The Steward Demonic Emperor
chapter-952-25061254

Proofreader: Papatonks

“Second young master!”

With light steps, a youth in lavish clothes came along which made the guards bow at once.

Zhuo Fan chuckled to himself, “They say the eldest young master of the Serene Shores Trading is able and efficient, having the Clan Head’s favor, while the second young master is a hot-head, making trouble and pissing off his elders. It can’t be you, can it? Ha-ha-ha…”

“Are you done spouting crap?”

Looking angry, the youth’s face sank and released the power of a 3rd layer Soul Harmony Stage cultivation as he spat, “I don’t care what mutt you are, barking at my company, but to insult me? You’re dead!”

Bam!

He never got the chance as two stalwart men shielded Zhuo Fan from any harm.

The young master flipped out seeing the guards go against him, “What do you think you’re doing? I’m doing this for you, teaching this punk some manners yet you defy me? Do you want to die too?”

“Second young master, the master commanded us to always keep the peace and never raise a hand on our guests. Especially to a noble guest such as he, a possible imperial family member. We can’t ever…” The guards grimaced and bowed.

The guy exploded in rage and cut them off, “Who cares? That’s only on the surface when he’s utterly useless at everything else. Stop exaggerating!”

“Isn’t bloodline enough?”

Zhuo Fan gave a taunting smirk, “Second young master’s reputation precedes you. You mean you don’t know that in this world, strength is second while heritage is first? Just how many people can actually reach the peak of their skills? The majority is in fact walking around with the noses up and puffed up chest thanks to riding someone’s coattails. And you, second young master, are no different. You’ve been brought up as well, and quite good in fact. The only reason these two guards show you any kind of respect and not send you to your maker, is because you’re the second young master of the Serene Shores Trading, he-he-he…”

Zhuo Fan finished by looking elsewhere, further incensing the enraged second young master till he was beet red.

The guards sighed, their hearts bleeding from seeing the second young master ready to pop and the indifferent Zhuo Fan of his own handiwork behind them.

[This guest has a sharp mouth as well.]

Taking deep breaths, the second young master glared at the two and declared, “So you dogs want to stop me, right? You asked for it!”

Second young master charged for the two, unleashing his great power on them.

The guards cried out, “Second young master, please don’t force our hand.”

“Oh, I will, or you can say goodbye to that imperial family guy! That’s what you get for blocking me!” Second young master was out for blood.

The two guards felt put on the spot, but soon came to a decision and met him head on, “Second young master, stop making a scene! Harming anyone from the imperial family will lead to problems for the company! We have no choice but to stop you!”

Clang!

The guards took hard stances and punched with great power towards the second young master, tough and sharp like swords. Such a state could only be achieved with soul harmony.

Zhuo Fan nodded inside like a judge, acting like a bystander to the scene he caused.

[Not bad sword souls, these two, a shame they’re against…]

Rumble~

The mighty sword arts were unleashed as the two punches passed through the second young master’s belly, astounding them, “Second young master, w-why didn’t you dodge…”

The second young master stood in place with an icy gaze, “Two puny sword souls think to harm me? Humph, your sword training is nowhere near enough to even pluck a hair from me. Train harder next time!”

“T-that…” The guards were panicking and about to retreat when they found their hands stuck in place.

The second young master smirked, “I hardly ever fight with Soul Harmony Stage experts so you don’t know. I have a once in millennium elemental soul, making me nigh untouchable, phantasmal, the instant my body turns to ice. You can use your sword soul to harm me if you harden them enough, but you’re just too weak compared to me. Ha-ha, the moment I formed my soul I surpassed most people around. My superiority in the Ethereal Stage only became more pronounced in the Soul Harmony Stage. You only lost due to soul levels. Better work harder next time! Train and make up for your weakness!”

A crackling sound could be heard and the two guards’ hands iced over, the cold spreading over their entire body and freezing them in place.

The second young master dealt with them in a flash, slipping backward and letting their hands come out while his body returned to normal.

Did the two guards attack at random?

