The Steward Demonic Emperor

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The sizzling was the only prevalent sound around, stinging Shangguan Feiyun ears as he watched his ultimate sword skill going through Zhuo Fan’s walls of thunderflame only to be eaten away by the same fire.

By the time the fire died out, the sword energy was a quarter weaker. It was still strong, yes, but it was without a doubt cut down to size.

If before the sword came from Shangguan Feiyun, now it looked to be resembling any average Genesis expert’s sword attack.

Sure, it’d be a peak one but the gap was huge all the same.

Central area spread beyond anyone could imagine and was teeming with peak Genesis experts. Despite that there were only Nine Sword Kings, that was because they were a cut above the masses.

Shangguan Feiyun’s casual sword strike had crushed thirty Genesis Stage guards a while back. Danqing Shen’s sword was the same, putting most of the Shangguan clan’s experts in a pickle.

This was the power of a Sword King, unlike any other peak Genesis expert, able to take on five of them with ease.

Even with the mortal domain’s limit stuck at peak Genesis Stage, these Nine Sword Kings stood above all others.

If not for the mortal domain’s limit, these would’ve long since become Saints, at the same level as the experts in the Sacred Domain, if not higher. They might even shake some monsters out there.

This peak worldly power had just been cut down to size by Zhuo Fan’s thunderflame, turning into something common and weaker.

The shock was palpable to the trio watching, and so it was for Zhuo Fan too. He was the one on the receiving end in this fight, yet none underestimated him.

Shangguan Feiyun’s eyes shook, “The black flame ate at my sword energy so quickly. This is insane! How the hell does such a thing even exist?”

The other two sighed.

Their fear of Zhuo Fan was not for his strength, but because of the apocalyptic thunderflame. The flame was too destructive, burning anything and everything in creation.

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Not even martial arts could survive it. Such a thing had never happened ever.

It was only a question of quantity in the black flame’s case. With enough of it, any cultivator would be erased from this world. Their Yuan Qi shields would be eaten and their martial arts would fare no better. It wasn’t a leap in logic to assume spiritual items would end up the same.

This thunderflame was like hellfire, bringing eternal and absolute doom. If word got out, Zhuo Fan would become this entire world’s enemy.

Wielding the thunderflame was like having a weapon of mass destruction…

The trio tensed as they watched Zhuo Fan, each with their own thoughts.

Zhuo Fan was bleeding from his eyes, but not enough to shake his calm, even finding time to smirk. By cutting the sword energy down to size, he could now handle it.

Zhuo Fan ignored his damaged eye and had his right eye shine in two golden halos while his left flickered with the thunderflame, unleashing Thunderflame Void Annihilation once more at the Soaring Sword Art.

The flame struck the sword, but they were once more dispersed as it went after Zhuo Fan still.

Zhuo Fan suffered from it as well, with a splitting headache and spitting blood even as his eyes bled more.

None of it mattered though, since he had the pride to grin.

In the moment of clashing, even as his attack failed, the thunderflame’s character was unstoppable.

And with Void Annihilation to complement it, it sent the flames right into the heart of the sword energy.

This in turn, made the deadly sword weaker and weaker. By the times the flames died, the sword energy was at a fresh Genesis Stage cultivator’s level.

Shangguan Feiyun was dumbstruck.

In two moves, this great Sword King’s prideful sword art was reduced so much that that was all the damage it could actually do after the other tried to stop it.

Any meager Genesis Stage cultivator could easily flick it away, something that bruised Shangguan Feiyun’s ego.

At least Gu Yifan was just a Radiant Stage cultivator and even this much was enough.

If Sword King Feiyun couldn’t kill a guy in even three moves, he might as well just kill himself.

Sure, the other was just a Radiant Stage cultivator, but a Sword King still had his pride.

Zhuo Fan had other plans in mind, besides giving his life to heal this Sword King’s hurt ego…

Grinning, Zhuo Fan showed confidence against the cut down sword attack from a Sword King and used Divine Eye of the Void’s 4th stage.

Thunderflame Domain!

Boom!

A thousand meters around him, the space hummed, with the black thunderflame spreading everywhere with each vibration.

The sword energy did not disintegrate under the vibrations, instead it slowed down, while being drastically weakened from the thunderflame.

This was Zhuo Fan’s method of dealing with the deadly sword energy, chipping it away until it was easy for his wounded self to take it.

Of course, it was not enough to halt the sword energy completely, as it finally reached Zhuo Fan.

But through the many trials, it was now at the power of mid Soul Harmony Stage, more than enough for Zhuo Fan to handle.

Grinning, Zhuo Fan had his scarlet right hand lifted in complete confidence.

[So much for a Sword King’s power. I can still take it…]

Zhuo Fan had forgotten about one crucial fact about this sword, something that made it pierce his almighty right hand even weakened as it was.

Blood spilled all over and Zhuo Fan’s smugness turned to shock.

[How? Why can’t the Qilin arm stop even a Soul Harmony expert’s sword?]

[Did I miscalculate?]

Spewing blood again, Zhuo Fan held Gu Santong close as he fell to the ground with a bang. Resting in his crater, his blood stained the earth around him.

“Dad, dad…” Gu Santong cried, his weary eyes tearing up.

Zhuo Fan gasped, “Young Sanzi, I’ve forgotten to take something into account, but to think it led to such a heavy wound. Now I can’t even use the Dragon Breath Pill…”

“Dad, are we going to die?” Gu Santong was just as powerless.

Zhuo Fan rubbed his head, “Are you afraid?”

“No!”

“Then leave it to luck!” Zhuo Fan’s eyes shone, “Our lives are now in his hands, as long as he remembers the deal…”

Gu Santong gave an understanding nod.

Zhuo Fan’s wretched state was all due to forgetting an important detail, one that led to the weakened sword energy reducing him to this.

To the other three, the outcome was beyond their imagination. Shangguan Feiyun was the most shocked, “There has never been anyone in this world I can’t kill after three strikes besides the other Sword Kings and Invincible Sword! Gu Yifan, since you’re first, let me end you with the fourth sword.”

Shangguan Feiyun aimed the fingers at the wounded and unmoving man in that crater, filled with the intent to end this.

There was hatred and resentment, but most of all, humiliation.

His quarry was now defenseless yet he was the one feeling defeated. The great Sword King had failed to kill a Radiant Stage alchemist in three strikes, the same way a buffed man couldn’t squash an ant with his fist.

People would disregard the ant’s strength and mock instead the weakness of the man.

Shangguan Feiyun’s next sword held all his bloodthirst, the most dangerous one the damaged Zhuo Fan was going to face.

It was within his calculation, but deviated somewhat. Yet this little shift meant true death, even for Zhuo Fan…