A deafening silence took over. Be it the crowd of royal dignitaries or the other teams, all watched the center figure with slacked jaws and dumb looks. He appeared to them more and more like a demon from hell.
Elder Yun and his two other elders from Mystical Heaven Sect gulped, sweat pouring out of them like rain.
[Where the hell did the Demon Scheming Sect find this monster? Fighting that thing is plain suicide!]
Their eyes went to the floating soul of Elder Lu, having lost it in his ravings as he searched and searched, yet not a piece of his body was left, and they shivered.
Shui Ruohua was startled, to say the least. [How is that a disciple's power?]
"If I pick him up for an opponent, I'll rather forfeit than mess with that freak. I don't care what anyone says!" One Mystical Heaven Sect disciple was shaking like a leaf.
The others were not far behind in agreeing.
That thing out there was an abomination, but the worst of it all was his savage temper.
When disciples met on the stage, they fought as adversaries not enemies, but this freak actually went as far as wiping his opponent and the enemy sect, elder and all.
They looked at Zhuo Fan like a behemoth opening its rotting maw at them.
"S-senior brother Yan Mo, who the hell is he?" Yu Mei gulped.
Yan Mo spoke in a heavy tone. "You don't need to know, just remember not to test him. Yu Mei, you think I can't tell what you're cooking in that head of yours? Give it a rest."
Yu Mei shuddered. She noticed Yan Mo's intense gaze on Zhuo Fan and wanted to get some info out of him about this freak, but that hardly seemed likely. She understood then and there the reason for Yan Mo's interest, this person could challenge the superior three sects. Yu Mei was now looking at Zhuo Fan on stage with a serious gaze.
[We must get one of the top two positions in the superior three sects stage, or the Demon Scheming Sect will kick us into the middle three sects. We'll never live down the shame if it happens!]
This guy had the power to put any genius to shame. No wonder Yan Mo was feeling trepidations. Looking back at her senior brother, Yan Mo noticed his hard expression yet tense fists.
She had never seen him so scared in her life. "Senior brother, how do you think he'll fare against Wu Qingqiu?"
"Unknown!"
Yan Mo shook his head. "One is a demonic cultivator, the other righteous. One comes from hell, the other from a land of bliss. One is brutal, the other is just. There is no comparison between people walking different paths. Though in terms of strength, I do believe Wu Qingqiu would feel the brunt of this guy's punch."
Yu Mei's heart sank. Yan Mo did not like to belittle himself to his opponents, but this was only more proof that said this guy could fight them, the top talents of the superior three sects.
[Wu Qingqiu might even be weaker.]
Yu Mei sighed, "The Double Dragon Gathering this time is bound to make waves…"
As for the three Hans, they were shaken to the core, resigned to let out a saddened sigh.
"That settles it. We need to come out 1st or 2nd in our fights if we do not want to suffer at the guy's punches…" Han Yunfeng warned his brothers.
The two lowered their heads. The might of that punch had them running scared, they wanted nothing to do with Zhuo Fan.
[When we fought him, he never even saw us as target practice!]
Just a little bit serious, and this was the result, scattered in the wind.
The two were lamenting their shabby fate. [Woe is me, for bumping into this maniac.] They found it a miracle to have come back alive from the jaws of death.
[That was way too close for comfort…]
The judge was still having a hard time processing Zhuo Fan's inhuman feat, he worked his mouth, yet words failed him.
Though it couldn't go on forever, shouting, "Given the abnormal direction the lower three sects stage had taken it is hereby suspended. I shall report it to the two exalted for how to proceed. All imperial delegations are to withdraw!"
"Elder, you can't just let it end with that!"
Elder Lu's blue mote hovered over, complaining all the while. "All my disciples are dead. He killed them in one strike, and you're going to gloss over it?"
The judge's beard shook, but Fiend Yang got ahead of him, his voice booming as he stomped onto the stage, "Death can creep at any moment while up on stage. What's all the fuss about losing a couple disciples? From what you're saying, we should just stop Double Dragon Gathering here and now. Wanting a life for a life? Who the hell would go all out if that rule came into effect? How then will the sects' disciples be judged? "
"Bullshit, how were my disciples on stage? They were killed outside of it!"
"You're the shit here! Zhuo Fan's fist had been unleashed on stage, killing the disciple on stage. It's just that he got a bit too into it and broke the barrier and took the rest of your team as collateral damage. You should be blaming the frail barrier here, for cracking under pressure. Take it up with the Double Dragon Manor if you're so indignant!" Fiend Yang dumped all the blame on Double Dragon Manor, knowing no one in their right mind would complain to them.
