Glaring at those houses, the Regent Estate's people looked around tensely.
They were in a real bind here. They had the numbers, true, but the enemy had the quality. Albeit less than ten, but against them, they didn't dare make rash decisions.
More importantly, they were being singled out.
Alone, they'd be easy pickings. Not that going as a team would make much of a difference when the enemy used a unity tactic. They were at a severe disadvantage.
Looking at the four balls of blackness in the air, then at the grinning Zhuo Fan, Huangpu Tianyuan's heart shivered.
The four demons moved like ghosts, elusive and deadly. Raging Ancestor and Ice Moon Witch united had their power multiplied, with hardly anyone hoping of getting near them. Mad Dipper Li Jingtian needed no introduction from the astonishing display earlier, and was on par with their High Venerable. While the last, Zhuo Fan, was the freakiest of all. He clearly had a power beyond Huangpu Fenglei.
In this particular hopeless situation, the best outcome would be with both sides sporting heavy losses and neither getting a clear advantage over the other. Especially when the Regent Estate's thousand year long legacy was on the line here, 'bout to be burned to the ground.
He never thought nor hoped to be in such a crisis. That beside the imperial family, Tianyu had another house who could push them back.
Huangpu Tianyuan's heart was torn with anxiety. He kept giving Leng Wuchang the eye.
He just wasn't about to let Regent Estate fall under his leadership, he just couldn't accept it.
The Crown Prince was tense as well. These two houses were about to jump at each other's throat, with no one to mediate. [Where in the name of all that's holy had those damn Divine Dragons gone off to?]
What would become of the imperial family's public view when an all out skirmish took place in their backyard? Or front yard, to be precise.
[Right under the Emperor's nose!]
Fang Qiubai and Sima Hui were watching from afar. They were in awe of the Luo clan's military might, but stayed put. Waiting for the spark to blow this place sky high.
As for the audience, they were smart enough to clear the heck out of there. And only after all safety precautions were taken, and a very solid cover in front, did they begin to enjoy the bustle.
In one corner, they had a house with a thousand years old history and in the other was an up and coming behemoth. [It doesn't get any better than this.]
As for who would ultimately be crowned head of houses, clans and the like? They were very much looking forward to seeing it.
The common clans weren't the only ones. The other houses looked tensely at the stand off as well, observing as the situation devolved, or evolved.
Luo clan's power blew their minds. Which had made the future house contest all the more confusing. Who would be the final winner? Earlier, the odds were 70-30, in Regent Estate's favor. But now they looked pretty much even.
Luo clan had given them the shock of a lifetime…
Leng Wuchang's eyes roamed about and then settled on his target, "Steward Zhuo, is it alright to do this? We both know how this is going to end. You're not the one to go to war knowing there's a third party involved and risk losing everything."
"Perhaps… not!"
Zhuo Fan taunted with his cryptic smile. His eyes flashed, "Sir Leng, there's a difference between me, you and Zhuge Changfeng. I'm not all brain and no brawn. Sometimes I go a little nuts you see. It's normal. I'm sure you understand this by now, having felt it on your own skin, ha-ha-ha…"
Leng Wuchang's face twitched and anger spiked.
He understood alright. Zhuo Fan was hinting at the Esoteric Debate where he went berserk. At the time Zhuo Fan, in his madness, carried out his vendetta regardless of tricks or the bigger picture.
He was quite conceited of himself back then, but now it somehow became Zhuo Fan's cover, rendering all his readings of the steward void.
With enough brawn, one would lose their head, so much so they didn't care about their own lives. They'd be willing to take the fall as long as they could take down the opponent with them.
Against a man without restraints, the crazier he was, the more horrifying he became. With nothing in this world to chain him down, you'd have no idea what insane idea he'd come up with next.
And that was Zhuo Fan.
If his revenge had yet to cool down back in the Esoteric Debate, he might really engage in this battle, regardless of a third party. Then they'd both lose. To the Luo clan, a new house, that was quite a good ending. While for Regent Estate, having a long history behind them, the resentment couldn't be imagined.
Leng Wuchang sighed, "Then… what would make you step down?"
Regent Estate's people were stunned. The great Leng Wuchang was actually negotiating his terms of surrender? This has never happened!
Not even Regent Estate's people had experienced a case like this. He'd never submit even in front of the Estate Lord.
With a creepy grin plastered on his face, Zhuo Fan held his head high and began, "To be perfectly honest, our two houses are now in a stand off because of your taunt. If you want to give up, it couldn't be easier. Apologize."
[Apologize?]
