The Steward Demonic Emperor
chapter-1186

Proofreader: Papatonks

“Place your bets! No take backs!”

The Joy Town that had been bathed in blood was once again filled with noise, only this time, it happened a hundred miles outside of it, in a valley.

Qiu Yanhai even had a stall set up as he shouted, “We’re all friends here people, so don’t be shy and place your bets to make this place livelier. Our young master San has a one to three odds, and on the other side we have Steward Zhuo’s secret guard, the Apocalyptic Sword Child, one to five odds. All bets are now open!”

People already gathered around and started taking out all their valuables. The stall was packed with pills, spiritual weapons and all kinds of super rare ingredients.

With a bang, a large scarlet wine jar creaked the stall’s boards.

Everyone knew then and there who was the weirdo behind such an exotic bet.

Qiu Yanhai’s face twitched, turning to the Wine Sword Immortal’s red nose, “Senior, while I did say there’s no limit, to make it livelier, but you can’t just take out some jar of wine? That’s like ten spirit stones, tops!”

“You call this ten spirit stones? What you see right here is an aged and fine wine of the Murong clan. I made the trip to their home just to get it before coming with you all. It’s always on high demand. The only reason I’m willing to part with such a great wine is seeing you all so fired up.” Wine Sword Immortal patronized.

Qiu Yanhai shook his head, “Fine, I’ll write down ten sacred stones, on account of your seniority. Now who will you be betting on?”

“Isn’t it obvious? Steward Zhuo’s young master San!”

The Wine Sword Immortal chuckled, “With all the action going on so far, everyone knows of Gu Santong’s strength, no less than ours. And since we’ve gotten to the Sacred Domain, everyone reached the Spirit King Stage while his power had to have improved as well. As for that Sword Child, he doesn’t look like much, so I’d rather be on the safe side and stick with young master San.”

Everyone nodded in approval. Rather than taking a risk on an unknown fighter, they’d play it safe by betting on Gu Santong.

A zither then slammed on the stall, followed by a casual voice, “I’m betting on Sword Child.”

“Liu Mubai?”

The Wine Sword Immortal gave him an odd look, “You know his strength to bet on him?”

Liu Mubai snickered as he shook his head, “Nope, but for Zhuo Fan to make him a personal guard, that should be proof enough, right? In fact, I find young master San awfully rash for taking on his challenge just like that. Knowing the enemy is what gets you victory. While he is an open book, the opponent is sealed shut. That’s why the Sword Child has a higher chance at winning.”

“Makes sense, exactly what I’d expect from the Zither Sword King who bid his time to exact revenge for his clan, calculative and observant.” The others lit up and switched their bets from Gu Santong to the Sword Child.

The Wine Sword Immortal licked his dried lips as he moved his wine jar as well, “Uh, Liu Mubai, I’ll trust you on this, but you better pay me back if I lose.”

“Sure, and my zither is also among those bets, ha-ha-ha…” Liu Mubai didn’t mind it, looking at the fighters on their peaks with a smile.

Ever since the empire fell, he had felt so relieved having his wish granted and also brighter in his demeanor.

On the side where there was constant cheering, Zhuo Fan, Luo Yunhai and the rest were standing on a hill and watching the two filled with battle lust.

Luo Yunhai said, “Big brother Zhuo, who is the Sword Child? Can he take on young Sanzi?”

“He should.”

Zhuo Fan said, “Young Sanzi became an early-stage Spirit King after coming to the Sacred Domain, but the Sword Child is my demonic sword transformed, with half my skills. In fact, he should have all my skills besides my eyes. He shouldn’t lose out against young Sanzi.”

[What?!]

They all shouted, “He’s that divine sword?”

“Sure is, and precisely because he’s not human, but a spirit in a sword, we can’t see his cultivation.”

Zhuo Fan nodded, “In his words, he’s the same as me, a mid-stage Spirit King. As for his strength, we’ll just have to wait and see. Letting young Sanzi fight is the perfect chance.”

The others nodded, with Qiao’er sadly staring at Gu Santong.

