The Steward Demonic Emperor

Proofreader: Papatonks

Whoosh!

As the water sprayed everywhere, a flash of red sword aura from the falls shot right at Zhuo Fan. The icy piercing bloodthirst bit into his face, making his skin crawl.

[A sacred weapon?]

Zhuo Fan’s heart thumped, his fists balled up.

This was his second time seeing a sacred weapon, first being in the Double Dragon Manor where the Vaulting Sword got him good. Not even the nigh indestructible Qilin arm could hold it back. With such a sharp edge, there was hardly anything out there that could truly resist it.

[The sacred beast aura must’ve triggered it. The only way to stop it is with my Divine Eye of the Void.]

Forged by the Heavenly Sovereign and Sword Sovereign, this sacred weapon would be meek in the face of its master’s power. Unfortunately, he wasn’t alone this time around, with three other spectators. By pushing back a sacred weapon now was the same as blowing his cover.

It would make all his effort so far useless.

Zhuo Fan’s heart tensed in hesitation, not knowing what to do.

As the crimson sword aura drew closer and closer, he was stuck in a dilemma. Nonetheless, his right eye flashed golden, ready to act if needed be.

First priority would always be his life, of course…

“How dare you come out when I’m with an important guest? Leave at once!” The roaring voice of Shangguan Feiyun echoed out.

Zhuo Fan chuckled with a sneer.

He’d never believe it for a second that Shangguan Feiyun could control the raging sacred weapon.

Genesis Stage they might be, at peak of the mortal domain, but mortals all the same. Yet they thought of commanding a sacred weapon?

[You should be grateful the great weapon a Sovereign forge would even allow you to wield it.]

[Instead of respecting its parent, you holler at it and expect it to bow down? That’s a 6th grade sacred weapon, not some spiritual toothpick. It demands respect.]

Only to look on with a dumb look at what he was witnessing the next moment…

The red sword faltered in midair and hovered, actually listening to Shangguan Feiyun.

Zhuo Fan’s eye twitched.

[No way!]

[What’s a 6th grade sacred weapon doing listening to some mortal domain’s citizen? Bruh, you’re the best of the best, made by a Sovereign himself, so how can you just fall so low as to obey some Genesis Stage expert?]

[Where’s your dignity? Where’s your pride? Did you lose them on your way down to the moral domain?]

Zhuo Fan watched the inconceivable play with mixed emotions. He had to switch Vaulting Sword’s sword soul with Blood Infant to get that one.

Now though, Shangguan Feiyun had done him one better, with this one’s sword soul completely capitulating to him. It was the only logical explanation for this ridiculous scene.

It made him wonder though.

[Why is a Sovereign made sacred weapon giving in just like that? Why is it going against Heavenly Sovereign’s order to kill the sacred beasts and listening to Shangguan Feiyun instead?]

Zhuo Fan stood there, rooted in doubt.

Shangguan Feiyun took it for fear and laughed in apology, “Grandmaster Gu, forgive me. This sword is the greatest treasure of eastern lands I brought along, Soaring Divine Sword, which needs a place of thick spiritual energy to reside in. So I just placed it in the Jade Falls along with sacred stones. Unlike any spiritual weapon, this divine weapon has a will of its own and shuns strangers. It must’ve sensed you and burst out. Forgive me for letting it scare Grandmaster.”

“It’s fine, it’s my honor to witness the great eastern lands’ divine weapon, Soaring Sword, ha-ha-ha…” Zhuo Fan chuckled.

Shangguan Feiyun and Baili Jingwei shared a nod and an evil grin.

[With the Soaring Sword’s location known, all that’s left is for them to make a move, humph…]

Hum~

But then the red sword aura flashed once more, followed by the Soaring Sword disregarding Shangguan Feiyun’s order as it attacked Zhuo Fan again. The immense pressure and savagery took his breath away.

Shangguan Feiyun narrowed his eyes and barked, “Soaring Sword, stop this instant! He’s my honored guest!”

Clang!

The Soaring Sword expressed its refusal with a ringing sound, still coming at Zhuo Fan to end him where he stood!

“Curses, I thought I told you to stop already!”

With a mask of rage, Shangguan Feiyun drew two fingers together and swiped. A sword energy shot straight at Soaring Sword.

