Bang!
A blazing light shined above Beast King Mountain just as Huangpu Qingtian got out from a bush. He saw a single firework and panicked.
[The demon has finally set his sights on me. However…]
With a sly grin, Huangpu Qingtian's eyes glinted and his hand flickered with two red crystals.
[He-he-he, too little too late!]
Huangpu Qingtian took a deep breath and rushed forward filled with excitement.
He had the fire keys and even the fire exit was just around the corner, needing merely two hours to reach it.
From the distance of the flare, he noticed that Zhuo Fan was far away and would need a long time to catch up with how damaged he was.
[Even in this great escape, the true winner shall be me, the rightful king!]
"Ha-ha-ha, You Yushan, well done in keeping the demon occupied for so long. I really have to thank you for helping me live!"
Huangpu Qingtian's tone turned colder, "Although, that's providence. Sacrificing yourself for me is the highest form of death! I am a true king for old heaven to pave my way, ha-ha-ha…"
Cackling, Huangpu Qingtian sped up as the arrogance returned to his face.
To him, everything and anything that happened was providence.
Zhuo Fan could've easily broken his neck and be done with, but who knew what came over him to turn it all into a death game. Zhuo Fan had already killed two of them, leaving the first and third free to roam the forest for quite a long time.
This was clearly heaven bestowing its blessings and allowing the rightful king to make a comeback, to rule the world.
Huangpu Qingtian's narcissistic tendencies knew no bounds, "Zhuo Fan, I'll let you have this one. But I am the true king. One day you will die by my hand, humph…"
Bloodthirst entered his eyes as he ran faster.
…
Whoosh~
An hour later, Huangpu Qingtian flashed out of the high grass and appeared before the crimson crystal exit, with no one else around.
Huangpu Qingtian's face lit up.
[I knew the punk wouldn't make it. It's my win.]
The viewers saw him appear as well and were getting nervous.
Was Zhuo Fan running late, leaving this guy to win?
Everyone thought of it as a darn shame. Not just Drifting Flowers Edifice and allies, but Regent Estate's many vassals hung their heads in defeat.
It had started with Zhuo Fan having the four of their lives at his fingertips. He had insisted on torturing them one at a time only to finally let the main culprit off the hook.
It wasn't out of hate for Huangpu Qingtian, but people felt sorry for Zhuo Fan. If the prey slipped away from one's fingers, it was the worst feeling anyone could have.
People started to send their hearts to Zhuo Fan. [This must be the magnetism of the strong…]
Leng Wuchang frowned at everyone's reaction. As things stood, it was only a matter of time before Zhuo Fan would tarnish Regent Estate's entire reputation.
The elders from Regent Estate had no clue about this, only rejoicing at seeing their eldest young master almost out of the woods.
Huangpu Qingtian was after all a renowned genius that not even the Regent Estate could afford to lose.
"I just need to put the crystals in and I'm done."
Panting, Huangpu Qingtian reached the exit and stabbed the crystals in the grooves.
Hum~
A red pillar shot for the skies in a dazzling light show.
Huangpu Qingtian stared at the light with a smile, "Ha-ha-ha, Zhuo Fan, I won! I'm still alive."
Regent Estate's elders were excited as well, watching the National Elemental Stone with red eyes. If only the array wasn't a one way transfer, they'd be in there dragging him here.
[Eldest young master, don't show off and hurry already!]
But a king wasn't a king without a bit of swag and hot air. Since he got out of hell, he had to first regain his rightful appearance worthy of his position, being unnecessarily pompous.
Unhurried in the least, especially when one step got him home, Huangpu Qingtian's cocky look made the Regent Estate elders gnash their teeth.
Huangpu Qingtian first began with cleaning up his act and straightening his messy hair. He didn't forget to recover his usual haughty look after the exhaustion he had suffered all these days running, to regain his poised nobility and to return home triumphant.
Regent Estate elders' faces twitched. They wished nothing more than to give him a beating.
[Eldest young master, prancing aside, you're still in grave danger. Your life is about to run out yet you actually have the time to stroke your ego?]
[Humph, you'll only have yourself to blame if you die now.]
The Regent Estate's elders sighed, not realizing their complaints turned out to be curses.
Huangpu Qingtian, having finally recovered a modicum of royal cockyness, strutted towards the fire exit like the true winner of the Esoteric Debate.
Then, a thunderous boom came with the fall of lightning.
"Stop!"
Huangpu Qingtian's lifted leg twisted and exploded in a mist of blood. His body had yet to pass the veil and a heart rending pain stabbed his chest as he collapsed.
Huangpu Qingtian didn't need to turn around to know who was behind him.
Startled, Huangpu Qingtian never would've guessed Zhuo Fan would reach him so fast when he was already so hurt. Does this mean he was going to die?
What about that prancing just now? All that showing off and priming himself made him look like a clown.
Huangpu Qingtian gnashed his teeth and kicked with his remaining leg before he hit the ground, aiming for the exit.
His life aside, he had to survive and maintain his regal prestige. He could not allow his royal self to be reduced to a laughing stock. He had to become the final winner, the only champion and receive the people's worship.
But a flash of thunder and a black figure slamming into his spine, destroyed any hope of reaching the full height of his glory. Instead, he was now a meter into the ground and spitting blood.
What made it worse was his finger being a millimeter from victory. So close yet so far.
"Eldest young master!"
The Regent Estate elders cried. Struggling so hard to make one last push yet failing, filled Huangpu Qingtian with desperation.
Stepping on Huangpu Qingtian, Zhuo Fan grinned and panted, "Huangpu Qingtian, I finally caught up. You almost had me worried there, that I would lose my chance, he-he-he…"
"Zhuo Fan, how did you get here so fast…" Huangpu Qingtian turned a hateful glare at the man on his spine. But didn't finish as it all made sense.
Behind Zhuo Fan was Yan Fu jumping off of a purple bird and rushing to Zhuo Fan.
Zhuo Fan snickered, "Do you get it now? I lost my wings, but I still have a Thunder Skylark. With speed as its focus, it was of great help catching up in time."
Huangpu Qingtian lamented.
[How could I forget that punk still had a spiritual beast?] It had gotten to his head that with the punk's meager speed, he had enough time to prance a bit and tend to his regal good looks.
He would've skipped all that waste of time if he knew and avoided this mess by jumping right in.
But no, he just had to show off his flashy side and die, becoming the butt of Tianyu's joke!
Huangpu Qingtian wailed some more, "Zhuo Fan, kill me then! But I am king decreed by heaven and I ask that you let me go with dignity."
Squinting, Zhuo Fan snorted, "Humph, dignity is it? Sure. I'll make sure to pick the most dignified death I can think of."
Zhuo Fan leaned and bit his ear off.
Ah!
Huangpu Qingtian raved in pain, "Z-Zhuo Fan, what are you doing?"
"Me? Humph, didn't you want the most dignified death? Wish granted. I'll bury you all in my belly, far more respectful than having dirt peppered all over you in a hole somewhere." Zhuo Fan grinned with bloodthirsty eyes.
That came as a shock to all who heard him.
Soaring Demonic Dragon was planning on eating Heaven-shaking Dragon Lord alive?
Followed by shivers of fear.
[That is the cruelest death yet…]