Chapter 1251: Sacred Mountains’ Decision
Proofreader: Papatonks
The two rushed away with Chu Qingcheng in tow, yet not out of Ruby Cloud Sect, instead slipping near the Main Hall.
A patrol of disciples pa.s.sed by and the two knocked them out without a sound.
“What are you doing?” Chu Qingcheng whispered.
Li Jingtian waved off her concern, “Miss Chu, they’re fine. Make sure to stay quiet and follow me.”
The two venerables led her to a hidden spot. Chu Qingcheng was baffled, but trusted them since they harmed no one.
They reached a hidden part of the wall of the building and looked in through the window, “Steward Zhuo, you’ve drunk a dozen cups already? Can we start already?”
[Master?]
Chu Qingcheng gave the two an odd look, seeing them grave.
She could only refocus on the scene inside the hall, where He Xiaofeng, her master and Zhuo Fan were.
Zhuo Fan placed his teacup down.
[This should be enough. I’ve stalled for an hour now. Should I keep going?]
“Enchanting Empress, your maiden tea is delightful. I can’t get enough of it…”
“Steward Zhuo, Lord Saint called you here to discuss, not chat over tea!” The Enchanting Empress’s face was dark, glaring at Zhuo Fan.
It all started as courtesy, showing him hospitality, but this guy kept fussing over the tea being too cold or too hot. Then he stuffed himself with snacks, only to ask for a potty break. He was wasting time, no doubt about it, not wanting to get to it.
[We’re all civilized people here, men of status that know courtesy. So being polite was only natural. But this?]
Zhuo Fan had been milking their courtesy for an hour now.
The two didn’t know what he was playing, but their patience was running thin, unable to keep their calm.
Bam!
Zhuo Fan slammed the teacup down, raging, “Humph, Enchanting Empress, is this how you treat guests? Can’t a guy enjoy a nice warm tea around here? Is this Ruby Cloud Sect’s hospitality?”
“You’ve had eighteen of them!”
He Xiaofeng’s face twitched, snapping, “This is the sixth time you used that pretext. Can’t you at least change your script? You might like this agitation, but we don’t. What are you trying to pull?”
Zhuo Fan beamed bashfully, “That many? Ha-ha-ha, sorry, I didn’t keep count. Though could I get a refill?”
“Enough!”
He Xiaofeng slammed the table, “Zhuo Fan, I’ve never seen a more revolting person in my life. I know what your game is, but no matter how much you stall it won’t work. It’s time you give me an explanation! Why is the Demonic Emperor attacking two Emperors without reason?”
Zhuo Fan shrugged, “The whole of the Sacred Domain knows it, even the Enchanting Empress. The two Emperors were at odds with the Demonic Emperor and waged war. If not for Lord Saint interfering, it would’ve been over by now. Later, Saint took the Nether Sea map then went back. Sir doesn’t have to mix in our squabbles.”
“It’s the Sacred Mountains’ decision, not requiring discussion with anybody, especially with you.” He Xiaofeng unleashed his strong aura filled with bloodthirst.
Zhuo Fan sneered inside.
[He can flip out all he wants now, humph…]
The Enchanting Empress intervened, “Sir Saint, think of everything. If Qingcheng finds out about his death, it will make things worse. It’ll be bad if she takes her life.”
He Xiaofeng quelled his seething anger.
The Enchanting Empress said, “Steward Zhuo, I know you wield all of the Demonic Emperor’s forces, with Zhao Chen in seclusion. It’s brave of you to go against two Emperors in the Demonic Emperor’s name, but once he comes out, he will make you answer for it.”
“Nothing Enchanting Empress needs to concern herself with. All I do is for the Demonic Emperor. I started the war with sir’s approval. There’s no point in you interfering, ha-ha-ha…”
“Steward Zhuo, you’re burning bridges.”
The Enchanting Empress mocked, “The Demonic Emperor has the power to fight those two because I and the Sword Emperor wore them out. While you two stood by and watched, we took heavy losses. I can overlook this, but now you want us to stand back? That’s not very honest.”
“But it is, since our deal is done. You got your Nether Sea map so what are you lacking?”
