Chapter 346 - Son’s Visit (1/2)
“Dugu Zhantian and Fang Qiubai greet His Majesty!”
The dignified emperor sat on the golden throne as the two bowed.
The emperor waved for them to get up and asked, “You two have been supervising the Esoteric Debate in my stead. Tell me, what has come off of it? What surprises have cropped up?”
The two nodded and Fang Qiubai took the lead, “Your Majesty, of the six dragons that had participated, Huangpu Qingtian, Yan Bangui, You Yushan and Lin Xuanfeng died at Zhuo Fan’s hands. Luo clan became the true winner.”
“What? T-that number one genius in Tianyu, Huangpu Qingtian…”
The emperor was stunned.
He had hoped for Zhuo Fan to mess with him, and that he only had a half chance of success. But then Zhuo Fan went all out and well beyond his duty, bringing him a wonderful piece of news.
Regent Estate and the other houses’ future was now snuffed in the cradle. At the very least, a monster like Huangpu Qingtian wouldn’t crop up anytime soon and the Regent Estate’s power remained in check.
Taking a deep breath to control the overwhelming excitement, the emperor asked, “Anything else?”
He may have quelled his body’s reaction, but his beard was swaying from glee. That alone was enough to see what a thrill this news had become.
Fang Qiubai and Dugu Zhantian hesitated.
That was the good news and what followed was the worst news ever.
“Your Majesty, in the Esoteric Debate, Huangpu Qingtian revealed that he had a Dragon Vein Soul. Even though the Regent Estate talked its way out, I believe they are intent on drawing out the dragon souls from the imperial family’s Dragon Vein and rebel!”
“What?!”
The emperor slammed the armrest, glowering, “You’re saying the Regent Estate has grown so bold as to go after the imperial family’s Dragon Vein and even had someone become the master of a dragon soul? Wait, that’s not right. If Huangpu Qingtian has the dragon soul, he should be under the world’s protection. How can…”
Fang Qiubai and Dugu Zhantian sighed.
“I’m afraid Your Majesty’s assumptions are correct. Zhuo Fan is a man to be reckoned with. He killed Huangpu Qingtian and subdued Dragon Vein Soul, making the world quake for nine days. From what I saw, he is a man who can change fate.”
The emperor’s face darkened, “You mean to tell me Zhuo Fan has the dragon soul and has now become a rightful king, by providence no less?”
“Yes. But although he has providence and dragon soul’s protection, the wielder of Dragon Vein ruling the lands has been foretold by the High Priest since a thousand years ago. Over these years, the Parish’s prediction hasn’t changed. There’s just one thing I am unable to clarify. If dragon soul’s protection was providence and heaven’s blessing, why did Huangpu Qingtian end up getting killed? Is this a flaw in the prediction, or Zhuo Fan defies the heavens themselves?”
Fang Qiubai was pensive.
The emperor said with cold eyes, “How did Zhuo Fan kill him?”
“Bit him to death.” Dugu Zhantian reported with his head hanging.
The emperor was stunned, “Bitten to death? Did he… eat him?”
“Your Majesty, is something wrong?” Fang Qiubai asked.
What shocked the people was Zhuo Fan killing Huangpu Qingtian, with none paying attention to how he did it.
But from the emperor’s reaction, it seems it held a deeper meaning.
The emperor continued, “What happened afterwards? What was the reaction of the houses after Regent Estate’s eldest young master died?”
“Regent Estate’s hatred for Zhuo Fan ran bone deep and when the kid returned to Dragon Cloud City, the four house lords besieged him, however…”
“What, you saved him?” The emperor eyed them.
Fang Qiubai sighed, “Your Majesty, the kid has the dragon soul now, and sooner or later, will become a thorn in the imperial family’s side. Thinking about how he has done so much for us, we couldn’t just kill him ourselves. So letting the Regent Estate attack him was the best conclusion. That is why Marshal Dugu and myself did not interfere. However, Mad Dipper Li Jingtian did.”
“Mad Dipper? Wasn’t he Regent Estate’s Venerable? He went missing six years ago but why did he suddenly show up to protect Zhuo Fan?” The emperor frowned.
Fang Qiubai shook his head, “I am not clear either. All I know is that he turned his back on the Regent Estate and sided with the Luo clan, becoming their elder. He also follows Zhuo Fan’s orders to a fault. It was evident from Zhuo Fan’s order to annihilate the Regent Estate. He didn’t hesitate in attacking Huangpu Tianyuan and the others.”
“What, Regent Estate was destroyed in Dragon Cloud City?”