The Steward Demonic Emperor

"Make sure you know your limits before stepping into the heaven door. Even I had a high risk of dying."

Kui Lang stood there with an inquisitive look before the rumbling door and just as he took a step, a voice entered his ears.

He saw Gui Hu standing before the door with disdain.

Kui Lang hesitated, "Senior brother Gui Hu, don't try to scare me and just tell me how dangerous it is. Since my son cleared a 7th grade array, I can do it too. I'm not so stupid to fall for your threats!"

Gui Hu rolled his eyes and ignored him.

[Your funeral.]

Kui Lang was stuck between advancing and retreating. It was then that Kui Gang rushed over, "Don't do it, dad. You'll die! Even senior brother Gui Hu had to pay a heavy price."

Kui Lang was scared away, "You mean he was serious? Is this 7th grade array that deadly?"

"Master has set it up specifically to test elites. It's unlike the one I trained in." Kui Gang nodded with a serious look.

His brow soaked, Kui Lang sighed and wiped it, before going for the earth door and asking, "Son, is this safe?"

"This one's easier. Senior brother Tie Ying cleared it at the peak Profound Heaven Stage."

"If I can't get a 7th grade demonic treasure, I guess 6th grade is better than nothing." Kui Lang grinned excitedly. In his charge for the door, he heard a wail coming from it, "Uh, son, this one isn't easy either I see…"

Yue Ling and her sister were just coming over and giggled at him.

It was a scene most common of late before the four doors in the sect's cemetery. With the oldies from the inner sect came so many disciples, the Labor Office was packed. The lines to challenge the trials were never ending.

Everyone was excited to jump right in. Everyone wanted those demonic treasures and pills guaranteed to them once they cleared a door. Such a treatment surpassed even the inner sect.

The oldies were giddy too. The easier the gains for their disciples, the more they got in the end as well. The greed was so thick in their heads that they'd be testing themselves too if they could, just to get those goodies.

Venerable Bai nodded again and again with a smile, "This is why every disciple rushed to Steward Zhuo's Elite Labor Office like crazed shoppers. I'd brave offending my own master too if I could get in here, but I'm not a disciple anymore. All that matters in the end is personal strength. No matter where you can raise it, even in the Labor Office, that is the best place to be!"

"Venerable Bai is right!" The other old guys bobbed their heads.

Zhuo Fan smiled and pointed at the doors in succession, "Elders, venerables, the Elite Labor Office isn't the inner sect. It's not based on competition but trials. Each one of you is free to guide your disciples but the result may not necessarily be in their favor. In these trials, strength isn't the definitive answer for overcoming them."

"That's good. Now there will be no need to play tricks for those little resources. It will be the best thing for the disciples' cultivation." Venerable Qi laughed.

The rest agreed. They were losers in the inner sect, being robbed of their disciples through all kinds of weird accidents.

While here, in this pure environment, they were free and laughing.

Venerable Bai took a moment to ponder, then his eyes lit up, "The Elite Labor Office uses trials so the disciples do not resort to petty tricks. The four trials are fair. But as people are lazy by nature, few hardly consider themselves the opponent, driving to better themselves. That's why the inner sect adopted competition as a solution to raise tough disciples. While the Labor Office uses trials yet still manages to instill excitement into them for cultivation with its large reward as a lure. But to put it in effect, a huge amount of resources are needed."

"Steward Zhuo, I don't know where you got so many resources to implement this plan, but it can't go on forever. When the resources dry up, won't we return to the same situation as in the inner sect?"

The oldies turned to Zhuo Fan.

Zhuo Fan hid a smile, [Venerable Bai has a good head on his shoulders.]

[Yes, the reward is only temporary, to squash the inner sect and steal their authority. Once the inner sect is done for, every high disciple will be in the Labor Office and I can do whatever I want with it and not bleed money every day.]

The high rewards would have to stop and only be placed on the top disciples, leading to the same situation as the inner sect.

[And? No skin off my back.] His mission would be over and done with and he would be home free. Why the hell would he waste away in this sect?

He was not stupid, nor a glory hound.

"People, it is not for you to worry about, but the Sect Leader. That being said, even if it gets to that, you won't lose anything, but win all the same. Aren't you the first to join us?" Zhuo Fan snickered.

Their hearts chilled and picked up on Zhuo Fan's meaning, obvious from that vague smile.

[So what if it does become the inner sect?]

They were pushed aside in the inner sect, with Venerable Shi taking everything for himself. But here they are the bosses, they would get the biggest slice.

They'd become Venerable Shi!

They laughed inside and bowed, "Steward Zhuo is wise beyond his years. Sect Leader chose the perfect candidate for this job!"

"Thank you, thank you!" Zhuo Fan returned the gesture with hidden disdain.

He had not once thought of himself as being part of the in-crowd of the sect and had no qualms about where Demon Scheming Sect was heading. But these guys, the big shots of the sect, only cared about their own behind and pockets. One actually had the wisdom to see what would come to pass, yet shot him down in two shakes.

[Now I see why Xie Wuyue said the sect is rotten, and from the way I see it, the rot runs deep.]

If this ever happened in the Luo clan, he'd be dealing death left and right…

[The only reason I'd ever get you in the Luo clan is for my sake, not yours…]

Whoosh~

A white figure entered their eyes.

Venerable Bai cried, "Grand Elder, why are you here?"

"Master!"

Gui Hu looked from a distance.

Grand Elder only spared him a glance and turned to Zhuo Fan, "Steward Zhuo, I presume. Nice to meet you. I am the Grand Elder of the Demon Scheming Sect wishing to discuss something with you. May we go to a more private place?"

"Steward Zhuo, this old timer must be up to something. Don't go!" Venerable Bai sent him a secret message.

Zhuo Fan shrugged, "I'm the Sect Leader's man. Since they've approached me in the open, they won't do anything to me. It's fine."

Zhuo Fan took two steps closer to Grand Elder with a smile, "I am but a laborer and flattered that Grand Elder would bother himself to invite me in person. We may go."

Grand Elder's brow shook while the other oldies gave a nod of admiration.

Elite Labor Office and the inner sect were at war. Grand Elder ought to have come to deal with him. Yet he still agreed without fear.

Such valor, such manner, all inspired respect.

"The young are bold. Sect Leader entrusted his plan to you for the right reasons." Grand Elder nodded and flew away.

Zhuo Fan followed.

The two soon arrived at a creek, where a man was waiting.

"Venerable Shi? Why could you have asked me to…"

"Give it a rest."

Zhuo Fan cupped his hands and Venerable Shi cut him off, "You're just Xie Wuyue's pawn, an expendable cannon fodder. Why do you insist on getting on every venerable and elder's bad side? It will only work against you for your future stay in the sect."

Zhuo Fan deflected, "Am I supposed to offend Sect Leader instead? My end will come even faster."

"Humph, the ignorance of youth. You think Xie Wuyue can help you? Wrong, he's only letting you take the fall." Venerable Shi said, "By establishing an Elite Labor Office, you've made an enemy out of every elder and venerable. While Xie Wuyue would use you to take all our power, he'll still need us to manage the sect. How do you think he'll appease our anger? He'll throw you to the wolves, a truly tragic fate."

Zhuo Fan pondered and let a snicker slip, "Am I not still alive?"

"Think again." Venerable Shi squinted and exploded with power, enveloping Zhuo Fan in endless thirst for blood.