The effect was immediate. Elder Lu was choking on his words, not knowing how to retort. The judge's cheek twitched as well and a-he-hemed for good measure. Who else but he put up the barrier, ergo, Fiend Yang was saying Elder Lu should go complain to him. Though why the hell would the lower three sects stage require a stronger barrier than even the superior three sects. It was all that freak's fault for showing up.
[And why did he just have to blow out like that against some nobodies? Ugh, how annoying.]
The judge gave the main culprit a glare then sighed, "Please withdraw and wait for my visit after I receive an answer from the exalted. You will both be satisfied with the resolution. Or do you not believe in Double Dragon Manor's name?"
The two's hearts sank, and they knew when to give up.
Since he name-dropped Double Dragon Manor, they had no choice but to leave it to them. And so, Elder Lu left in anger, but not before he gave Zhuo Fan one last glare. Fiend Yang merely waved it off, not minding the floating, bodiless guy at all as he took the disciples back.
Though moments later he was lamenting and sighing, "Brother, you were the picture of tranquility in the sect, even when going after those elders, you made sure to plan every little detail. How come you blew up the minute you got on stage? Did those lame words strike a nerve? You reacted so strongly that you scared even me. Were you that furious?"
"Did he taunt me that much? I didn't notice." Zhuo Fan raised an eyebrow.
The others were taken aback. "Since he wasn't the issue, why explode, even taking all his sect down with him. Did you forget the plan?"
"Not at all."
Zhuo Fan sighed, recalling having seen the shadow at the entrance. "Moreover, that punch wasn't for that blowhard. He wasn't worth it."
[What does he mean…]
Back at the stage, the bustling crowd was leaving, and a youth in gray robes followed along with a bright smile.
---------------break---------------
Whoosh~
A person in blue robes came by, bearing a handsome face, "Junior brother, I haven't seen you all day. I thought you ran off somewhere but you were instead watching the lower three sects' fights. Ha-ha-ha, did someone from the lower three sects actually catch your interest when you didn't feel like answering the challenges of all the experts back at the sect?"
"Ha-ha-ha, that's not it, senior brother. I didn't come to see the fights, but to look for someone."
The youth in gray smiled. "Suddenly, do you remember the feeling I had a few days ago? I felt my destined rival had appeared and indeed he has."
The second youth was puzzled. "In the lower three sects?"
"Yep, I found him right here."
The first youth's eyes flickered with fire and excitement. "He's just like I imagined, just like me. Half-man and half-beast, yet the body of an emperor. The power within us draws each other close, like an unending spiral we cannot escape. "
The youth in blue robes eyed him, "Junior brother, this is the first time I see you so excited."
"Who wouldn't be when meeting a worthy rival?"
Taking a deep breath, the youth in gray watched the endless sky, "Just like how a day can only be one, so too there can only be one of us. Same types of beasts are bound to clash and come to a resolution on who is better. This is karma. Sorry, senior brother, it seems I'll be taking the best talent in the western lands title from you. Scratch that, it'll be the winner between the two of us beasts."
The second youth frowned and nodded solemnly. "Congratulations!"
---------------break---------------
"Ha-ha-ha, this is great. He still wanted us to take the blame yet got himself deeper into this mess!"
Bright and early, Fiend Yang laughed from his small courtyard to his heart's content. The other two fiends behind him were enjoying themselves as well.
Zhuo Fan came in and saw them with a quirky look, "What got you so excited?"
"He-he-he, ecstatic is more like it!" Fiend Yang snickered, "What about the brats? Are they coming out? I want to share the excellent news."
"I'm enough for your showing off. I made the brats place barriers and meditate. They just advanced and need time to stabilize."
"Ha-ha-ha, right, right. That's very considerate of you since we are men always going forward to greater challenges. A mere lower three sects stage can no longer hold us."
Fiend Yang was exuberant, "Steward Zhuo, do you know what we did this morning?"
Zhuo Fan shook his head, "Don't know, don't care. The most you could do is be called out regarding yesterday's affair."
Ugh!
Fiend Yang shrugged, "You sure have a knack for pissing people off. You can tell what's going on, yet what comes out of your mouth is denial. You've taken all the fun out of it."
"Ha-ha-ha, Fiend Yang, there's nothing you can show off to him that gets him excited. Go ahead and just tell him what happened, or I'll do it myself." Fiend Yin chuckled.
Fiend Yang was frantic in refusing, "No no no, I'll be the one to say it. The only way to feel good about it is if I do it myself!"
The others chuckled at his attitude like he was relating some monumental news.
[The punk loves nothing more than to run his mouth. Let him give it a spin!]
"This morning we were woken up by a rude voice. Coming out we see a middle-aged man in shabby clothes. He looked completely average yet his power was out of his world…" Fiend Yang started spinning the events into a fairytale.
