The Steward Demonic Emperor

“Dugu Zhantian and Fang Qiubai greet His Majesty!”

The dignified emperor sat on the golden throne as the two bowed.

The emperor waved for them to get up and asked, “You two have been supervising the Esoteric Debate in my stead. Tell me, what has come off of it? What surprises have cropped up?”

The two nodded and Fang Qiubai took the lead, “Your Majesty, of the six dragons that had participated, Huangpu Qingtian, Yan Bangui, You Yushan and Lin Xuanfeng died at Zhuo Fan’s hands. Luo clan became the true winner.”

“What? T-that number one genius in Tianyu, Huangpu Qingtian…”

The emperor was stunned.

He had hoped for Zhuo Fan to mess with him, and that he only had a half chance of success. But then Zhuo Fan went all out and well beyond his duty, bringing him a wonderful piece of news.

Regent Estate and the other houses’ future was now snuffed in the cradle. At the very least, a monster like Huangpu Qingtian wouldn’t crop up anytime soon and the Regent Estate’s power remained in check. 

Taking a deep breath to control the overwhelming excitement, the emperor asked, “Anything else?”

He may have quelled his body’s reaction, but his beard was swaying from glee. That alone was enough to see what a thrill this news had become.

Fang Qiubai and Dugu Zhantian hesitated.

That was the good news and what followed was the worst news ever.

“Your Majesty, in the Esoteric Debate, Huangpu Qingtian revealed that he had a Dragon Vein Soul. Even though the Regent Estate talked its way out, I believe they are intent on drawing out the dragon souls from the imperial family’s Dragon Vein and rebel!”

“What?!”

The emperor slammed the armrest, glowering, “You’re saying the Regent Estate has grown so bold as to go after the imperial family’s Dragon Vein and even had someone become the master of a dragon soul? Wait, that’s not right. If Huangpu Qingtian has the dragon soul, he should be under the world’s protection. How can…”

Fang Qiubai and Dugu Zhantian sighed.

“I’m afraid Your Majesty’s assumptions are correct. Zhuo Fan is a man to be reckoned with. He killed Huangpu Qingtian and subdued Dragon Vein Soul, making the world quake for nine days. From what I saw, he is a man who can change fate.”

The emperor’s face darkened, “You mean to tell me Zhuo Fan has the dragon soul and has now become a rightful king, by providence no less?”

“Yes. But although he has providence and dragon soul’s protection, the wielder of Dragon Vein ruling the lands has been foretold by the High Priest since a thousand years ago. Over these years, the Parish’s prediction hasn’t changed. There’s just one thing I am unable to clarify. If dragon soul’s protection was providence and heaven’s blessing, why did Huangpu Qingtian end up getting killed? Is this a flaw in the prediction, or Zhuo Fan defies the heavens themselves?”

Fang Qiubai was pensive.

The emperor said with cold eyes, “How did Zhuo Fan kill him?” 

“Bit him to death.” Dugu Zhantian reported with his head hanging.

The emperor was stunned, “Bitten to death? Did he… eat him?”

“Your Majesty, is something wrong?” Fang Qiubai asked.

What shocked the people was Zhuo Fan killing Huangpu Qingtian, with none paying attention to how he did it.

But from the emperor’s reaction, it seems it held a deeper meaning.

The emperor continued, “What happened afterwards? What was the reaction of the houses after Regent Estate’s eldest young master died?”

“Regent Estate’s hatred for Zhuo Fan ran bone deep and when the kid returned to Dragon Cloud City, the four house lords besieged him, however…”

“What, you saved him?” The emperor eyed them.

Fang Qiubai sighed, “Your Majesty, the kid has the dragon soul now, and sooner or later, will become a thorn in the imperial family’s side. Thinking about how he has done so much for us, we couldn’t just kill him ourselves. So letting the Regent Estate attack him was the best conclusion. That is why Marshal Dugu and myself did not interfere. However, Mad Dipper Li Jingtian did.”

“Mad Dipper? Wasn’t he Regent Estate’s Venerable? He went missing six years ago but why did he suddenly show up to protect Zhuo Fan?” The emperor frowned.

Fang Qiubai shook his head, “I am not clear either. All I know is that he turned his back on the Regent Estate and sided with the Luo clan, becoming their elder. He also follows Zhuo Fan’s orders to a fault. It was evident from Zhuo Fan’s order to annihilate the Regent Estate. He didn’t hesitate in attacking Huangpu Tianyuan and the others.”

“What, Regent Estate was destroyed in Dragon Cloud City?”

“Of course not!”

