The seven houses turned their heads but the calm look on their faces said it all. They were expecting this. That only fueled the crowd's uproar. [The seven houses are accepting the Luo clan's rise?]
But how could they allow anyone to stand at their level? The Luo clan did have Soaring Demonic Dragon Zhuo Fan, that insane monster, but the rest of the clan was a whole another matter entirely.
Huangpu Tianyuan snickered at the narrow minded clans around him. Were they so blind to see it coming ever since Zhuo Fan started having a field day with the seven houses' elders?
So even though Luo clan was overstepping its bounds, per usual, none of the houses found it worthy of a reaction.
"Oh, your ambition for power and status sure is commendable. Ha-ha-ha, in the end you still abided by his wishes and showed up." An aged voice echoed.
The crowd turned around in shock.
They found three old men coming over. The leader being the head of Four Pillars, Prime Minister Zhuge Changfeng flanked by his Yin Yang elders. Even from afar, the people could sense the hidden and thick power they exuded, enough to crush this entire area.
[Why is this geezer here?]
Dugu Zhantian held his beard with a stern face. Huangpu Tianyuan's side was put off by the presence of Tianyu's number one mind.
This old bean had extended You Wanshan and company a hand in wrestling out of the emperor's grip one time, but it was a known fact that no one could truly unravel the real reason behind his 'kindness'.
His mind was unreadable! Yesterday's friend could very well turn into today's enemy. But the worse was the constant anxiety one was in not knowing when that would happen.
Leng Wuchang eyed the hunched figure then shook his head and sighed. Not even he could read the old man.
Hailed as Unwonted Contriver, with everyone an open book before his scrutiny, he had no confidence when it came to reading Zhuge Changfeng!
Zhuge Changfeng sported a vague smile as he walked next to Zhuo Fan, "Have you thought it through? Or are you going to be swept away by the storm?"
Gasps of shock resounded everywhere, [What is the Luo clan and Zhuge Changfeng's connection?]
They now understood why Luo clan had risen to challenge the seven houses.
[Blast it! With two pillars behind you, the young master under a Marshal and the Prime Minister cheering you on, not even the seven houses would dare slight such a clan!]
[So this… is Luo clan's true backing!]
People's faces twitched and their hearts sank. [Why does this never happen to me? Just what tricks did this Luo clan pull to grab hold of two pillars?]
Huangpu Tianyuan's side was also stunned. They never saw it coming. Zhuge Changfeng came for Zhuo Fan! With even Zhuge Changfeng helping them, they had no chance to finish off the Luo clan. Ever!
Huangpu Tianyuan's face sank as his knuckles went white.
Leng Wuchang dismissed his worries, "Estate Lord, Zhuge Changfeng is different from Dugu Zhantian, a pragmatic. Even if he intended to get close to Luo clan, it will only be because of Zhuo Fan's skills. Once Zhuo Fan is out of the picture, they will fall like a ton of bricks!"
"It only makes this time's Esoteric Debate of paramount importance, to stomp that punk dead!" Huangpu Tianyuan's eyes flashed with bloodthirst.
Leng Wuchang nodded, turning to the only one who could achieve this feat, Heaven-shaking Dragon Lord Huangpu Qingtian.
Yet the man in question was oblivious to their conversation. His eyes showed he was raring to go turn the entire battlefield upside down.
[Perfect.]
Leng Wuchang chuckled, finding everyone dancing his tune.
Going back to Zhuo Fan, the man smiled, "Prime Minister, how do you know if the Luo clan isn't in the eye of the storm already?"
Zhuge Changfeng raised an eyebrow, "I trust your judgment. It's fine as long as you aren't forced into it. I am eager to see the day Steward Zhuo achieves his ambitions."
Zhuo Fan nodded and Zhuge Changfeng laughed. He took his Yin Yang elders to Dugu Zhantian, "Old Marshal, please don't take it hard on me for dropping unannounced."
"I would never. You are the honorable Prime Minister of our empire. It is only natural to come see the grand Esoteric Debate," Dugu Zhantian's beard trembled, his tone cold.
Zhuge Changfeng laughed, "Old Marshal, don't be so stiff. I'm here by myself out of boredom. Don't think too much of it."
[Humph, as if.]
The crowd cursed inside as well. Since when was Zhuge Changfeng that bored to come here without rime or reason. The game was most definitely afoot.
The old fox's schemes aside, Dugu Zhantian had no time to mind him. His orders were to make sure Esoteric Debate ran smoothly.
Recalling the emperor's explicit and repeated warnings, a caution the emperor never showed before, led this old general to believe the Esoteric Debate of today had national ramifications.
