With eyebrows locked in a scowl, Huangpu Qingyun could feel the eyes on him taking a different nuance, making his heart burn with newfound rage.
[Damn it, this punk is good in psychological warfare as well. He got these geezers buckling with a few words. This can't go on. He must die, beyond any shadow of a doubt. I have to shut him up now. Will I have any respect left, any credibility, if this keeps up?]
With his mind set, Huangpu Qingyun restrained his aura, ready to make an overt attack at any opportune moment. [Since I can't counter that odd movement, I'll just finish him off with one clean and hidden strike!'
Before his chance came, however, Zhuo Fan flitted to the closest arena wall, aiming for a quick escape.
"Curses, again with the running!"
Huangpu Qingyun cussed, feeling his plan ruined before he could even enact it.
He wanted to sneak attack Zhuo Fan so he dropped his aura to confuse enemies. But Zhuo Fan took the initiative to move first before he could.
He was exasperated, [The little shit is a parasite. How is it that whenever I'm planning something, he reacts as if knowing what it is?]
There wasn't anyone around to tell him that this old and veteran demon, Zhuo Fan, could tell if he had to take a dump before even he did.
And now that 5th elder's trust in Huangpu Qingyun plummeted, his reaction was somewhat slower than before.
This short delay allowed Zhuo Fan to arrive before the wall.
The two hurried to catch him while Zhuo Fan was having a blast, "Ha-ha-ha, too slow. You're far from enough to stop yours truly."
Zhuo Fan lashed his Lightning Wings at the walls.
The wall sported a brand new five-meter tall hole, allowing sunshine to spill inside. Fresh air rushed to him, lifting his spirits.
Zhuo Fan then stepped into the clouds. He was like a caged bird finally seeing the wide-open skies for the first time.
5th elder gnashed his teeth. Only now did his senses come back, figuring out that Zhuo Fan's speech was meant to drive a wedge and affect their state of mind.
How else could he escape from under the tight guard of two Profound Heaven experts in an enclosed space like Drifting Flowers Arena?
[This kid is more cunning than 7th Elder!]
He may be sighing inside, but his eyes were filled with killing intent. The more outstanding Zhuo Fan revealed to be, the more he had to put the kid down.
[He's already a freak in Bone Tempering Stage. What will happen when he enters the Profound Heaven Stage then? Who in Tianyu will be able to stop him?]
Huangpu Qingyun was of a like mind.
He had to be killed!
They looked at each other, finding determination in each of their eyes. They rushed through the hole and engaged in the chase. Vicious Pill King muttered to himself as he took Yan Fu through the hole as well.
The only ones left inside were Long Jiu's gang.
Secretly sighing, Iris Overseer looked on in fright, "Demon Zhuo Fan is beyond cunning. He played the astute Huangpu Qingyun like a fiddle. Now I can see how he killed the Insidious Demon, You Guiqi."
"He-he, but of course!"
Snickering, Xie Tianyang shook his head dejected, "That brat is just too sly. Those with brains but not brawn will undoubtedly lose. Those with brawn but no brains will never get the upper hand on him. He is the single most dreadful thing in this world."
"My husband is brave and wise beyond his age!" Xiao Dandan's pride in Zhuo Fan jumped a few notches.
Chu Qingcheng smiled without meaning to. Even her eyes glinted with pride.
The others had to nod at her words. Zhuo Fan was a rarity on this continent. Where could one find such a youth excelling in mettle and mind!
Long Jiu proposed, "Let's go as well. He is now in an open space with a high chance of escaping, but it's best we are nearby if things go south."
They all nodded and flew outside.
But a panicked cry came at this moment, "Dandan, Dandan, save me!"
His master's corpse turned Lin Tianyu's legs to mush, unable to even move from fear. Watching Chu Qingcheng's group leaving as well, he supposed they were aiming for Zhuo Fan and got excited.
Lin Tianyu started crying as if he hadn't seen his relatives in years.
This man truly took after his master. He was still clueless which side was pro Zhuo Fan, and which was anti Zhuo Fan. He went and assumed Zhuo Fan made a scapegoat out of Drifting Flowers Edifice.
So, he hurried to Xiao Dandan, gave a few bows to the seniors and wept, "Dandan, that demon killed my master. For the feelings we had, for Drifting Flowers Edifice and Merry Woods' intermarriages all these years, I plead seniors to give master justice and kill that demon. Please avenge master!"
Long Jiu's group was startled, then looked at him funny.
The apple truly didn't fall far from the tree. [He's as dumb as his master. Did you not see us standing at the side doing nothing, with no intention of stepping in?]
[You are one clueless kid to come ask us for help!]
Lin Tianyu was off-put when they were silent and second-guessed. They had to be in fear of Zhuo Fan, unwilling to join thinking their houses' well-being was on the line.
