Tap~
Huangpu Qingtian's every step instilled dignity and nobility, neither forced nor rushed. Chu Qingcheng's group was unnerved, taking steps back in contrast.
The pressure was so big, each of his step made them back away faster.
Drifting Flowers Edifices, Veiled Dragon Pavilion, and Sword Marquise Abode had thousands of people behind them, yet faced with but a single man, they all shirked further back. A truly laughable and ridiculous scene.
Yet to the parties involved, humor was the last thing on their minds. When faced with the head of Six Dragons and One Phoenix, Huangpu Qingtian, all they could feel was fear and dread.
You Yushan and Yan Bangui had thousands behind them as well that just stood there, watching the other faction with contempt.
In the face of Huangpu Qingtian, anyone would end up a sorry sight.
If they switched places, You Yushan's group had no doubt in their mind they would end up the same way.
As to why the situation devolved in such a way, it all came down to Chu Qingcheng's group's rotten luck. Or maybe having known so little about Regent Estate, yet insisting on making an enemy out of them…
"How long are you going to shirk back?" Huangpu Qingtian stopped at some point, with a beaming and noble smile, "Hand over the Brimming Sacred Pill and I'll let you go."
Frowning, Chu Qingcheng gnashed her teeth in silence. Her allies clenched her fists at the naked scorn.
Handing over what the three houses found was total humiliation.
Long Xingyun muled, [It's best we're flexible.] And smiled, "Young master Huangpu, is this how Regent Estate's eldest young master carries himself? You're no different from a shameless bandit at this point. There are four Brimming Sacred Pill out there so why are you after ours in particular?"
"Ha-ha-ha, Long Xingyun, I knew you're a smooth talker, preaching sophistry. True, Regent Estate isn't too keen on robbing you, but did you forget? This here is the Esoteric Debate, where might makes right. Everything belongs to the strongest!"
With a snicker, Huangpu Qingtian's eyes flashed with greed and snatched at the air, "That is why all of them will be mine. You better hand it over now, or…"
"Or what, fight?"
Xie Tianshang snapped as he shot in the air, drawing his sword and releasing such shocking energy it reached the skies. The sword energy shuddered all who looked at it, feeling as if ten thousands swords were about to pierce them.
Even Yan Bangui and You Yushan turned serious, eying him with a sigh.
[Xie Tianshang is a true sword talent.] It was their first time seeing sword energy reaching such a level.
Thinking about it, they were no match for him in a straight out fight.
Long Xingyun looked at the hovering figure stunned. [It had been what, a few days? How did he get so strong?]
And yet…
Huangpu Qingtian's calm demeanor left Long Xingyun sighing.
[Compared to this monster, Xie Tianshang had a long way to go.]
But even so, they had to fight regardless.
Long Xingyun shot his hands forward. Energy hummed off his hands and released a powerful attack.
There was a dragon roar echo and when the energy was upon Huangpu Qingtian, it shot for the ground.
The earth beneath Huangpu Qingtian exploded as a dragon opened its maw to swallow him.
"Profound ranked martial art, Sea Upturning Dragon Palm!" Long Xingyun roared.
He didn't finish as a loud boom splintered the huge dragon into nothingness. Huangpu Qingtian shined golden as he walked out of the attack, looking down on all creation.
Pff!
Long Xingyun coughed blood, having just been injured internally.
Xie Tianshang clutched his sword and shot for Huangpu Qingtian. The piercing light of his sword tip was as dazzling as the night's stars.
It pulverized anything it touched and left only this outstanding light.
This was Sword Marquise Abode's profound ranked martial art Flowing Space's Nine Forms' strongest attack, Extinction.
When this sword flew, everything was erased!
Abode Lord Xie Xiaofeng watched in awe and pride, his house's strongest move being unleashed just beyond the wood National Elemental Stone.
The son had surpassed the father.
With how much stronger the move was than his own, he was certain his son would become an even more remarkable Abode Lord than himself.
Huangpu Tianyuan mocked, "Abode Lord Xie, to be so prideful of your son's meager achievements, aren't you perhaps thinking so little of him?"