Bam!

The sky cracked with a deafening thunder clap. The shockwave spread throughout the whole of Flying Cloud manor.

The guard held their ears in pain as they bled from eyes, nose and mouth. The weaker ones had it worse, knocked out on the spot.

Not that the closest Soul Harmony and Genesis Stage experts closest to Baili Jingwei and Zhuo Fan fared any better.

Lucky that Danqing Shen was there to take the brunt, canceling it with the gale he sent with a casual swipe of his hand.

It by no means managed to relieve Zhuo Fan of his frown, amazed by what he was seeing instead of feeling fear.

Soaring Sword actually halted at Shangguan Feiyun’s attack, even if it kept shaking in midair.

[This can’t be…]

Zhuo Fan was stunned once more by the Soaring Sword.

The sacred weapons were outrageously strong. He should know, since just one meager sword energy was enough to pierce his Qilin arm. How was it that now some guy’s attack got it stuck? Zhuo Fan was finding it hard to accept.

[Is that attack so much stronger than the sacred weapon?]

[That’s absurd! Even if it wasn’t a Sovereign made weapon, it’s a 6th grade sacred weapon for a reason. It just can’t be so weak as to be trapped under some mortal’s attack.]

But reality couldn’t be denied. Sword King Feiyun held more strength in handling Heavenly Sovereign’s sacred weapon than he who used tricks.

Hum~

The Soaring Sword rang as it shook in the air, but it was soon apparent it was growing weaker.

Shangguan Feiyun kept his fingers out all this time, “Getting weaker? Then get back in there and recover! Don’t let me catch you bursting out and scaring my guests again!”

Shangguan Feiyun flicked his hand and the Shangguan Feiyun was flung back. It tumbled through the air before entering the waterfall.

Zhuo Fan eased a breath, giving Shangguan Feiyun a long look.

[He really is the best in eastern lands for a reason.]

“Grandmaster Gu, everyone, I must apologize. I don’t know what has gotten into that divine sword to scare you. Please forgive me.” Shangguan Feiyun looked contrite as he cupped his hands.

Baili Jingwei laughed off-handedly, “That divine weapon has always been weird. It must be our sudden arrival into its domain that provoked the divine weapon. No apology necessary. We wouldn’t have gotten to witness Sword King Feiyun’s great skill otherwise. Sword King Feiyun’s Soaring Sword Art has improved even more, ha-ha-ha…”

“Prime Minister, there’s no need to joke. I take full responsibility for this mistake.”

Shangguan Feiyun chuckled and turned to Zhuo Fan, “I must’ve startled you, Grandmaster Gu. Why don’t you go to your room, now that it is ready, and rest for the day? I shall be personally giving you a tour of the garden tomorrow and use the chance to get closer.”

Zhuo Fan bowed, looking disturbed, but forced a smile. “Sword King is too kind. I can only accept the offer. Let us continue tomorrow.”

The others bowed and Danqing Shen said, “I’ll show Grandmaster Gu to his room.”

At the nod of the other two, Zhuo Fan and Danqing Shen walked out of sight. Baili Jingwei whined out of earshot, “Shangguan Feiyun, I only asked you to reveal the Soaring Sword to Grandmaster Gu to patch up the map, but you went overboard with making a scene and scaring him as well. He’s just a Radiant Stage cultivator. What if you scared his wits away too? How are you going to find me another talent with the potential to become the best alchemist in the world?”

“Prime Minister Baili, it wasn’t me!” Shangguan Feiyun frowned.

Baili Jingwei gave him a look, “Who else is there? You’re the only one in the Flying Cloud manor that commands the Soaring Sword.”

“That’s just it.”

Shangguan Feiyun gave a perplexed sigh, “I wanted to lead him to Jade Falls to give him a peek of the Soaring Sword. But for some strange reason, the sword came out by itself and attacked Grandmaster Gu. It had such a thick bloodlust too, that it overrode my command. This has never happened before.”

Baili Jingwei frowned, filled with doubt, “Does him being a stranger have anything to do with it I wonder?”

“The manor is filled with strangers, but none triggered Soaring Sword’s bloodlust. Just what is going on here?”

Shangguan Feiyun gnashed his teeth, his eyes flashing…