Proofreader: Papatonks

“Demonic Emperor sir, Steward Zhuo is seeking an audience!”

“W-what did you say?”

In Devil Mountain’s large and glorious hall, a man in black kneeled before the stunned Zhao Chen. After hearing it a third time he reacted, “That’s not possible. Didn’t he die in the Nether Sea? How… show him in already!”

“Yes!”

Zhuo Fan walked it with a wide smile, bowing, “Demonic Emperor sir, have you been well?”

“S-Steward Zhuo, you’re still alive!”

Zhao Chen laughed and patted his shoulder, “Great, my aide has come back to me. You have no idea how pained I was seeing you crushed. Nights have been hard, the memory is still fresh.”

Zhuo Fan sneered inside, but only showed a smile, “You honor me, sir.”

“Go on, tell me, how did you get out?” Zhao Chen’s eyes grew suspicious.

Zhuo Fan made an excuse, “The Nether Sovereign has been an almighty being since ancient times, but he doesn’t waste time on nobodies. Everything was but a test. As long as we didn’t fear death, he’d let us go.”

“A blessing in disguise!”

Zhao Chen sighed, then stuttered, “W-why is your cultivation at the 3rd layer of Qi Condensation, Steward Zhuo? It was bad enough with only a Bone Tempering cultivation, yet now you regressed?”

Zhuo Fan’s regression was a joyous occasion, all thanks to understanding the Sovereign paths and his broadened mentality.

Zhuo Fan sighed, “I had the fortune of passing the Nether Sovereign’s trials through a fluke, but as I was so weak, the nether energy corroded my cultivation.”

“It must’ve been so hard on you, Steward Zhuo.”

Zhao Chen sighed, “But since the Nether Sovereign let you go, he must’ve admired your talent. Is there no way of recovering from this?”

Zhuo Fan caught his meaning, fishing for anything that Zhuo Fan might’ve gotten from the Nether Sea and wanting to get a bite himself.

He finally got to what Zhuo Fan wanted, egging him on, “Sir is insightful to find out that the Nether Sovereign did give me a cultivation method right at the end.”

“What is it?”

Zhuo Fan revealed a jade slip, “The Nether Script provided critical aid when my cultivation regressed. It says it can speed up cultivation and should recover my original level in three months. Cultivating further, it would be even faster. In ten years, I’m sure to make some waves.”

“So magical?”

Zhao Chen snatched the jade slip by reflex, uncaring that this was another’s lifeline. He was no different from a thief.

This was the attraction of a Sovereign’s items, with the whole world lusting after them.

Zhuo Fan knew this all too well, using it as bait.

[Make another’s cultivation efforts your own. Absorb it within you…]

Zhao Chen gasped, “The Sovereign’s cultivation method is incredible. It can even do this?”

“Yes, how else would you get instant results, ha-ha-ha!”

Zhuo Fan said, “It’s a pity my cultivation is too low and I can’t take on much. I could only absorb one Qi Condensation cultivator a day. I can’t have anyone else know as well, lest I earn public anger. Sir has to be careful.”

Zhao Chen was too thrilled to care, “Yeah, very careful, ha-ha-ha…”

“Why would you show me such a dangerous thing? Aren’t you afraid I would steal it and silence you? Steward Zhuo, you could never make such a basic mistake.”

Zhuo Fan stared hard at him. He was obsessed with the new cultivation method, but not enough to rob him of his mind.

Zhuo Fan nodded, “Sir is right. The cultivation art isn’t a danger to just everyone, but to yourself as well. That’s why I wish to share it. I don’t need many resources now, but with time the demand will rise as soon as I grow in strength. I could never reveal my new strength so I need sir’s help.”

“Makes sense.”

Zhao Chen squinted at the jade slip.

He knew exactly what resources Zhuo Fan needed and that this cultivation method would incite hatred from everyone.

At the same time, the lure of power was too much for some to bear. A swift rise was impossible by common means, only through this art.

“No one wants to part with anything that comes from a Sovereign’s domain.”

Tracing the jade slip, Zhao Chen muttered, staring hard at Zhuo Fan, “Steward Zhuo is right about one thing. Training in this art while avoiding suspicion will only work if you have me covering for you. But now that I have it, why should I help you? The less who know about this, the better.”

Zhao Chen exploded with power, filled with bloodthirst, and ready to silence Zhuo Fan.

Zhuo Fan said casually, “Demonic Emperor sir, I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

“And why not?”

“Sir, you need far more resources than me. How many would you procure by yourself? You’ll still need someone to help you out. That means letting someone know about this. Can you guarantee they won’t sell you out?”

Zhao Chen furrowed his brow, his bloodlust deflated.

Zhuo Fan smiled, “If sir is willing to trust me, I will help sir in this aspect, training with sir and becoming your accomplice. Exposing it will harm me as well, so we need to work together. Why then would sir kill such a loyal helper and risk taking another that might betray you at any time?”

“Steward Zhuo!”

Zhao Chen’s eyes shook and sighed, “You’ve thought of everything. I have no reason to strike you. Guard!”

“Sir!”

A man in black rushed inside and bowed, “Demonic Emperor sir, what are your orders?”

“Everything, my domain and Devil Mountain, are for Steward Zhuo to manage. His word is mine. Let everyone know!”

“Uhm…”

The guy flinched.

[Isn’t that the same as making him the Demonic Emperor? All he is missing is a title. What if he goes for a takeover?]

[If Zhuo Fan’s word is Demonic Emperor’s, what are you going to do, sir?]

Zhao Chen barked, “I’m entering seclusion, got that? Let Steward Zhuo handle everything in my stead in the meantime!”

[Oh, I see.]

“Yes!”

The man rushed to carry his orders.

Zhao Chen turned a snicker to Zhuo Fan, “Steward Zhuo, all my resources are yours. Everything in my domain is at your fingertips. We are truly in the same boat. It’ll be bad for both of us to let this leak out. Be careful and don’t… at least don’t be found out too soon.”

“Sir, I also train with it. I won’t let anyone call me a waste thirty years later, ha-ha-ha..” Zhuo Fan cackled.

Zhao Chen had a vile grin, “Steward Zhuo, no one says that. You’re already frightening with your courage and guile, but you’ll be a force to be reckoned with once you have power. Maybe then I’ll even be afraid of you.”

“You’re too kind, sir.”Zhuo Fan bowed.

Zhao Chen gave him a look then laughed as he left.

[Zhuo Fan is sharp to snatch people’s weaknesses. Even so, once I get stronger, I won’t have to fear any Saint and can remove the punk and the danger.]

[But I still need his skills for now…]