Fang Qiubai replied at the emperor’s shock, “If all the elders of Regent Estate died, the world would be in chaos and that would only harm Your Majesty. That is why I stepped in. But Li Jingtian was truly strong. He has already reached peak Radiant Stage. All I could do was fight him to a draw. I am deeply ashamed.”

The emperor’s eyes shrank, incapable of believing what he was hearing. Luo clan, a third rate clan, was actually hiding an expert that could tie with a Divine Dragon?

[Doesn’t that mean the Luo clan is on the same level as the seven houses?]

In fact, they are now second only to Regent Estate!

“In less than ten years, that wretched clan has grown so much. In less than a decade!” The emperor sighed. 

Fang Qiubai and Dugu Zhantian sighed as well. The events were too astonishing.

Zhuo Fan was incredible, capable of turning everything around.

Who could turn a bunch of ants in such a short time into an elephant? Zhuo Fan!

Taking out the paper from his sleeve, the emperor sighed, “Take a look. When the world quaked, Parish sent these words.”

The two read it and after a pensive silence, they said to the emperor, “May we ask what is Your Majesty’s view of these words?”

“I didn’t understand at first, but listening to what transpired in Dragon Cloud City, I can guess now.” The emperor stroked his beard, “The earth dragon points at Huangpu Qingtian, representing the Regent Estate. While the celestial dragon ought to be Zhuo Fan descending from the heavens. When the two dragons collide, the land and rivers shall each call their king. This is the most worrisome part. The world will fall into chaos, with kings appearing and Tianyu sundering!”

The two generals paled. If these words were true, the empire was at an impasse.

“Your Majesty, I may be close to the Luo clan, but for Tianyu’s safety, allow me to march on Windgaze City!” Dugu Zhantian cupped his hands.

The emperor waved his proposal, “No, know yourself and your enemy and you shall be ever-victorious. The intelligence of the Luo clan is thin. To the point that we didn’t even know of Li Jingtian. It’s obvious that Zhuo Fan is hiding deep secrets. And even if we do march on them, we can’t do it without a good reason. It will only give others the chance to take advantage of the chaos.”

“Then what shall we do, Your Majesty?” Dugu Zhantian cupped his hands.

The emperor grumbled about something, then spoke with a dark face, “As per our promise, inform that all of the Luo clan has to come to the imperial capital for its reward, to receive their title as the eight noble house. Call upon the clans of the land and the seven houses to bear witness to this ceremony!”

Fang Qiubai’s eyes lit up, catching the emperor’s drift. He nodded, “Your Majesty is wise. With so many experts gathered in the imperial capital, we won’t have to lift a finger as they will tear each other apart out of hatred and vengeance. Any misfortune that befalls the Luo clan now, even if by Regent Estate’s insidious hand, would have nothing coming back to us. We will even see the Luo clan’s true power come to light. That’s two birds with one stone!”

“No, it may very well be possible that the Regent Estate has long been powerless to deal with the Luo clan. I only wish to see the Luo clan’s power to its full extent, ha-ha-ha…” With a sinister laughter, the emperor’s eyes shone. 

Three months later, a red light shot before Blackwind Mountain. A seven year old kid appeared before the mountain, looking on with a sigh, “This must be dad’s home. And it even has 5th grade arrays. Not bad at all.”

“Dad, I’m here. Open up or I’ll bash my way in!” The kid roared. 

The very next second, fog parted and Yan Fu walked out from within. Seeing the shouting kid, he was lost, “Kid, where did you come from? Who told you to come here? Don’t you know this is the Luo clan, the one even the seven houses fear? I’ll give you a thrashing if you keep shouting.”

“Tch, a mere lackey is so cocky? The Luo clan’s fame must be quite something. Not beneath those houses at least.” The kid grinned, ignoring Yan Fu and turning to the distant Blackwind Mountain peak as he assessed, “Not bad. Dad picked the perfect place with ample spiritual energy.”

Yan Fu’s face twitched and he snapped, “Brat, you dare call me a lackey? Do you know who I am, who my master is?”

“Tch, showing off and talking about your backing proves loud and clear that you are, in fact, but a lackey.”

Ugh!

Yan Fu faltered, stunned speechless at the kid’s flawless logic.

He had gotten used to scaring others with his master’s name. Even though for the last few years, he was down on his luck, but after seeing his master, he was in high spirits, back to his same old habits.

But getting mocked by a kid left a bad taste in his mouth. Even more so when the kid made perfect sense. Everywhere he went he’d show off his backing, like a true lackey. As if he was afraid of getting a thrashing. 

Yan Fu sighed in the end, “Out with it brat, what do you want?”

“I’ve come for someone.”

“Who?”

“My dad, Zhuo Fan!” The kid stuck out his chin…