Not many Soul Harmony Stage people knew what exactly happened, except for Zhuo Fan. The soul harmony combined one’s soul and flesh, but it wasn’t as simple as addition.

Compared to Ethereal Stage, the Soul Harmony Stage takes the cultivators to a new and improved level, to a flawless state.

There were three kinds of souls. Beast souls and tool souls were the lowest rung, while the elemental souls were formed through condensing an element and becoming intangible, thus they were better. As for domain souls, they encompassed everything, the highest form where one’s rules were supreme.

This led to variation in strength in the Ethereal Stage, despite equal cultivation yet different souls. And once one reached the Soul Harmony Stage, this gap only broadened.

A soul harmony of a beast or tool soul would exhibit great power, the savagery of a beast or the hardness of a tool. They were so destructive it could cause real damage even in the Ethereal Stage.

Though there were always exceptions, such as monsters like Zhuo Fan with his double soul empowered domain that could crush even a Soul Harmony Stage cultivator.

As to why they ranked so low in the Soul Harmony Stage, that was because when doing soul harmony with an elemental soul, the body combines with it and turns the user phantasmal. As long as the opponent’s soul was weaker than yours, he could never touch you.

The same happened to those two poor guards. They were on a different level despite their okay-ish cultivation. This was where a soul type made all the difference.

As for a soul harmony domain, that was turning yourself into an area and assuming complete control, even more outrageous.

Though enough Yuan Qi, like in Danqing Shen’s case, to crack the earth and rend space, soul type no longer mattered.

While soul type was an advantage, it was not a blowout. One’s true strength was what made the real difference.

Though for average people, soul types meant different power levels…

Ignoring the stiff and frozen guards, the second young master passed them by and walked before Zhuo Fan.

“No killing?”

Zhuo Fan smirked, pointing at the popsicles, “They just tried to attack you. I have to say, you’re quite forgiving for an arrogant master when teaching your dogs.”

The second young master’s eyes twitched in rage, “They attacked me to save your life. Is that how you return their favor, by having me kill them?”

“Return what? I have nothing to give them.”

Zhuo Fan had a crooked grin, “I came to do business and I’m your guest. Protecting me is in their job description. Besides, they most likely did it for the company’s name to go untouched for longer. Speaking of, they didn’t do it for me, but because the second young master started it, no? Anywho, shouldn’t dogs that bite back, regardless of reasons, be put down? Ha-ha-ha…”

The fury in the second young master reached a boil as he shook all over and punched at Zhuo Fan, “Shut up!”

Zhuo Fan grinned as the punch stopped an inch from his face.

“Scared that I’m from the imperial family?” Zhuo Fan cocked an infuriating eyebrow, “This shows you’re not all muscle, up there, and know when to stop. Now be good and kowtow…”

“Shit!”

The second young master snapped, “Damn cocky bastard, I don’t care who you are, but today you die! Just, put the kid down. I don’t strike children.”

Zhuo Fan glanced behind at young Sanzi and smiled.

[I see.]

Zhuo Fan nodded and stepped in the second young master’s personal space, catching him off-guard.

Bam!

A loud explosion tore at the peaceful sky and the second young master felt pain in his gut, making him keel over and spit blood. He looked down in utter shock at the scarlet punch buried in his stomach.

[H-how?! I have an elemental soul harmony! How did he touch me? No Soul Harmony expert…]

Blood dripped from his incredulous face. His legs failed him and fell down with hazy eyes.

“Elemental soul harmony isn’t invincible, and a man carrying a child isn’t always weak.” Grinning, Zhuo Fan turned around to walk inside, leaving his laughter behind, “Second young master, you’re amusing. I’ll remember you. Maybe we’ll get to work together someday, ha-ha-ha… “

[Wait, w-who are you…]

Second young master wanted to shout, but the pain robbed him of his voice, his sight and his consciousness.

A sacred beast was born with soul harmony, then he also had the heaven dragon soul with godlike power. Zhuo Fan was not in the Soul Harmony Stage, but with the heaven dragon soul and Qilin arm, he made up for it. Nothing could stop him, not elemental soul harmony, and neither domain soul harmony…