Zhuo Fan's face twitched, "Get to the point already!"
"It was Double Dragon Manor's errand boy coming to get us to have the ruckus of yesterday be explained." Fiend Yang's face sank, grumbling, "Can't you sympathize with a fellow storyteller for once? One has to set the mood first, yet you have to squish it at the bud."
Zhuo Fan shook his head, finally getting why all of the Demon Scheming Sect's elders and venerables feared him relaying any kind of news. He just loved spinning tall and longer tales.
Seeing Zhuo Fan's unphased, Fiend Yang continued after a pause, "We followed him to the stage, now in ruins, desolate and in solitude. But just when the interest faded, two figures inspiring dignity and power stood there, making our hearts quake…"
"The point!"
Zhuo Fan's mouth twitched, "And didn't I only knock down a wall or something? How is that a ruin?"
Fiend Yang gave a hateful wave, "Fine, fine, since you don't like my artistic skill I'll use it elsewhere. We were called today to see the Exalted Double Dragons along with the judge and Beast Taming Sect's remaining soul elder. They questioned us to get to the bottom of what happened."
"The Exalted Double Dragons in person?" Zhuo Fan faltered.
Fiend Yang nodded, "With the lower three sects stage making such a scene, their presence was obvious. The two were most shocked too. In the end, they decided to oversee the rest of the lower three sects stage so you won't poke any more holes in it, ha-ha-ha…"
"The Exalted Double Dragons came to see you in particular. This is a great honor!" Fiend Yin nodded.
Zhuo Fan found it strange though, "That's how the event got cleared up?"
"What else did you expect? I said to them that your opponent on stage was Hui Xiong and you attacked him. The Beast Taming Sect disciples beneath it were drawn into the attack, but it is not our fault they died. This was where the judge came in and spoke the facts as well. The Exalted Double Dragons are models of fairness and would not accuse us for nothing." Fiend Yang said like it was obvious.
Zhuo Fan was pensive, "How did Elder Lu take it?"
"What do you think? But no matter how he tried to run his mouth and spin it in his favor, the Exalted Double Dragon wouldn't hear it. All that matters is strength. Everyone who came to Double Dragon Gathering was prepared to suffer heavy losses, though his case was being wiped out to the last man, ha-ha-ha…"
Fiend Yang's unbridled laughter bellowed out. "Oh, he also said we lied to him, that we did not show you when they came to challenge our elites, saying that you're not from our sect. But then I got so pissed and shouted at him we're laborers. You should've seen the dumb look on his face! Then he started accusing Sect Leader of lowering himself to such demeaning tricks. The Exalted Double Dragons got annoyed by his ranting and said to him to go find himself a new body before he faded away. Ha-ha-ha, I bet he's pissed even now."
The rest laughed as well.
The unlucky Elder Lu had no say in it at all. [Though he is right about one thing, our Sect Leader is despicable.]
They all eyed each other and cracked up again.
"Zhuo Fan, this is bad! Someone took Shuang'er!"
The four jerked and saw Princess Yongning running over in a panic.
"This girl again? Wasn't she the one to congratulate you yesterday? Now she had her other friend taken?" Fiend Yang raised an eyebrow, "Who'd be dumb enough to do this in Double Dragon Manor? Are they suicidal?"
Zhuo Fan's heart tightened, helping Yongning steady herself in two quick steps. "What happened?"
"Zhuo Fan, we just went out and some prince started hitting on us. Shuang'er stopped them so I could call for help. She must be in their hands right now…" Yongning was distraught, tears streaming down, her eyes in panic.
The fiends frowned, "What ignorant wastrel would dare make a scene at Double Dragon Manor? Not even the kingdom dignitaries would try something. Moreover, you could've just asked any staff from Double Dragon Manor to interfere. Why come to us and so far away?"
Zhuo Fan frowned.
"Zhuo Fan, listen to me…" Yongning sensed their disbelief and was in an even greater panic. Going by her expressions and pleadings, there was no way they were fake, especially the desperate eyes.
Fiend Yang rolled his eyes, "The girl must've been scared into losing her mind, making more sense than even me."
"I get it. We will go save Shuang'er!" Zhuo Fan's eyes flashed.
Fiend Yang was taken aback, "You're still going, knowing it stinks?"
Zhuo Fan ignored them as he grabbed Yongning's waist and flew away.
Fiend Yang was left gaping, but Fiend Yin patted his shoulder, "It's fine, the kid is far more conniving than you. If you can see the issue, so can he."
"He's going despite knowing?" Fiend Yang chuckled then sighed, "The punk has the biggest nerve I ever saw."
The fiends returned to their rooms, no longer caring what happened to Zhuo Fan…
Meanwhile, in a dense forest, Shuang'er laid peacefully with her eyes closed against a tree, like a sleeping beauty.
