Chapter 1175: Gathering of Royalties
Proofreader: Papatonks
“Humph, so this is the loftiest emperor and greatest Prime Minister in the whole wide world. You got cocky, you showed off, now look where that got you, beneath my boot!”
“Hi-hi-hi, you finally got yours. Now it’s our turn to toy with all these bigshots, ha-ha-ha…”
…
Bang~
Baili Jingwei’s group gnashed their teeth without a word, taking all the abuse they threw at them, be it physical or emotional. The abusers grew wilder, stopping only when Luo Yunhai came over to break them up, but even so, they left with a wide and scornful smile, like some prized underdog.
Murong Xue shook her head, disappointed, “These dignified people cast away their people, shirking all duty in face of disaster, yet they now prance around high and mighty as they take it out on the defeated enemy. Even Baili Jingwei, the greatest mastermind and our enemy wouldn’t fall so low.”
Zhuo Fan smiled as he left with a dark glint in his eye.
[Good and evil begin from thoughts. In this world, who could rein in his wild nature? Ha-ha-ha…]
The imperial capital fell. Aside from Shangguan Feiyun and the spies, taken away by the other lands’ leaders, the rest of the captives were handed to the Luo clan to be dealt with.
The news spread like wildfire throughout the empire, crushing the morale of all the forces still trying to fend off the invading three lands’ armies. The empire fell and the central area fell as well. This became the new reality.
The eastern lands’ rebellion soon won as well, with the Shangguan clan reinstated as its ruler.
The five lands regained peace, the Dharma Kings returning to their old jobs, handling their lands. Zhuo Fan put everything aside, going with the Luo clan to rest with the others.
Luo Sifan and the other two kids were torn from worry. They welcomed her parents back with utter joy, while the oldies from the Luo Alliance noticed the first great steward returned as well, everyone gave him a deep bow of respect.
The kids became aware that Steward Zhuo was a monumental existence to the alliance. Also, he wasn’t blind.
It left them baffled.
Zhuo Fan caught up with his old friends, offering a different kind of comfort.
Three days passed and Zhuge Changfeng was with Zhuo Fan in the Luo clan’s backyard, enjoying idle talk and playing chess. Luo Sifan was engrossed seeing the pieces fly across the board, glancing at Zhuge Changfeng and seeing him frown hard. She raised her hand to propose, “Grandpa Zhuge, here.”
“Ha-ha-ha, young miss, if I place it there, then I’ll burn my own foot, with Steward Zhuo not even needing to land the killing blow.”
Zhuge Changfeng rubbed his beard, chuckling and cupping his hand, “Steward Zhuo’s chess skills have grown sharper. I admit complete defeat.”
Luo Sifan pouted, “Grandpa Zhuge, you lost ten rounds already, but weren’t said to be the best at chess in the western lands? Why…”
“That’s when Steward Zhuo wasn’t around, since I lost to Steward Zhuo once a hundred years ago, ha-ha-ha…” Zhuge Changfeng laughed.
Zhuo Fan smiled, “Prime Minister Zhuge, you’re still holding onto that grudge? Ha-ha-ha…”
“Big brother Zhuo!”
“Master!”
Luo Yunhai and his wife came over, bowing to him. Zhuge Changfeng and Luo Sifan rose up and greeted them.
“Clan Head, madam!”
“Mom, dad!”
“Yunhai, you’re the Clan Head, I should be the one to visit you. What are you doing here so early in the morning?” Zhuo Fan gathered the pieces on the board while talking casually.
Luo Yunhai chuckled, “Big brother Zhuo, you jest. I’d never try getting you to visit me. I heard you are back and many of our old friends from the western lands are here to see you, even the Exalted…”
“Exalted Double Dragons?”
Luo Sifan jumped, “The Exalted have hardly gone around the land and even I never met them. To think they’d show up at our door.
“That’s a given.”
