dragon, the peak of Tianyu's power, how confident are you of success? If not even sir dares, how could we?"

Anger rose within Fang Qiubai, but he remained silent.

The Dragon Vein Soul was a heaven and earth spiritual being that chose its master. Anyone that tried to claim it instead, would find a swift and cruel ending, devoured whole.

In other words, the Regent Estate had no reason to take it out. And yet...

Glancing at the dragon soul next to Huangpu Qingtian, Fang Qiubai's eyes glinted, "Then, Sir Leng, explain to me why your dear eldest young master is currently in possession of it."

Squinting, Leng Wuchang peaked at the National Elemental Stone then smiled, "What's to explain? The dragon soul has chosen its master. Isn't it obvious?"

"You..." Fang Qiubai clenched his fists, boring holes into Leng Wuchang with his glare.

Leng Wuchang's smile never faltered, "Regent Estate has always had peaceful and righteous people, facing any difficulties by ourselves, not willing to let the world see our suffering. But since Sir Fang insists on knowing, I will oblige you with explanation as to dispel any further misunderstandings."

Leng Wuchang let out a pained sigh, "It all began two dozen years ago with Nine Dragon's insurrection. Our Venerables were unable to stop them, suffering heavy casualties. But we were blessed with an eldest young master that had outstanding talent. The dragon soul chose him as its master, sparing the world of its ire. Later we realized that it was impossible to seal it back again, and since it was calmly staying within the eldest young master, we simply let it be. If we forced it back into the seal, we feared the other eight dragon souls would use this chance to escape as well and that would spell doom for Tianyu."

Leng Wuchang's speech was heartrending, subtly shifting the blame on the dragon soul's escape. He even embellished with the Regent Estate suffering heavy casualties in an attempt to stop it. Thus, in a wonderful and convoluted way, he turned their treason into martyrdom.

They had 'sacrificed' so much to keep the Dragon Vein sealed, it would do them heavy injustice if the emperor would strike them in response.

Fang Qiubai gnashed his teeth, [What Dragon Vein insurrection? Am I to take your word for it? Who else but you know what the hell truly happened back then? You can say whatever you like at this point.]

It was because of this that the Regent Estate stuck to their statement 'it's all the dragon soul's fault'. That they always only had the empire's safety at heart, but ended up unable to seal it back. Fang Qiubai couldn't do shit to them now.

If the Regent Estate was wiped out regardless, they would incur the wrath of the common people. And no one ever wanted to take responsibility for a possible civil war, now did they?

Fang Qiubai took a deep breath, "Why weren't we informed?"

"Informed?" Leng Wuchang sneered and sighed, "Sir Fang, as a court official couldn't you tell? It would invite suspicion and who knew how twisted the truth would become? The circumstances today had forced me to reveal it to Sir Fang. We hoped to have endured this disaster in silence, and only mourn our heavy losses in our hearts. We'd rather brave through the pain and torment than receive suspicion and undue disrespect for what was only expected of us."

Pff!

Zhuge Changfeng slipped a giggle and shook his head.

Leng Wuchang was a true wordsmith. He showed they were ever devoted, bearing through any pain, while also cursing the emperor on the sly for casting suspicion on its loyal subjects.

Harming them now would make the imperial family the bad guy here and criticized for harming their patriots. It would ultimately end with the imperial family losing the people's favor.

And that wasn't even half of it. Leng Wuchang twisted it all up by saying that the dragon soul broke the seal and accepted Huangpu Qingtian as its master.

That was the same as saying he truly was godsent as the world's rightful king.

With the only man in Tianyu's history capable of having a dragon soul being none other than Tianyu's first emperor, that lifted Huangpu Qingtian to the same status. What further proof was needed?

It also worked to plant the seed in the hearts of the people that the Huangpu clan of Regent Estate would replace Tianyu's Yuwen clan in ruling the empire.

But with Leng Wuchang not stating it, Fang Qiubai couldn't exactly point it out either. His only choice was to seethe in silence.

Regent Estate elders' worry was now replaced with full blown conceit, arrogance, being stuck up... the usual.

"Sir Leng is a true demagogue." Fang Qiubai snorted.