She was surrounded by a blue barrier, with a blue butterfly one-meter long flying around.
Whoosh~
Shuang'er's eyes flashed open and one could see stars in them. A strange power ebbed around the area and the barrier shattered. Then she closed her eyes and slept.
The butterfly shook and spoke in a very familiar tone, "Who the hell is this girl? Why can't I enter her mind and take control of her? The most I managed is to get her unconscious. W-what the hell is this?"
It was none other than Elder Lu.
When his body got wrecked, he did not show his true form, afraid someone might guess his power. Now he was hell-bent on revenge and would use all he had at his disposal.
If the fiends were here, they'd be shocked.
Because Elder Lu's soul form was very rare, a butterfly that trapped one's mind in endless hell, Dream Butterfly.
Whoosh!
Zhuo Fan brought an absentminded Yongning above a stretch of forest, searching in the direction she pointed.
"He-he-he took you long enough. Once I tear you to pieces, I'll make sure to send these two brats after." Elder Lu snickered, venturing deep into the forest and vanishing after passing a tree. Only Shuang'er remained, leaning on a tree in a peaceful sleep.
Zhuo Fan floated over the sea of trees while looking around, until Yongning pointed at a large tree, "Look, it's Shuang'er!"
"Ha-ha-ha, you actually have sharper eyes than me." Zhuo Fan chuckled as he went down, "Let's go over there."
Whoosh~
Zhuo Fan landed in an instant and saw that Shuang'er was peacefully resting on the tree.
Zhuo Fan took Yongning closer, his eyes scanning every movement, every rustle, with an insidious grin.
Hum~
The two had yet to reach Shuang'er when they felt the world flash before them, followed by a blue haze descending. The world faded away until only a completely empty space remained; white as far as the eye could see.
Yongning next to him looked out of sorts, fading away as well. Only Zhuo Fan remained.
"Illusion?"
Zhuo Fan frowned and mocked, "Figured it'll be a trap. Since I picked no sign of any arrays around, then this must be someone's doing."
"Ha-ha-ha, you jumped right in despite knowing? Brat, your arrogance knows no bounds! "
An aged voice sounded and Zhuo Fan smirked, "Elder Lu? Aren't you the least bit ashamed as an Ethereal Stage expert to use two little girls as bait?"
Elder Lu deflected, "And? With you being in the Double Dragon Manor and three venerables around you, the only choice was to use my head. I noticed yesterday you were quite close to these two, so I had bewildered their minds to draw you out. But what the hell is wrong with one of them? No matter what I tried, she refused to obey me."
"Oh, that's Shuang'er."
Zhuo Fan nodded, totally chill about it as he took his time to explain, "She is the Holy Maiden of Tianyu, expert in piercing the veil of fate and any mind tricks. Coming at her with illusions is like putting a target on your head."
Elder Lu exclaimed, "So that's why. I've heard Tianyu had some strange clans. Now I see they're anything but normal. But kid, why are you telling me all this? Don't you care if I take her away and turn her into my guinea pig? "
"As if, the dead can't research shit!"
Zhuo Fan's mouth took his trademark evil smile, "I told you all this because I know you'll keep it a secret. The dead are known to be the best in the business."
Elder Lu cracked up, "You sure know how to talk big. Now that I have you right where I wanted you, you think you can just take my life?"
"Hi-hi-hi, I got your body, didn't I? Taking your soul as well, I would hardly break a sweat."
Large and colorful wings spread from Zhuo Fan's back, sending a hazy glow, "Old coot, you should know by now that no illusion could ever come close to reality. My Sea Phantom Wings will send you into an illusion as well the moment you enter their haze and break your own illusion."
Zhuo Fan flapped his wings, sending the haze for Elder Lu, who mocked, "Damn brat, you're like a brainless monkey with all the right skills. The Sea Phantom Wings are rare, yes, but they only affect the body. I am just a soul, so it does not work on me, ha-ha-ha…"
Zhuo Fan frowned, having just noticed this flaw as well.
So he withdrew the wings, his right hand flashing red instead, "Humph, no illusion is real, but this fist of mine couldn't be more true. An illusion is set up based on the reality surrounding us. I'll just ruin the place around us and see how your illusion will crumble along with it. "
Zhuo Fan's eyes flashed, his red hand glowing brighter, as he punched the ground.
Boom!
The earth quaked and then settled soon after. The red glow, Zhuo Fan, was blown away and sent flying, spitting blood as he flew.
"Ha-ha-ha, had enough? No matter how much brawn you have, there's no way you'll ever break my illusion!" Elder Lu cackled again.
Zhuo Fan stood back up, shaking his head in doubt. "Can't be, the recoil has to be an illusion. My fist had to have ruined the ground. A few more punches and the illusion should fall apart."
