<h4>Chapter 868: The Second Portion of ck Blood</h4>
In just a few short days, the entirety of Dahan was absorbed into Dajing. This lightning-fast conquest only reinforced the suspicions of nearby powers.
"I knew that Han Gucheng was a fake!"
"Liu Miaoyin deliberately slowed her conquest down earlier to lull us intocency, then struck when we least expected it."
"If we act now, it''ll be an outright deration of war against the Dajing Empire."
"This is infuriating! Why didn''t I seize the chance to carve up Dahan''s territories when I could? Now they''re all gone!"
The leaders of neighboring forces were wracked with regret. Many had been lurking near Dahan''s capital or outside Dajing''s capital, growing increasingly bitter and angry with each passing day.
Meanwhile, in a forest outside Dajing''s capital, several leaders were holding a secret meeting to discuss how to profit from the current situation when a figure in ck approached.
"Who''s there?" they demanded, narrowing their eyes.
"Have you forgotten me already?" the figure asked with a sly smile, lifting his hood.
"You''re one of Han Gucheng''s personal guards! You''vee to my imperial court on his behalf before," one of the men eximed as he recognized him.
"Isn''t Han Gucheng dead?" another asked, wary. "What are you doing here?"
The ck-d figure shook his head. "His Majesty is very much alive. He''s simply been dyed by other matters, which allowed these scheming clowns to wreak havoc in Dahan."
"Oh?" The crowd exchanged skeptical nces with one another.
"Neither Liu Miaoyin nor Xiao Nanfeng''s Boundless Immortal subordinates are in Dajing''s capital, leaving it vulnerable. His Majesty is willing to offer a bounty of one hundred Immortal cities to anyone who destroys Dajing''s capital. Here is the imperial edict," the figure said, producing a document stamped with Han Gucheng''s jade seal.
"And why would Han Gucheng make such an offer?" one of the rulers asked.
"His Majesty is currently dealing with Liu Miaoyin and Xiao Nanfeng''s Boundless Immortals. He''s asking for your aid to ensure that their focus is divided, thereby increasing his odds of sess. Of course, my lord is always thorough—he doesn''t actually need your help, but he''s giving you this opportunity as a precaution."
The cultivators nced at each other. They were starting to believe his words.
"And how will these hundred Immortal cities be divided?" another cultivator asked.
"Based on merit. The greater your contribution, the more cities you''ll receive," the ck-d figure replied.
The cultivators nced at each other, their minds racing.
Compared to Liu Miaoyin and Xiao Nanfeng, Han Gucheng''s might was far more credible. They reasoned that Dajing would soon fall, its territory reimed by Dahan.
Han Gucheng''s hundred-city bounty was very tempting.
"Fine. Let me examine the edict. If everything checks out, we''ll ept Han Gucheng''s terms," one of the cultivators called out.
The ck-d figure handed over the documents, which included other materials from Han Gucheng meant to persuade the gathered leaders of various forces. After verifying their authenticity, they set off for Dajing, only to discover that someone else was already attacking the city.
Clearly, Han Gucheng''s subordinates had found other helpers as well.
"Damn it, they''re trying to steal our credit!"
"Did Han Gucheng promise them the bounty too?"
"Get out of the way, you bastards! I''ll be the first to breach the city!"
Furious, the leaders of various factions descended on Dajing''s capital.
A hundred Immortal cities was a tempting prize; the more people participated, the fewer Immortal cities they would all get at the end.
Everyone rushed toward Dajing''s capital, the defensive formations of which were already activated in full.
"Break!" the cultivators shouted in unison as theyunched a coordinated assault.
A tremendous force mmed into the city''s barriers, causing them to shake violently.
Due to the rushed circumstances, Blue Lantern hadn''t yet had time to set up a more robust formation, leaving the city vulnerable. The defensive formation trembled under the repeated strikes and was on the verge of copse.
Just then, beams of golden light erupted from within the city.
"Fools, prepare to die!" Ye Dafu roared.
Xiao Nanfeng had arranged the golden cultivators to guard Dajing''s capital long beforehand.
A fearsome fight was brewing outside Dajing''s capital.
In the distance, a ck-d man turned to one of his subordinates. "Send word to His Majesty. Xiao Nanfeng seems to have anticipated an assault and has stationed significant forces in Dajing''s capital."
One of his subordinates replied, "His Majesty is aware. It''s not a problem—this is merely a sideshow. The main event is elsewhere. Focus on monitoring this location."
"Understood!" the ck-d man said, then retreated into the shadows.
On a mountain overlooking Shenfeng''s capital, a group of ck-d figures stood waiting.
"Xiao Nanfeng has discovered His Majesty''s hideout. Signal the Snowborne assassins in the city—it''s time to strike," their leader ordered.
"Understood!" one of his subordinates replied.
Momentster, a loud shout echoed from Shenfeng''s capital, followed by bursts of light.