[Brother, do be careful, the kid is father’s sword and not human. In a fight between a divine sword and sacred beast, victory might not be so easy…]

Gu Santong was totally in the dark about his opponent’s nature, judging him by his young appearance, that he was still too young.

[If he’s a sacred beast, his form means he’s not matured yet. If he’s a human, then that makes him weak as a lamb.]

So he boasted, “Kid, we’re on the same side, so I’ll give you the chance to walk away. I won’t judge you for it, nor make it hard on you, for father.”

“Young Sanzi, you’re as cocky as ever.”

The Sword Child smirked, “Even as a sacred beast, you’re now in Sacred Domain and only an adolescent. There’re plenty of people that can kill you. I’ll just help father by giving you a fair warning, so the next time you go out, you’ll be a bit cautious and not lose your life.

[Eh?]

Gu Santong shook, giving him an odd look.

[Is he really dad’s son? His tone, his style, his arrogance, they’re practically the same!]

All the others gave Zhuo Fan strange looks.

[Steward Zhuo, that’s a miniature version of you, in child form.]

Zhuo Fan smiled.

[The Sword Child had taken everything from me, resembling me more than a son.]

Gu Santong saw no reaction from Zhuo Fan and made up his mind.

[It doesn’t look like the kid is close to dad, and I can set him straight.]

He put on a mean face and smirked, “I could accept it coming from dad, but from a pipsqueak? It sounds more like a taunt. We’ll see who beats who soon enough!”

Gu Santong shot forth and his fist glowed scarlet as he struck at Sword Child. Though it was obvious there was some restraint, leaving a third of his strength behind. Though Gu Santong still thought it excessive and brought it down to just half his strength.

“Young master San, just let loose and come at me with everything. I can easily take it.”

The Sword Child smirked, his eyes set as a red glow shot from his finger and at Gu Santong’s fist.

Whoosh~

A sword wave soared.

It clashed with Gu Santong’s first, letting out a deafening boom. Gu Santong shuddered all over and got pushed back a hundred meters. His gaze now horrified as he turned to Sword Child, “Soaring Sword Art, and at peak strength? How do you have such power? Only dad can unleash it to this level…”

“He inherited Steward Zhuo’s sword skills fully, worthy of being his sword.” Shangguan Feixiong’s eyes shook in admiration.

Zhuo Fan grinned, “He was connected with me, body and mind till now. It’s normal to know the five sword arts. And from what he told me, he also learned a sixth one. Now that’s something I’d like to see.”

“Sixth?”

Shangguan Feixiong and the others nodded, “Right, with Steward Zhuo learning the sword arts to the peak, his divine sword’s spirit has to be even sharper, able to combine the five arts. Now I’m also looking forward to seeing it, ha-ha-ha…”

They all laughed, looking eager as the battle unfolded.

At the betting stall, all those who were about to bet on Gu Santong shifted to the other guy. Qiu Yanhai cursed, “What do you think you’re doing? Have you no ethics? Saying you’d take it and leave it but now that young master San is lacking, you switch tunes? Fat chance!”

“Damnit, I only lost that exchange and now they’ve all lost their faith in me? How mortifying, I got to up my game!”

Gu Santong’s face twitched hearing Elder Qiu’s shouts, anger getting to him as he shot for Sword Child, “Lousy brat, I was going easy on you, but no more. Get ready, ha-ha-ha…”

Gu Santong’s hands shook and struck at the air.

Boom!

It felt like the world was collapsing as the air warped from all the shaking. It got so strong, black scars appeared in space, spreading fast towards the Sword Child. The cracking sounds jarring to the ears.

The audience gasped.

[The space fractured! Doesn’t that mean letting a scar touch you would tear you to pieces?]

[This is too much!]

Gu Santong’s past attempt with this move only warped the air. Now though, he was at the Spirit King level and could warp space. Space was the place where everything existed. By rupturing it, then the space being occupied would be torn to shreds.

[Steward Zhuo, it’s turning deadly!]

Everyone turned to Zhuo Fan.

He was still just looking with a smile, “The kid ain’t human, making no difference even if the sky got torn apart.”

The others exclaimed.

[But of course, he’s a divine sword! The space rupturing won’t affect him…]