Chapter 1026: The Best Best

Proofreader : Papatonks

Boom!

The dreadful black thunder claw squeezed and the ice dragon's claws exploded to pieces. The thunderflame made sure to burn them to nothing before they got back to its body.

The ice dragon shook from fear, looking terrified.

The guy was simply standing at the side, without a care, till now and gave off no indication it wielded such godly power, incapable of even being sealed.

It flicked its tail and the scared dragon withdrew as he absorbed the cold icy sword waves from the sky and repaired the damage. Its claws were soon good as new.

Zhuo Fan was not about to let it go. Since he had to get involved, he would finish it too.,

Zhuo Fan's eyes shone and the huge thunderflame claw shot forth to clutch the ice dragon's head, bursting it with a squeeze.

The ice was blown away, even if formed from the worldly power, ended up burned to nothing from the thunderflame.

The thunderflame claw grabbed further, at the body, and took seconds to turn the three-hundred-meter large ice dragon to pieces, pieces that had no chance of returning, sizzling and gone from this world.

The thunder claw grasped one last time and drew a person next to Zhuo Fan.

Because of the seal placed on him, Ye Lin's mind was hazy, his body wobbling around. Yet he managed to catch some glimpses through the haze, "Thank you, elder brother. After all these years I still can't catch up to you."

"It's fine, just be more careful next time."

Releasing the claw, Zhuo Fan looked calm as before, still sitting with Chu Qingcheng leaning on his shoulder having felt nothing of what transpired. Even with all the chaos that went on, along with the ruckus and destruction, Zhuo Fan made sure to keep Chu Qingcheng shielded from even the slightest tremor.

Everyone else though was too shellshocked to react.

Ouyang Changqing was gaping even. It was beyond his 'expert' comprehension how the merchant he asked to come watch turned into a world expert himself.

The divine move used to crush the ice dragon was beyond sublime. With the ice dragon using sealing, only a divine sword could touch it, but even his dad would have a hard time doing it.

[Just who the hell is that freak?]

Shangguan Qingyan looked on with adoration. But seeing Zhuo Fan and Chu Qingcheng hand in hand, with the pretty face leaning on his shoulder, her joy plunged into confusion.

[Who is she to him? Why is he so caring with her? I've never seen him act like this with anyone...]

"Gu Yifan!"

A sudden cry entered her confused mind and saw Murong Xue frowning with a complex gaze at Zhuo Fan.

Shangguan Qingyan looked around and rushed to whisper, "Sister Xue, are you sure? How can he be that Gu Yifan?"

"He might wear a mask, but I'll never forget the child next to him!"

Murong Xue was convinced, "I also know the black thunderflame he used as well. Black flames are a rarity across the world. It is him, beyond any doubt!"

Clenching her fists, Shangguan Qingyan lowered her head.

[How am I supposed to turn this around when sister Xue is dead set on her suspicion?]

[Curses, sister Xue is too much of a stickler for righteousness and will definitely tell others. What to do?]

Shangguan Qingyan was anxious while looking from Zhuo Fan to Murong Xue.

Murong Xue picked on her cues and whispered, "Yan'er, did you already know him?"

"Eh, no way. Only what I heard from you, ha-ha..." Shangguan Qingyan flinched and forced a straight face on.

Murong Xue's hard stare was unnerving, "Yan'er, you don't then? Then why were you so nervous seeing him about to get hurt? Fess up, did you know he was here?"

Shangguan Qingyan caved under Murong Xue's hard stare, squeezing a helpless nod.

"Yet you still covered for him? Do you have any idea how dangerous he is?"

"Sister Xue, he said he came here to save his son. He's no threat to our lands."

"And you believed him?"

"Of course I did. He helped get our Soaring Sword back!" Shangguan Qingyan turned defiant under the assault, speaking with conviction, "And I saw how much he cared for his son. He won't ever use his son as an excuse, especially when his life is on the line."

Murong Xue's eyes shook and frowned in thought.

Shangguan Qingyan was anxious, "Sister Xue, I beg of you, don't tell on him, please. He's not bad."

"If he's so nice, then there's no good left in the world!"