"How dare you trespass in the imperial pce? Seize them!" a voicemanded.
The city erupted into chaos as battle broke out. Among thebatants, a figure d in golden light soared into the sky.
The Demon Child roared, "You fools! You dare cause trouble while I''m around? Do you think I''m just an ornament?!"
He unleashed a flurry of swords at the attackers, driving an unfortunate Golden Immortal back.
The next moment, a ck figure appeared, intercepting the Demon Child''s attack and saving the Golden Immortal.
@@novelbin@@
"What? A Boundless Immortal?" the Demon Child eximed. The next moment, he shot over. "Die!"
The ck figure retaliated as a firestorm bloomed where the two Boundless Immortals engaged one another.
Outside the city, the leader of the ck-d group narrowed his eyes. "The Demon Child is here in Shenfeng''s capital. Good—he''s being held back by the deputy head of Snowborne. Everyone else, continue the assault on the pce."
"Understood!" everyone replied.
Streams of light streaked toward the city.
Snowborne''s forces wereunching a coordinated assault from within and without the city, their objective clear: to pin down the Divine Emperor and prevent her from leaving—or, alternatively, to force the Divine Emperor to return to Shenfeng''s capital to aid in the crisis, thereby preventing her from serving as support for Xiao Nanfeng.
Meanwhile, in Shenfeng''s capital, a shadow cursed effigy sneered. "Assassins? Ha! What assassins of the mortal world canpare to us?"
With a wave of its hand, countless shadows shot forth toward the iing Snowborne assassins.
Very quickly, the Snowborne assassins on the frontlines realized that something was amiss. Their bodies were suddenly frozen stiff and rendered immobile.
"No! Help me!"
"I can''t move. What''s going on?"
"Cursed effigies? Where did all these cursed effigiese from?"
Screams echoed as one assassin after another was decapitated by the shadows.
At the same time, on a mountain peak outside Yongding, another group of ck-d figures stood behind one of Han Gucheng''s bodies.
"Has the attack on Shenfeng''s capital begun?" Han Gucheng asked.
"It has, Your Majesty, but surely there''s no need to do so? It''ll cost many lives," one of his subordinates replied, frowning.
"As long as it keeps the Divine Emperor upied, it''s worth the cost. She''s not to be underestimated. Didn''t Xiao Nanfeng destroy my divine empire, Dahan? Today, I''ll destroy Dazheng. Perhaps we''ll gain some unexpected rewards as well," Han Gucheng replied coldly.
"We''ve confirmed that Xiao Nanfeng held a session of court earlier today. There should still be an avatar of his here," another subordinate reported.
Han Gucheng nodded as he rose into the air above Yongding.
Dark clouds gathered, bringing heavy snowfall and a suffocating aura that descended upon the city.
"It''s Han Gucheng!" someone cried out in rm.
Without any hesitation, Han Gucheng raised his hand and unleashed a massive de of ice, which he sent shing at the city''s defensive formations.
Though powerful, the formations couldn''t withstand the de''s immense force.Layer byyer, they crumbled under the assault.
Yongding''s defensive formations were extraordinary. Even early-stage Boundless Immortals wouldn''t have been able to break through, but Han Gucheng''s ice de quickly cut down oneyer after another. Yongding''s defensive formations continued to shatter, unable to block his blow at all.
"It''s no use! The formations are breaking apart! Han Gucheng''s even stronger than before! Your Majesty!" someone shouted in desperation.
At that moment, Xiao Nanfeng emerged from the pce, nked by his officials.
They watched as the finalyer of the city''s defenses gave way as the icy de continued its descent and headed straight for the capital.
"Who dares?" Ye Sanshui shouted, rushing into the air.
He shattered the de of ice that had been weakened tremendously after piercing through so many barriers, but he too was forced back from the impact.
"Xiao Nanfeng, is Madam Rouge still in Yongding? If not, today will be the day of your downfall!" Han Gucheng roared inughter.
Xiao Nanfeng raised his head. "You must have been waiting at Yongding for quite some time.
"That''s right. I''ve been here for quite a while. I was nning to wait a little longer, but since you''ve already found my Northern Seair, there''s no need to dy further. Let''s see who can save you today," Han Gucheng said coldly.
Ye Sanshui floated into the air, his voice equally cold. "Han Gucheng, you''ll have to get through me first."
Han Gucheng sneered. "Step aside. You''re no match for me."
"You''re right—I wasn''t before, but now I am," Ye Sanshui replied, producing a vial of ck blood and swallowing it in one gulp. The next moment, his aura grew stronger with each passing moment. His power climbed to dizzying heights. Dark clouds formed around him as he unleashed a torrent of malevolent energy that spread across the sky.
Han Gucheng''s eyes widened in disbelief. "Just what did you consume? How can your aura rise so rapidly? It''s as if you''re reaching the mid-stage Boundless Immortal realm! This is impossible!"