The Steward Demonic Emperor

Proofreader: Papatonks

Whoosh!

The golden claw whistled through the air and was about to strike while Zhuo Fan used his Qilin arm as a shield, ready to take it on.

[The Qilin arm comes from the Soaring Qilin. At the very least, it won't get me broken bones if you hit me anywhere else!]

[It will take your blow!]

Shriek~

Qiao'er rushed in support, wanting to use this chance to strike. The claw was about to hit!

If Ye Lin kept attacking, the claw would do nothing to Zhuo Fan's Qilin arm. Only the golden flames would seep in a little and barely cause any harm.

[Why else would I use that arm for all my attacks?]

Then Qiao'er would come bearing brutal purple lightning to make another heavy wound on him after focusing all he had in that claw.

It was, without a doubt, a bad tactic to use this attack.

This scene had been recurring many times already. When one attacked with everything, the other would come to take advantage of the opening, only to force the attacker to shift to defense.

This time was no different. Only Ye Lin was at the end of his patience. He would rather suffer another hit from Qiao'er to get Zhuo Fan. It was an eye for an eye.

"You dare, boy? With two against one, going for mutual harm isn't worth it!" Zhuo Fan once again intimidated him while sneering inside.

[He's rash enough now!]

Ye Lin snorted, "Mutual harm? Humph, I might have fallen for your tricks so far, but that's going to change. This time, I'm going to get rid of your spirit animal!"

Ye Lin was gone and left behind him his golden flames. It was like he was still attacking Zhuo Fan but lacking in power.

But just the golden flames wouldn't be able to even singe Zhuo Fan's clothes since Zhuo Fan had the azure dragon and Demon Transformation Art to absorb it.

However, Ye Lin's figure appeared next to the golden flames and unleashed another claw, but this time at Qiao'er.

Everyone gasped.

Since Zhuo Fan revealed his purple dragon, they knew the purple lightning was a force to be reckoned with. It was brutal and powerful but lacked in defense.

So Ye Lin feinted, striking Zhuo Fan, who had the Qilin arm for defense. While going for the defenseless Qiao'er would show much better results.

Qiao'er would be gravely wounded if struck, the two's cooperation would fail, and Ye Lin would gain a real advantage. Dealing with Zhuo Fan later would only take a minute.

This was the most definitive moment in this long and bitter match.

Qiao'er was startled, having not expected this. Feeling on her feathers the sharpness of that dragon claw, she tensed.

"Yin Yang Dragon Claw. One real, one fake!"

Ye Lin snickered as his strike was about to land. He laughed, "Zhuo Fan, you schemed for so long against me, but now it's my turn. My strike against you is fake, while the one against your spirit animal is real. This time, your cooperation failed, ha-ha-ha…"

Zhuo Fan's brow shook as he floated in the air.

The audience grew tense, having not expected Ye Lin would also start using feints. Wu Qingqiu chuckled, "Ha-ha-ha, junior brother finally used his head. Not that he's slow, but that his opponents were never worth the effort."

They all felt it was curtains for this long and exciting match!

However, Zhuo Fan's grin was most devious. His right eye flashed golden, "Ha-ha-ha, I don't really care how you go all out, just as long as you do. Divine Eye of the Void 1st stage, Shift!"

Whoosh~

In a flash, Zhuo Fan and Qiao'er did the ol' switcheroo so that Zhuo Fan was on the receiving end of Ye Lin's real strike.

Ye Lin cried out. "What the hell? Where's that damn poultry?"

Pff!

Just then, the golden flame image was flapped away by Qiao'er's wings, and she unleashed her purple lightning storm and clawed at Ye Lin's chest.

The last claw had taken away his hard scales, and this one was bound to send purple lightning right into his innards.

This had long stopped being an issue of winning for Ye Lin. He had to first protect his little life from being cooked from the inside.

Wu Qingqiu cried out and tensed. The exalted shot to their feet and were just as nervous.

It all happened so fast!

One minute it was Ye Lin's obvious advantage, and the next, his target switched places, putting him in grave danger.

Sss~

Gulping, Ye Lin was scared out of his mind. He halted his attack on Zhuo Fan and tried to get into a stance to defend, though it would take some time.

Left with no choice, Ye Lin could only lean, taking Qiao'er's sharp claws on his back and letting her remove two more glittering scales.

Scarlet blood flowed from his back, and he gnashed his teeth from the pain. The sudden heavy blow had also interrupted the claw now meant for Zhuo Fan.

Even after careful planning, he was still the one ending up hurt again while his adversary was untouched.

Qiao'er flew back to Zhuo Fan, throwing away the scales in her claws, "Father, he just turned around, and I couldn't get him in the heart!"

"It's fine. He's just too quick to react. In fact, we dealt a great blow this time. He now has two weaknesses. We'll now resort to pincer strikes and see how long he'll last, ha-ha-ha…"

Zhuo Fan laughed as he snickered at Ye Lin, "The clearer it is you can win with brawn, the more you need to use your head. Don't you know using your faults to fight an enemy's strengths is dumb? Trying to use feints against me, who had been among schemes all his life? Kid, you're unbearably naive!"

Ye Lin's face twitched in anger, gritting his teeth.

The audience had to agree on that. They thought Ye Lin finally played Zhuo Fan, only to be toyed with instead.

[Getting trapped as you lay a trap must sting…]

Wen Tao sighed, seeing Ye Lin boiling mad. "Using brains to crush the other. Ye Lin is clearly stronger, but Zhuo Fan keeps leading him, making this focused disciple lose his bearing. If he had kept to his beliefs, he wouldn't have to suffer so much."

"Focused?" Xie Tianshang raised an eyebrow.

Wen Tao nodded, "Yes, cultivators like us all have a focus as we advance. Some do it for power, some for status, some for fame, and some for supremacy. Each of us is walking the path we want that lead to the birth of personal beliefs and convictions. Isn't Ye Lin blunt? Then he should just take any adversary head-on!

"But after meeting Zhuo Fan, he's been toyed with so many times that he lost his way and stooped to fumbling on the other's path. He's been strung along all this time!"

Wen Tao looked above and smiled, "The time's almost up. Now Ye Lin will become even more restless. He won't fall for another trick soon, and Zhuo Fan won't snatch a win soon, either. It'll be a draw."

But then he heard Zhuo Fan looking at the pretty sky and exclaimed, "Oh my, would you look at the time? It's going to be a draw at this rate."

Staggering, Wen Tao stared at Zhuo Fan, then shook his head. "Zhuo Fan is really devious. Even in the last moment, he can't help but prod Ye Lin. Wishing for victory just as much, Zhuo Fan is savage and cunning to stir the other even more."

Xie Tianshang chuckled.

[That's always been his nature…]

Huff~

Gasping, Ye Lin was close to exhaustion both mentally and physically. He glared at the bird and man in hatred but with no way of finishing them off.

[This frickin' punk is too sly!]

If he were too rash, he'd be duped. If he went too slow, he'd suffer for it even worse. The adversary always aimed to toy with his mind, thus making him unable to cope.

He was now left confused and lost as to how to proceed.

It was his first time meeting such an adversary. He was clearly stronger yet could do nothing to win.

Just as he was filled with confusion, a shout broke through the haze, "Junior brother, he's rushing you on purpose. Don't fall for it. If you don't know what to do, ask your heart!"

Shaken up, Ye Lin looked back to see his head senior brother, Wu Qingqiu…