The Steward Demonic Emperor

Chapter 1185: Apocalyptic Sword Child

Proofreader: Papatonks

Boom~

The shaking kept up for six hours.

From his room, Zhuo Fan had no way to see the changing skies, looking startled as he stared at the black ball, afraid of doing anything and ruining it all.

The black ball began hissing and shrunk down to just half a meter in size, revealing a strange shape that made Zhuo Fan tense.

As the ball shrank even more, the shape became clearer. Zhuo Fan’s eyes jumped wider as the black ball vanished.

What was revealed was a thin seven-year-old child with a darker skin tone dressed in pitch-black robes. The ball shrank only because he was absorbing it! 

Zhuo Fan was struck dumb.

“Master!”

The child was so sharp that he kneeled and cupped his hands.

Zhuo Fan’s eyebrow jumped, staring hard at him, “Master? Then you’re my vital Blood Infant?”

“Yes, thank you so much master for giving me such a strong body and offering me a vessel.” The kid grinned and said in gratitude, “After the five Sacred weapons combined, I became a Sovereign weapon and Sovereign weapons can take human form. This is the reason behind my appearance. I shall never forget your grace and favor for as long as I live.”

The child kowtowed three times.

Still out of it, Zhuo Fan mumbled to himself before snapping out of it, “A Sovereign weapon taking human form, which means that you, as its sword spirit, are now this body’s soul. I see, so that’s why you were so eager to combine with the last sword. It was a way for you to become human!”

The child scratched his head, laughing at being found out.

“To be honest master, humans are the ultimate beings of the world. All spirits aspire to take human form, to live as they do–to dance, laugh, speak, and create. However, becoming human is fraught with dangers and perils, doubly so for spirits who are less sentient than even common spiritual beasts. I was fortunate enough that master gathered the five sacred weapons and merged them thereby creating a Sovereign weapon, and giving me the means to become human. I have you to thank for all of this, master.” 

The child kowtowed again, filled with gratitude.

Zhuo Fan pondered and then sighed, “My vital Blood Infant you were once, but now we’ve grown apart, like our ties have been cut. No wonder you no longer need me to survive, as you now have a Sovereign weapon for a vessel.” 

“Master, you have built me this body, making you my parent. How could I ever abandon you?”

Reading between the lines, the child puffed up his chest as he declared, “Henceforth, I am your sword, guarding you and never leaving you, just like old times. The only difference is that I can now exchange actual words with master.”

The child shone and turned into a pitch-black sword, floating towards Zhuo Fan as it glittered. Unlike its previous form, when it had a trace from every sword, all signs of the other swords were removed by adding the fifth one. 

Zhuo Fan paused before growing solemn, “You have your own body and your fate is yours to decide. You have finally gained freedom after following me for so many years. Are you content with never wandering the great world outside? Just tell me the truth. We’ve been so close for so long so I won’t make it hard for you.”

“Master, your cold treatment is because you don’t believe me, or that you don’t believe yourself?”

Whoosh~

The demonic sword turned back into a child, his gaze firm. Zhuo Fan paused and found it to be the same look he had. 

“I am master’s vital Blood Infant and never had a sense of self, my survival depending on master. Only with time have I gained a personality within you, master. That means all my habits and quirks have come from you, even your heart. I am another master, while you are yourself. If master owes no favor, does that mean I do? Master is giving his all to help the Luo clan and I will give my all to be at your side every step of the way, nothing more nothing less.” 

Zhuo Fan jerked, giving him a long look.

[Everything this child knows comes from me. He’s like another me. I am never one to be an ingrate and neither is he.]

[He is a replica of my own personality, so what’s there to doubt? He ceased to be my Blood Infant, but became my strongest companion, a loyal guardian sword.]

Zhuo Fan smiled, “Then you will be my Sword Child, guarding my side.”

“Yes, master!” Sword Child nodded with a bright smile. 

Zhuo Fan nodded then paused, giving him an odd look, “Sword Child, would you still be loyal to me even with all the heinous and treacherous acts I’ll be doing?”

“Oh, that, like I said, I learned everything from you and I am just like you. You betray, then I betray. Or maybe, even if you might not let me go, I’ll just off you and go my way. Then I’ll do the same as you, resort to heinous acts to get what I want. It’s that simple.” 

Sss~

Zhuo Fan gasped, his heart shuddering, then he patted his chest.

[Alright, at least I’m a man of principle and won’t stoop so low and wallow in filth. Or I wouldn’t just be losing a divine sword, but gaining a powerful enemy.] 

Zhuo Fan walked out, his thoughts racing, trying to recall if he had ever betrayed himself.

[The kid better not have copied that as well and treat me the same. Talk about getting what I deserve.]

Sword Child beamed behind him, though he was a little restless.

“Sword Child, how is your strength?”

“Before refining, I’ve been growing alongside you. If you got stronger, so did I, therefore I am a mid-stage Spirit King like you.”

“Oh, then do you know any special skills? Don’t tell me you know all of mine as well.”

“No, I can’t use Divine Eye of the Void nor the apocalyptic thunderflame. Though I took all of the five arts you comprehended and combined them into a sixth.” 

“Sixth?”

“The Apocalyptic Sword Art…”

…

Zhuo Fan talked while walking.

[I need to be cautious, not only against enemies, but also taking precautions with myself. It’s a must.]

The two left their room and met with the Luo clan’s higher ups waiting at the door.

Seeing Zhuo Fan come out with someone half his size left them stunned.

“Hasn’t he been in there for three days? Why is there a child by his side? Did he make him himself?”

“That’s no laughing matter. Like three days are enough to bring a child into the world. It takes ten months at the least!”

“Knock it off! You think that’s the problem, how a man birthed a child that grew up so fast? Maybe there’s a hidden tunnel in his room through which the kid sneaked in?” 

“Not possible. I’ve been on guard every minute on the hour ever since Steward Zhuo entered seclusion. There’s not a fly going past me without my knowing, let alone a child.”

…

Everyone started a heated debate over this very crucial topic. Zhuo Fan snickered, “What are you all doing here? Did something happen?”

“Uh, Steward Zhuo, the world started shaking and the sky changed colors. We came to see if you were fine.” Li Jingtian bowed.

Zhuo Fan waved his concern away, “I’m fine, so you can return. Our cultivation has been soaring recently and needs time to stabilize. After that, we have big things ahead of us.”

“We know!”

They all nodded, with no plan on leaving. Their curious eyes glued to Sword Child.

Catching on to their obvious curiosity, he made the introduction, “He’s my personal guard, the Apocalyptic Sword Child!”

“Personal guard?”

They all started, “Steward Zhuo, you need a guard at your level? That means he can’t be too far behind your strength. A pipsqueak…”

“Yeah, dad, if you really wanted one, pick me instead.” Gu Santong gave Zhuo Fan an odd look.

Bang!

Zhuo Fan knocked on his head, chiding, “You dare say that about others? Which six-year-old, I wonder, lorded about in Tianyu like he owned it?”

“How is that the same, I’m a Qilin!” Gu Santong puffed up his chest in pride.

Pa!

A dark and thin palm landed on his shoulder, “Young master San, a spar will make everything clearer. Ha-ha-ha…”

Gu Santong shook, meeting a pair of black eyes and an evil smirk.

[Mommy, he has the same look as dad. Is he some long lost son out of wedlock?]

Gu Santong jumped in fright…