Chapter 357: Fiendish Elders
Whoosh~
Seven figures dropped down like meteors, spreading their savage energy around Zhuo Fan.
The overflowing power got even Regent Estate to shirk back. With a startle, they realized that all they could do was endure the pressure.
People went pale on the spot. Regent Estate had thirty Venerables so why couldn't they even fight back when they had the numerical advantage?
However, upon closer look, they got the shock of their lives, with their hearts threatening to burst out of their chests.
Of the seven newcomers, only one was a peak Profound Heaven expert, who they didn't recognize. But the other six had fiendish reputations. Even as rogue cultivators, no one dared to touch them.
"Raging Ancestor Qiu Yanhai, Ice Moon Witch Xue Qingjian, what are you two doing beside Luo clan?" Leng Wuchang's eyes flashed with regret.
It was the Regent Estate who wanted them first and Leng Wuchang found their power impressive. An art to harmonize fire and water was rare. It would've been such a shame burying such an asset. He thought it was better to let them go and think of another way to have them join.
Since the two hardly posed a threat to the Regent Estate.
But who'd have thought they'd side with Zhuo Fan instead, becoming their bitter enemies. If he knew, he'd have culled them when he had the chance.
But who could have seen this one coming?
Not even he, Unwonted Contriver with his foolproof plans, had thought it possible that what Regent Estate couldn't recruit, it would be done by others.
However, it was far too late for regret.
Xue Qingjian easily spotted his dilemma, "Sir Leng, are you regretting not killing us? Hi-hi-hi, a shame it's all too late now. Steward Zhuo is far stronger in this regard. He truly was vile in his recruiting. I get the chills just thinking about it."
Xue Qingjian played coy and put on a knowing look. This got on Leng Wuchang's nerves, "A pair of masochists that don't know how to accept a favor. I realize I've been too kind to you."
"Yes, what you can't obtain, you destroy. The more precious the item, the more this logic stands. Since there is a high chance it might come back to bite you, ha-ha-ha. Elder Xue is right. This is where you are beneath me!" Zhuo Fan cackled, "If one day you fall at my hand, you will experience complete failure. That is why as a fellow steward, I can lead the Luo clan to new heights, while you can only assist the Regent Estate, by cooking up some elaborate schemes.
"Humph, this is the difference between rulers and their ministers. And this is what you lack, bringing your downfall."
Grinning, Zhuo Fan stared at Leng Wuchang and laughed.
Leng Wuchang was about to explode from anger, his eyes bloodshot. For the first time, someone had dared to taunt him. Not even Zhuge Changfeng dared talk to him like that.
Zhuo Fan though, jabbed at his wisdom in his mockery, yet the man couldn't even retort.
Who was it that caught him off guard in the Esoteric Debate and killed everyone? Zhuo Fan said it was a draw at the time but it was plain as day that Leng Wuchang lost.
What could he possibly say to that?
Leng Wuchang's anger grew and grew, gasping yet unable to speak.
Everyone looked at him stunned.
The second greatest mind in Tianyu, Leng Wuchang, was being pushed back in a verbal contest with Zhuo Fan.
Huangpu Fenglei's face sank. And seeing the Luo clan's forces, he trembled. But when he caught sight of the four pygmies, his eyes grew serious.
"The Abominable Four Scheming Demons! Weren't you in the Thunder Swarm Mountain, locked away by the Demon Scheming Sect? What are you doing with the Luo clan?"
"Hi-hi-hi, foggie, are you talking to us?" Violent Demon held his chin up, "How could a mere mountain hold the four demonic heroes?"
"Hear, hear, the mountain can't hold us. That goes double to you, hi-hi-hi..." The other three jumped up in glee.
Squinting, Huangpu Fenglei said, "Oh? And what if I tell the Demon Scheming Sect..."
Sss~
The four pygmies shivered on the spot, filled with fear.
Huangpu Fenglei smiled inside as he mocked, "Humph, you must've escaped your prison, right? If I report you to the Demon Scheming Sect, not just you, but even the Luo clan will..."
"I'd like to see you try."
Zhuo Fan cut him off with his derision, "These four twerps are here to help the Luo clan by the order of Demon Scheming Sect's Sect Leader, Xie Wuyue. Go ahead, report. I won't stop you."
Ugh!
Huangpu Fenglei choked on his words.
It was because Zhuo Fan's information was too credible. Knowing who Demon Scheming Sect's Sect Leader was, proved the Four Scheming Demons were sent to help the Luo clan. Did that mean the Luo clan had one of the empire's three guardian sects, Demon Scheming Sect, on their side?
