Steward Zhao's face remained indifferent, treating the situation as if it were nothing. In his eyes, there was no trace of fear even when facing the Heavenly Dragon Sect Master.
Witnessing this scene, the expressions of the onlookers became somber and uncertain. They didn't know if Steward Zhao was a match for the Heavenly Dragon Sect Master, but judging by his demeanor, Steward Zhao seemed to possess immense confidence, otherwise, he wouldn't be so assured. After all, a single misstep could lead to a fatal end.
In that very instant, the Heavenly Dragon Sect Master appeared before Steward Zhao, exuding an invisible aura. A smile played on his lips, as if he had never considered Steward Zhao as a worthy opponent.
It made sense, though. Steward Zhao was merely a steward. If even the King of the Northwest couldn't deal with him, what was Steward Zhao in the grand scheme of things? He was nothing more than cannon fodder.
With this thought, the Heavenly Dragon Sect Master's anger intensified. How could he tolerate mere cannon fodder daring to insult him indirectly?
At that precise moment, a surge of spiritual energy erupted from the Heavenly Dragon Sect Master's hand, arcing towards Steward Zhao without any hesitation.
However, in that same instant, spiritual energy coursed through Steward Zhao's body. In the blink of an eye, he forcefully repelled the Heavenly Dragon Sect Master, causing the stunned onlookers to exclaim in disbelief. They had certainly not expected things to unfold this way.
*Pfft...*
The Heavenly Dragon Sect Master spat out a mouthful of blood, his lips twitching uncontrollably. He could never have imagined that such an unremarkable steward could be so formidable.
Upon witnessing this, Lu Fan was utterly shocked, even incredulous. Clearly, he hadn't anticipated such a turn of events, which caught him completely off guard.
Meanwhile, the gazes of everyone present grew more solemn. They were acutely aware of the Heavenly Dragon Sect Master's strength. To have inflicted such damage upon him, just how powerful was this Steward Zhao?
Indeed, true masters always remained hidden. Steward Zhao's display was truly astonishing.
"You've truly impressed me!" Lu Fan said to the steward. "I never realized that our King of the Northwest's mansion harbored such a hidden expert. How is it that I never noticed before!"
"I had been holding back previously, not revealing my full strength, in order to help the King resolve difficulties. Now that the time has come, I will no longer conceal it!" Steward Zhao replied earnestly, his words carrying significant weight.
Lu Fan was quite pleased with these words. Steward Zhao's hidden prowess was all for his sake, which was naturally a cause for great joy.
With this thought, Lu Fan turned his gaze towards the Heavenly Dragon Sect Master. "Actually, this matter had nothing to do with your Heavenly Dragon Sect. It's a pity you insisted on involving yourself, only to bring trouble upon yourself!"
"I truly did not expect that the King of the Northwest's mansion was a place where hidden dragons and crouching tigers resided, possessing such a formidable adversary!"
A smile graced the Heavenly Dragon Sect Master's lips as he looked at Lu Fan. "However, rest assured, one day you will pay the price for your actions. No one can substitute for you, not even the King of the Northwest!"
"Quite the boastful tone!"
A smile flickered across Lu Fan's lips, his expression growing indifferent. In his eyes, all of this amounted to nothing.
Concurrently, Steward Zhao also shifted his gaze towards the Heavenly Dragon Sect Master. "You are merely a defeated foe, and yet you dare to speak such grand words? Are you not afraid of biting off more than you can chew?"
"I truly did not anticipate you being so powerful. With just one move, you have inflicted severe injuries upon me. It truly leaves me in awe," the Heavenly Dragon Sect Master said coldly.
"It's best to remain humble, otherwise, you'll only end up embarrassing yourself!" Steward Zhao said in a cold tone. "Now, take your people and leave this place quickly. Do not stir up any more trouble, or you'll regret it!"
"My Heavenly Dragon Sect arrived late with the sole purpose of seeking justice!" the Heavenly Dragon Sect Master stated coldly. "Regarding my nephew's matter, do you not owe us a proper explanation? At the very least, let me understand how the Flame Sect Master met his end!"
"Does there need to be any explanation?"
Lu Fan let out a cold laugh. "The Flame Sect Master was killed by me. If you have the ability, come at me!"
"Very well. Since you have admitted it, I have nothing more to say. Once my strength reaches its peak, I will definitely seek you out. Even he [referring to Steward Zhao] will not be able to protect you!" the Heavenly Dragon Sect Master narrowed his eyes and glanced at Steward Zhao.
Steward Zhao's expression remained placid, as if nothing had happened. A powerful aura emanated from him, not inferior to anyone else.
"Let's go!"
The voice of the Heavenly Dragon Sect Master rang out. He knew that their situation was beyond salvageable. All they could do now was to retreat in disgrace, at least to preserve their lives. Being overly arrogant would lead to losing their very lives.
Indeed, Steward Zhao's strength was extraordinary; even the Heavenly Dragon Sect Master was no match for him. This was enough to indicate the immense shift in power.
After the Heavenly Dragon Sect Master departed, Lu Fan turned his gaze back to Steward Zhao. "I never realized, Steward Zhao, that you possessed such strength. Why have you been hiding it all this time? If you had forcefully intervened earlier, perhaps you could have completely suppressed the Heavenly Dragon Sect Master's arrogance!"
Before Lu Fan's words had even finished, Steward Zhao suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood, his face turning ashen, appearing utterly pale.
"What's going on? How did you become like this?" Lu Fan asked abruptly, his gaze fixed on Steward Zhao. He hadn't expected the steward to suddenly be in such a state.
"This person's strength is far superior to mine!" Steward Zhao said, shaking his head. "If I hadn't forcefully resisted earlier, the Heavenly Dragon Sect Master might have discovered my true capabilities, and that would have been far more troublesome!"
"So, everything Steward Zhao did just now was an act?" the Lord of Cloud City inquired, his heart filled with immense admiration.
"There was no other way. The Heavenly Dragon Sect's power is too formidable. Only by employing such methods could we mislead them," Steward Zhao said repeatedly, coughing up more blood. To temporarily boost his cultivation, he had consumed some specially prepared medicinal pills.
These were forbidden elixirs that, once consumed, could even cause a cultivator to lose their spiritual energy. However, he had no choice. In such a critical juncture, if he didn't act, who else would help Lu Fan?
Lu Fan stood rooted to the spot, his expression filled with gratitude. He, along with everyone else, had not foreseen Steward Zhao acting in such a manner. He understood more clearly than ever that Steward Zhao's actions were all for his sake. Reflecting on this, Lu Fan's heart was filled with a complex mix of emotions. He hadn't expected that even after becoming the King of the Northwest, his situation would still be so precarious.