Five months later, at the Imperial Capital, the Emperor was reviewing reports in the study.
Suddenly, a black figure knelt at his side. Hands cupped in respect, black figure spoke “Your Majesty, Dragon Cloud City’s report on the Luo clan has come!”
“Deliver!”
The Emperor spoke, but didn’t spare the man a glance. The man offered the report with both hands.
The Emperor took one glance at it and threw it back into the man’s face, “Every damn report over the past five years has been either all quiet or all normal! The Luo clan is set to make waves in the Esoteric Debate, but where is that Bone Tempering Stage kid? How the hell are you even getting your intelligence?”
“Please sooth your anger, Your Majesty! I’ve been at fault!” The man was on the ground in a blink, shaking like a leaf.
The Emperor caressed his beard, but the fire in his eyes was like a smoldering volcano. Oddly enough, he soon restored his calm.
Yet this only worked to instill greater fear in the man’s bones!
“Is there anything on that Zhuo Fan?” The emperor’s tone was cold.
The man shook his head, “Nothing, Your Majesty!”
“And what of Divine Dragon Gu Santong?” The emperor followed.
The man was on the verge of tears, “Unknown, Your Majesty!”
“You’ve been searching for five years but can’t find anything about Zhuo Fan. That rampant guy Gu Santong must still be stirring trouble somewhere and yet you can’t even find a trace of him! Humph, why am I even raising you worthless mongrels? You can’t do anything!” The Emperor’s eyes flashed with bloodthirst.
The man kowtowed three times, pleading, “Your Majesty, please quell your anger. I am incompetent! Please spare me!”
“Out!” The Emperor flicked his sleeve.
The man kowtowed three more times and bolted, “Thank you, Your Majesty, thank you…”
The Emperor took a deep breath and lifted his head, “Gu Santong and Zhuo Fan are missing. Can this piece of information even be trusted? Did they perish in the Lightning Canyon?
“It’s fine if Gu Santong is gone from this world. It might actually be a blessing! But Zhuo Fan? He is yet to fulfill his task. His death would be such a waste! But this boy brings too many surprises. He lifted up a wretched third rate clan to one that is brimming with power! A miracle really! But I just can’t tell if the Luo clan can still complete the task without Zhuo Fan, ha-ha-ha…”
The Emperor chuckled quite cheerfully, like a sly rogue.
Just then, a guard fell to his knees before the emperor, “Your Majesty, Divine Dragon Gu Santong has returned!”
Ugh!
The laughter came to a grunting stop, and the emperor sighed, “Understood!” But his good mood was gone.
[Ah, the worst trouble is yet to come…]
Meanwhile, before the great gates of a city, a familiar figure appeared. He looked up and read the imposing words on the wall, Dragon Cloud City.
Rumor had it that the imperial family, Yuwen clan’s efforts to raise an army to found the empire in historic times all began from this place. As such, every single Esoteric Debate was held here.
“I got held up for too long in the Lightning Canyon. I hope I made it in time. Hope those guys didn’t get themselves wiped out again!” Zhuo Fan sighed under his black cloak as he entered the city.
There were soldiers all around the city, but that did not stop anyone from milling about.
This city afterall was a gathering place of the empire’s most distinguished houses and clans. Everyone was free to come and go or even join the Esoteric Debate if they wished.
But the army was tasked with breaking any conflicts among these clans, most of all among the seven houses. Once a fight broke out, it was easy to plunge the entire empire into unrest.
This made the soldiers stationed here ready to act at a moment’s notice.
The only one in the whole empire able to shake the seven houses was none other than the second of the Four Pillars and Tianyu’s Marshal, God of War, Dugu Zhantian!
Though meeting this big man was the last thing on Zhuo Fan’s mind.
Inside the city, Zhuo Fan was shocked. The place was packed, like a sea of people. It was more packed than Drifting Flowers City at the time of the Hundred Pill Meeting!
Then again, how many clans did the Hundred Pill Meeting attract? The Esoteric Debate, however, drew in all the clans that hoped for a swift rise to fame and power. The difference was obvious.
He didn’t have the time to let the sights distract him. His top priority was to get back to the Luo clan and ascertain the situation.
But only after a few steps, a ruckus entered his ears. “Windgaze City’s Luo clan has landed their 27th win, advancing into the second rate clans’ finals and becoming this Esoteric Debate’s biggest underdog! “
Raising an eyebrow, Zhuo Fan looked towards the speaker but only found a small tavern. So he stepped in to learn more.
The thick smell of wine and clamor struck his face the moment he stepped in. Some guys with bare arms were shouting and waving their fists around, god only knew why.