Dugu Zhantian barked, "By His Majesty's grace, the Esoteric Debate will allow clansmen below the age of thirty to participate. No one older is allowed entry or I will personally cut them down! The rules will be explained to you shortly by one of Divine Dragons, Jade Flute Divine Sword Fang Qiubai!"
Whoosh!
A whistle of white clothes signified the entrance of an old man holding a jade flute and exuding a dominating air, Fang Qiubai.
Rustle~
A flick of his hand sent five jades taller than two people around the Teleportation Array. Looking at it, the people saw the stone form five huge gates.
"8th grade Army Transfer, National Elemental Stones!"
Looking at the red, yellow, green, blue, and brown stones, Zhuge Changfeng and the seven houses took a step back in shock.
Fang Qiubai nodded, "Correct, this is indeed the array passed down by imperial ancestors!"
Fang Qiubai then made a sign and the stones shone, each reflecting a beautiful scenery, of beasts and birds.
A 3rd level spiritual beast soon passed by and watched the crowd curiously. Then came a 4th level spiritual beast and howled, but was left to claw away at an invisible barrier, unable to reach them.
Fang Qiubai's voice roused them from the shock, "I will now present you all with the rules for this Esoteric Debate. As you have seen for yourselves, the center and the stone arrays are both unidirectional. You will shortly stand in the center array and I will then send you to the location of the final battle. But to return, the only way is through the National Elemental Stones!"
The crowd looked puzzled.
Fang Qiubai continued, "The five National Elemental Stones are a one way door, but from the final battle location to here! To activate it you will need to find not only these stones but also their key! However, each array has a yin and yang key that must be joined to return. And the order of your arrival will mark your ranking."
"Simple enough." Huangpu Qingtian smiled. The others nodded, finding it pretty straightforward. It all came down to finding some keys and the way back.
The greatest danger was merely deadly battles between clans, nothing of importance.
Fang Qiubai raised an eyebrow, and snickered, "Simple is it? You won't be saying that after you find out the location."
The clans stared at him distraught.
"Beast King Mountain!" Fang Qiubai mocked.
Sss~
Gasps echoed around and some even felt their knees shaking.
Beast King Mountain wasn't as deadly as Allbeast Mountain Range, but high level spiritual beasts were nevertheless present. There were many 5th and 6th level spiritual beast kings roaming, hence the name Beast King Mountain.
Even Profound Heaven and Radiant Stage experts would have a hard time scouring that place for anything, not to mention the plenty of Bone Tempering cultivators among the clans.
There was no need to even fight when the spiritual beasts would kill them off before they could even meet.
The hearts of everyone sank in despair. Why was this time's battle so cruel and deadly?
Only Six Dragons, One Phoenix and Zhuo Fan were the picture of calmness.
Glancing at these monsters left them stomping in indignation. Was this place chosen with these freaks in mind? [If you take away the eight monsters, you'd only have average people! This is ridiculous!]
Fang Qiubai grinned at their silent protest, "But of course, no danger comes unwarranted. It is slightly dangerous this time around, but the reward is up to the risk. These are five 8th grade pills, Brimming Sacred Pill. It will be up to each one of you to earn it!"
[Say what?!]
Zhuo Fan and Huangpu Qingtian were both affected.
The Brimming Sacred Pill was of most value to a Radiant Stage expert or those on the brink. Across the whole of Tianyu, this pill was the rarest of all. Not even the seven houses had one.
Huangpu Qingtian, Huangpu Tianyuan and other peak Profound Heaven experts needed just one little pill and they would jump right into being a Radiant Stage expert with no strings attached.
While to a Radiant Stage expert, it would boost their soul many times over.
"Worth it!"
Huangpu Tianyuan was moved as he looked at his son. He had been stuck at peak Profound Heaven Stage for decades. This chance was godsent.
And yet, Huangpu Qingtian's face left him cold.
[God damn it! If this brat gets it, he'll eat it on the spot!]
Zhuge Changfeng frowned as he twirled his mustache, "The old man has come out swinging. He is eager to begin his plan!"
While the second and third rate clans looked on in forlorn depression.
[This is clearly meant for those monsters! Where among us do you see a Radiant Stage or peak Profound Heaven expert? Taking it will only make us pop like fireworks!]
It came with great fear and trepidation as to how cruel this event would be for them.
This stage was practically designed to be the death of them. They were nothing more than cannon fodder! But to climb aboard a house, a timely help would get the attention they desperately yearned. Even if they were cannon fodder, they'd still risk it…