Proofreader: Papatonks
Zhao Chen was enveloped in black energy, his mind intoxicated and hazy. He could not see any issues with it because the power was just too strong, giving him a false feeling of control over the entire world as it grew thicker and thicker, promising him Sainthood.
Zhuo Fan sensed his scattered and wild aura. The increase was only in quantity and not quality, blocking any chance of becoming a Saint.
Zhuo Fan shook his head as he looked at the closed stone door.
“Steward Zhuo, the Saint wants to meet you again!” Li Jingtian had been waiting outside to give him a jade slip.
Zhuo Fan read it, “Meeting? Saints sure are free, asking to see me right as I’m at war. Ugh, that damn He Xiaofeng again, staying in Ruby Cloud Sect still.”
Bam!
Zhuo Fan crushed the jade slip to dust in anger.
[Bastard, he’s after Qingcheng again!]
“Steward Zhuo, will you go?”
“Of course. The least I can do is show a Saint proper respect.”
“Show respect? Steward Zhuo dealt with dragon Saints like nothing. Crushing an entitled Saint brat should be as easy as snapping your fingers, ha-ha-ha…” Li Jingtian raised an eyebrow.
Zhuo Fan smirked, “Right you are, I have nothing to fear from the likes of He Xiaofeng, but I need to consider the bigger picture and lay low for now.”
“Why do you say that?”
“He Xiaofeng is an early Saint, nobody important, but he has the 6th Sacred Mountain behind him. We’ve yet to hear any word from the dragons. Even with them joining us, it’ll take time to gather all the spiritual beasts. We need to bide our time.”
Zhuo Fan’s eyes shone, “The Eight Emperors aren’t united. Being hostile to the Sacred Mountains now will surround us with enemies.”
[Eight Emperors?]
Li Jingtian jerked, “What of it? Every Luo clan elder leading a team could mow them down.”
“Won’t that reveal us to the Saints as well?”
Tapping his head, Zhuo Fan smiled, “It will also scare them, turning from being pedantic to stooping to any low and retaliating against us. To resist the enemy, we need to secure our lands. Don’t ever forget the lesson of the Sword Star Empire and Baili Jingwei. By waging war with the Sacred Mountains, the Eight Emperors would be sure to strike back. We have to make our lands strong as iron to avoid any problems.”
Li Jingtian nodded, “Steward Zhuo is thorough in the end. Then we’ll take the Eight Emperors’ lands before anything.”
“Yeah, we’re to take their lands without them noticing our intentions and plan for it, ha-ha-ha…” Zhuo Fan snickered at the door behind him and left with Li Jingtian.
[Disciple, you betrayed your master and now you’ll become bait, drawing everyone in.]
Whoosh~
A month later, three people darted beneath the sun as they landed in a forest. Zhuo Fan, Li Jingtian and Qiu Yanhai looked at the Ruby Cloud Sect’s dazzling entrance.
Zhuo Fan said, “I’ll go pay my respects and keep the Saint and the hag busy while you stick to the plan. The rest are nothing.”
“Understood!” The two bowed.
Zhuo Fan walked in, soon blocked by a few familiar figures.
“Head senior sister, it’s been a while. How’ve you been?”
“You don’t get to call me that! Humph!”
Fang Min glared at him, “Eh? Where’s your guard?”
Zhuo Fan shrugged, “Look at what you’re saying. Do you think there’s no one guarding me with my current status? They’re only hiding in the shadows. Should I call them out? They may not be hundreds, but 180 there should be, each tough in their own right. I have no fear against some early Spirit Kings.”
“Tch, you’re quite the show off, for a useless Demonic Emperor dog.”
“You’re wrong about that. Even dogs differ among each other. I act in Demonic Emperor’s stead, can you say the same? While I’m a purebred prized poodle, you’re just a flea-ridden mongrel, ha-ha-ha…”
“You…”
Fang Min grimaced in anger, wanting to kill him then and there. Zhuo Fan taunted further, “I came to your sect at the Saint’s invitation. Touch me in any way and not even your master can protect you.”
Fang Min shuddered and panted, straining to quell her rage, “After you!”
“That’s better. You’re only shaming the Enchanting Empress by failing to receive guests, he-he-he.” Zhuo Fan snickered at their furious glares, “Where’s Qingcheng anyway? Why don’t I see her?”
Fang Min got her chance to strike back, “You’ll never get to see her again.”
“Why do you say that?” Zhuo Fan’s heart tensed.
Fang Min mocked, “Junior sister has been promised to the Saint, but the obstinate girl doesn’t know what’s good for her and refused. She even tried leaving but master locked her up on the Snow Peak for the time when the Saint takes her away. So you won’t see junior sister ever again once she goes to the Sacred Mountains, ha-ha-ha…”
Zhuo Fan nodded, having taken this scenario into account and looked back.
Li Jingtian and Qiu Yanhai gave him a signal.
Zhuo Fan relaxed.
Zhuo Fan taunted Fang Min so she would let Chu Qingcheng’s situation slip. The chick was harsh but not too bright though, making it extra easy for him to deal with her.
A few slick words got her to spill all of the sect’s secrets.
[The Enchanting Empress has good tastes in disciples.]
Zhuo Fan smirked, approving of Fang Min, who gave him an odd look.
[What’s with him? I taunted him with Qingcheng yet he doesn’t care?]
“Head senior sister!”
Zhuo Fan said, “Why are you so happy that Qingcheng is being taken to the Sacred Mountains? That place is a cultivator’s dreamland. As I understand, you should be jealous and stewing in envy from not being picked instead of that dumb girl. ‘What does she have that I don’t?’ Looking at looks, figure, cultivation, and… you know, you’d probably on par, no? Ha-ha-ha, no wonder there are no men around.”
Pff~
The other disciples giggled with red faces. Fang Min glared and gnashed her teeth, cutting their joy short.
“You’re right!”
Fang Min sighed, “Chu Qingcheng has never been stronger than me, ever, but master always spoiled her, giving her everything. The Saint also picked her, not even giving me a second glance. Am I so bad? Is she that much better?”
“I don’t think so.”
“You agree too? Then why do you all go after her?”
“Objectively speaking, you’re better in every way, but one.”
“Which one?”
“Birth!” Zhuo Fan’s eyes shone.
Because she was and still is Qingcheng, her birth made him protect her without fail. It was also her birth, having a Sovereign path that made the Enchanting Empress and Saint value her immensely.
[You could never catch up to her with such a circumstance!]
Fang Min didn’t get it, “Birth? Isn’t she just an orphan? What’s so special about her? Master just took her in, is all.”
“Very special indeed.”
Zhuo Fan was grave, “Let me be frank with you. You can never match her background, not even your master. Do you believe me when I tell you that she can make He Xiaofeng destroy Ruby Cloud Sect? Even the Eight Emperors, the guy would definitely fulfill her every wish to win her smile.”
[How is this possible?]
Fang Min was dumbstruck, “Stop fooling around! A Saint would never spoil his girl that much. The Eight Emperors in the Sacred Domain are like the Sacred Mountains to them. Their death will bring chaos.”
“This isn’t spoiling, it’s about worth. What does it matter if the world burns, so long as Qingcheng smiles?” Zhuo Fan gave an eerie grin, “This is her background, the one that can topple cities. Why else would she be Chu Qingcheng? Ha-ha-ha…”
(StarReader: Qingcheng means city-toppling beauty.)
They arrived before the sect’s Main Hall. Zhuo Fan entered with a smile, leaving the girls stumped behind.
[Is Qingcheng that important? Just who is she…]