There was a betting table in the tavern and a score table on the far wall had the name of every clan on it. People at the table were constantly placing bets.
Of course, not everyone was betting.
Zhuo Fan saw that the board had the seven houses’ names on it as well as their representative genius.
“Ascending Ice Phoenix – Drifting Flowers Edifice, Forest Fleeting Dragon – Merry Woods, Golden Armored Sword Dragon – Sword Marquise Abode…” Zhuo Fan muttered every word, but then he screamed, “Soaring Demonic Dragon – Blackwind Mountain? Who the hell came up with this?”
The dealer from the table saw Zhuo Fan amazed and smirked, “Hey dummy, what hole did you crawl out of? Haven’t you ever heard of Windgaze City’s Luo clan on Blackwind Mountain? Of their Soaring Demonic Dragon Zhuo Fan?”
Zhuo Fan’s mouth was agape. He scratched his head, [When did this Soaring Black Dragon stuff get started?]
Seeing his puzzlement, the dealer sighed, “You’re really ignorant! When Demon Archon Zhuo Fan wrecked Drifting Flowers City, everyone and their uncles learnt about him! Now that we know he represents the Luo clan in the Esoteric Debate, of course he stands on par with the Six Dragons and One Phoenix. This is why people call him Soaring Demonic Dragon. Apparently, it is the name of the martial art he used!”
“Bullshit!”
A buffed guy started arguing, “Complete and utter bullshit! The Demon Archon Zhuo Fan did use the Soaring Demonic Dragon in Drifting Flowers City to kill Regent Estate’s second young master, but his nickname has a totally different meaning! His Soaring Demonic Dragon title implies that he wants to break through to Heaven, and challenge the seven houses’ thousand year long authority! You know nothing! So don’t go about talking rubbish!”
Zhuo Fan nodded, finding this second explanation far more plausible.
[God damn it! Who the hell dares to say that Heaven stands above me? I’ll rip them to pieces! This is more my style. Ha-ha-ha, yours truly likes Soaring Demonic Dragon!]
But his joy ended as soon as the dealer barked back, “Cut the crap! Demon Archon Zhuo Fan may be great, but do you think he has it in him to contest the seven houses? The seven houses’ status in Tianyu has been unshaken for a thousand years. Haven’t you heard? Luo clan has the Sword Marquise Abode, Veiled Dragon Pavilion and Drifting Flowers Edifice backing them! I reckon that even if the Luo clan climbs high enough to enter the fight between the seven houses, it will only fight as a vassal clan of the three houses!”
Bam!
Zhuo Fan slapped the table, his face twisted in grimace, “Who the hell told you that Luo clan is their vassal? Get your head straight, Luo clan will become an independent clan, competing on the same level as the seven houses. It will not cower behind some other house for safety! Just wait and watch!”
The two looked at Zhuo Fan puzzled. [What’s his connection with the Luo clan? Why is he so fired up in protecting this underdog?]
But they didn’t have the time to talk back and curse Zhuo Fan for being a mental case as an aged voice laughed, “Ha-ha-ha, indeed. Luo clan should aim for the best clan and challenge the unwritten rule that has held on for millennia. If not, like every single time, the Esoteric Debate would end with only the seven houses competing. Wouldn’t that be too boring? “
Shuddering, Zhuo Fan looked back to see three elders. Every one of them was wearing a cloak to hide their features.
The elder in the middle revealed his piercing eyes and grinned, “Steward Zhuo, I’ve long wished to meet you my soul brother! I am Prime Minister Zhuge Changfeng. Care to join me for a chat?”
Zhuo Fan’s eyes widened and he looked at him deeply.
He never thought that the head of the Four Pillars, Zhuge Changfeng would personally grace him with his presence! Glancing at the two elders on his sides, from their mighty aura, he could tell they were rare experts.
With a deep breath, Zhuo Fan nodded. Zhuge Changfeng grinned and made a flourish. The two then walked side by side to a table.
The two elders stood behind Zhuge Changfeng and their eyes flashed, sending an energy to envelop the table. The noise around them slowly ceased and their words were never heard by the people outside.
Yet to the untrained eye, the four looked like they were having a casual chat. The dealer and the big man looked baffled for a minute and then ignored them.
Zhuo Fan was shocked and became wary of the two elders. No average Radiant Stage expert could just set up a barrier so casually. Not even a peak one!
The two must’ve trained in some special cultivation method. They weren’t to be taken lightly.
Thinking about Zhuge Changfeng, he may only be in the 2nd layer of the Profound Heaven Stage, but he was surrounded by many powerful people. He was a man no one from the seven houses dared underestimate.
His name as the head of the Four Pillars was well deserved…