Xie Xiaofeng snorted, "I know of Regent Estate's eldest young master's godlike talent, but I'll have to say that not even he can take this attack without consequence."
"Oh? We shall see." Grinned Huangpu Tianyuan, and his elders joined him in mocking the man.
Xie Xiaofeng's heart seized in fright, turning to see the shocking scene beyond the wood stone.
As the glaring sword attack came closer, Huangpu Qingtian merely pointed at the dazzling dot of light.
Boom!
The space cracked and seemed to have been torn open. A bright golden light met with the sword attack, swallowing it whole.
The almighty sword attack, crumbled under the finger's power and forced Xie Tianshang into a bout of spitting blood. He was on his knees, even if having received but a light wound.
"H-how?" Xie Xiaofeng cried.
Huangpu Tianyuan laughed, "Abode Lord Xie, I told you, my son's talent is in a league of its own. Speaking of power, he has surpassed his father since five years ago!"
[Say what?!]
They were still trying to process this development yet now they found Huangpu Qingtian had long since surpassed the current Estate Lord?
It was a known fact that Regent Estate had the best talents in Tianyu, capable of holding their own if it ever came to face the other six houses. Huangpu Tianyuan was of an even greater talent and a peak Profound Heaven cultivator as well. That made him the strongest Profound Heaven cultivator in Tianyu.
Yet here he was stating Huangpu Qingtian surpassed him since five years ago. Even more so when that Huangpu Qingtian wasn't even at peak Profound Heaven Stage.
Now that he was at peak Profound Heaven Stage and mastered killing with intent, did that mean he could face a Radiant Stage expert?
[H-how on earth can one beat that?]
The faces of others sank as they cursed this rotten monster.
Huangpu Tianyuan looked awfully proud standing there, but his heart was bleeding, cursing his monster of a son as well. It was this monstrous talent that threatened his Estate Lord position.
It may very well come to be that once the Esoteric Debate was over, his son would be entitled in his demand for him to hand over his throne. That was one outcome he never hoped to see.
It went so far that he even hoped his son would die at Zhuo Fan's hands.
Of course, there was no way he'd be so open as to share his thoughts. Huangpu Qingtian was the hope of all Venerables, if not the entire Regent Estate.
Any that dared to even show a hint of dissatisfaction with him would be culled on the spot, Estate Lord included. The Venerables would make sure of that.
Huangpu Qingtian was the apple of Regent Estate, their hope for the future. And they weren't about to let it be snuffed out!
Huangpu Tianyuan looked on at the prideful and imperial figure beyond the wood National Elemental Stone with killing intent.
…
Huangpu Qingtian put his finger away and laughed at the kneeling Xie Tianshang, "Ha-ha-ha, how amusing. Who knew you could grow so strong in such a short time? You're way stronger than those two behind me. Pledge yourself to me and you won't regret it!"
They all looked shocked. This was daylight talent 'robbery'!
"He-he-he, I am from Sword Marquise Abode. It is not my choice who our allies are!" Xie Tianshang laughed, happy Huangpu Qingtian was finally giving him some time of day.
Huangpu Qingtian shook his head, "Stubborn fool! Whether the seven houses or the whole world, it will be ours! Those old geezers will soon find themselves between four walls and six feet under. Why would you care about their decisions? Just agree and the entire Sword Marquise Abode will agree as well. "
Huangpu Qingtian turned to Chu Qingcheng and Long Xingyun, "You two as well. Swear yourself to me and the Esoteric Debate will end here and now. The seven houses will be eternally one!"
Not just Chu Qingcheng's group was shocked, but even Dragon Cloud City's side's clan elders watched Huangpu Qingtian incredulous.
It was the leader of a clan that made decisions, not their top disciple.
Yet this Huangpu Qingtian not only circumvented his Estate Lord, but even spat in the face of the rest of those geezers. This was a gross lack of respect, a power play and disregard for the others above his station.
This was something no one, not even young masters of other houses, would dare to utter.
Yet Huangpu Qingtian did this out in the open. He didn't even care that he was stealing his father's position.
They all turned to see Huangpu Tianyuan's face ashen from anger. While the elders couldn't care less. They even nodded!
At that point, people realized that this was perhaps the true power of a monarch…