Chapter 261 - Limelight

Chapter 261, Limelight
“Look, Hell Valley’s men are here!”
Someone from the crowd shouted and everyone turned their heads to see You Wanshan and his elder detail. He stood on the highest point with a sombre look, flanked by You Ming and the rest of their other disciples participating in the final battle.
As this place was the fighting grounds for third and second rate clans, with how not even first rate clans would come here to watch, least of all the seven houses, there were no honorary seats for them.
What stirred the biggest shock was the sudden appearance of Hell Valley, taking seat at the highest position. They could see the whole stage from there, but it was also a strategic position to emphasize the usual disdain the seven houses had for these puny clans.
But what was up with this sudden arrival? Who had caught their eye?
Were they going to enjoy the show alongside them, or was there a new star on the rise no one knew about? If it was the latter, who was this person and what was he capable of to garner such ostentatious audience?
The crowd grew restless with their speculations.
Sun clan’s creepy guy noticed You Wanshan’s imposing figure and showed a morbid smile, “See? Valley Lord You came to personally watch us crush your clans. This is how much Hell Valley values us!”
“Yeah, we’re not like those Xue traitors. Valley Lord finds us indispensable!” Sun clan’s creepy girl showed a morbid smile herself.
Xue clan only gave the duo a cursory glance, while being concerned about Hell Valley’s real intentions. Hell Valley came to cheer for the Sun clan? How is that even possible, when they have never shown such care for any vassal before?
Xie Tianyang mocked, “Cocky brats, You Wanshan isn’t so bored as to watch a couple of aberrations.”
“Say that again! What else would Valley Lord You be here for? There’s only us around who is Hell Valley’s vassal!” The girl roared.
Xie Tianyang shrugged.
The seven houses only ever cared about each other and never about some squirming ants trying to get some praise. [You’re disillusioned if you think he came here to cheer for you!]
And then another sudden cry of shock came, followed by another unexpected arrival.
And while Hell Valley’s men were emitting deadly auras, the newcomers were graceful women with thin veils.
Drifting Flowers Edifices!
Grandmother was in the lead as Chu Qingcheng was still nursing her wound. Behind her were her entire overseer contingent and the Drifting Flowers Edifices’ disciples participating in the final battle.
Even Xiao Dandan was among them, darting her eyes around and looking for her special someone.
[He-he-he, here comes another lovesick lass. That punk will be so annoyed], Xie Tianyang snickered. Dong Clan Head puffed up his chest and took on a prideful air, “Ha-ha-ha, I didn’t expect Drifting Flowers Edifices’ overseers to come support us. Our Dong clan is so cherished. We may be Drifting Flowers Edifices’ trusted aide, but to receive such care, ha-ha-ha…”
The guy was grinning from ear to ear and making the Xue clan envious.
His position seemed to be so high that even the Edifice Lord came in person.
Only Xie Tianyang sighed.
[It seems narcissism is an inherent trait of these vassals, not just aberrations are susceptible to it but even normal people. What in the hell gave you the idea that the seven houses came to see you specifically?]
Then came the third cry of the day. Xue clansmen watched overwhelmed with joy.
Why? Because Sword Marquise Abode’s Xie Xiaofeng was leading Xie Tianshang and his elders over.
Patriarch Xue Dingtian was touched to the core as he showed off to the Dong Clan Head, “Ha-ha-ha, Clan Head, Sword Marquise Abode values us quite a lot as well…”
“Wait!”
He didn’t get to finish his haughty words, as Xie Tianyang interrupted him, “Everyone, I know fully well my words may sound crass, but could you cool off for a second and stop with the self-important attitude? Those house lords haven’t even looked at you once, so how can you say they’ve come for you?”
The sudden wake up call made them realize the wisdom in his words.
[If not for us, then who?] This was a fighting stage for the seven houses’ vassals!
Xie Tianyang shook his head.
If there was anything the seven houses paid attention to, besides each other of course, was strength. [Who else but that punk could stir up so many of them to come here?]
While they were vexed by this conundrum, Pill King Hall appeared with a fourth cry. Yan Bogong led Yan Bangui and Yan Fu with his elders over. They were soon followed by Merry Woods’s House Lord Lin coming with his elders and a bouncing Lin Xuanfeng.
