Rustle~
With a few flicks of his arms, Zhuo Fan set up a defensive array and sat cross-legged, calmed his mind and readied himself to advance. He felt his right eye burning red hot as the golden ring flashed. Zhuo Fan took a deep breath and focused his entire soul power on his right eye.
The Divine Eye of the Void had an intrinsic connection with one’s soul. Each advancement would tax one’s soul greatly.
Three days passed within a blink in this manner, with Zhuo Fan focused on his task and no one disturbing him either. However, the morning of the fourth day Zhuo Fan opened his eyes with a sigh.
“It still failed. Is it because my soul is weak or because of my restless state of mind?” Squinting, Zhuo Fan began regretting. It was such a rare chance to get stronger and he had thoroughly wasted it.
Recalling his impatience four days ago, Zhuo Fan shook his head. [Why couldn’t I be calm? I need to temper my heart and remove all distractions.]
Zhuo Fan took a deep breath and closed his eyes. The next time he opened them, they were crystal clear with no ripples across them.
Zhuo Fan stood up, undid the array and walked out.
He was met with Luo Yunchang and company. One look was enough to tell him something was up.
“What’s wrong?” Zhuo Fan eyed them.
Luo Yunchang muttered, “Pavilion Lord Long has sent word that they want to discuss the final battle among the seven houses with you. But you were cultivating these past days and…”
“Alright, I got it.”
Zhuo Fan interrupted her and walked away without even looking at them. Like a lone wolf.
Luo Yunchang looked at his back for a long while and then said, “Captain Pang, did you also notice that he has changed?”
Captain Pang swallowed, “Steward Zhuo didn’t change, he has only returned to how he was eight years ago. He looks the same as back then in Misty Forest.”
Luo Yunchang watched the prideful figure with an aching heart.
[Is he… leaving again?]
A demonic cultivator only ever cared about themselves.
With Zhuo Fan having met so many people over the years, each encounter had a faint influence, each tainting his heart and ultimately rattling his usually peaceful state of mind.
He was of the belief that this was the sole reason for his failure to advance Divine Eye of the Void to the 2nd stage. After careful consideration, he had cast out every influence, along with the ever growing emotions.
The strong had no need for dead weights.
Surveying the white clouds floating about the blue sky, Zhuo Fan’s eyes were crystal clear. So much so that they looked dead.
[So much better.]
Sighing, Zhuo Fan walked with purpose to a courtyard ten times larger than the Luo clan’s.
This place had high ranking people watching the gate.
“Brother, the killing with intent you used has opened my eyes!” Long Jiu laughed.
Zhuo Fan nodded unaffected, “Long time no see, brother Jiu!”
Long Jiu paused for a second. [Why is brother so cold today?]
“Darling, you were so cool!” Xiao Dandan skipped over at some point with a rosy face. Peony Overseer held her face and sighed.
Zhuo Fan glanced at her and said, “Lass, do that again and I’ll make sure it will be your last!”
Reeling, Xiao Dandan watched him like he was some stranger. She had gotten used to Zhuo Fan talking like that, but this time she could see the bloodthirst glinting in his eyes.
She was certain that if she opened her mouth at this instant, Zhuo Fan would rip it off!
Peony Overseer saw her disciple being picked on and glared. But before she could spring in defense, Zhuo Fan’s cold, emotionless eyes snapped at her, “And you, deal with your disciple before she meets with misfortune. When that time comes, you’ll only have yourself to blame for not educating her properly!”
Zhuo Fan then walked inside without sparing the women a look.
Zhuo Fan had long lost his joking mood and was ready to follow up on his threats.
[What’s wrong with this kid? He’s like another person.]
While those familiar with Zhuo Fan were stifled, the rest were even more afraid of earning his ire.
Zhuo Fan was surrounded by a constant air of savagery as if he was standing above all. No one dared to stand closer than three meter around this mighty lord.
His far away look and his power let them know that the best he ever felt was when he was alone.
This Zhuo Fan left them all cold and shaken inside.
Rumble!
Zhuo Fan walked in through the heavy door, where the three clans sat around a round table. They all smiled at his coming, Chu Qingcheng especially.