Regent Estate shivered to the very core as every one of them glared back.
Regent Estate had been the head of all clans for a thousand years. All its actions were beyond reproach and righteous. Even if they weren't, who would do anything about it? Yet now, they were being asked to apologize?
Wasn't that a poorly disguised surrender? How would they get the nerve to get out into the world after this?
Not that Zhuo Fan gave a hoot about how they fumed, "As for your sincerity, just wing it."
"Humph, you take that apology and stick it where the sun doesn't shine. We'd rather choose death before dishonor. You and me, little demon, we're gonna settle this right here!" An aged voice spat as he charged.
Going by the readings on his power surge, one would place him in the 6th layer of Radiant Stage.
"Don't take him on by yourself!"
Leng Wuchang cried, for naught. The man got to Zhuo Fan, his golden glow revved up, dragon roars in the background and even the space fizzling out as he punched Zhuo Fan.
Any other guy out there would've been a smear on the ground long before he was even hit, but he was dealing with Zhuo Fan.
Lifting his right arm, the red glow flashed for a second and Zhuo Fan stopped the attack just like that. That mighty fist softly landed in his palm.
Before he could get another swing in, Xue Qingjian and Qiu Yanhai attacked with their hands united.
Life and Death Art!
Fire and ice combined to release an unspeakable power. It shot a blinding white light swallowing the man and catapulting him into the sky.
With a fairly loud bang, the sky itself shook, and the Radiant Stage expert was robbed of his last chance at wailing, pulverized. Not a sign of him was left that he ever even existed.
One blow!
Sss~
Gasps resounded everywhere. Everyone knew of the might of this old couple, but their expectations were blown at the display of a unity tactic.
Fear was etched on their faces, especially on Huangpu Fenglei. Not even he could take that.
[Why is the Luo clan a den of monsters?]
Li Jingtian grinned, taking on a cocky air as he heckled Huangpu Fenglei, "High Venerable, see that? That's why we side with the Luo clan!"
Huangpu Fenglei was floored.
Did the Luo clan have much stronger cultivation methods than the imperial family and Regent Estate? They'd have to reevaluate their power if it were true.
This also snuffed out the last hope of victory Regent Estate had.
Huangpu Fenglei paled as he nodded to Huangpu Tianyuan. [Yield!]
Huangpu Tianyuan gasped, his fists clenched, nails digging into his palm. But in the end, he shouted, "Everyone, listen up…"
With a trembling lip, Huangpu Tianyuan found it unbearably hard to open his mouth and spoke those humiliating words. All he could do was make a deep bow. It was plain to see his meaning, and even the rest felt a little humiliated too.
But when they saw their Estate Lord lower his head, they couldn't say anything and bowed as well.
Leng Wuchang felt his heart bleeding but he was all out of options. This was the only way out. Giving up before the madman found a reason to go crazy was the best outcome.
Leng Wuchang bowed as well, speaking for Huangpu Tianyuan, "Steward Zhuo, it was I who offended you. Please forgive me!"
Every clan looked at them stunned.
The head of houses, Regent Estate, surrendered to a new house. This had never happened in… ever!
The Regent Estate was stuck up even before the imperial family.
But before Zhuo Fan, they had completely yielded. The three princes were speechless.
Luo clan's fame had reached an all time high…
"So you can learn!"
Zhuo Fan nodded, satisfied, "As long as you know your faults and keep them in mind for the future. The seven, uh no, from today it should be eight. The head of the eight houses is no longer the Regent Estate, but Luo clan! "
Zhuo Fan finished with a laugh, a snap of his finger and a spin on his heel before leaving.
The Four Scheming Demons landed, along with the other elders. Everyone walked on victorious towards Luo Yunchang.
The people witnessing this miracle felt hope surging in their chests. While the rest of the houses were utterly speechless and stunned to even react.
The head of the seven houses, Regent Estate, had humble pie shoved down their throats before the entire empire. And even had their head title stolen by the new house.
"Elder Chu, is that our ally?" A lady among Drifting Flowers Edifices' disciples asked Chu Bijun.
Grandmother nodded happily, "Venerable Bing, it is!"
"Good, Elder Chu, we truly bet on a treasure this time. There's hope for Drifting Flowers Edifices to rise again."
Grandmother smiled…
Cheers exploded at Veiled Dragon Pavilion and Sword Marquise Abode houses as well. While only Pill King Hall and Merry Woods looked positively glum.
Regent Estate's decline meant the fall of their backer. As for Hell Valley, they looked on with a cold eye, having already found their path…