The Steward Demonic Emperor

Chapter 1292 (First Ending), Cave of Emotions

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Heavenly Sovereign sneered, “You know you’re a nobody, a pawn in the big players’ game, then you should also know that no choice is yours, guided without even realizing. It’s not even a path you chose. My little brother…”

“What do you mean?” Zhuo Fan started.

Heavenly Sovereign shook his head, “The past is the past. You don’t have to know. Understand this, as I admit of leading you on, you should also play along.”

“What makes you so sure I’ll listen?”

“Like I said, you have no choice.” Heavenly Sovereign mocked in Chu Qingcheng’s direction.

Zhuo Fan tensed and clenched his fists.

The space cracked to reveal a portal, reflecting a lush forest.

Heavenly Sovereign pointed, “This is Emotion Sovereign’s seat of enlightenment. Go and take his Sovereign path.”

“Emotion Sovereign? The most mysterious of the ten?”

Zhuo Fan blinked. [He’s barely been mentioned in the Nine Serenities Secret Records, with the world having not even rumors about him.]

“How am I supposed to do that?”

Heavenly Sovereign smiled, “You will do what others can’t. Accepting their path is within their plans, don’t worry.”

[They…]

Zhuo Fan squinted, “You mean Nether Sovereign’s group? They gave me their path and you have also. What the hell are you all up to? Would they still give it to me knowing you had sent me?” 

“Zhuo Fan, you’re overthinking it, ha-ha-ha…”

Heavenly Sovereign laughed, “Remember my lesson. The higher you climb, the useless tricks become. We all fight in the open to control everything. Our dealing has long been anticipated by those guys. That goes both ways as well. Just like this game of chess. We all can see what pieces go and stay, but the outcome is clear. You’re in the open and not over, understand?” 

Zhuo Fan didn’t argue, glancing at Cong Lin’s worried face and reassuring her with a glance before going through the portal.

Birds chirped and danced in the air from branch to branch. The place was paradise, without anything evil, heavy, or strange. It was the best place for one to live in seclusion.

Though something was odd that caught his eye. Everything here came in pairs, including objects.

Two insects flying side by side, squirrels hopping together, and even weeds growing in pairs, all joined in a bizarre manner.

The lone son above struck a solitary figure in this paradise of emotion.

Zhuo Fan chuckled, then it dawned on him to look across the sky and notice the moon.

“Just like Emotion Sovereign, to bring even the sun and moon together.”

Zhuo Fan walked on, with nothing stopping him. Except for some odd sights, the Sovereign’s seat of enlightenment had no defenses. 

It was the complete opposite from the dark, eerie Nether Sea. This forest only knew tranquility and peace.

[Heavenly Sovereign is almighty, so why doesn’t he come here, insisting that I go instead? Peculiar.]

Zhuo Fan was trying to unravel the ten Sovereigns’ game and his role in it.

It didn’t get him anywhere so he gave up, just focusing on walking until he reached a cave. It had Cave of Emotion written above it.

“Greetings, Sovereign!”

Zhuo Fan gave a deep bow in respect.

There was no reply, only silence. Zhuo Fan cursed, [Is he out, or was Heavenly Sovereign’s aim off?] 

He was about to ask again.

“You’re finally here.” A faint woman’s voice came from within. 

“Uh, yeah.” Zhuo Fan nodded, proving Heavenly Sovereign’s words. His destiny was to be the Sovereigns’ pawn. All of them were waiting for him.

“Who let you in?” The voice asked.

Zhuo Fan was frank, “Sovereign, it was Heavenly Sovereign who brought me to your seat of enlightenment.”

“After all this time, it’d be strange for Heavenly Sovereign not to notice. Nine Serenities was right, the final winner is still up to fate.”

Zhuo Fan spoke baffled, “Sovereign, I can just go if you want…”

“No, I’ve waited for you for too long. There’s no way you’re leaving.”

After her stern words, a prismatic light flew out of the cave.

It entered Zhuo Fan’s body and stayed there.

Zhuo Fan patted himself, making an odd face, “Is that it?”

“Yes, you’re now free to go.”

“Shouldn’t it be like Nether Sovereign’s group?” Zhuo Fan scratched his head at how absurdly easy getting something so important was, “Don’t you need to test me? Or guide me? It’s kind of casual.”

“It’s yours now and you’re dissatisfied? Beat it!”

“Ugh, fine.”

Zhuo Fan blinked at the temper and left with a bow, “Take care, Sovereign.”

He went for a few minutes before returning to the portal. He gave one last look back before stepping through.

The minute he did, the paradise faded away. The pairs of insects and birds were gone, the sun and moon were no more. Only a dark wind blew below the heavy clouds, over the endless bones roamed by mangy dogs and ravens as they searched for scraps.

The paradise had become hell.

The voice echoed from the cave, “If heaven has love, heaven is also old. Love is the deadliest poison in the world. Heavenly Sovereign ran amok through the world, yet fell for my bewitching and never again set foot here. Having sent him to take my path, this means he’s close to removing it. We are running out of time. Bali Yuyu, are you ready?”

A lady stood ice-cold in the cave. She nodded.

Hum~

A pink glow filled the cave.

“We’re going to act soon, so let me remind you. My soul trace relied on my path to survive for so long. The day I sent it away is the day I will be gone from this world. But I’ll be able to control it once more through you. You can’t withstand a path’s might and will disintegrate. Do you still accept?” 

“Don’t you want to stop Heavenly Sovereign? Why say this now?” Bali Yuyu looked at the cave with a cold gaze.

The voice came once more, “There’s no grudge between us and Heavenly Sovereign. Blocking him is because of our diverging paths. Mortal world’s emotions have no play in this. I’m happy that you’d sacrifice yourself for me, but as Emotion Sovereign I need to confirm your decision. For emotion is hard as stone. Mastering emotion means you need to feel them at their most intense. Nether Sovereign sent you here believing you have the capability. I know that your emotions are one-sided. Whether they can reach or not…” 

“I know. I won’t let him die before me.” Bali Yuyu was determined, showing a faint smile.

With a boom, the cave shone bright then entered Bali Yuyu. 

Bali Yuyu shuddered, from pain, but soon her eyes opened to reveal a dreadful gaze.

Rumble~

The mountain crumbled and all in a thousand miles turned to dust.

Bali Yuyu flew away, gone in a blink.

A hundred miles from Mirror Moon Cottage, as sacred stones entered the earth, a strange array took form. Secretive Aura took a deep breath and made a sign.

Li Jingtian’s group were grave, “Miss Shuang’er, can we actually save Steward Zhuo with this array? Even Steward Zhuo has no confidence in defeating Shui Jing with his mastery of arrays. How can you…”

“It’s not to fight Shui Jing, but to guide him.”

Shuang’er looked pained, “This is my ancestor’s mission to our clan, to give big brother Zhuo a way out.”

A prismatic light shone and Shuang’er released a frightening aura that got everyone gapping…