The clans were outraged at Zhuo Fan’s haughty declaration while also terrified of the one they called Soaring Demonic Dragon.

The Profound Heaven expert directing the fights said to Zhuo Fan, “This isn’t in the rules!”

“What matters is strength, that’s how one earns their right to participate in the final battle!” Grinning, Zhuo Fan stuck out his chin as he turned to the seven houses, “And it’s a perfect time to show them who they’re up against!”

Such ego to consider himself the seven houses’ equal!

He instantly earned the disdain of the crowd. While those that knew of his exploits with the seven houses thought, [The kid sure is qualified.]

Huangpu Qingtian stepped forward and watched the stage coldly.

The appearance of Regent Estate’s eldest young master shocked them all.

They soon heard a clear and mighty voice ringing in their ears. The words had such impact they almost had a heart attack.

“Do as per his wishes. But…” Huangpu Qingtian drew his arm over the crowd, “I declare that anyone who brings me Zhuo Fan’s head, their clan will become Regent Estate’s vassal!”

Sss~

After a round of gasps, a deathly silence ensued. The clans were so overwhelmed they couldn’t dare believe their ears!

[This is godsent!]

One little head was enough to skip the cruel and deadly Esoteric Debate’s last battle and just come under Regent Estate’s wing.

What they didn’t know however was that this dream was closer to a nightmare than reality.

But the promise of greatness robbed their minds of what was to come. Their eyes were fixed on Zhuo Fan, wishing they were already holding his head!

All they were waiting for now was that Profound Heaven expert’s signal and they’d be onto him like wolves.

No one even stopped to think that this free meal could be too hard to even chew. Was Zhuo Fan’s title of Soaring Demonic Dragon, on par with Six Dragons and One Phoenix, for naught?

“Young master Huangpu, you’re sending them to their deaths!”

Zhuo Fan was carefree as he showed an evil grin to Huangpu Qingtian.

Huangpu Qingtian responded with the same smile, “Isn’t this what you wanted?”

Then they laughed.

Zhuo Fan wanted to cause a sensation alright, to establish Luo clan’s position in the upcoming final battle. So the more people that jumped on his sword the better. While Huangpu Qingtian never once believed these second and third rate clans had any good seeds among them to even harm Zhuo Fan.

He was using them to see Zhuo Fan’s limit and develop contingencies.

Each side understood the other’s intent flawlessly, all while using each other.

It was a win-win scenario. The only losses here would be just your run-of-the-mill rock for brains suicidal morons.

The seven houses noticed this as well and they were stunned looking at the laughing duo.

[These two are devious and cruel men of ambition. They gaze far into the horizon!]

In this Esoteric Debate, the winner would come from one of them.

But as the world wasn’t big enough for the two of them, they had to settle their score here and now. Or the world would be plunged into chaos at their hands, ripped apart and burned to cinders.

The house lords watched them with glinting eyes.

The Esoteric Debate was going to revolve around these two monsters, Huangpu Qingtian and Zhuo Fan. Each leading his own faction of houses, something unheard of in the past Esoteric Debates.

The battle for unification was underway and nothing or anyone could stop it. All that was left was to see who had the last laugh!

This was something privy to the seven houses only. Those crickets downstairs only knew how to fight among each other for scraps…

The presiding Profound Heaven expert got his nod of approval and flew up high, soon followed by his clear words.

“Luo clan’s qualifying fight for the final battle begins!”

Roar!

The clans flung themselves like mindless beasts at Zhuo Fan. They were all spectators turned opportunists. What used to be innocent bystanders, were now fired up by the smell of blood and glory.

They were all just one gory head away from becoming the foundation of their clan’s endless fame. Who could fight the temptation? Perhaps they were lucky enough and would even get it.

And the number who thought so was by no means small.

As such, the referee’s words were marked by a veritable flood of people storming the stage. It was close to ten thousand people, with plenty of Bone Tempering and Profound Heaven experts joining as well!