Since appealing to their morality went bust, he'd appeal to reason.
He turned grave on the spot as he spoke with zeal, "Demon Zhuo Fan flaunts his ruthless and barbaric power. Today he killed my master, tomorrow he will kill you. Even with second young master and 5th elder joining hands, they may not hold him here. If he runs, it will spell the end of the seven houses. For our brothers and sisters, I plead you to think of your own house, of your bleak future, and join together with second young master in removing this vile spawn from the face of the world!"
Lin Tianyu spoke with righteousness, with valor, but the ones he was talking to were having a ball in their minds.
[Is this kid still playing the gentleman with no crowd around to see him?]
[Better yet, since when did the seven houses become brothers and sisters? Are you blind to not see Vicious Pill King almost annihilating Drifting Flowers Edifice?]
[You need to get your facts straight. Just how has this disciple been raised to believe this nonsense? When the time comes, he is the type that won't even know how he died.]
They only shook their heads and ignored him as they went on their merry way.
[He is a prime example of what a fool is!]
"Uh, miss Dandan, I find this kid upstanding, so why not take him? Later… you'll need to handle him well!" Xie Tianyang cracked jokes.
Lin Tianyu had no clue what this Sword Marquise Abode's young master was going with this.
But his words brought Xiao Dandan one thought only. [Isn't that telling me to whip him?] And her cheeks flushed.
Lin Tianyu saw them treating him like thin air and he downheartedly implored Xiao Dandan, "Dandan, Merry Woods is too far and I won't make it in time to report. Please, you have to convince your seniors to avenge master!"
"Do it yourself! What man are you, letting others do your job for you?" Xiao Dandan snapped a glare at him then kicked him before storming back to the group.
She was so perplexed. How could they both be men, with one a hero and the other an annoying coward? He even had the nerve to ask others for revenge when he didn't even look the killer in the eye!
The more she compared the two, the more her love grew.
On the other hand, Lin Tianyu fell to the ground and wailed dejectedly, "What's wrong with asking others for revenge? How am I supposed to fight that freak who killed master? This is not how a man…"
Outside the Drifting Flowers Arena was packed with clansmen and alchemists, who were in the area, afraid of getting in the crossfire between Huangpu Qingyun and Zhuo Fan.
Although they did leave the building, they were too curious to vacate the premises.
They wanted to see for themselves the ending. How the demon Zhuo Fan, grandmaster of alchemy, was as scary as the rumors painted him out to be. Meanwhile, they were also afraid that they might get caught in the crossfire and end up injured.
This was a Profound Heaven experts fight to the death, was it not? Sticking too close would send one to an early grave.
[Sigh, everything's so twisted.]
The Drifting Flowers Edifice's disciples were tasked with upholding order. Xiao Ya was among them too, lamenting. [Why is this time's Hundred Pill Meeting filled with fighting?]
She was thinking the Drifting Flowers Arena might even blow up from their Profound Heaven Stage powers.
Boom!
As she was mulling, a loud explosion rang her ears.
The crowd saw a new opening in the arena wall and a winged figure taking to the skies.
Zhuo Fan!
Startled, they began to admire how amazing he was to escape from Hell Valley and Regent Estate.
But then, two more figures came out, Huangpu Qingyun and 5th elder. They only took a blink to bar Zhuo Fan's way.
A sledgehammer and a golden fist flew and backing Zhuo Fan into a corner.
But with the wide open space around him, Zhuo Fan bizarre art was even weirder, flitting back and forth like a specter.
Not even Huangpu Qingyun and 5th elder's tight blockade could hold Zhuo Fan.
In the sky, three figures dashed around, but they always flashed past each other, not once connecting.
The crowd had long stood slackjawed. None could reach their speeds but they could guess how astonishing it was.
Seeing Zhuo Fan flitting around so relaxed was enough proof.
[No wonder he's dubbed demon when he can throw off Profound Heaven experts with his weird movements. Only a demon could move as creepy as that.]
Whoosh!
With a sudden kick, Zhuo Fan escaped the two's encirclement. Huangpu Qingyun and 5th elder were now panting in pursuit but couldn't catch up.
They were body cultivators but had no movement art. Matching their speed to Zhuo Fan taxed their bodies.
"Ha-ha-ha, Huangpu Qingyun, time to count your blessings!" Laughed Zhuo Fan.
Huangpu Qingyun and 5th elder were far from willing to give up.
Suddenly, an aged voice came, "Youngster, have you forgotten about me?"
Unable to react, Zhuo Fan was stuck. It was as though he was hit with an artillery shell. Slamming him onto the ground, creating a ten-meter crater in the ground.
And in his previous spot was a meter large blood-colored bat with small eyes and sharp glints.
The crowd cried out, "3rd level spiritual beast, "Rumbling Blood Bat!"