The Steward Demonic Emperor

Proofreader: Papatonks

Roar!

The crowd was beyond excited now that the time had finally come to see these two teams face off and fight for the crown!

On one side was the strongest sect in western lands, under Double Dragon Manor and above many, the Ultimate Clarity Sect. For thousands of years, their position had been firm, with no one able to challenge them.

On the other side was the greatest underdog the history of Double Dragon Gathering had ever seen, hailing from the lower-three sects and killing their way up. Even though everyone knew it was due to one man alone, that wasn't enough to wipe out the excitement the crowd had felt throughout its journey in this competition.

As this underdog pulled down one sect after another, the people's hearts were in their throats, thinking the next one would be the one to cast them down.

Some even hoped that a sect could halt this rampaging dark horse in its tracks while at the same time wishing to see it reaching higher and higher, doing something that had never been done in ages.

This contradiction further increased their expectations for what Demon Scheming Sect was about to offer in this fight, one between the current and prospective kings. Would Ultimate Clarity Sect rule unfazed for ages more, or would the new reign of the Demon Scheming Sect over the nine sects be established?

It wasn't just the audience. Even the nine sects' teams were tense. Their nerves stretched taut, as were their muscles.

"How many years has it been since we last saw such an exciting match?" Exalted Bai Mei let out a refreshed smile.

Exalted Hei Ran nodded, "The sects haven't shifted their seats in thousands of years, letting the western lands enjoy peace. But sooner or later, someone will come and change all that. This is for the best. The shift in order will drive the sects into teaching their disciples harder, ha-ha-ha…"

Exalted Bai Mei nodded, the eyes of both of them settling on Ye Lin and Zhuo Fan. They knew the outcome of this fight rested entirely on their shoulders.

As for the rest, except Wu Qingqiu, all were useless no matter how hard it was to accept.

As long as anyone in the audience wasn't completely blind, they would also look at the two in excitement.

This fight wasn't just to settle who was the top superior-three sect, but also who was the best disciple in the western lands, the future best cultivator in the western lands…

"The two teams are here. Now I know what your intentions are, I still need to ask you. Demon Scheming Sect, do you want to challenge the head of the nine sects, Ultimate Clarity Sect?"

The judge was fired up as well. He hardly used the 'head of the nine sects' title in his announcements. This clearly showed he wanted to spur them on.

Not even he could stay calm in front of this excitement. The audience started chanting, "Fight, fight, fight…"

"As you all wish, we shall fight!" Zhuo Fan raised his fist, shouting.

The cheers reached the heavens once more. The judge nodded and smiled, "Open the dimension!"

Hum~

The two gatekeepers once again opened the door to the secret valley. Wu Qingqiu smiled at Zhuo Fan's team, taking the lead to go through first.

Zhuo Fan's eyelid twitched, touching his ring. He then led his team through. He didn't forget that Danqing Shen was still hiding in his ring. He had to think of a way to let this old coot slip out with none the wiser.

As for the right timing, he would have to wait it out.

Zhuo Fan's mission weighed heavily on his shoulders. He not only was going into a fight to the death with Ye Lin, but now he had Danqing Shen to worry about.

Any of these two tasks could be done alone if he put his all into it. But since he had to do them at the same time, that required some careful planning.

At the very least, it would require some skill if he wanted to get the ring back after throwing it without raising any eyebrows. He did have a plan in mind, but it was all up to Ye Lin and his role in this act.

Easing a breath, Zhuo Fan focused as he stepped through the white curtain. He was back in the small valley.

This was his sixth time here, and he was quite familiar with it. He knew where the monitoring arrays were placed and where their blind spots were.

Hum~

His teammates followed next, and the two sects faced each other.

"Ha-ha-ha, brother Zhuo is so strong that I have been eagerly waiting for us to fight. A shame that this is not my chance. My younger brother insists on letting him have you. I am not one to take this joy from him and would have to settle for the next time."

Smiling, Wu Qingqiu backed away, cupping his hands at Zhuo Fan and his team. He went before Ye Lin and said, "This might be a team battle, but we also understand the situation of their sect. They have only one person able to bear this fight, so we will also have just one person settle it. As we watch from the sidelines, I will let junior brother represent us on the field."

Ye Lin walked forward, bearing a wide smile.

Qi Changlong and the others felt down. Wu Qingqiu was right, without a doubt, but he was being modest about it. Though the way it was registered, it felt more like contempt.

As if they only managed to get so far on the back of one person. They were utterly useless.

[We know that's true, but could you at least not say it? It hurts our feelings!]

Zhuo Fan noticed their annoyance and slowly moved forward as he stared at Ultimate Clarity Sect's team, "Brother Wu is right. Our two sects' fight has to be one on one. But once the battle starts, even if your disciples want to help, they are not to interfere. What do you say?"

"Right, that's how it should be, ha-ha-ha…" Qi Changlong, Kui Lang, and the others laughed.

Zhuo Fan said in reply to his statement.

[You dare call us useless? Once these freaks fight since you won't be joining either, you're just as useless!]

[Besides sounding nice, it's just conforming to our intent of having a one-on-one fight. Actually, none of you have what it takes to join the fight. Even if you do, you'll be nothing more than cannon fodder. So what's so funny?]

Holding his forehead, Wu Qingqiu smiled and shook his head.

He did not deny it. Since his words were heard by all, he still had to keep his earlier words.

However, Ultimate Clarity Sect's disciples grew angry at being disregarded by a lower-three sect.

The audience saw the two sects were ready to fight and throwing verbal attacks. They grew even more excited.

[The fight is bound to be intense!]

"Junior brother, aren't you going to say something? Say what you feel!" Wu Qingqiu saw his junior brothers were fuming and asked Ye Lin.

Ye Lin eyed him and scratched his head before nodding. He turned to Zhuo Fan and admitted, "You're right. These people, besides senior brother Wu, can be ignored. This fight is between you and me!"

Wu Qingqiu's face twitched, and he held his forehead. His junior brother had always been a lone wolf.

[He doesn't know anything about respect for his fellow man.]

The others cursed. For him, though, it didn't matter if the sect hated him.

The Ultimate Clarity Sect's disciples looked on with dark glares and shook their heads.

[This little junior brother is a professional at making fun of others.]

They were clueless that Ye Lin took pride in his status as a sacred beast inheritor. So how could he give a damn about some common folks?

In his eyes, even Wu Qingqiu wasn't worth it. He only treated him better since the senior brother had looked after him all these years. Only Zhuo Fan was like him, a grand sacred beast inheritor.

"All of you stand back. I don't care if any of you die from our fight's aftershocks." Ye Lin flicked his hand with a stern look.

The others knew his temper and shook their heads as they cleared the area.

Taking his time walking forward, Zhuo Fan looked around this place.

[This is a good spot.]

He signaled Qi Changlong and the others to leave, "Stand a mile behind me, less you want to be squashed."

They all started, but they left either way.

[Why is it that he insists on standing behind him?]

Zhuo Fan had just found a blind spot in a monitoring array. With the disciples in this area, it would be easier for him to get Danqing Shen out of his ring.

So even while they were clueless, they trusted Steward Zhuo, doing what he said.

Everything was in place. All that was left was to fight!

Zhuo Fan focused his eyes and shot forward, his right hand unleashing a terrible red glow.

Ye Lin grinned and faced him head-on with a golden flaming glow. He reached Zhuo Fan even faster than the other, the golden flaming fist punching forward…