Chapter 1291: Showdown

Writer: StarReader

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: Silavin

Hu~

Black flames spread out, sizzling Zhuo Fans surroundings, but nothing changed as he withdrew them.

Chu Qingcheng panicked, How is it? Can you break the barrier?

If only there was a barrier.

Zhuo Fan frowned in doubt, This doesnt look like a barrier, or illusion. My thunderflame wouldve destroyed them by now.

Chu Qingcheng hesitated, This is really strange and absurd!

Qingcheng, did Sir Shui Jing say something to you? Zhuo Fan asked.

Chu Qingcheng pondered and nodded, He vowed on his Dao Heart that theres no barrier or array. He also said that its my heart keeping me here, not him.

Heart trapping oneself?

Zhuo Fan paced around, Humans are plagued with complex desires and could never see their true selves beyond them. You need to remove them and clear your heart to see clearly

Zhuo Fan took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Chu Qingcheng c.o.c.ked her head.

A hum was heard, and Zhuo Fans surroundings had ripples spreading out; each twisting reality, even himself.

Chu Qingcheng was baffled, but then a hand took hers.

She cried at the sudden force, stumbling. When she straightened, the surroundings left her speechless.

The valley was gone, as was the waterfall and pavilion. They were now before a small courtyard with a building and a side room.

Chu Qingcheng blinked at a loss, T-this

This is the valley you couldnt leave.

Zhuo Fan smirked, Its nothing but a courtyard, stuck running it in circles. No matter where you went, someone would have kept deceiving your perception. Unable to break the hold, you were kept here.

Chu Qingcheng gasped, Theres a skill like that? Then how did you

Zhuo Fans right eye shone in three golden halos.

Maybe I have the same skill as the user. Zhuo Fan smiled as the rings faded, patting her hand.

A zither played that drew Chu Qingchengs attention and made her fearful, pulling on Zhuo Fan, Its him. Its Shui Jing who trapped me.

Its fine. What comes, comes.

Zhuo Fan led her to the sounds, arriving behind the building before a youth in his twenties playing the zither.

Chu Qingcheng was scared, hiding behind Zhuo Fan, who bowed, Greetings, Sir Shui Jing!

The zither didnt stop, with Shui Jing looking up at him.

The life you lived helped broaden your heart and mind, escaping the hold on your heart so soon. Very good! Shui Jing smiled.

Zhuo Fan smiled, Youre too kind, sir, I still have a long way to go. I didnt even realize when sir tampered with my heart. Sir is the true expert.

Ha-ha-ha, youre not as c.o.c.ky as before. Youve matured a lot.

Shui Jing nodded and stopped playing. He waved to a chessboard, Its been ages since our last game. Allow me to see your progress.

Zhuo Fan nodded, By your leave.

He sat down with Chu Qingcheng next to him, looking at Shui Jings mysterious smile.

Pieces fell on the board, each fighting to overcome the other side. An hour later, the pieces looked entangled.

Youre much calmer now and lost your rough edges. Shui Jing placed a white piece.

Zhuo Fan placed a black piece, I am grateful for your lecture. Gains and losses mattered not. One needs to see the big picture to succeed. I will never forget that lesson.

You not only held it close, but built on it. Youre an entirely different person.

Youre too kind, sir. Its all thanks to you.

Its a shame the same quirk remains.

Shui Jing gave him a look and sighed, You like to take risks and employ schemes. Thats very dangerous for a big player. The higher you go, the shrewder your opponent will become, just like you, if not above. By trying to be clever, youre only revealing your weakness to be destroyed.

Pa!

Shui Jing placed a piece, hard, removing many of Zhuo Fans. The outcome was obvious.

Zhuo Fan was dark, Yeah, sir is right. I started off as a n.o.body, unable to contend with the big players. But why do you, big players, still bother with a n.o.body like me, Heavenly Sovereign?

He followed with a white piece, not yet ready to give up the game and his life, despite being unable to change the outcome. But he believed the chance would present itself. It always had. And if it didnt, he would just make one, like the times before.

You finally figured it out. Shui Jing replied with calm.

Only Chu Qingcheng gapped, Heavenly Sovereign? The strongest of the ten ancient Sovereigns? No way! Didnt they all fall? Even Nether Sovereign could only wander the Nether Sea as a lost soul. How can Heavenly Sovereign still be alive?

Yeah, they have, so how could the Heavenly Sovereign, who all fought against, still survive?

Shui Jing chuckled, still staring at Zhuo Fan, What makes you so sure?

Zhuo Fan spoke, Ever since I got sirs Divine Eye of the Void, I felt apprehensive, afraid that one day youll come after me for stealing it. But then I thought to myself, that this was all a stage, as other Sovereigns showed themselves to me and started guiding me. I didnt have such an overinflated ego to think myself special enough to warrant so many big players attention. That left only once conclusion, it was a set-up.

Youre far stronger and wiser now, and you can see the lining. Go on. Shui Jing waved.

Zhuo Fan said, Those freaks just now are from the mortal domain. I could feel the aura of the sacred weapons on them. At that moment, I knew that I would run into sir and end up at sirs whim. But, when I heard they were your men, it all became clear. Heavenly Sovereign, you dont want to kill me, but use me. You wouldnt have helped me otherwise, guiding me on the demonic path.

Shui Jing gave a slow clap, Well said, but thats on the basis that Im Heavenly Sovereign. What if Im not?

Moon mirror fades to void, to nothing, an obvious reference to the void path! Zhuo Fan laughed, Sir, youve stated who you are since the beginning. Its just that none ever thought of it from that perspective. None would believe the first ever Sovereign to be walking among mortals and toying with them under the guise of Shui Jing. The skill you used to trap me and Qingcheng in the courtyard was the Divine Eye of the Void 3rd stage, Mirage World, right?

Hum~

Zhuo Fans right eye shone in three halos, But since Im still weak and ignorant, still in the void path, I can only create illusion in a certain area, while sir is able to implant them in peoples minds. I could only escape because I know some of the void path.

Heavenly Sovereign smiled, Youve done well going to the mortal domain this time. Im impressed.

You flatter me, but theres still something Ive yet to understand. Saving me and guiding me down the demonic path wasnt just a coincidence, was it? Im still unable to make sense as to why all the big players are interested in little old me.

Zhuo Fan shouted in the lions den. He had no fear in demanding answers from Heavenly Sovereign, knowing fully well his life had yet to outlive its usefulness. He needed him, they all did. So, he found it a good idea to leverage the already bleak situation he was in to gain as much knowledge as he could and formulate a plan.