He nodded and smiled in reply, but ignored Chu Qingcheng as he took a chair.
“Steward Zhuo, the qualification round has concluded. Because of your involvement, a large number of clans were eliminated. This makes the final battle planned a month later be moved two days from now.” Long Yifey explained.
Zhuo Fan nodded, “So the reason you wanted to see me is…”
“Seeing how the Luo clan has never participated in the final battle of the seven houses before, there are some things you have yet to learn.” Long Yifey smiled, “Actually, the final battle is held in a different area each time and rules change accordingly. What remains the same is how cruel and brutal it is.”
“So it isn’t held in Dragon Cloud City? Hasn’t it been a tradition for Esoteric Debate to be held here for the past thousand years?” Zhuo Fan raised an eyebrow.
Long Yifey shook his head, “This is the imperial family’s scheme. Only by constantly changing the environment could they see the true power of the seven houses. And with how powerful the disciples from the seven houses are, so too will the terrain become of a much greater difficulty. This time it is expected to be the worst so far!”
Zhuo Fan squinted, still out of the loop.
Grandmother giggled, “Steward Zhuo needn’t be baffled. The Dragon Cloud City has a large 8th grade Teleportation Array to send us anywhere within the Tianyu Empire. And that is where the final battle will be held. This is also to prevent anyone from setting an ambush.”
Zhuo Fan nodded. [Imperial family thought of everything. But using such a large Teleportation Array only for Esoteric Debate is such a waste.]
Zhuo Fan shook his head in the end.
If the imperial family wanted to waste their coffers, how was that his problem? He was better off focusing on the final battle.
That was the whole reason why they were gathered here.
Xie Xiaofeng smiled, “Steward Zhuo, your skills have opened our eyes. But we still wish to ask, how confident are you in facing Huangpu Qingtian?”
Squinting, Zhuo Fan snickered, “None whatsoever. But you can rest easy knowing that I can hold him down. With how one of the other three is a cripple, can you handle the remaining two?”
“With Steward Zhuo holding off that monster, the other two and a half men will be easily taken care of. The seven houses’ ranking will be in upheaval!” Xie Xiaofeng anticipated with joy.
The others laughed with him.
They discussed further details then adjourned. Zhuo Fan walked to the door when a graceful figure blocked his view.
Zhuo Fan eyed Chu Qingcheng.
“You need something?” Zhuo Fan said flatly.
Chu Qingcheng watched the impassive Zhuo Fan in anger, “Zhuo Fan, I want an answer. Did you have no reason to stay in Drifting Flowers City longer?”
“None!” Zhuo Fan was resolute, “I told you, I only did it out of self interest. Since I had achieved my goal and got what I came for, I had no reason to stay.”
Chu Qingcheng gnashed her teeth and clenched her fists, “What about the days spent in that shack…”
“You call playing house being real?” Mocking, Zhuo Fan sneered, “Without sacrificing a few days of my youth, you would’ve never given up Bodhi Jade Sap so willingly…”
Pa!
Chu Qingcheng slapped him before he could finish.
Grinning, Zhuo Fan giggled despite her raging eyes, “Silly girl, you’re so easily duped that I worry how Drifting Flowers Edifices will survive after Grandmother’s gone. Why not give it to me?”
“Bastard, you are dead inside!” Chu Qingcheng glared, her fingers dug into her palm drawing blood, trailing her flawless skin.
Smirking, Zhuo Fan no longer looked at her as he left, but his mockery stung nonetheless, “Ha-ha-ha, I am and always will be a demonic cultivator. Even if that time made me feel anything, so what? You think you can hook me in?”
Pff!
With heart wrenching pain, Chu Qingcheng watched him leave with a face filled with tears. Zhuo Fan paused but never turned around. His face forever cold as he walked away alone.
Peony Overseer and the rest rushed over, seeing Chu Qingcheng’s state and starting cursing Zhuo Fan.
Zhuo Fan hardly cared about the pesky cawing, leaving with a cold smile on his face.
He had just left the courtyard and soon noticed some blood seeping from his mouth.
He wiped it off unfeeling and mechanically.
To become a Demonic Emperor he had to be cold-blooded and to never allow a trace of emotion to get a hold of him ever again…