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The judge looked from one to the other and nodded, “Good, since you both don’t care about it, Zhuo Fan’s words make a lot more sense as to how this team battle ended. Thus, I shall declare Ultimate Clarity Sect as the slightly better victor.”
The crowd exploded in applause, not just for the nominal winner, Ultimate Clarity Sect, but for Zhuo Fan as well, this soft meanie.
Zhuo Fan’s open manner of only taking what he deserved let the people see that nasty demonic cultivators had their own elegance.
Demon Soul Sect nodded, looking at Zhuo Fan as the model example of a demonic cultivator.
Yan Mo sighed as he watched him, “Even demons have their path. Maybe I’ve been indulging too much as of late, ha-ha-ha…”
“Sister Qingcheng, he just gave up the glory of being at the top. Those venerables of theirs have to be fuming mad.”
Dan’er batted her purdy eyes in shock, “This chance may come only once. Maybe the next time they come to Double Dragon Gathering, they won’t get any higher. “
Chu Qingcheng smiled, her gaze soft as she was reminded of Hundred Pill Meeting. “That’s who he is. He’s the same as before…”
The girls noticed what she meant and nodded. As they looked at Zhuo Fan, their gazes were taking different meanings.
Only Xuan Shaoyu was raging inside.
Zhuo Fan’s win had earned everyone’s approval, he even refused fame. Funny how this was exactly Mystical Heaven Sect’s aim when they plotted against Demon Scheming Sect.
There were already people whispering and mocking Mystical Heaven Sect. Some even reached his ears.
It only worked to make his heart rage harder. Zhuo Fan had been up to his tricks many times in his fight yet Mystical Heaven Sect only did it once.
Now Zhuo Fan was hailed as a hero and them as hypocrites.
[How is that fair?!]
He had no clue though, that Zhuo Fan was no goodie-goodie, but was cunning and vile. Even so he had principles, principles that he would not cross.
This was what got everyone’s attention.
Xuan Shaoyu’s side, on the other hand, was a righteous sect that had deviated from their path. That was why they were given dirtier looks than the demonic cultivators.
That showed that an open meanie was better than a shameless hypocrite to make friends with. It was all because the former had a code they knew he followed.
While the latter could stab you in the back anytime anywhere they saw fit.
Though these reasons weren’t noticed by many, their basic instinct made them feel who was the better choice.
So the voice of the people hailed Zhuo Fan, a demonic cultivator, while it denounced Xuan Shaoyu, a righteous cultivator, the hypocrite.
“That old coot, he’s been five times a judge at Double Dragon Gatherings yet this is the first time I see him so biased. Ultimate Clarity Sect is the winner and that’s that. What’s with that slightly better, ha-ha-ha…” Exalted Hei Ran chuckled.
Exalted Bai Mei smiled, “He meant to say that this was Zhuo Fan’s win, but since it’s a team battle, Ultimate Clarity Sect has nine more members that are slightly better then Zhuo Fan’s current state. That’s why they won. He’s clearly giving your demonic disciple some fame. Old timer, I wasn’t going to say he was siding with you but you started it, ha-ha, being petty even after looking good.”
“How is it looking good? When Zhuo Fan enters Double Dragon Manor, it will be the two of us who teach him. You’re in it as well…”
“Please.”
Exalted Bai Mei rolled his eyes and teased, “He’s a demonic cultivator, right up your alley. My teachings to him can only be assistance. The one to truly learn from me can only be Ye Lin. He might have lost, but under my wing, he will soar. You better remember our deal then, old timer!”
“Of course, the two will fight again to see who’s better.” Exalted Hei Ran smiled.
Exalted Bai Mei nodded, “Good, we still don’t know who among us is better after so many years so we will let the disciples decide, ha-ha-ha…”
The two burst out laughing…
The judge saw the noise around him and raised his hand for silence.
“Western lands’ Double Dragon Gathering has now come to a close. Next comes tallying up the score for singles and team fights to assess the sect’s ranks as well as see the ten best disciples in western lands.”
The judge shouted with a cold gaze, making everyone’s mood turn heavy.
The Double Dragon Gathering was over and that meant settling the sects’ future income and development. It affected the future of the disciples who came here as well.
The judge looked at the two sects’ disciples in stage and welcomed them. “The assessment will take time so you can step down to get some rest.”
The disciples cupped their hands before the judge before going to their group.
Back to Demon Scheming Sect’s side, Kui Lang put the wounded Zhuo Fan on a recliner to rest. Fiend Yang waltzed over with a grumbling look, “Hey, Steward Zhuo, what the hell were you thinking? You won yet still passed on the reward? Do you have any idea just how much the top of the nine sects earns?”
The other venerables sighed, feeling this rare chance slipping them by.
“Brother, you just let Ultimate Clarity Sect get their win without a care. But do you know how much it pains me? How much the sect lost? With this win we might have gone from lower-three sect to middle-three sect then to superior-three sect and…”
“And then to heaven. Are you willing?
Zhuo Fan mocked as he finished Fiend Yang’s speech.
Fiend Yang started.
Zhuo Fan rolled his eyes, “The tallest tree gets the wind. Demon Scheming Sect was but a tiny lower-three sect yet it suddenly became the top dog? Don’t you think that’s highly dangerous?”
Fiend Yang’s fat shook as they saw the implications.
“People must have self-awareness, as do sects. Without power to support such status, they’ll crumble.”
Zhuo Fan squinted and looked at the judge discussing with the gatekeepers about the score. “In terms of Double Dragon Gathering’s interests, I don’t want it to get too high too fast in the Double Dragon Gathering. Wealth can be a burden. Demon Scheming Sect is too weak and can’t take the pressure, becoming an easy target.”
Fiend Yang nodded, “Right, right. I finally get that you thought about it a lot. We can’t be the top sect or it will be too dangerous.”
“Just how can great venerables like us be so blind? For shame! Zhuo Fan, thank god you were the one in charge in this Double Dragon Gathering.” Fiend Yang wiped his brow and sighed.
The other venerables bobbed their heads.
They could already see what would have happened after becoming the top of the totem pole, assaulted from all directions.
They also held Zhuo Fan in high esteem.
[No wonder Sect Leader gave him his badge. He made the right choice.]
The venerables’ big picture couldn’t hold a candle to a kid’s.
The three felt more ashamed now.
The reason they followed Zhuo Fan so far was because of the badge. They never would’ve agreed to feeding the Zombie Pill to the disciple otherwise.
But now, they were in full agreement with Zhuo Fan’s actions. The more critical the situation became, the cooler Zhuo Fan was.
His gaze looked farther than these old bags of bones who only had seniority on their side…