Leng Wuchang raised his head and waved, "You give me too much credit. I am only stating the facts, ha-ha-ha..."

Fang Qiubai faltered and turned to look at the arrogant figure within the National Elemental Stone with killing intent.

Leng Wuchang may have preached all he wanted, but Huangpu Qingtian's death was guaranteed in his eyes!

The third pillar's prophecy had never been wrong. The one to have the Dao Dragon would have the world. [Since the brat has a dragon soul then he might obtain the whole Dragon Vein. That will spell the end of Tianyu's imperial family.]

He noticed how the eyes of the rest changed when they looked at Huangpu Qingtian. They may even be hailing him as their rightful king, a bad sign indeed.

Only Luo Yunchang and the rest stared at the National Elemental Stone with worry.

Huangpu Qingtian had the dragon soul's help, providence as he said, by his side. Zhuo Fan may be stronger, but how was he going to defeat the king handpicked by fate? Huangpu Qingtian was under the dragon soul's protection.

Taking a deep breath, Zhuo Fan stared at his opponent, knowing this as well. Just that he didn't place two cents on some flimsy reason as providence or what not. Moreover, his Blood Infant wasn't the least bit inferior to the Dragon Vein Soul.

Much better in fact. As Blood Infant had a far sharper mind. It was the symbol of a true king.

[With it roaming around Huangpu Qingtian and defending him, it's going to make things hard.]

Pff!

Spitting blood, Zhuo Fan frowned as his heart sank. He had released too much purple lightning and his body couldn't take it anymore. It was now or never.

Zhuo Fan gnashed his teeth and charged, [All or nothing!]

"Oh? You dare come at me knowing full well what Dragon Vein Soul can do? Die then!"

Huangpu Qingtian saw Zhuo Fan ready for battle and shouted, "Not even father could subdue the dragon soul while I did it in my childhood! Do you know what that means? I am God's gift to the world! You are not fighting me but fate, heaven itself! The only outcome you'll have from it is death!"

Huangpu Qingtian spoke with such complete confidence, self-conceit and presence as if he was an emperor rebuking a peasant.

You Yushan's trio by his side basked in the leftover pride, making full use of their connection. They were destined to be officials!

Those watching the National Elemental Stone sighed. With the dragon soul taken out, they had written Zhuo Fan off. Who could fight against heaven?

Zhuo Fan gave a snort instead, "No wonder those Blood Crocs listened to you. So that's your spiel. Dragon Vein Soul is the lord over the earth that no one dares disobey. A king's right indeed, providence even. Your point being?"

Purple lightning flickered all over Zhuo Fan as he gathered all his power and shouted, "I am Soaring Demonic Dragon. I will ascend the nine heavens if I have to. Don't ever think your puny earth dragon king, a crownless dragon, can stand in my way!"

This painted shock on everyone's faces. Providence declared through its agent, the Dragon Vein Soul, who was king. But Zhuo Fan wasn't buying it. He would've disgraced his Soaring Demonic Dragon title if he did. He feared nothing, not even heaven!

Huangpu Qingtian shuddered, his eyes bloodshot.

He could accept the earlier defiance, but now he had displayed the Dragon Vein Soul's approval and yet this ant still dared to look down on him? Huangpu Qingtian had long passed the limits of his patience.

From an early age he knew that he was the one destined to have the Dragon Vein, the royal throne offered to him on a silver platter. Every man, including his father, had to bow before him.

Zhuo Fan knew this and showed not an ounce of respect, enraging him further.

The one thing his entire pride relied on was looked down at with such scorn that it was a heavy blow to his self esteem. As if to say he was king above all, but always beneath Zhuo Fan!

His fist tightened and he roared, "Then I shall take heaven's stead in eradicating the world of an ant daring to defy a king's authority!"

Huangpu Qingtian clawed, "Nine Dragons Diamond Body, Earth Dragon Empowered Claw! "

As the dragon soul took flight the earth quaked and a surge of incredible might rose up from underground...

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Chapter 320, Heaven-devouring Thunder Phoenix

Translator: StarReader

Editor: Elitecoder

Roar!

The dragon roar's might buckled the world itself, followed shortly by the dragon soul ascending to the ninth heaven, then plunging back into the earth below.

