The two had explained everything thoroughly to Zhuo Fan before leaving.
Seeing them go, Zhuo Fan's eyes shined, "Young miss, gather everyone. It is time we go to Windgaze City!"
Luo Yunchang looked at him deeply before nodding.
Not much later, they all gathered, except the Grand Elder, who was watching over the newcomers.
Luo Yunchang and Zhuo Fan took the main seats, overlooking them as they explained what fatty said.
Even though shocked, everyone was sporting a serious face. The imperial family's task was of monumental proportions. It wanted this fresh clan, not even a decade old, to fight against the seven houses with a thousand year old legacy, each.
This was a fool's errand!
Even Li Jingtian was frowning.
"Elder Li, you've been living in Regent Estate until now. What are, in your opinion, my chances with Huangpu Qingtian?" Zhuo Fan asked.
The others settled down, awaiting his answer.
Li Jingtian shook his head, "None whatsoever!"
The eyes of others widened, their hearts jumped, and Zhuo Fan frowned. Li Jingtian's assessment was undoubtedly reliable, giving Zhuo Fan further shock.
"Old Li, Steward Zhuo isn't your run of the mill. Wherever in Tianyu have you seen any other Bone Tempering cultivator kill a dozen Profound Heaven experts in Tianyu? You're saying that twerp Huangpu Qingtian still holds a candle to our great Steward Zhuo?" Xue Qingjian giggled a flattery.
However, Zhuo Fan shot her a glare, "Sister, sucking up has no place here. Please take this matter seriously, or I'll take what you said as wishing for my demise!"
Xue Qingjian zipped her mouth on the spot. She could feel the coldness in Zhuo Fan's tone.
This also made the others tremble. The usual rampant and obnoxious Zhuo Fan actually knew to be cautious at crucial times.
His act earned their admiration. He wasn't one influenced by some cheap words of flattery, keeping his cool when it was needed the most.
Li Jingtian secretly approved, "Steward Zhuo, to be blunt, third prince and Fang Qiubai didn't see the real him, only speaking based on mere hearsay. But even if they had seen him, they'd have the same impression. Poise of a king and a talent of a freak!"
Zhuo Fan squinted, "Go on!"
"As Elder Xue mentioned, Steward Zhuo's Bone Tempering cultivation is enough to kill Profound Heaven experts. But I feel the need to enlighten everyone here that Steward Zhuo isn't the first to have done this. Ten years ago, Huangpu Qingtian, in his 2nd layer of Bone Tempering Stage, easily defeated Regent Estate's Profound Heaven elders. As you all know, their elders are unlike You Guiqi and the others. Every one of them trained in Imperial Tyrant Body Art!"
"How is that possible?!"
Even Zhuo Fan couldn't help but cry out. His victories over Profound Heaven experts were thanks to his Lightning Wings and Diamond Sand body. He never thought it possible for a second method to exist into making another reach such power.
Li Jingtian read this from his reaction and smiled dejectedly, "They are the freaks roaming this world. It's as if they were born to trample everyone else under their feet. Before I left, he had always been under the High Venerable's tutelage and I am unsure of his progress. But no question about it, he is in the Profound Heaven Stage just as Huangpu Qingyun. At least in the 5th layer! His real power is hard to fathom… "
Up to this point, Zhuo Fan had been in a constant frown. He never once saw it possible for one man's exceptional talent to reach such an incredible level. Thus, he refused to believe one man's talent could be so monstrous!
"Taking into account Old Li's opinion, does this mean Steward Zhuo has not even a glimmer of hope in beating him?" Qiu Yanhai turned to Zhuo Fan in worry.
He was no longer hating Zhuo Fan for forcing them to join, on the contrary, he was completely grateful. Without Zhuo Fan, he and Xue Qingjian wouldn't have grown so powerful so quickly.
Zhuo Fan was their matchmaker and was worried for his safety.
Chuckling, Li Jingtian said, "That may hardly be the case. What I spoke of was in terms of strength. It just means Steward Zhuo is unable to face him head on. Others are clueless to Steward Zhuo's tricks, but which elder among us isn't clear on how he operates? Remember how every one of us joined the Luo clan!"
They all looked at each other and burst out laughing.
