“Dad, haven’t you combined the dragons yet? Why are you only in the 5th layer of Profound Heaven Stage? That earthworm was a peak Radiant Stage expert.”
Two flashes crossed the blue sky, with one flapping its blue wings and wearing an evil smile. The other was the most adorable little child in a cute red glow.
Gu Santong didn’t understand Zhuo Fan’s good mood, but the latter laughed, “Ha-ha-ha, cultivation comes in slow and steady steps. I may have taken the whole Dragon Vein, but it’s not so easy to refine them, or I’d be in the Ethereal Stage by now. It wouldn’t benefit my future cultivation either.
“My foundation in this life has never been better. I want to reach further and beyond anyone else, and not tie myself down with transitory riches and fame. He-he-he, in any case, cultivation has no shortcuts. Or the faster your path, the shorter it is.” Zhuo Fan sighed.
Gu Santong nodded, “But that earthworm sure was hard to beat. Even after kicking him around in my main form, he just wouldn’t die. We shouldn’t have given him the Bodhi Root.”
“No, we had to.”
Zhuo Fan shook his head, “Nine Dragons Diamond Body was the basis of his confidence in igniting the war. If he hadn’t moved, then neither would the emperor. And if the emperor stood still, the court would be the same festering cesspool, working against us in the long run. We needed a good catalyst.
“In vernacular, as long as we crossed swords, the emperor would only then take his court through spring cleaning. Using the civil war that engulfed the whole nation as our righteous excuse to replace his rule, we can then make our claim.”
Gu Santong frowned, “Dad, why go through all this trouble? With the two of us, invincible, we can flatten the imperial capital now that rotten oath is gone as well. We’ll see then if those cowards dare to mess with us.”
“Oh, young Sanzi, this is why you lost the last time around. I dare say, even without the Sage to cheat you, you still couldn’t have taken hold of the empire.”
Zhuo Fan laughed, “If your motives aren’t pure, there’s nothing to gain. Without a good excuse, no one would listen to you even if you take the nation for yourself. Besides, what’s a country if not a vast farmland. If you want them to listen to your orders and farm, you need a grand purpose to have them all come bearing these resources at your feet. Or even if you are the strongest, with such a large domain, are you going to mine or harvest the stuff yourself?
“Speaking of Tianyu’s emperor, he has had a steady flow of resources coming year in year out. With these as incentives, many experts gather under him. That’s why every single ruler pays attention to righteousness, to justify their claim. Or even if you’re godlike, it’d be hard to take all that stuff by yourself and, frankly, it’s just not worth it.”
Gu Santong paused and nodded.
He recalled the time he went looking for ingredients, the bitterness of not finding anything good even in a month. But the seven houses were loaded, offering him a three square meal once he swiped them clean, of course.
Didn’t they get so much stuff from their vassals?
Gu Santong now got an idea of what being upright meant, stealing everything in broad daylight; and with a smile too.
The more he thought about it, the more he realized that the imperial family and the seven houses were more insidious and vile than him who just took a tiny bit to fill his belly.
“Young Sanzi, you must now know more skills, right?” Zhuo Fan asked.
Gu Santong beamed, “Yep, uncle developed my innate strength. I can use the Qilin Shield and return to my innate form. The last one is Soaring Fist, but I’m still practicing it.”
Zhuo Fan nodded.
[Vaulting Kunpeng hasn’t shown any ill will, so far. And was earnest in helping young Sanzi discover his strength.] He thought about it and was relieved.
Boom~
Explosions came from afar drawing the two’s attention. Just half a mile out, a lofty city was under heavy siege.
The glittering barriers around the city shimmered as dozens of Radiant Stage experts launched their attacks.
The city itself had its own team of Radiant Stage experts holding the arrays, hard and dauntless like a mountain.
“That’s Regent Estate’s home, Caged Dragon City!” Gu Santong perked up.
Grinning, Zhuo Fan nodded, “After a casual week-long flight, we’ve finally made it. Elder Qiu and the rest are besieging it by the looks of it.”
“He-he-he, I once took my shot at it back in the day, but it was just so tough that it took me a whole day to flatten it. They won’t breach it in their lifetime. Regent Estate’s home has a total of 385 barriers, plus ten 5th-grade arrays. Not even a million men can do it!” Gu Santong grew smug at his achievement.
Zhuo Fan shook his head, “Young Sanzi, they’d die of shame if they heard you.”
“It’s not my fault if they ask. I just gotta tell them.”
“Of course, but do it in style. That’s how father and son operate, ha-ha-ha…” Zhuo Fan laughed.
Gu Santong laughed as well, catching on…
Meanwhile, Qiu Yanhai and his wife were in the air before the city and in a deep frown.
“Elder Qiu, it’s not working. Caged Dragon City’s defense is too tough!” A figure reported.
Qiu Yanhai knew him to be a surrendered Radiant Stage elder and his face fell, “Won’t work? It’s been ten days now yet you couldn’t break one barrier. We’d much sooner kick the bucket before breaching it. Are you perhaps still thinking of your old life and slacking off?”
“No, never, how could we? Ever since Luo clan took us in, we’ve cut all ties. Just that Caged Dragon City is a tough nut to crack.” The man’s face fell.
Qiu Yanhai was outraged, “Beat it! If you don’t punch through and Steward Zhuo comes after my skin for it, I’ll take it out on all of you!”
The guy ducked his head, returning to attack the city scared like he was. Qiu Yanhai was left panting behind, watching the siege in the distance with a hard look.
Xue Qingjian sighed, “This city won’t go down so easily. Should we use the Life and Death Art?”
“Absolutely not.”
Grandmother shot her down, “Elder Xue, with Elder Li back in Windgaze City to recover, you two are the only pillars here to intimidate the experts inside. But with the Life and Death Art taking too much of your Yuan Qi and with Leng Wuchang’s sharp mind, we may fall for his tricks and end up defeated.”
“Hey, biddy, what do you mean by that? You take us brothers for nothing, the demonic cultivator hero quartet?” Violent Demon butted in, “Without these geezers, you still have the four of us. Not to worry, you may go and die to your heart’s content!”
“Yep yep…” The others cheered.
Xue Qingjian glared, “You four shits must mean for you to die first right?”
Veiled Dragon Pavilion and Sword Marquise Abode’s men shook their heads.
These four pygmies were strong, but missing a screw, or more. How the Luo Clan could handle these idiots was beyond them. If the power couple fell, they’d never accept these four as the next in line to lead the siege even if their lives depended on it, which it technically did.
But with that impenetrable city in front of them, all anyone could do was sigh.
Amidst the conflict, a laughter came, “I had thought you’d have whacked those shrimps by now. But I see you’ve been waiting for me to take over.”
Everyone lit up and looked in the distance.
“Zhuo Fan?” Their cheering was cut short as they saw the dreaded figure hidden behind, “I-Invincible Scamp, Gu Santong!”
“Zhuo Fan, Gu Santong is still after you!”
Long Kui pointed behind Zhuo Fan in fear. But Zhuo Fan just stood there with an ineffable smile.
All of Luo clan’s elders bowed, “Steward Zhuo!”
Then they turned to Gu Santong making a ninety degrees down angle, “Little master!”
[What?!]
The title had everyone stare in space, from shock and awe…