No sooner said than done, Zhuo Fan started punching all over the place with boundless power. Yet every time, the area he hit shook a bit, then turned the attack pack.
In just five punches, Zhuo Fan was a sorry mess. He was so wounded one could hardly think he was human.
Elder Lu snickered at the side, enjoying his struggle. "No matter how strong you are, this time you're finished. This is my world. In here, I'm god!"
Looking like the very personification of the king of hell, Elder Lu was laughing at him. The space warped and turned, with Zhuo Fan's legs sticking into a pool of blood.
Along with the howls and shrieks only ghosts could come up with, thousands upon thousands of specters came at Zhuo Fan. They were hideous and bloody, with eyes flashing with cruelty and bloodthirst.
"Zhuo Fan, give me back my life!"
"Zhuo Fan, give me back my life!"
There were many among those specters that Zhuo Fan had killed before, now coming to take his life.
Zhuo Fan squinted and cried, "Impossible, this is an illusion! I will just break you again to pieces!"
Zhuo Fan roared and tried to punch again, only to find his arm was caught. Zhuo Fan looked back to see the ghosts crawling over him and chewing on his arm. The incredible Qilin arm was gnawed out completely, bone and all.
Zhuo Fan shook his head in disbelief, "No, this can't be happening in an illusion. This isn't real…"
"True, it's an illusion, but when someone dies in an illusion, they die in the real world as well, ha-ha-ha…" Elder Lu cackled with unbridled joy.
Zhuo Fan roared as he felt the bites on his body, then the pain, yet could do nothing to stop it. Watching his body eaten alive one bite at a time, he found to his despair that he was sinking in the pool of blood until it swallowed him whole…
Meanwhile, back in the forest, Zhuo Fan was just standing there with his eyes closed. There was a deep frown on his face as he winced in pain. His legs shook yet could not budge from their spot.
A blue butterfly floated around him, covering him in a hazy glow while laughing like mad, "He-he-he, dumb boy, you were wrong from the start. My soul is that of the Dream Butterfly. I send people into nightmares, not illusions. No matter what you're trying to do, nothing will help, because I am in control of your nightmare!"
"In that world, I am god. Go ahead, fight as hard as you like, it won't help you at all. The fist in the dream is not the same as reality. The only thing that connects you to reality is life. If you die in the dream, you die out here as well. But even that is under my control. I will make you go through a world of suffering for killing my sect's disciples!"
"Ha-ha-ha, too bad you'll never succeed!" A chuckle sounded in his ears.
He shook all over as the Dream Butterfly turned to the body whose mind was now stuck in a nightmare. He cried, "Y-you're awake? "
"I never fell asleep to begin with."
The pain on his face eased and relaxed, replaced with Zhuo Fan's smirk. "Dream Butterfly is a truly rare soul form, good at catching the other off guard. A shame you had to face me, your bane!"
Elder Lu looked everywhere, to find the blue haze of his still on, "No way, you're telling me you woke up from my nightmare?"
"Ha-ha-ha, haven't you been listening? I said I never even fell asleep." Zhuo Fan grinned, and his figure faded away.
Elder Lu gasped in fright.
Another Zhuo Fan not far away from here was leaning on a tree, laughing to himself. His right eye had three golden halos flashing. While around the Dream Butterfly that was Elder Lu, there was an invisible barrier that rippled now and then.
Divine Eye of the Void's 3rd stage, Mirage World!
As he said this in his mind, the halos took a bizarre glow.
The world around Elder Lu was shaking as the bright sky turned dark and a blood moon like a huge eye crept higher and higher. It released an eerie glow as it overlooked all creation.
Elder Lu gasped, his heart tensing, "T-this is an illusion! You mean to tell me I was the one who fell for it?!"
"Hi-hi-hi, you guessed it, old coot."
A sinister cackle came from above the clouds, "Even before you unleashed your nightmare, I caught you in my illusion. Just like you said, this is my world, and the one to die is you, ha-ha-ha…"
Elder Lu exclaimed in disbelief, "Impossible, when did you find out I was hiding?"
"You don't need to know."
Zhuo Fan watched the panicking butterfly from afar with a twisted smile. The Blood Infant let out some creepy and sharp giggle as well as it floated down on his shoulder and the two snickered together.
To be fair, when Yongning pointed out this place, Zhuo Fan had sent Blood Infant ahead to scout, and lo and behold, Elder Lu lay in wait.
So he set up his own snare, using his power of Mirage World to create an illusion there so that it only looked like he arrived there, while in fact, he was over here.
Elder Lu took it as if his prey bought the bait and sprung the trap, never realizing Mirage World had taken hold of him in his moment of elation.