Zhuge Changfeng smiled, “Steward Zhuo defeated the Invincible Sword, the best in the world. He is now in the Luo clan and it bolsters the Luo Alliance’s fame and value. They say the Luo clan has replaced the Baili as the best clan in the world. The Exalted have to show respect and can no longer stay haughty like before.”
Luo Sifan oohed, looking at Zhuo Fan like a prized pony.
[Uncle Zhuo is so grand…]
Zhuo Fan stood and walked, “Since we’re friendly, let’s meet them. I won’t get the chance again…”
“Wait!”
Zhuo Fan turned back at the sharp shout, “Shuang’er, it’s been a while. I’ve been in the Luo clan for days yet never saw you around. Where have you been? Ha-ha-ha…”
“Holy Maiden!”
Zhuo Fan chuckled in good-humor. He was still feeling odd, since Shuang’er should’ve known he was with the Luo clan yet never came to see him.
Luo Yunhai’s group smiled.
Yun Shuang smiled back and took Zhuo Fan’s arm, “Come with me.”
“Why?”
“My Patriarch wants to see you.”
“Your Patriarch?” Zhuo Fan asked curiously.
Shuang’er’s eyes glimmered, “Yes, my Yun clan Patriarch, Sovereign Yun, one of the ten ancient Sovereigns wants to see the Demonic Emperor Zhuo Yifan!”
Zhuo Fan’s heart tensed, looking grave.
[The missing Sovereign Yun was in the mortal domain?]
…
Ten days later, in a thick forest, a man and a woman dashed through the woods to land among some ruins. Every rock was covered in vines or hidden by the wildlife.
“This is the Yun clan’s ancestral home?” Zhuo Fan asked.
Yun Shuang nodded, “The Yun clan left this place ages ago, and it came into ruin, making it look bleak. If not for the last five lands’ war growing to such a scale, I might have never come back here to seek my Patriarch’s blessing. I then stayed here, under his guidance, to cultivate.”
Yun Shuang made a sign and the random rocks scattered about rippled, and the air shimmered in front.
“Let’s go.”
Giving Zhuo Fan a smile, she pulled his hand as she took the lead to enter the shimmering air. The two ended up in a dark cave and found themselves unable to control their bodies, floating in space.
The only presence there were the endless stars casting a mystical glow.
Boom!
The image of a three hundred-meter tall old man whooshed in their sight, releasing a white aura and shedding light in this dark space.
“Welcome to my Star Space, Demonic Emperor Zhuo Yifan!”
“Y-you’re Sovereign Yun?” Zhuo Fan’s heart shook, finding meeting a Sovereign still shocking. He bowed and offered his respect, “Greetings, senior.”
Yun Shuang bowed as well, “Greetings, Patriarch!”
“There’s no need for that. I am but a trace.”
Sovereign Yun looked stern, “Demonic Emperor Zhuo Yifan, do you know why I asked for you?”
Zhuo Fan never looked up, bowing still, “I do not. Please enlighten me, senior!”
“Because you lost something. Without it, you will die!”
Sovereign Yun was grave as he shouted, “Boy, your death isn’t important, but it will involve the fate of every living thing, bringing misery to us all. You have to get it back, understand?”
Zhuo Fan pondered and said, “Senior, what am I looking for?”
“You know fully well what.”
Sovereign Yun shouted, “You were operating outside of fate and I could not see your destiny, but I could still see your past. But all these years, I had been blind to you. Do you know why? It’s because you had something on you that helped you in all your cunning endeavors. Do you know what that is?”
Zhuo Fan guessed, “Is it that… what senior is referring to?”
“Only you know what you’re to find. I’m only giving you a reminder.”
Sovereign Yun was being cryptic as his hand shone white and revealed a black sphere, throwing it to Zhuo Fan.
“This is a 6th grade sacred weapon I made with all my power, Worldbridge. No place is out of its reach. As long as you think of somewhere, it will take you there, helping you find what, or who, you want. It will also guide you towards what you’re looking for.”