Chapter 1228: Guardian

Proofreader: Papatonks

Hum~

Outside of the Nether Sea, Zhuo Fan sat cross-legged near a pillar of light. His right hand began to shone a bright red, making the air shimmer around him.

The Enchanting Empress looked on curiously. Bali Yuyu and Shuang’er turned grave.

“It’s strange how he keeps swaying and shaking. Did something bad happen inside?” Bali Yuyu whispered to Shuang’er, “I’m going in to help. Watch over him.”

Giving the Enchanting Empress a cautious look, Shuang’er nodded.

Bali Yuyu sat down and a shadow came out of her body, shooting into the pillar and up toward the Nether Sea in a blink…

On the seabed of Nether Sea, before the Tyrant Gate, Zhuo Fan’s right hand shone a bright red as he slammed his palm on the heavy door with extreme focus. 

The water churned under the power for a thousand miles. Waves reached higher and higher, with fierce winds blowing over the sea’s surface. Many of the caverns deep below the surface up and crumbled under such magnitude.

The low sea beasts scattered in fright, running for their lives.

The huge gate, however, didn’t even budge.

Zhuo Fan gave the huge slabs of stone a look and his eyes hardened. Setting into a stance, his right shone even stronger as he gave his all. Even on the bottom of the icy Nether Sea, he was actually sweating.

Despite his efforts, the gate would not open, not even a crack.

Chu Qingcheng was restless, wanting to lend a hand. But her frail body, even in Genesis Stage, was like a feather against such a mountain of rock.

Hu~

Zhuo Fan was spent, huffing hard as he gave up opening it. Wiping his brow, he said, “Never mind, with the gate so thick, strength just isn’t enough to move it.” 

“What do we do now?”

Chu Qingcheng asked Zhuo Fan, “Since we can’t even pass the first trial, do we go back?”

Zhuo Fan grinned, “The Nether Sovereign set up this trial, but since opening won’t work, avoiding the problem altogether should do the trick.”

“Trick?”

“Yeah!”

Zhuo Fan smirked, staring at the huge gate, his right eye shone with black flames, “Apocalyptic Thunderflame Eye!”

Boom!

With a huge explosion, black flames shot at the huge gate and burned a two meter tall hole in it. Like a mouse making its own way in another’s home. 

The sea beasts started and looked at Zhuo Fan with amazement.

[Lord Sea Ao chose an outstanding human. This gate has never been opened, until now. But what will the guardian think of this method?]

A 12th level sea beast sighed, speaking earnestly, “Sir, inside is the guardian. You are the first person to see him, best of luck.” 

“Thank you!”

Zhuo Fan cupped his hands at the spiritual beasts, taking the stumped Chu Qingcheng’s hand and going inside. 

The spiritual beasts got rowdy as they left, “Shouldn’t the first gate be pushed open to pass it? Will this method work?”

“Regardless of fairness, it’s up to the guardian to decide.”

The leading spiritual beast sighed, “I just can’t believe someone can actually make a hole in it. Is it that ridiculously easy to break? When I reached it, I slammed into it until I was battered yet still couldn’t even crack it. Now, ha-ha, Lord Sea Ao’s envoy is truly amazing…” 

The other spiritual beasts bobbed their heads.

Their admiration was short, for a howl came from the burned hole, “You have some nerve making a hole in my gate! You broke the rules and now you shall pay!”

Ugh!

The spiritual beasts looked worried.

[Guess it wasn’t fair after all. Sir will have an even harder time passing through here now…]

In an empty and large hall, the only decoration was a rotten chair. A scowling and built man sat on it, looking to be in his forties, having a beard and mustache. His deep eyes were filled with wrath as he snapped at the two people in front. 

Chu Qingcheng jumped in fright, with Zhuo Fan cupping his hands, “Senior, we’ve come to pass the trial, but not for the Nether Sovereign’s treasures or legacy, only to live. You have your problem and I have my solution. By passing that gate and reaching you means being halfway to solving it. Why do the means matter?” 

“I don’t want to care either. If you had done it in a more honorable way, then passing me would’ve been easier.” 

Then the large man showed a vague smile, “Only you did it through a trick, making passing me as well that much harder. Sometimes, using tricks to solve your problems is the worst choice, especially in serious matters. Do you understand?”

Zhuo Fan shook, hearing him but not being able to understand. So he cupped his hands again, “Senior, how then are we to pass you?”

“Beat me.”

“What?”

The big man snickered at the two, “If you had pushed the gate open, beating me would’ve been easy, while now, ha-ha-ha…”

“What about now?”

Zhuo Fan shouted, “Enlighten me, senior!”

Zhuo Fan shot for him, on the offensive, with his Qilin arm shining brightly.

Only to find himself flung back, repelled by some force, flipping through the air many times. The big man still sat on his chair with a taunting gaze, two fingers outstretched. 

[How is this possible?]

Zhuo Fan was shocked and his heart sank.

His attack was a mere test, which was why he used the Qilin arm and not the other killing moves or sneak attacks.

This test had him floored.

He knew the might of his arm very well, with even a Saint wanting to avoid such raw power. This man, however, merely flicked him. What made it worse was he felt nothing else than strength.

Zhuo Fan grew grave, calculating how to overcome this difficult opponent.

Whoosh!

Chu Qingcheng flashed before the big man, slapping at his chest with her cold attack.

“Qingcheng, don’t…” Zhuo Fan shouted.

[You’re no match! Don’t irritate him!] 

It was too late.

The big man mocked, sparing her but a glance, “Girl, stay out of this!”

His voice turned into a storm as it flung Chu Qingcheng out of sight in an instant.

Zhuo Fan cried out, “Qingcheng! W-where did you throw her?”

“To your destination, the Nether Sovereign’s seat of enlightenment.”

The big man laughed, “Aren’t I nice? Since you like tricks so much, here’s your chance to use them again, by sending you straight to the destination without having to pass the trials. Though it’s hard to say how the missie will be treated when she reaches it, ha-ha-ha…”

Zhuo Fan’s heart sank, clenching his fists and letting his right eye shine in one golden halo.

[Divine Eye of the Void’s 1st stage, Shift!]

Whoosh~

He popped up in front of the man’s face, with his right eye now glowing with two rings, while his left burned with the black thunderflame, “Divine Eye of the Void 2nd stage, Thunderflame Void Annihilation!”

Hu~

The deadly flames shot for the man like vipers, the short distance making dodging impossible…