From the start, everything went as Zhuo Fan planned. Elder Lu only lived a fantasy in his illusion.
Roar!
The earth shook violently and draconic roars broke the tranquility of the forest. With a loud explosion, the earth was torn apart as hundreds of dragons shot into the sky.
Elder Lu was overwhelmed, trembling in fear.
Zhuo Fan taunted, "Elder Lu, no matter how great your nightmare is, it's damn useless without a target! While in my Mirage World, it's nigh impossible to escape it, ha-ha-ha…"
"W-what do you want?" Elder Lu tensed, flustered and cornered.
Zhuo Fan snickered, "Picking up where you left off, only this time, to you. Didn't you say something like any that died in a dream or illusion died in the real world as well? You best hold on tight and try to hold on through the torture, or your soul would just… fly away. Wouldn't that be funny? Ha-ha-ha…"
"You'd dare?"
The soul shook as he cursed, "You dare kill someone in the Double Dragon Manor?"
"Humph, since you could, why can't I? If you wanted me dead, I can't very well not return the favor, now can I?"
Zhuo Fan's tone grew louder, "Old coot, have a taste of being gnawed at by thousands of dragons for a change!"
Roar!
Inside the illusion, the countless dragons roared at the sky as they converged on Elder Lu.
Elder Lu gasped and turned to run away, but where? He only got three meters away as a dragon took a large bite out of his wing.
Next came the others, biting from all over, and tearing his soul to pieces.
Elder Lu felt his end was nigh, howling in pain.
"Ah!"
The Dream Butterfly shook harder and harder and let out a wail of despair and agony. Zhuo Fan just kept on watching with a vile smile plastered on his face.
Having formed the heaven dragon soul, his soul was stronger than when he was in Tianyu.
The last time he pulled this off on a peak Radiant Stage, all he managed to do was to trap him. While now he was actually having an easy time destroying an Ethereal Stage expert.
Looking closer, he could tell based on soul strength alone that Elder Lu was in the 4th layer Ethereal Stage, who could do nothing against him, as helpless as a babe.
He was confident this power would let him have an easy time around the average experts, despite still not being quite there to go wherever he wanted through the western lands. At the very least, the common elders and venerables of a sect could do nothing to him.
Zhuo Fan laughed at that. [Aren't I perhaps a little too strong for my age? Those old geezers can't hold a candle to me, ha-ha-ha…]
In his narcissistic moment of vanity, a voice came from behind, "Oh, you caught Lu so easy? Ha-ha-ha, he got what was coming to him. Kid, you got some skills. I see now how you wiped out his sect's team. By the looks of it, the lower three sects stage is too small for you to show your stuff."
Zhuo Fan squinted and cried. Whipping around, he saw an old man with black hair.
Those deep eyes were fixed on him, bearing a faint smile.
Whoosh~
The shock had broken Zhuo Fan's concentration on the illusion and Elder Lu's soul was left gasping on the ground from that endless torture.
Zhuo Fan had no time to mind a nobody, getting his guard up around this old man. [To come at me from behind yet still not notice him speaks volumes of his power.]
The vibe he got from him was the same way he felt around Danqing Shen. They had to be on the same level.
To be on the same ground as the best in western lands told Zhuo Fan he wasn't one to mess around with. So he cupped his hands, "May I ask senior-"
"Exalted Hei Ran…" Exalted Hei Ran barely lifted his weary head and lit up seeing the old man, "Exalted, you arrived in the nick of time. This boy dared to attempt murder in the Double Dragon Manor. Please exact punishment, Exalted!"
Zhuo Fan raised an eyebrow, "Exalted Hei Ran?"
"Ha-ha-ha, correct." Elder Lu mocked, finding a shoulder to lean on, "Damn kid, you're finished. You don't even know the great Exalted Hei Ran? Then let me put it another way so that your puny mind can understand. He is one of the Exalted Double Dragons, the peak of demonic cultivation in western lands, Exalted Hei Ran!"
[Exalted Double Dragon?!]
Zhuo Fan squinted and gasped, looking at the old man in shock. He was one of the two Exalted Double Dragons the western lands saw as the strongest after Danqing Shen left?
Exalted Hei Ran chuckled and waved it off, "Kid, there's no need to panic, I did not come for you. In fact, I came to help you. But from what I saw, my help wasn't required, ha-ha-ha…"
"What?!"
Elder Lu gasped, "Exalted sir, he broke Double Dragon Manor's rules, how can…"
"Shut it!"
Exalted Hei Ran's eyes turned sharp as he stared him down, "Elder Lu, you take me for a fool? Why did you kidnap those girls then?"
