The Steward Demonic Emperor-Chapter 693: Forsaken

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“S-senior brother… h-how can you…”

All the Universal Righteous Sect disciples stood in disbelief, unable to come to terms with the fact their glorious head senior brother was forsaking them. Some were even crying.

Their head senior brother, who always shouted that he would grasp victory, had cast them aside.

Zhuo Fan felt the barrier weakening by a significant degree as he mocked. “You still don’t get it? Your senior brother had been spurring you on just to keep the barrier up while he got away with his life. If the barrier collapsed, then all would die. This, however, it’s much better. Nine die so one can flee. Your deaths now have some worth, ha-ha-ha…”

Everyone looked in the direction Zhao Dezhu went with questioning gazes.

Unable to face them, Zhao Dezhu lowered his head as he spoke, “Uh, Double Dragon Gathering needs to have a survivor to return and guide the next generation of disciples to fight in the Double Dragon Gathering. This is for the greater good, you…”

“Excuses, Zhao Dezhu. You’re just a spineless hypocrite that has clearly forsaken us…”

One disciple cut him off as he cursed. He didn’t get to finish, as Zhuo Fan had the Almighty Scarlet Dragon King shake and remove all those chains on it.

At the same time, its huge bulk slammed into the barrier, breaking it down.

Its vast body soared through the skies and unleashed its rage. The Universal Righteous Sect’s nine disciples spat one last mouthful of blood and lost all signs of life.

They crumbled to the ground, their souls gone. All that remained was the anger and remorse in their eyes. Whether by coincidence or not, Zhuo Fan’s attack allowed this heavy regret to be forever engraved in their eyes.

When the huge dragon rushed out, the nine disciples were flung by its force, and it so happened they fell all around Zhao Dezhu. 

Their eyes stared at him. A mere glance left him struck with fear as he stumbled back. He hurriedly looked away, unable to bear the shame.

The spectators all looked at him with scorn. 

[As a cultivator, it is shameful enough not to face adversities as you meet them, but you just treated the brothers you spend so much time with as scapegoats to save your pathetic life. This is a question of character.]

[You even go as far as spewing excuses as you flee, shirking all responsibility.]

[If you used them as scapegoats, the least you can do is be honest about it. That way, it’ll make you look cunning, at the very least, become a demonic cultivator.]

[But by mincing words, you only earned everyone’s scorn. You’re not qualified to even be a man!]

Wu Qingqiu sighed in disappointment, finally understanding what Yan Mo was saying. Zhao Dezhu was even worse than he had thought.

Shui Ruohua and the girls’ eyes lit up. Then they sent a look of admiration to Chu Qingcheng.

She, who had come from a common clan among the common people, could easily spot a hypocrite. While they trained for years in their sect, they lacked life experiences. They only knew of good versus evil while oblivious to the complexity of a person’s character.

It was hard to believe Zhao Dezhu, the great leader of the Universal Righteous Sect’s team, would stoop so low. 

[It’s best to avoid him. He’s not worth our time.]

Shui Ruohua turned to Xuan Shaoyu, wanting to say something.

“Senior sister, why are you looking at me?” Xuan Shaoyu was sulking since Zhuo Fan won another fight. Then he noticed Shui Ruohua’s strange gaze and was startled.

Shui Ruohua shook her head after a pause. “Nothing, little brother. A gentleman must always improve himself, stand upright, and have dignity. Take this as a warning.”

“Oh.” Xuan Shaoyu waved her off. His eyes took a more hateful tint for some odd reason.

Easing a breath, Shui Ruohua turned around with worry. She felt the little brother she saw growing up was straying further and further from the righteous path…

Whoosh~

With the huge dragon looming around, Zhao Dezhu’s figure flashed before Zhao Dezhu.

Zhao Dezhu waved his hands about, frantic, “W-wait! I give, I give! You can’t attack me. I have no way to make the array again. Since I surrender, you have no reason to attack me.

“Elder, hurry and take me out. Universal Righteous Sect admits defeat.” Zhao Dezhu blabbed in a hurry, having already forgotten he just forsook his fellow brothers and imploring the judge to save him.

The judge’s eyes shone with disdain, and he shook his head. He glanced over at the gatekeepers.

The two caught it and began to open the door.

A white light fell on the small valley, carrying the judge’s voice, “In Demon Scheming Sect versus Universal Righteous Sect, Demon Scheming Sect is the winner. Neither side may continue fighting.”