“I don’t care about your squabbles. You are forbidden from fighting!”
He Xiaofeng slammed the table again, “The Eight Emperors are about to change. A few disciples will come down from Sacred Mountains, replacing some of the Eight Emperors. It’s unclear who it will be. It’s too soon for you to fight for more land!”
Zhuo Fan said, “Replace the Eight Emperors? Are you kidding me? The Eight Emperors represent Sacred Mountains, but they are outside of it. They come from every corner of the Sacred Domain and understand it best. Those ent.i.tled Saints don’t know the first thing about the Sacred Domain’s situation. They lack the experience to handle local factions and quell chaos. It’ll be a miracle if the Sacred Domain won’t burn to the ground. It won’t be of benefit to anyone, including the Sacred Mountains’ supply. There’s sure to be accidents.”
“Are you looking down on us?”
“That’s no disdain, but fact!”
Zhuo Fan’s eyes shone, “The Sacred Domain is a world where the strong rule, but for them to form their faction, they need the skill set for it, to know how to draw people in and feel at ease as their power grows. With the Sacred Mountains merely observing from above, they don’t know anything about how things work down below. With a few reckless commands, the Sacred Domain’s order will be broken, with the people crushed and suffering.”
Enchanting Empress was touched, with He Xiaofeng sneering, “No one will stir anything when we come down! We can even replace the Eight Emperors with pigs and there’ll still be no objection!”
“You guys only have pigs?”
“You dare disgrace the Sacred Mountains?” He Xiaofeng roared.
The Enchanting Empress rushed to stop him, advising, “Steward Zhuo, we have no say in the Sacred Mountains’ decision. Their disciples have incredible talent and might be qualified for our positions. Over time, they will gain their experience and become able lords.”
“Humph, able, you say? When they can’t reach Sainthood with those top cultivation methods and mountains of resources thrown at them?”
Zhuo Fan mocked, “Even making them into the Eight Emperors, while time can give them experience, their mindset will never change. Did they rise from the bottom? Will they listen to other’s suggestions? A bunch of pompous p.r.i.c.ks will sooner or later destroy everything. Using the Sacred Domain’s turmoil to raise their own people is so kind of the Sacred Mountains, humph.”
Zhuo Fan mocked, He Xiaofeng sneered and the Enchanting Empress sighed.
“Also,” Zhuo Fan continued, “Enchanting Empress, they’ll send a few to replace the Eight Emperors, but next time there will be even more. At some point, all will be replaced. The only land ruled by bottom cultivators will turn over into the hands of those high and mighty from the Sacred Mountains. Then there will be no end to our torment, the same goes for you as well. It’s only a matter of time before only the Sacred Mountains could produce Saints, taking all the highest positions.”
He Xiaofeng mocked, “And, isn’t it now the same?”
“Of course not. The Eight Emperors have a share of resources left from the Sacred Domain, giving hope of creating some Saints. But once the Sacred Mountains take everything, this little hope will be crushed. What chance do cultivators born outside the Sacred Mountains ever have of reaching the top?”
“Blame it on their birth, for being born elsewhere.”
He Xiaofeng had a sinister smirk, “No matter how antagonistic the Eight Emperors are, they are to stay put. You can resume once the replacements are here. The other Emperors should get word of it soon. No one gets to disobey, not even the Demonic Emperor, let alone a n.o.body like you.”
Zhuo Fan’s eyes shone with bloodthirst.
He came to see He Xiaofeng for another reason, but the Sacred Mountains’ decision infuriated him.
In both of his lives, he had clawed his way from the bottom, his pride making him never lower his head to anyone, not even the Sacred Mountains.
For he believed that one day he would surpa.s.s those fools. He didn’t have anywhere near the resources they had, but he made up for it with effort.
This decision, however, would make the common people lose all hope. The resources would be under tight control and even reaching Sainthood would only be possible if the Sacred Mountains allowed it.
There would be no hope to become strong.
He didn’t know what got the Sacred Mountains to go crazy and issue such a decision, but Zhuo Fan would be sure to never let them succeed.
[I need to speed up taking down the Eight Emperors…]