The ground quaked and beast roars resounded. The terrible power came from the souls and worked its way up into the body of everyone, scaring them in body and mind.

Then a beast's head came out of the ground and swallowed them whole.

Zhuo Fan frowned.

The Nine Dragons Diamond Body was an earth ranked martial art at its base and the Dragon Vein Soul was a lord of the land as well. With them combined, the martial art had its power doubled, truly capable of ripping the world asunder.

Zhuo Fan took a deep breath and the roaming purple lightning around him focused, ready for the final strike.

Rumble!

The earth literally exploded as the golden dragon three hundred meters long shot from underground, aiming for Zhuo Fan. Its fangs and claws bared, setting itself up to tear into heavens themselves if it had to.

Roar!

With another dragon roar, the dragon's might descended. Reaching Zhuo Fan a thousand meters away. The man was shocked.

He had a guess it would be strong, but not this much. The dragon held enough power to write off any Radiant Stage expert on the spot.

Gu Santong and Divine Dragons not included.

The onlookers gasped, their very core shaking in fear. [How can a pre-Radiant Stage expert hold enough power to destroy everything?]

You Yushan's trio were doing a victory dance as they laughed, "Such power! I knew the eldest young master was heaven's greatest gift on earth! He is invincible beneath heaven! That punk can be all heaven-defying he wants but not even he can match up to the eldest young master!"

"Hear, hear, the punk is done for, ha-ha-ha..."

The trio were having the time of their lives with their early celebration. They had invested so much blood and sweat into this, lost so many men and now, it had finally paid off.

Only Chu Qingcheng and company were shaking at the mighty display. Worry gnawed at their conscience as tears fell down unabated.

Fang Qiubai's eyes shrank and he sighed, "The Dragon Vein Soul is a true match for an earth ranked martial art. Such power makes the outcome obvious. Huangpu Qingtian truly is the first in his generation..."

The rest nodded as well. They turned in the direction the golden dragon was charging to see a man wrapped in purple lightning standing there with his back straight, his gaze hard. He was dauntless in the face of danger, earning no few sighs.

Zhuo Fan would've beaten Huangpu Qingtian if they were going by talent alone. But the sudden reveal of Dragon Vein Soul, of providence's machinations, left all taking his demise with pity.

No mortal could defy heaven's will...

The people were already lamenting, writing Zhuo Fan off as he was receiving the capital punishment for his transgression. Yet Zhuo Fan's eyes never lost their light, his fighting spirit burned hot against adversity.

To him, the Dragon Vein Soul was a mere spirit born of this world, albeit a pretty strong one. Yet it had no damn relation with providence and the likes.

Even if true providence descended, [As long as I am the stronger one, let heaven make you a god in this world but it still won't save you from me.]

Zhuo Fan's eyes steeled and his hands made a sign.

"Ha-ha-ha, Zhuo Fan, heaven made me king, the new world order! You dare go against me and you shall die for defying heaven. You shall die just because I wish it. It is the will of heaven, your fate!" Huangpu Qingtian cackled, drunk on power and megalomania.

This nemesis that had defied him for so long would finally meet his end. Who wouldn't be happy?

Zhuo Fan's face was cold, his eyes flashing purple, his hands making the signs as he shouted, "Screw you! I alone decide my fate. The one to die is you!"

Zhuo Fan then roared.

"Wraith Style, 3rd move, Necro Dragon's Screech!"

Roar!

An earth shaking dragon roar pierced the clouds and a pulse spread from Zhuo Fan's mouth.

Huangpu Qingtian mocked, "A trifling profound ranked sound martial art? How can it stand up to my dragon soul and earth ranked martial art? Humph, I get it, you are on your last leg, the desperate attempt of a hopeless fool!"

"Humph, to deal with the Dragon Vein Soul, a soul based martial art is all I need. Not to mention, this isn't your average sound martial art. You think you're the only one who can boost a martial art?" Zhuo Fan's grin turned sinister.

Huangpu Qingtian doubled back and before he could react, the damage was done.

Zhuo Fan's roar moved slowly towards the golden dragon, only to explode a hundred meters from it.

When the sound dissipated, purple lighting surged in its wake, spreading like wildfire and taking the form of a hundred meter long purple lightning bird.