After a night of healing, Lin Xuanfeng’s wound was closed. Even though he hopped about with a pale face. The audience was amazed, [Is this Forest Fleeting Dragon, one of the Six Dragons and One Phoenix? Why does he have only one leg? How would he fleet through the forest now?]
Few were aware of the circumstances regarding Forest Fleeting Dragon’s misery. How the vile Soaring Demonic Dragon ripped his leg clean off!
But the biggest shock of all was what came next.
The head of the seven houses, Regent Estate!
Huangpu Tianyuan was leading the group, with Regent Estate’s steward, Leng Wuchang on his left, and his eldest, the head of Six Dragons and One Phoenix, Heaven-shaking Dragon Lord Huangpu Qingtian on his right. Behind them was a team of Profound Heaven elders, thirty in number!
The frightening display made everyone’s hair stand on end. The other six houses also paused at their entrance.
Regent Estate’s power was unquestionably the highest among the houses!
It had the ambition to swallow the others for good reason. It would’ve been a waste of their might if they didn’t aim for at least this much.
Under the riveting gazes of the crowd, Huangpu Tianyuan made his way forward with a regal air and boundless power that stopped anyone from breathing within three hundred meters.
Only when Regent Estate took the foremost position did the man slowly withdraw his power, but the damage, or deterrence, was done. In his wake, the people were left shivering and gasping.
That was enough to rouse up even the narcissistic trio of clans from their arrogance. The presence of all the seven houses had nothing to do with them at all.
Thinking about what loudmouths they were seconds ago, they started blushing like crazy.
The Dong, Xue, and even the Sun clan’s aberrations were stiff and awkward.
This only helped to fuel their curiosity. Why were they all here? For whom?
Xie Tianyang knew it all along of course.
The Profound Heaven expert on the stage stood on pins and needles under the stare of all those mighty figures. He shakily took out the roster.
He was the king of this stage, but not anymore. ‘Cause now he was a bottom feeder among all these big shots!
He swallowed down while shaking and shouted, “The next fight will be between Zephyr City’s Wan clan and Windgaze City’s Luo clan!”
Every head turned to the dark entrance of the stage to see the greatest underdog in this Esoteric Debate, Luo clan!
Even though the Luo clan’s 28 strong men were quite something, the more they advanced the harder it became. Case in point, they left the last battle while supporting each other.
Their opponent, the Wan clan, was a renowned second rate clan. It even had three Profound Heaven youths.
The crowd was eagerly awaiting for the Luo clan, but their prospects at winning were slim at best.
Tap, tap, tap…
A light noise was heard as Luo Yunhai was coming out on crutches, leaning on his sister towards the stage.
The crowd’s shock passed and was replaced by sighs.
They all saw Luo Yunhai’s valor and might, fearless as a tiger. And this tiger was an indispensable force in the Luo clan’s team.
Yet now he had an unexplained wound, which only crippled their chance of victory even more.
Wan clan’s twenty strong men were already on the stage and were now snickering. [Victory’s ours!]
But then a plain figure slowly made itself noticed by walking behind the siblings. He caught the attention of all the houses.
Regent Estate, Hell Valley, and their other two allies bore a deep hatred for Zhuo Fan. They suddenly released a deadly aura that made the audience shiver.
[It all makes sense now. The seven houses came for him!]
Playing with his flickering Thunder Ring, Zhuo Fan walked without a care in the world. His deep gaze, his far off look seemed to find everyone beneath him.
This was how Zhuo Fan followed after Luo Yunchang, with a charming and faint smile.
The biggest shock was received by those who didn’t know Zhuo Fan.
[Who is he? Why are the seven houses here for him?]
Dong Tianba and Dong Xiaowan went slack jawed. They never ever thought they’d meet him here.
Dong Xiaowan in particular, her gaze was filled with complicated emotions. Joy, sadness, and a hint of relief…
Xue Wanlong and Xue Dingtian were shocked as well. They never thought that the young brat they met in Allbeast Mountain Range would appear here.
“S-Soaring Demonic Dragon!”
The shout had caused another round of shock among the crowd as their eyes never strayed from Zhuo Fan!
[He is the Luo clan’s strongest? The same Soaring Demonic Dragon on par with Six Dragons and One Phoenix?]
The Luo clan’s main force has come out in the open!
The crowd watched eagerly, thrilled to witness a good show…