The arena was drowned in a sea of cheers. Even the fiends were wild with joy.

While their aim was the superior-three sects, the fact they actually achieved it was beyond glorious.

The disciples of the Sword God Sect smiled as well. The Demon Scheming Sect had come all the way from a lower three sect and became one of the best in the lands. It was a monumental occasion. 

Although Zhuo Fan had prevented the Sword God Sect from reaching the superior-three sects, to witness the constant for thousands of years finally change, they were gratified.

This was proof the western lands’ sects could grow. This Double Dragon Gathering, the Demon Scheming Sect was the underdog, and the next time, it would be Sword God Sect’s turn.

They had a firm belief in their hearts!

Their convictions were sharp like a sword. The Sword God Sect’s disciples looked at each other and burst out laughing.

As if this grand achievement was theirs.

Even though the judge gave his verdict, Zhuo Fan never stopped walking closer and closer towards Zhao Dezhu with a creepy smile.

The grand dragon around him bared its fangs and roared.

“Hey, hey, hey, it’s over, Zhuo Fan. What are you doing?” Zhao Dezhu was sweating buckets as Zhuo Fan approached.

He was horrified by what Zhuo Fan might do, that he would ignore Double Dragon Manor’s rules and kill him.

The crazed demonic cultivators did not follow logic or rules. Who knew what was really on their minds, what next outrageous thing they’d do?  

Zhao Dezhu smiled and shook his head. He made a sign, and the scarlet dragon returned to his body, “Ha-ha-ha, Zhao Dezhu, no need to fret. I’m a law-abiding man. Since the judge said it, I won’t touch you. Moreover, I wouldn’t have done anything to you even if he didn’t say anything.”

“What?!”

Zhao Dezhu was stumped. 

[Why would this crazed killer just let me go without rhyme or reason? Was he touched by my justice too?] 

[Ha-ha, as if! This vile spawn is unlike those little demons. How could he get scared by my valor? It’s a ploy. It has to be.]

Zhou Fan grinned, having seen through him, and patted his shoulder, “You’re right. I didn’t kill you for a selfish reason of mine. Think about it. It’s not the strong adversary one should fear but a moronic teammate. If all demonic cultivators were like Wen Tao and Wu Qingqiu, such outstanding people, then the future of demonic cultivators would be bleak. But if there were more demagogues like you, Zhao Dezhu, who resort to betrayal during a crucial time, screwing over your team, then the demonic cultivators would rule the world in a few years. “

“One might go as far as to say you’re my lucky star. I can’t wait to spoil you, so why kill you? Just do you when you get back. Betray as many righteous cultivators as you can. We, demonic cultivators, shall forever shower you with the same respect as our ancestors, ha-ha-ha… “

Zhuo Fan patted his shoulder, and the other Demon Scheming Sect disciples laughed. Even the audience joined them.

Zhuo Fan might have said some cruel words, but they were all true. If there were just a few more hypocrites of Zhao Dezhu’s caliber in the righteous faction, its future would look quite shaky. 

“Zhuo Fan, I admit that you have given me a heavy blow, but what you’ve done now it’s a stroke of genius. Letting this punk mess up the Universal Righteous Sect back home will end up messing up all righteous sects. I could practically see the future of demonic cultivators, shining like the bright stars above, ha-ha-ha…” Yan Mo laughed at the sky.

Wu Qingqiu, next to him, shook his head. Not just Zhao Dezhu, but even the entire Universal Righteous Sect, would become western lands’ laughingstock.

And they did it with their own two hands.

Wu Qingqiu smiled, seeing everyone around him having the time of their lives.

The only one who wasn’t that pleased by the teasing was Zhao Dezhu…

His face twitched, and he glared at Zhuo Fan as he ridiculed him. He passed through the curtain of light and returned to the arena.

Next was Demon Scheming Sect vs. Hellion Flame. But because Hellion Flame had suffered great damage in their fight with Ultimate Clarity Sect, the fight didn’t last long against Zhuo Fan, even with Yan Mo giving his all. 

At long last, Demon Scheming Sect was facing the strongest of the nine sects, the Ultimate Clarity Sect. Zhuo Fan was now standing across from his strongest opponent, a fellow sacred beast inheritor, Ye Lin, the Decimating Dragon Ancestor’s disciple…