The purple lightning crackled in every direction, its power bearing down on the incoming golden dragon.

Huangpu Qingtian cried, "What is that?"

"Your doom!"

Zhuo Fan's face split into a grin as he was reeling, about to collapse. This last move had him spent, but it still couldn't wipe the savage smirk from his lips, "While you used your Dragon Soul to add to your martial art's power, what stops me from infusing my entire purple lightning into the sound wave?"

Huangpu Qingtian's face twitched, "How can purple lightning ever match my dragon soul? Dragon Vein Soul is a king's symbol that no being in this world dares defy. Your purple lightning is nothing. It isn't even conscious. Dragon Vein Soul, shred him!"

Roar!

Huangpu Qingtian's words set the golden dragon into a frenzy, charging for Zhuo Fan. Its vicious face set to tear all who opposed it.

The earth ranked martial art topped with Dragon Vein Soul actually had a mind of its own, following Huangpu Qingtian's order.

Zhuo Fan watched it all with a sneer.

[Purple lightning is beneath the dragon soul? Humph, ignorant fool!]

Zhuo Fan didn't know where the purple lightning came from, but it had the potential to kill a sacred beast.

Not to mention, Zhuo Fan had added a little something to it, a trace of azure flame.

It wasn't as overbearing as the purple lightning, but it had a spark of intelligence. Each time Zhuo Fan was in dire straits, the azure flame would come out and shield him from harm.

Zhuo Fan had done this so that the thunderbird would gain the azure flame's awareness.

Zhuo Fan pointed, his bloodthirst exploding in his roar, "Kill him earth ranked martial art. Heaven-devouring Thunder Phoenix!"

Correct, an earth ranked martial art. With the purple lightning and a bit of azure flame, the profound ranked martial art was forcefully upgraded to a new rank.

The thunderbird cried out at his order, shooting forth.

Golden light erupted as the dragon roared and purple lightning scalded the heavens in an unbridled display of raw power.

The people below saw a dragon and a thunderbird clash in an apocalyptic explosion, ringing their ears.

And then it happened.

Under the thunderbird's purple lightning explosion, the dragon began to crumble inch by inch as it dissolved into golden specks. With a cry of pain, the golden dragon soul left the huge dragon and fled for Huangpu Qingtian.

The purple thunder bird had scared the Dragon Vein Soul off!

[How is this possible?]

Huangpu Qingtian's jaw hit the floor, his eyes bulged out. Others didn't fare any better.

[Holy hell! Dragon Vein Soul, you're supposed to be a lord of the land, its king. What are you doing getting scared of a silly flickering bird? Where has your rampant attitude gone? Your master had even bragged about you being his royal symbol!]

The scared Dragon Vein Soul's reply to their thoughts would be a round of abuse.

[You know shit! I am the king of the land, but that thing is the king of the skies! What else am I to do but run?]

[Ignorant whelps! Stop spewing crap when you know nothing of the world's inner workings. I am born of the earth, but that thing is born of the world! We are light years apart.]

Not that any side knew any of this of course. It was just that their minds were blown away seeing the Dragon Vein Soul running away with its tail between its legs. Their brains went out of commission.

[Dragon Vein Soul ain't so tough after all.]

Fang Qiubai watched it all bleary-eyed. Then he frowned, then he shook his head, and lastly looked at Zhuo Fan astounded.

Dragon Vein Soul wasn't weak, not by a long shot, it was the kid using a far deadlier attack.

Even Fang Qiubai started praising. [Just what are you, kid...]

With the Dragon Vein Soul abandoning ship, the three hundred meter long golden dragon turned into an earth dragon. And an average earth ranked martial art was no match for the purple thunderbird, collapsing in seconds.

What followed next was obvious. The thunder bird flew at Huangpu Qingtian. Its eyes filled with killing intent just like Zhuo Fan's.

How could this be?

Gnashing his teeth, Huangpu Qingtian was still in denial. The Dragon Vein Soul, the cornerstone of his pride and joy, of his very existence, was scared off by some purple lightning.

[What is that lightning that is able to scare the king of the land?]

He didn't have the time to ponder such philosophical questions though. The thunderbird was coming in for the kill...

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