He pointed at the unconscious Shuang'er and Yongning leaning on a tree. Exalted Hei Ran snorted, "We have come to a decision regarding yesterday's incident at the lower three sects stage, yet you dare disobey Double Dragon Manor's rules just to pursue some petty vendetta? Ignorant mongrel, we treat the sects with courtesy out of respect, not trample them for their weaknesses."
Exalted Hei Ran snapped at Elder Lu, who shook and stammered, "But…"
Whoosh~
Exalted Hei Ran merely flicked and a ball of air shot at Elder Lu's soul, bursting it to pieces, now gone from this world.
That was all it took for Exalted Hei Ran to kill Elder Lu. It was so fast that not even Zhuo Fan could react.
"I thought I told you to shut up, yet you still go on yapping?" His cold eyes roamed over the soul wisps.
Zhuo Fan felt a shiver down his back. Facing this Exalted Double Dragon left him feeling meek and powerless.
Exalted Hei Ran turned a bright smile to him after sizing him up, "You truly are a marvel. So much power for someone so young. How fortunate for western lands. You're even better than that disciple we had to expel."
"Senior, you're too kind." Zhuo Fan's eyes darted everywhere. [Expelled disciple? Is that Danqing Shen? It has to be.]
Though the question was, did Exalted Hei Ran say that with joy or anger? If it was the latter, would it not mean the exalted would take it out on him? Though if he was still fond of the old master and disciple bond, the joy might be greater and Zhuo Fan could keep his poor little life.
[So which is it?]
Looking straight at Exalted Hei Ran, he was feeling anxiety, unable to discern if the smile was a sneer or one of cherishing…
"Ha-ha-ha, kid, no need to fret, I told you I wasn't here for you. And you saw how I killed the old thing for you so it can't be any more obvious that I'm on your side."
Exalted Hei Ran chuckled at Zhuo Fan's stumped look.
Zhuo Fan did not dare to believe him just yet. Until he had a grasp on the Exalted's character, he would keep his guard up. And besides, the old man was a demonic cultivator on top.
Every man out there knew demonic cultivators were weirdos.
What if the exalted liked to toy with people, then get you once your guard was down?
It had nothing to do with strength, but character.
S o Zhuo Fan was just as respectful, while on high alert for any of his gestures. "Thank you for saving me, Exalted."
"I told you already, I came to help, but it turned out to be for nothing. Fine, you're one cautious kid." Exalted Hei Ran noticed Zhuo Fan did not unclench and knew he was on guard.
Zhuo Fan said, "Exalted sir, may I take my leave?"
Zhuo Fan got the girls under his arms, ready to get the hell out.
"Come back!"
Exalted Hei Ran was annoyed by his attitude, "Am I that scary to run away in panic?"
"Exalted sir, didn't you say you came to help me? Now that you saved me and the culprit is dead, what more would sir want from me?" Zhuo Fan spoke casually.
Exalted Hei Ran rolled his eyes and nodded, "Kid, you just want to run away? I came to protect you and you want to leave? You think that's proper?"
"Ugh, Exalted sir, it's you who said you came for nothing. Regardless if you acted or not, I could take care of myself. So, thank you for your concern, sir, but I can't return the favor." Zhuo Fan got more confident the more he read Exalted Hei Ran's character.
He figured out the old man came for him specifically and with a job in mind. Why else would he nag on and on about saving him? They decided on this course of action, but could not just spill it either.
Exalted Hei Ran's eyes lit up and said, "I helped you deal with Elder Lu, so that would mean I helped you in turn. It's not meddling at all. Think about it, if he died by your hand, you'd offend Beast Taming Sect. But since I did it, I carried out the rules and the Beast Taming Sect can't say anything…"
"Yet they'll still take it out on me. So what's the difference?" Zhuo Fan raised an eyebrow, "Unless you level Beast Taming Sect, then we have nothing to talk about, and can't return the favor. "
Exalted Hei Ran's face twitched in anger, "Ha-ha-ha, I did not let our precious disciple do it when he wanted to do the same to stabilize western lands and you think I'll do it for you? "
"Then there's no favor to return. Bye!" Zhuo Fan waved him off and ran, but Exalted Hei Ran snapped, "Hold it! Get back here! I am not done talking!"
Zhuo Fan spun around, beaming back with a broad smile and a straight back.
[Here it comes. Let's see why you really came for me.]
On any other day someone came to him for a job, he'd made sure to get the other party's weakness. No matter how tougher the other was than him, he'd control the negotiations.
Seeing Zhuo changing tunes at the drop of a hat, Exalted Hei Ran frowned and laughed, "Kid, can you cut the act? I'm not asking you the world anyway. Just to give you a ban. You are not to fight in the lower three sects and middle three sects stages. That is all."
Ugh!