What hope did they have in fighting the Luo clan then? Not a snowball's chance in hell. How could a house fight a sect?
Yet he was still unwilling to believe all of Zhuo Fan's words, staring him in the eye for any trace of lies.
The Four Scheming Demons looked at him in shock. Wimp Demon couldn't hold his curiosity in check as he whispered, "Steward Zhuo, is it true?"
Zhuo Fan nodded.
It was all fiction of course. Xie Wuyue had no idea the four shits were with the Luo clan. But he was sure Xie Wuyue wouldn't object anyway.
The Demon Scheming Sect's Sect Leader was even waiting three years before taking him to his sect yet wouldn't give this little bit of help?
The Four Scheming Demons, having got their answer, were ecstatic. They suddenly gathered around and pooled their tiny minds for a little chat. They nodded and a savage glint sparked in their eyes.
The four turned into black smoke and charged at Regent Estate.
Huangpu Fenglei jerked and shouted, "Look out, these four are hard to deal with!"
Too little, too late. Four trails of black smoke shot at Regent Estate's Venerables. In a blink, a Venerable in the 4th layer of Radiant Stage was taken to the skies.
In the sun's glaring rays, the black smoke squeezed in on the Venerable, despite his futile struggles.
Snaps were clearly heard as the Venerable wailed and broke in four. The blood sprinkled everywhere to the horror of everyone.
[Since when did a 4th layer Radiant Stage expert get dismembered so easily?]
[Those things are abominable!]
"Let that be a warning. Their unity tactic is hard to defend against. Don't let them get the drop on you." Huangpu Fenglei shouted, his face grave.
He had roamed Tianyu back in the day and knew of the four demons' dreadful power. They were few, but vile and insidious like fiends, not to mention stronger than an average Radiant Stage expert.
Qiu Yanhai and Xue Qingjian's fire and water combination art could hold back ten Radiant Stage experts. The four demons's unity tactic could deal with another ten. And with freaks like Zhuo Fan and Li Jingtian in the mix, he reckoned they'd handle ten as well, each.
Luo clan could now deal with 40 Radiant Stage experts, 10 more than Regent Estate had. This was something no one in the Regent Estate saw coming.
In just ten short years, this clan had reached such an astonishing height. The Crown Prince, second prince and many others were dumbstruck.
[Who the hell said Luo clan had no legacy? That it was made of only two people? In a blink, all their elders were on duty and freaking Radiant Stage experts at that!]
[What upstart? They were clearly a clan hiding for a thousand years!]
"Hi-hi-hi, geezer, weren't you about to report us? We're no longer scared of you. If you still have the guts, run away from us four demonic heroes and snitch!"
The black smoke in the air let out Violent Demon's cackle.
Huangpu Fenglei felt a headache. He stuck close to Huangpu Tianyuan, as the latter and Leng Wuchang looked on with worry.
The four demons were notorious. They were madmen, doing whatever whenever, regardless of circumstances and orders.
They were a bigger threat than even Zhuo Fan!
The Crown Prince ran to Zhuo Fan and cupped his hands, "Steward Zhuo, today is Luo clan's award ceremony. You can't shed blood. Please cease hostilities, and call back your elders."
"A red sky is an auspicious sky! We should make it so in reality as well. We shall turn the ceremony into a sign of prosperity!"
Zhuo Fan waved him off with his trademark evil grin, "Elder Li, who was it that struck first?"
"We did it at the same time. But he taunted me first!" Li Jingtian answered.
"In that case, we can't turn back as cowards."
Zhuo Fan laughed, "Elders, it's showtime!"
Zhuo Fan gave the start with his left hand turning into the Earth Dragon Claw while his right shined. Li Jingtian grinned and black energy roamed. Xue Qingjian and Qiu Yanhai held hands as fire and water fused, releasing waves upon waves of power.
At such a display of power and glancing at the four black spots in the sky, Huangpu Fenglei felt like crying.
[What is wrong with today?] They only wanted to cut some of the Luo clan's momentum and curb the new house's development. [So how did it turn the other way around with us getting curbed?]
Not to mention this had stopped being a mere beating; they already had a casualty. If this went on, Luo clan's fiends would kill them all.
They were all hoping their allies would back them up, but Hell Valley, Pill King Hall and Merry Woods, who usually cheered them on every chance they got, now looked anywhere but here. No help was coming from them, that was for sure.
The Luo clan and Regent Estate's war had had them loose too much already. And now that the Luo clan had come in full force, they'd be dumber than a rock getting caught up in that maelstrom of carnage...