The Wan clan already on stage was overwhelmed.

Zhuo Fan was their opponent but, as things stood, did they even have a snowball’s chance in hell to rob the guy’s head from the masses?

Luck was with them in that regard, being so close and all. Yet when they looked deep into Zhuo Fan’s bottomless gaze, the 20 strong men found themselves frozen.

The incoming tide behind them was oblivious, rushing onwards like clueless children swept by the promise of reward as they launched attacks on Zhuo Fan.

The thousands of people swallowed Zhuo Fan until he was no longer visible.

Xue Ningxiang was worried, “Will brother Zhuo be fine?”

“Totally. With that punk’s luck, not even the seven houses can do anything to him, let alone these pests!” Xie Tianyang comforted Ning’er but he was nonetheless frowning, “But isn’t thousands of people at once perhaps an overkill? The punk is amazing, sure, but there is also the danger of dying from exhaustion. Why is he waiting them out? Why isn’t he thinning the crowd?”

“Hi-hi-hi, no matter how strong, he is all alone against the tide! He is finished!” A creepy laughter jarred his ear.

The audience, or what was left of it, turned to the creepy man to hear him say, “A shame we are already under Hell Valley and cannot throw our lot with Regent Estate. We would’ve been in there cashing our luck otherwise.”

“En, true!” Dong Clan Head nodded.

Wan’er glared at him.

Dong Clan Head shook his head as he looked at the sea of people on the stage, “These are cruel words, but that is reality. Regent Estate’s bait is too enticing for anyone to resist.  Not even the kid would’ve thought his egotistical words would stir such a reaction.”

“Even if he dies, he only has himself to blame.” Dong Clan Head sighed, as did Xue Wanlong and Xue Dingtian.

Xue Ningxiang and Dong Xiaowan watched on, plagued with worry. Dong Tianba and the Xue clan’s youths were frowning. But only Xie Tianyang had a mocking smile.

[Egotistical? Of course he is!]

[But have you ever seen how cautious he is? How could a brash and obnoxious kid ever manage to toy with You Guiqi?]

Xie Tianyang was not one bit worried for Zhuo Fan’s fate.

He knew Zhuo Fan showed cockiness on the outside but never actually did something unless he had a plan set in motion.

Hu~

An invisible ripple spawned in the center of the stage, swallowing it whole.

The force of it had Huangpu Tianyuan squinting. He watched as the tide of people on the stage had blank stares before collapsing.

All the contestants dropped on the ground one at a time, with the crazed and thirsty greed frozen on their faces.

Those outside the stage stopped in their charge, watching the stage tensely.

Zhuo Fan touched the buffed guy in front with his finger and let him collapse.

The ground around him was littered with bodies, not that he cared, stepping over them in his conquering march.

Like a king, he was stepping on the bodies of his enemies as he took his throne.

Xue Ningxiang and Dong Xiaowan were overjoyed while Dong Clan Head, Xue Clan Head were shellshocked.

“What just happened? What’s wrong with them?” The shock on everyone’s faces was palpable.

Zhuo Fan was uncaring, looking over the leftovers, still standing and cocking his finger with a nasty grin, “There’s still a thousand left. Come and take my head if you want it.”

Swallowing dryly, they were now faltering. Their previous high had passed, as did their courage. The sight of an evil and grinning Zhuo Fan in the middle of thousands of bodies tended to do that to a feeble mind.

“Killing with intent!” Huangpu Qingtian’s eyes trembled.

His quiet voice spread everywhere among the deathly silence.

In an instant, everyone looked at Zhuo Fan in shock.

[Isn’t that a Radiant Stage expert’s ability? Why is a Bone Tempering cultivator wielding it?]

The fear in their eyes couldn’t be more pronounced.

This was why so many people dropped lifeless without even a chance to fight back. The one that killed them was on par with a Radiant Stage expert…