The Steward Demonic Emperor

Chapter 977: A Shrew’s Pep Talk

Proofreader: Papatonks

Boom~

There was this space where golden flames licked every inch, with heat turned so high you’d bake, and the constant crackling sounded as if the earth itself was cooked.

Bolts of purple lightning flashed all around, briefly interrupted by the appearance of a hundred-meter large bird. It released violent flashes at the dangerous golden flames, erasing them in a terrifying explosion.

But as the golden flames around vanished, what stood in their place was a three-hundred-meter dragon, towering like a mountain with its huge eye showing pride.

Whoosh~

The purple bird landed, then it turned into a seven-year-old girl, looking curiously at the large creature, “Dragon Ancestor, is today’s training over? That was fast!”

“Ha-ha-ha, it is, since we have guests.” The dragon’s rumbling laughter sounded, then one sharp talon swept the air.

The air ripped and showed a bright sun on the other side and a mild wind rustling the trees around a creek, but also a very familiar man.

He entered into this space and smiled, “Dragon Ancestor sure is amazing. I just came and you already noticed.”

“Father!”

The adorable girl lit up and jumped in the man’s arms joyfully.

The man staggered, but hugged the girl back with laughter, “Qiao’er, it’s been so long. I see you had been doing great in here.”

“Father, did you come for me?” Qiao’er’s eyes sparkled with childish hope.

Zhuo Fan rubbed her head with sorrow, shaking his head, “It’s not up to me when you can leave. Dragon Ancestor has the last say. He will let you go once he believes you have the strength to hold your own in the big world outside.”

“Dragon Ancestor, can I go with father? I’ve learned all you’ve taught me…” Qiao’er swished her head around to the huge dragon with a puppy look.

These two years away from Zhuo Fan had been like ages to her and she had missed her father dearly.

Dragon ancestor stared hard at Zhuo Fan instead, “Kid, it can’t be you came all this way just to catch up. What happened?”

“Dragon Ancestor is amazing yet again. I just can’t hide anything from your discerning eye.”

Zhuo Fan showed a trace of sorrow, then he flicked his hand and young Sanzi’s feeble body appeared.

Qiao’er saw Gu Santong so weary and cried, “What happened to brother?”

“Qilin?”

Dragon ancestor saw young Sanzi for the first time, but one look was enough to recognize his origins, “Tell me what happened.”

Zhuo Fan sighed and nodded with a heavy look as he retold the events he went through the last couple of years, finishing with, “I didn’t know the sacred weapons had such power over sacred beasts. It’s my mistake. Now that I know where Heaven Sealing Sea Ao is, Kunpeng said that with you two’s seal on young Sanzi’s soul and body, it will keep him stable until I find Sea Ao to save him.”

“Oh, Kunpeng isn’t wrong about that. Heaven Sealing Sea Ao can handle this.”

Dragon ancestor nodded and his eyes shone. His huge claw shot forth and golden flames fell on young Sanzi’s body like stars, on his main acupoints. 

Dragon ancestor placed the claw over young Sanzi and let the golden flames cover him, letting its power seep into him.

Young Sanzi began to show a golden glow this time, covering him completely and the child’s cheeks looked a healthier pink.

Dragon ancestor sighed, “The little Qilin will be fine for a while. Take him to Sea Ao, but you need to exercise extreme caution around that guy. He hates humans with a passion. When you do finally meet him, you won’t even get the chance to speak before the old bastard would splatter you. The young Qilin will be left for dead and you’ll become a bloody stain under his palm.”

“He’s still wild and can’t speak?”

“No, he just doesn’t trust human words.”

Dragon ancestor sighed, “He lost one of his eyes to a human and healing it proved difficult. This is why he sees humans as bitter enemies, making him go mad!”

Zhuo Fan’s eyes shook, “A human took his eye? Who…” 

“Sword Sovereign!”

Dragon ancestor let out a long sigh, “You must be fast to explain your purpose, or maybe just throw little Qilin over without even talking. I don’t think you’ll even have time to get even one word out before you become his meal.”

Zhuo Fan was stunned and gave a hard nod with a grim look.

Sacred beasts were the strongest in this world, needing but an instant to kill anyone even if sealed in the mortal domain. With Sea Ao killing any human he saw, talking would be pointless. It dawned on him just how risky his search had now become.

Qiao’er picked up on the dangers around this task and said, “Dragon Ancestor, then I can just go with father and help him!”

“Don’t argue. It’s too dangerous this time. Anything could happen going against a crazed sacred beast. Young Sanzi is bad enough, I can’t have you hurt as well.” Zhuo Fan refused on the spot. 

Dragon ancestor actually took Qiao’er’s side, “This time she can go, maybe she can really help you in this. She is a fledgling sacred beast and that old Sea Ao might give you some time on account of her, enough to state your purpose. And Qiao’er is strong enough to help you out as well, while also turning this trip into a learning experience for her.” 

Qiao’er skipped with glee and Zhuo Fan gave a weak nod after a long pause.

He knew dragon ancestor had put a lot of work in Qiao’er and was not just about to give her up. What was the point of the last two years of training anyway?

Dragon ancestor must be convinced she could go out. And if he thought so, then Zhuo Fan had no reason to doubt the old dragon’s judgment.

Zhuo Fan reached out his hand, his tone as earnest as he knew how, “Senior Dragon Ancestor, this is a serious matter. Could you spare some assistance for this noble cause?”

“What’s with you?”

“Could you possibly give me, say, ten more Dragon Breath Pills?”

Blinking his big purdy eyes, Zhuo Fan begged without qualms, “Facing that lunatic, I’ll need further assistance. Facing a sacred beast without Dragon Ancestor’s much needed support will wring my little life dry from these feeble bones. I ask Dragon Ancestor to think of the end goal and give me all the help you can. If not ten, five will do just as fine…”

Dragon ancestor’s big eye twitched, giving a wry smile, “Kid, funny you should mention the end goal, when you used one of my Dragon Breath Pill on that nobody sect in the mortal domain. Did you forget how each of them is an all-out attack from me? With me stuck in the mortal domain and unable to recover my energy, you think I can pop out Dragon Breath Pills like candy? Those three were the limit of my reserves. Yet you, rotten good-for-nothing actually…”

“Oh fine, I get it…”

Zhuo Fan gave a dismissive wave and grinned, “I know you’re stuck here, but think of young Sanzi’s future. Is senior that cold to the child’s fate? And even if you are, you should at least value him for being on the sacred beast team in the final battle. He’s clearly a valuable asset. Are you just going to let him pass on? Humph, Kunpeng is so treacherous, aware of the danger Sea Ao posed but never mentioned it. Yet even so, he still had a 9th level spiritual beast come with me to help on this journey. While you go on and on about how he sold you guys out, but won’t that make you worse than him since you aren’t giving one measly help…” 

Zhuo Fan gave him a scornful look, making the dragon ancestor snap at him in annoyance, “You say I’m worse than him? Humph, so he got the Allbeast Mountain Range yet only sent some 9th level spiritual beast? In here, I’m the only one left or I would’ve had an army go with you!”

“Bragging much? Actions speak louder than words.” Zhuo Fan taunted.

Groaning inside, dragon ancestor gnashed his fangs and spewed out ten golden balls the size of a hand. 

He then started wheezing, “Kid, don’t ever say I didn’t help you. These small Dragon Breath Pills are all that’s left and you’ll have to make do. They can’t handle the old monster, but you can still use them to clear your path. This is all I can do to help, humph!”