Indeed, the dread of Zhuo Fan wasn't based on power, but a shrewdness similar to You Guiqi's. It involved schemes hardly anyone could pierce!
Taking that into account as well, then Zhuo Fan's chances were through the roof…
Yan Song praised, "This Esoteric Debate may very well be the strongest since its inception. Thank my lucky stars I joined the one last century, or I may as well turn into cannon fodder in this one!"
The others cracked up again, to which Zhuo Fan just smiled. But one name carved itself in his heart, Huangpu Qingtian!
"Elders, do any of you know of a place with thick thunderclouds in Tianyu?"
One voice spoke, "Why does Steward Zhuo ask?"
With a flash, Zhuo Fan held a flickering egg. He smiled, "This is why!"
"6th level spiritual beast, Thunder Skylark's egg!" They all cried in shock.
Li Jingtian watched Zhuo Fan in envy, "He-he-he, Steward Zhuo has many hidden treasures, even a 6th level spiritual beast's egg. If it hatches, we will have a beast that will even give a Radiant Stage a run for his money!"
"Yeah, we toiled long and hard, yet only managed to get 5th level spirit animals. Who knew Steward Zhuo would hold a 6th level spiritual beast? This is a rare treasure even for a Radiant Stage. Steward Zhuo's methods are flawless!" Xue Qingjian and Qiu Yanhai admired him.
With a dismissive wave, Zhuo Fan smiled, "Please, enough with the buttering. I only obtained this egg through chance. And because it was damaged, I had to go to Drifting Flowers Edifice and use Bodhi Jade Sap to restore it. Then various things cropped up and had no time to mind it. Only recently I managed to restore it. But to make it hatch, I must find a place with thick lightning bolts!"
"Easy, just set up a thunder gathering array!" Xue Qingjian shrugged.
Zhuo Fan shot her alternative option on the spot, "The lightning will be too feeble and also costly! I want to incubate it in a natural thundercloud. This is all so its power will reach its peak!"
Li Jingtian and the rest nodded.
Incubating it with poor lightning bolts would only waste this grand 6th level spiritual beast's potential.
They knew what was on Zhuo Fan's mind. This was another ace up his sleeve in dealing with Huangpu Qingtian. The hatching of this spirit animal was of great import.
"If we're speaking of a natural place engulfed in thunderstorm all year round in Tianyu, only one place comes to mind…" Li Jingtian caressed his beard.
Xue Qingjian was frantic, "No way! That's a forbidden area! We already have our hands full with the seven houses. Isn't that enough trouble as it is?"
"What place are you talking about?" Zhuo Fan was quite piqued.
The elders exchanged a glance and said together, "Thunder Swarm Mountain!"
"Thunder Swarm Mountain? What's wrong with it?"
"As Steward Zhuo can imagine, it is a place where lightning strikes everyday, all day. It's skies blanketed with thick thunderclouds. This place had been like this ever since the founding of the empire!" Li Jingtian spoke.
Zhuo Fan's eyes shined, "Perfect. I'll have my egg hatch there!"
"You can't!"
Xue Qingjian cried in panic, "Since sixty years ago, one of the empire's three guardian sects, Demon Scheming Sect exiled four criminals there to receive thousands of thunder strikes a day. If we go there and release the four by mistake, we'll be offending the Demon Scheming Sect and suffer their wrath."
Zhuo Fan squinted, "Are you saying the four criminals are being guarded by the Demon Scheming Sect?"
"Uh, not at all! Demon Scheming Sect just left them there and ignored them ever since. They thought none would dare risk offending them and let the four out."
"What bloody reason is there to fear then? Even if we do let them out by mistake, we just have to haul ass out of there with none the wiser!" Zhuo Fan snickered.
Xue Qingjian was startled, [That's true. But won't that be too vile? If Demon Scheming Sect ever finds out, we're done for.]
But how could the bold Zhuo Fan be so cowardly? If he'd be panicking over every trifle, how could he have ever risen to be a Demonic Emperor?
Zhuo Fan slapped his thigh, settling on taking Li Jingtian to Thunder Swarm Mountain.
This used to be in preparation for Lightning Canyon, but now became a means to deal with Huangpu Qingtian as well.
But before he set out, he entrusted an unbelievable task to Yan Song and Lei Yuting. This task would decisively affect Luo clan's place in Tianyu…