The Steward Demonic Emperor

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Danqing Shen smiled through hazy eyes as he cursed, "Rotten brat, enough of your flattery. A loss or a draw is still a loss, thus not worthy of the sacred sword. This will make matters so much worse in the next fight…"

"Senior has another battle?" Zhuo Fan probed.

Danqing Shen nodded, "The strongest in the central area, Invincible Sword. Lasting ten moves would be a feat in itself."

"Senior is so strong, but can't handle ten of his moves? Just how strong is he?" Zhuo Fan was astounded, "Are the best in western lands and the best in the central area so far apart?"

Danqing Shen sighed and took a large gulp of wine, "Kid, you're too green, young and cocky. But remember this, there's always someone stronger out there. What can the best in western lands amount to when in the central area? He wouldn't even be in the top ten experts."

"What?!"

Zhuo Fan was shocked, not because of Danqing Shen's disparity compared to the central area, but of the gap between areas.

Zhuo Fan had been a Demonic Emperor from the Sacred Domain, there was hardly any expert he hadn't seen. Yet the sharp difference in power on the same continent left him stunned.

It was like a three year old holding huge wealth only to have a towering thug for a neighbor. Who'd ever feel safe?

He would've been robbed blind ages ago.

[But why is the central area so strong?]

Danqing Shen saw through him and mocked, "Of the entire continent, only the central area differs from the other four. Do you know why?"

Zhuo Fan showed he didn't.

"It's their structure."

Danqing Shen turned serious, "The four lands are governed by sects, with hundreds of empires serving them. This makes them a loose force. Since when it comes to waging war, it's still the empires that are stronger. When did you ever hear sects going to war?"

Zhuo Fan nodded as he contemplated.

Danqing Shen continued. "Here's where the central area is different. There's an old monster there and a huge empire, Sword Star Empire. Invincible Sword, its ancestor, had founded the empire ten thousand years ago. He is not only strong, but even swallowed all the nations and sects around him until he achieved this form, an area ruled entirely by one empire."

"A-an entire area with just one empire?" Zhuo Fan was shocked. Now he knew why the central area was so strong.

With just a sole empire, its development was much sharper than many conflicting empires.

The fact that it was a single empire was an amazing feat by itself. The other four lands weren't like this at all. While all wanted to achieve it, they had no one to take the lead.

Take western lands for example. Exalted Double Dragons were tough, but they were just cultivators and lacked vision and a calculating mind.

Danqing Shen gave him a long look and patted his shoulder, "Kid, I can tell you are a man of ambition, and even a trace of that old freak's nature. Lead your heroes, take your turf, but you best hurry it up and get stronger too. Central area is on the move. It will still take some time, but you're way too young. You're just out of time."

"You mean that the central area's action has nothing to do with me?" Zhuo Fan started.

Danqing Shen smirked, "That old freak took thousands of years to get his tiny empire to rule the entire central area. Now he's set his eyes on the world. Everyone is involved in this, you included. Even if you hide, can those girls hide as well? Can their empire, Tianyu, hide?

"Ha-ha-ha, the future of western lands is yours. As a western lands' man, maybe the future will be your opponent's. But now, I hope you'll get ready and not regret what comes."

Danqing Shen stood up and bent his waist, about to leave, "I best be going now. I've wasted enough time on a kid. I just hope the western lands' youths will grow. It will be up to fate if you'll get over this calamity."

Zhuo Fan's heart sank.

He just wanted to focus on cultivating and get back to Sacred Domain. But Danqing Shen just said that chaos would soon envelop the five lands.

He didn't care much, since he was a lone wolf. No one would find him if he wanted to hide.

It was another matter for the Luo clan. It would be hard to not get dragged into this mess.

[Maybe I should get some things ready, just in case. Then I'll leave in peace.]

Zhuo Fan was deep in thought as Danqing Shen was fading away, yet he did say one last thing. "By the way kid, you better take care of that girl. Treasure your people."

"Oh please, I'm a demon. Why would I care about some girl?" Knowing who Danqing Shen was speaking of, Zhuo Fan blushed.

"Ha-ha-ha, what does being demonic or righteous have to do with it? You're just one man. Better not live to regret it later." Danqing Shen vanished at long last.

Zhuo Fan rolled his eyes, yet he now had more to worry about.

[It'll be hard to meet again after the Double Dragon Gathering. Just that my path…]

Zhuo Fan closed his eyes.

Three days later, Zhuo Fan was in his room cultivating, his wounds halfway to being healed. It was around this time the sect teams were leaving.

Demon Soul Sect and Sword God Sect had come to say goodbye to Zhuo Fan, wishing him a quick recovery.

Zhuo Fan nodded with a smile.

[It looks to me we're practically relatives with these sects. It'll be up to Kui Lang and the others now, on how they cherish their allies.]

He could now return to the Luo clan at ease.

"Zhuo Fan, Shuang'er and I are returning to Tianyu. When will you leave?" Zhuo Fan opened his door to find that it was Yongning.

Zhuo Fan frowned, "I've yet to recover and I still need around ten days before I leave at ease."

"At ease? Who is after you?" Yongning started.

Zhuo Fan smiled, "I don't know since I've got many enemies. Better to be safe than sorry."

The two girls nodded. Zhuo Fan did gain plenty of enemies this time and should be ready just in case. It wouldn't do to let the enemy make use of his wounded state.

"Then we will go on ahead." The girls waved with a smile, their eyes shining brightly.

Zhuo Fan found it odd and pondered, "Aren't you two girls afraid of going back to Tianyu alone? Why don't you wait a few days and we'll go together."

"Really?" Yongning perked up.

Shuang'er pulled her clothes, then she came to and smiled, "It's fine. Going back with sister Qingcheng, we'll be talking about plenty of girl stuff. Like how to figure out your mind, win your favor… mmhmm…"

A blushing Shuang'er rushed to cover her mouth.

"Is Mystical Heaven Sect leaving as well?" Zhuo Fan frowned after hearing her. Danqing Shen's words came to him and so he stood up to leave.

The two hurried after him.

They soon arrived at Mystical Heaven Sect's place. The disciples were gathered around, ready to leave.

Shui Ruohua noticed him and all the girls turned to Chu Qingcheng.

"Sister Qingcheng, he's here…" Dan'er got Chu Qingcheng's attention.

Shaking a little, Chu Qingcheng turned around to meet Zhuo Fan's cold eyes. She smiled and walked closer, "How are you feeling?"

"Much better. Why only ask now? Isn't it a little late?"

"Ha-ha-ha, doesn't Steward Zhuo dislike chatter, always being alone? How come you're blaming me for not seeing you?" Chu Qingcheng teased.

Zhuo Fan looked deep into Chu Qingcheng's eyes, "Give me half a year and… and I'll give you an answer for back then."

Zhuo Fan then left, but Chu Qingcheng was stunned. She then smiled, her eyes filled with tears of joy.

Turning around, she floated back to her team like a butterfly.

The others were stumped at their icy teammate being lively and having a bright smile.

[What did that guy say?]

"Sister Qingcheng, what's wrong?" Dan'er hesitated.

Chu Qingcheng beamed with joy, "He said he'll give me an answer. He finally faltered…"

The others were lost.

[What does that mean?]

That was something only Chu Qingcheng knew. It was a question she asked Zhuo Fan a long long time ago.

Xuan Shaoyu looked on with cold eyes and clenched fists.

[Half a year, is it? Perfect…]