The Steward Demonic Emperor

Months fell off the calendar and the time for the inner sect competition was nigh, again.

The oldies were back in their designated seats looking over the designated stage with Xie Wuyue sitting in his designated throne stewing in the same old boredom seeing nothing had changed.

The same disciples, we just like before, with one exception. Two disciples were missing.

Hu Mei'er got the short end of the stick, making her an obvious absentee, yet what raised eyebrows was Gui Hu. There was no sight of him.

Bang~

"The 5th match in the 3rd ring goes to Kui Lang!"

"The 4th match in 6th ring goes to Yue Ling!"

"The 6th match in the 2nd ring goes to Liu Xu!"

…

From within the sounds of punching, the judge chimed in with the results. Venerable Shi held his beard, eyeing Grand Elder.

[What's up with him? Why isn't Gui Hu here? Is he giving up on his spot?]

Grand Elder had never been calmer.

Even Xie Wuyue grew suspicious of his attitude. [Did Zhuo Fan scare him too much last time and he held his disciple back?]

While the rest were even more suspicious. With Gui Hu being the main seed to become elite, why the hell would Grand Elder suddenly hold him back?

Despite all the suspicions going around, the competition ended and the elite spots were taken. Besides the obvious three seen last time, the other two were just average disciples, in the 2nd layer of Radiant Stage.

Xie Wuyue's mood sank, "Humph, this is even worse than last time."

Venerable Shi remained silent with a mocking grin.

[Who told you to butt in last time? Now you have one less elite candidate. He-he-he, you got what you deserved, Sect Leader!]

The other oldies lamented as well. Those two softies were no elite material.

But what choice did they have? It wasn't like they made Gui Hu brutalize every disciple he met last time and left them with crumbs in this one.

The two were so weak, even together they couldn't harm Kui Lang.

"Sect Leader, the five elites have been decided!" Venerable Shi smiled.

Xie Wuyue clenched his fists and waited.

A loud voice came right on cue, "Wait, I want to challenge!"

A tall and sturdy youth flew in, paying his respects, "Sect Leader, I, Kui Gang, am an outer sect disciple requesting a challenge!"

Xie Wuyue nodded after a long look, his mood turned for the better, "Ha-ha-ha, this is the greatest attraction of the inner sect competition. "

Venerable Shi was seething.

[Again, Sect Leader?]

[Yep.]

Venerable Shi gave back a taunting eyebrow, "Going above your station is commendable, Kui Gang, although, you'll be walking between life and death. "

"Sect Leader, it's because I do not care about the danger that I must challenge!" Kui Gang bowed with confidence.

Kui Lang nodded in pride.

With his son being in the Radiant Stage now, meant he would have an easier time than Yue'er, who was only at peak Profound Heaven Stage at the time of her challenge.

As for the gap in strength, Steward Zhuo made up for it in spades, and trinkets.

Xie Wuyue praised, [Zhuo Fan did it again, bringing forth another expert in three months.] And said, "Kui Gang, who is your target?"

"I want to challenge senior brother Liu Xu!" Kui Gang cupped his hands, his eyes fixed on his target.

Liu Xu mocked, "A fresh Radiant Stage pup wants to take me on? Humph, do you think I'm Hu Mei'er and would fall like nothing? Five layers difference isn't just for show, especially now that I've come prepared!"

Liu Xu's hand shone brightly and a scarlet brush appeared. His body did the same and a spiritual armor outfitted him.

The elders and venerables cried out!

"8th grade demonic treasure, Heaven Leading Brush and 7th grade demonic treasure, Flowing Light Cloud Armor?" Xie Wuyue's brow shook, eying Venerable Shi, "You went all out, I see. Even giving him your prized possessions."

Venerable Shi chuckled, "Sect Leader, you're too kind. What can one do when the competition has devolved into a test of wealth and not skill? Even with my meager coffers, I at least have enough to give my disciple a head start."

Xie Wuyue squinted and turned to Kui Gang.

With Liu Xu geared up, his power was through the roof. If Kui Gang just copied Yue'er and took out the three baubles from last time, he'd still come up short.

[It's cut and dry.]

Kui Lang frowned with worry for once. He didn't think for a second that Venerable Shi would dump demonic treasures on his disciple and wondered if Zhuo Fan's plan for this challenge would succeed.

While Kui Gang was at ease, his eyes serious.

"Nice items, for offense and defense. I'll just have to give it my all then."

Kui Gang held a vial and the thick intoxicating smell spread.

Many oldies cried, "9th grade pill, Savage blood Pill!"

"Since I train in Blood Annihilation technique, the Savage blood Pill can boost my blood flow dozens of times. Even in the 1st layer, this pill alone will give me the power of a 3rd layer!"

Kui Gang swallowed it.

A bloody aura surrounded him and only increased as time went on. The stench of blood gave a nauseating feeling.

Liu Xu was outraged, "Rotten punk, do you have a death wish? Pushing your blood to flow so fast will end with you blowing up!"

"Why, thank you for your concern. But this time will be different, since I took the 10th grade pill, Heaven Reaching Pill beforehand." Kui Gang grinned as his body shuddered.

The elders and venerables were filled with envy.

[A Heaven Reaching Pill, we didn't get one yet a snot-nosed brat got to enjoy such blessings?]

Liu Xu felt, to his shock, how the gap was bridged inch by inch. All that remained between them were two layers.

But his confidence resurged, placed on the demonic treasures.

Short-lived as it was, courtesy of Kui Gang's next ace, five glittering and equally blinding lights.

As the light ebbed, everyone stared slackjawed, their eyes popping out.

Kui Gang was armored to the teeth in four 9th grade demonic treasures, in conformity to his style in fact, exuding a bloody glow.

"9th grade demonic treasure, Blood Shadow Cloud Striders!"

Kui Gang showed off the new shoes with a grin, "They were practically made for my cultivation method. Even senior brother Liu Xu will have trouble tracking my movements, ha-ha-ha…

"Let's not forget about the Vaulting Blood Demon Armor…

"And Blood Sea Banner…

"World Piercing Claw…"

The motif for Kui Gang's set was that of skulls. His right arm held the bloody banner, his left the red claw, all demonic treasures of great power.

Liu Xu's mind left him. Venerable Shi's got stuck, Xie Wuyue's bogged down, and the oldies… had none to speak of. The whole of Demon Scheming Sect was watching as their minds flew away…