Murong Xue rolled her eyes, then sighed as she looked at Zhuo Fan, "I don't need to say anything. His attack painted a target on him. The Sea Bright Sect will place a high value on him and it's just a matter of time before he's found out."

"Then let him... fake for a while longer." Shangguan Qingyan sighed as looked at Zhuo Fan with deep concern.

Murong Xue sighed and shook her head.

One guard saw everything that had happened and whispered to Zhuo Fan, "Sir, I fear we're now the center of attention. Our cover will be blown."

"I know."

Zhuo Fan glanced at the peaceful Chu Qingcheng and smiled, "But it was all worth it. Qingcheng shouldn't have been like these for so many years and should close her eyes and get well. It's what I owe her, what I..."

Zhuo Fan looked lost and the guard understood as he retreated.

Shui Ruohua stared into Zhuo Fan's expressive eyes with astonishment, "Sir, why do I find you familiar? Have we met?"

Zhuo Fan remained silent.

Whoosh~

Exalted Hei Ran suddenly landed before them.

Giving a long look to Zhuo Fan, he helped Ye Lin from the ground and cupped his hands, "Thank you, sir, for your help. How may I address you?"

"Steward Qian Fan." Zhuo Fan replied.

Exalted Hei Ran started, "Qian clan, from the northern lands..."

"Yes."

"Oh, northern lands have such amazing talent!" Exalted Hei Ran gave him one last look then cursed inside.

He thought Ye Lin and Zhuo Fan from western lands were the peak of what was humanly possible in terms of talent. Now he found that there was one more obscene genius, from northern lands.

[Talent comes in all sizes in every generation and from anywhere.]

[The world will change.]

Exalted Hei Ran inspected Ye Lin's weak body then said to Shui Ruohua, "Take Qingcheng, I'm taking you back to look after your wounds."

"Hold!"

Shui Ruohua rushed to obey and take Chu Qingcheng, but Zhuo Fan intervened.

Zhuo Fan looked at Chu Qingcheng with her eyes closed and said, "Only brother here is wounded. Senior can just take him. Miss needs peace to get well, don't disturb her. You can all mind yourself, since he is far more important to you, sir. It's best if you don't delay his healing."

Ugh!

Exalted Hei Ran knew sarcasm when he heard it. A clear criticism for abandoning them over Ye Lin. He sighed and cupped his hands again before leaving with Ye Lin.

Shui Ruohua was stumped as to what to do.

Whoosh~

Ouyang Lingtian came next, on the stage and raised his hand at the uncaring son, who was now shaking in fear at his dad's presence.

"You fool, you almost sent us all to oblivion, you know that?"

"I know, the elders told me." He held his head with a guilty look, quickly changing topics, "But shouldn't we be tending to the world channel and seal it first? We need to stop the power from flowing in. Uh, why is there no more sword energy in the sky?"

Ouyang

Lingtian huffed in anger, "There's no need to seal it, not when it closed itself."

"How peculiar, then..."

"Weren't you saying that you were clueless and that the elders had to fill you in?" Ouyang Lingtian railed it on him, "Damn brat, listen up! The worldly power needs to be drawn into the secular world to be controlled. To simplify, your art did that. The world went berserk because you changed the target of the drawing. Like before, the ice dragon became the target, making it so the worldly power focused on him. Once the ice dragon is no more, then there's no one drawing it. Of course the world will return to normal!"

Ouyang Changqing bobbed his head.

A weakened yet firm voice reached them, "Ouyang Changqing, let's fight again!"

It was Ye Lin who was now carried away by Exalted Hei Ran.

"Humph, just a fight. Next time I'll just use one art to beat you again. Let me tell you, the best in the alliance will one day be yours truly, ha-ha-ha..."

Bam!

Ouyang Lingtian had enough of his boasting and cuffed him over the head, "You're fighting nothing! Haven't you caused enough trouble? And I thought the best in the four lands had been settled already."

Ouyang Lingtian's eyes shone as he looked at Zhuo Fan.

Everyone stared as well in realization.

[Maybe not only the best disciple in the alliance...]