Zhuo Fan cocked his head, "That's it? And you decided this by yourselves without asking me?"
"Ha-ha-ha, you think we'd consult with a junior?"
Exalted Hei Ran sighed, "No rule can be overcompensating. The Double Dragon Gathering had always received the other nine sect's approval. What is more important is the fact it was conducted with fairness. How else would we gain the trust of every power in western lands? The populace would be in a mess and the western lands in chaos. Even though you had made no mistake, we had to put you under this ban without any real grounds. Or it will affect our reputation!"
"You're just too damn strong, going way over the limit of even what a middle three sect's genius could do. If you go out there, they won't step on the stage and we won't get to measure the sects' potential. It will lose its meaning. That is why we wish for you to withdraw from these stages. It will only be until the superior three sects fight. The Demon Scheming Sect would be lost without you in that stage. "
Zhuo Fan raised an eyebrow, "How do you know we aimed for being a superior three sect?"
"Ha-ha-ha, all of Demon Scheming Sect's sects' strength are qualified for it." Exalted Hei Ran laughed.
Zhuo Fan's frown deepened.
He was not hesitating because he was afraid for those disciples in getting to the superior three sects' battles. You pegged him all wrong. He was pondering how two fleece this great expert before him of some goodies.
Exalted Hei Ran scratched his beard, sneering. "I've known for some time of Lu's plan. I did not act because I wanted to see what you were capable of. And just like that elder said, you're a monster through and through. You are a threat to the lower three sects, something that should not exist…"
"Exalted sir, are you threatening me?" Zhuo Fan cut him off, "As an exalted of the Double Dragon Manor, you can just strike at any sect's disciples as you want?"
"He-he-he, an Exalted could not, but Elder Lu's hatred for you ran deep, even laying a trap to kill you. And then the Double Dragon Manor found out the truth so we executed him on the spot, giving you justice. So you tell me if-"
"Humph, my that does sound quite logical."
Zhuo Fan gnashed his teeth and nodded. "Fine, I agree. I won't be joining any of the following fights."
Zhuo Fan grabbed the girls and was gone.
Exalted Hei Ran nodded, "Ha-ha-ha, the kid is a sneaky one. I planned on appealing to his human nature to return the favor, but I still had to threaten him in the end."
Exalted Hei Ran sighed, then shouted, "This is about Double Dragon Manor's honor. I don't want a word of this getting out…"
"Not to worry, your filthy affairs are safe with me."
Having a clue how the Double Dragon Manor operated, Zhuo Fan didn't give a damn about their reputation and started cursing them out loud.
[Since you love preaching justice so much, I just have to stay clear of breaking your rules and you can do nothing to me. Humph!]
Exalted Hei Ran got angry then chuckled, "The kid is too smart for his own good. He was cautious to the extreme until he grasped the situation. Now that he did, he has no fear. He isn't one to be bogged down by trifles, his eyes ever looking at the bigger picture."
"But his temper does bear a striking resemblance to Sheng's arrogance. Won't we be in a deep mess again?" An aged voice said and an old man with white hair appeared in front of Exalted Hei Ran. He was the other exalted.
Exalted Hei Ran's face twitched and sighed, "Bai Mei, did we not handle Double Dragon Manor for the sake of the cultivators in western lands, to make cultivation fair? So that those that could cultivate would be able to pursue enlightenment without worry. But as time passed, more and more people focus on resources, while true cultivators dwindle by the day. It happens to demonic cultivators and righteous cultivators. They have become too greedy and have forgotten the core principle of cultivation. As did we."
"For western lands to be a fair place, we cast out our prized pupil. Thinking about it now, he and that girl's dream of creating a free world, was that not his path? Across the ages, the rare occurrence of someone with a clear pursuit appeared, and it happened to be our disciple. Yet why did we have to squash his aspiration?"
"Maybe we no longer are the cultivators that did so anymore. Now we control western lands as the Exalted Double Dragon!" Exalted Bai Mei sighed, "We have changed as the western lands changed."
Exalted Hei Ran nodded, "Unable to hold to our aspiration means forsaking the pursuit of Dao. We are nothing more than monarchs in the secular world. Ha-ha-ha, no wonder Sheng surpassed us so quickly. We hardly make a move in ages, because we strayed farther from the true path. Now that we had met another such person, will we do the same thing again?"
Bai Mei remained silent.
Being the highest power of western lands, they were tied to its interests. Their duty was to protect western lands' stability.
No matter who posed a threat to it, they would dispose of it even if the whole of western lands found them in the wrong. Just because they were the strongest Exalted Double Dragons of western lands…
Hei Ran glanced at Bai Mei, "If Sheng returns, I want to give him the sword. Let him follow his aspirations!"
Bai Mei pondered for a bit then nodded…